4/19/12

Some things change; some do not!!!


Over the past couple of days I watched the last two terminator movies.  So, it wasn't a big surprise that this picture reminded me of the machines' terminator use of "liquid metal".  Fascinating concept, metal that can re-form into any shape desired or even crude weapons.  Humans have reshaped ore into metal for several thousand years, but not with the abilities found in these Science Fiction flicks.  Now, I know that things change; in fact our world is in a constant state of flux, but its nice to know that in fact somethings do not change.  Here is an example...

WEB: Hebrews Chapter 7

[1] For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, [2] to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace; [3] without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God), remains a priest continually. [4] Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the best spoils. [5] They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham, [6] but he whose genealogy is not counted from them has accepted tithes from Abraham, and has blessed him who has the promises. [7] But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. [8] Here people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is testified that he lives. [9] We can say that through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes, [10] for he was yet in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him. [11] Now if there were perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron? [12] For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also in the law. [13] For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. [14] For it is evident that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. [15] This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest, [16] who has been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life: [17] for it is testified,

“You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.”


[18] For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness [19] (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. [20] Inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath [21] (for they indeed have been made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by him that says of him,

“The Lord swore and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.’”


[22] By so much, Jesus has become the collateral of a better covenant.


We do not live by the ten commandments today; we live the life of obedience of faith.  Although I must say that sometimes just obeying law seems like a good idea, I know it isn't, because I know myself.  As a weak, fragile human being, I do things I regret.  So, I am NOT PERFECT!!! I need a "law" that gives grace to my weaknesses and a judge who forgives my shortcomings.  In short, grace and Jesus.  He is the priest of an eternal covenant who is there even in my worst failures and loves me anyway.  Its up to me to daily strive to live a life free from sin.  In a certain sense, all Christians are "terminators" because they want to pursue perfection and destroy sin.  Only thing left to do is to go back and watch the first of the terminator movies; then the story will be complete!!!

Apr. 19 Numbers 29, 30


Apr. 19
Numbers 29, 30

Num 29:1 In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing of trumpets to you.
Num 29:2 You shall offer a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish;
Num 29:3 and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenth parts for the bull, two tenth parts for the ram,
Num 29:4 and one tenth part for every lamb of the seven lambs;
Num 29:5 and one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you;
Num 29:6 besides the burnt offering of the new moon, and the meal offering of it, and the continual burnt offering and the meal offering of it, and their drink offerings, according to their ordinance, for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
Num 29:7 On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; and you shall afflict your souls: you shall do no manner of work;
Num 29:8 but you shall offer a burnt offering to Yahweh for a pleasant aroma: one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old; they shall be to you without blemish;
Num 29:9 and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenth parts for the bull, two tenth parts for the one ram,
Num 29:10 a tenth part for every lamb of the seven lambs:
Num 29:11 one male goat for a sin offering; besides the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, and their drink offerings.
Num 29:12 On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no servile work, and you shall keep a feast to Yahweh seven days:
Num 29:13 and you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh; thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old; they shall be without blemish;
Num 29:14 and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenth parts for every bull of the thirteen bulls, two tenth parts for each ram of the two rams,
Num 29:15 and a tenth part for every lamb of the fourteen lambs;
Num 29:16 and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.
Num 29:17 On the second day you shall offer twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;
Num 29:18 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
Num 29:19 and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, and their drink offerings.
Num 29:20 On the third day eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;
Num 29:21 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
Num 29:22 and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.
Num 29:23 On the fourth day ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;
Num 29:24 their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
Num 29:25 and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.
Num 29:26 On the fifth day nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;
Num 29:27 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
Num 29:28 and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.
Num 29:29 On the sixth day eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;
Num 29:30 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
Num 29:31 and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, the meal offering of it, and the drink offerings of it.
Num 29:32 On the seventh day seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;
Num 29:33 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
Num 29:34 and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.
Num 29:35 On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly: you shall do no servile work;
Num 29:36 but you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish;
Num 29:37 their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the ordinance:
Num 29:38 and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.
Num 29:39 You shall offer these to Yahweh in your set feasts, besides your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meal offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.
Num 29:40 Moses told the children of Israel according to all that Yahweh commanded Moses.
Num 30:1 Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded.
Num 30:2 When a man vows a vow to Yahweh, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
Num 30:3 Also when a woman vows a vow to Yahweh, and binds herself by a bond, being in her father's house, in her youth,
Num 30:4 and her father hears her vow, and her bond with which she has bound her soul, and her father holds his peace at her; then all her vows shall stand, and every bond with which she has bound her soul shall stand.
Num 30:5 But if her father disallow her in the day that he hears, none of her vows, or of her bonds with which she has bound her soul, shall stand: and Yahweh will forgive her, because her father disallowed her.
Num 30:6 If she be married to a husband, while her vows are on her, or the rash utterance of her lips, with which she has bound her soul,
Num 30:7 and her husband hear it, and hold his peace at her in the day that he hears it; then her vows shall stand, and her bonds with which she has bound her soul shall stand.
Num 30:8 But if her husband disallow her in the day that he hears it, then he shall make void her vow which is on her, and the rash utterance of her lips, with which she has bound her soul: and Yahweh will forgive her.
Num 30:9 But the vow of a widow, or of her who is divorced, even everything with which she has bound her soul, shall stand against her.
Num 30:10 If she vowed in her husband's house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath,
Num 30:11 and her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and didn't disallow her; then all her vows shall stand, and every bond with which she bound her soul shall stand.
Num 30:12 But if her husband made them null and void in the day that he heard them, then whatever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband has made them void; and Yahweh will forgive her.
Num 30:13 Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.
Num 30:14 But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day, then he establishes all her vows, or all her bonds, which are on her: he has established them, because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them.
Num 30:15 But if he shall make them null and void after that he has heard them, then he shall bear her iniquity.
Num 30:16 These are the statutes, which Yahweh commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between a father and his daughter, being in her youth, in her father's house.

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Chapter One by Mark Copeland

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                              Chapter One

Matthew begins his gospel with the genealogy of Jesus from Abraham to
Joseph.  Thus he shows the royal lineage of Jesus from David, one of the
first things required to convince a Jewish audience that Jesus qualified
to be the Messiah (1-17; cf. Mt 22:41-42).  The birth of Jesus is then
described, with the announcement of the angel to Joseph, and the
protection of her virginity until His birth (18-25).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  The genealogy, comparing it with the one in Luke’s gospel

   *  The prophecies of Isaiah and the angel regarding the virgin birth

   *  The significance of the names given to the child born of Mary

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The genealogy of Jesus Christ - Mt 1:1-17
   - The birth of Jesus Christ - Mt 1:18-25

2) Whose genealogy is given by Matthew? (1)
   - Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham

3) What four women are included in this genealogy? (3,5,6)
   - Tamar
   - Rahab
   - Ruth
   - The wife (Bathsheba) of Uriah

4) What was the initial relationship between Joseph and Mary? (18)
   - Betrothed (engaged)

5) When and how did Mary become pregnant? (18)
   - Before she and Joseph came together
   - From the Holy Spirit (cf. Lk 1:26-35)

6) What two names would be given the child, and what do they mean?
   (21-23)
   - Jesus (savior); Immanuel (God with us)

7) What scripture in the OT was fulfilled by the virgin birth of Christ?
   (22-23)
   - That written by Isaiah in Isa 7:14

8) How long did Joseph wait until he knew Mary as his wife? (25)
   - Until she had given birth to her son (Jesus)