The Tabernacle Today

Psalm 30

In the Hebrew language the headings appear __________________ the individual Psalms. Some scholars have suggested that the information is actually supposed to go with the Psalm that just ended, rather than the one coming!

It could also be that David was not thinking about the Temple here, but this is a response to the Messianic line that 2 Samuel 7 promised would come through David, the Davidic covenant. All the Kings of Judah were from the “house of David,” as well as the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.

David _____________________ of God’s various deliverances V. 1-3

The word for grave is Sheol, which occurs 64 times in the Hebrew Old Testament; the word for Pit is Bor, which occurs 61 times.

As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you, I have set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. -Zechariah 9:11

The saints sing praise to our Holy and Gracious God V. 4-5

The word for Saints is actually a form of our awesome word Hesed that I talk about so much (referencing God’s ___________________ love). Hasidic Jews are referencing this in their own desire to serve God rightly.

A time David ____________________ God to extend his life V. 6-10

Do you see the word “Supply” in supplication? We are asking God to supply our needs and the needs of others we pray for – using all the resources He has to supply those needs.

This is a classic version of the “for Your Name’s sake” prayer! God seems to like it when we express our desire to live and praise Him and make a difference to Him. He likes it when we care enough to __________________ Him of His promises. We are really reminding ourselves.

David praises God and gives Him ________________! V. 11-12

If I read Psalms correctly it shows us that the greatest expressive praise in the Bible is often shown by those who have personally experienced God’s hand on their lives through the hardest things of life. In other words, some of the most expressive praise should come from tested and _______________________ saints – it should not merely be the domain of young people who haven’t experienced life yet.

A Place to Regularly Refocus Under the Sun

What do I want church to be about for me?

What does GOD want church to be about for me?

Solomon has already taught that despite so much of life on earth not making sense because of sin in the world, God above is unfolding a beautiful eternal plan for those who seek Him and serve Him.

Read Ecc. 5:1-7

A place to regularly refocus under the sun Let’s Pray!

Do you remember my theory about Proverbs & Ecclesiastes? I believe Solomon wrote both to be evangelistic tracts/ booklets/ scrolls to lead people to the Lord.

Think through what is supposed to happen when you go to God’s house V. 1-3

When we come to God’s house, we should guard our steps, think about whose house we are going to, and come in a prayerful posture, humbly expecting God to speak to us with truth to live by.

Here Solomon says that words some people speak when they go to God’s house are just plain evil – don’t let evil words come out of your mouth at church.

What does it mean that we are different than the animals, created in God’s image?

A scholar named John Kilmer speaks of 4 dimensions to the image of God seen in humans – Reason; Rule; Relationship; Righteousness.

Think through what’s supposed to happen when you leave God’s house V. 4-7

A vow is a promise you make to God in response to His Bible-based working in your life.

Sad but true word from a speaker at camp – our churches are filled with people who promised God they would do something and went back home and never acted on what they had promised God.

This section concludes with the reminder that our approach to God must be a realistic response to what He has shown us to be His will – not a wordy presentation of what we dream for ourselves. -Expositors Bible Commentary

Draw near to discover how you can be the best you you can be; depart to help others become the best version of themselves God created them to be.

FEAR = Forsake Evil & Align Reverently.

- - From our July 9, 2023 Worship Service - -

The Christian’s SOLs Hebrews 5:11-6:3

Today we see the Author of Hebrews plead with his audience, many of whom should be further along in the Christian faith than they were. He pleads with them to pass the Christian’s Standards of Learning so he could teach them the __________ things he wanted them to know.

The Mid-Term Report Card ____________ so good 5:11-6:1a

FOUR areas of concern the Teacher has:

You have become ____________________ V. 11

You have forgotten your obligation to ______________ others V. 12a

You need a ____________ because you don’t know the basics V. 12b

Your ___________________ isn’t cute anymore V. 13-14

The Christian’s S.O.L.’s 6:1b-3

(1) ____________________ from dead works V. 1c

It’s a one-time decision to follow Christ that has _________________ for the rest of your life – God’s Word is now your standard!

Acts 26:19-20

(2) ___________________ toward God V. 1c

(3) The doctrine of ___________________ V. 2a

Matthew 28:19 Acts 2:32

(4) Laying on of hands V. 2b

2 Themes emerge:

Praying for God to bless/ heal/ fill this specific ___________________

Mark 10:13-16 Mark 8:25 James 5:16

Praying for God to empower this person for a specific ____________

(5) Understanding the ________________ of Heaven and Hell V. 2c

The truth is that Jesus _______________ of Hell more than He spoke of Heaven.

Meanwhile Back on Earth

Read Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:16 Meanwhile, back on earth… Let’s Pray!

Who is overseeing this world’s overseers? 3:16-22

Up to Ecc. 3:1, we saw “under the sun” 9 times, along with 3 occurrences of its sister phrase “under heaven.” That’s 12 times in 45 verses, an average of once for every 4 verses, and never further apart than 8 verses.

And so, not surprisingly, “Under the sun” occurs 5 times in these 22 verses, an average of once every four verses, never further than 8 verses apart.

Who is comforting those who have no have no comfort? 4:1-8

Solomon’s party days are over and he is now looking around and seeing the people he leads, and the people of other ethnicities, and he is finally overcome by how hard they have it.

Who will seek people out like God does in verse 15, who will find people in the depths of despair in time to offer them comfort? No one earth seems to care about lost souls? Do you?

Solomon’s conclusion: we are to comfort the shepherdless V. 9-16

There are individuals all around us in this city and county and across both state lines who are in danger of falling – won’t you be on the lookout for those you can help not fall? Won’t you be one of Jesus’ picker-uppers?

But remember this passage is for more than married couples- it’s about the power of having a Christian friend like I did in Doug Barr, who came alongside me and helped a fallen Dan stand, who helped warm a cold-hearted Dan’s heart, who introduced me to the love of God who still binds as as forever friends today.

Here’s what Solomon is saying in verses 13-16: I wasted YEARS selfishly looking after myself, setting a lousy example for me kids, when I could have been helping THOUSANDS of others with my time, my strength, my money – now I can only beg all the Jews and Christians who read this later not to be as foolish as me. I hope they hear me and become comforters of others before its too late for them to make the impact God wanted them to!

Psalm 29 Worksheet

Again let me extol the little commentary of Dr. Bob Alden on the Psalms, from whom I have gotten much help in this Psalm series.

Call to ______________________ V. 1-2

Verses 1-2 are an example of staircase parallelisms (ABC, ABD, ABE). The first two words are the same Give (A) Lord (B), and the third element changes (C,D,E).

One of the greatest themes in the Bible is that God will get the _______________ due His name!

What do you think the last part of verse 2 is referring to – ‘holy array’ or ‘the beauty of holiness?’ Psalm 27:4.

Hymn of praise to God V. 3-10

What phrase occurs 7 times in verses 3-9?

In Psalm 29 David illustrates the glory of God from natural phenomena that God is responsible for, particularly His _________________ in the storms He sends.

The cedars of the Lebanon are among the strongest trees in the world, but no match when God wants to break them with wind or lightning.

Sirion is a reference to Mount ____________________ in Israel.

I LOVE the contrast there between God’s toughness and God’s _______________!

This word for flood occurs only here and in Genesis 6-11. The Flood of course was associated with 2 ways God _____________________ glory – the judgment of unrepentant sinners and the salvation of those who walk with Him!

Benediction V. 11

The way Hebrew works David could either be saying “The Lord will give” or this could also be a prayer, “May the Lord give.” In that case he would be ending a beautiful Psalm with a nice little _______________________!

God’s Eternal Hand Overshadows Time

Have you ever tried to put together the pieces of a puzzle without the picture on the box, the one that shows what the puzzle will look like when it’s completed?

Read Ecc. 3:1-15 God’s eternal hand overshadows time Let’s Pray!

God providentially manages time V. 1-10

The word translated season is the word zeman, which the Greek Septuagint translated as chronos. You can see the word “Chronology”in there. Everything in the universe has an appropriate chronological unfolding.

The word translated time is the word ‘eth, which the Greek Septuagint translated as Kairos. It refers to fixed and definite events, ‘dates with destiny.’

God’s providential care in our lives throughout time means His divine arrangement of details to give everyone opportunity to experience real meaning in life while at the same time factoring in our own and others good and bad choices that have built in consequences.

It’s not that the things like work and sex and amusement in chapter 2 were wrong in and of themselves – they were just never meant to bring meaning apart from God’s purpose for them and His timing and boundaries for their use.

As chronological time unfolds, God providentially brings fixed events into our lives. Our calling is to discern what time it is and make wise choices within time.

God purposefully instills eternal thoughts inside us V. 11-15

God has also established in man an impulse leading him beyond that which is temporal toward the eternal; it lies within us not to be contented with the temporal; we can’t stop thinking about eternal questions.

“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” -C.S. Lewis

The word driven away in verse 15 could be translated pursued, followed, chased. It’s used in Proverbs 13:21 to speak of disaster pursuing sinners. All of the sinners life the consequences of their sins have been chasing them down.

A Greater Priesthood Hebrews 5:1-10

What if I could see inside you right now? What would I see?

The Author wanted his readers to acknowledge their own inadequacy to get better on their own and place their faith in the _____________ of Jesus Christ to meet the needs they had on the inside.

Hebrews chapters 5-7 speak about the priest known as Melchizedek – tonight we will introduce the _________________ of this little known Old Testament person.

High Priests offered sacrifices for ________________ V. 1

High Priests were themselves __________________ V. 2

High Priests themselves were in ___________ of an atoning sacrifice V. 3

High Priests were put in their _____________ by God, not man V. 4

God made Jesus Christ the _______________ High Priest V. 5

How can the Messiah occupy two distinct offices at the same time – King, which would be a descendant from the tribe of Judah; and Priest, which they assumed would be descended from Levi?

By going back to a priesthood that existed long ______________ Aaron was the first High Priest of Levi’s descendants.

In Genesis 3:14-20 we learn 3 things about Melchizedek:

Melchizedek was the _____________ of Salem

Melchizedek was the _____________ of God Most High

Abraham _______________ to Melchizedek

John 6:56-59

Jesus ________________ tears, fears, and jeers V. 7-10

Do you know two of the things I love most about Jesus?

He doesn’t ask me to do anything He didn’t model by doing Himself.

He is ___________ me as I face everything God has called me to face.

I can obey a God like that!

There is no ‘I’ in JOY

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” -John Piper

“I can’t get no satisfaction…but I’ve tried.” -Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones

Read Ecclesiastes 2:1-26 There is no “I’ in JOY Let’s Pray!

The specific word for “I” in Hebrew is Ani, which occurs 1,492 times in the Old Testament. It means “I, me, mine, for myself.” The place it occurs most is right here in Ecclesiastes chapter 2 – 14 times.

A Life of sinful excess and self-indulgence doesn’t bring satisfaction V. 1-11

JOY = Jesus, Others, Yourself.

Do you know what word does have ‘I’ right in the middle of it?

SIN.

There is no record that Solomon either did write out the 10 commands as he began ruling, or that he read them to start each day as King – words from God written in his own handwriting (Deut. 17:14-20; See also 1 Samuel 8:10-18).

A life of sober introspection and self-reform doesn’t bring satisfaction V. 12-17

A life of self-focus inevitably leads to frustration and despair V. 17-23

“You have made us for yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” -Augustine, written 1600 years ago

God gives joy and perspective to those who want to please Him V. 24-26

The believer acknowledges that the ability he or she has to think and work and produce has come from God, and honors God while engaged in life’s toil. Instead of living life in sinful excess, he or shoe seeks to live within biblical boundaries that they joyfully accept as God’s provision.

And no matter which topic we pick from chapter 2 the same trend repeats itself – seek satisfaction in created things apart from God – frustration and no satisfaction; enjoy God’s gifts within their biblically defined boundaries – enjoyment and satisfaction!

Eventually the God who orders all things re-purposes all work product under the sun to take care of His people both now and forevermore.

Word of God Speak

Hebrews 4:12-16

A little girl… A little boy…

4 Truths about the word of God:

The word of God is the number one way God ______________ to us V. 12a

“The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.” -Martin Luther

We don’t worship the word of God (the Bible), but we realize that these words to us are from the God we ___________________!

After John 1:1 and Revelation 19:13, all other occurrences of the word of God are clearly about the ________________________.

Matthew 4:4 Luke 11:27-28 John 10:35 Acts 18:11

Romans 10:17 Titus 2:5 1 Pet. 1:23 Rev. 20:4

4 evidences that the Bible is the word of God:

Exhibit A – The Bible is unique in its vast __________________

Exhibit B – The Bible is unique in containing predictive _________________ that have been fulfilled

Exhibit C – The Bible is unique in the great extent to which it is backed up by _______________________ finds.

Exhibit D – The Bible is uniquely clear that someone from every _______________ group on earth will be in Heaven (Rev. 5:9)

The word of God is the only means to ___________________ all other ways God speaks to us V. 12b

Does He speak through circumstances? YES!

Should we trust only circumstances to guide us ______________ from His word? NO!

Does God speak through people? YES!

Should we trust people to guide us ___________________ from God’s word? NO!

The word of God is the only textbook to get us ready for the BIG _______________ V. 13

John 3:16

Eph. 2:8-10

1 Cor. 3

The word of God reveals the Son of God to us so we can come into the _________________ of God V. 14-16