Wisdom-Trek ©

As we continued our extended series through the book of Hebrews in the New Testament last week, we discussed the New Covenant that Christ brings to us. The New Testament, or New Covenant, is the Good News, commonly called the Gospel.

This week, we will explore the Reformation of Conscience.

Let’s read Hebrews 9:1-14.

Throughout the book of Hebrews, up to this point, the author has been leveling a biblical argument for the superiority of Christ’s person and work over the Old Testament priests and their ministry. In Hebrews 8, the topic pursued the earthly Tabernacle and its temporary ministry (8:4–5), asserting that Jesus’ high priestly ministry in the true, heavenly Tabernacle is superior.

Returning to the Old Testament scene of the Tabernacle, the writer again directs our thought to the preeminent person and work of Christ. He contrasts the external, physical worship at the Tabernacle—with its sacrifices and ritual washings, which can only cleanse the body—with the internal, spiritual work of Christ’s sacrifice, which is able to cleanse the inner conscience. Though he mentions details of the furnishings of the physical Tabernacle and the ministry of the priests, the author’s primary purpose is spiritual, drawing attention from external, tangible things to internal, spiritual matters of the heart.

But how easy it is to get wrapped up in the externals—those things we can see, touch, and experience with our bodies. And how easy it is to forget that within our bodies is a network of emotions, thoughts, and impulses, all bound up with our conscience—that powerful inner “voice” that can prod us to do right … or convict us when we do wrong. However, the conscience isn’t a fail-safe. It can be damaged and dulled, making us feel good about our wickedness or guilty when we’re innocent.

The problem with this letter's original Jewish Christian recipients was that they were tempted to address the internal, spiritual concerns of the conscience with external, physical forms of worship that were never intended to cleanse the inner person. Such efforts were futile. They belonged to a temporary stage in God’s plan of redemption—an age that pointed to a future time of reformation that would address not merely the external aspects of a person, but, more importantly, the internal conscience.

Hebrews 9:1–10 describes in summary fashion the arrangement of the furnishings of the Tabernacle (9:1–5) and the regulations for the worship that occurred there (9:6–10). However, this isn’t an exhaustive tour of the Tabernacle facility in all its details. The author writes, “But we cannot discuss these things in detail now” (9:5). In other words, it wasn’t his purpose to go into great detail; so we won’t either. Instead, we’ll discuss the furniture and functions of the Tabernacle in a general way.

The Tabernacle was a tent the Levites carried with them during their wilderness wanderings. When they stopped somewhere, the priests would reassemble the elements of the tent and thus erect the portable place of worship (see Exod. 25–31; 35–40). This temporary structure then housed a variety of implements of worship necessary for carrying out the sacrifices and rituals—all strictly prescribed by God in the regulations of the old covenant sacrificial system (Heb. 9:1).

As you can see in the diagram in your bulletin insert, the Tabernacle had three main areas:

First, the main court of the sanctuary was the large, outermost court that fenced in the Tabernacle itself and set it apart from the Israelite encampment, establishing the space for conducting the work of the priesthood (Exod. 27:9–19). In this outer court stood the bronze (or “brazen”) altar for presenting the various offerings to the Lord (Exod. 27:1–8; Lev. 1–7). Between that altar and the Tabernacle stood the bronze laver (or “washbasin”) for ritual washings conducted before entering the Tabernacle.

Second, the holy place or main Tabernacle was situated behind a thick veil beyond the bronze laver. The priests would enter the holy place through the veil, where the golden lampstand and table of showbread (the “Bread of the Presence” or the “sacred bread”) stood opposite each other to the left and right, respectively (Exod. 25:23–40; Heb. 9:2). Usually, on the far end of this holy place, just outside the veil to the holy of holies, stood an altar of incense; but it seems, according to the author of Hebrews, that on the Day of Atonement, the alter of Incense was located within the holy of holies.

Although Exodus 30:6 and Leviticus 16:12–18 place the altar of incense in the holy place, Hebrews 9:3–4 indicates that it is part of the innermost “holy of holies.” This apparent contradiction has vexed commentators for ages. However, the purpose of the author of Hebrews is not to go into great detail about the furnishings (9:5), but to summarize the arrangement of the implements of worship, primarily as they related to the Day of Atonement (9:7). As such, the writer was right to associate the golden altar of incense with the holy of holies. Allen explains:

Likewise, Guthrie states, “The altar was so placed that the smoke from the burning incense was supposed to penetrate the curtain and rise to God before the Ark of the Covenant.” It is also possible that on the Day of Atonement, the high priest adjusted the veil of the holy of holies so it temporarily wrapped around the altar of incense so its smoke could fill the holy of holies during the ritual. If that were the case, the altar was, for practical purposes, within the veil with the Ark of the Covenant.

Third, the holy of holies or inner Tabernacle was a small space behind a second veil, in which rested the ark of the covenant, containing the original tablets of the Ten Commandments, the rod of Aaron, and a golden jar of manna from the wilderness (Exod. 25:10–22; Heb. 9:4–5). The golden altar of incense (9:4)—regardless of its location—was used to obscure the glory of God above the Ark of the Covenant with thick smoke (9:4).

Having set the stage and arranged the props in 9:1–5, the author focuses attention in Hebrews 9:6–10 on the main actors of the worship in the Tabernacle: the priests—especially the high priest (9:7). Whereas a rotating order of priests had various, daily responsibilities to offer sacrifices, make offerings, and attend to rituals in the holy place (9:6), (Zacharia) only the high priest was permitted to pull back the veil and enter the holy of holies—and only once a year during the special rituals related to the great Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:1–34; Heb. 9:7). This annual offering of blood was “offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance” (9:7).

The Bible teaches that humans have a material, tangible part—what we might call the “outer person”—and an immaterial, intangible part—what we can call the “inner person.” This is the Bible’s teaching concerning humans from the beginning: “The LORD God formed man of dust from the ground [the physical aspect], and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life [the spiritual aspect]; and man became a living being [the whole person of body and soul]” (Gen. 2:7).

We see a distinction between these two aspects of our person throughout Scripture. In 1 Samuel 16:7, God says, “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Paul writes, “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day” (2 Cor. 4:16). And when our bodies die, returning to the ground until our future resurrection at the return of Christ (1 Thes. 4:13–16), our immaterial (inner) part will in some way continue, as Paul teaches, “Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8).

Thus, as humans, we are neither strictly material, as most atheists tend to believe, nor are we essentially spirit-beings “trapped,” as in a physical body, as many Far Eastern, New Age, or Gnostic religions believe. Theologians call us a “psychosomatic” union—a unity of soul and body, internal and external, invisible and visible.

God prescribed this entire system of worship in the Tabernacle in painstaking detail. Yet, these rituals addressed only the outer person and revolved around material things and physical actions. These gifts and offerings, “They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order” (9:10). Yet, by the prophetic Spirit, these temporal, physical forms of worship were intended to point forward symbolically to “the new order” (9:10). Unless the outer Tabernacle was taken down, opening the way for entrance into the inner sanctuary where God dwelled, there could be no access to God apart from the high priests and the continual sacrifices (9:8).

 

The first-century audience of Hebrews was tempted to return to this highly formalized worship—with priesthood and sacrifice, washings and incense, lampstands, and sacred bread—carried on in the physical temple in Jerusalem. They were hoping to find inner relief through outer rituals. The author of Hebrews, however, argued that external activities—no matter how flawlessly performed—can’t cleanse a guilty conscience.

Times have changed, but human nature hasn’t. In my many years in various ministries, I’ve seen the same mentality that characterized the audience of Hebrews creep into many churches and corrupt the lives of countless Christians. In an attempt to soothe an uneasy conscience, ease doubts about personal worthiness, or make up for too many missteps, people turn their backs on grace to embrace a life of legalism. The audience of Hebrews was guilty of this in the first century. They probably thought that if they could return to a secure routine or a specific religious ritual, they could somehow find rest for their souls and relief for their consciences. Remember, they had already become dull of hearing (5:11). They were stalling out in their spiritual growth (5:12). Especially during such times of spiritual doldrums, the currents of legalism can begin to cause us to drift back into old patterns of wrongheaded religiosity.

But the writer of Hebrews puts an end to this thinking with four crucial words: “But when Christ came” (9:11). With this simple contrast, the writer turns the spotlight from the external to the internal, from rituals to righteousness, from imperfect priests to the perfect High Priest. He stresses that body-soul creatures can’t use an external, physical cure for an essentially internal, spiritual problem—the sinful heart. That problem can be solved only by Jesus Christ.

When Jesus died for our sins, rose victorious over death, and ascended into heaven, He replaced the temporary symbol of the sacrificial system with a permanent reality to which it had always been pointing. His was “the greater and more perfect tabernacle” (9:11), not fashioned by mallets or woven by human hands, but created in the heavens by God himself (9:11). His offering for sin was not another in an endless slaughter of animals whose blood could never cleanse spiritually or eternally; He offered His blood “once for all” and thus accomplished for us “eternal redemption” (9:12).

Yes, the old covenant sacrificial system had its time, place, and specific purpose. It was established for the nation of Israel until the coming of the Messiah, and it kept them centered on the reality of their sin and their need for salvation. However, the cleansing accomplished through animal sacrifice was only useful for ceremonial “so that they are outwardly clean” (9:13). Christ is superior as our High Priest. He offered himself to the Father by the power of the Holy Spirit, and His priceless blood has the infinite power to “cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (9:14).

The visible, physical, and tangible are common artificial salves for a guilty conscience. How easy it is to become addicted to them! Many people suffering from the pain of guilt and the weight of sin turn to religious rituals that can quickly cross into outright superstition. They believe that if they surround themselves with religious images, Christian music, artwork, or “holy” people, places, and things, these will magically counteract the deep-seated pain they feel from a restless conscience. This is nothing new. In Numbers 21:4–9, God provided miraculous healing through a bronze serpent … then eight hundred years later, the people of Israel were caught dragging around that piece of bronze nothing and burning incense to it (2 Kgs. 18:1–4). They were using that once-significant symbol as a magical talisman.

In a similar way, we can attach mystical or magical significance to our religious symbols, whether a stained glass window, a gilded cross, a leather Bible, a particular approach to Christian living, or even a respected pastor! There’s nothing wrong with symbols, artwork, or wise Christian mentors; but sometimes a fixation on activities and externals can distract us from the only One who can cleanse our consciences. Let me suggest two guidelines for turning our attention toward an authentic reformation of conscience.

First, we need to stop overemphasizing the externals. I don’t mean that we need to ignore externals. After all, we are physical beings, created to live in a physical world. But our over-sensual, touch-it, taste-it, see-it, experience-it world has swung the pendulum away from a proper internal-external balance. We need to push it back. We must de-emphasize ritualistic religion, stop going through the motions, and avoid over-cluttering our lives with more superficial religious junk. Simply clearing the clutter of Christian crutches will allow us to move on to the essential second step.

Second, we need to refocus on the internals. Look beyond the shadow of the symbols/ to the substance to which they point. Whether it’s hymns and choruses, daily devotions, or weekly sermons—any one of these means of spiritual discipline can become an end in itself. Let these things move you to reality. Focus on what God focuses on—the inside (1 Sam. 16:7). Look to Christ; fix your eyes on Him (Heb. 12:2). When you do, even your frenzied activity for Him will fade in the light of your nourishing fellowship with Him. When you approach Him—really approach Him—the cleansing will have already begun.

You’ll experience—body and soul—a reformation of conscience.

Next week, we will continue our adventure through Hebrews as we focus on Our Internal Inheritance in a message titled “Signed, Sealed, Delivered…In Blood” So please read Hebrews 9:15-28 in preparation for next week.

As we continue our journey through the pages of the Bible, remember that the wisdom it offers is our guiding light in navigating the complexities of life. Until next time, keep seeking God’s wisdom and make it a part of your daily trek.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

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Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2258 of our trek. The purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I will guide you through the vast landscapes of biblical wisdom. It’s a joy to have you join me on this journey. Today, our exploration takes us into the insightful verses of Proverbs 17:1-7 from the New Living Translation.

As we delve into these verses, let’s seek the timeless wisdom that can guide us in building strong relationships, managing conflicts, and cultivating a wise and discerning heart.

Without further delay, it’s time to strap up your hiking boots and head into the wisdom of Proverbs.

This verse sets the tone for our exploration, emphasizing the value of peace over abundance, especially when it comes with conflict.

So, what’s the solution to fostering peace in our relationships, even when resources are limited?

Prioritize Peace in Relationships: Recognize the greater value of peace over abundance. Prioritize cultivating peace in your relationships, even if it means simplicity in material possessions.

Now, let’s explore verse 2.

This verse presents a scenario where a wise servant is elevated to a position of authority over the master’s disgraceful son.

How can we apply this wisdom in our lives?

Value Wisdom Over Status: Recognize the superiority of wisdom over status. Cultivate a heart of wisdom and seek to make decisions based on discernment rather than societal expectations.

Verse 3 speaks to the refining nature of fire and its application to our lives.

This verse draws a parallel between the refining process of fire on precious metals and the Lord’s testing of the human heart.

How can we navigate the testing and refining of our hearts?

Embrace Heart Refinement: Recognize that just as fire tests the purity of silver and gold, the Lord tests the heart. Embrace the refinement process, allowing challenges and testing to shape and purify your heart.

Now, let’s explore verse 4.

This verse highlights the association between wrongdoers and their inclination to listen to gossip, as well as the attentiveness of liars to slander.

How can we guard ourselves against the destructive nature of gossip and slander?

Guard Against Destructive Words: Recognize the association between wrongdoers and destructive words. Guard yourself against the allure of gossip and slander, choosing to focus on uplifting and truthful communication.

Now, let’s turn our attention to verse 5.

This verse draws a connection between mocking the poor and insulting their Maker, emphasizing the consequences of rejoicing at the misfortune of others.

How can we cultivate compassion and avoid the pitfalls of mocking and rejoicing in the misfortune of others?

Cultivate Compassion: Recognize the inherent dignity of all individuals, regardless of their socio-economic status. Cultivate compassion and avoid the pitfalls of mocking and rejoicing at the misfortune of others.

Let’s explore verse 6.

This verse celebrates the reciprocal relationship between grandparents and grandchildren and the pride children take in their parents.

How can we foster strong family bonds across generations?

Foster Strong Family Bonds: Recognize the beauty of intergenerational relationships. Foster strong family bonds by cherishing the wisdom of the aged and instilling pride in the hearts of the younger generation for their parents.

Now, let’s explore verse 7.

This verse highlights the inappropriateness of eloquent words for a fool and emphasizes that lies are even less fitting for a ruler.

How can we align our words with wisdom and integrity?

Speak Wisely and Truthfully: Recognize the appropriateness of wise and truthful speech. Ensure that your words align with wisdom and integrity, avoiding eloquence that lacks substance and lies that are unfit for leadership.

And there you have it, my friends, a profound exploration of Proverbs 17:1-7 from the New Living Translation. These verses offer us timeless wisdom for building strong relationships, navigating conflicts, and cultivating a wise and discerning heart.

As we continue our journey through the pages of the Bible, remember that the wisdom it offers is our guiding light in navigating the complexities of life. Until next time, keep seeking God’s wisdom and make it a part of your daily trek.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2257 of our trek. The purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I will guide you through the vast landscapes of biblical wisdom. It’s always a pleasure to have you join me on this journey. Today, our exploration takes us into the profound insights of Proverbs 16:28-33 from the New Living Translation.

As we delve into these verses, let’s seek the timeless wisdom that can guide us in cultivating trustworthy relationships, managing our reactions, and recognizing the divine sovereignty in our plans.

Without further delay, let’s dive into the wisdom of Proverbs.

This verse vividly depicts gossip’s destructive nature and the strife a troublemaker sown.

So, what’s the solution to navigating the challenges of gossip and maintaining solid friendships?

Cultivate Trustworthy Relationships: Recognize the destructive impact of gossip and strife. Cultivate trustworthy relationships by avoiding gossip and fostering an environment of trust and openness.

Now, let’s explore verse 29.

This verse warns about the influence of violent individuals who can entice their neighbors down a destructive path.

How can we guard ourselves against the destructive influence of violence?

Guard Against Destructive Influence: Recognize the danger of violent individuals who lead others down destructive paths. Guard yourself against such influence and choose a path of peace and righteousness.

Verse 30 speaks to the impact of envy and the destructive nature of coveting.

This verse underscores the deceptive nature of violent individuals who lead their companions down harmful paths, often driven by envy.

How can we overcome the trap of envy and destructive paths?

Overcome Envy and Destructive Paths: Recognize the deceptive nature of envy and the harm it can cause. Overcome the envy trap by choosing a path of contentment, gratitude, and righteousness.

Now, let’s explore verse 31.

This verse celebrates the beauty and honor of gray hair, viewing it as a crown of glory earned through a godly life.

How can we appreciate and honor the wisdom that comes with age?

Honor the Wisdom of Age: Recognize the value of gray hair as a crown of glory, earned through a godly life. Honor and appreciate the wisdom that comes with age, seeking to learn from the experiences of those who have walked the path before you.

Now, let’s turn our attention to verse 32.

This verse extols the virtues of patience and self-control over power and conquest.

How can we cultivate patience and self-control in our lives?

Cultivate Patience and Self-Control: Recognize the superiority of patience and self-control over power and conquest. Cultivate these virtues in your life, allowing them to guide your actions and decisions.

And finally, let’s explore verse 33.

This verse underscores the divine sovereignty in the outcomes of chance, emphasizing that even though we may make decisions, the Lord ultimately determines the results.

How can we surrender our plans and decisions to the divine sovereignty of the Lord?

Surrender Plans to the Lord: Recognize the divine sovereignty in the outcomes of our decisions. Surrender your plans and actions to the Lord, trusting that He determines the final results. Seek His guidance in all things.

And there you have it, my friends, a profound exploration of Proverbs 16:28-33 from the New Living Translation. These verses offer us timeless wisdom for cultivating trustworthy relationships, guarding against destructive influence, and recognizing the divine sovereignty in our plans.

As we continue our journey through the pages of the Bible, remember that the wisdom it offers is our guiding light in navigating the complexities of life. Until next time, keep seeking God’s wisdom and make it a part of your daily trek.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!

Putnam Church Message – 07/23/2023

As we continue our extended series through the book of Hebrews in the New Testament, we compared the Levitical and Melchizedekian priesthood last week. We saw that Jesus Christ established a perfect and permanent priesthood as our Great High Priest.

This week we move beyond to the New Covenant that Christ brings to us. The New Testament, or New Covenant, is the Good News, commonly called the Gospel.

Let’s read Hebrews 8:1-13.

when I will make a new covenant

with the people of Israel

and with the people of Judah.

It will not be like the covenant

I made with their ancestors

when I took them by the hand

to lead them out of Egypt,

because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,

and I turned away from them,

declares the Lord.

This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel

after that time, declares the Lord.

I will put my laws in their minds

and write them on their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

No longer will they teach their neighbor,

or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’

because they will all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest.

For I will forgive their wickedness

and will remember their sins no more.”

Paula and I started working with technology in 1980, so we have been involved with business and personal computers from the beginning. I’m still constantly astonished by the technology we take for granted today—everyday devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops that we used to see only in science fiction. Over the decades, I’ve observed an endless parade of new technology come and go, each advancement growing old and being replaced by the newest development. Little thumb drives replaced 8” floppy disks with millions more storage capacity. Cassette tapes replaced records; CDs replaced tapes; digital downloads replaced CDs. Steaming media is replacing digital files, and it will continue. The same is true with other forms of technology— Smart TVs, telephones, self-driving cars, robotic mowers, and even robotic vacuum cleaners and coffeemakers.

That’s the problem with technology. We clamber for the latest gadget or upgrade, enjoy being “cutting edge” for a few months, and then find ourselves carrying around outdated or obsolete technology. I remember when color TV was the hot item. Then it was big-screen TVs. Then LED flat screen. Then plasma. Soon, it will be augmented and virtual reality that we wear like glasses.

Everything seems to become obsolete—everything artificial, human, or earthly. Anything made out of, or dependent on, breakable parts, corruptible materials, or changing conditions will eventually break down, deteriorate, or become irrelevant. No wonder our Savior wisely warned us, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matt. 6:19). Anything subject to change or corruption is not worthy of our trust.

What’s true in the physical realm is also true in the spiritual. The author of Hebrews will make this point patently clear in chapter 8, when he demonstrates that the Mosaic covenant—established under specific conditions, for a particular people, at a particular time—was never meant to last forever. He quotes an Old Testament prophecy (Jer. 31:31-34) that anticipates the replacement of the old covenant with the new, proving to his Jewish readers that the one has become obsolete, replaced by another that will never pass away. This section ties in beautifully with what has been said about Christ’s superiority in His person and work. (Heb. 7:22), “Jesus is the one who guarantees this better covenant with God.” which assures us that whatever the new covenant includes, it is superior to everything that has come before it.

Summing up in a sort of bullet-point fashion the major subjects treated thus far, the author of Hebrews begins, “Now the main point of what we are saying is this” (8:1):

We have a great High Priest who is greater than those of the old covenant. (8:1)

Our High Priest sits in the heavens at the right hand of God. (8:1)

He ministers in the true Tabernacle made by God, not man. (8:2)

The phrase “the True Tabernacle” is not meant to contrast something genuine with something counterfeit, as if the old, earthly Tabernacle in which the Levitical priests performed sacrifices was false. Instead, the term refers to the reality behind a copy or representation. Just as a photograph of my family is merely a visual representation of my real, flesh-and-blood family, the earthly Tabernacle, and earthly priesthood represent the real, heavenly Tabernacle and heavenly priesthood.

 

Where did this heavenly Tabernacle come from? The author says the Lord Himself “pitched” that Tabernacle. Like the earthly realm, the heavenly realm is a creation of God. But whereas the earthly Tabernacle—the holy “tent of meeting,” which initially hosted Levitical priests and their sacrificial worship—was put up and taken down by human hands (Exod. 33:7; Josh. 18:1), the heavenly Tabernacle was erected by God himself. As such, while the earthly Tabernacle was self-evidently a temporary dwelling, the heavenly Tabernacle was designed to be permanent.

In Hebrews 8:3–6, the author further unpacks the distinction between the earthly and heavenly tabernacles, /the temporary and eternal,/ the changing and changeless./ The Aaronic, Levitical priesthood served in the sphere of “a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven” (8:5). The author means this quite literally, asserting that Moses commanded the earthly Tabernacle to be built as a symbolic representation of the heavenly sanctuary he saw on the mountain (Exod. 25:40; see also Acts 7:44). The earthly Tabernacle is an accurate representation—but only a model—of the heavenly reality.

Just as a shadow is cast by something of real substance, the old covenant rituals represent a more significant reality behind them. Suppose Jesus is serving as a High Priest. In that case, He must have something to offer—“gifts and sacrifices” (Heb. 8:3). But these can’t be the same as those shown in the earthly sanctuary established under Moses—the blood of animals offered on a physical altar. Had Jesus’ priestly ministry been established in the earthly copy rather than in the heavenly original, He wouldn’t even have qualified to be a priest (8:4). Jesus wasn’t from the tribe of Levi and, therefore, couldn’t offer gifts in that old covenant system “prescribed by the law” (8:4).

In 8:6, the problem is resolved. Christ is a high priest and offers “both gifts and sacrifices” (8:3), but not in the earthly Tabernacle according to the old covenant Law established by Moses. Instead, Jesus “is superior to the old one” as the eternal High Priest in a heavenly tabernacle. Logically, Christ’s “new covenant is established on better promises” (8:6).

The logic of the author’s argument in Hebrews 8:6 is powerful and compelling:

Christ is superior in His person and work because …

He has a ministry superior to that of the old covenant priesthood because …

He is the Mediator of a covenant superior to the old covenant because …

At this point in the argument, however, the final assertion—upon which everything rests—requires a biblical defense. The Jewish Christians who were the original audience of this letter were likely being wooed by unbelieving Jews who were completely loyal to their rabbis’ teachings and fervently dedicated to preserving the Mosaic covenant—including its sacrifices and priesthood. Any challenge to this system would be the target of criticism and attack. Therefore, if the author of Hebrews asserted that there had been a change in covenants with the coming of the Messiah, and if he stated that this new covenant is superior to the old, he would need to back this up with solid Scripture to prove his point.

We don’t have to read far into the opening pages of the Bible before we discover that God deals with His people through covenants. Bible scholars have often designated the God-ordained covenants as either “conditional” or “unconditional,” indicating the degree to which humans were responsible for keeping part of the deal.

For example, God’s promise to Noah to never again destroy the world by water was unconditional—God didn’t require anything of Noah to keep that promise (Gen. 9:9–11). In contrast, the covenant of the Mosaic Law was explicitly conditional because the people of Israel obligated themselves to keep all of its commands to receive temporal blessing from God and avoid the temporal curses associated with disobedience (Exod. 24:7). The Abrahamic covenant was unconditional in that God alone obligated Himself to its promises (Gen. 15:12–18). However, for any particular generation of Abraham’s descendants to experience the blessings of the covenant, they had to trust and obey (Deut. 28; see also Gen. 26:4–5).

As we span the history of God’s covenants with humanity after the Flood, we see that they all build toward the ultimate fulfillment through Jesus Christ and the new covenant, His final covenant. In His covenant with Noah, God promised never again to destroy the world by flood (Gen. 9:8–17), thus physically preserving humanity so that He may spiritually redeem His chosen ones. Later, God covenanted with Abraham to make his descendants more numerous than the stars, to give him the Promised Land, and to bless all nations through him (Gen. 12:1–3). At Mount Sinai, under Moses’ leadership, the Israelites promised to obey God’s Law, thus agreeing to the conditional covenantal terms He had stipulated (Exod. 24:3). This temporary institution of the Law would help preserve Israel as a nation until the fulfillment of Abraham’s covenant. God’s covenant with David expanded on the Abrahamic covenant, specifying that the promise of blessing made to Abraham would be mediated through the royal family of David (2 Sam. 7:12, 16; 22:51). And finally, Jesus Christ, the Mediator of “a superior covenant” (Heb. 8:6), came as the One through whom all of the covenantal promises of God would ultimately be fulfilled. After the supper, Jesus took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you” (Luke 22:20).

This is why the writer of Hebrews quotes extensively from Jeremiah 31:31–34. His point is to demonstrate from the Old Testament Scriptures themselves that the covenant under Moses was imperfect and required replacement by a new covenant that was faultless (Heb. 8:7). In this context, the term “faultless”—applied exclusively to the new covenant—does not imply that the old covenant was sinful, but that it was insufficient. It could not accomplish eternal salvation nor bring about perfect righteousness. It was adequate for what it was meant to do—to serve as a standard and reminder of human sinfulness (Rom. 7:7; Heb. 10:3) and to hold back wickedness among God’s people until the coming of the Messiah (Gal. 3:19). However, as a means of bringing everlasting righteousness, it was insufficient. The new covenant with Israel and Judah would not be like the old covenant established at Sinai after the Exodus (Heb. 8:8–9). Indeed, if it was to be a superior covenant, it couldn’t be like the Mosaic covenant that was so easily broken repeatedly.

Using the author’s quote from Jeremiah 31, Hebrews 8:10–12 gives at least four ways the new covenant is superior to the old, thus rendering the old covenant obsolete with its laws, priesthood, Tabernacle, and sacrifices.

First, the new covenant offers internal motivation and power instead of external lists (Heb. 8:10). The old covenant, with hundreds of commandments, statutes, and ordinances, was addressed to a people with hard, unregenerate hearts. They were obligated to keep the stipulations of this covenant whether they felt like it or not. The motivations to obey were external consequences in the form of rewards for obedience and punishments for disobedience (Deut. 28). In stark contrast, however, the new covenant involves an internal transformation by which the laws are written on people’s hearts. Submission to God and His will comes as a result of faith and love, not fear of judgment.

Second, the new covenant is based on a close relationship instead of a distant fear (Heb. 8:10). God gave the commandments, statutes, and ordinances to the people of Israel from a place of remote distance—from the top of Mount Sinai, through Moses, on tablets of stone, and from the lips of the priests and prophets. The people did not enjoy a close, Father-child relationship with God because of their constant disobedience within the old covenant system. In contrast, the new covenant involves a new relationship of intimacy, fellowship, and mutuality—more similar to Moses’ unique “face-to-face” relationship with God, described as “as one speaks to a friend” (Exod. 33:11).

 

Third, the new covenant provides confidence and assurance instead of insecurity and uncertainty (Heb. 8:11). In the old covenant system, some within the nation of Israel knew the Lord intimately and personally—in a saving sense—as Father and Friend, others in Israel knew Him only as the Judge and Lawgiver who would smite them if they sinned. In other words, the situation under the old covenant was that of a “mixed company” of both believers and unbelievers—all marked by the external sign of circumcision, but not all having experienced the “circumcision of the heart” (Deut. 10:16; Jer. 4:4). In contrast, people enter into the new covenant community not by the external sign of circumcision, but by the inner transformation of the new birth. This means each member of the new covenant community can have confidence in their relationship with God, knowing Him intimately and loving Him truly. This brings assurance of salvation and security concerning our place in the family of God, a family of brothers and sisters with one heavenly Father.

Fourth, the new covenant emphasizes forgiveness and mercy instead of failure and wrongdoing (Heb. 8:12). The iniquities and sins that—without the sacrificial system—separated an unholy, guilty people from a holy, perfect God was no basis for an eternal relationship. When you read the history of Israel under the old covenant, it seems that if it wasn’t one step forward and two steps back, it was two steps forward followed by a stumble and fall! In contrast, the new covenant erases the sin and guilt of God’s people once and for all time. Through the work of Christ, they are the recipients of His mercy and grace…and their sins will never be brought to mind.

All of these striking marks of the superiority of the new covenant over the old send a clear and compelling message: The new covenant renders the old covenant “obsolete” (8:13). Though the priesthood and sacrificial system were still in operation at the time the letter to the Hebrews was written, the inauguration of the new covenant through the coming of the Messiah meant that the old covenant was “growing old” and was “ready to disappear.” It would disappear in a most dramatic, violent manner when the Roman army destroyed the temple and ended its sacrifices during the Jewish revolt in AD 70.

The good news of the superior new covenant starkly contrasts with the bad news of our sinfulness revealed by the old covenant Law. The bad news is that every one of us has made a mess of our lives and has fallen short of the glory of God, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Rom. 3:23). The Law functions as a mirror to reveal our sins, but it can only condemn. It can’t cleanse. Only Jesus, the Mediator of a better covenant, can take away the stains of sin revealed by the Law. That’s the powerful, superior grace and mercy of the new covenant that the tablets of the Law could never accomplish. Let’s take another look at the four ways in which the new covenant is superior to the old, asking how these wonderful truths apply to each of us personally.

First, because the new covenant provides motivation and power, we can have confidence that God’s Spirit within us can overcome our weaknesses and inadequacies. We remember that trusting and obeying Him isn’t done in our own fleshly strength. God works in us to shape our desires and accomplish what He wills (Phil. 2:12–13). We’re not asked to conjure up halfhearted obedience performed with a begrudging grin, but God himself produces spiritual fruit through His abiding Spirit—"love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control” (Gal....

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2255 of our trek. The purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I will guide you through the vast landscapes of biblical wisdom. It’s a joy to have you join me on this journey. Today, our exploration takes us into the profound insights of Proverbs 16:22-27 from the New Living Translation.

As we delve into these verses, let’s seek the timeless wisdom that can guide us in cultivating wisdom, managing our words, and navigating the complexities of life with integrity.

Without further delay, let’s dive into the wisdom of Proverbs.

This verse places a high value on discretion, likening it to a life-giving fountain. However, it also cautions that discipline is wasted on those who are foolish.

So, what’s the solution to cultivating discretion and avoiding the pitfalls of foolishness?

Cultivate Discretion: Recognize the life-giving nature of discretion. Seek to cultivate discretion in your decision-making and actions. Additionally, discern when discipline is necessary and effective, avoiding wasted efforts on those who are unresponsive.

Now, let’s explore verse 23.

This verse draws a connection between the wisdom of the heart and the prudence of one’s speech, emphasizing the promotion of instruction through wise communication.

How can we align our hearts with wisdom to promote instruction through our words?

Cultivate Wise Hearts and Words: Recognize the correlation between a wise heart and prudent speech. Cultivate wisdom within your heart, and let your words become a vehicle for promoting instruction and understanding.

Verse 24 speaks to the positive impact of gracious words.

This verse beautifully describes gracious words’ sweetness and healing nature, likening them to a honeycomb.

How can we make gracious words a consistent part of our communication?

Embrace Gracious Communication: Recognize the sweetness and healing power of gracious words. Make a conscious effort to embrace gracious communication, allowing your words to bring sweetness to the soul and healing to the bones.

Now, let’s explore verse 25.

This verse cautions about the deceptive nature of paths that may seem right but ultimately lead to destruction.

How can we discern the right path amidst the deceptive choices?

Seek God’s Guidance: Recognize the potential deception of paths that seem right. Seek God’s guidance and align your choices with His principles. In doing so, you’ll navigate the complexities of life on a path that leads to fulfillment rather than destruction.

Now, let’s turn our attention to verse 26.

This verse highlights the advantageous nature of a laborer’s appetite, driving them to work diligently and persevere.

How can we harness the drive and perseverance described in this verse?

Embrace a Strong Work Ethic: Recognize the advantageous nature of a strong work ethic. Allow your hunger for success and achievement to drive you forward in your endeavors. Embrace diligence and perseverance in your work.

And finally, let’s explore verse 27.

This verse warns about the destructive nature of scoundrels, emphasizing the trouble they create with their words.

How can we guard ourselves against the destructive words of scoundrels?

Guard Against Destructive Influence: Recognize the potential harm that can come from the words of scoundrels. Guard yourself against their destructive influence, and be discerning about your relationships and conversations.

And there you have it, my friends, a profound exploration of Proverbs 16:22-27 from the New Living Translation. These verses offer us timeless wisdom for cultivating discretion, promoting instruction through wise communication, and navigating life with integrity and diligence.

As we continue our journey through the pages of the Bible, remember that the wisdom it offers is our guiding light in navigating the complexities of life. Until next time, keep seeking God’s wisdom and make it a part of your daily trek.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!

Putnam Church Message – 07/17/2023

We continued our extended series three weeks ago through the book of Hebrews in the New Testament. Our focus compared Melchizedek and Messiah. We saw that the Messiah was a priest and king in the order of Melchizedek. In doing so, we noticed that the Levitical priesthood was replaced by our great High Priest Jesus Christ.

This week, the comparison between the Levitical and Melchizedekian priesthood will continue. Jesus Christ established a perfect and permanent priesthood as our Great High Priest.

Let’s read Hebrews 7:18-28.

and will not change his mind:

‘You are a priest forever.’”

Sometimes, you can’t tell the actual quality of something without comparing it with something else. A cotton bed sheet with a thread count of 200 may feel like silk to the touch … until you hold a sheet with a thread count of 800 in your other hand. A television screen with a medium resolution might seem crisp … until you place it beside a state-of-the-art high-definition screen. And one pair of corrective lenses might make the letters in front of you appear crystal clear … until the optometrist contrasts it with an even better match for your nearsightedness. In all these cases, only by comparing two examples can a person see which is superior and which is inferior.

In the first part of Hebrews 7, the writer of Hebrews asserts that the priesthood of Jesus Christ, which was established according to the order of Melchizedek, is superior to that of Aaron and the Levites. The second part of Hebrews 7 builds on that foundation, pointing out that Jesus—our perfect and permanent High Priest—greatly exceeds all others. The author accomplishes this demonstration of the superior priesthood of Christ by placing His priesthood beside that of the Levites. When he does, the superior far outshines the inferior in His character, permanence, and work. Only through the superior priesthood of Christ can a person indeed draw near to God.

To a large degree, the first point of comparison in 7:18–19 sets the pattern for the rest of the discussion. It establishes the profound implications and practical application of the superiority of Christ’s priesthood over the priesthood of the Old Testament. In the original Greek text, the author uses a common device for contrasting two elements: men…de often translated, “on the one hand…but on the other…” If you have watched the musical Fiddler on the Roof, there is a perfect portrayal of this in that play. Let’s watch a clip of one of those scenes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oSK6l24buk. On the one hand, the author argues, the Law was set aside because of “its weakness and uselessness” at providing genuine access to God and a means of spiritual growth—“for the Law made nothing perfect” (7:18–19). On the other hand, with the installation of Christ’s priesthood, “a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God” (7:19).

It is this access to God—not the accumulation of religious merit—that transforms us from the inside out. Nothing could be more profoundly practical for lost sinners like us. Knowing God and having personal access to Him are the hallmarks of true religion. Therefore, fallen humanity needs a reliable bridge to span the chasm separating sinful humans from a holy, righteous God. That bridge of mediation between God and humankind is Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 2:5). “For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.” Through Him, we have access to God (John 14:6). “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’”

But wasn’t that also the function of the Old Testament priesthood? Weren’t they, in a sense, bridges to a relationship with God? Didn’t they point the way, turn worshipers’ attention to their Creator, and mediate His blessings? Aren’t the Old Testament priesthood and the priesthood of Jesus just two different bridges leading to the same place? As Paula’s mom would often say, “Isn’t it just ‘six of one, half a dozen of the other’?” The author of Hebrews answers these lingering questions with a resounding “NO!” Not only are the priesthoods not the same, but Christ’s priesthood is absolutely superior to that of the Levites.

The author continues his study in contrast by comparing the Levitical priests under the Mosaic system with Jesus, our great High Priest, according to the order of Melchizedek. Four significant comparisons stand out.

In Hebrews 7:21, the author emphasizes the fact that Christ’s Melchizedekian priesthood was established by a divine oath, as found in Psalm 110:4. In light of this, Jesus Christ has become the guarantee of a covenantal arrangement superior to that of Moses (Heb. 7:22). The key word in this verse is “guarantee,” which conveys both meanings of guarantor and mediator. The Greek word engyos “is used for someone who puts up bail for someone charged with an offense; that person guarantees that the one accused will appear at the trial.” Because Christ is superior in His priesthood, those who place their trust in Him are guaranteed a better kind of salvation.

Thus, Christ’s permanent priesthood means that we who have come to the Father through the mediating work of the Son are saved forever. Because He lives forever, we will live forever. We sinful mortals are in perpetual need of a mediating high priest; Christ is a perpetual, perfect High Priest. What a great reminder of our eternal security in Jesus Christ! “Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him” (25).

In light of verse 25, how were Old Testament persons saved?

The comparison between Christ’s eternal priesthood and the Levites under the Old Covenant raises the critical question of how Old Testament saints were saved. Were they saved by obeying the Law and sacrificing animals? Did the old system save them temporarily until Christ came to save them permanently? Were there two ways of salvation—one through the imperfect sacrificial system, the other by grace through faith in Christ’s sacrifice? Some people mistakenly believe that the Old Testament saints were saved and bound for heaven by obeying the Law and seeking forgiveness through animal sacrifices when they fell short. However, as Hebrews makes clear, only Christ is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him (Heb. 7:25); furthermore, Hebrews 10:4 says categorically, “For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

Christians need to understand that under the Mosaic covenant, with its laws and its sacrificial system, God never promised eternal life in heaven for those who were faithful to the covenant. Instead, the promises to Israel were earthly and temporal. God said to Israel (Exod. 19:5–6). “Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6 And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.” And in Deuteronomy 28:1–2, Moses declared, “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God.” The blessings for obedience listed are related to their safe, secure, bountiful lives in the Promised Land (Deut. 28:3–14). Not a single line offers them eternal salvation in heaven for obedience. Likewise, the list of curses resulting from breaking the covenant contains no threat of eternal punishment in hell—only temporal judgments on the earth, including death and destruction (Deut. 28:15–68).

Just as the Law gave no provision for earning eternal salvation in heaven, neither did the sacrificial system provide eternal payment for sin. Instead, the “forgiveness” gained through the sacrificial system was also earthly and temporal. Under the old covenant, disobedience to the Law would bring temporal curses instead of blessings. However, God provided a means of temporal forgiveness through the sacrifices offered in sincerity and repentance. These would result not in eternal salvation of the soul, but in turning away the temporal judgments that should have come upon Israel for their disobedience.

How, then, were Old Testament saints eternally saved, born again, and sealed for heaven? The Bible clarifies that eternal salvation has always come by grace through faith (Rom. 4:1–15). Eternal salvation has never been earned by works, by obeying the Law (Gal. 2:21), or by animal sacrifices (Heb. 10:4). Rather, eternal salvation has always been based on the atoning work of Christ (Rom. 3:21–26).

Of course, the Old Testament saints under the Mosaic covenant didn’t have the complete story that came with the revelation of Jesus Christ in the Incarnation, Crucifixion, and Resurrection. However, they had prophecies, promises, and pictures of the ultimate salvation that would come through the future Messiah (Rom. 1:1–4; 1 Pet. 1:10–12). They could therefore exercise simple, childlike faith in God’s goodness, mercy, and promises (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3). Their salvation, like ours, was by grace through faith, not by works. As theologian, Charles Ryrie famously put it, “The basis of salvation in every age is the death of Christ; the requirement for salvation in every age is faith; the object of faith in every age is God; but the content of faith changes in the various dispensations.”

The salvation provided under the old priesthood related to the restoration of covenantal fellowship. That is, if they obeyed the Law, they would receive temporal blessings in the Promised Land—bountiful crops, freedom from sickness and disease, protection from enemies, and provision in the land. However, the salvation provided by Christ under His eternal priesthood relates to these fancy $2 words: justification, sanctification, and glorification—including resurrection and eternal life with God. One receives eternal salvation by simply exercising faith in Christ’s person and work.

Finally, Hebrews 7:26–28 gives three additional reasons for Christ’s superiority over the Old Testament priesthood, all related to His person and work. First, Jesus is superior because He is sinless (7:26). That is, He is superior in His very nature: one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens (7:26). Not a single member of the Levitical priesthood could claim such a status. As Brown notes, “The former priesthood stressed the importance of outward cleansing and ritual purity, but Christ’s priesthood is effective because of his inward moral purity and his sinless perfection.”

Second, Jesus is superior because His sacrifice was offered once for all (7:27). That is, He is superior in His work as Priest. Being perfectly holy, He didn’t need to offer animal sacrifices for His own purification and for the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself (7:27). Jesus Christ was Himself the sacrifice. He stretched Himself out over that altar and offered His life to atone for sin (9:24–28; 10:11–14). No other priest could take that role of the sacrificial lamb. Each one of them was sinful and in need of a sacrifice. Jesus alone was the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29; Isa. 53:7–12).

Third, Jesus is superior because He is the perfect, powerful Son of God (Heb. 7:28). The Law of Moses appointed imperfect, weak men as priests in a temporary system put in place until the coming of the great High Priest. In the meantime, though, by the lips of David, God made an oath that the Messiah would come with a superior priesthood after the order of Melchizedek (Ps. 110:4). This Messiah would be no mere, sinful human, but the perfect, powerful Son of God with a permanent priesthood—Jesus our great High Priest.

In pagan ancient Rome, a priest who served as a mediator between the people and their gods was given the title “pontifex.” Though the origin of the Latin word Pontifex is shrouded by the mists of ancient history, many believe it comes from two Latin words, pons (bridge) and facere (to make). This notion may have been related to rites of sacrifices and offerings made upon a bridge. Others interpret the root of Pontifex as referring to the priestly function of creating a bridge between gods and the people. Though the Roman Catholic Church has pasted the label Pontifex Maximus, or “supreme bridge-maker,” on the Pope, this title correctly belongs to Christ and Christ alone. Apart from Christ, there is no need for a priesthood, Pontifex, or bridge-maker between God and man.

If we’re separated from God by what seems to be an unbridgeable chasm of sin, Christ alone is our good news. We can reach God and know God through Jesus Christ, our permanent Pontifex. He is the perfect High Priest, the Bridge over the broiling waters of sin that separate us from the heavenly shores of a holy God.

This idea of Christ as the Bridge—between sinful humanity and our holy God—has become a helpful way of thinking about (and communicating) the gospel of salvation. As a reminder for us as well as a motivator to share this simple good news with others, let’s consider five ways in which Christ serves as our perfect, permanent “Bridge-builder.”

All humanity is separated from God, and each person is under judgment because of sin (John 3:17–21, 36; see also Rom. 3:23; 6:23; Heb. 9:27).

The many statements made by Jesus about eternal life indicate there is a solution to this separation from God (for example, John 5:24).

Humans attempt to build their own bridges to God (John 1:12–13). However, Jesus declared that He alone is the Way (John 14:6; Eph. 2:8–9).

Jesus is the Way because of who He is: God and man (John 1:14) and an unblemished Lamb (John 1:36) … and because of what He has done: He died (John 6:51; see also Rom. 5:8) and rose from the dead (Luke 24:5–7; John 11:25).

Jesus calls on us to respond to this message—to hear and believe (John 5:24). By simple faith, we receive the message (John 1:12) and are born again by God’s Spirit (John 3:3). Whoever believes in Him will be saved (John 3:16).

Do you know God through Jesus Christ, our only perfect Pontifex? Or have you tried to build your own bridge to Him through good works, rites, rituals, church membership, or other man-made means? If you know Him, are you drawing nearer to God through our exclusive Way; or have you resorted to a flimsy religion built by dos and don’ts, self-righteous works, or legalistic rituals? Finally, if you know the good news of the perfect Pontifex, and if you truly know God and are drawing near to Him, are you sharing this good news with others? Have you taken the hand of an unbeliever stuck on the wrong side of the chasm and carefully walked them through God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ?

Only through Christ can we reach God and know Him. Speaking with His disciples, “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me,” (John 14:6). He alone is our “pontifex maximus”—the perfect, permanent High Priest who grants eternal access to God.

Next week, we will continue our adventure through Hebrews as we turn from Christ as our perfect High Priest to His promise in a lesson titled, Christ Covenant…New and Never Obsolete. So please read Hebrews 8:1-13 in preparation for next week.

As we continue our journey through the pages of the Bible, remember that the wisdom it offers is our guiding light in navigating the complexities of life. Until next time, keep seeking God’s wisdom and make it a part of your daily trek.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

...

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2253 of our trek. The purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I will guide you through the vast landscapes of biblical wisdom. It’s a pleasure to have you join me on this journey. Today, our exploration takes us into the profound insights of Proverbs 16:15 - 21 from the New Living Translation.

As we delve into these verses, let’s seek the timeless wisdom that can guide us in understanding the importance of a king’s favor, the value of wisdom, and the impact of a gentle spirit.

So strap on those hiking boots, and let’s explore the wisdom of Proverbs.

This verse paints a vivid picture of the life-giving impact of a king’s favor. It’s compared to the refreshing nature of spring rain.

So, what’s the solution to gaining favor, not just with kings, but in our daily interactions?

Cultivate Favorable Relationships: Recognize the value of favor in relationships. Whether with kings or everyday encounters, cultivate a spirit that brings refreshment and life to those around you.

Now, let’s explore verse 16.

This verse places a premium on the value of wisdom and insight, emphasizing their worth above material riches.

How can we prioritize wisdom in our lives?

Prioritize Wisdom over Wealth: Recognize the surpassing value of wisdom over material riches. Prioritize the pursuit of wisdom and insight, understanding that their worth exceeds that of gold and silver.

Verse 17 speaks to the importance of humility.

This verse highlights the correlation between upright living, avoiding evil, and preserving life.

How can we apply this wisdom to our lives?

Embrace Upright Living and Humility: Recognize the importance of upright living and humility in avoiding evil and preserving life. Guard your ways with a humble heart, steering clear of the destructive paths of wrongdoing.

Now, let’s explore verse 18.

This verse delivers a profound truth about the dangers of pride and haughtiness, warning of the destructive consequences that follow.

How can we safeguard ourselves from the pitfalls of pride?

Guard Against Pride: Recognize the destructive nature of pride and arrogance. Guard against these pitfalls, understanding that they precede destruction and a fall. Cultivate humility as a shield against these dangers.

Now, let’s turn our attention to verse 19.

This verse contrasts the value of humble living with the poor against the perilous path of sharing plunder with the proud.

What’s the key takeaway here?

Choose Humble Living: Recognize the superiority of humble living with the poor over the risky choice of sharing in the ill-gotten gains of the proud. Choose a humble life marked by integrity and simplicity.

Now, let’s explore verse 20.

This verse extols the benefits of heeding instructions and placing trust in the Lord, linking them to prosperity and blessings.

How can we position ourselves for prosperity and blessings?

Heed Instruction and Trust in the Lord: Recognize the correlation between prosperity, blessings, and heeding instruction while trusting in the Lord. Position yourself for success by seeking wisdom and trusting in the guidance of the Lord.

And finally, let’s explore verse 21.

This verse highlights the connection between wisdom, discernment, and the promotion of instruction through gracious words.

How can we embody wisdom and promote instruction in our interactions?

Cultivate Wisdom and Gracious Words: Recognize that wisdom is accompanied by discernment, and gracious words promote instruction. Cultivate wisdom in your heart, and let your words be a source of grace that encourages learning and growth.

And there you have it, my friends, a profound exploration of Proverbs 16:15 - 21 from the New Living Translation. These verses offer us timeless wisdom for cultivating favor, prioritizing wisdom, and embracing humility and graciousness in our interactions.

As we continue our journey through the pages of the Bible, remember that the wisdom it offers is our guiding light in navigating the complexities of life. Until next time, keep seeking God’s wisdom and make it a part of your daily trek.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2252 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I will guide you through the vast landscapes of biblical wisdom. It’s a joy to have you join me on this journey. Today, our exploration takes us into the heart of Proverbs 16:8-14 from the New Living Translation.

As we delve into these verses, let’s seek the timeless wisdom that can guide us in managing our finances, cultivating a humble spirit, and navigating the complexities of leadership.

Without further delay, let’s dive into the wisdom of Proverbs.

Verse 8:

This verse sets the stage for our exploration, highlighting the value of godliness over dishonest wealth.

So, what’s the solution to aligning our priorities with godliness?

Prioritize Godliness over Wealth: Recognize the greater value of godliness over dishonest wealth. Choose a life marked by integrity and godly principles, even if it means having less material wealth.

Now, let’s explore verse 9.

This verse echoes a familiar theme—the acknowledgment of our ability to make plans, yet the ultimate determination of our steps by the Lord.

How can we apply this wisdom to our lives?

Surrender Plans to the Lord: Recognize the sovereignty of the Lord in determining your steps. While you can make plans, surrender them to the Lord, trusting His guidance for your journey.

Verse 10 speaks to the importance of godly leadership.

This verse highlights the responsibility of leaders, emphasizing the need for divine wisdom and fair judgment.

How can we foster godly leadership in our lives?

Embrace Divine Wisdom and Fair Judgment: Whether in positions of leadership or influence, seek divine wisdom and commit to fair judgment. Leaders who prioritize these qualities contribute to a more just and equitable society.

Now, let’s explore verse 11.

This verse underscores the importance of honesty and fairness in financial dealings, as the Lord demands accurate scales and balances.

How can we uphold honesty in our financial transactions?

Uphold Honesty in Finances: Recognize the Lord’s standards for fairness in financial dealings. Commit to using accurate scales and balances, upholding honesty and integrity in all financial transactions.

Now, let’s turn our attention to verse 12.

This verse emphasizes the foundational role of righteousness in establishing a throne and condemns wicked deeds, especially from those in positions of authority.

What’s the key takeaway here?

Establish Righteousness in Leadership: Recognize the abomination of wicked deeds, especially in positions of authority. Uphold righteousness in leadership, knowing that a throne is established on the foundation of righteousness.

Now, let’s explore verse 13.

This verse highlights the value of honesty and right speech, especially in the eyes of kings and leaders.

How can we cultivate honesty in our speech?

Cultivate Honest Speech: Recognize the value of honest lips and speaking what is right. Cultivate a habit of honesty in your speech, knowing that it holds intrinsic value, especially in the eyes of leaders.

And finally, let’s explore verse 14.

This verse speaks to the potential danger of a king’s anger and encourages wisdom in seeking to appease it.

How can we apply this wisdom in our interactions with authority figures?

Exercise Wisdom in Interactions: Recognize the potential threat of anger, especially from those in authority. Exercise wisdom in your interactions, seeking to appease where possible and navigating conflicts with prudence.

And there you have it, my friends, a profound exploration of Proverbs 16:8-14 from the New Living Translation. These verses offer us timeless wisdom for managing our finances, cultivating godly leadership, and navigating the complexities of authority.

As we continue our journey through the pages of the Bible, remember that the wisdom it offers is our guiding light in navigating the complexities of life. Until next time, keep seeking God’s wisdom and make it a part of your daily trek.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!

Putnam Church Message – 06/25/2023

Last, we continued our extended series through the book of Hebrews in the New Testament. Our focus switched from the strong warnings from the previous week, and we looked at “The Brighter Side” of our journey that we, as believers, need to mature spiritually.

This week, we will drill down on that elusive and mysterious figure in the Old Testament, also a contemporary of Abraham. Long before God established the priesthood of His chosen people, we see a King and High Priest named Melchizedek.

Today’s message will be more academic due to the content as we probe the similarities and differences between Melchizedek and Jesus Christ. We will see that the author uses a series of building blocks to build and support his arguments.

Let’s take a little road trip first. We, as a family, have taken several road trips throughout our life. There may have been a time or two when they were just “joy rides” to explore unfamiliar scenery, but most of the time, we had a specific destination on the itinerary along with a basic ETA. Our trips were almost always business-related, but we added side trips to places of interest. Depending on where we were going and the trip's purpose, we would most often take the fastest, most direct route—usually an interstate with a high speed limit. Occasionally, we would take “the scenic route”—winding back roads, frequent slow zones through sleepy towns, and occasional stops at historical markers or scenic overlooks. Scenic routes are never the fastest, most efficient roads to the destination but are almost always the most interesting.

Like most of our travels, the author's goal of Hebrews is clear and straightforward, with a fixed destination in mind: to demonstrate that Christ is superior in His person and work. Sometimes, in his treatment of this central theme, the writer takes a straight, direct route to his destination, as he did with the explicit, straightforward language of Christ’s power and deity in Chapter 1. However, at other times, the writer takes the scenic route, meandering through a variety of sometimes-obscure Old Testament passages, slowing down to employ methods of explanation very familiar to his first-century Jewish audience, but unfamiliar to most of us in the twenty-first century. In doing so, he stops to explore intricate parallels, comparisons, and contrasts.

Hebrews 7:1–17 is one such scenic route, often challenging for us to follow because of significant differences between the original audience and our 21st-century mindset. The original audience consisted of men and women of Jewish heritage who had come to embrace Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah. Most of us are Gentiles who accepted Jesus as the world's Savior but weren’t raised in Jewish culture and tradition. The original audience was intimately familiar with Old Testament imagery of the Law, the priesthood, sacrifices, and temple worship. Many had been personally involved in these Jewish practices most of their lives. We, however—whether Jews or Gentiles—have never been involved in sacrifices or temple worship. We know about these things only from the pages of Scripture and historical sources. Finally, first-century Jews would have been very familiar with the various ways their rabbis elaborated the Old Testament, using unique techniques that often seem strange to us today but were common in the first century.

We encounter a very Jewish approach to the Old Testament in the author’s portrayal of Psalm 110:4—“The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” Many of us today have trouble pronouncing “Melchizedek” (Mel-KI-ze-dek). Most can’t spell it. Few could recount his story in the Old Testament. And my guess is, almost nobody—without the help of the author of Hebrews—could expound upon how Jesus Christ is a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

In a way that would speak most directly to its original Jewish readers, Hebrews 7:1–17 explores the comparisons between the biblical figure Melchizedek and our eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ. Those first-century recipients of the letter to the Hebrews had become soft regarding the Messiah’s superiority. They had become disillusioned and disoriented because of persecution, leading many to return to their traditional roots: Abraham, the Mosaic Law, the Levitical priesthood, animal sacrifices, and the rabbis’ traditional interpretations of the Old Testament. The book of Hebrews argues that Christ is the center and goal of Old Testament revelation—whether in direct messianic prophecies, prophetic anticipation, or even foreshadowing figures, as in the case of the mysterious Melchizedek. Though he takes the scenic route, the author’s destination is clear: With the coming of the Messiah, a new era has dawned, leaving the old system of Judaism in the rearview mirror.

Let’s read Hebrews 7:1–3: This Melchizedek was king of Salem and Priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

The mysterious figure Melchizedek is the reference point for the writer’s explanation in Hebrews 7:1–17. The author’s key passage is Psalm 110:4, which he has already quoted in Hebrews 5:6 to demonstrate that Christ is our heavenly High Priest. However, in Hebrews 7, he explains how Christ’s Melchizedekian priesthood is superior to Aaron's, which came later. We should recall the author saying this subject, “but it is hard to make it clear” to his dull readers (5:11).

In 7:1–3, the author begins the account by pointing out some similarities between the brief history of Melchizedek in Genesis 14:18–20 and the person of Christ. The author’s point is that what Melchizedek was in the biblical narrative, Christ is in His very nature. The key to understanding how Hebrews uses the brief scene of Melchizedek is actually found in Hebrews 7:3. The author of Hebrews interprets the way Moses described Melchizedek in Genesis 14 to clarify that Melchizedek was “resembling the Son of God.” The word translated as “resembling” is apho/moi/oō and means “to make something resemble another thing.” This doesn’t mean that Melchizedek was in his nature the Son of God or that he was in his nature eternal, divine, angelic, or heavenly. Instead, it means that in the text of Scripture (that is, in the narrative), the description of Melchizedek displays some striking similarities that serve as a “type,” “foreshadowing,” or “illustration” of the true eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ.

So what are these similarities, as highlighted by the author of Hebrews?

First, they are similar in the fact that they are both kings and priests. Melchizedek was the king of Salem (Gen. 14:18; Heb. 7:1), reigning over the city that would later be called Jerusalem (Ps. 76:2). Similarly, Jesus Christ is King—not only of Jerusalem, but of Israel, the world, and all creation (Matt. 19:28; Rev. 1:5). Melchizedek was also “priest of God Most High” (Gen. 14:18; Heb. 7:1). Similarly, Jesus Christ is our High Priest who makes intercession for us (Heb. 2:17; 3:1; 4:14–15; 5:1, 5, 10). So, what Melchizedek was in the narrative, Christ is in His nature.

Second, there are parallels between the names “Melchizedek” and “Salem” on the one hand and Christ’s work as King on the other. Employing a typical Jewish play on words, the author of Hebrews notes that the name “Melchizedek” itself seems to point forward in a way to Jesus Christ (7:2). The name comes from two Hebrew words, melek, meaning “king,” and tsedeq, meaning “righteousness.” “Salem” refers to the word shalom, meaning “peace.”

Together, the name and title of this mysterious figure in Genesis 14 is “king of righteousness, king of peace” (Heb. 7:2). But what Melchizedek is in the narrative, Jesus Christ is in His nature—He is Righteousness incarnate (in the flesh) (1 Cor. 1:30) and the embodiment of Peace (Eph. 2:14).

Third, the way in which Melchizedek appears in the narrative of Genesis 14 suggests additional similarities with Christ. We would expect Melchizedek to have been introduced in the biblical story with impressive credentials or a prestigious pedigree as a priest and a king. Instead, the scant historical record in Genesis 14:18–20 does not mention his parentage, ancestry, progeny, birth, or death. He appeared as if out of nowhere, brought out “bread and wine,” and pronounced a priestly blessing over Abraham, who responded by giving Melchizedek a tenth of the spoils of his recent battle (Gen. 14:18–20; Heb. 7:1–2). This mysterious high Priest of Salem appears in the text, as it were; (Heb. 7:3-NLT); there is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors—no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God. Of course, as a mortal man, Melchizedek had been born and did die. Still, as a biblical figure, what Melchizedek is in the narrative (without recorded beginning or end), Christ is in His nature (without actual beginning or end).

In these ways, the author of Hebrews argues that Melchizedek foreshadowed the coming of the Son of God. As such, David can later declare of the future Messiah, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Ps. 110:4). What Melchizedek was in the narrative, the Messiah is in His nature—Jesus is a Priest and King, Righteousness, and Peace incarnate, eternal in His deity, and ever able to serve as High Priest in heaven.

 

Let’s read Hebrews 7:4–10.

Having shown the ways in which Melchizedek served as a fitting type for Christ and how Jesus can be viewed as having a priesthood “according to the order of Melchizedek” (7:1–3), the author of Hebrews now takes the next careful step in his argument toward demonstrating the superiority of Christ as the fulfillment of Old Testament expectations. To do so, he demonstrates that Melchizedek himself was greater even than Abraham, the founding father of the Hebrew people and the original recipient of the foundational covenant. Here are two ways the argument that Melchizedek is greater than Abraham is supported.

First, when Abraham encountered Melchizedek after winning a battle against his enemies, he gave the Priest one-tenth (or a “tithe”) of all his spoils of war (Gen. 14:20; Heb. 7:4). The author parks at this point and draws some interesting implications from Abraham’s payment of tithes to Melchizedek. He points out that in the Law of Moses, the Levitical priesthood received tithes from the people of Israel—that is, the descendants of Abraham (7:5). However, because Abraham was the ancient ancestor of the Levites, when he paid his tithe to Melchizedek centuries earlier, in a sense, the Levitical priests, who were genetically “in Abraham,” paid tithes to Melchizedek. And, as F. F. Bruce notes, “the tithe which Abraham gave to Melchizedek was received by one who, as far as the record goes, has no ‘end of life.’” Thus, Melchizedek was greater than Abraham and, by implication, Melchizedek’s priesthood was greater than the priesthood of the Levites, descended from Abraham (7:9–10).

Second, Melchizedek blessed Abraham, the one who possessed the promises of God (Gen. 14:19–20; Heb. 7:6). Hughes notes, “In a formal Biblical blessing, the superior always blesses the inferior.” The author of Hebrews notes that such order of rank and propriety of blessing is “without any dispute” (7:7). This is not to say that Melchizedek occupied a place of superior nature to Abraham. After all, they were both humans. But the priest-king of Salem occupied a position of greater spiritual authority than Abraham: ‘greater’ indicates a person of greater status, prominence, or rank.” By implication, Melchizedek’s priesthood was superior to the priesthood of the Levites, who were still “in the body” of Abraham (Heb. 7:10).

The details of the author’s argument may seem strange to us today, but rest assured that his original Hebrew readers would have understood its intricacies—assuming they had snapped out of their mental “slumber” and were ready to hear some meaty discussion of Scripture (cf. Heb. 5:11). Even though we may have some trouble following the writer’s detailed, step-by-step explanation, we should have no trouble seeing the thrust of his argument:

With this logical argument, we are but two small steps away from the entire point regarding the superiority of Christ’s person and work.

Because Melchizedek is greater than the Levitical priests, Melchizedek’s priesthood—which existed long before the Law of Moses—is greater than the Levitical priesthood established under Moses.

Because the Messiah’s priesthood is of the “order of Melchizedek” (110:4; Heb. 7:17), the Messiah’s priesthood is greater than the priesthood of the Levites under the Law of Moses.

What a powerful argument for the author’s waffling audience! Remember, the original recipients of this letter had been tempted to back away from their complete trust in the Messiah as their great High Priest and find significance again in the Levitical priesthood with its continual sacrifices and rituals. But the writer’s point is that there was another priestly order superior to the Levitical line fathered by Aaron, the first high Priest of Israel. It was the order of Melchizedek, a king-priest who foreshadowed a still greater future King and Priest, Jesus Christ.

Now let’s finish today’s passage Hebrews 7:11–17.

in the order of Melchizedek.

The author furthers his argument by pointing out an implication of David’s prophecy concerning a future messianic priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek (Ps. 110:4). Through this prophecy, God demonstrated that it was necessary for “another priest to arise” who was not part of the order of Aaron (Heb. 7:11). The audience of the letter to the Hebrews had to deal with the...

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2250 of our trek. The purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I will guide you through the vast landscapes of biblical wisdom. It’s always a pleasure to have you join me on this journey. Today, our exploration takes us into the profound insights of Proverbs 16:1-7 from the New Living Translation.

As we delve into these verses, let’s seek the timeless wisdom that can guide us in making wise decisions, and understanding the balance between human plans and divine direction.

Without further delay, let’s dive into the wisdom of Proverbs.

Verse 1:

This verse sets the tone for our exploration, acknowledging our ability to make plans while recognizing the ultimate guidance and direction that comes from the Lord.

So, what’s the solution to harmonizing our plans with God’s guidance?

Align Plans with God’s Guidance: Acknowledge your ability to make plans, but seek the Lord’s guidance for the right answers. Let His divine direction shape your plans.

Now, let’s explore Verse 2.

This verse reminds us that while we may perceive ourselves as pure, the Lord examines the motives of our hearts.

How can we apply this wisdom to our lives?

Examine Your Motives: Recognize the importance of examining your motives before the Lord. Seek purity not only in actions but also in the intentions of your heart.

Verse 3 speaks to the importance of committing our plans to the Lord.

This verse provides a clear principle—success in our plans comes from committing our actions to the Lord.

What’s the key takeaway here?

Commit to the Lord: Recognize that true success comes from committing your actions to the Lord. Trust Him with your plans, and you’ll find the path to success.

Now, let’s explore verse 4.

This verse underscores the sovereignty of God over all things, including the purposes even behind the actions of the wicked.

How can we understand this concept in our daily lives?

Trust in God’s Sovereignty: Acknowledge the sovereignty of God over all things, even in the purposes behind the actions of the wicked. Trust that God’s overarching plan will ultimately prevail.

Now, let’s turn our attention to Verse 5.

This verse highlights God’s disdain for pride and the inevitable consequences for the proud.

How can we cultivate humility in our lives?

Cultivate Humility: Recognize the dangers of pride and strive to cultivate humility in your heart. God opposes the proud, but He extends grace to the humble.

Now, let’s explore Verse 6.

This verse emphasizes the transformative power of unfailing love, faithfulness, and the fear of the Lord in atoning for sin and avoiding evil.

How can we apply this wisdom to our lives?

Embrace Unfailing Love and Faithfulness: Recognize the power of unfailing love and faithfulness in atoning for sin. Cultivate a healthy fear of the Lord, which leads to a life that avoids evil.

And finally, let’s explore Verse 7.

This verse highlights the profound impact of a life that pleases the Lord—bringing about peace even with enemies.

What’s the key takeaway here?

Seek to Please the Lord: Understand the transformative power of a life that pleases the Lord. Such a life can bring about unexpected peace, even in the midst of challenges.

And there you have it, my friends, a profound exploration of Proverbs 16:1-7 from the New Living Translation. These verses offer us timeless wisdom for harmonizing our plans with God’s guidance, examining our motives, and understanding the transformative power of love, faithfulness, and humility.

As we continue our journey through the pages of the Bible, remember that the wisdom it offers is our guiding light in navigating the complexities of life. Until next time, keep seeking God’s wisdom and make it a part of your daily trek.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!