Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Citizens (Jeremiah 29:1-32)

We have seen that Israel had a unique calling in the land of Canaan.  They were to subdue the land, and they were to be engaged in holy war for the glory of God.  The problem has been Israel remembering this goal and truly waging war against those who tempt them to be distracted from the Lord.  We have seen examples where Israel has not conform to the Lord as Israel is called to conform to the Lord as we considered Samson, the levite, and even a little bit of Saul’s life.  So, what happens to Israel when Israel looses sight of their goal?  They are to go into exile and how are they to live in exile away from the promised land?  What could their life away from the promised land teach us in our particular context?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Anti-Sabbath (Judges 19)

There are stories in the Bible where we can see the victory of God’s plan working out.  We think of Moses leading israel out of Egypt.  That is a great story and a great time in covenant history.  We think of Joshua saying his farewell to Israel.  Yes, it is tragic to say good-bye to godly leader.  However, at the same time there is the wonderful reminder for Israel to see that their life and identity is to be found in the Lord and the Lord alone.  There are also other stories in the Bible that are just downright tragic.  Judges 19 recalls such a tragic history where a Levite should know better, but he refuses to do what is honorable to the Lord.  So, what do we make of Judges 19 with the Levite and his concubine?  What does this reveal about our sojourning under the sun?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Ironic Cleansing (Judges 16)

Hopefully Samson has learned that his desires and his departing from his nazarite vow has not brought him the relief that he wanted.  In fact, his trying to be an ordinary man has not made his life easier, but more difficult.  Will Samson fulfill his mission?  Will Samson be able to rise up and fulfill his mandate?

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Sojourning Under the Sun: Ironic Cleaning (Judges 14)

Samson’s family has lost sight of Israel’s significance in the grand scheme of life right now.  One would hope that Samson would provide the deliverance that Israel needs.  Samson is certainly the judge that Israel deserves, but does Samson actually provide any cleansing for Israel?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Stall…. Again (Judges 13)

Joshua left God’s people in a good place as people who can find rest in the land.  In many ways they were tasting a promised sabbath rest in the land that God had given them.  The Lord has been merciful to His people and has given them judges to rule over them, to deliver them, and to provide some wise guidance.  Judges records for us a tragic history of Israel continually sliding down away from the Lord, but the Lord still gives them a judge.  What is the significance of Samson?  How does he represent the current state of Israel? 

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath? (Joshua 24)

The people of Israel are about to find themselves in a situation where they are no longer lead by a physical leader.  This is Joshua’s farewell and it would see that as Israel is now situated in the land that Israel has secured rest.  First, why should Israel want to enjoy the rest?  Second, how is Israel supposed to transform this land?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Warrior (Joshua 5)

The people of Israel finally have the joy of celebrating their passover in the promised land.  They are finally cut off from the manna that sustained their life in the wilderness.  Now, it is time for them to secure this land.  Will Israel recognize that it has been the Lord this whole time sustaining and giving them life?  Will Israel see that God is the one who fights for His people?  How is our Lord going to communicate this to the Israelites?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Restoring (Deut. 32)

Deuteronomy is Moses’ farewell address to Israel.  This address is tragic as Moses is about to die.  However, the day Moses delivers this speech is not just a day of mourning because this is a context where Moses is close to passing the baton to Joshua. Israel is about to finally enter into the promised land.  Is this finally a time when the Sabbath will be fully realized?  Is Moses optimistic about Israel’s performance?  What does Moses have to say as he says goodbye to this exodus people?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Mission (2) (Deuteronomy 7:1-26)

Israel has a very unique mission to go and establish a heavenly kingdom on this earth.  They have a unique calling to dominate a land, setup a place for God to dwell, and worship our God in the midst of the Canaanite land.  One would think that Israel has this calling because they are a great people with a wonderful history.  Does the Lord pick them because there is something special about them as a people?  Or does the Lord pick them to make clear that there is something special about God?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Mission (Deuteronomy 4:1-24)

The rebellious generation has been purged and Moses is about to die.  So, Moses addresses the people of Israel exhorting them to remember their God and to remember their mission in the land.  What is their mission in the land?  What is their unique calling as a nation?  What is their purpose as they enter this unique land at a unique time in their history?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Stall (3) (Hebrews 3:1-4:13)

There are times when it is easy for us as New Testament saints to see ourselves in a different place from the Old Testament saints.  In other words their struggle was their struggle and we have a completely different sort of struggle.  Is this a mindset that is consistent with Scripture?  How are we exhorted in Hebrews as a people called to honor the Lord?  What are we to learn from the Old Testament saints?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Stall (2) (Numbers 20)

What is so rebellious about Moses striking the rock two times?  We might think that this is a question that is out of line, but Moses is commanded to strike the rock in Exodus 17.  Why is it okay for him to strike the rock in Exodus 17, but not okay for him to strike the rock in Numbers 20?  What does Moses do that is so bad?  Is God just a moody being who judges people in a very vindictive and unpredictable way?  What did God intend the people to see through Moses?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Celebration (Exodus 15:1-18)

Exodus 15 gives us a picture of a Sabbath celebration.  Moses and the Israelites join together in praising God for the manifestation of His redemption.    We can understand Israel joining together in this victory chorus because this is the conclusion of their 400 some years of enslavement and suffering.   What does this celebration say about the Lord and his provision?  What is the ultimate hope that we see by God delivering His people?  How is this hope very relevant for us today?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Instigation (2) (Exodus 12:33-13:16)

The ridiculous claim that the Lord made was that Israel was going to plunder the Egyptians.  This sounds ridiculous because how can a people who are in slavery, have been in slavery for centuries, and are still very much in slavery when the Lord finds them going to triumph over their slave masters?  Our understanding is rather simple: if a people have been enslaved for centuries then it is very likely they will remain in slavery.  However, the Lord promised that the Lord would deliver his people with a mighty hand.  Is the Lord really able to do such a thing?  What does this deliverance-exodus teach us about God’s redemption?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Instigation (Exodus 12)

There is little doubt that Pharaoh claiming not to know the Lord is basically Pharaoh saying that the Lord of Israel is no match for him.  The reality is that the Egyptians have held the Israelites for 400 some years and their God has not acted on their behalf so what can their God really do?  Pharaoh heard the Lord’s warning through Moses, and should know that God means business.  So, how much business does the Lord really mean?  Is the Lord really ready to deliver his people from the Egyptian bondage?  What can such a message declare about the Lord’s Sabbath rest?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Setting (Exodus 3)

The Lord has promised that His people will dwell in the land of Canaan.  There have been a few problems along the way.  First, the couple that God called to build His Sabbath people were a barren couple.  How is the Lord going to continue the biological seed of the woman?  Second, Jacob fleeing to Laban and leaving the land.  How can a divided family unite to bring in the promised heir?  Third, the immorality and the strife in Jacob’s family.  Now, fourth, we arrive at the problem of God’s people being enslaved in Egypt.  Can the Lord deliver His people from such an empire?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Submission (Genesis 49)

Jacob is on his deathbed and now has the opportunity to prophetically speak about the future of his 12 sons.  Will he abuse his prophetic gift and try to put his favored son ahead of the other sons?  Or has this man really learned from this wrestling match that the wisdom of God is manifested through weakness?  How does the Lord show the irony off the Messianic line by coming through a very unlikely son?  Why is this son such an unlikely candidate to bring forth the messiah?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Surrender (2) (Genesis 48)

Jacob is an elderly man on his death bed.  His favored son Joseph makes it easy for Jacob to bless his grand children by arranging them in their proper place.  Joseph knows that the older is to receive the greater blessing and the younger is to receive the inferior blessing.  Jacob, a supplanter schemer, places his right hand on the younger and his left on the older.  Why does this offend Joseph?  What does this communicate about Jacob’s heart condition?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Surrender (Genesis 48)

This is the first part of our consideration of Jacob blessing his grandsons.  The family of God has not performed so well in terms of morality.  There are a lot of discrepancies within this family in terms of their calling before the Lord.  The rivalry between Cain and Abel is repeated, there is outright immorality, the Lord strikes dead some of the covenant children because of their wickedness, and Jacob fails to consistently lead the family in a Godly direction.  What do we do with this?  What are God’s people beginning to realize about the Lord’s Sabbath?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Sustainer (Genesis 32:22-32)

We can so easily fall into a trap where we think that our works, our service, or our input is what drives something forward.  You can see in Jacob’s life where Jacob schemes and fights to get ahead again and again.  It would seem that this scheming is working as Jacob has two wives, many children, and has acquired great wealth from his uncle.  What is Jacob missing?  How does all this result to Jacob engaged in a supernatural wrestling match?  What is the purpose of such a bout?