Date: Tue, 21 Feb 1995 20:36:38 +0100
Reply-To: t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: The Scriptures opened, 19
Contents
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1. Weekly reading, Exodus/Shemot 36:1
2. Paraphrase of Psalm 119:1-24
3. New Testament, Hebrews 10:19-39, part 3 (final)
4. Books
1. Weekly reading, Exodus/Shemot 36:1
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Exod.36:1
Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom
the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of
work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had
commanded.
We see the people making the tabernacle, according to God's command.
"Then" wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and the other wise man. They began
right away, without delay. After they were commanded to do so, they did
not delay, or dawdle, but they began immediately. Thus doing, they give a
good example to the others, and also to us. When we are called to do
something, let we obey without delay.
They wrought together with every wise hearted man, "in whom the LORD
put wisdom and understanding". When is someone wise? When the LORD gives
him the wisdom. When is one's heart wise? Not when he walks his own ways,
but when God puts His wisdom in his heart, to obey Him speedily. By the
way, what is true wisdom? Is it being able to perfectly make a
tabernacle? Yes, this belongs to wisdom, but it is not the wisdom itself.
It follows from wisdom. What is true wisdom? What is the beginning of
wisdom? "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." (Ps.111:10)
These people, Bezaleel, Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, they all had
the fear of the Lord, and they made the tabernacle in that godsfear.
While working, they knew how important is was to make it all according to
God's will, and to despise their own thoughts. Therefore, Moses adds that
they made all, "according to all that the LORD had commanded". All things
of the sanctuary had to be according to God's rules, according to the
pattern which He had showed to Moses on the mount.
It gives rest in your heart, when you know that you are doing a work
wherefore God has called you. This people, Bezaleel and Aholiab, had this
peace in their hearts. They worked according to God's will. Let this be
an example for us. Working without God's calling is not recommended. Let
we be sure about our calling when we begin some work. Above all, when we
work in the direct service of the LORD. When we then encounter problems,
we may fight these troubles, being sure about our calling. One without
calling, when meeting troubles, will be in danger to give up trying to
finish his work. But one, having a sure calling of God, may fight in the
power of the LORD, even when it was that everybody sabotaged. See an
example in Nehemiah. Sanballat and his mates tried to make Nehemiah cease
his work. "That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us
meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they
thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am
doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work
cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?" (Neh.6:2,3) Nehemiah,
being sure of his godly calling to build up the walls of the city,
resisted these evil persons, and went on in the power of God. See his
prayer unto God: "My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according
to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the
prophets, that would have put me in fear." (Neh.6:14)
2. Paraphrase of Psalm 119:1-24
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Text Paraphrase
Aleph
1 Blessed are the undefiled Blessed are the upright of heart, who
in the way, who walk in the unfeignedly keep the LORD's law. Whom
law of the LORD. He makes walking in the godly track.
2 Blessed are they that Blessed is he, who, during days and
keep his testimonies, and nights, thinks about God's will, and
that seek him with the with all his heart, and with intensive
whole heart. powers seeks Him, the most high Good.
3 They also do no iniquity: He is averse to evil, does not live in
they walk in his ways. sin, but governs his walk according to
God's laws.
4 Thou hast commanded us to Thou, great God, Who gives us
keep thy precepts commands, Thou demands that we
diligently. constantly take care of Thy word. And
that we firmly put our heart, which
sticks to Thy will, on Thy ways.
5 O that my ways were O, that Thou donated me the help of
directed to keep thy Thy Spirit. Might He be my Leader on
statutes! my paths! Then I would keep Thy law,
then I would fearlessly live.
6 Then shall I not be Then will no shame cover my face, when
ashamed, when I have I constantly have been observant,
respect unto all thy seeing how Thy commandments arouse me
commandments. to Thy love.
7 I will praise thee with I will, being upright of heart, always
uprightness of heart, when give the fame of Thy celebrity to Thy
I shall have learned thy Name, o LORD. When I learn the
righteous judgments. authority and the holy purpose of the
immaculate right, written by Thy hand.
8 I will keep thy statutes: I will keep Thy statutes to Thy
O forsake me not utterly. honour; do not completely forsake me
in this life.
Beth
9 Wherewithal shall a young Wherewithal shall the youth his path,
man cleanse his way? by being surrounded by vanities, keep
taking heed thereto clean? Surely, when he keeps it
according to thy word. according to the holy sheet.
10 With my whole heart have My heart searches Thee; my eye keeps
I sought thee: O let me not staring at Thee. Let me not stray from
wander from thy the track, which is contained in Thy
commandments. commandments. Do not abandon me,
helpless.
11 Thy word have I hid in I have laid aside Thy speech in my
mine heart, that I might heart, that I might keep myself clear
not sin against thee. of the sins.
12 Blessed art thou, O Thou are blessed, o LORD. Teach Thy
LORD: teach me thy servant both by the godly Word (being
statutes. found a bright light), and by Thy
Spirit, all the demands of Thy
judgement. Then, Thy honour will never
be daringly violated by me.
13 With my lips have I I have with desire told to others all
declared all the judgments the judgements of Thy mouth. I have
of thy mouth. diligently taught them.
14 I have rejoiced in the From whole the treasure of the great
way of thy testimonies, as globe is never risen in my heart that
much as in all riches. joy, which I continually found in Thy
testimonies. I have done them, and
recommended them to others.
15 I will meditate in thy I will, o God, meditate Thy law; I
precepts, and have respect will stay awake in the investigation
unto thy ways. of Thy precepts, while my soul looks
after Thy ways.
16 I will delight myself in My mind will delight itself in Thy
thy statutes: I will not statutes. Because I expect help on my
forget thy word. prayer, my mind will not forget Thy
holy word, nor forsake it.
Gimel
17 Deal bountifully with Do mildness by Thy servant, o LORD,
thy servant, that I may that I may live, that I may keep Thy
live, and keep thy word. word, and that Thy Spirit teach me
true wisdom.
18 Open thou mine eyes, That Thy Spirit illuminates mine eye,
that I may behold wondrous brighten up the veils. That my soul
things out of thy law. sees and honours the wonders, which
manifest themselves everywhere in Thy
law.
19 I am a stranger in the I am, o LORD, a stranger here beneath.
earth: hide not thy Let me, on my journey, not be lacking
commandments from me. of Thy commandments.
20 My soul breaketh for the For my soul, being surrounded by
longing that it hath unto darknesses, is often collapsed
thy judgments at all times. because of longing. It longed to see
Thou treading to the court of law, to
the punishment of them, who
nefariously have deviated.
21 Thou hast rebuked the Thou fulminates against the cursed
proud that are cursed, pride, and punishes it. The proud are
which do err from thy wont to err far away from Thy
commandments. commandments.
22 Remove from me reproach May Thy favour deliver my soul from
and contempt; for I have slander, which would despicably
kept thy testimonies. descend on my head; for I dedicate
myself to Thy service, according to
Thy testimonies, in order that I never
bring Thy punishment on myself.
23 Princes also did sit and When I even was accused by the
speak against me: but thy monarchs, who, sitting in the high
servant did meditate in thy thrones, hated Thy servant, I have
statutes. even then conformed my ways to Thy
commandments.
24 Thy testimonies also are I have done Thy testimonies with an
my delight and my upright conscience. They were my
counsellors. counsellors and my delight. I have
spent my time therein, with amusement.
3. New Testament, Hebrews 10:19-39, part 3 (final)
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The apostle here begins the second part of the letter to the Hebrews. In
the first part, he wrote about the excellence of the Persons and the
offices of Christ, using a very godly style. This second part contains
the incentives to the due obligation of the believers, namely the faith
and the christian conversation.
In the rest of this tenth chapter, he urges them to
- boldness in the belief (19-22),
- firmness in the confession (23-31),
- patience in the oppression (32-39).
The previous time, we came to verse 34, which will be repeated now.
34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the
spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a
better and an enduring substance.
Also in this verse, we see two sorts of afflictions, namely having
compassion with others, and own sufferings. They had, though being
persecuted themselves, compassion of the other people in the bonds.
Moreover, while their goods were robbed, they joyfully accepted it
instead of mourning about that, as the world does. Those early
christians, however, took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, for they
knew that they had a better good in heaven. Who not believes that his
better and enduring substance is in heaven, he will cleave unto his
earthly goods. But now, through the belief, they were able to bear all
afflictions and robberies. This all according to Jesus' commandment and
promise: "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for
so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (Matt.5:11,12)
Also the apostles gave this good example: "And they (the apostles)
departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were
counted worthy to suffer shame for his (Jesus') name." (Acts 5:41)
Reader, the true belief will loose you from your goods, from your
seeking of honour, from your pride, from your maintenance of yourself. On
the other hand, it will give you, patience in the afflictions, hope on an
enduring good in heaven, true faith in God and His Son to your salvation,
firmness in the midst of the enemies, love to your brothers, compassion
with the persecuted and afflicted, offering yourself to the service of
God, and the hope on eternal life. Choose then. Choose the life, and
forsake death, so that you may live. Choose life by believing in Christ
Jesus.
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great
recompence of reward.
This verse is thus connected with the previous: "Call to remembrance the
former days," (Heb.10:32), wherein you were illuminated, and have endured
great fights of afflictions. You see, that God has helped you through
these days. So, "cast not away therefore your confidence". What is this
confidence? It describes the boldness of belief, whereby they could
endure all afflictions. It is the hope on God, that He is faithful.
Keeping your confidence "has a great recompence of reward". Which
reward? The eternal life, in grace, through Christ's work. Not casting
away the confidence means that men keep their faith. Who will be
steadfast, will receive the reward, but who will apostate, loses it. It
is well-known that the reward is not given after merit, but in grace.
This is well-known, both in the Old and New Testament. "If thou be
righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?"
(Job 35:7) "What hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst
receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" (1
Cor.4:7)
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of
God, ye might receive the promise.
Patience, that is firmness, and patient expectancy of the fulfilment of
God's promise. Ye need firm patience to keep doing God's will unto the
end, and then you will receive the promise. The promise is given to the
steadfast, who does God's will. When the apostle says that you "need"
patience, then this means that you cannot be patient in own strength; you
"need" it, namely of God.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will
not tarry.
This verse is a quotation from "For the vision is yet for an appointed
time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait
for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." (Hab.2:3) The
apostle says: Have yet a little while patience, endure yet a little while
the afflictions. Keep your hope, for it will no more dure so long. "Yet a
little while", and God will come to your salvation. He "will come, and
will not tarry". He says this to encourage them. It is yet a little
while, and then you will be saved from your distress.
He "will not tarry". How could this be said? It is now around 2000
years later, and He has still not come. How could the apostle say that He
"will not tarry". 2000 Years, isn't that tarrying? Look also at another
place, where Jesus said: "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely
I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Rev.22:20) The answer
will be given us by Peter. "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one
thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand
years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some
men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that
any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Pet.3:8,9)
There must still some come to repentance, so Jesus still cannot come
back. First, all the chosen must be brought to repentance. And when all
chosen are gathered, then He will come. He that shall come will come, and
will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul
shall have no pleasure in him.
The beginning of this verse quotes "The just shall live by his faith."
(Hab.2:4) The just lives by faith, not by works. The just lives by faith,
to be steadfast even in the distress. The just lives by faith, and
pleases God through his faith. The just lives by faith, for he is
righteous through his faith in Jesus Christ. The just lives by faith, and
is counted righteous through his faith in Jesus. The just lives by faith,
for the faith is the hand, by which he receives Christ's righteousness.
The just lives by faith, and will be kept at this faith by God. The just
lives by faith, "but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure
in him", says God. If any man draw back from the faith, then he would
loose his righteousness, and thus be condemned as a sinner.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them
that believe to the saving of the soul.
With this verse, the apostle softens the previous threat, namely that he
did not expect of them such a draw back from the faith, though he speaks
so. The drawing back leads to perdition, for the unbelief receives the
perdition as a reward. But those, who believe, will be saved; they
"believe to the saving of the soul".
We have seen that the Hebrews, to whom the apostle wrote, believed, and
were saved through Jesus' blood. They had boldness through that believe,
to confess it in the public, before their enemies. They were cleansed
through that belief. It is the same now. Who believes does not fear, but
is bold, even in the midst of the enemies. And even now, a true Christian
will meet those distresses, as the Hebrews met. It is a fight always, to
keep the faith, to stay in faith. They have their eyes of belief on
Christ, their Author and Finisher of their faith, like is written,
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy
that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is
set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb.12:2) The
believers have need in this earthly, temporal life, but they expect a
heavenly reward. In the meantime, they do their tasks on the earth, and
fulfill their callings. But their hearts are with Jesus, Who sits at the
right hand of the throne of God. They "fear not them which kill the body,
but are not able to kill the soul." (Matt.10:28) Maybe the enemies come
up against them, but they do not fear those. Maybe they kill the bodies
of the believers, as is done during all centuries, but that does not
matter. When their body is killed, their souls will be with Jesus, the
only God. Thus seen, the enemies do good, for the faster are the
believers with God Whom they love.
At the other hand, the unbelievers have a dreadful future. They reject
Christ's blood, and will therefore be rejected by God. The believers fear
God in love, but the ungodly "fear Him which is able to destroy both soul
and body in hell." (Matt.10:28).
Therefore, having seen the two ways, reader, make a good choice.
Choose the life, that you may live. Flee from the sins, which bring you
to death. Believe in Christ Jesus, the promised Messiah. He brings peace
in your heart, a peace which the world does not know. The world says,
while they not see this peace, that the Messiah still has to come. That
is the speaking of the ungodly and the unbelievers. They expect some
messiah, which they have invented by themselves. But we, who are
believers, know that Jesus is the promised Messiah, for He brought peace
in our hearts, and He reconciled us with God the Father. Therefore, "we
are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to
the saving of the soul." (Heb.10:39)
4. Books
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John Owen, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ
"It is safe to say that no comparable exposition of the work of
redemption as planned and executed by the Triune Jehovah has ever been
done since Owen published this in 1648." - J.I.Packer
ISBN 0 85151 382 4
316 pp. Paperback.
Price around $10,00.
Ordering: ask your local bookstore or reply this description to
chr-exp-request@nic.surfnet.nl - Your order will be forwarded to a
bookshop. When ordering by reply, include your full name, address, ZIP-
code and state and/or country.
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Chr-Exp, a Christian explanation of the Tanach and the New Testament
Editor: Teus Benschop - t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
No copyrights on this publication
Institution Practical Bible-education, the Netherlands
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file: /pub/resources/text/ipb-e/so: s-open-019.txt
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