Category: Journey Through The Word

Persian palace with blue domes and illuminated arches at sunset
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 4

Esther, Part 2

Posted on by MaryEllen

adapted from She, volume 4 of Delighting in the examples of the Women of the Bible/pp19-20

Today’s Scripture: Esther 1-2 and Psalm 75:6-7

6 For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, 7 but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. Psalm 75:6-7

Esther also serves as an example that we are able to obtain grace and favor in the sight of our King. 1

The Road to Queenship

So many thoughts go through my mind when I read this portion of the story. Did the women have a choice? Is it something they would have wanted? As young Persian girls had they dreamed about becoming the queen? Surely, as a Jew, Esther would have never entertained the thought – yet here she was on the threshold of that possibility. I can’t help but wonder how she felt. After all, it seems to be the beauty pageant of all beauty pageants (of which I have never been a fan). Secondly, as was the custom of the day/culture, the women were being groomed, trained/coached, and then examined not just for their beauty but also for their appeal to the king and their suitability or likability as the queen. Keep in mind, this wasn’t just a long-weekend spa treatment; it was a yearlong regimen.2 It is also helpful, if not important, to understand, as gotquestions.org explains, “the queen of Persia was not simply the wife of the king. The queenship was an honorary/political position. The king was a polygamist with many wives and concubines in his harem, but the queen was a special wife occupying a favored position. … Each of the women would spend a night with the king. After their night together, each woman would be moved to the “other side” of the harem and would never see the king again, unless he called for her.“3 Actually, it is said by one commentator that “when the king found the ‘right one,’ He would name her queen, although she would not be his exclusive wife or sexual partner. A woman whom Xerxes never called again would live her life in the harem as a pampered prisoner with no possibility for a real marriage or family of her own. ~ Perhaps it is just because we live in a completely different culture, but I cannot imagine any woman choosing or wanting this life.


15When the turn came for Esther, the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now, Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her. 16And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign, 17the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 

Esther 2:15-17

Friends, I am confident of this: nothing in Esther’s life was a mistake or a coincidence. From the timing of the exile … to the death of her parents … to Mordecai raising her as his own daughter … to the fact that she was still in Judah, having not returned with Ezra at the end of the exile … to her finding favor in the eyes of Hegai, the King’s keeper of women … to her heeding Mordecai’s wisdom/advice to not reveal that she was a Jew … to the grace and favor she found in the king’s sight … and ultimately the crown that was placed upon her head … and everything we will witness in the next chapters of our journey … all of it is more evidence of God ordering the steps of Esther and protecting the plight of His people.

The Wisdom of a Secret Kept

In regard to Esther’s obedience and respect to Mordecai’s request that she not reveal that she was a Jew, consider this commentary by David Guzik:

Now, Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her: Some have thought that the book of Esther carries this idea of concealment too far. This book has been criticized because it does not mention the name of God (as neither does the Song of Solomon).

i. Some say that the name of God was left out of the book of Esther because of its use in the festivities surrounding Purim, where people commonly became drunk. One rabbi taught: “A man is obligated to drink on Purim until he is unable to distinguish between ‘Blessed be Mordecai’ and ‘Cursed be Haman.’” Some have wondered if, in that atmosphere, it would be too easy to profane the name of God if it were to be read at such a festival.

ii. Others see the name YHWH hidden in acrostics, based on the initial and final letters of successive words in Esther 1:20, 5:4, 5:13, and 7:7. In some manuscripts, the letters in these words are written a bit larger to give them prominence.

iii. Perhaps also the book of Esther does not contain the name of God because it was written under Persian rule, and for distribution in the Persian Empire.

iv. Most likely, the book of Esther doesn’t have the name of God because it shows how God works behind the scenes; God is always active in Esther, even though it is behind the scenes.

The More We Know

In Esther 2, Xerxes begins to regret his decision to oust the queen, and he decides to find a new queen. The queen of Persia was not simply the wife of the king. The queenship was an honorary/political position. The king was a polygamist with many wives and concubines in his harem, but the queen was a special wife occupying a favored position. A call is sent out throughout the kingdom for all beautiful virgins to be gathered into the harem so that the king could choose a new queen from among them. As a member of the harem, a woman would technically be the property of the king—either a wife or a concubine. Each of the women would spend a night with the king. After their night together, each woman would be moved to the “other side” of the harem and would never see the king again, unless he called for her. When he found the “right one,” Xerxes would name her queen, although she would not be his exclusive wife or sexual partner. A woman whom Xerxes never called again would live her life in the harem as a pampered prisoner with no possibility for a real marriage or family of her own.4

  1. She, Volume 4, Delighting in the Examples of the Women of the Bible ↩︎
  2. 3. (Esther 2:12-14) The method of preparing and presenting the women before the king is established.
    Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months’ preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women. Thus prepared, each young woman went to the king, and she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the women’s quarters to the king’s palace. In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned to the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who kept the concubines. She would not go in to the king again unless the king delighted in her and called for her by name.
    a. After she had completed twelve months’ preparation: Persia was one of many countries famous for its aromatic perfumes and ancient customs for the preparations of brides, including ritualistic baths, plucking of the eyebrows, the painting of hands and feet with henna, facial make-up, and applications of a beautifying paste all over the body, meant to lighten the color of the skin and to remove spots and blemishes.
    i. One reason for the lengthy time of preparation was to tell if the women had been pregnant upon coming into the harem, so that the king would not be charged with fathering a child that was not his.
    ii. Matthew Poole says that the oils and perfumes were necessary because “The bodies of men and women in those hot countries did of themselves yield very ill scents, if not corrected and qualified by art.”
    b. Thus prepared, each young woman went to the king: It sounds wonderful – a year of constant spa treatments. Yet the destiny of these women should also be considered: one evening with the king. If he chose them from the 400 others to be his queen, then she would be his companion (until she displeased him). As for the 399 who lost, they were banished to the harem where they stayed the wife or the concubine of the king, but rarely if ever saw him afterwards. And they were never free to marry another man, essentially living as a perpetual widow.
    ↩︎
  3. Gotquestions.org ↩︎
  4. The method of preparing and and presenting the women to the king ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 4

Delilah

Posted on by MaryEllen

adapted from She, delighting in the women of the Bible, volume 4, pp. 11-12

Today’s Scripture: Judges 16; 1 Corinthians 10:6; 1 Timothy 6:10

The Judas of the Old Testament

She sold out Samson for at least 1,100 pieces of silver; yet another picture that money is the root of all evil.1

After this Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the Sorek Valley. 5 The rulers of the Philistines went up to visit her and said to her, “Trick him! Find out what makes him so strong and how we can subdue him and humiliate him. Each one of us will vgive you 1,100 silver pieces.” Judges 16:4-5

Can I just say right up front that Delilah, the Judas of the Old Testament, as some have dubbed her, is not a positive role model from Scripture? Instead, she serves as an example of “what not to do” or “how not to live”. Seriously, friends, she lacks any hint of good character, and, quoting from today’s journal entry in the study guide: “Her lack of character is enshrined within the pages of Scripture for each generation to learn from her wickedness.” Let it be heard, loud and clear, there is nothing from her life that we should copy; however, we can clearly learn some ‘lessons of what not to do’.

The Philistines were always trying to understand Samson’s strength and find a way to defeat him. They were always thwarted—Samson was just too strong—until they teamed with Delilah. This woman was eventually Samson’s downfall.

gotquestions.org

Let’s look at the bullet points of her story:

  • Delilah had an affair with Samson, one of the judges of Israel (Judges 16)
  • She betrayed Samson to the Philistines for no other reason than money (Judges 16:19)
  • She accepted a bribe from the Philistine leaders to get Samson to reveal the secret of his great strength (Judges 16:18-19)
  • Delilah was relentless in her attempt to find out his secret and finally won out through her “nagging” (16:16-17)
  • Delilah’s love of money was greater than anything she may have felt for Samson (Judges 16:5-6)

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10

Make no mistake: today’s journey through the story of Delilah is meant to be about the example she left behind, not about whether money is good or evil. However, we would be terribly remiss not to mention the role money plays in her story. to note that she had a love for money, and that her love and/or craving for money led to her ‘evil’ actions of selling Samson out to those who sought to destroy him. In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he warned him that the love of money could lead to all kinds of evil. So, while money itself is not evil, in light of Delilah’s example concerning money, I am reminded of the wisdom in Paul’s teaching. May God help us keep it in our minds so that we do not fall captive to the craving for it ourselves and wander from the faith, inflicting many sorrows upon ourselves or others.

The Danger of “Delilahs”

David Guzik, a wonderful commentator, uses Delilah to symbolize ‘ anything that lures a believer away from God’s truth and power. He urges his readers to guard their hearts and not let their guard down in dangerous, fleshy environments.2 We would be wise to heed his wisdom and warn others to do the same.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

1 Corinthians 10:6

Reflection and Application

What can we learn from Delilah?

How is her deception an example to you?

What can we learn from Samson?

The More We Know

  1. She, delighting in the women of the Bible, volume 4, pp. 11 ↩︎
  2. https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/judges/judges-16.cfm ↩︎
Woman running on dirt path with stone arch and sunset in background
Posted in 100 Meditations on The Names Of Jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Author and Finisher of Our Faith

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from 100 Meditations on the Names of Jesus, p18


1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. (NLT)

I love the variety of synonyms concerning this particular name of Jesus. While they all mean the same thing, I am particularly fond of “the pioneer and perfecter of faith… as I picture a pioneer forging the way through … setting a path for others to follow … with the goal of leading them to a better place. ~ Which one is your favorite and why?

… fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

… Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set NKJV/KJV

… looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, ESV

…. keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, HCSB

… looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, NASB

“Jesus is not only the originator of our faith, but He is the one who perfects it.”1

As always we must be careful to understand the context of the passages that we read as we journey through God’s Word. Specifically, in this passage, we cannot truly understand it if we do not know that chapter 11 was filled with the imagery of the faithful saints who have gone before us. The writer shares a considerable amount of examples to show “how God honors and works through true, godly faith—which is a trust sufficient to produce obedience, despite our doubts and fears (Hebrews 11:1–3). The writer also mentioned how these faithful ones endured hardships during their earthly lives, and even now are waiting to see God completely fulfill His promises (Hebrews 11:35–39.” Having these examples before us we should be inspired to run our own race of faith (“a trust sufficient to produce obedience, despite our doubts and fears”).Yet, the ultimate example, as the writer goes on to conclude here in Hebrews 12:2 is Jesus Himself, the beginning and the end, or as it is here written, in one fashion or another: The founder (pioneer, author, source, origiantor) and perfecter of our faith.

I believe it is worth it, if not necessary, to share this commentary from bibleref.com, explaining how Jesus is not only the ultimate example of godly faith but also as one who “suffered hardship and persecution (Philippians 2:8-11), as well as temptation (Hebrews 4:15), but never wavered in His resolve to do the will of God the Father (Hebrews 5:8). Christ’s entire ministry and the superiority of the new covenant (Hebrews 10:12–14) are grounded in His example, which we should strive to follow (Hebrews 2:10–11). His willingness to endure those trials came from an understanding that God could, and would, “work together for good” all of those things (Romans 8:28). The end goal of Jesus’ obedience was to establish the purpose we should be striving for: the “city with foundations” (Hebrews 11:10), our ultimate victory and reward in God (Hebrews 11:13–16; Revelation 21:1–14).”

The old hymn, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” just flooded my mind. So let me end with that encouragement for us all; a wonderful call to worship and way to live … Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” As we know from the Scriptures, Jesus suffered much on our behalf – but we know that He never stopped doing the will of His Father, striving to please Him in all that He did. May this be our resolve as well my friends.

Reflection and Application

  • What do you think it means that Jesus is the “author and finisher of our faith”?
  • Does your life relfect this truth?

  1. 100 Meditations on the Names of Jesus, p18 ↩︎
Posted in 100 Meditations on The Names Of Jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time

Arm of the Lord

Posted on by MaryEllen

Borrowed from “100 Meditations on The Names Of Jesus,”p16

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 51:9a

Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago.

Isaiah 51:9(a)

Jesus is God’s strength on display. As the Arm of the Lord, He moved in powerful acts of strength and miracles in His earthly ministry. He continues to move in mighty ways through the Holy Spirit today. The Arm of the Lord is powerful, merciful, and present.

God’s strong arm delivered His people from their captivity in Egypt (Exodus), as well as from their exile (Isaiah). God’s strong arm in Jesus delivers all people from their sin. He is the one who lifts the humble from their lowly place and seats them with princes (1 Samuel 2:8). As the Strong Arm of the Lord, He crushes evil and overcomes all that seeks to overwhelm His people. Nothing can wrestle us from His grasp. We are secure and safe in His gracious grip.

Arm of the Lord, You lift the humble and hold them close. You are my strength, my shield, and my highest hope. Thank you!

The More We Know

The following explanations about the ‘Arm of the Lord” are from a variety of online biblical and trusted commentaries. I encourage you to journey through each one, exploring their truths and the comforting hope they point us to in knowing Jesus the Messiah as the “Arm of the Lord.”

In Christian theology, “the arm of the Lord” is widely understood as a reference to Jesus Christ. The phrase serves as a powerful metaphor for God’s divine power and active intervention. It is frequently linked to the Messiah, who acts as the literal and active extension of God’s saving strength. Via Emmaus +4

The association between the “arm of the Lord” and Jesus stems from a few key biblical concepts:

  • Isaiah’s Prophecy: In the Old Testament, Isaiah asks, “To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1). This precedes a passage that Christians interpret as a prophecy of the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus. The Institute for Creation Research +2
  • New Testament Fulfillment: The Gospel of John explicitly connects this Isaiah passage to Jesus (John 12:37-38), identifying Jesus as the visible embodiment of God’s power. 
  • Power and Salvation: The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:18 that the message of Christ is “the power of God”, echoing the idea of God’s mighty arm reaching out to save humanity from sin and death. 

Through resources like the Bible Hub Topical Bible, you can explore how Old Testament verses about God’s outstretched arm are directly linked to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. 

While the “arm of the Lord” originally symbolized God’s military might and miracles during the Exodus, Christian tradition interprets Jesus as the ultimate, personal revelation of that divine strength.

Reflection and Application

How have you seen or encountered Jesus as the “Arm of the Lord”?

Posted in 100 Meditations on The Names Of Jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, prayer, Quiet Time

Apostle of Our Confession

Posted on by MaryEllen

Holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus. But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself. Hebrews 3:1-2

According to the commentary by Bibleref.com, “for the Jewish people, there was no greater example than Moses, but according to this section of Hebrews, Jesus is far greater. These verses make a connection between Jesus’ role as our ultimate example—the “founder of our salvation”—and His superiority to even Moses.” The author clearly wanted the people of God to know and understand that Jesus is the One they are to follow.

Some may see the term “apostle” here as confusing. This is a title often given to the men who preached the gospel immediately after the ascension of Jesus. The term itself literally means, “one who is sent.” In the context of this passage, that is a perfect description of Jesus. He is One sent from God to bring us good news. He is meant to be our example, and we are meant to do as He did (John 13:13–15; 20:21).1

“In the next verses, the author will point out that Moses was faithful, but was also a created servant of God. Jesus, on the other hand, is the Creator and the Son of God. What Moses predicted, Christ fulfilled.” In doing so, He made a way to the Father where there was no way. So that all who come to Him by faith “are met with the power of His grace and love. There is forgiveness of sins, yes! There is also a call to a higher way of living.”2

In Luke chapter 2, Jesus turned to the crowd and told all who were listening that anyone who wanted to follow Him would have to turn from their selfish/wicked ways and take up their cross daily in order to follow Him. In other words, He was telling them they would have to be faithful to Him above everything else. In Mark chapter 12, He explained that this faithfulness required loving God and others above self, and in John chapter 3, He made sure that they understood what that love was to look like, namely, it was to be a mirror of His love- loving God and others, just as He has loved us. Thankfully, we who believe have been given His Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live and love like He did.

“There is no shortcut or bypassing the mandate to love God and to love others. Love encompasses the whole of the Law (Galatians 5:14). Anything else falls short of our heavenly calling.3“

Friends, may this prayer, borrowed from 100 Meditations of the Names of Jesus, be our prayer – on repeat …

Apostle of our Confession, You showed me how to walk in the ways and the power of God. May I be wise and discerning, choosing Your love above fear and pressures to conform. ~ Amen

Reflection and Application

“Beware of those who claim to know what it is to walk in the name of Jesus and do not live out the ways of Jesus.”4

  1. 100 Meditations on the Names of Jesus p14 ↩︎

Posted in 100 Meditations on The Names Of Jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Quiet Time

Alpha and Omega

Posted on by MaryEllen

Scripture for the Journey: Revelation 1:8; 21:6; and 22:13.; John 1:1-5, 14; 2 Peter 3:10; Hebrews 12:2; Isaiah 41:4, 44:6, and 48:12

He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Revelation 13:8

Christ, as the Alpha and Omega, is the first and last in so many ways.1

  1. He is the “Author and Finisher” of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), signifying that He begins it and carries it through to completion.
  2. He is the totality, the sum and substance of the Scriptures, both of the Law and of the Gospel (John 1:1, 14)
  3. He is the fulfilling end of the Law (Matthew 5:17)
  4. He is the beginning subject matter of the gospel of grace through faith, not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9)
  5. He is found in the first verse of Genesis and in the last verse of Revelation
  6. He is the first and last, the all in all of salvation, from the justification before God to the final sanctification of His people.

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:1-5

I do not remember how old I was (most likely, somewhere between 13 and 16), but I do remember where I was when I first read John 1. I was sitting on my bedroom floor and checking out my new Bible (The Way Edition). While I didn’t completely understand them at the time, they definitely caught my attention and sent me on what I now realize was my first solo “journey through God’s Word”. I sat there on my bedroom floor trying to wrap my head around the fact that Jesus, the baby who was born in Bethlehem, could have possibly been with God in the beginning. Honestly, friends, while I believed the words I read were true then in my teens, it would be more than ten years before God helped me fully understand and appreciate the marvelous truth they conveyed. Truths like those listed above, namely, that He is the totality of the Scriptures, found in the first verse of Genesis and in the last verse of Revelation – literally the beginning and the end. The Alpha and Omega. The First and the Last.

Jesus as the beginning and end of all things is a reference to no one but the true God. This statement of eternality could apply only to God. It is seen especially in Revelation 22:13, where Jesus proclaims that He is “the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Gotquestions.org

Jesus in All of Scripture

“A second meaning of Jesus as the “Alpha and Omega” is that the phrase identifies Him as the God of the Old Testament. Isaiah ascribes this aspect of Jesus’ nature as part of the triune God in several places. “I, the Lord, am the first, and with the last I am He” (41:4). “I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God” (Isaiah 44:6). “I am he; I am the first, I also am the last” (Isaiah 48:12). These are clear indications of the eternal nature of the Godhead.”2

Reflection and Application

I was reminded recently in a study of Ruth that I’m doing with some ladies at my church that “God wants us to stay in His fields. We have no need to go wandering off into other fields, seeking fulfillment elsewhere. The world will dangle other fields in front of us, such as success, pleasure, or money. But these fields are dangerous. God has provided protection and everything we need with Him. Do not wander off.”3 A similar lesson appeared in this particular meditation on Jesus as the Alpha and Omega. ~ I pray it is an encouragement to every reader. “Everything we know in this world, from the earth to the skies above, falls within the confines of creation. No one person is greater than the Creator. Let’s be sure we don’t worship those we admire, putting them on pedestals they were never meant to occupy. Jesus is far better than the rulers of this world, far better, even, than the best of men. Let’s worship Him and follow in His ways, for He is the first and the last, the beginning and the end. No one can compare with Him.”4

  1. Gotquestions.org ↩︎
  2. Gotquestions.org ↩︎
  3. Ruth, God’s Amazing Love for you, p56, Courtney Joseph with Beverly Wise ↩︎
  4. 100 Meditations on the names of Jesus, p10 ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Love, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3, The Gospel

The Woman Caught In Adultery

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from the She Study, delighting in the examples of the Women of the Bible, volume 3, pp 87-88

Today’s Scripture: John 8:1-11 and 2 Corinthians 5:17; Roman 8:1

Have you ever been ‘caught’ in a sin? You’ve said something you shouldn’t have, and others heard it…you’ve lost your temper, and others saw your outburst of anger…you’ve lied and been caught in its web…you’ve treated someone unkindly, and others saw it…? I would dare say that everyone reading this has at one time or another spoken words you shouldn’t have … reacted in anger … lied … and/or been unkind … for the Bible says that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” However, we are not always ‘caught in the sin’. While we may breathe a sigh of relief to have escaped ‘being caught’ by others, it is crucial to remember that nothing escapes the eyes or ears of our Heavenly Father. Forgetting this truth can lead to danger as the theory that “no one knows or cares” makes it far easier to continue in the sin and find ourselves held captive by it.

God is considered omniscient, meaning He knows absolutely everything—past, present, future, and all possibilities. This includes knowing every thought, action, and secret of every person ~

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association1

As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”

John 8:3-5

It should be noted here that while this woman was at some point “caught in the act of adultery,” it is believed by some commentators that she had not just “been caught” and brought immediately before Jesus, but had, at some point been caught, and was known to be an adulterer.2 Here, she was being used as a pawn by the Pharisees, who were attempting to prove that Jesus was not following God’s law. The Pharisees make many mistakes in their failed attempt to discredit Jesus, which bibleref.com verse-by-verse commentary points out in more detail.3 However, we would be wise to pay attention to how Jesus uses their trap not only to silence his accusers but to set this woman free from the condemnation of sin and death that her sin required.

They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, ‘All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!’Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.
~

John 8:7-94

Jesus appears to ignore them at first (v6), and “when they continue asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, ‘He that is without sin among you, let him cast a stone at her'” (v7-8). Verse nine of John chapter eight, says that “When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.” Which, by the way – it is worth noting that the woman cound have fled with her accusers but instead, she remained in the presence of Jesus.

Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, ‘Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?’
~
‘No, Lord,’ she said. And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I. Go and sin no more5.’

Friends, while the words Jesus spoke to the woman, “Neither do I condemn thee…” offer her mercy and pardon for her sin, they granted her freedom from the condemnation of the sin and death required by the law. They also offered hope of freedom from the sin itself, as He told her: “Go and sin no more.” Sweet friends, hear me when I say – that as one who has been held captive by sin before, I can tell you that there are few other hopes as meaningful and freeing as this one. Even as I write this my heart fills with the words from an old hymn that is my life’s story: ….“Mercy there was great, and grace was free; pardon there was multiplied to me; There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary.”

Jesus’ response to the adulterous woman influences our understanding of judgment, mercy, and God’s perspective on sin. At no point does Jesus shrink from the fact of her sin. She was caught “in the act” (John 8:4) so there is no doubt about her moral guilt. Old Testament law called for the death penalty for adulterers (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22) so there is no doubt about her legal guilt. As the only perfectly sinless man (Hebrews 4:15), there is no doubt about Jesus’ moral authority to deliver harsh justice to this sinner. ~ Instead, Jesus demonstrates that simply because we can do something does not make it the best option. Christ’s question here sets up His response in the next verse. This is an instance of forgiveness, not ignorance. Jesus is not going to claim that the woman is innocent or that her sin is trivial. His deflection of the Pharisees was based on procedure: they followed the law incorrectly. Jesus will explicitly refer to her behavior as sinful even as He demonstrates that mercy is meant to take precedence over retribution, even under the Old Testament law (Proverbs 21:10; Zechariah 7:8–9; Matthew 23:23). Bibleref.com

Reflection and Application

  • How do we become “a new creation”?
    • 2 Corinthians 5:17

The More We Know

While we don’t know what Jesus wrote, we do see how He turns the hypocrisy of these Pharisees against them. They were not wrong to seek justice under the Law. However, they are clearly not following it fully; they have only brought half of the guilty ones. Also, God’s law prioritized mercy over blind punishment (Proverbs 21:10; Zechariah 7:8–9; Matthew 23:23).

  1. https://billygraham.org/answers/does-god-know-everything-i-think-and-do ↩︎
  2. If the woman was caught “in the act,” then so was the man she was with—so where is the guilty man? This entire episode is an attempt by Pharisees to show that they follow the Law and Jesus does not. But even their trap fails that test: they’ve only brought half of the guilty parties (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22).
    The act of “placing her in the midst” is part of the Pharisees’ intended drama. This is meant to be as public as possible. That means Jesus’ response can be given as much publicity as possible. Of course, that strategy assumes Jesus is about to make a serious public-relations error. This assumption is once again false. ↩︎
  3. bibleref.com ↩︎
  4. ~ ‘No, Lord,’ she said. And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I. Go and sin no more.‘ ↩︎
  5. Go and sin no more: Jesus sent her away with a call to stop her sin, and to continue stopped in regard to that sin. He sent her away without ever approving of or accepting her sin.
    i. “The form of the command implies a ceasing to commit an action already started: ‘Stop your sinful habit’. And the ‘no more’ points to the thought of no return.” (Morris)
    ii. Jesus did several things with these powerful words.
    · He recognized that what the woman had done was sin, because He told her to stop sinning.
    · He told her to repent, and to not continue her sin.
    · He gave her hope that her life could go on in freedom from sexual sin.
    · He gave her a word of hope to speak against the shame that would later likely threaten to overwhelm her life.
    iii. The woman needed hope because the consequences of her sin would be severe enough. After this she would likely be shunned by her community, and rejected by her husband, perhaps even divorced (assuming she was married or betrothed). ↩︎
Know These Truths
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

Mary, Mother of Jesus, Part 5

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from the She Study, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible, Volume 3/pp 37-38

Today’s Scripture: Luke 2:7-20; John 1:14; and 1 Samuel 12:24

Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you.

1 Samuel 12:24

 “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.

Friends, I hope you have found as much joy as I have in walking through Mary’s story. From the angel’s announcement that she had been chosen to carry and bear the Son of God into the world, we have seen her tender, receptive heart not only to the unexpected (and humanly impossible) announcement, but also to a possible threat to her engagement and relationship with Joseph, not to mention what the changes might do to her (and her familiy’s) reputation in the community. We have heard her willingness to accept and believe the message and surrender to the will of God, and we have watched as God not only kept Joseph from walking away but also gave her a much-needed embrace and words of encouragement from her cousin, Elizabeth.

“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Luke 1:38

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And in time, everything the angel had told her came to pass. She gave birth to the only begotten Son of God, and He was named Jesus (Matthew 1:25). Jesus, God with us, as John 1:14 emphasizes, and as Isaiah had prophesied (Isaiah 7:14), A virgin would conceive and give birth to a son. People will call him “Immanuel,” which means “God with Us.” ~”Viewed in this light,” as gotquestions.org explains, “Isaiah’s prophecy is clear that Jesus is God, sent to earth to be with us, and to save mankind from our sins.” A savior born, the begotten Son of God, born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes,1 and laid in a manger; a perfect reminder that, as today’s study journal points out, “Regardless of whether or not there is room made for Him, the Lord will carry out His purpose.”

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

After Mary had given birth, swaddled her newborn son, and laid Him in the manger, she was visited by shepherds, who had been visited by an angel in the fields. The angel told them about the Savior, Christ the Lord, who had been born in Bethlehem, the city of David. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  …When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:10-12, 15-19)

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, ALSO SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH US IF WE WILL SIMPLY YIELD OURSELVES TO THE LORD.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

  • Why would Mary ponder these things?
  • Take time today to ponder what He has done for you.

The More We Know

  1. There are some interesting theories about Luke’s detail of Jesus’ swaddling clothes. Some have postulated that the swaddling clothes were a foreshadowing—a prophetic reference—of Jesus’ burial cloths. The Greek word sparganoo is the root word used in the phrase “swaddling clothes,” and it means “to clothe in strips of cloth.” But this word sparganoo is never used in the New Testament to refer to burial cloth. In the descriptions in the Gospels of Jesus’ burial, we see variations on the phrase “wrapped in linen cloth,” and different Greek words are used for the binding. The swaddling clothes could prefigure Jesus’ burial (the Magis’ gift of myrrh in Matthew 2:11 is a clearer bit of foreshadowing), but the link can’t be proved linguistically. Gotquestions.org ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

Mary, Mother of Jesus, part 4

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from She, delighting in the women of the Bible, volume 3, pp 35-36

Today’s Scripture: Luke 2:1-6, Hebrews 11:6, Philippians 1:6 and Proverbs 16:9

We can make our plans,but the Lord determines our steps.

Proverbs 16:9 NLT

God’s Sovereign Plan

Pregnancy in the 21st century is far different than in the days when Mary was pregnant. Although the duration of a normal pregnancy remains nine months, there have been many advancements in modern medicine. Parents not only have the option of ultrasounds that reveal their baby’s gender, but also 3D imaging, which allows them to see what their baby will look like, and anatomy scans, which reveal the baby’s overall health and development. Then there’s the decision of where the baby will be born. In the days of Jesus, I suppose home births would have been the typical option, and while they remain an option, there are also hospitals and spa-like birthing centers to pick from. Along with these choices, there’s the how, including natural, medicated, and C-sections. Then there’s the when option, yes, some doctors allow you to pick the date of your child’s birth, working it around jobs or other life events that you may not want the birth to interfere with. In the days of Joseph and Mary, the option would have simply been a “home birth, which would have meant Galilee, where Joseph lived. However, in God’s sovereign plan, Caesar Augustus issued a decree requiring all to pay taxes. So, because Joseph was from the lineage of David, he and Mary (who was “great with child”) had to return to Bethlehem, the city of David, in order to be taxed. While they were there, Scripture records that “the days were accomplished that she should be delivered, (Luke 2:6). So, just as the prophet had declared, the long-awaited Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah.Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.

Micah 5:2

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, ALSO SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE OF

HOW CHRIST WILL GUIDE OUR STEPS TO EXACTLY WHEN AND

WHERE HE DESIRES US TO BE.1

Reflection and Application

How has the Lord directed your steps before?

The More We Know

As with any government count, this census was meant to calculate taxes and military resources. Mary’s soon-to-be husband, Joseph, is a descendant of David, so they go to Bethlehem to participate (Luke 2:1–5).

It would have been unusual for an unmarried couple to travel together, but the circumstances of Mary’s pregnancy are hardly normal (Luke 1:34–35). The family likely realized it would be better for her to be with Joseph when she gave birth. That Mary is in Bethlehem when Jesus is born corresponds to Messianic prophecy (Micah 5:2). (gotquestions.org)

  1. She, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible, volume 3, p36 ↩︎

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, prayer, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

Mary, Mother of Jesus, Part 3

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from She, delighting in the women of the Bible, volume 3, pp 33-34

Today’s Scripture: Luke 1:39-56, Hebrews 11:6, and Psalm 37:4-5

Take delight in the LORD; and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD; trust Him and He will help you.

Psalm 37:4-5

Sometime after Mary professed her belief in the angel’s message and surrendered to the will of the LORD, she went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. You most likely know the story, but it never gets old, does it? Luke writes that Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, ‘God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. Oh, how I love the words of Elizabeth, the description of the baby jumping for joy, and the sign that seemed to be to her that Mary had indeed been given the honor of bringing the long-awaited Messiah into the world.

As Mary had believed the words of the angel and surrendered to the will of God for her life, Elizabeth also believed and made her belief known to Mary, saying: “And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” What an encouragement that must have been to Mary, whom I cannot help but imagine has been feeling somewhat alone in all of this since she received the announcement. Though undoubtedly, her faith was a sustaining grace, the questions, conversations, judgments, and, especially, Joseph’s initial doubts had to weigh heavily on her mind and heart. Then she arrives at Elizabeth’s and is greeted with great excitement and honor. The Lord, our God, is so good to give us just the encouragement we need when we need it.

The willingness of the women to believe and Mary’s willingness to surrender were, as the study journal points out, “birthed in faith that if the Lord said it, there is no doubt it would happen.”

This is the faith that the author of Hebrews writes about in Hebrews 11:6, where we read: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Both Mary and Elizabeth believed that what God had said would happen. This reminds me of what Paul alludes to in Philippians 1:6, when he states that he is “confident that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.“

She had faith, and God performed a miracle.1

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, ALSO SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE THAT WHEN WE BELIEVE WHAT THE LORD HAS PROMISED, HE IS CERTAIN TO PERFORM IT.

Reflection and Application

When you pray, is your attitude one of confidence – not in what you want but in what the Lord can do? If you are waiting for a prayer to be answered, are you confidently surrendered to the will/desire of God for your life or the life of the one you are praying for?

Friends, the way we pray and what we pray matters… consider this commentary from Hebrews 11:6 by bibleref.com:

What does Hebrews 11:6 mean?

This is a popular verse from the book of Hebrews, and also one easily misunderstood out of context. Taken all by itself, the verse presents a truth which is fairly easy to understand. Namely, that God’s first and foremost concern is with our faith—our attitude towards Him and trust in Him—rather than in our actions. This does not make our behaviors unimportant. On the contrary: what we do reflects what we truly believe (James 2:14–17). However, as this verse shows, merely “going through the motions” is not what God is looking for. Those who want to please God need to have faith, not simple agreement, and not merely reluctant cooperation. ~ ~The problem with quoting or reading this verse out of its context is the specter of “blind faith,” or wishful thinking. As shown in prior passages, the writer of Hebrews is not advocating for a gullible, wishful-thinking attitude. On the contrary, this entire letter has been an exercise in evidence and logic. The writer’s point is meant to emphasize the primacy of true faith over insincere works: robotic obedience without legitimate trust in God is worthless. This lesson is given as part of a description of Old Testament figures whose actions prove their faith. (emphasis mine)

The More We Know

“Many of our prayers appear to go unanswered simply because we do not believe that God is willing and able to bring them to pass.”2

  1. She, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible/Volume 3/p33 ↩︎
  2. She, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible/Volume 3/p34 ↩︎