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The Bible Day 84: Divine Wisdom, Legalistic Challenges, and Purification

 

The Bible Day 84: Divine Wisdom, Legalistic Challenges, and Purification

Good evening, and welcome back to our Bible Day 84 Study; tonight, we will delve into more timeless truths that resonate with our faith. In Proverbs 8:1-11, the manifestation of Divine Wisdom will guide our path in our Study of the Proverbs. We then embark on a legalistic challenge where our Lord will challenge the artificial ideas of the Pharisees and contrast their evil intentions with His greatness in healing a man on the Sabbath. As our journey stirs to the end, we will immerse ourselves in the purification aspects of the early Israelites and how it resembles today's sacrament of baptism.


Proverbs 8:1-11 Study:

Who is Wisdom? Wisdom is Christ Himself, and we are all called to proclaim Him to all humanity. Discernment or understanding, depending on your reading of the Septuagint or the online NKJV, refers to the crown of virtues, obeying the one who possesses it. As individuals, we are superior to the discernment we all have, and we are all to proclaim the name of Christ to all. This understanding of Wisdom can transform our lives and inspire us to share His message, igniting a fire within us to spread His love and teachings.

In Proverbs, Wisdom takes on a vivid persona, often personified as feminine, referred to as "she" or "her." This personification paints a picture of Wisdom's nurturing, guiding, and intimate nature, akin to a caring mother or a wise woman offering counsel and instruction (See Proverbs 8:1, NKJV). Wisdom is also universal, always present, and fills all things. Wisdom dwells in our midst; truly, Christ is in our midst. In vv. 4-6, we see how Wisdom speaks to every human being, "To you, O men, I call" see v. 4). Before we know Wisdom(Christ), we lack understanding. We are all foolish or uninstructed (v. 5). When we obey Wisdom out of love, the Lord gives us prudence the same astuteness (Greek Orthodox Study Bible uses 'astuteness'); prudence and astuteness are the crown of virtues. The wise choose goodness over evil. This universality of Wisdom should remind us of our shared faith and make us feel connected to a larger community of believers, all striving to understand and follow Christ.

  • Proverbs 14:24(NKJV): The crown of the wise is their riches, But the foolishness of fools is folly.

 

  • Proverbs 14:25(LXX): The crown of the wise is astuteness, but the pastime of the undiscerning is evil.

  • In vv. 7-8, Wisdom is speaking the truth- John 14:6, the Lord said, "I AM THE TRUTH."

  • In v. 9- "They are all"- excellent or sacred; see v.6, and all of this is evident to all who have the crown of understanding, and that is through experience, knowing, and obeying Wisdom and His ways.

Luke 5:33-6:11 Study:

Our Study began with the Pharisees' question to Jesus regarding fasting: " Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?" Jesus' earthly ministry was supposed to be a time of continuous joy and blessings. Still, Jesus informs His opponents that a time will come when His followers will practice fasting. In v. 39, it is exciting because this saying is only found here in Luke's account, and his teaching that the Jews had a difficult time accepting the new covenant, the resistance one who faces when having to turn from sinful ways, and it symbolizes the stubbornness of our inner heart as people who fall short.

Luke 6:1-11 Study:

The 'first and second Sabbath' mention in Luke 6:1-11 carries profound symbolism. This term was used when a Jewish feast immediately followed the regular Sabbath, indicating that this feast was also considered a Sabbath. The commentary of the Orthodox Study Bible, St. Ambrose, suggests that the term 'second Sabbath' symbolizes the new covenant and the eternal resurrection, while the 'first Sabbath' represents the Law. This distinction underscores the transition from the Law to the gospel, where what was once unlawful for all except the priests to eat is now freely given to all by Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath (v. 5). David's act of providing the showbread to all those who were with him (1 Samuel 21:1-6) foreshadows this new covenant.

Our Lord, in Luke 6:6-11, challenges the legalistic mindsets of the Pharisees. The Pharisees and the scribes were foolish religious leaders lacking compassion; they expected more from the people than God did. They built up around the Law that healing was work, and by them, was not allowed on the Sabbath. The Pharisees and scribes believed they were serving the Lord by zealously keeping their traditions; it's fair to say that their legalism was insensitive to God's mercy (See, Hosea 6:6). This stark contrast between their legalism and God's mercy should not only remind us but also make us feel the importance of compassion and mercy in our faith, urging us to embody these qualities in our lives.

Numbers 19-21:3 Study:

Numbers 19:

It began with the Son of God, the Lord, speaking to Moses and Aaron. The Lord said, "The injunction of the law, whatever the Lord ordered."- The Son of God, His Law must always be connected. The Israelites should never be seen or thought of as being disconnected; being disconnected is legalism, the Pharisees and scribes, and never should there be a disconnection between the Law and Christ, who is the Lawgiver. (see Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Ephesians 4:4-6, Our Lord is One).

In vv. 9, 17, the ashes for the burnt offering for purification are placed in a vessel, and then running water is poured over them. The ashes and the water are mixed, becoming the water of purification; it resembles the Sacrament of Baptism (see Acts 2:38-39, Hebrews 9:13-14, Acts 22:16, or Titus 3:5 ).

Numbers 20 Study:

vv. 1-5, "The Desert of Sin" is described as "a place where nothing is ever sown, neither figs nor vines nor pomegranates; nor there any water to drink (v. 5). The Israelites could have been thankful but instead choose to be frustrated and unthankful.

In vv. 11-12: Moses struck the Rock twice in v. 8; the Lord told him to take his rod and speak to the Rock) because of unbelief and disobedience, his actions and the actions of his people would keep him from leading Israel into the Promised Land. Moses violated the spiritual Rock, who is Christ (see 1 Corinthians 10:4), after the Lord's Incarnation, he was smitten not once, but twice for the sins of the entire world (Romans 6:4), and from the Cross, the Lord became waters of life, that "spring up into everlasting life (John 4:14)."

In v. 13, "The water of Contention," the Orthodox Study Bible gives two reasons why it's called this: first, because of Israel's scoffing, and second, the Lord was sanctified among them, and even though they were disobedient, the Lord gave them water to drink.



In Christ, love Jared W. Campbell





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