Knowable Word - Bible study help

Recommendation: Best Christian Discipleship Manual

February 14, 2018 By Peter Krol

I love it when I find others directing people to the Scriptures, instead of the latest and greatest workbook or study guide, to answer important questions. So I was delighted to see this article by Joe Tyrpak recommending the best manual for Christian discipleship, to which we already have access.

Would you like to train new or young believers in basic doctrine, worldview, finances, Christian character, marriage, sanctification, mission, conflict resolution, forgiveness, church life, endurance through suffering, the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and anticipation for Jesus’ return? All of these things—and more—are right there for you in The Gospel According to Matthew.

Matthew wrote his gospel to this end: to disciple people into maturity of faith in Christ Jesus. We are free to use his work for that purpose. Next time you want to start a discipleship class, or meet with someone to help them grow in Christ, why don’t you try it for yourself? You’ll cover all the bases God wants you to cover. And you can’t doubt the quality of the source material.

Tyrpak shows you how it can be done. Check it out!

Share or follow:

Exodus 32-34: More of Him

February 9, 2018 By Peter Krol

Step Back

When our Bible study focuses intently on each passage, one after another, we may find it difficult to step back and see how they fit together. But we must remember the Bible is a work of literature. It was not written to be scrutinized in bites; it was written to be devoured in gobbles. We should remember to read the Bible as we’d read any other book: moving through it at a reasonable pace and recognizing ongoing themes, climax, resolution, and character development. When we hit milestones in the text, we should take the opportunity to survey where we’ve been and how it fits together.

So, now that we’ve seen the breaking and repairing of Yahweh’s covenant with Israel, it’s a good time to catch our breath. From this point in Exodus, we’ll see the detailed obedience of the people in constructing a tent for Yahweh. But where have we been so far?

Review

Let me list the main points I’ve proposed for each passage in this section:

Exodus 32:1-35: God has a superior solution to our most troubling trouble. He can make a way to bring us back to him.
Exodus 33:1-23: Full atonement = forgiveness + reconciliation.
Exodus 34:1-28: The glory of Yahweh’s new covenant lies in total restoration and a more intimate relationship than ever before.
Exodus 34:29-35: Yahweh’s new and repaired covenant is far more glorious than was the first covenant, before there was any need of repair—but only if it’s here to stay.

In addition, my overview of the whole book led me to this overall main point:

Who is Yahweh, and why should you obey him? He is the God who 1) demolishes the house of slavery (Ex 1-15), 2) prepares to rebuild (Ex 16-18), and 3) builds his house in the midst of his people (Ex 19-40).

The main idea of Act I (Ex 1:1-15:21) was that Yahweh demolishes the house of slavery. He does this in two parts:

He trains up a qualified mediator to deliver (Ex 1:1-7:7).
He delivers his people from their enemies into a frightful joy (Ex 7:8-15:21).

The main idea of Act II (Ex 15:22-18:27) was that Yahweh prepares the house of his people by showing them they need his law to know him.

Now in Act III, Yahweh builds his house in the midst of his people. We’ve already covered two parts:

In Part 1 (Ex 19:1-24:18), God prepares the conditions for a perfect paradise with his people, where they can draw near to him through the blood of a substitute.
In Part 2 (Ex 25:1-31:18), God delivers blueprints for a tent, so he can re-create heaven on earth by living among his people.

Pull It Together

Now what do these things show us about the flow of thought in chapters 32-34? We are in between the tabernacle’s instructions and the tabernacle’s construction. In giving the tabernacle instructions, how does God build his house?

Act I describes God’s deliverance of his people. Act II shows how God prepares them for a covenant relationship with him. Act III now constructs that covenant relationship.
Part 1: Exodus 19-24 opens the gates of paradise by drawing the people close through the blood of a substitute and endowing them with a utopian vision.
Part 2: Exodus 25-31 recreates heaven on earth, proposing a place where God will dwell with his people, through a series of building plans.
Part 3: Exodus 32-34 now shows us what happens when a righteous God tries to live with a sinful people.
- Exodus 32:1-35 shows that sin remains alive and well, even in a redeemed people, but it suggests there still might be a way to make the relationship work.
- Exodus 33:1-23 describes the formula for repair; forgiveness is not enough without reconciliation.
- Exodus 34:1-28 proves it is possible to find such reconciliation and draw closer to Yahweh than ever before.
- Exodus 34:29-35 illustrates the glorious implications of such complete reconciliation, while leaving us wishing it wouldn’t fade but be settled once and for all.

These chapters show us that our relationship with God involves more than a legal transaction, such that he is only obligated to take us back after he redeems us. This relationship with God involves an intimate connection and a deep friendship unlike anything we’ve experienced. And believe it or not, this relationship—after we sinned and rebelled and were brought back—is better than what we had with him at first. Our delight and satisfaction can be no greater than when we get more of him.

Barney Moss (2015), Creative Commons

We can expand our outline of the book a little further:

Act I: Yahweh demolishes the house of slavery (Ex 1-15).

Introduction: Nobody can prevent Yahweh from keeping his promises, but we’re not sure how he’ll do it (Ex 1).

Part 1: Yahweh appoints a mediator and ensures he is fully qualified and trained for the task of deliverance (Ex 2:1-7:7).

Part 2: Yahweh delivers a deserved destruction to his enemies and a frightful joy to his people (Ex 7:8-15:21).

Act II: Yahweh prepares to rebuild by exposing how deeply his people need his law to know him (Ex 16-18).

Act III: Yahweh builds his house in the midst of his people (Ex 19-40).

Part 1: Yahweh architects a perfect paradise for the community of his people, so he can bring them near through the blood of a substitute (Ex 19-24).

Part 2: Yahweh explains how his people can re-create this paradise on earth (Ex 25-31).

Part 3: Yahweh hands them something more glorious than paradise; he hands them more of himself (Ex 32-34).

Gaze Upon Jesus

Like a shot of dopamine to the brain’s pleasure centers, this section stimulates our deepest joys and leaves us desperate for more. If only it could be so. If only we could see his glory (John 1:14). If only we could be with him forever (John 14:3, 1 Thess 4:17). If only we could have assurance that he will never again move out (Heb 13:5-6). If only we, too, could become partakers in the divine nature (2 Pet 1:3-4). If only we could be not only saved but also reconciled (Rom 5:10-11). If only we could build a place to live with God (Rev 21:2-4), be his people (Rev 21:7), see the light of his face, and worship him alone (Rev 22:1-5)—forever (2 Cor 3:16-18).

Dare I say it may, in fact, be so (Heb 1:1-4)?

Apply

Head: Understand your greatest need is not for more blessing or more forgiveness. What you need is more of the Lord.

Heart: Do you expect anything else to satisfy you?

Ha nds: Seek him. Love him. Abide in his word so you can abide in him (John 8:31-32). Rejoice in what Jesus has made possible. Praise him for his merciful inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you (1 Pet 1:3-4).

Click here to see what I’m doing with this sample Bible study and why I’m doing it.

Share or follow:

What Value is the Old Testament to the Christian Life?

February 7, 2018 By Peter Krol

On the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper fields this question: “What are the best uses of the Old Testament for giving shape to our Christian lives today?” After all, we clearly don’t keep many of the instructions in the Old Testament anymore (offering sacrifices, pursuing ceremonial purification, etc.).

After a brief but thorough explanation, Piper concludes with two glorious suggestions:

First, meeting God for who he really is so that we can know him and worship him since his character was revealed as truly in the Old Testament as in the New Testament.

Second, letting the hundreds of promises in the Old Testament wash over you as your blood-bought birthright in Christ Jesus so that every day, you set yourself free from sin by the superior pleasures of the promises of God.

Piper gives a skillful and clear answer to an important question. Check it out!

Share or follow:

4 Bible Studies for Lent

February 5, 2018 By Ryan Higginbottom

Rod Long (2017), public domain

The calendar just turned to 2018. We’ve barely cleared January. You’re probably not thinking of Easter.

But Lent will be upon us soon! Lent is the season of the church calendar that comes before Easter and, like Advent, it is a season of prepartion.

What is Lent?

Lent is more commonly observed in the Catholic and Orthodox churches, but all Christians can benefit from the season. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (February 14 this year) and ends just before Easter Sunday (April 1).

Lent lasts approximately 40 days, mirroring the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert before his temptation (Matthew 4:1–2). In this respect, Lent differs from Advent in its length. These two seasons also differ in emphasis.

While Advent is a season of excited anticipation, Lent is traditionally a season of contemplation and fasting. During Lent, Christians focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus, along with the sin that made this sacrifice necessary. As a result, Christians who observe Lent spend time in confession, mourning, prayer, and fasting. Some identify a pleasurable gift of God (like meat or chocolate or coffee) from which to abstain during Lent.

There is, of course, no Biblical command to observe Lent. But if you’d like to take advantage of this spot in the church calendar, you may see great spiritual gain.

Lenten Bible Study

If you decide to observe Lent you may want to adjust your devotional life accordingly. In this spirit, many reach for Lenten devotionals at this time of the year. These guides usually consist of daily Bible readings, some commentary, and a suggested prayer. These can be wonderful tools.

However, let me urge you not to rely on these devotionals. Feel free to use them, but don’t neglect the study of the Bible yourself.

When you read and study the Bible on your own, you hear the words of God directly. The interpretation and meaning of the text doesn’t come from a well-meaning author, it comes from the Holy Spirit working in you. And while we can benefit greatly from devotional writers, nothing should replace our personal communion with God through his word.

God has written his word to be read, studied, and understood by all of his children. You are smart enough to study the Bible on your own.

Four Bible Studies

As I did for Advent, I’m providing four Bible study plans for Lent. There is nothing earth-shattering in these suggestions, but some might find the structure and organization helpful. Pick one and go for it.

If you’re new to Bible study or you’d like a refresher, please see our overview of the OIA Bible study method as well as a more detailed explanation. We have some OIA worksheets too; you can find them on our Resources page.

You should also feel free to improvise! If you find a better division to these chapters than what I’ve listed, don’t hesitate to adjust your study.

I’ve planned each of these studies to take six and a half weeks, from Ash Wednesday through Easter Saturday. In each study I’ve focused on the last week of Jesus’s life, from his entry into Jerusalem through his resurrection.

A Study in Matthew

Week 0 (February 14 through February 17): Read Matthew 21–25.
Week 1 (February 18 through February 24): Study Matthew 26:1–29.
Week 2 (February 25 through March 3): Study Matthew 26:30–58.
Week 3 (March 4 through March 10): Study Matthew 26:59–27:14.
Week 4 (March 11 through March 17): Study Matthew 27:15–44.
Week 5 (March 18 through March 24): Study Matthew 27:45–66.
Week 6 (March 25 through March 31): Study Matthew 28:1–20.

A Study in Mark

Week 0 (February 14 through February 17): Read Mark 11–13.
Week 1 (February 18 through February 24): Study Mark 14:1–25.
Week 2 (February 25 through March 3): Study Mark 14:26–50.
Week 3 (March 4 through March 10): Study Mark 14:51–72.
Week 4 (March 11 through March 17): Study Mark 15:1–21.
Week 5 (March 18 through March 24): Study Mark 15:22–47.
Week 6 (March 25 through March 31): Study Mark 16:1–20.

A Study in Luke

Week 0 (February 14 through February 17): Read Luke 19:28–21:38.
Week 1 (February 18 through February 24): Study Luke 22:1–38.
Week 2 (February 25 through March 3): Study Luke 22:39–62.
Week 3 (March 4 through March 10): Study Luke 22:63–23:25.
Week 4 (March 11 through March 17): Study Luke 23:26–56.
Week 5 (March 18 through March 24): Study Luke 24:1–27.
Week 6 (March 25 through March 31): Study Luke 24:28–53.

A Study in John

Week 0 (February 14 through February 17): Read John 12–17.
Week 1 (February 18 through February 24): Study John 18:1–24.
Week 2 (February 25 through March 3): Study John 18:25–19:12.
Week 3 (March 4 through March 10): Study John 19:13–37.
Week 4 (March 11 through March 17): Study John 19:38–20:18.
Week 5 (March 18 through March 24): Study John 20:19–31.
Week 6 (March 25 through March 31): Study John 21:1–25.

Lent for Your Soul

Depending on the tradition in which you were raised, you might not be thrilled about Lent. The season may invoke for you gloominess, deprivation, and asceticism that doesn’t seem rooted in the Bible.

Instead, Lent can be glorious! During the whole of his ministry, Jesus was focused on the cross, and if you follow one of these study plans, you’ll have that same focus. You can witness Jesus’s devotion, his love for his people, his power, and the supernatural explosion of the resurrection. Lean in during Lent, and you’ll be ready for a jubilant Easter celebration!

Thanks for visiting Knowable Word! If you like this article, you might be interested in receiving regular updates from us. You can sign up for our email list (enter your address in the box on the upper right of this page), follow us on Facebook or Twitter, or subscribe to our RSS feed.

Share or follow:

Exodus 34:29-35: Is This Glory Here to Stay?

February 2, 2018 By Peter Krol

After the Israelites broke covenant with God, he refused to live with them any longer. But Moses mediated a new deal, with a new covenant, which would enable total restoration and a more intimate relationship than ever before. Moses has seen the glory of Yahweh’s new covenant identity (the one full of both grace and truth); will the Israelites be allowed to see such glory for themselves?

Observation of Exodus 34:29-35

Most repeated words: Moses (10 times), face (6x), came (5), all (4), Israel (4), people (4), skin (3), speak (3), veil (3), when (3)

This is the first narrative unit since chapter 1 where the name Yahweh (“LORD”) is not one of the top 10 repeated words. The long speeches given by God (Ex 20-23, 25-31) also do not repeat the name Yahweh much, but mostly because Yahweh is telling other people what to do. It’s noteworthy that this climactic episode, describing the people reunited to their God, names that God only twice. Moses goes in to speak with him (Ex 34:34) and then tells his commands to the people (Ex 34:32).
Our main character here seems to be not even Moses himself, but Moses’ face.

The setting: When Moses came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony.

Moses’ descent from the mountain is not a part of the main plot line, but merely the backdrop for Moses’ ignorance of his shining face (Ex 34:29).
This shining takes place in the context of Moses’ role in shaping this glorious new covenant, having literally shaped the stone tablets with his own hands (Ex 34:1, 4).

The reason for Moses’ shining face: “he had been talking with God” (Ex 34:29).

This is the reason for the first shining, and it remains the reason for all subsequent shinings (Ex 34:34-35).

The response to Moses’ shining:

Aaron and all the people are afraid to come near (Ex 34:30). This is the same response to had to the unmediated glory of God on the mountain (Ex 20:18-21).

The aftermath of Moses’ shining:

Moses calls to them (Ex 34:31).
Aaron and the leaders return to him.
Moses talks with them.
The rest of the people come near (Ex 34:32).
Moses commands them all that Yahweh had spoken on the mountain.

The cycle of events from here on out:

Moses veils his face (Ex 34:33).
He removes the veil when he speaks further with God, presumably in the new tent of meeting, presumably no longer outside the camp (Ex 34:34).
When he comes out, he speaks God’s words, with his face still unveiled. “The people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining” (Ex 34:35).
Then Moses replaces the veil until the next time he speaks with God.
Fr Lawrence Lew (2009), Creative Commons

Interpretation of Exodus 34:29-35

Some possible questions:

Why does Moses’ face shine only now, and not the first few times he descended from the mountain (Ex 19:14, 25; 24:3, 32:15-16)? The first tablets were written with the finger of God (Ex 31:18)! Why would there be no shining then?
Why are the people afraid to come near, merely on account of a shining face?
Why does Mose veil his face?
So what does all this mean for the final New Covenant in Christ?

My answers (numbers correspond to the questions):

Chapters 32 and 33 are remarkable in that they show Moses fully executing his mediatorial role between Yahweh and the people. According to the narrator, he persuades Yahweh both to relent from destroying the people and to move back in with the people. This special new role was pictured in Yahweh’s request for Moses to cut these new tablets himself (Ex 34:1). The flow of chapters 32-34 shows that this new covenant is far more glorious than the first covenant was, because Moses (a man) fully participates in shaping it and in beholding the glory of God, full of grace and truth (Ex 34:6-7). This greater glory now blossoms publicly through a brilliantly shining face.
Clearly, the shining face is more than a makeover or pleasant countenance. This is the glory of Yahweh’s grace and truth, being reflected in the image of God’s appointed mediator. No-one can see God’s face and live (Ex 33:20), so even the reflection of this glory, as in a mirror dimly, is nearly as terrifying as the thing itself (Ex 20:18-21).
Here is the narrative’s key idea, and one that is easy to miss. Moses does not veil his face to protect the people from the reflected glory. He covers his face to conceal the fading glory until he gets it recharged (Ex 34:34-35). When the glory recharges from speaking with Yahweh, Moses makes sure the people see his shining face again (Ex 34:35).
Paul uses this episode from Exodus to make a profound point about the glory of the New Covenant in Christ (2 Cor 3:1-4:18). If we assume that Moses’ veil was covering the glory itself (when it was actually concealing the fact that the glory was fading), we miss Paul’s point. In the last year, I’ve read two otherwise excellent books by respected New Testament scholars that make this very mistake. Paul’s argument:
- The people he ministers to are themselves the proof of Paul’s recommendation from Christ (2 Cor 3:1-3).
- His sufficiency as a minister of the new covenant comes from Christ who makes him sufficient (2 Cor 3:4-6).
- While Moses’ ministry had a blazing, terrifying glory, it was always a fading glory (“the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end” – 2 Cor 3:7-11).
- Therefore, Paul is not like Moses, who tried to conceal the fact that his glory was fading (“Moses…put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end” – 2 Cor 3:12-13).
- Even today, the Jews fail to see the temporary, fading nature of the Old Covenant when it’s read to them (2 Cor 3:14-15).
- But when they turn to Christ, they finally see the Old Covenant for the fading and temporary thing it is. They behold the Lord’s face and become perpetually and increasingly glorious (2 Cor 3:16-18).
- This is why the people, whose reflection of Christ’s glory never fades but always brightens, are themselves the proof of Paul’s qualification for ministering this superior covenant (2 Cor 3:1-3, 4:1-15).
- This gives Paul tremendous courage to persevere when ministry is hard (2 Cor 4:16-18).

Train of thought:

The mediator of the new covenant brings with him a glory the world has never yet seen.
Yet this glory is anything but permanent. Something even better must still be on its way.

Main point: Yahweh’s new and repaired covenant is far more glorious than was the first covenant, before there was any need of repair—but only if it’s here to stay.

Connection to Christ: Jesus Christ brought the final new covenant, which is forever here to stay (Heb 7:15-17, 8:13). Knowing Jesus is eternal life (John 17:3). Participation in Jesus is participation in the unfading glory of God (2 Cor 3-4, John 1:14-18).

My Application of Exodus 34:29-35

Like Paul, I need not lose heart when I face a season of harsh criticism. Of course I’m a sinner. Of course I make loads of mistakes. But my sufficiency doesn’t come from any perceived perfection on my part; it comes from Christ. And Christ is at work, replicating his glory in the people he’s transforming by his Spirit. The proof, as they say, is in the puddin’. Trails of people, being united to God through Christ, and growing perpetually in the glory of increasing Christlikeness—these folks are my letter of recommendation from Christ.

Click here to see what I’m doing with this sample Bible study and why I’m doing it.

Share or follow:

When Sprinkling is Not Enough

January 31, 2018 By Peter Krol

On his blog, Russell Moore wonders whether Bible quoters have replace Bible readers. By these terms, he refers to those who use the Bible as an encyclopedic reference book with wise sayings and quotable verses to support their perspective. Moore laments a generation of Christians that rarely read a Bible book from beginning to end and are unable to follow a narrative arc or train of thought.

I’m delighted to see this situation turn around in part through the readers of this blog. In fact, it gives me some ideas for what to write on this coming year.

If you’re currently blasting your way through the whole Bible, I hope you’re having a terrific time. Keep pressing on! Some days, it feels like you’ll never finish, but that’s not true. Stay the course for only 45 minutes a day, and you’ll finish in about 70 days.

As Moore writes in his post:

To engage with a narrative requires…not just a sprinkling but an immersion in the text.

Check it out!

Share or follow:

Exodus 34:1-28: The Glorious New Covenant

January 26, 2018 By Peter Krol

Moses has requested proof from Yahweh that he will, in fact, go up with his people into their new land. God will show up, and he will stay in relationship with these rebellious people. But how is that possible?

Observation of Exodus 34:1-28

Most repeated words: Lord (16 times), God/god (12x), no (6), tablets (6), covenant (5), days (5), make (5), not (5)

much emphasis on Yahweh, God, in contrast to the other gods of the nations
new tablets and the making of a covenant are also primary themes

The first paragraph (Ex 34:1-9) shows Yahweh keeping his promise (Ex 33:19-23) to show his glory to Moses.

First, Moses needs to cut new tablets to replace the ones he broke (Ex 34:1-4) and bring them to the top of the mountain.
Then Yahweh descends in the cloud to speak to Moses (Ex 34:5, compare with Ex 33:9).
Yahweh shows his glory to Moses by…declaring his name and its implications (Ex 34:6-7).
- Yahweh is a God merciful and gracious, abounding in love [grace/mercy] and faithfulness [truth].
- He keeps love and forgiveness for thousands.
- He also will by no means clear the guilty. Sin has consequences for multiple generations.
Moses responds in worship, once again begging God to stay among his people (Ex 34:8-9).
- He recognizes that this cannot happen unless God pardons their sin.

The rest of the section (Ex 34:10-28) is a speech by Yahweh in response to Moses’ pleading.

The topic statement of the speech is: “Behold, I am making a covenant” (Ex 34:10).
And, as though the burning bush and the plagues and the Passover and the exodus and the Red Sea and the manna and the water from the rock and the victory over Amalekites and the pillar of cloud and the fiery mountain—as though all these things weren’t enough, this new covenant will be something “awesome” unlike anything ever seen before (Ex 34:10).
This covenant involves a promise and a series of 8 laws all repeated from earlier in the book (Ex 34:11-28).
- A promise to drive out the nations in the Promised Land (Ex 34:11, compare with Ex 23:23).
- Don’t make covenants with the inhabitants of the land (Ex 34:12-16, cf. Ex 23:24, 32-33).
- Don’t make gods of cast metal (Ex 34:17, cf. Ex 20:4-6, 20:23, 32:4).
- Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread and redeem the firstborn (Ex 34:18-20, cf. Ex 12:17, 13:1-16, 23:15).
- Rest on the seventh day each week (Ex 34:21, cf. Ex 16:26-30, 20:8-11, 23:12).
- Celebrate 3 festivals each year (Ex 34:22-24, cf. Ex 23:14-17).
- Include no leaven in sacrifices, and allow no leftovers from feasts (Ex 34:25, cf. Ex 23:18).
- Bring the best of the first fruits into Yahweh’s house (Ex 34:26, cf. Ex 23:19).
- Don’t boil a young goat in its mother’s milk (Ex 34:26, cf. Ex 23:19).
Yahweh wants this new covenant (particularly the 10 Commandments) written on the new stone tablets. Moses take 40 more days (cf. Ex 24:18) to complete this work (Ex 34:27-28).
Stephen Zucker (2012), Creative Commons

Interpretation of Exodus 34:1-28

Some possible questions:

Why does Moses need new stone tablets?
Why does Moses need to replace the stone tablets himself?
Why is God’s glory wrapped up in his name?
How is this new covenant any more awesome than what Yahweh has done before?
Why does this new covenant simply repeat the promise and 8 laws from earlier in the book?

My answers (numbers correspond to the questions):

He broke the first ones (Ex 34:1) when he saw the people worshipping the golden calf (Ex 32:19). He did this as a representative of Yahweh’s fierce anger (Ex 32:10, 19), signifying the covenant relationship broken seemingly beyond repair (Ex 33:3-5).
The first ones were carved and written on by the finger of God himself (Ex 31:18, 32:16). But Moses has now demonstrated his full potential as mediator. When God repairs the covenant, part of what makes it more “awesome” than anything seen before is that it now includes a human mediator in the crafting of it. This foreshadows the significance of the last part of chapter 34, which I’ll cover next week.
God’s decision to deliver these people was deeply rooted in the glory of his name (Ex 3:13-15). His plan to train Moses as a mediator was deeply rooted in the glory of his name (Ex 6:2-9). He toyed with Pharaoh so the whole earth would know the glory of his name (Ex 9:15-16). One of God’s foundational commands prohibits people from making light of his name (Ex 20:7). The whole book of Exodus has been concerned with the glory of Yahweh’s name. And now we learn the essence of the name, the essential identity of this God: he who is full of both grace and truth (Ex 34:6, John 1:14, 17-18). It was pictured early on in a bush that burned but was not consumed (Ex 3:2). Now we finally see the truth of his judgment on a sinful people combined with the grace of a new covenant to restore them to him.
It is more awesome because it involves not only rescuing a needy people but even restoring and cohabiting with a blatantly rebellious people. It is not merely God’s plans for humans, but even his inclusion of them in his eternal purpose (e.g. requiring Moses to inscribe the new tablets). This is an awe-inspiring glory the world had never seen.
Most of the repetition comes from chapter 23, the conclusion to the original Book of the Covenant. The repetition here highlights the fact that this covenant is still on. Though Yahweh threatened to destroy the people and start over (Ex 32:10), and though he refused to keep living among them (Ex 33:3-6), he has not followed through on those threats. He has restored their relationship in full to the way that it was before. In fact, there are even hints that it’s better than it was before (e.g. Moses’ shaping and writing the new tablets).

Train of thought:

Yahweh’s glory is revealed through the inclusion of a human mediator to shape the new covenant, and his fundamental identity of combining grace and truth.
The glorious new covenant involves not only a full and total restoration of the broken relationship between God and his people, but also a few hints of something more.

Main point: The glory of Yahweh’s new covenant lies in total restoration and a more intimate relationship than ever before.

Connection to Christ: Jesus, once again, is our true mediator. He forgives our sins and rescues us from slavery. These things are wonderful. But he also reunites us to God in a way superior to anything we would have had before sin entered the world. Jesus makes possible our full and final adoption as the sons of God.

My Application of Exodus 34:1-28

Head: I can trust that my God and Father is not grudgingly obligated to take care of me; no, he is ecstatic and delighted to have me for his son in Christ.

Heart: I cannot find such divine and eternal intimacy anywhere else. Nothing can satisfy my deepest longing for close relationships like what I have in Christ.

Hands: Stop sucking the life out of people. Don’t manipulate circumstances or conversations for my own security or self-fulfillment. I can take risks, speak the truth, extend the grace that has been extended to me. This will generate more patience with my children and greater eagerness for outreach.

Click here to see what I’m doing with this sample Bible study and why I’m doing it.

Share or follow:

How Reading the Bible Should be Something Ordinary

January 24, 2018 By Peter Krol

Tommy Keene writes at The Christward Collective about reading the Bible in an ordinary way. What he means by that is that we should read the Bible as we’d read any other book. Not just a sentence or paragraph at a time, but consuming chapters and books and more in great gobbles.

First, he suggests we ought to read the book and not merely read around the book. Set aside all your commentaries and study notes so you can soak in the text itself. Reader’s Bibles help immensely by clearing out all the gunk that has accumulated over the generations.

Second, he encourages us to read entire books of the Bible in a single sitting. Don’t bother to stop every time you hit something you don’t understand. Don’t pause or rewind; just keep going. Let the big picture impact you first, and then go back to the difficult parts as needed.

As Keene says:

Over the years we have trained ourselves to read the Bible in an unnatural way, so we’re going to have to break some bad habits.

Keene’s sound advice is well worth considering. Check it out!

Share or follow:

How to Give Bibles Away at Your Church

January 22, 2018 By Ryan Higginbottom

anonymous (2016), public domain

Bible ownership is a crucial aspect of evangelism and discipleship that we don’t often discuss in the church.

And even though the Bible is available for free in thousands of digital formats, there’s something powerful about a physical copy. It sits as a reminder on our bookshelf or table of the permanence of God’s word.

With this post I’ll explain one strategy to make sure that everyone who visits your church owns a Bible.

Why Give the Bible Away?

The Bible is God’s word. It is the authoritative, perfect source of true information about God, the world, humanity, sin, salvation, love, forgiveness, and eternity. God gives it to us to teach us, to correct us, to train us in righteousness, to encourage us, and to give us hope. There is nothing more important for us to read and study in all the world.

As we urge our friends, Christian and non-Christian alike, to draw near to God, handing out Bibles gives everyone access. We pray and depend on God to work within hearts for conversion and growth in holiness even as we distribute the tool he most often uses for these purposes.

How to Give the Bible Away

The first step—obvious, perhaps—is to buy a bunch of Bibles. Cases of pew Bibles will secure the cheapest price per book. Here’s a link to a case of ESV Pew Bibles, but other translations are easy to find.

The best time to give Bibles away is during the reading of Scripture in the worship service. It’s important that everyone who does this public reading have a similar approach. Before they read the passage, they should invite the congregation to follow along by providing the Scripture reference and the page number in the pew Bible. This is a way to show hospitality for those who aren’t familiar with the Bible.

Now you give the invitation. Try something simple like this.

If you don’t have a Bible of your own, we’d love to give you one. Please feel free to keep the one provided for you where you’re sitting.

Finally, make sure someone checks the worship area after each service and replenishes the Bibles. This way your church is ready for the following week!

How to Pay for these Gifts

Physical Bibles cost money, so if your church would like to begin this practice, you’ll need to come up with the funds. Ideally, this expense would land in the worship or outreach sections of your church’s annual budget.

However, if adding this to the budget isn’t possible, consider asking for a special donation. I’ve found many church members are eager to get behind this sort of initiative.

A People Ablaze

God works powerfully through his word. When we hand out Bibles at church, we’re distributing kindling and lighter fluid. Let’s pray that God would provide the spark to set his people ablaze.

Disclaimer: If you make a purchase through the link above, you will support the work of Knowable Word at no additional charge to you.

Share or follow:

Exodus 33: Atonement = Forgiveness + Reconciliation

January 19, 2018 By Peter Krol

After the people commit a “great sin,” Moses offers to go back up Mt. Sinai. His hope? “Perhaps I can make atonement for your sin” (Ex 32:30). This work of atonement began with begging God’s forgiveness (Ex 32:31-32), but that clearly wasn’t enough (Ex 32:33-35). Full atonement requires something more.

Observation of Exodus 33

Most repeated words: people (14 times), Moses (12x), said (11), tent (11), Lord (9), up (9), go (8), not (8), face (5), favor (5), know (5), sight (5)

As Moses is trying to bring the Lord and the people back together, I’m not surprised to see repeated mention of these characters
But what role do the tent, and the favor of God’s face, play…?

In the first section (Ex 33:1-6), Yahweh assesses the situation as it stands.

Yahweh speaks to Moses
- He will keep his oath to give them the land
- But Moses must lead them (Ex 33:1)
- Yahweh will send an angel to clear out the inhabitants (Ex 33:2)
- But he himself will not go with them, lest he consume them on the way (Ex 33:3)
The people mourn at this “disastrous word” (Ex 33:4)
Yahweh’s speech is repeated (Ex 33:5)
- There is real danger for these people if Yahweh were to be with them!
The people strip their ornaments (Ex 33:6)

In the second section (Ex 33:7-11), Yahweh speaks to Moses at the tent of meeting face-to-face.

In the third section (Ex 33:12-23), Moses pleads with Yahweh to alter this course of events.

Moses leverages the favor he’s already got with Yahweh (Ex 33:12).
He pleads for even more favor (Ex 33:13).
Yahweh then promises to go with them (Ex 33:14).
But Moses is not assured. He wants to make sure Yahweh will be with them (Ex 33:15-16).
Yahweh agrees to this very thing (Ex 33:17).
But Moses is still not assured. He requests proof that Yahweh will be with them. And the requested proof is that Yahweh will show Moses his glory (Ex 33:18).
Yahweh agrees, but with conditions to preserve Moses’ life (Ex 33:19-23).
Julie Gibbons (2010), Creative Commons

Interpretation of Exodus 33

Some possible questions:

If Yahweh has agreed to forgive their sin (and not wipe them all out to start over with Moses), why all this fuss? Why won’t he just go with them?
What is going on with the tent of meeting in Ex 33:7-11? Why is this little anecdote stuck right here? Wouldn’t the story make more sense without it (if we read Ex 33:1-6 and then jumped to Ex 33:12-23)?
Why won’t Moses take God at his word? Why does he request proof that God will be with them?

My answers (numbers correspond to the questions):

Though Yahweh has forgiven (most of) the people and chosen not to destroy them for their sin, this passage shows us vividly that forgiveness alone is not enough to accomplish full atonement. Though the legal transaction of forgiveness has taken place, there is still the relational damage between Yahweh and the people that must be dealt with. Yahweh will keep his word to give these people the land of Canaan (Ex 33:1-2). But the relationship has been so damaged that, if Yahweh was with them, there could be more explosions (Ex 33:3).
We must not read Ex 33:7-11 in a vacuum, divorced from the context. This has everything to do with the flow of the chapter! I’m honestly not sure why the ESV (along with NASB, NIV, and NRSV) add the “used to” to Ex 33:7, as an interpretation of the Hebrew’s shift in tense. But the CSB, NET, NKJV, and LEB all translate with a straightforward, “Now Moses took the tent and pitched it outside the camp,” which makes more sense in the context. Of course, the tabernacle hasn’t been pitched yet, but Moses set up a proto-tabernacle, a mini-mountain, where the glory cloud could descend and Yahweh could speak to Moses (Ex 33:9). But from God’s speech in Ex 33:1-3, Moses knows that God can no longer live with his people. The relationship is too damaged. So this tent must go outside the camp. When Moses goes to speak with Yahweh, all the people wait breathlessly at the doors of their own tents, hoping beyond hope that their God will move back into camp with them. Yahweh speaks to Moses as to a friend (Ex 33:11), but that is not good enough for Moses. Moses wants God to have this relationship with all his people. This causes Moses to plead for a change and to request proof that it will happen.
Moses knows how high the stakes are. God has placed his favor on Moses in a special way, but Moses won’t back down until Yahweh sets such favor on all the people. According to Ex 33:15-16, “me” and “us” are a package deal. “You can’t take me up, Yahweh, without taking all of us!” So Moses asks God to put his money where his mouth is; he wants to see the ring on Israel’s finger to know the wedding is still on. “Please show me your glory!” And he gets more than he bargained for. Yahweh will make all his goodness pass by, and he will become a witness to Yahweh’s lavish grace and mercy (Ex 33:19) when he repairs the relationship between his people and himself.

Train of thought:

Forgiveness, on its own, clearly wasn’t enough to provide full atonement.
The relationship has broken to the point that Yahweh must move out.
The grace of true reconciliation is astoundingly glorious (and life-threatening).

Main point: Full atonement = forgiveness + reconciliation

Connection to Christ: When God, before the world began, set his affection on his beloved Son, Jesus Christ, he got us as a package deal. Jesus came to die for his people, that he might bring us to God. And God loves us, not because we are lovable or particularly noble, but because Jesus claimed us as his own. When Jesus worked to provide atonement, to cover our sins, he did what had to be done so we could be forgiven. But he didn’t stop there. He also brought us close to God, as an intimate part of his family.

My Application of Exodus 33

The world does not work this way. The world tries to forgive and forget. Most people walk on eggshells, hold grudges, or give in to backbiting when relationships go sour.

But it must not be so with me (or with our community). The more I delight in the full reconciliation Jesus has provided for me with God, the better equipped I will be to not only forgive but also reconcile with those around me.

Click here to see what I’m doing with this sample Bible study and why I’m doing it.

Share or follow:

« Previous Page