S1: Hello friends, happy New Year and welcome to Open Line
S1: with Doctor Michael Ray Dolnick. My name is Michael Ray Dolnick,
S1: and I'm the academic dean and professor of Jewish studies
S1: at Moody Bible Institute. It's time for our Bible study
S1: across America, and I'm so grateful that you're starting your
S1: year by joining me around the radio kitchen table. And
S1: we're going to talk about the questions that you've sent
S1: in about the Bible, God, and the spiritual life to
S1: start the New Year. I thought we'd empty the inbox,
S1: clear the spindle. So today is an all mailbag, all
S1: the time program. So don't call today. You still can
S1: send your questions in. All you have to do is
S1: go to our website, openline radio.org, and you'll see a
S1: link there that says Ask Michael a question. Click over
S1: there for him will come out. You can send your
S1: question there and Trish will put it in the mailbag
S1: for future weeks. But today we're going to answer the
S1: questions that you've sent in in past weeks. We want
S1: to get through as many so that we start the
S1: new year fresh with new questions. And joining me today to, uh,
S1: deal with all the questions you've mailed in is, first
S1: of all, Eva. She's my wife. She's also a colleague
S1: at Moody Bible Institute. She's a co-writer on the Moody
S1: Bible Commentary and the Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy. But really,
S1: she's my favorite Bible teacher. And hey.
S2: Happy New Year, everybody.
S1: I'm glad you're here, Eva. And, uh, kind of the
S1: master of ceremonies, the person, or I should say mistress
S1: of ceremonies, the person who's in charge, the person who's
S1: going to ask the questions and keep us online here
S1: to answer your questions, it's Tricia McMillan. She's the producer
S1: of Open Line. So glad you're here, Tricia.
S3: Glad to be here.
S1: Yeah. And, uh, Omar Mendoza is our tech guy today.
S1: Thank you so much, Omar. And again, don't call today.
S1: Today is a special question. Question and answer program based
S1: on the Bible questions and spiritual life questions you've sent in.
S1: And that's what we're going to do. So get ready.
S1: We're about to study the scriptures together, and I'm going
S1: to turn it right over to Tricia. What have you
S1: got for us today?
S3: Well, our first question is from Tom in Illinois. He
S3: listens to Wmbi, says, I just ordered the Moody Bible
S3: Commentary to start the New year off right in God's Word.
S3: And I also plan to buy a new Bible. I've
S3: heard you mention that you use the Holman Edition, but
S3: do you have a favorite translation? Um, yeah. Well.
S1: My favorite translation is the original Holman Christian Standard Bible Hcsb.
S1: It's been revised. I still use the old one. I
S1: the revision is good, but I think it took away
S1: some of the distinctives of the Hdssb and they call
S1: it now the Holman CSB. It's a good one too.
S1: You have to if you want to get the CSB
S1: like I have, you can still find them, but you
S1: buy them on the internet. They're they're sometimes listed as used,
S1: but then they're actually brand new. There are people who
S1: got an HSB and and never, uh, and never really
S1: opened it.
S2: And they don't even write their name in it. You've
S2: ordered a couple of those, right?
S1: Yeah, yeah. And I have a stack of them so
S1: that when I wear out a Bible, I've got the
S1: next one to go. And now, uh, Eva, you have
S1: a different favorite Bible.
S2: My favorite Bible is the new American Standard Version. I've
S2: been reading it for a long time. When I was.
S1: Even thinks that Moses and Paul.
S2: Wrote that. Autographed by them. Um, when I was a
S2: moody student, that was the one I studied out of
S2: as a moody student back when I was in Jewish
S2: studies at Moody, but I continued to read it. I've
S2: done other versions, but I come back to this. It
S2: is not the smoothest reading. Uh, text not doesn't read
S2: as smooth as, say, the one that Michael was just mentioning. However,
S2: I like it because it's a more a word for
S2: word translation, which is why it's kind of bumpy in parts.
S2: But yeah, I'm used to the bumps, so I like it.
S1: So there's different approaches to translation. There's uh, there's like
S1: a formal equivalence. That's a word for word translation, like
S1: the new American standard. And then there's a dynamic equivalence,
S1: which is much more thought for thought. That would be
S1: something like the New Living Translation. And then there's what
S1: the Hcsb tries to be is optimal equivalence, which is
S1: a word for word as much as you can. But
S1: when it's kind of bumpy because you're going from an
S1: ancient different language, uh, to a modern language, you need
S1: to to sometimes smooth it out. And so that's what
S1: they call optimal equivalence. That's why I like about the HSB. Uh,
S1: and I use them all. Uh, many people. I recently
S1: had to preach someplace where they only use the ESV
S1: and the English Standard version, so I happily use that.
S1: What do you use, Tricia?
S3: Uh, our church uses the ESV. Um, I memorized verses
S3: as a kid in either the NIV or NASB. Um,
S3: because the ESV wasn't created yet. That one, I think,
S3: was made in like 2000. Like right around 2000 ish. Um,
S3: and so, so now when my kids are learning their
S3: verses in Awana, I have to check myself because I'm like, oh, yeah,
S3: you got it right. Oh, no, you missed like four
S3: words because it's not the shell, it's a will. And
S3: it's a they're very minor things and they don't change
S3: the meaning. But but they can make me stumble a
S3: little bit when I try and say it because I'm like, oh,
S3: that's not like that's not the right word. Like one
S3: and only son or only begotten son or only son.
S3: You know, like those very small changes.
S1: We use now for your Bible study, like when you
S1: go to or you're reading.
S3: Use. Yeah, I think it depends on where I am.
S3: The one on my phone is ESV. So if I'm
S3: reading on my phone, like because I'm traveling and like
S3: I didn't bring a Bible, it'll be ESV. So it's
S3: probably you use.
S1: When you're at home.
S3: Most of what I use is ESV. Probably the it's
S3: an ESV, I believe. Yeah.
S1: Yeah. Well, what I think is interesting is you use
S1: an hcsb when we're in the studio together.
S3: I do, because I know that's what. That's what I
S3: use or what you what you read. And so anything
S3: that I do with the mailbag, when I look up
S3: the verses and include those, I always make sure I
S3: have the hcsb. And so I actually have an hcsb
S3: that I use in the studio. So, so the one
S3: in my office at work is an Hcsb. So that's
S3: why I say just to kind of depends on where
S3: I am.
S1: Here's the thing I would suggest to Tom, you know,
S1: get several versions. uh, you know, or online. Check them
S1: out and read them. Uh, pick one book and read it.
S1: You know, like a chapter or two in each one
S1: and see which one fits you the best, which which
S1: you like the best. Uh, and then buy that one.
S1: The thing I would caution there are some, uh, what
S1: I would call idiosyncratic translations. Those are translations that are
S1: done by one person. Uh, and I would be careful. Like,
S1: the message might be interesting to read, but I wouldn't
S1: use it as a regular Bible. Uh, there's the passion translation,
S1: which is very quirky, and I would say, no, don't
S1: use that as a regular reading Bible.
S2: The the the new living though that's the.
S1: New living is, is a dynamic equivalence. And it's very good. Uh,
S1: but again, you have to read them and decide which
S1: one fits you the best. But, uh.
S2: I would say two if you if you grew up
S2: with the King James and you love it, then try
S2: the new King James, because it deals with some of
S2: those phrases that, that we don't use anymore the the
S2: the original King James and the new King James.
S1: New King James is a very good translation. However, I
S1: think the especially the Greek text is somewhat problematic that
S1: it's based on. And so I, I would, I would
S1: try to go with a more modern translation, even more
S1: than the new King James. Although if you're really devoted
S1: to King James, uh, then then fine. Now, the one
S1: thing that Evo always says about what's the translation you
S1: should read?
S2: I always say choose the translation that you will read
S2: the most, the one that you are the most comfortable
S2: with and understand the best.
S1: Yeah, because all those translations that we talked about are good. Translation.
S1: The NIV is a good translation. There are lots of
S1: good ones.
S2: So the the ones are minor. Mhm. So the most
S2: important thing right. Read your Bible every day.
S3: That's right. Alright. Thank you. Brenda in Alabama listens to
S3: Wmft says I really appreciate you in the program. I
S3: listen to you on Saturday mornings and learn so much. Uh,
S3: you have talked about the acronym specs. S p e
S3: c s that reminds you what to look for when
S3: you are studying a passage in the Bible. Can you
S3: tell us again what those letters stand for?
S1: Sure. Now, I just want you to know that I
S1: never dreamed that this would have people from Open Line
S1: asking me about. I get asked about this all the
S1: time when I go out and meet with people. Like,
S1: do a live audience, open line. Uh, people will say,
S1: what's the specs again? I, I was a student in
S1: Howard Hendricks Bible study methods class, and he showed us specs,
S1: and I thought, oh, that's good. And I kind of
S1: tucked it away. And now and now I'm always amazed
S1: that people really like this. So here's what you put
S1: on your specs when you read the Bible. It's a
S1: way of making the Bible practical.
S2: It's like putting on your glasses to see something more clearly.
S2: Put on your specs.
S1: Put on your specs, and so see if there's a
S1: statement of truth to believe. Then there's also a promise
S1: to claim, an example to follow, a command to obey,
S1: or a sin to avoid. Those are the specs. Those
S1: are the the five letters statement of truth. Example to follow.
S1: Promise to claim, command to obey or sin to avoid.
S1: And you know you can reverse those S's if you want,
S1: but you know the sin to avoid at the beginning
S1: statement of truth to believe. But either way, it's right.
S1: You got your specs on. And uh uh, Trish, I
S1: think what you need to do is once again.
S3: Post post the graphic on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
S3: That's great. So you can see that. Yeah. No, I
S3: made this fun little graphic like years ago. And so
S3: I keep bringing it out every once in a while
S3: because I think especially as we begin a new year, uh,
S3: People are looking for ways to either reignite how they
S3: study the Bible or they're not sure where to start.
S3: And I think having these questions are just good. So
S3: can you give me an example of how you would
S3: use this? Like let's say John one one in the beginning,
S3: maybe that's not a good verse. In the beginning.
S1: It's a great word. It's a great.
S3: One. Okay.
S1: That's a.
S3: Passage.
S1: God, that's a passage that affirms the deity of the
S1: Lord Jesus. The word was with God and the word
S1: was God. And then it says, Then the word became flesh.
S1: Later on in the.
S2: Passage, good for Christmas time.
S1: Yeah. And so here's the thing. That's a statement of truth.
S1: People often say, do I have to really believe that
S1: Jesus is fully God? And the answer is yes, that's
S1: a statement of truth to believe. So that's a great example.
S1: When you read that, it affirms the truth. So yeah,
S1: that's a good example. So another place. Yes.
S3: Well I was going to say. So. So when we
S3: do this, we're not looking for all five to no
S3: to be answered. You're looking for all five? One verse. Yeah.
S2: One verse might not have all.
S3: Like in that verse. It might not have all five.
S3: But those are different ways that I can say. Is
S3: there a statement of truth in there? Yes, yes there is.
S1: I have my radar on for all five of those. Yep.
S1: But I might only find one. So yeah. That's great. Okay. Uh, no. Okay. Wonderful.
S3: Thank you.
S1: Uh, we're we're going to take a break here, but I,
S1: we're going to when we come back, I just want
S1: to mention that we're supposed to be reading the scriptures.
S1: I really want to encourage that. We're going to read
S1: through the Bible. I read through the Bible every year.
S1: So we're going to talk about that when we come back. Okay, Trish. Okay. Okay. Uh,
S1: and stay with us. There's a lot more to go
S1: on this all mailbag, all the time program of Open
S1: Line with Michael Ray Dolnick, Eva Ray Dolnick and Trish McMillan.
S1: Do you ever feel overwhelmed trying to see how all
S1: 27 books of the New Testament fit together? Well, I
S1: have the perfect resource for you. Survey of the New
S1: Testament by Paul Benware takes you on a journey from
S1: Matthew to Revelation, giving you the big picture of God's
S1: grand story of redemption. Get your copy of this resource today.
S1: When you give a gift of any size, call (888) 644-7122
S1: or go to Open Line radio.org. Ministry isn't a solo effort.
S1: You know my voice, but if you could see inside
S1: our studio, you'd see a team behind the scenes putting
S1: open line on the air. Look a little further and
S1: you'd see into the homes of listeners like you who
S1: give monthly to make this ministry possible. And when you
S1: join our team of Kitchen Table Partners, I'll send you
S1: a Bible study moment email every other week with tips
S1: and encouragement. Become a kitchen table partner today by calling
S1: (888) 644-7122 or go to open Line radio.org. And we're back
S1: for this special all mailbag All the time program with me,
S1: Michael Melnick. Eva Rydell. Nick is joining me. I know
S1: everyone's happy. Uh, I'm always amazed. Uh, people are like,
S1: we're we're okay with you, Nick, but wow, we love
S1: it when Eve is on the program. So. And then
S1: Tricia McMillan is here and we're going through the mailbag.
S1: But before we hit the mailbag, we talked about posting
S1: last segment, the specs graphic that you created. There's something
S1: else I think we need to post, and that is
S1: a read through the Bible in a year program. I
S1: think it's such a good thing. And we can read
S1: through the Bible. There's lots of different programs. I really
S1: want to encourage you to read it by book, not by.
S2: Uh, chronology.
S1: Chronology. Just but and also read. Why do some Old
S1: Testament excuse me, uh, do some Old Testament. Do some
S1: New Testament. Both. I think that would be a really
S1: big help, uh, to to read, not just start in
S1: Genesis and work your way through. And so, Tricia, we
S1: have some, uh, read through the Bible in a year programs,
S1: or at least one that I really recommend that we
S1: can post as well. I want to help you do that.
S1: And if you're getting your your new Bible, your new
S1: moody Bible commentary, you're all set. Uh, Eva, you've been
S1: doing this forever. You do lots of different.
S2: Programs of different ways. I do lots of different ways.
S1: But one of the things that that you discovered is
S1: how many chapters a day do you have to read
S1: to get through the Bible in a year? Oh, I.
S2: Think you only have to read four chapters a day.
S2: I think it is. And if you read for 15
S2: minutes a day, just 15 minutes, you can read through
S2: the whole Old Testament and the New Testament twice, the
S2: Old Testament once, the New Testament, twice in a year,
S2: 15 minutes.
S1: You think.
S2: How much time you spend on worthless stuff every.
S1: Day? Every day? Yeah. So 15 minutes a day is
S1: all you need. And you get through the Bible, the
S1: Old Testament and the New Testament twice in a year.
S2: Reading at a normal pace. Yeah. You know, so it's
S2: it's great. And, you know, maybe your church has a,
S2: has a read through the Bible plan that your church.
S2: I know Mike Faber his church does. So if that
S2: if they have that do that. So you're so you're
S2: reading along with what everybody else is reading in your,
S2: in your congregation. But read it every day.
S1: Yeah. Okay. Uh, so that's I wanted to make sure
S1: that that, uh, we had that on on tap for us. Okay. Uh, okay. Trish,
S1: let's let's see where we can go with some more
S1: questions right now.
S3: Okay. Terry in Florida and Susan in Ohio both have
S3: a similar question where they are looking at their Bible carefully. And, um,
S3: in the back in the maps, it has it labeled
S3: as um. It uses the word Palestine to talk about it.
S3: So expansion of the early Church in Palestine or Palestine
S3: and New Testament times. What is meant by this? Shouldn't
S3: it say Israel instead?
S1: Well, let's.
S2: Wait. And some apps will even say Palestine in the
S2: time of Abraham.
S1: Yeah, some maps on some in some Bibles say that.
S1: Now here's where the word Palestine came from. It became
S1: in the Roman period, it became a regional term, a
S1: term for that region. Uh, but it wasn't really a country.
S1: And then by the second century, there was a Jewish
S1: revolt against Rome. And Hadrian. The emperor defeated the Second
S1: Great Jewish Revolt in 135. And he was so annoyed
S1: with this Jewish community that he wanted to wipe out the.
S2: Memory.
S1: The memory of this being a Jewish land. And he thought,
S1: who are the ancient enemies of the Jewish people. Well,
S1: it's the Philistines. So he took that word like.
S2: Like David and Goliath.
S1: Yeah. And he said, let's rename the area of Palestine.
S1: And so they changed the name of Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina.
S1: They changed. And the Romans then changed the name of
S1: the land from Judea to Palestine. And it was in
S1: the second century. So in the time of Jesus and
S1: the time of the book of acts, it was always
S1: called either Judea. The northern part was called Galilee. The
S1: whole place was called Judea. The the area was still
S1: in the Bible called the Land of Israel, or the
S1: land of the Jews. In the New Testament, the word
S1: Palestine is never found except in the maps. And the
S1: reason this is significant is now the state of Israel exists,
S1: and the word Palestine has become a sort of controversial term.
S1: And so when it's talking about Israel, it's not talking
S1: about Palestine, it's talking about Israel. And that's the biblical name.
S1: So much so that I have a radical wife.
S2: I have a glue stick, and I'll find a little
S2: print word of Israel, and I'll glue it over the
S2: word Palestine.
S1: On her maps in her.
S2: Bible. So if I if I have a Bible that
S2: has Palestine on the maps, I, I correct it with
S2: the word Israel or Judea because I think it is
S2: so wrong. And like Michael said, it was a regional.
S2: Initially it was a regional word, like Africa, but it was.
S1: From the Roman period.
S2: From the Roman period. And then it was then it
S2: was like focused in on on Judea. Yeah. And it
S2: became Palestine.
S3: Why why is it still on the maps?
S1: Uh, because.
S2: The Romans made all the maps.
S1: Well, begin with.
S3: Well, no, but in our in our current Bibles that
S3: are being revised and updated. And why why are those.
S3: I mean, obviously, everybody knows. I would think that in
S3: the time of Abraham, it wasn't called that because it.
S1: Was called.
S3: Canaan. So. So why doesn't it say Canaan in Abraham's time?
S3: Or like why? Why are the current Bibles that are
S3: still being printed and updated. Why do they still have that?
S1: Well, because it became the term for centuries in in
S1: scholarly literature. So if you're writing in the 19th century
S1: that that was the land as it was called then.
S1: So they didn't use the biblical terms, they used the
S1: term that was in that time. So in the 18th century,
S1: 19th century, early 20th century scholars always used the term
S1: that as it was then Palestine for about 1800 years,
S1: 1900 years. And so now they just I don't think
S1: there's any it's not like there's a political purpose for
S1: most people. When they do that, they're just keeping up.
S1: It's a.
S2: Tradition.
S1: It's a tradition. It's a tradition.
S2: And you'll see it. The other place you'll see it too,
S2: is in Bible dictionaries. Sometimes it'll talk about events that
S2: happened in Palestine, and, you know, you'll hear it in sermons.
S1: I was once being interviewed by. This was about 20
S1: years ago. It was during the time of the Second Intifada,
S1: when there was a lot of violence and terrorism in Israel,
S1: people crossing into Israel. And I was being interviewed by
S1: someone from Moody on Moody Radio and they said, hey, Michael,
S1: update us on what's going on in Palestine. And I said,
S1: do you mean Israel? Oh, yeah, I guess so. So yeah. Well,
S1: I think.
S3: There's confusion of it. And now with the, um, I
S3: think politics today has heightened the awareness.
S1: That the.
S3: Word is being used or it is being used. Um,
S3: but I think there's still that confusion over are they
S3: the same? Where did it come from? You know, these
S3: kind of things.
S1: So that's why. And then we find it in our Bibles.
S3: Yeah.
S1: I'm revising a book called understanding the Arab-Israeli conflict and
S1: updating that. And that explains how these terms came to be. So. Okay.
S3: Wonderful.
S1: You can still get the old edition, but I'm updating
S1: the into a new one. Yeah.
S3: Wonderful. Well, thank you for that. I hope that helps
S3: clear things up. Terry and Susan Kylie in Indiana listens
S3: to Wagner, and she's going to take us back to Genesis.
S3: When God created the earth, he created the sun and
S3: the moon and the stars to provide light. When you
S3: get to revelation, John describes the new heaven and a
S3: new earth and says, there is no need for the
S3: sun because it will be the light. Why did God
S3: create the sun for the first creation, if he intended
S3: to dwell with humanity in the garden? Like, why even
S3: make the sun if because he it says he walked
S3: with them in the garden.
S1: Well, why would I?
S3: Is that a little different?
S1: In this creation, God intended to use the sun. Uh, the.
S1: I don't know that, you know, it's what was God's
S1: ultimate intention with that, I don't know, uh, but I
S1: do know that in the new heavens and the new earth,
S1: that means it's a new creation. It's it's it's a
S1: new world. I don't know if it's a renovated world.
S1: This one, uh, when I was the new one. Yeah, yeah.
S1: Or is it a brand new? Completely never existed before creation.
S1: I don't know, with the New Jerusalem, but it's. It's
S1: going to be a new world. And that's why it's
S1: going to be different. That's that's all I. You know,
S1: I don't know that God's purpose in the Garden of
S1: Eden was to provide the light through his own being.
S1: I don't I don't see that.
S3: Because he created the sun as the source of the light,
S3: the greater light and the lesser light. Okay. All right.
S3: Thank you. Uh, Genesis 3631 Mike writes from Idaho. Seems so.
S3: We got a couple of things. There seems to have
S3: been a long time after Moses.
S1: Genesis 3631.
S3: Genesis 3631, which happens before Moses. So I will clarify
S3: that in terms of when Moses shows up. But it says,
S3: these are the kings who ruled in the land of
S3: Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites. So after
S3: meaning there is a reference to future events of these
S3: Israelite kings, um, which happened after Moses. So I think
S3: that that's what he means. Um. This doesn't seem to
S3: make sense, then, that Moses would write that, since that
S3: would have happened so long after he would have written
S3: the books in the Pentateuch. Can you address that?
S1: Yes. Uh, people have used this to attack mosaic authorship
S1: of the Pentateuch. What they don't realize is that Moses wrote, uh,
S1: and then it was copied from generation to generation to generation.
S1: And as they copied it, they updated. It's what Michael
S1: Grisanti at Master's Seminary calls inspire updates. And there were
S1: these updates as they copied it. That and they were
S1: inspired updates right up until the close of the canon.
S1: In fact, one of those inspired updates is the very
S1: last chapter of the Pentateuch, where it talks about Moses death.
S1: And there's no prophet that has arisen like Moses since
S1: that time.
S3: So you don't think he wrote this about himself, right? Yeah, right.
S3: I'm kidding. I don't think he did.
S2: Right, exactly. And it wasn't written like five minutes after
S2: he died.
S1: It was a long time later. So I like to
S1: call the final version that we have at the close
S1: of the canon, Torah 2.0, and it has all these updates.
S1: For example, the city of Laish is, uh, is called
S1: Dan because later on the Israelites came into the land
S1: and took Dan. And so what you have is inspired
S1: updates people like Ezra and others who were doing the updating,
S1: who were biblical writers. They updated it so that it's
S1: what we have today. So Moses wrote it. Torah 2.0.
S1: Let's put that in the hands of Ezra. And and
S1: that's what we've got today.
S3: So. All right. Great.
S1: Hope that helps with that. We're going to come back
S1: with more of your questions in just a moment. You're
S1: listening to Open Line with my two guests. Eva. Right.
S1: Tricia McMillan. And we'll be right back. Stay right there.
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S1: fake dawg. Welcome back to Open Line I'm Michael Radonich
S1: and joining me today is Eva Radonich and Tricia McMillan. What? We're, uh,
S1: what we're doing today is clearing the spindle. We're emptying
S1: out the the inbox. We're trying to answer the questions
S1: that you've sent in that are left over from last year.
S1: And we're starting the new year off next week with
S1: new questions that you've mailed in. But today, don't call.
S1: It's just a time for us to go through the mailbag.
S1: And I'm so glad that Trish has pulled this together.
S1: We're going to try and get through as many as
S1: we can, aren't we, Tricia?
S3: We are. Okay. Our our next question is from Linda
S3: in Illinois. Listens to WMP, says I'm reading my Bible
S3: daily to finish in one year. I'm in acts now
S3: and today is a reading about Saul or Paul. As
S3: a side note, the commentator says that there is a
S3: forbidden chapter in the Tanakh, and rabbis will not allow
S3: Isaiah 53 to be read in synagogues. I've never heard
S3: this before. Is this true?
S2: Uh, no. No. Not true.
S1: A lot of people misunderstand the reading cycle. Uh, in
S1: the synagogue. The synagogue. Three times a week. We read
S1: in the synagogue from the Torah, so that in a
S1: year we will complete the entire Torah Genesis through Deuteronomy.
S1: Then there's something called the Haftorah. Uh, and it doesn't
S1: mean half of the Torah. It's just it's a prophets
S1: reading and excerpts from the prophets are read as well.
S1: Not the whole set of the prophets, but excerpts from
S1: the section called the prophets and sometimes they don't read
S1: any of it. And Isaiah 5213 through 5312 was not
S1: included in the prophets readings. Reading. It's not forbidden. It's
S1: just not in the reading cycle that we have three
S1: times a week. Uh, just they have excerpts from the prophets,
S1: but every Hebrew Bible has Isaiah 53 in it. Every Hebrew, uh,
S1: Bible is you're encouraged to read it. There's no there's
S1: no forbidden chapter. Now, it may be I wonder why
S1: they left that one out of all you know, I
S1: don't know. Uh, but it's not forbidden by any means.
S1: It's in the Bible. Uh, it's commented on by Jewish
S1: commentators over and over. I disagree with their comments. Most
S1: common since the Middle Ages. Most Jewish commentators say it's, uh,
S1: it's about Israel as the suffering servant, not the Messiah,
S1: but ancient rabbis said it was the Messiah. But I.
S1: I think it's wrong to say it's forbidden.
S2: Yeah, it's it's not a plot. Yeah. To keep Isaiah
S2: 53 from being read. There's a lot of portions that
S2: aren't read, but but we just happen to know what
S2: a significant portion that is. Yeah, I'd have.
S1: Picked it if I had been the rabbi setting the reading.
S2: Cycle. Yeah, right. But, you know, that was a long
S2: time ago. We weren't around. Yeah. So.
S3: Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you for that clarification.
S3: And thank you for that question, Linda. Marilyn listens to
S3: us in Melbourne, Australia on the Moody Radio app. Oh, hooray!
S3: I'm grateful for you. I know right. I'm grateful for
S3: your wonderful teaching that has ministered to me through your program.
S3: I'm doing a devotional that presents Psalm 91 as literal
S3: promises from God, and I'm having trouble accepting that. Can
S3: you please explain how we should make sense of Psalm 91,
S3: the context, meaning, and how to apply it personally in
S3: our relationship with the Lord?
S1: Yeah, a lot of people ask me about Psalm 91
S1: in particular during the Covid pandemic when we were all
S1: locked down. And the reason for it, uh, it talks
S1: about the one who lives under the protection of the
S1: Most High, dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. And
S1: it says that, uh, because you've made the Lord God
S1: your refuge, uh, no harm will come to you. No
S1: plague will come near your tent, for he will give
S1: his angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all
S1: your ways. Sounds like nothing could ever make us die.
S1: Nothing could ever make us, uh, you know, fall into
S1: any kind of problem. Uh, I think, first of all,
S1: we need to look at the Book of Psalms as
S1: the prayer book of the Messiah. As Bonhoeffer called it,
S1: this is really more about Jesus than it is about us,
S1: but it's applicable in our lives. And this was quoted
S1: by the enemy when he said.
S2: Yeah, when he when he says in the in the wilderness,
S2: you know, cast yourself down. Nothing can happen to you. Yeah.
S1: He he'll give his angels charge over you.
S2: Yeah.
S1: And he quotes Psalm 91. And the first answer that
S1: the Lord gave was, uh, don't tempt the Lord your God.
S2: Don't tempt the Lord your God. Yeah.
S1: Yeah. You don't. You don't say, oh, nothing's going to
S1: bad's going to happen to me. So let me I'm
S1: going to go play in traffic. That's that's not that's
S1: not what this is teaching. Don't tempt God. Right. Uh,
S1: the second thing is, what this means is nothing can
S1: happen to you until God's time. If it meant that
S1: nothing ever could happen to you, that no one could
S1: ever die, then this verse, which has its primary sense
S1: about the Messiah, he would have never died. But it
S1: was up to God's. Nothing could happen to you apart
S1: from God's timing. Right. And God's will.
S2: This is what's so important about how you read all
S2: of the Bible. You just don't have just. This is my.
S2: This is all I know of the Bible. I'm just
S2: going to read this. This this one, one psalm. Whereas
S2: job said, Though he slay me, yet will I trust him. Yeah.
S2: You know.
S1: So the time of it is, I think, here's the
S1: principle that we can apply in our lives. Nothing bad
S1: can happen to us or those whom we love if
S1: we've taken God as our protector. Unless the time is
S1: right when God allows it. Everyone's going to die. Some
S1: people die younger. Some people die older. Uh, unless we're
S1: going to get raptured. But otherwise we're going to die.
S1: We can't take this verse, say, oh no, nothing bad
S1: will ever happen to us. You know, that's just not true. Uh,
S1: but nothing bad will ever happen to us apart from
S1: God's permission and timing. That's what it's teaching.
S3: Okay, I think back to the specs that we talked
S3: about in the first part of the program and the
S3: the statement of truth about who God is in this
S3: and what he will do the promise to claim. Um,
S3: is there a promise to claim?
S1: Yeah. The promise here that we can claim is that
S1: nothing bad can happen to us until God's time.
S2: And we're abiding in the shadow of the Almighty. No
S2: matter what's happening to us.
S1: Yeah. Whether we're. We're here or in his presence. You know,
S1: even I we've thought about this verse quite a bit
S1: when we became parents, you know. And Trish, you know this.
S1: How do we worry about our kids? You know that we're.
S3: In every way you can think.
S2: Of. Yeah. It goes from is it going to be
S2: like crib death or run over by a car or
S2: drown at the pool playing with your friends or making
S2: terrible choices?
S4: We're just.
S1: And I kept thinking, apart from trusting God, I couldn't
S1: have had kids. I don't know how people who.
S2: Are parenting without.
S1: Parenting, without the Lord in their life. I, I don't
S1: know how they they get up in the morning, you know,
S1: they because the the anxiety closet would fly open. But
S1: I trust God he knows what he's doing.
S3: Yeah, yeah. And even I think the sin to avoid
S3: in this one. What Jesus said when he refutes Satan
S3: is don't tempt God, you know, with these things. So?
S3: So there are lots of ways we can.
S1: Yeah. Eat healthy, don't play in traffic, you know, do
S1: the things that you're supposed to do and, you know,
S1: work out. Do all the stuff that you're supposed to do.
S1: People say, why should I do that if God knows
S1: the day of my death? Well, yeah, but he may
S1: have determined that we work out and eat healthy to, uh,
S1: to preserve us. So let's let's go ahead and do that. So.
S3: All right, thank you for that question, Marilyn. And thank
S3: you for listening to us in Australia.
S1: Yeah. Yep. Well, we're going to come back in just
S1: a little bit. Uh, don't, uh don't run, don't go away.
S1: We're going to answer the questions you've sent in this
S1: past year, and we're going to make sure to try
S1: and clear the spindle completely. Don't call today, though. Uh.
S1: Keep listening. This is Michael Ray Dolnick, Eva Ray Dolnick
S1: and Tricia McMillan right here on Moody Radio's Open Line.
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S1: of Uncommon Allies. Welcome back to Open Line. It's a
S1: special day here. It's clearing the spindle. We're answering the
S1: the questions you've mailed in every nick is with me,
S1: Tricia McMillan. And we're going to go right back to
S1: the mailbag right now. Tricia.
S3: All right. Our next question is from a man in
S3: Illinois who listens to WNBA and says, what is the
S3: difference in meaning between Savior, Messiah, and Lord?
S1: Well, they're all three different words.
S3: Uh, they are.
S1: Yeah. I mean, they're not they're not.
S3: Use them.
S1: Interchangeably. They're all about the same person. We use them
S1: interchangeably about the same person, but they don't. They're not
S1: synonyms at all. They're not even they're not related in meaning. Uh,
S1: I'll start with Savior. Eva. You can take Messiah.
S4: You bet about that.
S1: Uh, Savior is the word both in Hebrew and in
S1: Greek that's used in the Bible. It really means deliverance.
S1: And it can. The context tells us what kind of
S1: deliverance it might be, military or physical deliverance that God gives.
S1: He saves us. Oh, you saved me. You know that
S1: kind of word. And then, of course, it could be
S1: used of deliverance from sin, forgiveness of sin. He saved
S1: me from my sin. And that's how it's used, for example,
S1: in the message of of the angel that you'll name
S1: him Jesus. Uh, because that's the Hebrew word in Hebrew,
S1: the word Jesus is, uh, Yeshua, Yeshua. And it means
S1: salvation because he will save his people from their sins.
S1: So that's what Savior means.
S2: And the word Messiah, as we say it in English,
S2: actually means Anointed One. And because he was anointed, kings
S2: were anointed, priests were anointed. And he is the Anointed
S2: one as our Savior and Redeemer.
S1: And it came to have a technical sense to have.
S2: A technical sense specifically to the work of the son.
S2: And we know it. It translated into English as Christ.
S2: Christ is the Greek meaning for the Anointed one. Moshiach
S2: is the Hebrew or Messiah, as in English, so Christ
S2: and Messiah. Same word. Two languages like water and agua.
S2: Same word. Two languages.
S1: Right. So. Okay, so that's it. And it got this
S1: technical sense of being the future son of David who
S1: would come and deliver his people. And that's that's how
S1: it's used when Jesus, when we talk about Jesus the Messiah,
S1: the last word is Lord. It means master, but it
S1: is in in Greek. It's got the sense of curiosity
S1: sometimes can mean sir or master, but sometimes it can
S1: also mean God. Uh, and so context again declares what
S1: it is. Uh, and that's what it means. And so when, uh,
S1: when we use of our Lord, you know, we were
S1: we know the word Lord, Lord of the manor or
S1: things like that. Uh, but also we know, Lord God.
S1: And so context tells us.
S4: Okay.
S3: All right. Thank you. Um, I think an interesting verse,
S3: John 2031 actually uses at least a couple of these.
S3: These are written that you may believe that Jesus is
S3: the Christ or the Messiah, the Son of God, and
S3: that by believing you may have life in his name.
S3: And so it it it can get, uh, we can
S3: we can stop trying to figure out, like, what do
S3: they all mean? Because sometimes they just got get all
S3: run together, like, that's like, okay, they're just talking about Jesus. Like, yeah,
S3: you know that they all that John 2031. What? All
S3: of those individual words have a different meaning.
S1: So when it says that, uh, that you might believe
S1: that Jesus, that's his earthly human birth name. Right. So
S1: that shows he's human is the Messiah. That's, uh, that
S1: has to do with his royal name. He's the promised
S1: son of David, the king. Uh, the king of Israel.
S1: And so that's his royal name. So a human name.
S1: Royal name, and then a. Royal title. And then that
S1: he's the Son of God that reflects his deity, his
S1: god name. His God title. So, uh, in that verse,
S1: it deals with human humanity, deity and royalty all. Three
S1: so yeah.
S2: That's a great verse to bring up.
S4: Trish.
S3: Great verse. Does the does the use of Jesus in
S3: that mean savior then? Yeah. The Yeshua okay. So it's
S3: actually using Savior and Messiah.
S4: Yeah. In the same sentence.
S3: God all in that same sentence.
S4: Yes. Son of God. Yeah.
S3: Son of God. But the deity aspect. Yeah. Okay. All right.
S3: Thank you. Thank you for that. Uh, we actually have
S3: a question from Judith in Minnesota asking about the phrase
S3: Son of God. Um, yeah.
S1: Son of man.
S3: I'm sorry. Son of man. You're right. Son of man. Um.
S3: In Ezekiel. Ezekiel himself is called son of man over
S3: 90 times. Jesus uses that term for himself. Um, does
S3: that mean just that they were the Son of Man,
S3: thus born from a human talking about that human side?
S3: Or does it have a greater meaning or a different meaning?
S1: Well, I don't. Son of man just means humanity. I
S1: don't believe the Lord Jesus was using it, uh, based
S1: on how Ezekiel was called human being. You know, that's
S1: what Son of Man means. Human. Um, he was using
S1: it based on Daniel seven. And, uh, in Daniel seven,
S1: there's a vision that Daniel sees of of God. He's
S1: called the Ancient of Days, the Eternal One, he says,
S1: as I kept watching in verse nine Daniel seven nine,
S1: I kept watching. Then it says, and a lot of
S1: people miss this. It says thrones were set in place,
S1: and the Ancient of Days took his seat. And then
S1: it describes what the Ancient of days. Now we can't
S1: ever see God. This is a vision. So it's. He's
S1: not actually seeing God. He's seeing a vision of God.
S1: And he's called the Ancient of Days. But there are
S1: two thrones. Uh, and I think that's interesting because who
S1: is the other throne for? It says Thrones, plural, were
S1: set up, and I watched it says, uh, and it says,
S1: I saw verse 13. I continued watching in the night visions,
S1: and I saw one like a son of man. This
S1: is another a figure that appears to be deity for
S1: the other throne, and he's like a son of man.
S1: He appears human, he looks fully human, but he's deity
S1: and he's coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached
S1: the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him, and
S1: he was given authority to rule and glory in a
S1: kingdom so that every people, nation, language should serve him.
S1: His dominion is everlasting and will not pass away. His
S1: kingdom is one that will not be destroyed. Point being,
S1: there's a divine figure in this passage who is looks
S1: like a human, a deity figure who looks fully human.
S1: And this is the passage that when the high priest
S1: asks the Lord Jesus, you know, are you the Messiah?
S1: This is in the Gospel of Matthew. Are you the Messiah?
S2: Uh, in Matthew eight. Is that. No, no. You think
S2: about Matthew 26.
S4: Yeah.
S1: Matthew 26. Uh, he says, are you the Messiah? How does,
S1: uh how does Jesus answer him? He says, uh.
S2: Uh, 20.
S4: 27.
S2: 20.
S1: Uh, he says, are you the Messiah? This is the
S1: high priest. I'm sorry. Matthew 26.
S2: 2624. Yeah.
S1: Go ahead and read that.
S2: It says, um, he says, are you the Messiah? And
S2: he says, yes. Jesus says, he who the Son of
S2: Man is going to go just as it is written
S2: of him. Is that the one you're thinking about?
S4: No, no.
S1: There's a I'm looking for it. You hear the pages
S1: turning here? Oh, oh, here it is.
S2: 64. 64.
S4: Yeah. 64.
S1: That's it.
S2: When he says, are you the Messiah, the Son of God? Said,
S2: the Son of God. And Jesus said to him, you
S2: have said it yourself. Nevertheless I tell you that hereafter
S2: you will see. You will see the Son of Man
S2: sitting at the right hand of power and coming on
S2: the clouds of heaven.
S1: That's a reference right back to Daniel 713 that we
S1: just read. And. in my opinion, the Lord Jesus uses
S1: the term Son of Man not to emphasize his humanity,
S1: as many commentators say, but because he uses it based
S1: on Daniel seven, it's to emphasize that he is the
S1: God man. He is that figure that everyone knew. So
S1: when he calls himself the Son of Man, he is
S1: doing that. And to show that this is true, when
S1: he quotes it here with Daniel 713, what does the
S1: high priest do? He tears his robes and says he's blasphemed.
S1: Why does he think he's blasphemed?
S2: If Jesus were just saying I'm a human being like you,
S2: that wouldn't be blasphemy.
S4: But by claiming.
S1: To be the Son of Man in Daniel seven, he's
S1: claiming deity. And as a result of that, the high
S1: priest says, oh, that's blasphemy. You can't, you can't say that.
S1: So when you read the Gospel of Luke and or
S1: Mark and Jesus favorite self description is that he is deity,
S1: son of man, he says, the Son of Man, because
S1: he says that over and over. Well, that's what he's doing.
S1: He's claiming deity from Daniel seven. I hope that answers
S1: that for you. Thanks for listening, everyone, because the first
S1: hour is complete. The second hour is coming up on
S1: most of these stations. Stay with us. Or if your
S1: station doesn't carry us, you can always listen on the
S1: Moody Radio app or online during the break. Check out
S1: our web page, Open Line radio.org. You can even post
S1: your question there under Ask Michael a question if you
S1: have it. The Bible study across America will continue in
S1: the second hour with my friends and my friend Tricia McMillan,
S1: my wife, Eva Radonich. Uh, we're glad to be with you.
S1: Open line with Doctor Michael Riddell. Nick is a production
S1: of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute. More
S1: questions coming up straight ahead. Stay with us.