1 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:12,040 S1: If we're honest, most of us don't want anyone, including God, 2 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:16,240 S1: to fiddle with our finances. But Jesus parables about finances 3 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:19,120 S1: make it clear he intends to mess with much more 4 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,079 S1: than just our wallets. In just a few minutes, we'll 5 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:25,440 S1: take you on an intriguing exploration of the financial parables 6 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:28,319 S1: of Jesus. Plus, we'll update you on all the top 7 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:31,240 S1: stories from the Middle East, including what's going on in Iran. 8 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:33,440 S1: Welcome to the land and the book with Middle East 9 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:37,320 S1: expert Doctor Charlie Dyer. I'm John Gager, and soon, Charlie, 10 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:39,199 S1: you and I are going to be celebrating Good Friday 11 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,760 S1: and Resurrection Sunday, remembering the words from the Last Supper. 12 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:46,360 S1: In the same way he took the cup after supper, saying, 13 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:49,360 S1: this cup is the new covenant in my blood. Hey, 14 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:51,680 S1: did you know that the Last Supper was actually a 15 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,680 S1: Passover Seder? And that cup is believed to be the 16 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:58,160 S1: third cup in the traditional Passover service. There is so 17 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:01,550 S1: much depth and understanding to be gained when we view 18 00:01:01,550 --> 00:01:04,150 S1: the Last Supper as a Passover Seder. Right, Charlie? 19 00:01:04,310 --> 00:01:06,830 S2: Oh, you're absolutely right, John. And that's why our friends 20 00:01:06,830 --> 00:01:09,229 S2: at Life in Messiah are offering to mail you a 21 00:01:09,230 --> 00:01:13,149 S2: free copy of their Messianic Passover Haggadah. The booklet will 22 00:01:13,150 --> 00:01:15,950 S2: lead you through the celebration of Passover to see the 23 00:01:15,950 --> 00:01:20,230 S2: rich connections to Jesus, our Messiah and Savior. You'll also 24 00:01:20,230 --> 00:01:24,110 S2: receive a link for an interactive Passover Seder video with 25 00:01:24,110 --> 00:01:27,590 S2: the Haggadah and video. You can celebrate Passover this year 26 00:01:27,590 --> 00:01:30,670 S2: with your family and friends. Now to get this free offer, 27 00:01:30,830 --> 00:01:34,030 S2: just go to Life in Messiah and click on the 28 00:01:34,350 --> 00:01:37,150 S2: radio button there to find out more and to request 29 00:01:37,150 --> 00:01:39,750 S2: your copy. That's life in Messiah. 30 00:01:41,350 --> 00:01:43,590 S1: And now a look at current events. Let's take a 31 00:01:43,590 --> 00:01:46,390 S1: look at the story in Iran. Last week, you said 32 00:01:46,390 --> 00:01:48,670 S1: that the conflict between the US and Iran was so 33 00:01:48,670 --> 00:01:51,870 S1: close it could start between the time we recorded the 34 00:01:51,870 --> 00:01:55,390 S1: program and the time it aired. Well, the attack actually 35 00:01:55,430 --> 00:01:59,300 S1: did start last Saturday morning, a week into the conflict, though. 36 00:01:59,340 --> 00:02:01,020 S1: What do we know now? 37 00:02:01,580 --> 00:02:03,900 S2: You know, John, we know that the US and Israel 38 00:02:03,900 --> 00:02:06,700 S2: were able to eliminate much of the top leadership in 39 00:02:06,700 --> 00:02:09,620 S2: Iran in the first few hours of the war. Now, 40 00:02:09,620 --> 00:02:12,620 S2: that doesn't mean the regime has collapsed. Iran continues to 41 00:02:12,660 --> 00:02:15,940 S2: launch missiles at Israel, at US bases in the area, 42 00:02:15,940 --> 00:02:18,620 S2: and even at countries that weren't involved in the war. 43 00:02:18,660 --> 00:02:21,500 S2: That's part of their doomsday scenario. They're going to create 44 00:02:21,500 --> 00:02:25,340 S2: chaos everywhere. Some have been critical of President Trump, saying 45 00:02:25,340 --> 00:02:28,739 S2: he started the war without a plan, or that Israel 46 00:02:28,740 --> 00:02:32,460 S2: pressured the US into the war. The evidence suggests both 47 00:02:32,460 --> 00:02:37,380 S2: criticisms are inaccurate and unfair. The Iranians boasted to US 48 00:02:37,380 --> 00:02:41,980 S2: special envoy Witkoff that they had sufficient uranium enriched to 60% 49 00:02:42,180 --> 00:02:45,619 S2: to produce 11 nuclear bombs, and they were working on 50 00:02:45,620 --> 00:02:50,300 S2: additional underground facilities to continue their nuclear program. Iran was 51 00:02:50,300 --> 00:02:52,660 S2: a threat to Israel, but it was also a threat 52 00:02:52,660 --> 00:02:55,460 S2: to US bases in the Middle East and eventually to 53 00:02:55,500 --> 00:02:59,570 S2: the US itself. Iran saw Israel as the little Satan, 54 00:02:59,570 --> 00:03:01,930 S2: but in their eyes, the US has always been the 55 00:03:01,930 --> 00:03:05,130 S2: great Satan that had to be destroyed. Over the past 56 00:03:05,130 --> 00:03:09,130 S2: 47 years, Iran was responsible for more than a thousand 57 00:03:09,169 --> 00:03:12,530 S2: US deaths around the world. Many of the attacks over 58 00:03:12,530 --> 00:03:15,330 S2: the past week have been designed to pry loose the 59 00:03:15,330 --> 00:03:20,290 S2: Islamic Republic's 47 year grip on power. Though regime change 60 00:03:20,290 --> 00:03:24,210 S2: wasn't necessarily the primary goal. Instead of planning a massive 61 00:03:24,210 --> 00:03:27,530 S2: ground invasion, which would be costly in terms of lives, 62 00:03:27,690 --> 00:03:30,210 S2: President Trump is calling on the people of Iran to 63 00:03:30,250 --> 00:03:34,130 S2: rise up and throw off the government themselves. Ultimately, it's 64 00:03:34,130 --> 00:03:36,730 S2: their fight, and this approach will keep the US from 65 00:03:36,730 --> 00:03:40,210 S2: getting bogged down in a quagmire. At the same time, 66 00:03:40,210 --> 00:03:42,730 S2: the US is working to knock out the Revolutionary Guard 67 00:03:42,730 --> 00:03:46,370 S2: Corps infrastructure and their weapons and their leadership. Now, in 68 00:03:46,370 --> 00:03:49,450 S2: a best case scenario, the people will rise up, throw 69 00:03:49,450 --> 00:03:52,850 S2: off the ayatollahs, and eventually establish a government that will 70 00:03:52,890 --> 00:03:56,080 S2: be more democratic and hopefully more friendly to the West. 71 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,680 S2: Even in a worst case scenario, though, the Revolutionary Guard 72 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:02,480 S2: Corps could hang on to power, but their power would 73 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,760 S2: be reduced. They would struggle to rebuild their military, their 74 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:10,720 S2: nuclear processing facilities, their missile program, and their navy. Economic 75 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:14,640 S2: sanctions would remain in place, diminishing Iran's ability to fund 76 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:17,920 S2: other terrorist groups around the world. Now, from Israel's in 77 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:21,760 S2: the West perspective, either of those outcomes wouldn't be bad, 78 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,760 S2: though a regime change would probably be preferred. 79 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,680 S1: Boy, lots there to come, I suspect as well. Charlie, 80 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:32,400 S1: what do you think will be the US's measurement of victory? Enough! 81 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:34,440 S1: We're there. What might that look like? 82 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,960 S2: Uh, it's going to be complex and cumbersome, sadly. Uh, 83 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:41,000 S2: here's why. We have a certain number of missiles available, 84 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,240 S2: and we're going to be running down that stockpile. So 85 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:45,640 S2: at some point, we've got to call it quits before 86 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:49,240 S2: we run out. Uh, second, the pressure on the president 87 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:52,000 S2: in Congress is going to continue growing and the pressure 88 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,060 S2: from the US public. So the US cannot continue a 89 00:04:55,100 --> 00:04:58,460 S2: long range war. The president has mentioned 3 to 4 weeks, 90 00:04:58,460 --> 00:05:02,020 S2: and I suspect somewhere within that time frame, he's going 91 00:05:02,020 --> 00:05:04,300 S2: to call it quits and pressure Israel to stop. So 92 00:05:04,540 --> 00:05:07,580 S2: Israel's working full tilt to get as much done in 93 00:05:07,580 --> 00:05:09,500 S2: a short period of time as possible. 94 00:05:09,860 --> 00:05:12,500 S1: That's doctor Charlie Dyer, I'm John Yeager. This is the 95 00:05:12,500 --> 00:05:14,980 S1: land and the book where our opening segment is always 96 00:05:14,980 --> 00:05:18,620 S1: focused on current events. A disturbing story here. A recent 97 00:05:18,620 --> 00:05:22,060 S1: Gallup poll showed that for the first time, Americans are 98 00:05:22,060 --> 00:05:26,020 S1: more sympathetic to the Palestinians than to Israel. A second 99 00:05:26,020 --> 00:05:29,260 S1: poll revealed that just 1 in 4 Americans supports the 100 00:05:29,260 --> 00:05:32,940 S1: current US strikes on Iran. How significant are these polls 101 00:05:32,940 --> 00:05:35,099 S1: and what do they tell us about our country? 102 00:05:35,540 --> 00:05:37,900 S2: You know, these polls are significant. In fact, that's one 103 00:05:37,900 --> 00:05:39,420 S2: of the reasons I just said that the amount of 104 00:05:39,420 --> 00:05:42,219 S2: time that we can spend attacking is going to be limited. 105 00:05:42,460 --> 00:05:45,620 S2: The polls present a worrisome snapshot of where the United 106 00:05:45,620 --> 00:05:50,060 S2: States is right now, politically. And I think spiritually, Americans 107 00:05:50,060 --> 00:05:52,460 S2: have always been weak when it comes to history and 108 00:05:52,490 --> 00:05:55,890 S2: in geography. Couple that with the rise in social media 109 00:05:55,930 --> 00:05:59,250 S2: as the primary go to source for information, and we 110 00:05:59,250 --> 00:06:02,130 S2: end up with a society that's unable to distinguish between 111 00:06:02,130 --> 00:06:05,810 S2: truth and error or to think through things logically. As 112 00:06:05,810 --> 00:06:09,330 S2: a result, that recent Gallup poll showed 41% of Americans 113 00:06:09,330 --> 00:06:13,850 S2: sympathize with the Palestinians, while only 36% side with Israel. 114 00:06:14,210 --> 00:06:17,849 S2: Media influencers, and sadly, both on the right and the left, 115 00:06:17,850 --> 00:06:21,770 S2: attack the legitimacy of Israel based on slickly packaged lies 116 00:06:21,770 --> 00:06:25,690 S2: like modern Israelis aren't physical descendants of Abraham, which is 117 00:06:25,690 --> 00:06:29,770 S2: simply not true. In part, this false narrative is also 118 00:06:29,810 --> 00:06:33,290 S2: why only 25% of Americans are currently supporting the fight 119 00:06:33,290 --> 00:06:36,130 S2: against Iran. Some are trying to label the war as 120 00:06:36,170 --> 00:06:40,370 S2: a Zionist oppression of Iran, totally ignoring the tens of 121 00:06:40,370 --> 00:06:43,890 S2: thousands of Iranian young people brutally murdered just a few 122 00:06:43,890 --> 00:06:46,490 S2: months ago by the regime. Here's what we need to 123 00:06:46,490 --> 00:06:50,450 S2: remember first, God is still in control. He's not sitting 124 00:06:50,450 --> 00:06:54,200 S2: in heaven worried about recent poll numbers. A second we 125 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:56,640 S2: need to remember God has a special role for the 126 00:06:56,640 --> 00:07:00,120 S2: people of Israel. His covenant with Abraham is still operative. 127 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,120 S2: God said he would bless those who bless Israel and 128 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:05,800 S2: curse those who curse them. Now, if we want God 129 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:08,239 S2: to bless our nation, then we need to be sure 130 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:11,400 S2: we remain a blessing to Israel, and that includes supporting 131 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:15,840 S2: them as they face nations and groups who seek their destruction. 132 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,960 S2: This past week was Purim, which commemorates an event 2500 133 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:22,960 S2: years ago when another evil man in Persia tried to 134 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:26,080 S2: wipe out the Jewish people, only to discover God was 135 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:28,920 S2: in the business of keeping his promise to watch over 136 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:32,520 S2: his own. For those using Make America Great Again as 137 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:36,040 S2: an excuse to turn against Israel, I say this if 138 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:38,720 S2: you want God to bless America and make it great, 139 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:42,600 S2: then don't turn against Israel. Zechariah two eight says that 140 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,920 S2: whoever touches Israel touches the apple of God's eye. 141 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:50,080 S1: Boy, sobering words there. For the first time in 58 years, 142 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:53,030 S1: the great Isaiah Scroll was placed on display at the 143 00:07:53,030 --> 00:07:56,830 S1: Israel Museum. Some listeners are saying, Charlie, what exactly is 144 00:07:56,830 --> 00:07:59,510 S1: the great Isaiah Scroll and why so significant? 145 00:07:59,790 --> 00:08:02,670 S2: Yeah, the Great Isaiah Scroll is the oldest near complete 146 00:08:02,670 --> 00:08:05,310 S2: book of the Bible ever found. It was discovered at 147 00:08:05,310 --> 00:08:09,030 S2: Qumran and dates back to the second century B.C. it's 148 00:08:09,030 --> 00:08:11,950 S2: the equivalent of going back in a time machine, traveling 149 00:08:11,950 --> 00:08:15,030 S2: back through time, 2100 years to see if the Bible 150 00:08:15,030 --> 00:08:18,030 S2: might have somehow changed over time. And what it showed 151 00:08:18,030 --> 00:08:21,150 S2: was that the Bible was preserved over the centuries with 152 00:08:21,150 --> 00:08:25,670 S2: incredible care. Now, the manuscript is over 23ft long and 153 00:08:25,670 --> 00:08:29,910 S2: hasn't been available for viewing since 1968. Those who visit 154 00:08:29,910 --> 00:08:32,510 S2: the shrine of the Book in Jerusalem see an exact 155 00:08:32,550 --> 00:08:36,110 S2: reproduction of the scroll on display, but not the original. Now, 156 00:08:36,110 --> 00:08:39,510 S2: here's just one reason the scroll so significant. Modern scholars 157 00:08:39,510 --> 00:08:41,950 S2: have tried to divide the Book of Isaiah into two 158 00:08:41,950 --> 00:08:45,260 S2: or more segments, with chapters 1 to 39 and 40 159 00:08:45,260 --> 00:08:49,070 S2: to 66 being written about 150 years apart by at 160 00:08:49,110 --> 00:08:53,020 S2: least two different individuals. But on the scroll, chapter 39 161 00:08:53,020 --> 00:08:55,380 S2: ends on the next to the last line of a column. 162 00:08:55,500 --> 00:08:58,340 S2: Instead of showing any kind of break, chapter 40 begins 163 00:08:58,340 --> 00:09:00,780 S2: on the very next line, showing that when it was 164 00:09:00,780 --> 00:09:04,340 S2: copied in the second century BC, the scribes didn't see 165 00:09:04,340 --> 00:09:07,620 S2: any division in the book. It was a single book, 166 00:09:07,620 --> 00:09:10,500 S2: and we know the author was Isaiah the prophet. But 167 00:09:10,500 --> 00:09:13,340 S2: this story, John, has a modern twist. Just over a 168 00:09:13,340 --> 00:09:15,699 S2: week ago, the scroll was placed on exhibit in the 169 00:09:15,700 --> 00:09:19,260 S2: Israel Museum in a special climate controlled room, where it 170 00:09:19,260 --> 00:09:22,340 S2: could be viewed by only 25 people at a time. 171 00:09:22,620 --> 00:09:25,260 S2: And then last Saturday, as the war with Israel began, 172 00:09:25,500 --> 00:09:29,300 S2: conservators and security personnel rushed back to the museum to 173 00:09:29,340 --> 00:09:32,860 S2: remove all exhibits, including the Great Isaiah Scroll, and placed 174 00:09:32,860 --> 00:09:36,860 S2: them back in vaults deep underground. Now, hopefully, the Great 175 00:09:36,860 --> 00:09:39,620 S2: Isaiah Scroll will soon be put on display once again. 176 00:09:39,620 --> 00:09:42,460 S2: But right now, the best way to see it is 177 00:09:42,460 --> 00:09:46,540 S2: to Google Israel Museum Dead Sea Scrolls and then click 178 00:09:46,540 --> 00:09:49,130 S2: on the great Isaiah scroll link that shows up there. 179 00:09:49,770 --> 00:09:54,010 S1: Researchers at Tel Aviv University are developing groundbreaking gene therapy 180 00:09:54,010 --> 00:09:57,130 S1: to treat hearing and balance issues. Tell us about this 181 00:09:57,130 --> 00:09:59,290 S1: research being done in amazing Israel. 182 00:09:59,610 --> 00:10:01,890 S2: Yeah. You know, hearing loss is the most common sensory 183 00:10:01,890 --> 00:10:05,650 S2: impairment worldwide. And over half of congenital cases are caused 184 00:10:05,650 --> 00:10:09,329 S2: by genetic factors. Well, the researchers investigated a mutation in 185 00:10:09,330 --> 00:10:13,050 S2: a specific gene essential for maintaining the stability and function 186 00:10:13,050 --> 00:10:16,410 S2: of hair cells in the inner ear. Working with mice, 187 00:10:16,410 --> 00:10:20,610 S2: they used an adeno associated virus to introduce therapeutic genetic 188 00:10:20,610 --> 00:10:24,450 S2: material into those targeted cells. The process prevented hair cell 189 00:10:24,450 --> 00:10:29,250 S2: degeneration and preserved normal hearing and balance in the test animals. Now, 190 00:10:29,250 --> 00:10:31,490 S2: this is still an ongoing process, but let's hope that 191 00:10:31,490 --> 00:10:34,690 S2: the work being done will result in effective new treatments 192 00:10:34,690 --> 00:10:38,650 S2: for hearing and balance disorders in the not too distant future. 193 00:10:38,690 --> 00:10:40,809 S1: Boy, that would be exciting. Thank you, Charlie for that. 194 00:10:40,809 --> 00:10:44,490 S1: Look at current events coming up exploring the financial parables 195 00:10:44,490 --> 00:10:47,400 S1: of Jesus. Well, there's a lot to learn about you 196 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,520 S1: and your wallet. Next on the land and the book. 197 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:06,960 S1: If you and I are honest, most of us really 198 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:11,360 S1: don't want anyone, including God, to fiddle with our finances. 199 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:15,240 S1: But what if, when Jesus told parables about finances, his 200 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:18,640 S1: real intent was to tell us God intends to mess 201 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:22,040 S1: with much more than merely our wallet? Straight ahead, an 202 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:26,280 S1: intriguing exploration of the parables of Jesus. Welcome back to 203 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:29,040 S1: the land and the book I'm John Gager. Hey, would 204 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:31,960 S1: you join me for a brief moment as we brainstorm 205 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:35,800 S1: a fresh idea together for sharing Jesus with a Jewish friend? 206 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:38,880 S1: So you're talking with your Jewish friend, and you take 207 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:41,280 S1: a deep breath and you ask them, what are your 208 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:45,079 S1: thoughts about the Jewish scriptures? What do they say? Roy 209 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:48,460 S1: Schwartz is with Chosen People Ministry. What's a likely response here, Roy? 210 00:11:48,500 --> 00:11:51,780 S3: Well, they'll say it's a great book. It's a wisdom. 211 00:11:51,900 --> 00:11:56,740 S3: It's a history. But they probably won't acknowledge that it's divine, 212 00:11:57,020 --> 00:11:59,860 S3: that it's God given that it's inspired, they don't understand 213 00:11:59,860 --> 00:12:02,980 S3: what that means. And so you can say that it's 214 00:12:02,980 --> 00:12:05,900 S3: God's Word. And if it weren't for the Jewish scriptures, 215 00:12:05,900 --> 00:12:09,460 S3: I wouldn't have a messiah, wouldn't have faith. Uh, to me, 216 00:12:09,900 --> 00:12:12,300 S3: what it shows me is the holiness of God, the 217 00:12:12,300 --> 00:12:15,780 S3: righteousness of God, the grace of God, the election of God, 218 00:12:15,780 --> 00:12:19,900 S3: and choosing Jewish people for his purposes, not just past, 219 00:12:19,900 --> 00:12:22,980 S3: but present and future. All of that is in the 220 00:12:22,980 --> 00:12:25,900 S3: Jewish scriptures. It is a Jewish book that gives me 221 00:12:25,940 --> 00:12:29,460 S3: hope and life and joy and peace and points to 222 00:12:29,500 --> 00:12:30,179 S3: the Messiah. 223 00:12:30,220 --> 00:12:34,020 S1: Almost sounds like your own personal attraction to Scripture is 224 00:12:34,020 --> 00:12:36,020 S1: something of a light for your Jewish friend. Maybe that 225 00:12:36,020 --> 00:12:36,820 S1: they might observe. 226 00:12:36,860 --> 00:12:39,020 S3: Right? I mean, they see what Scripture has done, the 227 00:12:39,020 --> 00:12:41,820 S3: Jewish Scriptures has done in your life, and maybe they'll 228 00:12:41,820 --> 00:12:42,500 S3: read it too. 229 00:12:42,660 --> 00:12:47,370 S1: Roy Schwartz with Chosen People Ministries. Thanks for your time. Doctor. 230 00:12:47,370 --> 00:12:50,890 S1: Keith Bodner is professor of religious studies at Crandall University 231 00:12:50,890 --> 00:12:53,770 S1: in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. He is also on the 232 00:12:53,770 --> 00:12:58,210 S1: pastoral staff at Brunswick Street Baptist Church in Fredericton. Doctor 233 00:12:58,210 --> 00:13:01,209 S1: Bodner is the author or editor of many books, including 234 00:13:01,250 --> 00:13:05,209 S1: Jeroboam's Royal Drama, The Psalms and the theology of the 235 00:13:05,210 --> 00:13:09,690 S1: Book of Kings, and most recently, exploring the financial parables 236 00:13:09,690 --> 00:13:13,050 S1: of Jesus. Thanks for connecting with us today, Doctor Bodner. 237 00:13:13,370 --> 00:13:15,290 S4: Oh, great to be here. Thanks so much. I appreciate 238 00:13:15,290 --> 00:13:18,170 S4: the invite and, uh, wonderful to chat. Thanks so much. 239 00:13:18,210 --> 00:13:20,810 S1: Well, the subtitle of your book is The Economy of 240 00:13:20,809 --> 00:13:25,290 S1: Grace and the Generosity of God. Let's break those down individually. 241 00:13:25,290 --> 00:13:28,329 S1: What might we be missing in our understanding of the 242 00:13:28,330 --> 00:13:30,890 S1: economy of grace? I mean, Grace has talked about so 243 00:13:30,890 --> 00:13:31,770 S1: much in our day. 244 00:13:32,290 --> 00:13:34,930 S4: Well, it is, but sometimes we think that it's a 245 00:13:34,970 --> 00:13:37,850 S4: commodity to be earned. And so we set out with 246 00:13:37,890 --> 00:13:40,810 S4: maybe good works or an attitude that if I do 247 00:13:40,809 --> 00:13:44,160 S4: certain things, I can earn divine favor. What we don't 248 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:47,480 S4: often realize is it's a lavish gift and one to 249 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:51,200 S4: be embraced. It's something that we receive, not something we 250 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:53,760 S4: earn in that sense. So that's what we're talking about 251 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:57,440 S4: when we mention the economy of grace. God's kingdom works 252 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:00,080 S4: on a completely different value system than most of the 253 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:02,840 S4: worlds that we've grown up in. And so that's what 254 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:06,000 S4: the New Testament is pointing to, a whole new alternative 255 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:07,800 S4: in a different set of perspectives for us. 256 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:12,160 S1: Nobody seriously doubts the generosity of God. So how is 257 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:15,439 S1: that a factor, then, in our understanding, or maybe lack 258 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:18,719 S1: of understanding in the financial parables of Jesus? 259 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:23,720 S4: Well, sometimes we think that God's generosity nonetheless has limits, 260 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:26,360 S4: and there's a finite supply. So in other words, there's 261 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:30,240 S4: a certain scarcity. Mhm. What we're rediscovering, I think as 262 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:32,560 S4: we move through the Gospels and the stories of Jesus, 263 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:35,440 S4: is that it is much more lavish than we realize. 264 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:39,680 S4: And the table that we're invited to is it's got 265 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:43,030 S4: a lot more seats. And so we're invited to, I think, 266 00:14:43,070 --> 00:14:47,550 S4: reappraise what's really valuable and, and perhaps live our lives 267 00:14:47,550 --> 00:14:50,590 S4: differently as we consider these kinds of new realities. 268 00:14:50,910 --> 00:14:54,950 S1: Exploring the financial parables of Jesus. That's today's dialogue on 269 00:14:54,950 --> 00:14:58,190 S1: the land and the book with our guest, Doctor Keith Bodner, 270 00:14:58,350 --> 00:15:01,110 S1: who comes from I Love It, near Moncton, New Brunswick. 271 00:15:01,350 --> 00:15:03,630 S1: And if I'm not mistaken, you lived not too far 272 00:15:03,630 --> 00:15:06,830 S1: from the Bay of Fundy, which I believe represents the 273 00:15:06,830 --> 00:15:09,150 S1: highest tide differential in the world. Is that true? 274 00:15:09,510 --> 00:15:11,390 S4: That is exactly true. And you got to come and 275 00:15:11,390 --> 00:15:15,310 S4: see it. Flowerpot rocks, uh, World Heritage site and eminently 276 00:15:15,310 --> 00:15:15,950 S4: worth seeing. 277 00:15:16,190 --> 00:15:19,630 S1: We're exploring the financial parables of Jesus today. You. Right 278 00:15:19,630 --> 00:15:22,910 S1: after listening to these parables, we discover that Jesus is 279 00:15:22,910 --> 00:15:26,470 S1: announcing the kingdom of God, which operates according to a 280 00:15:26,470 --> 00:15:30,950 S1: completely different kind of economy. In this kingdom, relationships are 281 00:15:30,950 --> 00:15:34,910 S1: much more important than stuff, and love is preferable to fear. 282 00:15:34,950 --> 00:15:39,030 S1: Resources are used to serve others, not just accumulated. And 283 00:15:39,070 --> 00:15:41,340 S1: that all sounds good and nobody would argue with it. 284 00:15:41,340 --> 00:15:43,900 S1: But why does this escape so many of us? Keith? 285 00:15:44,420 --> 00:15:47,980 S4: Well, I think what we need to do is recognize that, um, 286 00:15:48,020 --> 00:15:50,780 S4: we have the opportunity of a lifetime kind of right 287 00:15:50,780 --> 00:15:53,020 S4: in front of us. The one that we start the 288 00:15:53,020 --> 00:15:55,620 S4: book with is. And this was such a great thing, 289 00:15:55,700 --> 00:15:58,100 S4: it actually came out of a class one day. Somebody 290 00:15:58,100 --> 00:16:00,940 S4: was struggling getting ready for the midterm. It was New 291 00:16:00,940 --> 00:16:04,940 S4: Testament survey, and it was a big class, about 100 students. And, uh, 292 00:16:05,220 --> 00:16:08,540 S4: you know, that pre-exam panic. And, um, I do I 293 00:16:08,540 --> 00:16:11,420 S4: just need one thing to study. And, uh, and the 294 00:16:11,420 --> 00:16:15,580 S4: amazing thing was, I had just been overwhelmed by this story. 295 00:16:15,580 --> 00:16:18,460 S4: And so I just blurted out, you know, the kingdom 296 00:16:18,460 --> 00:16:22,420 S4: of God is like somebody who's just wandering aimlessly in 297 00:16:22,420 --> 00:16:24,580 S4: a field, and all of a sudden they stumble upon 298 00:16:24,580 --> 00:16:27,940 S4: great treasure. And with joy they go out and they 299 00:16:27,940 --> 00:16:31,020 S4: intend to sell everything they have in order to secure 300 00:16:31,020 --> 00:16:33,660 S4: that field. And so the student was happy on the 301 00:16:33,660 --> 00:16:35,900 S4: one hand, because they could take something into the final exam. 302 00:16:35,900 --> 00:16:39,330 S4: I know one thing, and hopefully that'll get me to pass. But, 303 00:16:39,330 --> 00:16:41,850 S4: you know, it's interesting because on the one hand, it's 304 00:16:41,890 --> 00:16:44,490 S4: often seen as a story of conversion, how we sort 305 00:16:44,490 --> 00:16:47,650 S4: of stumbled into the good news of God's grace. But 306 00:16:48,130 --> 00:16:51,290 S4: we also wonder if that character in the story really 307 00:16:51,290 --> 00:16:55,130 S4: did go out and sell everything. It's slightly more open ended, perhaps, 308 00:16:55,130 --> 00:16:58,890 S4: so we have to divest ourselves of things that don't 309 00:16:58,890 --> 00:17:02,050 S4: matter when we come in contact with something that's infinitely 310 00:17:02,050 --> 00:17:05,890 S4: more valuable. So it's an ongoing challenge and not just 311 00:17:05,930 --> 00:17:08,050 S4: sort of a one off experience. 312 00:17:08,250 --> 00:17:11,170 S1: Okay. You talk about divesting ourselves of lesser important things 313 00:17:11,170 --> 00:17:14,530 S1: when we come to something that has eternal value. Could 314 00:17:14,530 --> 00:17:19,050 S1: it be that we just plain lack sufficient content thought 315 00:17:19,290 --> 00:17:22,410 S1: with things of eternal value, and hence we don't make 316 00:17:22,410 --> 00:17:23,129 S1: that trade? 317 00:17:23,770 --> 00:17:26,129 S4: Well, that's entirely possible. And that's why we have the 318 00:17:26,130 --> 00:17:29,850 S4: New Testament to continue to explore those things that are 319 00:17:29,850 --> 00:17:34,729 S4: of lasting value. Right after the Hidden treasure parable is 320 00:17:34,730 --> 00:17:38,000 S4: a story of a merchant, and he's an expert in 321 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:40,359 S4: finding pearls. And if you think of Israel as a 322 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:44,080 S4: landlocked country, pearls, a pretty, pretty exotic and pretty valuable. 323 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:48,080 S4: So this merchant spends his day scouring the marketplace for 324 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:51,439 S4: pearls of great value, and one day he stumbles upon 325 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:54,120 S4: one that's more valuable than all the rest. And at 326 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:57,600 S4: that point, he sells everything in order to secure that pearl. 327 00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:01,400 S4: So in that sense, it comes after great searching, uh, 328 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,880 S4: great weighing and evaluating of options. And when he sees 329 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:07,960 S4: the right one, that's when he goes all in. So 330 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:11,719 S4: in our spiritual lives, I'm thinking that that same equation, 331 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,479 S4: that same possibility is going to encounter us all at 332 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:15,399 S4: various points. 333 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:18,080 S1: What do you think is one financial parable of Jesus 334 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:20,679 S1: you think most of us don't quite get if you 335 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:21,600 S1: had to choose one? 336 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:26,080 S4: Well, probably the prodigal son, which is the most well 337 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:29,760 S4: known in the sense. But what we have here is, 338 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:32,960 S4: is something that's operating on multiple levels. In fact, if 339 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:35,320 S4: I was teaching Old Testament survey, I'd probably start with 340 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:39,230 S4: this parable, because what we have is a summary of 341 00:18:39,230 --> 00:18:42,670 S4: the entire Hebrew Bible. Most of us probably know the 342 00:18:42,670 --> 00:18:47,270 S4: younger son who demanded the inheritance and the father's way 343 00:18:47,270 --> 00:18:50,030 S4: too indulgent and gives it to him. Maybe he's hoping 344 00:18:50,030 --> 00:18:52,190 S4: the son is going to make good investments, but of course, 345 00:18:52,190 --> 00:18:55,950 S4: the son buys a Bugatti and heads off deep into 346 00:18:55,990 --> 00:19:00,270 S4: what looks suspiciously like gentile territory. You know, there's not 347 00:19:00,270 --> 00:19:02,830 S4: a lot of youth priests and not a lot of 348 00:19:02,830 --> 00:19:05,830 S4: purpose driven lives. And at this point, we know the 349 00:19:05,830 --> 00:19:10,270 S4: story because the younger son, um, squanders that inheritance with 350 00:19:10,270 --> 00:19:13,070 S4: wild living. I think that's how the NIV translates it. 351 00:19:13,070 --> 00:19:14,950 S4: And we probably don't really need much more than that 352 00:19:14,950 --> 00:19:18,470 S4: in a YouTube generation. But it's not long after this 353 00:19:18,510 --> 00:19:21,550 S4: that there's a famine in the land, and he begins 354 00:19:21,550 --> 00:19:24,109 S4: to be in want, and he's got a job feeding 355 00:19:24,109 --> 00:19:27,230 S4: the pigs. So that's how we know he's in Gentile territory, 356 00:19:27,550 --> 00:19:29,350 S4: longing to eat the slop. And that's when he comes 357 00:19:29,350 --> 00:19:32,510 S4: to his senses and says, you know what? I'm just 358 00:19:32,510 --> 00:19:34,709 S4: going to go back and ask my father to be 359 00:19:35,210 --> 00:19:37,649 S4: a hired hand, not even for the old status that 360 00:19:37,650 --> 00:19:40,490 S4: I have. And he takes one step toward his home, 361 00:19:40,490 --> 00:19:43,890 S4: and he realizes the father's already taken a dozen toward him. 362 00:19:44,210 --> 00:19:48,290 S4: And it's this remarkable embrace. So on the one hand, 363 00:19:48,290 --> 00:19:51,369 S4: that's the story of every human life, right? We've squandered 364 00:19:51,609 --> 00:19:53,930 S4: the inheritance God's given us. We end up in a 365 00:19:53,930 --> 00:19:55,970 S4: dark place, the valley of the shadow of death, as 366 00:19:55,970 --> 00:19:58,570 S4: the psalmist calls it. And yet we take one step 367 00:19:58,570 --> 00:20:01,850 S4: toward the father, and we recognize the father has already 368 00:20:02,090 --> 00:20:04,730 S4: taken a massive journey toward us. So it's the story 369 00:20:04,730 --> 00:20:07,290 S4: of every human life, and it's also the story of 370 00:20:07,290 --> 00:20:11,050 S4: Israel in a nutshell, right? Israel's given this great inheritance, 371 00:20:11,090 --> 00:20:15,250 S4: kind of gets squandered, end up in Gentile territory. Yet 372 00:20:15,250 --> 00:20:18,810 S4: there's a restoration and preparation for a great banquet. So 373 00:20:18,850 --> 00:20:20,929 S4: I think you also have the story of the Bible 374 00:20:21,090 --> 00:20:23,530 S4: in two minutes or less, right there in the story 375 00:20:23,530 --> 00:20:24,090 S4: of the prodigal. 376 00:20:24,290 --> 00:20:27,770 S1: Wow. Well done. Doctor Keith Bogdanor is professor of religious 377 00:20:27,770 --> 00:20:31,649 S1: studies at Crandall University in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. Today 378 00:20:31,650 --> 00:20:33,810 S1: on the land and the book, we're exploring the financial 379 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:37,280 S1: parables of Jesus. You make the statement we learn through 380 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:41,120 S1: these various parables that people are of immense value to 381 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:44,200 S1: God and are not mere commodities. Elaborate. 382 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:47,719 S4: Well, take the story of, uh, of a rich man 383 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:51,639 S4: who lives in a gated palace, dines in luxury every day. 384 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:54,719 S4: The text is very careful on that. Every single day. 385 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:57,520 S4: So does that include the Sabbath? Does that include the 386 00:20:57,520 --> 00:20:59,879 S4: Passover week? Does that include the Day of Atonement? I mean, 387 00:20:59,920 --> 00:21:03,439 S4: he lives in luxury every day at his gate is 388 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:07,760 S4: dropped off a beggar named Lazarus. Um, he's covered with sores, 389 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:10,800 S4: and he's longing for just a scrap that falls from 390 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:13,680 S4: the rich man's table. But he doesn't get anything at all. 391 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:16,919 S4: It's almost like the rich man doesn't give a scrap 392 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:20,160 S4: about this beggar outside of his door. And right after that, 393 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:24,960 S4: it's interesting because both characters die. Now, I know this 394 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:27,400 S4: because I heard a statistic recently. That one out of. 395 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:29,760 S4: What was it? One people die. So I guess that's 396 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:32,320 S4: not overly surprising. But in the context of this story. 397 00:21:32,710 --> 00:21:37,510 S4: Lazarus gets a first class trip courtesy of the angels 398 00:21:37,510 --> 00:21:40,830 S4: right to the bosom of Abraham, right to right beside 399 00:21:40,830 --> 00:21:44,070 S4: him at what looks like this great banquet feast. Uh, 400 00:21:44,109 --> 00:21:46,310 S4: the rich man? Uh, not so much. He is in 401 00:21:46,310 --> 00:21:50,990 S4: a nasty place, and yet he starts ordering around, ordering Abraham. 402 00:21:51,030 --> 00:21:54,629 S4: Send Lazarus to come and to dip his finger in water. 403 00:21:54,630 --> 00:21:57,110 S4: To cool my tongue. I'm. I'm in agony in this place. 404 00:21:57,869 --> 00:22:00,950 S4: Did you hear what I said? He knows Lazarus. He 405 00:22:00,950 --> 00:22:03,070 S4: says his name, knows exactly who he is. 406 00:22:03,109 --> 00:22:03,590 S1: Yes. 407 00:22:03,869 --> 00:22:06,990 S4: So clearly he knew the beggar was out there and 408 00:22:06,990 --> 00:22:10,390 S4: really didn't do anything. Uh, there's an example of not 409 00:22:10,390 --> 00:22:13,590 S4: taking seriously somebody who's created in God's image, who's brought 410 00:22:13,590 --> 00:22:17,990 S4: into our sphere of influence. And we're obviously operating by 411 00:22:17,990 --> 00:22:21,310 S4: a different kind of economics if we refuse to give 412 00:22:21,310 --> 00:22:23,990 S4: that character anything. So it's I think it's a real 413 00:22:23,990 --> 00:22:26,350 S4: challenge to each of us when we hear that story. 414 00:22:27,109 --> 00:22:30,590 S1: In your chapter, taxes, Towers and Bags of Gold. And 415 00:22:30,590 --> 00:22:32,699 S1: by the way, I do love your chapter titles. 416 00:22:32,980 --> 00:22:33,580 S4: Oh, thanks. 417 00:22:33,780 --> 00:22:36,980 S1: You assert the best way to avoid spiritual bankruptcy is 418 00:22:36,980 --> 00:22:39,740 S1: to make a long series of investments in the Kingdom 419 00:22:39,740 --> 00:22:44,420 S1: of God, remembering that in this economy, risks are always rewarded. 420 00:22:44,460 --> 00:22:46,660 S1: Let me ask you, what kind of risks are you 421 00:22:46,700 --> 00:22:47,620 S1: suggesting here? 422 00:22:48,260 --> 00:22:51,740 S4: Well, I guess a risk of doing something extraordinary and 423 00:22:51,740 --> 00:22:56,140 S4: creative with the stewardship resources that we have. Okay. All 424 00:22:56,140 --> 00:22:57,939 S4: of us have been given gifts. I mean, this is 425 00:22:57,940 --> 00:23:00,260 S4: the story of the parable of the talents, right? Talents 426 00:23:00,260 --> 00:23:02,900 S4: were a unit of money. That's why it's often called 427 00:23:02,900 --> 00:23:06,780 S4: the story of the bags of gold. We're all given talents. 428 00:23:06,780 --> 00:23:09,580 S4: And how do we use them? The way that we 429 00:23:09,580 --> 00:23:13,660 S4: use them is usually based on our understanding of God's character. 430 00:23:14,180 --> 00:23:18,420 S4: If we see God as excited, full of lavish generosity, 431 00:23:18,420 --> 00:23:21,180 S4: and really looking forward to how we're going to creatively 432 00:23:21,180 --> 00:23:24,460 S4: live our day for him, I think we'll operate under 433 00:23:24,460 --> 00:23:27,420 S4: a certain set of guiding principles. If, on the other hand, 434 00:23:27,420 --> 00:23:31,169 S4: we see God as miserly or some sort of micro-managing 435 00:23:31,170 --> 00:23:33,570 S4: accountant just out to get us. We're probably going to 436 00:23:33,570 --> 00:23:37,929 S4: live with fear and, um, without that creative potential, a 437 00:23:37,930 --> 00:23:40,890 S4: set of possibilities. So I think if we have an 438 00:23:40,890 --> 00:23:43,850 S4: understanding of God's character that's rooted in the economy of 439 00:23:43,850 --> 00:23:47,810 S4: grace will live creative and exciting lives and, uh, use 440 00:23:47,810 --> 00:23:49,650 S4: our gifts for the benefits of others. 441 00:23:50,050 --> 00:23:53,570 S1: Elsewhere, you comment through these parables that summarize all sorts 442 00:23:53,570 --> 00:23:56,490 S1: of biblical teaching. It becomes clear that sin is like 443 00:23:56,490 --> 00:23:58,570 S1: a bad debt. Explain what you mean. 444 00:23:59,170 --> 00:24:02,010 S4: Well, there's a number of different metaphors for sin, but 445 00:24:02,010 --> 00:24:04,649 S4: one is, uh, you're in a you're in a real 446 00:24:04,650 --> 00:24:08,970 S4: financial pickle. So you have accumulated a series of debts, 447 00:24:08,970 --> 00:24:10,850 S4: and it gets to the point that, uh, you just 448 00:24:10,850 --> 00:24:13,169 S4: can't pay it off anymore. That seems to be the 449 00:24:13,170 --> 00:24:17,209 S4: story of this guy who, um, steals from his boss 450 00:24:17,210 --> 00:24:22,130 S4: and ends up probably taking about 10 million, uh, like 451 00:24:22,130 --> 00:24:25,290 S4: a massive amount of money. Yeah. And he gets caught 452 00:24:25,290 --> 00:24:29,240 S4: and goes before the king begs for mercy and the 453 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:32,120 S4: King releases him. King says, okay, I'm going to let 454 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:35,280 S4: you go. About 20 minutes later, he was walking down 455 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:37,359 S4: the street. He saw a friend of his that owed 456 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:40,679 S4: him some money. Now, uh, sometimes a text margin in 457 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:43,280 S4: one of our Bibles will say just a few dollars. 458 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:46,159 S4: It's slightly more than that. It's probably enough for a 459 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:50,159 S4: new Kia, but it's nothing like the vast amount that 460 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:53,040 S4: he had just squandered. And yet he starts to throttle 461 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:57,040 S4: his friend and starts to, uh, you know, demand immediate 462 00:24:57,040 --> 00:25:00,959 S4: payment of this debt. He had no idea of the 463 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:05,720 S4: amount that he had been forgiven, and then exacts capital 464 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:09,160 S4: from other people accordingly. If we recognize the vast amount 465 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:12,560 S4: that God has forgiven us, then we live a radically 466 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:15,919 S4: different life. And I think that's the invitation of a 467 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:19,760 S4: story like that which is told specifically. In fact, Peter, uh, 468 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:22,960 S4: how many times should I forgive somebody who offends me 469 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:26,360 S4: or somebody who is in my debt? That sort of algorithm? 470 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:29,350 S1: Wow. there is just so much to think about here, 471 00:25:29,550 --> 00:25:32,790 S1: and I must commend this book exploring the financial parables 472 00:25:32,790 --> 00:25:35,870 S1: of Jesus. Be our guest, Doctor Keith Bodner. A link 473 00:25:35,869 --> 00:25:37,910 S1: to the book is at our website. The land and 474 00:25:37,910 --> 00:25:41,550 S1: the book. Thanks so much for hanging out with us today. 475 00:25:41,550 --> 00:25:42,790 S1: Lots of great insights. 476 00:25:43,109 --> 00:25:45,990 S5: Really appreciate it. Great to be. Thanks for all the listeners. Yeah. 477 00:25:46,030 --> 00:25:48,270 S5: And come and see us at Magnetic Hill up in Canada. 478 00:25:48,310 --> 00:25:49,070 S5: Thanks so much. 479 00:25:49,230 --> 00:25:51,990 S1: We'll do it. Thanks so much. Coming up, Gerald Peterman 480 00:25:51,990 --> 00:25:54,350 S1: with a fresh stack of Bible questions here on the 481 00:25:54,350 --> 00:26:07,990 S1: land and the book. Let's be honest most of the 482 00:26:07,990 --> 00:26:11,510 S1: Bible is easy to understand. You open the pages, you 483 00:26:11,510 --> 00:26:14,510 S1: process what's presented and it makes sense. But there are 484 00:26:14,670 --> 00:26:18,830 S1: some passages, some places that are pretty deep and quite frankly, 485 00:26:18,830 --> 00:26:21,830 S1: they confuse us. And so that's why we're here to 486 00:26:21,869 --> 00:26:23,590 S1: join you on the land. In the book with this 487 00:26:23,590 --> 00:26:27,219 S1: third segment, a look at your Bible questions. Doctor Gerald 488 00:26:27,220 --> 00:26:29,820 S1: Peterman is of the Moody Bible Institute faculty. Sitting in 489 00:26:29,820 --> 00:26:32,580 S1: the chair as always, ready and willing to answer them. Right. 490 00:26:32,580 --> 00:26:34,660 S6: Oh, having a good time already? Yes. 491 00:26:34,700 --> 00:26:36,300 S1: A sneak peek, by the way. We're headed to the 492 00:26:36,300 --> 00:26:39,860 S1: book of First Corinthians. A bunch of questions all focused 493 00:26:39,859 --> 00:26:42,340 S1: on Paul's letter to the church at Corinth, and you'll 494 00:26:42,340 --> 00:26:44,619 S1: be surprised at how many of them apply to you today. 495 00:26:44,619 --> 00:26:47,060 S1: Before we get there, though, we are soon going to 496 00:26:47,060 --> 00:26:50,580 S1: be celebrating Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday and remembering the 497 00:26:50,580 --> 00:26:53,660 S1: words from the Last Supper. In the same way Jesus 498 00:26:53,660 --> 00:26:56,899 S1: took the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the 499 00:26:56,900 --> 00:26:59,859 S1: new covenant in my blood. Did you know that the 500 00:26:59,859 --> 00:27:03,540 S1: Last Supper was actually a Passover Seder? And that cup 501 00:27:03,540 --> 00:27:05,700 S1: is believed to be the third cup in the traditional 502 00:27:05,700 --> 00:27:09,500 S1: Passover service? There is so much depth and understanding to 503 00:27:09,500 --> 00:27:11,820 S1: be gained when you and I view the Last Supper 504 00:27:11,820 --> 00:27:14,820 S1: as a Passover Seder, and for this reason, our friends 505 00:27:14,820 --> 00:27:17,340 S1: at Life in Messiah are offering to mail you a 506 00:27:17,340 --> 00:27:20,740 S1: free copy of their Messianic Passover Haggadah. The booklet will 507 00:27:20,740 --> 00:27:23,380 S1: lead you through the celebration of Passover to see the 508 00:27:23,380 --> 00:27:27,530 S1: rich connections to Jesus, our Messiah and Savior. You'll also 509 00:27:27,530 --> 00:27:31,410 S1: receive a link for an interactive Passover Seder video and 510 00:27:31,410 --> 00:27:34,650 S1: with the Haggadah and video. While you can celebrate Passover 511 00:27:34,650 --> 00:27:37,010 S1: this year with your family and friends. Now to get 512 00:27:37,010 --> 00:27:38,690 S1: this free offer, all you have to do is head 513 00:27:38,690 --> 00:27:43,490 S1: to life in and click on the radio button to 514 00:27:43,490 --> 00:27:46,490 S1: find out more and to request your copy. Again, that's 515 00:27:46,530 --> 00:27:51,410 S1: life in Messiah. All right. As we promised, we're headed 516 00:27:51,410 --> 00:27:53,970 S1: to the book of First Corinthians. And let's start with 517 00:27:53,970 --> 00:27:57,210 S1: question one. Paul says in first Corinthians one verse 11 518 00:27:57,530 --> 00:28:01,090 S1: that he got a report from Chloe's people. Some of 519 00:28:01,090 --> 00:28:04,010 S1: us are wondering who was Chloe and who are or 520 00:28:04,050 --> 00:28:04,970 S1: were her people. 521 00:28:05,890 --> 00:28:09,409 S6: I'm wondering that too. But sadly, this is the only 522 00:28:09,530 --> 00:28:13,770 S6: time she's mentioned. Now there's another thing that's unique about 523 00:28:13,810 --> 00:28:17,129 S6: first Corinthians. Right at the end of the letter, Paul says, 524 00:28:17,130 --> 00:28:20,209 S6: some people from Corinth have come to him, people by 525 00:28:20,210 --> 00:28:23,910 S6: the name of Stefanus, Fortunatus and Achilleus, and they've come 526 00:28:23,910 --> 00:28:26,149 S6: to me and they've talked to me about what's happening 527 00:28:26,150 --> 00:28:29,390 S6: with you. I wonder if these are Chloe's people. Paul 528 00:28:29,390 --> 00:28:32,070 S6: doesn't say so explicitly, but I wonder this is the 529 00:28:32,070 --> 00:28:36,910 S6: only time she's ever mentioned. And so obviously Paul knows her. Obviously, 530 00:28:36,910 --> 00:28:40,270 S6: Paul relies upon her words. And let's remind ourselves of 531 00:28:40,270 --> 00:28:44,230 S6: something that Paul had many, many co-workers. If you're reading 532 00:28:44,230 --> 00:28:48,070 S6: the book of Romans, men and women, people that live far, 533 00:28:48,070 --> 00:28:51,310 S6: far away. But he knows their name and he trusts them. 534 00:28:51,310 --> 00:28:56,110 S6: So she's reliable, she's trustworthy, she's a good informant. And thankfully, 535 00:28:56,110 --> 00:28:57,670 S6: we have her report. 536 00:28:57,910 --> 00:29:00,150 S1: You know, I think it's significant that her name is included, 537 00:29:00,150 --> 00:29:03,630 S1: even if we don't have other details. It says to us, 538 00:29:03,870 --> 00:29:06,470 S1: you know, we don't have big names. Maybe, you know, 539 00:29:06,510 --> 00:29:09,990 S1: we're serving behind the scenes and yet our names matter 540 00:29:09,990 --> 00:29:12,550 S1: to God. And they're all duly noted every act of service. 541 00:29:12,590 --> 00:29:14,990 S6: John, thanks so much for bringing that up. Yeah, I 542 00:29:14,990 --> 00:29:18,510 S6: hadn't thought about that otherwise. You might think she's obscure, but, 543 00:29:18,550 --> 00:29:21,630 S6: you know, valuable input from any of us can come. 544 00:29:21,670 --> 00:29:25,260 S1: All right, Let's continue in our quest through Corinthians. Paul 545 00:29:25,260 --> 00:29:28,860 S1: says in chapter one, verse 26, the Corinthians should consider 546 00:29:28,860 --> 00:29:31,500 S1: their calling. Now it's not clear to me why he 547 00:29:31,500 --> 00:29:34,660 S1: would use that word, calling some insights on that. 548 00:29:35,100 --> 00:29:39,660 S6: Yeah, I think the NIV captures this when the NIV says, 549 00:29:39,660 --> 00:29:43,380 S6: brothers and sisters, think about what you were when you 550 00:29:43,380 --> 00:29:46,300 S6: were called. I mean, we don't come to God unless 551 00:29:46,300 --> 00:29:49,380 S6: he works with us through the spirit. That's a kind 552 00:29:49,380 --> 00:29:52,420 S6: of a calling. And so the Corinthians are having a 553 00:29:52,420 --> 00:29:55,620 S6: problem with factions. I think we'll probably talk about this later. 554 00:29:55,620 --> 00:29:59,340 S6: But Paul says, look around, look around you. And this 555 00:29:59,340 --> 00:30:02,660 S6: means consider what kind of people are in your congregation. 556 00:30:02,700 --> 00:30:07,060 S6: Do you find only beautiful people? Only wise people, only 557 00:30:07,060 --> 00:30:09,660 S6: strong people, only rich people? The answer is no, no, 558 00:30:09,660 --> 00:30:12,820 S6: no and no. You find mostly common people. 559 00:30:12,860 --> 00:30:13,300 S1: Yes. 560 00:30:13,820 --> 00:30:17,180 S6: And the Corinthians need to know that this is how 561 00:30:17,300 --> 00:30:21,810 S6: God works. Thanks be to God. He doesn't Just call 562 00:30:21,970 --> 00:30:24,090 S6: the lovely, the beautiful and the powerful. 563 00:30:24,250 --> 00:30:26,530 S1: Well, I'm one of those very average folks. Maybe you 564 00:30:26,530 --> 00:30:28,570 S1: are too. Maybe you've got a question that you'd like 565 00:30:28,570 --> 00:30:31,130 S1: to entertain here on the land and the book. You 566 00:30:31,130 --> 00:30:34,050 S1: should know there's an open door. Any old time you 567 00:30:34,050 --> 00:30:36,690 S1: can get that question to us via an email. Here's 568 00:30:36,690 --> 00:30:42,370 S1: where you write the land and the book at. The 569 00:30:42,410 --> 00:30:47,930 S1: land and the book at Moody's in first Corinthians two, 570 00:30:47,970 --> 00:30:51,690 S1: verse three. It almost seems like Paul finds weakness a 571 00:30:51,690 --> 00:30:54,730 S1: good thing. He says, I was with you in weakness 572 00:30:54,930 --> 00:30:57,290 S1: and in trembling. Why would he share that kind of 573 00:30:57,330 --> 00:30:57,690 S1: a thing? 574 00:30:58,010 --> 00:31:00,170 S6: Why would he share that kind of a thing? How 575 00:31:00,170 --> 00:31:04,250 S6: often have I pondered this? Let's keep reading. He says next. 576 00:31:04,250 --> 00:31:08,610 S6: And my word and my preaching were not in persuasive 577 00:31:08,610 --> 00:31:13,090 S6: words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit. You 578 00:31:13,130 --> 00:31:16,810 S6: keep reading first Corinthians one, first Corinthians two, first Corinthians three. 579 00:31:17,090 --> 00:31:20,800 S6: We encounter with the Corinthians what you and I often encounter. 580 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:24,840 S6: There are two different definitions of wisdom. One definition of 581 00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:28,200 S6: wisdom is show yourself to be awesome. Show yourself to 582 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:31,480 S6: be powerful. Show yourself to be like the best person ever. 583 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:34,840 S6: And the other definition is Follow God. And even if 584 00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:39,600 S6: you appear weak, obey him. So Paul's combating this, and 585 00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:43,400 S6: he's giving himself as an example when he says, I 586 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:47,080 S6: was with you in weakness because a merely human weakness 587 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:49,280 S6: is totally fine. Where you want to be strong is 588 00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:53,920 S6: in obedience. And then Paul says he was strong there. 589 00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:56,840 S1: You know, it's funny you mentioned this word obedience. I'm 590 00:31:56,840 --> 00:31:58,920 S1: in my personal Bible study time going through the book 591 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:02,560 S1: of Genesis. And you see in the life of Noah, 592 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:05,720 S1: what a great example of obedience. It says, Noah did 593 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:09,360 S1: all that God commanded him. It's referenced like three times 594 00:32:09,360 --> 00:32:13,440 S1: in one brief span of verses. So obedience, I concluded, 595 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:17,479 S1: is equivalent to righteousness, or certainly a huge precursor to. 596 00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:20,910 S6: Oh yeah, I love that example from Noah, because it 597 00:32:20,910 --> 00:32:24,870 S6: looks to me like his work was not especially showy. Yeah, 598 00:32:24,910 --> 00:32:27,630 S6: others might say the work is just, shall we say it, dumb. 599 00:32:27,990 --> 00:32:31,830 S6: But the power of God was active in his work, 600 00:32:31,830 --> 00:32:34,950 S6: even though it may have appeared silly. Something similar is 601 00:32:34,950 --> 00:32:35,870 S6: happening with Paul. 602 00:32:35,990 --> 00:32:38,270 S1: That's great. You're listening to The Land in the book 603 00:32:38,270 --> 00:32:41,190 S1: with Doctor Gerald Peterman. I'm John Yeager. Bible questions and 604 00:32:41,190 --> 00:32:44,150 S1: answers are focused. This segment again, our email address to 605 00:32:44,150 --> 00:32:46,830 S1: get your question to us is the land and the 606 00:32:46,830 --> 00:32:51,630 S1: book at a collection of questions this week, all themed 607 00:32:51,630 --> 00:32:54,710 S1: from the book of Corinthians, let's go to chapter three, 608 00:32:54,910 --> 00:32:58,030 S1: which speaks about heavenly rewards. What do we need to 609 00:32:58,070 --> 00:32:58,910 S1: know here? 610 00:32:59,230 --> 00:33:05,750 S6: Yeah, good. Um, in chapter three, we're talking about Paul 611 00:33:05,750 --> 00:33:09,390 S6: and Apollos. They've been mentioned several times in the letter. 612 00:33:09,390 --> 00:33:13,390 S6: And so Paul says, I planted Apollos, watered, God caused 613 00:33:13,390 --> 00:33:16,910 S6: the growth. And then he tells the Corinthians, You are 614 00:33:17,460 --> 00:33:22,739 S6: God's building. We are God's workers. And he goes on 615 00:33:22,780 --> 00:33:27,020 S6: in the passage to talk about the workers having their 616 00:33:27,020 --> 00:33:30,820 S6: work be evaluated. If anyone builds on this foundation, you, 617 00:33:31,020 --> 00:33:33,620 S6: the church, and you build with wood, hay and stubble 618 00:33:33,620 --> 00:33:35,660 S6: that's going to be destroyed, but you build with precious 619 00:33:35,660 --> 00:33:39,580 S6: stones and gold that's going to be rewarded. So do 620 00:33:39,580 --> 00:33:42,340 S6: we find reward in this passage? We do. But for 621 00:33:42,340 --> 00:33:46,380 S6: whom is it? Mm. Ah, it's for God's co-laborers. It's 622 00:33:46,380 --> 00:33:51,060 S6: for God's co-workers. It's for the apostles and for Apollos 623 00:33:51,060 --> 00:33:54,459 S6: and for Cephas and people like him. I do think 624 00:33:54,660 --> 00:33:58,100 S6: that as Christians, we will have a future reward, every 625 00:33:58,100 --> 00:34:01,060 S6: one of us. But in this particular passage, I think 626 00:34:01,060 --> 00:34:04,940 S6: we're talking about the rewards for the apostle, the pastor, 627 00:34:04,980 --> 00:34:06,540 S6: the teacher, the servant. 628 00:34:06,780 --> 00:34:08,460 S1: Is it okay if we go down this path of 629 00:34:08,460 --> 00:34:09,980 S1: heavenly rewards for a moment? 630 00:34:09,980 --> 00:34:10,420 S6: Oh, please. 631 00:34:10,420 --> 00:34:13,859 S1: Do you know, you look at people like missionaries, some 632 00:34:13,900 --> 00:34:17,090 S1: of whom in their in their youth, left the comfort 633 00:34:17,090 --> 00:34:20,689 S1: of America and went to unknown places, some of them 634 00:34:20,690 --> 00:34:24,850 S1: suffering great turmoil. Tragedy. You think about martyrs who've given 635 00:34:24,850 --> 00:34:27,970 S1: their lives. How could it be that all of us 636 00:34:28,370 --> 00:34:32,169 S1: will experience heaven at the same level? Certainly, reward has 637 00:34:32,170 --> 00:34:34,089 S1: to come into play here. What do you think we 638 00:34:34,090 --> 00:34:36,049 S1: can garner from Scripture? 639 00:34:36,650 --> 00:34:39,930 S6: Well, John, I'm going to give an illustration. And this 640 00:34:39,969 --> 00:34:45,370 S6: illustration probably won't touch everyone. Here's here's my illustration. Imagine 641 00:34:45,370 --> 00:34:47,529 S6: I get to the new heaven and the new earth, 642 00:34:47,530 --> 00:34:50,649 S6: and I bump into Billy Graham. Okay. All right. And 643 00:34:50,650 --> 00:34:52,730 S6: let's imagine for just a minute that Billy Graham and 644 00:34:52,730 --> 00:34:55,250 S6: I both love coffee. I don't know if that's true. 645 00:34:55,290 --> 00:34:58,089 S6: Let's just imagine it for a moment. Right. And so 646 00:34:58,130 --> 00:35:02,370 S6: there's Billy Graham drinking the best coffee imaginable from a 647 00:35:02,370 --> 00:35:06,489 S6: bucket and is always full. And I'm drinking it from 648 00:35:06,489 --> 00:35:10,290 S6: a thimble. But it's the best coffee imaginable. But mine's 649 00:35:10,290 --> 00:35:13,730 S6: a thimble, because my rewards are not. His rewards are. 650 00:35:14,010 --> 00:35:17,230 S6: So he's getting something that I'm not getting. But wait, wait, wait. 651 00:35:17,510 --> 00:35:20,550 S6: Here's something else wonderful about the new heaven and new earth. 652 00:35:20,950 --> 00:35:26,790 S6: There's no envy. We can both enjoy unique rewards which 653 00:35:26,790 --> 00:35:29,069 S6: can't cause a problem in our relationship. What I will 654 00:35:29,070 --> 00:35:32,390 S6: do is I will look to others who have a 655 00:35:32,390 --> 00:35:34,430 S6: bigger reward in heaven. And I will say, I'm so 656 00:35:34,430 --> 00:35:36,110 S6: glad they have that. 657 00:35:36,150 --> 00:35:38,509 S1: Yeah, I think on a human level this is a 658 00:35:38,550 --> 00:35:41,509 S1: hang up for me because I. I cannot escape the 659 00:35:41,550 --> 00:35:44,109 S1: haunting thought. How could I not look at them and 660 00:35:44,110 --> 00:35:46,790 S1: their rewards and say, why didn't I do more? And 661 00:35:46,790 --> 00:35:48,430 S1: therefore why would I not be depressed? 662 00:35:49,150 --> 00:35:52,030 S6: Yeah, but I think that's a natural question for one. 663 00:35:52,030 --> 00:35:54,669 S6: But secondly, I think, what are we doing when we 664 00:35:54,670 --> 00:35:56,549 S6: ask that question? Because you're not the only one who 665 00:35:56,550 --> 00:35:58,390 S6: asked the question, what do we do? We're kind of 666 00:35:58,630 --> 00:36:02,109 S6: shaming ourselves. Yes. And thanks be to God. There will 667 00:36:02,150 --> 00:36:04,350 S6: be no shame for us in the new heaven and 668 00:36:04,350 --> 00:36:06,750 S6: new earth. There will be no regret for us in 669 00:36:06,750 --> 00:36:09,750 S6: the new heaven and new earth. Jesus takes that all away. 670 00:36:09,870 --> 00:36:11,910 S1: Well, we have just scratched the surface in the book 671 00:36:11,910 --> 00:36:14,580 S1: of Corinthians. There are more questions to come. We're going 672 00:36:14,620 --> 00:36:17,219 S1: to get to those not today, but next week on 673 00:36:17,219 --> 00:36:20,500 S1: the broadcast. Meanwhile, if you've got a question, don't hold back. 674 00:36:20,739 --> 00:36:23,219 S1: Get it to us quickly at the land and the 675 00:36:23,260 --> 00:36:27,620 S1: book at. Doctor Peterman, I understand it takes you anywhere 676 00:36:27,620 --> 00:36:29,140 S1: from a couple of days to a week or so, 677 00:36:29,140 --> 00:36:32,060 S1: depending on your schedule and travel and classes and students. 678 00:36:32,260 --> 00:36:34,140 S1: That's right. You get to them all. You get to 679 00:36:34,140 --> 00:36:37,820 S1: them personally at the land and the book at Moody. 680 00:36:39,140 --> 00:36:42,020 S1: I'm looking forward to Charlie Dyer's devotional that's coming up next, 681 00:36:42,060 --> 00:36:57,900 S1: right here on the land and the book. There's something 682 00:36:57,900 --> 00:37:01,299 S1: about a construction project that absolutely intrigues most of us. 683 00:37:01,300 --> 00:37:04,380 S1: I walked by one today, and I couldn't help but 684 00:37:04,420 --> 00:37:07,580 S1: gauge how far they'd gone, how tall the building was. 685 00:37:08,020 --> 00:37:10,219 S1: But do you ever think of God as a builder? 686 00:37:10,380 --> 00:37:12,850 S1: Not just a builder, a her a protector and provider. 687 00:37:13,170 --> 00:37:16,410 S1: And that's where we're headed in today's devotional. Up next. First, though, 688 00:37:16,570 --> 00:37:18,930 S1: this quick thought from someone who has traveled to Israel 689 00:37:18,930 --> 00:37:21,570 S1: and joins us with their thoughts and recollections. 690 00:37:25,770 --> 00:37:29,930 S7: Hi, I'm calling from Spokane, Washington, and I just wanted 691 00:37:29,930 --> 00:37:33,690 S7: to comment that I did go to Israel and took 692 00:37:33,690 --> 00:37:37,049 S7: a Holy Land tour about four years ago, and it 693 00:37:37,050 --> 00:37:41,210 S7: was life changing for me to put everything in perspective 694 00:37:41,250 --> 00:37:44,690 S7: as far as the Bible went. It just made the 695 00:37:44,690 --> 00:37:48,610 S7: Bible become more real. And as I read the Bible, 696 00:37:48,610 --> 00:37:52,330 S7: I can relate. I can remember what I saw over there. 697 00:37:52,370 --> 00:37:56,130 S7: It just made it more real. Actually, I'm kind of 698 00:37:56,170 --> 00:38:00,010 S7: a visual person, so it really made an impact on me. 699 00:38:00,010 --> 00:38:04,450 S7: And I would suggest that anyone that could by any 700 00:38:04,450 --> 00:38:07,250 S7: means get over there and go through that, it would 701 00:38:07,250 --> 00:38:08,609 S7: change your life forever. 702 00:38:08,890 --> 00:38:13,200 S8: I went to Israel in 1983. I taught Sunday school 703 00:38:13,200 --> 00:38:16,760 S8: now for probably close to 30 years or more. But 704 00:38:16,760 --> 00:38:20,920 S8: going to the Holy Land, uh, made such an impact 705 00:38:20,920 --> 00:38:23,799 S8: on my life. Now, when I'm teaching or when I'm 706 00:38:23,800 --> 00:38:27,120 S8: reading the Word of God, I can see the areas 707 00:38:27,120 --> 00:38:29,960 S8: that I saw back that long ago, and it just 708 00:38:29,960 --> 00:38:31,280 S8: made it more dear to my heart. 709 00:38:33,600 --> 00:38:37,719 S1: Charlie I'm intrigued. God as builder, protector and provider. Where 710 00:38:37,719 --> 00:38:38,560 S1: are we headed today? 711 00:38:38,760 --> 00:38:41,840 S2: We're heading to Psalm 127, John, and I'm going to 712 00:38:41,840 --> 00:38:44,440 S2: start by talking about the rerelease of a song that 713 00:38:44,440 --> 00:38:47,760 S2: was more popular than the original, and that sometimes happens. 714 00:38:47,760 --> 00:38:51,680 S2: In fact, if you've ever watched the 1942 movie Casablanca, 715 00:38:51,719 --> 00:38:54,480 S2: you remember Ilsa walking up to Sam the piano player 716 00:38:54,480 --> 00:38:58,000 S2: and saying, play it, Sam, play as time goes by. 717 00:38:58,600 --> 00:39:01,719 S2: The song was immortalized by the movie, but most people 718 00:39:01,760 --> 00:39:04,160 S2: probably don't know that it was actually written 11 years 719 00:39:04,160 --> 00:39:09,000 S2: earlier for a 1931 Broadway musical, Everybody's Welcome. It was 720 00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:12,549 S2: an okay song and musical, but its enduring popularity came 721 00:39:12,550 --> 00:39:15,870 S2: from its rerelease. In the film, there's a song in 722 00:39:15,870 --> 00:39:18,990 S2: the Bible with a similar history. It was originally composed 723 00:39:18,989 --> 00:39:22,470 S2: by King Solomon, who by himself was a prolific songwriter. 724 00:39:22,790 --> 00:39:28,109 S2: First Kings 432 says he wrote 1005 songs, but of 725 00:39:28,110 --> 00:39:30,469 S2: that large number, only two made it into the Book 726 00:39:30,469 --> 00:39:34,830 S2: of Psalms, Israel's national songbook. And of those two, one 727 00:39:34,830 --> 00:39:37,430 S2: made it, so to speak, as a rerelease to be 728 00:39:37,430 --> 00:39:40,509 S2: used in a totally different context. It happens to be 729 00:39:40,550 --> 00:39:44,029 S2: Psalm 127. Our study of this psalm takes us to 730 00:39:44,070 --> 00:39:47,750 S2: the crowded city of Jerusalem, which is packed with pilgrims 731 00:39:47,750 --> 00:39:50,990 S2: who've gathered for one of Israel's annual feasts. The narrow 732 00:39:50,989 --> 00:39:53,790 S2: streets are jammed, and people are sleeping wherever they can 733 00:39:53,790 --> 00:39:57,230 S2: find room to unroll their blankets. It's a time of excitement, 734 00:39:57,230 --> 00:40:00,030 S2: but it's also a time when patients can wear thin. 735 00:40:00,270 --> 00:40:02,870 S2: And that's why a special group of psalms were sung 736 00:40:02,910 --> 00:40:07,150 S2: on these occasions. They're called the Songs of Ascents. Songs 737 00:40:07,150 --> 00:40:09,779 S2: to be sung by the pilgrims as they ascended or 738 00:40:09,780 --> 00:40:13,100 S2: went up to Jerusalem for the feasts. The collection is 739 00:40:13,100 --> 00:40:16,860 S2: found in our Bibles from Psalm 120 through Psalm 134, 740 00:40:17,100 --> 00:40:18,980 S2: and for the next three weeks, I want to pause 741 00:40:19,020 --> 00:40:22,020 S2: and look at three of the psalms in this collection. 742 00:40:22,340 --> 00:40:25,420 S2: Ten of the 15 Psalms are anonymous, but four were 743 00:40:25,420 --> 00:40:29,100 S2: written by David and one by Solomon. It's possible these 744 00:40:29,100 --> 00:40:33,340 S2: songs were gathered into a collection sometime after the Babylonian captivity. 745 00:40:33,739 --> 00:40:37,580 S2: Whatever their original setting, their rerelease, if you will, was 746 00:40:37,580 --> 00:40:40,660 S2: part of this collection, and it gave them new significance 747 00:40:40,660 --> 00:40:42,939 S2: for the nation. And with that in mind, let's look 748 00:40:42,940 --> 00:40:48,339 S2: at Psalm 127. The psalm has two stanzas and three themes. 749 00:40:48,580 --> 00:40:50,940 S2: The first stanza is found in verses one and two, 750 00:40:51,140 --> 00:40:54,140 S2: and the second in verses 3 to 5. The first 751 00:40:54,140 --> 00:40:57,460 S2: stanza focuses on the three themes of God as our builder, 752 00:40:57,660 --> 00:41:03,140 S2: our protector, and our provider. First, he's our builder. Unless 753 00:41:03,140 --> 00:41:05,819 S2: the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain. Who 754 00:41:05,820 --> 00:41:08,890 S2: build it? Perhaps Solomon first wrote this psalm as he 755 00:41:08,890 --> 00:41:12,089 S2: was building God's temple, or maybe even his own palace. 756 00:41:12,250 --> 00:41:14,890 S2: But as the Psalm made its way into this collection, 757 00:41:14,930 --> 00:41:18,049 S2: the house became a metaphor for all of life. Success 758 00:41:18,050 --> 00:41:21,089 S2: in life usually comes through hard work. But if our 759 00:41:21,090 --> 00:41:24,810 S2: work isn't aligned with and supported by God, then ultimately 760 00:41:24,810 --> 00:41:28,810 S2: it will fail. Solomon then changes themes and focuses on 761 00:41:28,810 --> 00:41:32,489 S2: God as our protector. Unless the Lord guards the city, 762 00:41:32,530 --> 00:41:36,330 S2: the watchman keeps watch in vain. We all seek safety 763 00:41:36,330 --> 00:41:39,610 S2: and security. We put locks on our doors and passwords 764 00:41:39,610 --> 00:41:42,969 S2: on our computers. Some even have motion detecting lights on 765 00:41:42,969 --> 00:41:47,410 S2: their houses and cameras inside their doorbells. Nationally, we spend 766 00:41:47,410 --> 00:41:51,530 S2: billions on defense. But Solomon reminds his readers that ultimate 767 00:41:51,530 --> 00:41:55,690 S2: security comes from God. Without his protection, we have no 768 00:41:55,690 --> 00:42:00,050 S2: real security. Solomon switches to his third theme in verse two. 769 00:42:00,330 --> 00:42:03,570 S2: In addition to being our builder and our protector, God 770 00:42:03,570 --> 00:42:07,160 S2: is also our provider. It's vain for you to rise 771 00:42:07,160 --> 00:42:09,640 S2: up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of 772 00:42:09,640 --> 00:42:12,799 S2: painful labors. For he gives to his beloved even in 773 00:42:12,800 --> 00:42:16,880 S2: his sleep. Solomon is picturing life in an agrarian society. 774 00:42:16,960 --> 00:42:20,040 S2: He's not saying God wants us to be lazy. The 775 00:42:20,040 --> 00:42:23,480 S2: book of Proverbs, written in large part by Solomon, has 776 00:42:23,480 --> 00:42:26,279 S2: much to say about the importance of hard work. But 777 00:42:26,280 --> 00:42:29,680 S2: in the end, the increase comes from God. He ultimately 778 00:42:29,680 --> 00:42:33,399 S2: provides everything necessary for the crops to grow. Even at 779 00:42:33,400 --> 00:42:37,160 S2: night when we're asleep and verses 3 to 5, Solomon 780 00:42:37,160 --> 00:42:41,759 S2: changes illustrations. But his three themes remain the same, though 781 00:42:41,800 --> 00:42:45,400 S2: in reverse order. He now stresses that God is our provider, 782 00:42:45,680 --> 00:42:49,160 S2: then our protector, and then our builder. And he does 783 00:42:49,160 --> 00:42:53,080 S2: this by focusing on the blessing of children in our society. 784 00:42:53,080 --> 00:42:56,359 S2: These verses can sometimes be misunderstood. So let me say 785 00:42:56,360 --> 00:42:59,120 S2: something right at the beginning. Solomon is not writing to 786 00:42:59,160 --> 00:43:01,640 S2: say that sons are better than daughters, nor is he 787 00:43:01,640 --> 00:43:05,299 S2: making a statement about family planning or birth control. And 788 00:43:05,300 --> 00:43:07,419 S2: he's not saying God wants us to have as many 789 00:43:07,420 --> 00:43:11,739 S2: children as possible. Rather, he focuses on something highly valued 790 00:43:11,739 --> 00:43:15,379 S2: in his culture. As an illustration, to again remind his 791 00:43:15,380 --> 00:43:19,060 S2: readers that God is the ultimate source of blessing in 792 00:43:19,060 --> 00:43:22,340 S2: a society that attached a high value to large families. 793 00:43:22,540 --> 00:43:26,620 S2: Solomon states that even children come from God. Children are 794 00:43:26,660 --> 00:43:29,020 S2: a gift of the Lord. The fruit of the womb 795 00:43:29,020 --> 00:43:32,219 S2: is a reward lest they be tempted to brag about 796 00:43:32,219 --> 00:43:35,859 S2: their large families. Solomon reminds his listeners that God is 797 00:43:35,860 --> 00:43:40,460 S2: the ultimate provider and children are his gift. God is 798 00:43:40,460 --> 00:43:44,660 S2: also the protector. The children God provides are like arrows 799 00:43:44,660 --> 00:43:47,140 S2: in the hands of a warrior. In a culture that 800 00:43:47,140 --> 00:43:50,220 S2: viewed large families as a means of safety and protection, 801 00:43:50,460 --> 00:43:52,859 S2: the man with many sons was like a warrior going 802 00:43:52,860 --> 00:43:56,260 S2: into battle with a full quiver of arrows. But Solomon 803 00:43:56,260 --> 00:44:01,620 S2: is reminding them that even this protection ultimately comes from God. Remember, 804 00:44:01,620 --> 00:44:05,529 S2: children are a gift of the Lord, he says. Solomon 805 00:44:05,530 --> 00:44:08,210 S2: ends his song much as he began it, focusing on 806 00:44:08,210 --> 00:44:11,570 S2: God as our builder, the one who advances our cause 807 00:44:11,610 --> 00:44:15,450 S2: and guarantees our success. And he does this by continuing 808 00:44:15,489 --> 00:44:18,810 S2: to focus on the benefits of the children God provides. 809 00:44:19,130 --> 00:44:21,250 S2: Those who've been blessed by God with children are men 810 00:44:21,290 --> 00:44:23,770 S2: who would not be ashamed when they speak with their 811 00:44:23,770 --> 00:44:27,649 S2: enemies in the gate. Being blessed by God doesn't mean 812 00:44:27,650 --> 00:44:31,330 S2: we won't face opposition or obstacles. The gates were the 813 00:44:31,330 --> 00:44:34,890 S2: courthouses of that day, and Solomon's picturing a court scene 814 00:44:34,890 --> 00:44:38,529 S2: where this righteous person has been accused by his enemies, 815 00:44:38,930 --> 00:44:41,129 S2: but his children are there to stand beside him as 816 00:44:41,130 --> 00:44:44,610 S2: both his witnesses and his allies. He doesn't have to 817 00:44:44,650 --> 00:44:50,050 S2: face the opposition alone. God's provision of children helps assure success. 818 00:44:50,890 --> 00:44:54,089 S2: Our time in Jerusalem is almost over. The feast is 819 00:44:54,090 --> 00:44:56,730 S2: ended and all the pilgrims will soon be beginning their 820 00:44:56,730 --> 00:45:00,250 S2: journey home. But what does God want us to remember 821 00:45:00,250 --> 00:45:05,359 S2: from Psalm 127. I think it's this ultimate success in 822 00:45:05,360 --> 00:45:09,959 S2: life comes from God. Too many Christians today sadly live 823 00:45:10,000 --> 00:45:14,000 S2: as functional atheists, paying lip service to God, but acting 824 00:45:14,000 --> 00:45:18,480 S2: as if everything depended on their efforts alone. Solomon wants 825 00:45:18,480 --> 00:45:22,560 S2: us to remember that God is our builder, our protector, 826 00:45:22,800 --> 00:45:28,560 S2: and our provider. To think otherwise is foolish. So how 827 00:45:28,600 --> 00:45:32,319 S2: dependent are you on God today? This might be a 828 00:45:32,320 --> 00:45:34,840 S2: good time to take stock of your life, and to 829 00:45:34,880 --> 00:45:39,839 S2: make sure God is indeed your builder, your protector, and 830 00:45:39,840 --> 00:45:41,040 S2: your provider. 831 00:45:41,360 --> 00:45:43,759 S1: Thank you Charlie. Great insights and I'm looking forward to 832 00:45:43,800 --> 00:45:45,960 S1: more in this series. If you'd like to hear our 833 00:45:45,960 --> 00:45:49,600 S1: program again, you can do that easily online. The land 834 00:45:49,600 --> 00:45:53,399 S1: and the book is where to head the land and 835 00:45:53,400 --> 00:45:56,560 S1: the book. Well, you know, we've got lots more to 836 00:45:56,600 --> 00:45:59,200 S1: talk about next week on the broadcast, as always, but 837 00:45:59,200 --> 00:46:01,830 S1: we encourage you to check out our podcast. It's there 838 00:46:01,830 --> 00:46:03,630 S1: for you to share with your friends as well at 839 00:46:03,670 --> 00:46:07,549 S1: The Land and the book. Also, if you'd like to 840 00:46:07,590 --> 00:46:10,350 S1: email us your Bible question, we'd love it if you did. 841 00:46:10,390 --> 00:46:13,149 S1: Why stay with that question rumbling around in your brain 842 00:46:13,150 --> 00:46:15,629 S1: when you can get an answer? Email us at the 843 00:46:15,630 --> 00:46:20,350 S1: land and the book at. Doctor Gerald Peterman will be 844 00:46:20,350 --> 00:46:22,470 S1: glad to take his best shot at it. The land 845 00:46:22,469 --> 00:46:26,150 S1: and the book at Moody. And if it's been a 846 00:46:26,190 --> 00:46:29,230 S1: while since you've let this station know about your appreciation 847 00:46:29,230 --> 00:46:32,069 S1: for the broadcast, why not take a moment, send them 848 00:46:32,070 --> 00:46:35,190 S1: an email, a text, call them up, and let them 849 00:46:35,190 --> 00:46:37,510 S1: know that you appreciate the land and the book. Thanks 850 00:46:37,510 --> 00:46:39,790 S1: so much for doing that, because hey, lots of folks 851 00:46:39,790 --> 00:46:42,069 S1: would love to be on the air and here they've 852 00:46:42,110 --> 00:46:44,750 S1: graciously provided time for us. So thank you for that. 853 00:46:45,030 --> 00:46:47,509 S1: Thank you for your company today. I'm John Gager for 854 00:46:47,510 --> 00:46:50,550 S1: our host, Charlie Dyer, our producer, Dan Anderson. The land 855 00:46:50,550 --> 00:46:52,910 S1: and the book is a production of Moody Radio, a 856 00:46:52,910 --> 00:46:54,830 S1: ministry of Moody Bible Institute.