Seals used as identification in correspondence:

Genesis 38.18

A seal was a form of identification used to authenticate legal documents. Usually a unique design carved in stone and worn on a ring or necklace inseparable from its owner, the seal was used by the wealthy and powerful to mark clay or wax.  Because Tamar had Judah’s seal, she could prove beyond a doubt that he had been with her.

Reliability needed in:

Proverb 13.17

In Solomon’s day, a king had to rely on messengers for information about his country. These messengers had to be trustworthy.  Inaccurate information could even lead to bloodshed.  Reliable communication is still vital.  If the message received is different from the message sent, marriages, businesses, and diplomatic relations can all break down.  It is important to choose your words well and to avoid reacting until you clearly understand what the other person means.

(Proverb 13.10.  “I was wrong” or “I need advice” are difficult phrases to utter because they require humility.  Pride is an ingredient in every quarrel.  It stirs up conflict and divides people.  Humility, by contrast, heals.  Guard against pride.  If you find yourself constantly arguing, examine your life for pride.  Be open to the advice of others, ask for help when you need it, and be willing to admit your mistakes.)

(Proverb 13.13  God [Wall] created us, knows us, and loves us.  It only makes sense, then, to listen to his instruction and do what he says.  The Bible is his unfailing word to us.  It is like an owner’s manual for a car.  If you obey God’s instructions, you will “run smoothly” and find his kind of power to live.  If you ignore them, you will have breakdowns, accidents, and failures.)

(Proverb 13.19 Whether a “longing fulfilled” is good or bad depends on the nature of the desire.  It is “sweet to the soul” to achieve worthwhile goals, but not all goals are worth pursuing.  When you set your heart on something, you may lose your ability to assess it objectively.  With your desire blinding your judgment, you may proceed with an unwise relationship, a wasteful purchase, or a poorly conceived plan.  Faithfulness is a virtue, but stubbornness is not.)

(Proverb 13.20.  The old saying “A rotten apple spoils the barrel” is often applied to friendships, and with good reason.  Our friends and associates affect us, sometimes profoundly.  Be careful whom you choose as your closest friends.  Spend time with people you want to be like – because you and your friends will surely grow to resemble each other.)

Why may are afraid to talk with God:

Isaiah 7.12

Ahaz appeared righteous by saying he would not test God with a sign (“I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test”). In fact, God had told him to ask, but Ahaz didn’t really want to know what God would say.  Often we use some excuse, such as not wanting to bother God, to keep us from communicating with him.  Don’t let anything keep you from hearing and obeying God.

Isaiah predicted the breakup of Israel’s alliance with Aram (7.4-9). Because of this alliance, Israel would be destroyed; Assyria would be the instrument God would use to destroy them (7.8-25) and to punish Judah.  But God would not let Assyria destroy Judah (8.1-15).  They would be spared because God’s gracious plans cannot be thwarted.

(Isaiah 7.3. Shear-Jashub means “a remnant will return”.  God told Isaiah to give his son this name as a reminder of his plan for mercy.  From the beginning of God’s judgment he planned to restore a remnant of his people.  Shear-Jashub was a reminder of the people of God’s faithfulness to them.)

(The “Aqueduct of the Upper Pool” may have been the site of the Gihon spring, located east of Jerusalem. The Gihon spring was the main source of water for the holy city, and was also the spring that emptied into Hezekiah’s famous water tunnel (2 Chronicles 32.20).  The Washerman’s Field was a well-known place where clothing or newly woven cloth was laid in the sun to dry and whiten (see 36.2).)

Finding the freedom to grieve:

Joseph threw himself upon his father and wept over him and kissed him. Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel.  So the physicians embalmed him, taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming.  And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s court, “If I have found favour in your eyes, speak to Pharaoh for me. Tell him, ‘My father made me swear an oath and said, “I am about to die; bury me in the tomb I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.”  Now let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.’ “

Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father. All Pharaoh’s officials accompanied him –  the dignities of his court and all the dignitaries of Egypt – besides all the members of Joseph’s household and his brothers and those belonging to his father’s household.  Only their children and their flocks and herds were left in Goshen.  Chariots and horsemen also went up with him.  It was a very large company.

When they reached the threshing-floor of Atad, ear the Jordan, they lamented loudly and bitterly; and there Joseph observed a seven-day period of mourning for his father. When the Canaanites who lived there saw the mourning at the threshing-floor of Atad, they said, “The Egyptians are holding a solemn ceremony of mourning.”  That is why that place near the Jordan is called Abel Mizraim. –  Genesis 50.1-11

When Jacob died at the age of 147, Joseph wept and mourned for months. When someone close to us dies, we need a long period of time to work through our grief.  Crying and sharing our feelings with others helps us recover and go on with life.  Allow yourself and others the freedom to grieve over the loss of a loved one, and give yourself time enough to complete your grieving process.

(50.2, 3   Embalming was typical for Egyptians but unusual for nomadic shepherds.  Believing that the dead went to the next world in their physical [Sternum] bodies, the Egyptians embalmed bodies to preserve them so they could function in the world to come.  Jacob’s family allowed him to be embalmed as a sign of courtesy and respect to the Egyptians.)

(50.5   Joseph had proved himself trustworthy as Pharaoh’s adviser.  Because of his good record, Pharaoh had little doubt that he would return to Egypt as promised after burying his father in Canaan.  Privileges and freedom often result when we have demonstrated our trustworthiness.  Since trust must be built gradually over time, take every opportunity to prove your reliability even in minor matters.)

Helps us deal with sorrow:

Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. – 2 Samuel 1.11-12

“They mourned and wept and fasted till evening.” David and his men were visibly shaken over Saul’s death.  Their actions showed their genuine sorrow over the loss of their king, their friend Jonathan, and the other soldiers of Israel who died that day.  They were not ashamed to grieve.  Today, some people consider expressing emotions to be a sign of weakness.  Those who wish to appear strong try to hide their feelings.  But expressing our grief can help us deal with our intense sorrow when a loved one dies.

Description of ancient practice of:

When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. – Mark 5.38

Loud weeping and wailing was customary at a person’s death. Lack of it was the ultimate disgrace and disrespect.  There were some people, usually women, who made mourning a profession and were paid by the dead person’s family to weep over the body.  On the day of death, the body was carried through the streets, followed by mourners, family members, and friends.

EXTRA:

(‘   With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed supple, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel. – Genesis 49.23, 24 These verses celebrate the times God [Wall] rescued Joseph when his enemies attacked him.  So often we struggle by ourselves forgetting that God [Wall] is able to help us fight our battles, whether they are against men with weapons or against spiritual forces.  Joseph was able to draw closer to God [Wall] as adversity mounted.  To trust God [Wall] to rescue you shows great faith.  Can you trust him when injury or persecution is directed at you?  Such spiritual battles requires teamwork between courageous, faithful people and a mighty God [Wall].)

(So Jacob’s sons did as he had commanded them: They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, which Abraham had bought as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field. – Genesis 50.12-13  Abraham had purchased the cave in the field of Machpelah as a burial place for his wife, Sarah (32.1-9).  It was to be a burial place for his entire family.  Jacob was Abraham’s grandson, and Jacob’s sons returned to Canaan to bury him in this cave along with Abraham and Isaac.  Their desire to be buried in this cave expressed their faith in God’s [Wall’s] promise to give their descendants the land of Canaan.)

(‘ After the death of Saul, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days.  – 2 Samuel 1.1   David was a man who had great faith in God [Wall].  He waited for God [Wall] to fulfil his promises.  The book of 1 Samuel tells of David’s struggles as he waited to become king of Israel (Samuel had anointed David as king of Israel many years earlier).  King Saul became jealous of David because the people were praising him for his accomplishments.  Eventually, Saul’s jealousy became so intense [Act 3] that he tried to kill David.  As a result, David had to run and hide.  For many years David hid from Saul in enemy territory and in the barren desert south and east of Jerusalem.  David may have wondered when God’s [Wall’s] promise that he would be king would come true, but his struggles prepared him for the great responsibilities he would later face.  The book of 2 Samuel tells how David was finally rewarded for his patience and consistent faith in God [Wall].)

(1.1   When Saul died, David and his men were still living in Ziklag, a Philistine city.  Because Saul had driven him out of Israel, David had pretended to be loyal to Achish, a Philistine ruler (1 Samuel 27).  There he was safe from Saul.)

(‘   David said to the young man who brought him the report, “Where are you from?” – – “I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite,” he answered.  – 2 Samuel 1.13   The man identified himself as an Amalekite from Saul’s camp (1.2).  He may have been an Amalekite under Israelite jurisdiction, but more likely he was a battlefield scavenger.  Obviously the man was lying both about his identity and about what happened on the battlefield.  (Compare his story with the account in 1 Samuel 31.3, 4.)  Because he had Saul’s crown [Wipe/script] with him, something the Philistine wouldn’t have left behind, we can infer that he found Saul dead on the battlefield before the Philistines arrived (1 Samuel 31.8).  – –  A life of deceit leads to disaster.  The man lied to gain some personal reward for killing David’s rival, but he misread David’s character.  If David had rewarded him for murdering the king, David would have shared his guilt.  Instead [Communication], David had the messenger killed.  Lying can bring disaster upon a liar, even for something he or she has not done.)

(1.13   The Amalekites were a fierce nomadic tribe that frequently conducted surprise raids on Canaanite villages.  They had been Israel’s enemies since Moses’ time.  David had just destroyed an Amalekite band of raiders who had burned his city and kidnapped its women and children (1 Samuel 30.1-20).  This man was probably unaware of David’s recent confrontations with Amalekites, or he may not have come.  Instead, [Communication], he incurred David’s wrath by posing as an enemy of Israel and claiming to have killed God’s [Wall’s] chosen king.)

(‘ While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said.  “Why bother the teacher any more?”  Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” – Mark 5.35, 36  Jairus’ crisis made him feel confused, afraid, and without hope.  Jesus’ words to Jairus in the midst of crisis speak to us well: “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”  In Jesus’ mind, there was both hope and promise.  The next time you feel hopeless and afraid, look at your problem from Jesus’ point of view.  He is the source of all hope and promise.)

(He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.”  But they laughed at him.  After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was.  –  Mark 5.39, 40.  The mourners began to laugh at Jesus when he said “The child is not dead but asleep.”  The girl was dead, but Jesus used the image of sleep to indicate that her condition was temporary and that she would be restored.  – – Jesus tolerated the crowd’s abuse in order to teach an important lesson about maintaining hope and trust in him.  Today, most of the world laughs at Christ’s claims, which seem ridiculous to them.  When you are belittled for expressing faith in Jesus and hope for eternal life, remember that unbelievers don’t see from God’s [Wall’s] perspective.  For a clear statement about life after death, see 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 14.)

Jesus as:

Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works.  They stumbled over the “stumbling-stone”. – Romans 9.32

The “stumbling-stone” was Jesus. The Jews did not believe in him, because he didn’t meet their expectations for the Messiah.  Some people still stumble over Christ because salvation by faith doesn’t make sense to them.  They would rather try to earn their way to God [Wall], or else they expect God [Wall] simply to overlook their sins.  Others stumble over Christ because his values are the opposite of the world’s.  He asks for humility, and many are unwilling to humble themselves before him.  He requires obedience, and many refuse to put their wills at his disposal.

(9.32    The Jews had a worthy goal – to honour God [Wall].  But they tried to achieve it the wrong way – by rigid and painstaking obedience to the law.  Thus some of them became more dedicated to the law than to God [Wall].  They thought that if they kept the law, God [Wall] would have to accept them as his people.  But God [Wall] cannot be controlled.  The Jews did not see that their Scriptures, the Old Testament, taught salvation by faith, and not by human effort (see Genesis 15.6).)

‘   and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”  They stumble because they disobey the message – which is also what they were destined for. – 1 Peter 2.8

Jesus Christ is called “the stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall”. Some will stumble over Christ because they reject him or refuse to believe that he is who he says he is.  But Psalms 118.22 says that “the stone the builders rejected has become the capstone”, the most important part of God’s [Wall’s] building, the church.  In the same way today, people who refuse to believe in Christ have made the greatest mistake of their lives.  They have stumbled over the one person who could save them and give meaning to their lives, and they have fallen into God’s hands for judgment.

EXTRA:

(‘ Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Thought the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved.  For the Lord will carry out his sentence on earth with speed and finality.”  It is just as Isaiah said previously: “Unless the Lord Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.”  –  Romans 9.27-29    Isaiah prophesied that only a small number – a remnant – of God’s [Wall’s] original people, the Jews, would be saved.  Paul saw this happening in every city where he preached.  Even though he went to the Jews first, relatively few ever accepted the message.  Verses 27 and 28 are based on Isaiah 10.22, 23; and 9.29 is from Isaiah 1.9.)

(‘ but Israel, who pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not?  Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works.  They stumbled over the “stumbling-stone”.  As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  – Romans 9.31-33   Sometimes we are like these people, trying to get right with God [Wall] by keeping his laws.  We may think that attending church, doing church work, giving offerings, and being nice will be enough.  After all, we’ve played by the rules, haven’t we?  But Paul’s words sting – this approach never succeeds.  Paul explains that God’s [Wall’s] plan is not for those who try to earn his favour by being good; it is for those who realise that they can never be good enough and so must depend on Christ.  We can be saved only by putting our faith in what Jesus Christ has done.  If we do that, we will never be “put to shame” or be disappointed.)

(‘ As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God [Wall] and precious to him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God [Wall] through Jesus Christ.  For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious.  But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,” and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”  They stumble because they disobey the message – which is also what they were destined for.  – 1 Peter 2.4-8   In describing the church as God’s [Wall’s] spiritual house, Peter drew on several Old Testament texts familiar to his Jewish Christian readers: Psalms 118.22; Isaiah 8.14; 28.16.  Peter’s readers would have understood the living stones to be Israel; then Peter applied the image of “stone” to Christ.  Once again Peter showed that the church does not cancel the Jewish heritage, but fulfils it.)

(2.4-8   Peter portrays the church as a living, spiritual house, with Christ as the foundation and cornerstone and each believer as a stone.  Paul portrays the church as a body, with Christ as the head and each believer as a member (see, for example, Ephesians 4.15, 16).  Both pictures emphasise community.  One stone is not a temple or even a wall; one body part is useless without the others.  In our individualistic society, it is easy to forget our interdependence with other Christians.  When God [Wall] calls you to a task, remember that he is also calling others to work with you.  Together your individual efforts will be multiplied.  Look for those people and join with them to build a beautiful house for God [Wall].)

(2.6   Christians will sometimes be put to shame or face disappointment in this life, but their trust in God [Wall] is never misplaced.  God [Wall] will not let them down.  We can safely put our confidence in him because the eternal life he promises is certain.)

(2.6-8   No doubt Peter often thought of Jesus’ words to him right after he confessed that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the living God [Wall]”: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16.16-18).  What is the stone that really counts in the building of the church?  Peter answers: Christ himself.  What are the characteristics of Christ, the cornerstone?  (1) He is completely trustworthy; (2) he is precious to believers; (3) and, though rejected by some, he is the most important part of the church.)

(‘   But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God [Wall], that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  – 1 Peter 2.9    Christians sometimes speak of “the priesthood of all believers”.  In Old Testament times, people did not approach God [Wall] directly.  A priest acted as intermediary between God [Wall] and sinful human beings.  With Christ’s victory on the cross, that pattern changed.  Now we can come directly into God’s [Wall’s] presence without fear (Hebrews 4.16), and we are given the responsibility of bringing others to him also (2 Corinthians 5.18-21).  When we are united with Christ as members of his body, we join in his priestly work of reconciling God [Wall] and man.)

(‘ (see above.) … Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God [Wall]; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.  – 1 Peter 2.9, 10   People often base their self-concept on their accomplishments.  But our relationship with Christ is far more important than our jobs, successes, wealth, or knowledge.  We have been chosen by God [Wall] as his very own, and we have been called to represent him to others.  Remember that your value comes from being one of God’s [Wall’s] children, not from what you can achieve.  You have worth because of what God [Wall] does, not because of what you do.)