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ASSIGNMENT #1 – Prophetic Fulfillment

• Psalm 22:12-13 (bulls); 16, 20 (dogs); 21 (lion & oxen) to Lev. 11; multiple references -- Jewish leaders/Romans
• Psalm 22:16 to Acts 2:23
• Psalm 22:18 to Mark 15:24; Matt. 27:35; Luke 22:34; John 19:24
• Psalm 22:27 to Rev. 11:15
• Psalm 22:14, 29 to Problem?

HERMENEUTIC LESSON – CONSIDER CULTURE

We discussed the “double vision” of Old Testament prophecies that point to both immediate and future events, as in Isaiah 7. Yet, there are others should be kept in mind. One of these is cultural interpretation.

As we study, it’s important to delineate the difference between our culture, the culture of others (we minister to/live with) and the culture of the text we’re studying. Some argue culture should dominate one’s interpretation of scripture, but this is often done to dismiss the inherent nature of scripture. Humans remain humans across time. Despite lies told us in popular media, we are not getting smarter and smarter, nor our modern cultures inherent better than all cultures before them. Some argue the opposite – the more “natural” a culture is the better (more innocent, etc.). What is true is that God’s values and communications transcend time and culture.

So, what should a student of the Bible do about culture? There are some things you’ll need to decide for yourself. However, you can establish some sound practices. First, consider matters that are transcendent as unencumbered by culture. For example, John 3:16 doesn’t require a cultural analysis. This statement from God transcends time and culture. Second, work to unwrap issues that are transcendent but are wrapped in some cultural element. For example, why are pronoun references in Hebrew, Greek, and English normally male only.  This is a common cultural paradigm, but it can distract modern, Western audiences. Likewise, scripture often refers to males when it comes to inheritance. Why? Because inheritance went through the male line. Often oldest sons would take the place of their fathers. Thus, the context drove the use of son rather than daughters, even though scripture allowed for some female inheritance. Finally, some things are wholly cultural. Consider the mention of baptizing the dead in 1 Cor. 15:29 or in introductions or farewells in the epistles, such as “Greet one another with a holy kiss” in II Cor. 13:12.

Failure to understand the difference leads to confused interpretation. For example, I’ve seen feminist interpretation of scripture as inherently sexist and misogynistic because of the emphasis on male pronoun use, male inheritance references, and references to submission. Often, the result was the discarding of scriptural truths. For example, angry diatribes against submission of wives to husbands in Ephesians missed the point that the entire book is an extended treatise on believers submitting – to God, to others, to employers, in families, etc. Likewise, some use culture to discard transcendent understanding that wouldn’t be evident to the human author. For example, liberal scholars use such techniques to discount the possibility of Psalms 22 being prophetic.

Here's an example of how this is done in Psalm 22 from a critical scholar’s perspective, though few are honest enough to share these.

1.     Assumptions

a.      If there is a god, it would work outside of our experience, but God as described by the Bible as commonly interpreted does not exist.

b.     Since God does not exist, we must apply logic to make it a suitable document for learning.

c.      Logic dictates that if there is no God/god, then there are no miracles. If there are no miracles, there cannot be prophecy that foretells the future. Thus, any appearance of prophecy must be explained logically – meaning within the bounds of human understanding.

d.     Given the impossibility of prophecy and the possibility of outside sources altering what we read, we must view the text as a primitive, Iron Age tribal chieftain would have viewed it.

2.     Analysis

a.      Any interpretations that suggest a supernatural source or miraculous results point to the need for humans to be comforted in time of trials.

              i.     David may have existed, and if so, could have suffered great strain.

              ii.     He may have used his own creativity or borrowed from others’ work (now lost) to develop the statements found here. Further, these have been added to by others at times unknown

1.     Those modifying the text may have been those who took creative license for their own gain.

2.     Those modifying the text may have been later Christians desperate to make the Old Testament match their worldview.

b.     David would likely have written a very different text that focused more on his immediate circumstances without any effort to have more far-reaching meaning. Anything beyond this must be treated as improperly translated or altered later by others. Thus, this text can only provide tangential benefit to modern humans looking for comfort, but they cannot provide evidence of a god at work in orchestrating the affairs of humans.

NOTICE ANY PROBLEMS?

Cultural interpretation is related to understanding the context. To understand the context, we consider history, culture, geography, political, language, and other factors. However, it’s a tool that must be used carefully without imposing our own biases and culture upon the passage. To do that, we need to understand our own worldview before we start carelessly applying it to those thousands of years before us.

ASSIGNMENT #2 – What About Critics?

It may seem odd that there are theologians dedicated to dismissing the Bible as the word of God. Yet, that’s the reality of our world. Some believe they’re demythologizing scripture to get the inherent truth. Some literally hate Christ, Christians, and Christianity. Regardless, they’re many ways used to undercut reliance in scripture. Some of them are legitimate tools used incorrectly. Some are wrong from the start. Legitimate tools may include language studies, but when removed from the context of the writing it can go awry. Language analysis and other tools are often improperly used based on the assumptions one uses. For example, you’ll find many liberal scholars use a circular reasoning that works like this – Assumption: God may exist but doesn’t do miracles, because miracles violate natural laws.

Interpretation: Passage X discusses what appears to be a miracle. Miracles don’t happen. Thus, passage X is erroneous, added later, corrupted, etc. 

Here’s a common attack on the prophetic nature of Psalm 22. 

In the Bible you’re using, you have a serious, misleading mistranslation — “They pierced my hands and my feet ...” The text should read: “Like a lion (Hebrew KeAri), they are at my hands and feet.”

The fundamentalists Christian interpreters actually changed the spelling of the word from KeAri (like a lion) to Kari. If one then totally ignores Hebrew grammar, one can twist this to mean “He gouged me,” then, as in the King James Version, they make it read: “They pierced my hands and feet” (Jackson, 2020).

So, here we have a “thoughtful” liberal who’s trying to demonstrate the error of our ways. How do I know it’s a targeted attack rather than an honest question? Note the name calling – “fundamentalists Christian interpreters.” What are they doing? These people are making the Bible read a specific way that doesn’t fit. Why? Because, the language tells us so. But, does it? Reading this, one might assume Hebrew scriptures are so obviously fixed on the use of lion that there is a problem with Christian interpretation.

However, one should never take an argument at face value. Often, stated “truths” are actually opinions stated as absolute, indisputable truths. One should consider a number of factors before accepting such “truths”.  Does evidence exist to support it? Do historical, cultural, and other contextual facts support it? Do documents support the stated predominance on the use of this term and the intentional manipulation of later versions? Here’s an analytical model used this form of analysis. Notably, it was popularized by a liberal, Biblical interpreter of the 19th century – Friedrich Schleiermacher. Ironically, it’s often manipulated or rejected by modern liberals as being overly likely to support conservative exegesis.

(Diwato, 2001)

Is it true that lion can be used here? Yes. Is it true all Hebrew text use lion? No. Is there evidence of widespread manipulation by Christian scholars? No. So, where did the use “pierced” instead of “lion” become dominant? Before Jesus was born! This was the interpretation used in the most important translation of Hebrew scriptures in the ancient world – The Septuagint. This, combined with the cultural, historical, and other facts, moved Christians to use this version as the basis for later versions of the text.  

The Masoretic Hebrew text of Psalm 22:16 doesn't say pierced, it says "as a lion." Yet the Septuagint (Greek) translation of the Old Testament - long before the Christian era - renders the Hebrew text as saying pierced. While the Masoretic text shouldn't be casually disregarded, there is good reason to side with the Septuagint and almost every other translation here. "It may even suggest that the Masoretic text was deliberately pointed in the way it was by later Jewish scholars to avoid what otherwise would be a nearly inescapable prophecy of Jesus' crucifixion." (Boice) (Jackson, 2010).

Consider this related discussion from an Israeli convert from Judaism.  

Originally, this verse was written as: “Ka’aru My hands and my feet” “Ka’aru”, and not “Ka’ari”. Ka’aru in biblical Hebrew means “to make a hole” while Ka’ari means “like a lion”. The rabbis shortened the last Hebrew letter of the word, and by doing so, changed the word from “Ka’aru”=“they have pierced” to the word “ka’ari” = “like a lion”.

Originally the verse read like this: “For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.” Meaning, they made holes in my hands and my feet.

Do you understand? This entire description sounds too much like Jesus crucified on the cross, after he was rejected and tortured. This of course, didn’t suit the rabbis, so they decided, about 1,000 years ago, to change that one Hebrew letter.

Do you think we just invented all of this? In the Dead Sea Scrolls, scrolls from over 2,200 ago, that contain Psalm 22 among other scriptures, we can see that in this chapter, in verse 16, it says “Ka’aru” (they have pierced), and not “Ka’ari” (like a lion). These scrolls were written long before the time of Jesus (Bar, 2019).

FOLLOW-UP

Learning the word is good but application makes that truth real. Remember, Pharisees & demons know God’s truth but don’t apply it as God desires (James 1:22).

·         How does the truth revealed here affect my relationship with God?

·         How does the truth here affect my relationship with others?

·         How does the truth here affect me personally?

·         How does the truth here affect my response to the enemy?

·         How do I apply this truth?

·         Is there a memory verse or verses for you here?

·         Is there something to share with others? 

REFERENCES

Demeterio, F.P.A. 2001. “The Romanticist hermeneutics of Schleiermacher and Dilthey.” Diwatao (Vol 1. No. 1). Accessed at http://www.geocities.ws/philodept/diwatao/romaticist_hermeneutics.html.

Guzik, David. 2011. “The servant of God forsaken, rescued, and triumphant.” BlueLetterBible.org. Accessed at https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/archives/guzik_david/StudyGuide_Psa/Psa_22.cfm.

Jackson, Wayne. 2020. "Does Psalm 22 prophesy the crucifixion of Christ?" ChristianCourier.com. Accessed at https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/441-does-psalm-22-prophesy-the-crucifixion-of-christ.

SOUP & SCRIPTURE

PSALM 22 (Day 2)

APPROACH YOUR BIBLE: CHRISTO-CENTRICALLY

One could practice the other nine disciplines – prayerfully, humbly, desperately, studiously, obediently, joyfully, expectantly, communally -- and not be Christian. The essential difference from studying the teachings of Aristotle, Lao Tze, Buddha, Mohammed, or Marx is Jesus the Christ, Son of Man, Son of God, Savior and Creator.

To ignore Jesus and look at the Bible as a book of moral tales would make for a study that is just as far removed from God as any of these other works.  The Bible is a unique document. It’s unique in that it is 66 books, written by at least 40 authors (most of whom never met each other) over 1,500 years. It spans the cultures of at least 10 civilizations on three continents and uses three languages. That’s remarkable. There’s nothing like this in the history of humankind. But the difference doesn’t stop here. If it did, this would be unique literature. However, there is a unifying theme – Jesus.

Consider what he told the 11 apostles after his resurrection, “He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.’ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures” (Luke 22:44-45). Even more directly to the “study groups” of the day – think Pharisees and Sadducees, he said: “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life…If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me” (John 5:39-40, 46). BTW. In case you didn’t notice, those study groups didn’t take this message well.

Consider the outline of the Bible this way:

Old Testament – anticipation

Gospels – manifestation

Acts – proclamation

Epistles – explanation

Revelation – consummation.

In all of this, Jesus is the thread that stitches it together. God the Father had the plan and the Holy Spirit works, but Jesus is the essential component of that plan and the instrument by which the work can be done. More directly for humans, Jesus is the one that could be seen, and heard, and touched before time began through the history of the world and to its end and beyond.

As Smethhurst (2019) writes, “Above all, the story is one of rescue – God becoming man to bring man back to God.  Though each of deserves separation from God forever because of sin, Jesus went to the cross in the place of sinners to pay their penalty. Jesus loves to forgive; that’s why he came. And he loves to make new; that’s why he’s coming again. Simply turn to him in trust and you can know him not as your Judge, but as your Savior and Friend.”

“In the meantime, approach the Scriptures Christocentrically – with a view to how the Bible in its entirety centers on Christ, the one in whom all the promises of God are “yes” and “Amen” (2 Cor. 1:20). If you’re looking for a collection of morality tales, check out Aesop’s Fables. Otherwise, crack open the greatest story of all time, the only story in which the central character loves us back.

“But be careful, He might just change your life” (Smethhurst, 2019, p. 76).

HERMENEUTIC LESSON #1

As a reminder of one of our early points, there are three primary benefits of the Psalms: serve as a guide to worship, “demonstrate how we can relate honestly to God”, and “demonstrate the importance of reflection and meditation on that which God has done for us” (Fee, 2014, p. 231).

ASSIGNMENT #1 – Prophetic Context

We can’t escape this life without experiencing trials. The Psalms show us that crying out to God during our trials is acceptable and appropriate. Psalm 22 is a lament psalm best known for its opening line, quoted by Jesus as He suffered on the cross (see Matt 27:46; Mark 15:34). There are several other connections between this psalm and the Gospel accounts of Christ’s death. (Compare Psa 22:7 with Matt 27:39 and Mark 15:29; Psa 22:8 with Matt 27:43; Psa 22:18 with Matt 27:35, Mark 15:24 and Luke 23:34) (Curtis, 2014).

Keep in mind the often “two-vision” nature of many Old Testament prophetic scriptures. Often, there is both an immediate reality and a future reality. We see this in places like Isaiah. One of the indicators of this condition is a situation where some of the prophecy is immediately fulfilled, but others do not/cannot be fulfilled until much later. For example, Isaiah 7:14 is a message given to King Ahaz of Judah. This prediction of God’s protection and rescue have immediate and future meanings. This was not likely evident to those involved then, but when considering the book, as a whole, it becomes evident.

That’s what we see here in Psalm 22. Undoubtedly, these words make sense to David in his current context when He wrote. This contrasts with passages like Micah 5:2 (Micah lived in the same period as Isaiah) that predicts Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah, which could only be fulfilled in the future. 

ASSIGNMENT #2 – Prophetic Fulfillment

With this in mind, let’s look at the specific, prophetic fulfillment of these passages as seen in the life of Christ.

Psalm 22:1 -- Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34

Psalm 22:7-- à Luke 23:35; Matt. 27:39-43; Mark 15:29-42; [mocked] Matt. 27:31; Mark 15:20 --Luke  22:63, 23:36

Psalm 22:14-- General description but not specific terms

Psalm 22:15 -- John 19:28

Psalm 22:16 -- Acts 2:23

Psalm 22:18 -- Mark 15:24; Matt. 27:35; Luke 22:34; John 19:24

Psalm 22:27 -- Rev. 11:15

Psalm 22:14, 29 -- Problem?

ASSIGNMENT #3 – Christian Only?

Psalms 22 is one of several psalms, like Psalms 2, that have been identified as being prophetic from the beginning. Though you see Jesus theologians try to dismiss Psalm 22 as being “too Christian” after the coming of Jesus, it had been held as a prophetic psalm, long before Jesus was born. However, it wasn’t just before. Many rabbis continued to hold Psalm 22 as a prophetic psalm after the coming of Jesus.

As a Rabbi Rashi writes about Psalm 22 in the Midrash (ancient Jewish commentary – first oral then written in 2nd century AD): “‘Lema sabachthani?’ They are destined to go into exile, and David recited this prayer for the future.” He says that about verse 2 and he also attributes verse 27 to “the time of our redemption in the days of our Messiah.”

The famous Midrash from the eighth-century, Pesikta Rabbati, places some of the words of Psalm 22 on the lips of the suffering Messiah. In fact, the Midrash explicitly states that: “it was because of the ordeal of the son of David, that David wept, saying: “My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.” (Ps. 22:16)" (Bar, 2020).

FOLLOWUP

Learning the word is good but application makes that truth real. Remember, Pharisees & demons know God’s truth but don’t apply it as God desires (James 1:22).

·         How does the truth revealed here affect my relationship with God?

·         How does the truth here affect my relationship with others?

·         How does the truth here affect me personally?

·         How does the truth here affect my response to the enemy, Satan?

·         How do I apply this truth?

·         Is there a memory verse or verses for you here?

·         Is there something to share with others? 

REFERENCES

Bar, Eitan. 2020. “Psalm 22: A prophecy about Jesus’ Crucifixion.” Answering rabbi’s objections to Jesus. Accessed at https://www.oneforisrael.org/bible-based-teaching-from-israel/psalm-22-a-prophecy-about-jesus-crucifixion/.

Curtis, Miles. 2014. Selections from Psalms: A life of worship. Lexham Press, Bellingham, Wa. (Available in Logos function in Faithlife.com. Go to the Winchester Community Church group. If you haven’t already been invited and joined, please request access.)

Fee, Gordon & Douglas Stuart (2014). How to read the Bible for all its worth (4th ed.). Zondervan Academic

Smethhurst, Matt. 2019. Before you open your Bible: Nine heart postures for approaching God’s word. 10 Publishing.

SOUP & SCRIPTURE

PSALM 22 (Day 1)

APPROACH YOUR BIBLE: COMMUNALLY

As Americans, we tend to see everything through the lens of ‘me’. However, we’re called together as believers to encourage, love, and teach each other. As individuals, God gives us different gifts, but these gifts are all to benefit the church – the body of believers: Big C (the worldwide church) and Little C (our individual, local church). This relates to Bible study too.

As Smethhurst (2019) writes, “I wish someone had gently pointed me to the Bible I loved and shown me the breathtaking vision it casts for Christian life – and how stunted mine was by comparison…Christianity is not a solo sport, thankfully it is a community project, a team effort” (pp. 61-62). When others are involved in study with us, we’re less likely to impose our own preferences and misunderstandings on scripture. When we’re studying with others, we can also learn from their hard-earned wisdom and experience as well as their pastoral and/or academic learning.

We should look to study different, relevant issues and passages in our families, with partners, in small groups, and in larger church settings. Conferences, schools, and other settings may also give us some unique opportunities to delve deep into specific topics.

Don’t go it alone!

ASSIGNMENT #1 – LET’S REVIEW (5Ws & the H)

·         Who is the human author? The audience?

·         What is the topic and main point? What happened? What do other versions say?

·         When was text written?

·         Where were the author, audience, others located? Where does the book fit in Bible’s scope?

·         Why was the text written? Focused on key issues noted above?

·         How delivered? Received? Something to be done? Should you respond?

ASSIGNMENT #2 – Original Context

In its original context, Psalm 22 expressed the extreme anguish and suffering of the psalmist. Through all the physical suffering he describes (see Psa 22:14–18), he is most troubled by his feeling that God is absent. God has helped people in the past (Psa 22:4–5), and the psalmist has been faithful from birth (Psa 22:9–10), but God is not answering his cries (Psa 22:2, 7–8).

Have you experienced a time in your life when you felt like God was absent or not answering you? Looking back on the situation, can you see God’s presence (Custis, 2014, p. 41)?

ASSIGNMENT #3 – Prophetic Context

We can’t escape this life without experiencing trials. The Psalms show us that crying out to God during our trials is acceptable and appropriate. Psalm 22 is a lament psalm best known for its opening line, quoted by Jesus as He suffered on the cross (see Matt 27:46; Mark 15:34). There are several other connections between this psalm and the Gospel accounts of Christ’s death. (Compare Psa 22:7 with Matt 27:39 and Mark 15:29; Psa 22:8 with Matt 27:43; Psa 22:18 with Matt 27:35, Mark 15:24 and Luke 23:34) (Miles, 2014).

Keep in mind the often “two-vision” nature of many Old Testament prophetic scriptures. Often, there is both an immediate reality and a future reality. We see this in places like Isaiah. One of the indicators of this condition is a situation where some of the prophecy is immediately fulfilled, but others do not/cannot be fulfilled until much later. For example, Isaiah 7:14 is a message given to King Ahaz of Judah. This prediction of God’s protection and rescue have immediate and future meanings. This was not likely evident to those involved then, but when considering the book as a whole it becomes evident.

That’s what we see here in Psalm 22. Undoubtedly, these words make sense to David in his current context when He wrote. This contrasts with passages like Micah 5:2 (Micah lived in the same period as Isaiah) that predicts Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah, which could only be fulfilled in the future. 

·        What are the then current and the coming future elements of key elements of this passage?

·        What do these connections teach us about how God’s plan of salvation is presented throughout Scripture?

·        How does Psalm 22 help you understand Christ’s suffering on the cross?

·        How does reflecting on Christ’s suffering encourage you in your trials (Custis, 2014, p. 41)?

FOLLOWUP

Learning the word is good but application makes that truth real. Remember, Pharisees & demons know God’s truth but don’t apply it as God desires (James 1:22).

·         How does the truth revealed here affect my relationship with God?

·         How does the truth here affect my relationship with others?

·         How does the truth here affect me personally?

·         How does the truth here affect my response to the enemy, Satan?

·         How do I apply this truth?

·         Is there a memory verse or verses for you here?

·         Is there something to share with others? 

REFERENCES

Curtis, Miles. 2014. Selections from Psalms: A life

of worship. Lexham Press, Bellingham, Wa. (Available in Logos function in

Faithlife.com. Go to the Winchester Community Church group. If you

haven’t already been invited and joined, please request access.)

Smethhurst, Matt. 2019. Before you open your Bible: Nine heart postures for approaching God’s word. 10 Publishing.

APPROACH YOUR BIBLE: STUDIOUSLY

How Do you consider yourself a theologian? Most don’t, but they are anyway. We all hold to a theology. Though most are incomplete, incorrect, or often incoherent. We must studying the Bible and study it well to develop a complete, correct, and coherent theology. Consider Ps. 111:2 – “Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.” There is work, but there is relationship and the joy that it brings. 

First and foremost, we should study out of love. Too many study out of duty, and that’s fine for a start; however, too often this leads to feelings of guilt that make it even harder to study. Besides, consider the greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:36-37). Consider the Bereans – they were loving God with their minds by comparing Paul’s words with God’s words (Acts 17:11). We should also study to worship (Rom. 11:33-36). To worship God well, we must know Him well (Smethhurst, 2019).

ASSIGNMENT #1 – LET’S REVIEW (5Ws & the H)

• Who is the human author? The audience?
•  What is the topic and main point? What happened? What do other versions say?
• When was text written?
•  Where were the author, audience, others located? Where does the book fit in Bible’s scope?
•  Why was the text written? Focused on key issues noted above?
•  How delivered? Received? Something to be done? Should you respond?

ASSIGNMENT #2 – Your Why

How you feel about a passage is seldom a valuable issue. Remember, the point above about being humble. That’s not so true in the wisdom/poetry books. There is merit in our feelings here, because these works help to connect us to God. This gives comfort, and we can learn from others who have gone through trials. The Psalms are emotional. They are largely God’s please to God. The Psalms push us to think about God and our relationship with God. Psalm 23 is specifically a “Psalm of Trust”. It emphasizes the trust we can place in God. 

What resonates with you in the language of Psalm 23?

In what experiences has God use Psalm 23 in your life?

ASSIGNMENT #3 – Metaphors & Similes (exegesis tool)

Similes say some is ‘like’ or ‘as’ something else. Metaphors do not. 

• Psalm 1:1 -- “who walks not in the counsel o the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers…”
• Psalm 1:3 -- “the godly man is like a tree planted by streams of water.”
• Psalm 1:5 -- “the ungodly man is like chaff.”
• Psalm 91:4 – “He shall cover thee with his feathers, & under his wins shalt though trust.”
• Psalm 82?

Do you see metaphors in Psalm 23? Similes?

FOLLOWUP. Learning the word is good but application makes that truth real. Remember, Pharisees & demons know God’s truth but don’t apply it as God desires (James 1:22).

• How does the truth revealed here affect my relationship with God?
• How does the truth here affect my relationship with others?
• How does the truth here affect me personally?
• How does the truth here affect my response to the enemy, Satan?
•  How do I apply this truth?
• Is there a memory verse or verses for you here?
• Is there something to share with others?

REFERENCES

Smethhurst, Matt. 2019. Before you open your Bible: Nine heart postures for approaching God’s word. 10 Publishing.

Welcome back for round two of Psalm 23! It’s one of the greatest “comfort” chapters in much of the world. It’s so popular that many non-Christians also recite it. In fact, some even memorize it.

APPROACH YOUR BIBLE: REVIEW

1. PRAYFERUL

Incline my heart to [your truths]. (Psalm 119:36)  -- We need God’s help  to focus on God versus self.

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things [from your word]. (Psalms 119:18)

Unite my heart to fear your name. (Psalm 86:11) – God focuses our scattered thoughts on Him.

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love. (Psalm 90:14) – God helps us be satisfied in Him.

2. HUMBLY

 “Any authentic knowledge of God hinges on His generous self-disclosure to us. Only through His words can we discover who He is, what He’s like, and what He’s after, and how we can know Him. This ought to humble us deeply. The Bible you possess is evidence that God loves you and wants a relationship with you. No matter who you are or how many times you’ve spurned his love, He is still moving toward you, still talking to you – still befriending you through [His] book” (Smethhurst,2019).

3. DESPERATELY

·        Do I approach the Bible more like it’s a snack or a feast?

·        Do I go to the Bible willing to hear from God or desperate to hear from Him?

·        Am I just interested in the Bible, or am I keen to internalize them?  (Smethhurst, 2019).

ASSIGNMENT #1 – LET’S REVIEW (5Ws & the H)

• Who is the human author? The audience?
•  What is the topic and main point? What happened? What do other versions say?
•  When was text written?
•  Where were the author, audience, others located? Where does the book fit in Bible’s scope?
•  Why was the text written? Focused on key issues noted above?
•  How delivered? Received? Something to be done? Should you respond?

ASSIGNMENT #2 – Your Why

How you feel about a passage is seldom a valuable issue. Remember, the point above about being humble. That’s not so true in the wisdom/poetry books.

There is merit in our feelings here, because these works help to connect us to God. This gives comfort, and we can learn from others who have gone through trials. The Psalms are emotional. They are largely God’s please to God. The Psalms push us to think about God and our relationship with God. Psalm 23 is specifically a “Psalm of Trust”. It emphasizes the trust we can place in God. 

What resonates with you in the language of Psalm 23?

In what experiences has God use Psalm 23 in your life?

ASSIGNMENT #3 – Metaphors & Similes (exegesis tool)

Similes say something is ‘like’ or ‘as’ something else. Metaphors do not. 

• Psalm 1:1 -- “who walks not in the counsel o the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers…”
• Psalm 1:3 -- “the godly man is like a tree planted by streams of water.”
• Psalm 1:5 -- “the ungodly man is like chaff.”
• Psalm 91:4 – “He shall cover thee with his feathers, & under his wins shalt though trust.”

Do you see metaphors in Psalm 23? Similes? 

FOLLOWUP. Learning the word is good but application makes that truth real. Remember, Pharisees & demons know God’s truth but don’t apply it as God desires (James 1:22).

• How does the truth revealed here affect my relationship with God?
•  How does the truth here affect my relationship with others?
•  How does the truth here affect me personally?
• How does the truth here affect my response to the enemy, Satan?
•  How do I apply this truth?
• Is there a memory verse or verses for you here?
• Is there something to share with others?

REFERENCES

Smethhurst, Matt. 2019. Before you open your Bible: Nine heart postures for approaching God’s word. 10 Publishing.

Valcourt, Stephen. 2016, Oct. 13. “Which Bible translation should I read?” In Abundant Springs. Accessed Jan. 29, 2020 from https://abundantsprings.church/blog/2016/10/13/which-bible-translation-should-i-read.

Welcome to Psalm 23!

It’s one of the greatest “comfort” chapters in much of the world. It’s so popular that many non-Christians also recite it. In fact, some even memorize it.

APPROACH YOUR BIBLE: DESPERATELY

As discussed, the Psalms are a place of refuge for believers. 

Many who come here are desperate and looking for comfort. Yet, we should have some sense of “desperation” whenever we come to scripture, because we are not complete nor capable of meeting our own needs. God is!

The Bible is our “owner’s manual” from God. It explains

key systems and relationships. It’s not an accessory. Rather it fills many of our needs for information, guidance, etc. It also provides “survival food” for saints who are aliens in a strange and. Unfortunately, we too often seek spiritual junk food. It’s easy. It’s heap, and it’s filling (for a while). 

However, God’s word provides what we most need here and in eternity. So, hat are you going to feed on – Cheetos or the world’s best steak?

Consider these three diagnostic questions to evaluate your own tendencies.

• Do I approach the Bible more like it’s a snack or a feast?

• Do I go to the Bible willing to hear from God or desperate to hear from Him?

• Am I just interested in the Bible, or am I keen to internalize its truths (Smethhurst, 2019)?

WHAT IS YOUR BIBLE VERSION DOING FOR YOU?

Knowing the nature of your version of the Bible can

help you better understand the material you’re reading and how close it is to the original. This includes knowing the difference between actual translations and paraphrases.

1. Formal Equivalence or Literal (word-for-word).

This form of translation takes a word-for-word approach—that is, for each Hebrew or Greek word in the biblical text, the translators have sought an equivalent English word that will communicate the same idea.

This is sometimes called a “literal” translation, but the only true “literal” translations are those in the original language (Hebrew & Greek). You can find both in an English interlinear, which is virtually unreadable due to word order and syntax.

Popular examples of word-for-word translations are the King James Version (KJV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), and the English Standard Version (ESV).

2. Dynamic Equivalence (idea-for-idea).

This category seeks to take a middle road between a word-for-word translation and a thought-for-thought approach. For example, where the biblical text may name a specific cost (100 denarii), this category might say “four months of a worker’s wages” to make the cost more understandable for the reader. The most common dynamic equivalence bible is the New International Version (NIV). 

3. Paraphrases.

A paraphrase is a very free rendering of the biblical

text in thought-for-thought approach. In other words, the paraphrase is more concerned with expressing the ideas of the text than the actual words. Two popular versions are The Living Bible, The New Living Translation, and The Message.

Paraphrases may come from the original language or from the text of a modern language translation

(adapted from Valcourt, 2016).

Warning! The further a translation or paraphrase is from the original language the more errors may be introduced. Also, versions will carry the biases of the translators/paraphrasers as well as being influenced by the nature of the documents used. For example, the KJV used far later biblical texts (the oldest being 4th

Century AD). Therefore. later versions removed or changed some passages, because (in part) they used more accurate, earlier texts. Thus, good translations removed material added in later texts not found in the earlier manuscripts. 

However, the philosophy of some translators can twist original meanings. For more information on translation, translation theory, and the practical aspects of interpreting biblical literature, I recommend The word of God in English: Criteria for excellence in Bible translation by Leland Ryken. It’s perhaps the best, most readable book I’ve seen in this field.

ASSIGNMENT

– YOU DO THE ANALYSIS (5Ws & the H)

• Who is the human author? The audience?
• What is the topic and main point?
• What happened? What do other versions say?
• When was text written?
• Where were the author, the audience, others

located? Where does book fit in the scope of the Bible?

• Why was the text written? Focused on key issues noted above?
• How delivered? Received? Something to be done? Should you respond?

FOLLOWUP

Learning the word is good but application makes that truth real. Remember, Pharisees & demons know God’s truth but don’t apply it as God desires (James 1:22 – Be you doers of the word vs. James 2:9).

• How does the truth revealed here affect my relationship with God?
• How does the truth here affect my relationship with others?         
• How does the truth here affect me personally?
• How does the truth here affect my response to the enemy, Satan?       
• How do I apply this truth?
• Is there a memory verse or verses for you here?
• Is there something to share with others?

REFERENCES

Smethhurst, Matt. 2019. Before you open

your Bible: Nine heart postures for approaching God’s word. 10 Publishing.

Valcourt, Stephen. 2016, Oct. 13. “Which

Bible translation should I read?” In Abundant Springs. Accessed Jan. 29, 2020 from https://abundantsprings.church/blog/2016/10/13/which-bible-translation-should-i-read.

Welcome back for Psalm 1 and the “beginning of knowledge”.

REVIEW

The Prayerful “IOUS”

·        Incline my heart to God’s word (Psalm 119:36).

·        Open my eyes to behold the wonder of God’s word (Psalms 119:18).

·        Unite my heart to keep me from being distracted from your word (Psalm 86:11).

·        Satisfy us with your steadfast love (Psalm 86:11).

Analysis (5Ws & The H): who, what, when, why, where, how

The Psalms provide many things, but they are primarily worship music for the temple. Like good hymns, they tell us of God’s nature, God’s promises, key tenets of theology, historical highlights, and human nature. They are especially known for providing comfort in times of despair and adversity. 

SPIRITUAL

Approach Your Bible Humbly

When was the last time the Bible astonished you?

Maybe you give your Bible distant reference and have a “I’ll get around to it attitude”?

The existence of the Bible – God’s Word – tells us many amazing things to include His nature.

·        God exists.

·        God wants to connect with us and explain His plan.

·        God is talkative.

·        This goes beyond what is required, because we are both creatures and traitors (sinners).

“Any authentic knowledge of God hinges on His generous self-disclosure to us. Only through His words can we discover who He is, what He’s like, and what He’s after, and how we can know Him. This ought to humble us deeply.

The Bible you possess is evidence that God loves you and wants a relationship with you. No matter who you are or how many times you’ve spurned his love, He is still moving toward you, still talking to you – still befriending you through [His] book” (Smethhurst, 2019).

ANALYTICAL

It’s important to know what type of literature you’re reading in the Bible. The different types by book are shown below. The genre in which you’re reading affects interpretation of the material being read.

Accurate interpretation requires one to consider the purpose and style of a given book or passage. In addition, some verses are meant figuratively, and proper discernment of these is enhanced by an understanding of genre. An inability to identify genre can lead to serious misunderstanding of Scripture.

The summary below shows the differences between each genre and how each should be interpreted:

Law: The purpose of law is to express God’s sovereign will concerning government, priestly duties, social responsibilities, etc. Knowledge of Hebrew manners and customs of the time, as well as a knowledge of the covenants, will complement a reading of this material.

“Most Christians have a distorted view of the law and think it does not apply to us. Jesus repeated and affirmed the Ten Commandments and the Law of Moses. The law points to our depravity and need for a Savior. Without the law, there would be no relationship to God or need for Christ to save us. Christ fulfills the law and thus we are not bound to its curse, but we must acknowledge its role in our lives as the pointer to the Cross and the mirror to our soul” (Krejcir, 2009).

History: Stories and epics from the Bible are included in this genre. Almost every book in the Bible contains some history, but some are primarily history texts. Knowledge of secular history is crucial, as it dovetails perfectly with biblical history and makes interpretation much more robust.

Wisdom: This is the genre teaches the meaning of life and how to live. It also warns us of our evil nature and desires. Some of the language used in wisdom literature is metaphorical and poetic, and this should be taken into account during analysis.

Poetry: These use rhythmic prose, parallelism, and metaphor. Because poetry does not translate easily, we lose some of the musical “flow” in English. Nevertheless, we find a similar use of idiom, comparison and refrain in this genre as we find in modern music. Language is more figurative than specific, realistic.

Narrative: The primary books in this genre are the Gospels, though some include OT books Ruth, Esther, and Jonah too. A reader may find bits of other genres within the Gospels, such as parable (Luke 8:1-15) and discourse (Matthew 24), these books primarily tell the story of a person or persons.

Epistles: An epistle is a letter, usually in a formal style. There are 21 letters in the New Testament from the apostles to various churches or individuals. These letters have a style very similar to modern letters, with an opening, a greeting, a body, and a closing. Epistles clarify prior teaching, rebuke, explanation, correction of false teaching and a deeper dive into the teachings of Jesus. “Most challenge the congregation to wake up out of their selfish ways and to concentrate on Christ in specific ways and clarifications” (Krejir, 2009). Readers should understand the cultural, historical and social situation of the original recipients in order to get the most out of an analysis of these books.

Prophecy and Apocalyptic Literature: Prophetic writings include predictions of future events, warnings of coming judgment, and an overview of God’s plan for Israel. Apocalyptic literature is a specific form of prophecy, largely involving symbols and imagery and predicting disaster and destruction.

The Prophetic and Apocalyptic books are often subjected to faulty eisegesis and personal interpretation based on emotion or preconceived bias. However, Amos 3:7 tells us, “Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” Therefore, we know that the truth has been told, and it can be known via careful exegesis, a familiarity with the rest of the Bible, and prayerful consideration. Some things will not be made clear to us except in the fullness of time, so it is best not to assume to know everything when it comes to prophetic literature.

Understanding the genres is vital for the Bible student. If the wrong genre is assumed for a passage, it can easily be misunderstood or misconstrued, leading to an incomplete and fallacious understanding of what God desires to communicate. God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), and He wants us to “correctly [handle] the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Also, God wants us to know His plan for the world and for us as individuals. How fulfilling it is to come to “grasp how wide and long and high and deep” (Ephesians 3:18) is the love of God for us! (Lightly adapted from Gotquestions.org),

Hermeneutical Rule #1 – It’s that author; not you.

“Interpretation must be based on the author’s intention of meaning and not the reader. This means we must get into the author’s context, historically, grammatically, culturally and the literary forms and conventions the author was working in” (Davis, 2013).  

APPLICATION

·        How does the truth revealed here affect my relationship with God, my relationship with others, me, and/or my response to the enemy, Satan?

·        Is there a memory verse or verses for you here?

·        Is there something to share with others?

REFERENCES

Davis, James. 2013, Nov. 6. “Lesson 6: Principles of Biblical interpretation.” Retrieved Jan 30, 2020 from https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-6-principles-biblical-interpretation.

Deffinbaugh, Bob. 2019.” The significance of the Psalms.” Bible.org. Retrieved Jan. 21, 2020 from https://bible.org/seriespage/1-significance-psalms

Got.questions.org. 2020, Jan. 02.  “How should the different genres of the Bible impact how we interpret the Bible? Retrieved Jan. 30, 2020 from https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-genres.html.

Krejir, Richard. (2009). “What are the types of literature in genres in the Bible?” Retrieved Jan. 30, 2020 from http://starwire.com/CC/article/0,,PTID34418_CHID784254_CIID2285932,00.html.

Smethhurst, Matt. 2019. Before you open your Bible: Nine heart postures for approaching God’s word. 10 Publishing.

Welcome to Psalm 1 and the “beginning of knowledge.” This is the first Soup & Scripture session. 

The following are highlights for our work today.

PRAYFERUL: “IOUS”

Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain. (Psalm 119:36, ESV)

“Every day I need to be peeled away from my pathetic preoccupation with self. Thankfully, God loves to

de-magnetize our hearts from what is worthless and re-magnetize them toward what is priceless” (Smethhurst, 2019).

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. (Psalms 119:18, ESV)

“What has captured your imagination? … When you open your Bible, don’t expect to be put under some

mystical spell. Speak directly with the Author. Ask God to unblind you to the beauty staring you in the face” (Smethhurst, 2019).

“Texts will often refuse to reveal their treasures until you open them with the keys of prayer.” Charles Spurgeon

Unite my heart to fear your name. (Psalm 86:11, ESV)

Our hearts and minds are often terribly fragmented.

“We must pray for a united heart, lest it drift

toward being divided, distracted, and distant from the words of the living God” (Smethhurst, 2019).

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love. (Psalm 90:14, ESV)

“We’re not only distracted…We’re dissatisfied in God” (Smethhurst, 2019).

ANALYSIS -- 5Ws & the H

Who: Unknown

-- Last of all, perhaps, the collection was prefaced by Psalm 1, which has no title or author’s name, unlike most of the psalms in the first division (Book I) of the Psalms.

What: Poetry/Wisdom book. Introduction to entire book (actually three in the original). Written mostly in Hebrew.

“Psalms are poetic compositions, usually presented in

a tightly woven, balanced structure (e.g., where the petitions echo the respective laments, the dovetailing of imagery, and poetic devices such as refrains and word plays). Psalms are different from the spontaneous prose prayers that are often contained in OT narrative, where they respond to particular circumstances” (Deffinbaugh, 2019).

When: Predates

3rd century BC, because Jews then could no longer understand music instructions.

Where: Most

or all were likely written in Israel.

Why: The Psalms provide many things, but they are primarily worship music for the temple. Like good hymns, they tell us of God’s nature, God’s promises, key tenets of theology, historical highlights,

and human nature.

One thing the Psalms are especially known for is

providing comfort in times of despair and adversity. They speak “out of the depths” (Psalm 130) of human experience and God’s love to offer comfort and consolation as we praise God in the worst of times. 

FOLLOWUP 

Ask yourself some questions…

• How does the truth revealed here affect my relationship with God?    
• How does this truth affect my relationship with others?
• How does this truth affect me?
• How does this truth affect my response to the enemy, Satan?
• Is there a memory verse or verses for you here?
• Is there something to share with others?

REFERENCES

Broyles, Craig. 1999. Psalms in the Understanding the Bible Commentary series. Baker Books.

Deffinbaugh, Bob. 2019.” The significance of the Psalms.” Bible.org. Retrieved Jan. 21, 2019 from https://bible.org/seriespage/1-significance-psalms

Oneplace.org. 2015, Mar. 5. “How to study the

Bible – 3 simple steps.” Retrieved Jan

19, 2019 from https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/tips/3-simple-steps-for-studying-the-bible.html.

Smethhurst, Matt. 2019. Before you open

your Bible: Nine heart postures for approaching God’s word. 10 Publishing

GOAL: Increase understanding of specific scriptures while developing spiritual disciplines and practical tools for future biblical studies in a positive, informal setting. Participants should develop greater understanding of and ability to apply essential scriptures, doctrines, study tools, and application techniques.

PRACTICE: Meet weekly on Friday starting at noon. Greet each other. Pray. Begin study. Serve food at 12:30. Eat, discuss, answer questions. We study key chapters of the Bible. Each lesson normally highlights a spiritual discipline, a study technique, and key chapter information.

COVERAGE: Essential chapter from across scripture will be covered to develop greater understanding of essential doctrines and expose participants to the many types of scripture and study tools. See attached list of chapters.

NOTE: The Bible is the only book in which the main character loves you back!

INITIAL CHAPTERS FOR STUDY

Psalm 1 – God’s Word and Wisdom

Psalm 23 – The Lord is our Shepherd

Psalm 22 -- A Prophetic Look Toward Jesus

CHAPTERS IN BIBLICAL (not presentation) ORDER

Genesis 1 -- God alone, Trinity, Creation (LAW)

Genesis 2 –Creation (LAW)

Genesis 3 – First promise of the Messiah (LAW)

Exodus 20 – 10 Commandments (LAW)

2 Samuel 7 – Davidic Covenant (HISTORY)

Job 22 & 23 – Job’s Right Understanding

Job 38 – God’s Corrective Statements (POETRY/WISDOM)

Psalm 1 – God’s Word and Wisdom (POETRY/WISDOM)

Psalm 22 – Messianic Psalm (POETRY/WISDOM)

Psalm 23 – The Lord is our shepherd (POETRY/WISDOM)

Proverbs – Selected passages (POETRY/WISDOM)

Ecclesiastes – Selected passages (POETRY/WISDOM)

Isaiah 53 – Messianic Prophecy of Jesus (PROPHECY – MAJOR)

Micah 2 – Messianic Birth (PROPHECY – MINOR)

Micah 6 – How should we walk – consistency of scripture (PROPHECY – MINOR)

Matthew 5-7 – Sermon on the Mount (GOSPEL)

Matthew 6 – “Lord’s” Prayer – Model prayer for believers (GOSPEL)

Matthew 25 – Olivet Discourse (GOSPEL)

Matthew 28 – Resurrection & Great Commission (GOSPEL)

John 1 – The Logos & Light Chapter – Incarnate Jesus (GOSPEL)

John 3 – Gospel & Grace – Nicodemus (GOSPEL)

John 17 – Jesus’ Prayer for Future Believers (GOSPEL)

John 19 – Death of Christ (GOSPEL)

Acts 2 – Beginning of the Church (HISTORY)

Romans 1 – Man’s Relationship with God (LETTERS/EPISTLES)

Romans 3 – Sin & Righteousness (LETTERS/EPISTLES)

Romans 8 – Promise of God’s Power (LETTERS/EPISTLES)

Romans 12 – Marks of a True Christian (LETTERS/EPISTLES)

1 Corinthians 15 – Gospel, Resurrection, First & Second Adam (LETTERS/EPISTLES)

Galatians 5 – Fruits (flesh & spirit) (LETTERS/EPISTLES)

Ephesians 2 – Grace (LETTERS/EPISTLES)

Philippians 2 – Christ’s Humility (LETTERS/EPISTLES)

1 Thessalonians 4 – Rapture of the Church (LETTERS/EPISTLES)

Hebrews 11 – Faith Chapter (LETTERS/EPISTLES)

1 Timothy 3 – Qualifications of an Elder (LETTERS/EPISTLES)

2 Timothy 3 – Inspiration of Scripture (LETTERS/EPISTLES)

Revelation 21-22 – New Heaven and New Earth (PROPHECY)

RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL READINGS

Fee, Gordon & Douglas Stuart (2014). How to read the Bible for all its worth (4th ed.). Zondervan Academic

Smethhurst, Matt. (2019) Before you open your Bible: Nine heart postures for approaching God’s word. 10 Publishing