Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Hebrews 8:1-9:10
Before reading Hebrews, I read the books of Exodus and Leviticus. While reading about the detailed construction of the tabernacle and the establishment of the gifts, sacrifices, and offerings, I often thought, “Why so many details about how exactly these things are to be done and constructed?”
Well, the answer is found here in Hebrews 8:5 – These things were a copy, a shadow of the heavenly ones.
I often don’t understand why God does what He does, but I can trust that He has a purpose and a plan for whatever He brings to pass.
He Maketh No Mistake by A. M. Overton
My Father’s way may twist and turn, My heart may throb and ache, But in my soul I’m glad I know, He maketh no mistake.
My cherished plans may go astray, My hopes may fade away, But still I’ll trust my Lord to lead For He doth know the way.
Though night be dark and it may seem That day will never break; I’ll pin my faith, my all in Him, He maketh no mistake.
There’s so much now I cannot see, My eyesight’s far too dim; But come what may, I’ll simply trust And leave it all to Him.
For by and by the mist will lift And plain it all He’ll make, Through all the way, though dark to me, He made not one mistake.
Heavenly Father, Help us to trust You when we don’t understand. Help us to trust You when everything seems strange and not how we would have planned. Help us to trust You when the night is long and the days are weary. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.
Hebrews 7:23-24 ESV
When my husband and I were married over 27 years ago, we had the words “Forever and Always” engraved inside our wedding rings. For our first dance at our wedding reception, we chose the song “I swear” by John Michael Montgomery because of the words of its beautiful chorus,
For better or worse Till death do us part I’ll love you with every beat of my heart I swear
“I Swear” – John Michael Montgomery
We didn’t see marriage as just a fleeting thing. We wanted our marriage to stand the test of time, and we still do. Yet, we are mortal beings. Our lives on earth are temporary. Someday our hearts will stop beating, and our time on earth will end. Even the very best marriage can never be “forever and always” – because death will someday part us.
But, Jesus. Jesus is always and forever. He is eternal. Jesus has existed from eternity past, and He will exist for eternity future. He is without beginning or end.
He continues as the Great High Priest forever, interceding for us temporal beings.
Yet, this all-sufficient, all-powerful, eternal God invites us to be His bride for all eternity.
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”– for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
Read through the Bible in 2 years: Hebrews 5:11-6:20
But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:14 ESV
I sure enjoyed the steak my husband grilled for dinner tonight, but there’s no way I would feed it to my one-year-old granddaughter. I remember when that precious little girl was first learning to suck rice cereal off a spoon. Then, she graduated to yogurt and oatmeal. Now she can eat just about anything, but steak? She’s still not ready for it, but it won’t be long if her Pop has anything to say about it.
It takes more than simply time to develop maturity. I’ve met plenty of 50-year-old men that don’t have the maturity of my 24-year-old son.
My youngest son is 15 years old. He’s 6’1″ and almost 200 lbs. Fully grown? Maybe. Fully mature? Nope, definitely not.
Though he may be ten giant leaps in front of many of his peers, he still has so much to learn. Maturity takes wisdom and learning. Maturity takes testing and trial and error.
Like this passage says, the mature have trained their powers of discernment by constant practice, distinguishing good from evil.
How are we doing, sisters?
Are we practicing discernment or are we “following our hearts”?
Are we training our children to be discerning, knowing the Lord and hiding His Word in their hearts?
Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, we want to be mature. We want to be discerning. We want to love what you love and hate what you hate. We pray for our children that they would know your word and hide it faithfully in their hearts, and we pray that we would be diligent in teaching and training them. Help us to be godly examples for the next generation, being sober-minded and making the most of every day that we are given. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.
Read through the Bible in 2 years: Hebrews 4:14-5:10
For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. … And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”
Hebrews 5:1, 4-5 ESV
I love doing little word studies, how about you?
If so, then today’s your lucky day. 😃
If not, then I hope today’s study will win you over! 😂
I often like to study the original Greek or Hebrew words, but today I decided to study the English word “appointed.” I think this word jumped out at me this morning because it’s also in my life verse, 1 Timothy 1:12-14. Paul said,
“I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”
1 Timothy 1:12-14 ESV
One easy way to research a word in the Bible is to open up the Blue Letter Bibleapp (Available for Android and Apple) or website and simply search the Bible for the word you’re interested in.
Unfortunately, if I typed in the whole word “appointed,” then I’d only get the exact word “appointed,” and I’d miss “appoint,” “appoints,” “appointing” and so on. So, instead, I typed this: “appoint*”.
The asterisk at the end means that the word can end with other letters, so the search will return words that begin with “appoint” but have different word endings, such as appoints, appointing, appointed, and appointment.
My results included 196 verses in the ESV translation, so here’s just a smattering of the results.
“And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.”” (Genesis 4:25 ESV)
“Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”” (Genesis 18:14 ESV)
“And you [Moses] shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall guard their priesthood. But if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death.”” (Numbers 3:10 ESV)
“But he [The Lord God] is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does. For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind.” (Job 23:13-14 ESV)
“Before I [The Lord God] formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5 ESV)
” And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” (Jonah 1:17 ESV)
“Now the LORD God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”” (Jonah 4:6-8 ESV)
“And he [Jesus] appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach” (Mark 3:14 ESV)
“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child [Jesus] is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed” (Luke 2:34 ESV)
“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.” (Luke 10:1 ESV)
“You did not choose me [Jesus], but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” (John 15:16 ESV)
“And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:48 ESV)
“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”” (Acts 17:30-31 ESV)
“And I [Saul-Paul] said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.'” (Acts 22:10 ESV)
“But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,” (Acts 26:16 ESV)
“Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” (Romans 13:2 ESV)
“And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12:28 ESV)
“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you–” (Titus 1:5 ESV)
From this list, I noticed that people can be appointed to a specific job or responsibility by God or another person, but only God can appoint events. For example, God can appoint a whale to swallow Jonah or a plant to grow over him, but no man can do this.
I also noticed that often it was God who was the one who appointed a person to a specific job or responsibility. For example, it was God who appointed Jeremiah to be a prophet and Paul to be His servant and witness.
In today’s passage in Hebrews, the high priest had to be appointed by men and by God. The high priest could not take this honor for himself. Likewise, even Jesus Christ Himself was appointed by His Father to be made the eternal high priest. Even He did not exalt Himself. Even Jesus was submissive and humble before God the Father.
Think of all the things we are trying to take for ourselves and make for ourselves. We want to be our own boss. We want to “make things happen.” We want to be the “master of my fate” and “captain of my soul” like William Ernest Henley’s poem, “Invictus” says.
Instead, I pray that we would just be thankful for Jehovah God, the ruler over our lives, the One who controls our fates and pilots our ships. I am so incredibly grateful that I am not the captain of my own soul for I know that I would lead myself astray like the foolish sheep that I am. How about you?
Let’s pray.
Oh, Heavenly Father, thank You for the comfort it is to know that You are on Your throne. When things in our world and in our lives seem out of control, You are still very much in control. Your Word says that it has been appointed for man to die once and after that comes judgment. I pray that You would draw each person reading these words into Your kingdom. Open their eyes, Lord, and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ. It is in the name of Jesus that we can pray boldly and with confidence. Amen. (Scripture references: Hebrews 9:27, Acts 26:18)
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:12-13 ESV
At my physical this year my doctor told me that it was time for me to get my first colonoscopy. Friends, I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t want to be on a liquid diet and tethered to the toilet for 24 hours. I didn’t want to be put under anesthesia and have my bottom examined by strangers. But, it was the right thing to do, so that what was hidden inside me could be exposed and inspected, and whatever stuff needed to be removed could be uncovered.
So, I did it, even though I didn’t want to. And now, looking back, I’m glad I did. Even though it was painful, it was for my good, and not for my harm
Sisters, do you believe that the Bible you are holding in your hands is the very Word of God, that the God who spoke the world into existence and who holds your life and eternity in His Almighty hands is the very God who breathed out the words of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus, and Matthew, John, and Hebrews? Do you believe that God’s written Word is as powerful as His spoken Word?
If you do indeed believe that, then take a moment to ponder how that should affect your life.
If God’s spoken word can cause seas and lands to appear, and birds to fly across the sky, then we should trust that God’s written word can cause the dead to be born again. If God’s spoken word can cause soldiers to fall to the ground (John 18:6), then we should trust that God’s written word can convict even the hardest heart and bring them to repentance. If God’s spoken word can change the world, then we should trust that God’s written word can change your heart and life.
Sometimes we’re afraid to go to the doctor because we don’t want to hear the bad news.
Sometimes we refuse to be put under the knife, because we know it’s going to hurt afterwards.
Oh, but friends, just like I’d tell you to go to the dermatologist for that suspicious spot on your nose, I’m telling you to get your nose into the Word. You need it. I need it. We need the double-edged sword of the Word.
Like a scalpel in the hands of an expert surgeon, God’s Word can root out the cancerous diseases of pride and selfishness and sin. God’s Word has pierced my heart time after time. Each time it hurts, but each time it’s good.
Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for giving us Your Word. It is indeed living and active. It is life-giving and powerful. It reveals truth to me and it pierces my soul. I pray for my sisters who are afraid, who don’t want to read it, who know that they need heart surgery, but are running away in fear. Please remind them of Your goodness and mercy, that You are the perfect physician and judge who wants for their good and not for their harm. Help us to hunger for You and to find You in Your written Word. May we not perish for lack of knowledge while Your Word sits unopened on the shelf. In the name of Jesus, the Living Word we pray, Amen.
Dear sisters, Hebrews 3:13 tells us to exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of us would be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. This English word “exhort” is the Greek word “parakaleo,” a verb that literally means to call near or to call to one’s side.
I love this idea of exhortation literally meaning to call near or to call to one’s side. Exhortation is not standing behind you, pushing you forward, commanding you to get going. Rather, exhortation is calling you up to walk with me.
“Come on, sister. Come on, daughter. Come with me. Walk this journey with me. Hold my hand. Let’s walk together. God is with us. He will give us the strength that we need. Jesus has walked this road before and given us an example. We can persevere by His grace and His Spirit at work in us.”
This is your call to persevere.
Sisters, it is easy to drift downstream, but it takes effort to fight against the current. If we want to go upstream, we have to put our paddles in the water and do the work.
But we are not called to row alone. Let’s get in the boat together. When we both put our hands to the oars and pull together side by side, we can go farther and accomplish more than we ever could on our own.
Who in your life needs some encouragement?
Who can you parakaleo – call to your side – today?
In what area of your life is God calling you to persevere?
Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the gift of encouragement we have in Your Holy Spirit. He is our paraclete, our helper and advocate. We are not alone. You are always with us. I pray for each of my sisters who are feeling lonely, who feel like they are rowing all by themselves in the middle of a vast ocean. Lord, help them to remember that You are with them and that there is a vast army of believers surrounding them, rowing alongside them. Please place that lonesome sister into a body of believers who can parakaleo her, who can row with her and encourage her to keep going until the final finish line, until the moment she hears Your voice saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” In the name of Jesus Christ, our advocate, we pray. Amen.
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, [Jesus] himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
Hebrews 2:14-15 ESV
Growing up without God shaped how I saw life. I didn’t believe in any kind of higher power who was working behind the scenes. It was all up to me. I determined my own “destiny” so I better work hard and be good if I wanted to get ahead in love.
Not believing in God, also shaped how I saw death. My life was overshadowed by my fear of death. My last day on earth would be my last day. There was no afterlife, so I better be careful how I lived.
When I became a follower of Jesus Christ in April of 1994, my views of life and death began to change. I came to believe that God ruled over my life … and my death … and my life after death.
In the last week, two members of our local congregation passed away. One beginning his ninth decade of life and one beginning his second. I am so thankful for the hope of life on earth with Christ and the hope of eternal life in Heaven with Him as well. Do you have that hope or are you still in slavery to fear of death?
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the hope and peace that are mine because Jesus died in my place. I know that Jesus conquered death, and so will I. You are my hope in life and in death. Praise Your Name.
Christ our Hope in Life and Death by Keith and Kristyn Getty
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”
Hebrews 1:10-12 ESV
Heavenly Father, What a comfort it is to know that You are the unchanging God! Even things that seem unchanging – the sandy coastline, the rocky mountains, the sun, moon and stars – even these things change and wear out. But You, oh God, You remain the same. You never have to get better because You are already completely perfect. You will never wear out or grow old or get weary. I’m looking forward to eternity with You. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Teach What is Good 
You must be logged in to post a comment.