2015DBRP_021 Gen36 Job21 Mrk13

Jacob's daughter Dinah was raped, and the perpetrator Shechem was killed and all the males in his town. God then told Jacob to return to Bethel. Rachel and Grampa Isaak die.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/gen.36.nlt

We turn to Job 21. In Zophar's speech yesterday in chapter 20, he did not directly imply the Job was wicked, but he clearly implied it.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/job.21

We turn to Mark 13. Chapter 12 basically marks the end of Jesus' public ministry as related by Mark.

Translation notes:

8 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But [these things are only like//this is only] the first of the birth pains [of a pregnant woman— meaning, more is to come//with more to come].

14 “The day is coming when you will see [the one who sets

up a//the] sacrilegious object that causes

desecration standing where hef should not be.” ([The one reading out loud to others should explain this!//Reader, pay attention!]) “Then those in Judea must flee to the hills.

26 Then everyone will see [me coming as the Son of Man coming//the Son of Man coming] on the clouds with great power and glory.

27 And [I/he] will send out [my/his] angels to gather [my/his] chosen ones from all over the world— from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.

(Verses 29, 32, 34, and 35 are changed similarly to 26-27.)

As explained before, in many languages of the world (including English) a man never speaks of himself as ‘he’. I man will use ‘I’ or ‘me’ to talk about himself. Since Jesus is talking with his disciples, he was not concealing his identity here with the term ‘Son of Man’.

31 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never [loose their force//disappear].

36 Don’t let [me/him] find you sleeping when [I arrive//he arrives] without warning. 37 I say to you what I say and to everyone: [Keep watching for me!//Watch for him!]”

 

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/mrk.13

Check out this episode!

2015DBRP_020 Gen34-35 Job20 Mrk12b

Yesterday we heard about Jacob wrestling all night with a mysterious heavenly figure, and about Jacob's reunion with

Esau.

Translation notes:

17 But if you don’t agree to be circumcised, we will take [Dinah/her] and be on our way.”

30 Afterward Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have

ruined me! You’ve made me stink among all the people of

this land—among all the Canaanites and Perizzites. We are

so few [, and now//that] they will join forces and crush us. I will be

ruined, and my entire household will be wiped out!”

15 And Jacob named the place Bethel (which means “house of God”), because God had spoken to him [again/0] there.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/gen.34.nlt

We turn to Job 20 which is Zophar’s second response to Job. In Job chapter 19 responded to Bildad's second speech. Job expressed amazing belief that he would see his redeemer, and even after death he speaks of seeing God in his body. This knowledge is remarkable, and looks forward to Paul's teaching in 1 Cor 15.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/job.20

We turn for the second time to Mark 12. Yesterday in the first half of Mark 12, Jesus told a pointed parable against the Jewish religious leaders, then he went on to refute the Sadducees. Today I will repeat a few verses, starting in verse 24.

Translation note:

26 “But now, as to whether the dead will be raised—

haven’t you ever read about this in the writings of Moses, in

the story of the burning bush? Long after Abraham, Isaac,

and Jacob had died, God said to Moses, ‘I am the God of

Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 27 So he is

the God of the living, not the dead. You have made a serious

error.”

In my reading in the 019, I modified the translation like this, “I am the God Abraham worships… (present tense).” While this is justified in stating Jesus’ meaning at that point in the discourse, it is going too far in translating the Hebrew and Greek of the Old Testament passage. Jesus’ point is that the continuing relationship of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is implicit in God’s statement. So for me to make it explicit in the translation is going a bit too far.

37 Since David himself called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah [just/0] be his son?” The large crowd listened to him with great delight.

 

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/mrk.12

Check out this episode!

2015DBRP_019 Gen32-33 Job19 Mrk12a

Yesterday we heard how Jacob and his big family got away from Laban and started the journey home. When Laban caught up with him, he and Jacob got into a quarrel and ended up making a covenant.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/gen.32.nlt

We turn to Job 19. In chapter 18, Bildad once again gave a speech about what happens to wicked people, and by implication, he said, “You're just getting what you deserve.” Job’s response in today’s chapter includes amazing revelations— considering that this is the earliest book in the Bible. Verses 23-27 can be compared with the second half of 1Corinthians 15.

Translation notes:

15 My servants and maids [even/0] consider me a stranger.

I am like a foreigner to them.

16 When I call my servant, he doesn’t [even/0] come;

I have to plead with him!

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/job.19

In Mark 11, Jesus was welcomed in triumph in Jerusalem, he cursed

a fig tree and taught about prayer, and cleansed the temple of

merchant activity. Then he answered and confuted the chief priests

who challenged his authority to “do these things,” in particular,

taking their businesses out of the temple.

Translation notes:

1 Then Jesus began teaching them with stories [like this one]: “A man planted a vineyard. …

13 Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters

of [king/0] Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested.

16 When they handed [one/it] to him, he asked, “Whose

picture and title are stamped [here//on it]?”

27 PET God spoke of our three forefathers as men who still live and worship Him. …

As I modified the NLT: 26b Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said to Moses, ‘I am the God [Abraham worships//of Abraham], the God [Isaac worships], and the God [Jacob worships].’

In Lumina.Bible.org Constable quotes Lane:

“If the death of the patriarchs is the last word of their history, there has been a breach of the promises of God guaranteed by the [Abrahamic] covenant, and of which the formula ‘the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob’ is the symbol. It is in fidelity to his covenant that God will resurrect the dead.”

Using a present tense verb makes it obvious to the English-speaking listener that the three patriarchs are still living.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/mrk.12

Check out this episode!

2015DBRP_018 Gen31 Job18 Mrk11

Yesterday we heard of the rivalry between Rachel and Leah, and about more sons for Jacob, whose names all have meanings appropriate to what Rachel or Leah were feeling at the time.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/gen.31.nlt

Yesterday Job again complained that he was surrounded by mockers, and despairingly again said “my hope will go down with me to the grave.”

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/job.18

Jesus has by now prepared his disciples for his death by prophesying about it and teaching them about what it will be like to ‘lead’ in His kingdom. And he healed Bartimaeus.

Translation notes:

22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “[Believe fully//Have faith] in God.

32 But [we don’t//do we] dare say it was merely human[, do we/0]?” For they were afraid of what the people would do, because

everyone [in that crowd//0] believed that John was a prophet.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/mrk.11

Check out this episode!

2015DBRP_017 Gen30 Job17 Mrk10b

Yesterday, Jacob left home, and God appeared to him and

promised to bless him as he blessed Isaac. Jacob worked for

Laban, married both Leah and Rachel, and Leah had sons

through Leah.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/gen.30.nlt

Yesterday was the first chapter of Job's response to Eliphaz. He said

6 Instead, I suffer if I defend myself,

and I suffer no less if I refuse to speak.

And

9 God hates me and angrily tears me apart.

This last statement shows how easy it is for us humans to misunderstand God’s will or intentions concerning us. God did not hate Job!

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/job.17

Yesterday in 10a, Jesus gave God's true perspective on divorce,

blessed some children, and said that is impossible for the rich to

enter the Kingdom of God (in their own strength). Jesus gave a

wonderful promise for missionaries at the end of the chapter.

Translation notes:

33 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where

[I,/0] the Son of Manh will be betrayed to the leading priests

and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence himme

to die and hand [me/him] over to the Romans.i 34 They will

mock [me], spit on [me], flog [me] with a whip, and

kill [me], but after three days [I/he] will rise again.”

One very seldom talks of oneself using a third person pronoun in most of the world's languages.

45For even [I, as/0] the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give [my/his] life as a ransom for many.”

52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, [you are healed now because you fully believed in me//for your faith has healed

you].” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus

down the road.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/mrk.10

Check out this episode!

2015DBRP_016 Gen28-29 Job16 Mrk10a

After what Jacob did to Esau, with Ishmael holding a big grudge, it

is time for him to get out of town.

Translation notes:

8“We can’t water the animals until all the flocks have

arrived,” they replied. “Then [we/the] shepherds move the

stone from the mouth of the well, and we water all the sheep

and goats.”

9Jacob was still talking with them when Rachel arrived

with her father’s flock, for she was a shepherd[ess].

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/gen.28.nlt

Eliphaz said that Job is showing no reverence for God, that his

own words condemn him. His rhetorical questions seem to say

that Job is being proud. And he maintained that no mortal can

be pure.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/job.16

In yesterday's reading Jesus predicted his death, spoke about

who is greatest in God's kingdom, and talked about the

seriousness of sin.

 

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/mrk.10

Check out this episode!

2015DBRP_015 Gen27 Job15 Mrk9b

I send my thanks to Ashlee Smith for reading the part of Rebecca in Genesis today.

In yesterday's reading we read the history of Isaac and Rebecca's

family before the narrative focuses on their dissimilar twin sons,

and especially Jacob.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/gen.27.nlt

We know a lot more than Job did. One thing was shown yesterday. Job asked,

14 Can the dead live again?

If so, this would give me hope through all my years of struggle,

and I would eagerly await the release of death.

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/job.15

After coming down the mountain with three of his disciples, Jesus met his other disciples who were having two difficulties simultaneously with people arguing with them and with failing to heal a man’s son, who was possessed by an evil spirit or a demon. I would like to say a few words about demons. In Greek, ‘demon’ is daimonia and the other term, ‘evil spirit’, is more literally ‘unclean spirit’. As someone who has worked in another culture and seen what has happened over my lifetime in the USA, I hope it will be helpful to some listeners if I share about this topic. Some my audience— particularly those of the older generation in the USA, will say, “What people called demons in Jesus’ day were just what we call mental illness.” While, paradoxically, it is the younger generation in the USA who more readily believe that demons actually exist. I think the younger generation have it right this time. Demons do exist. Here’s what I have observed: Where demons are not believed in, they are happy to stay in the background— where they are very adept at promoting falsehood and sin. Where demons are feared, worshipped, where people listen to satanic music and take part in occult rituals, demons come out to increase people’s fear of them and to manipulate people more openly. As believers in Jesus, remember that Jesus has complete power over Satan and all demons. We who belong to Jesus should not fear them. Nor should we seek communication with such beings. Remember two things from yesterday’s story: The father wisely cried out, “Help my unbelief!” So the first thing to remember is to fully believe in Christ Jesus. The second is the answer Jesus gave to the disciples question: Prayer is of vital importance in this area of spiritual warfare! I bet some of you will have questions or comments. The Digging Deeper Forum is the place for that!

Today we start by reviewing part of that story.

Translation notes:

22The [demon/spirit] often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”

25 When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil f spirit. “Listen, you [demon/spirit]

[who/that] makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he

said. “I command you to come out of this child and never

enter him again!”

26 Then the [evil/0] spirit screamed and threw the boy into

another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared

to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said,

“He’s dead.”

29 Jesus replied, “[That/This] kind can be cast out only by

prayer. ”

heading at 38:

[Doing thing for Jesus' cause//Using the Name of Jesus]

38 John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using

your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop

because he wasn’t in our group.”

31 for he wanted to spend more time with his disciples and teach them. He said to them, “[I, the//The] Son of Man, [am/is] going to be betrayed into the hands of [my/his] enemies. [I/He] will be killed, but three days later [I/he] will rise from the dead.” 32 [However/0] they didn’t understand what he was saying, however, and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.

39 “Don’t stop  him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a

miracle [on my behalf/in my name/using my name] will soon be able to speak evil of me.

One thing I do not like about the NLT is the translation of 'in my name' as 'using my name' in places having to do with prayer like John 16. In v38 here, it works well. For believers in this age, when we pray 'in Jesus' name', the meaning is not

simply that we end our prayers with an automatic 'in Jesus name'. The meaning of praying in Jesus' name is that we pray things for the cause of Jesus, on behalf of Jesus, or for Jesus' glory. This is why I end so many prayers on these podcasts with the idea of Jesus’ glory!

 

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/mrk.9

Check out this episode!