Hebrews 5:5-10; Jeremiah 31:31-34 The book of Hebrews talks about Jesus being appointed a high priest. In order to do so was because of his reverent submission to God and the plan for salvation which was to bring great suffering to him. It is said he learned obedience through what he suffered. Being made perfect in this way, he became the source of salvation for all who obey him. This being made perfect through persevering in obedience in the face of suffering is a theme the disciples will take up in following the example of Christ. Due to Christ’s reverent submission to his work on the cross, a new covenant has been brought in. This was predicted in Jeremiah 31 that tells how the law will be put within them and written on their hearts. They will know God due to Christ’s sacrifice. Because of it God will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more. The term submission indicates obeying someone and their wishes. It is defined as accepting or yielding to the will or autho...

  Psalm 19:7-11; I Corinthians 1:18-25   Psalm 19 goes on about the characteristics of God’s wisdom shown in God’s laws, decrees, precepts, and commandments. The words perfect, reviving the soul, sure, making wise the simple, right, clear, enlightening, pure, and true are used. They are said to be more desired – wanted than fine gold and sweeter than the honeycomb. Paul on the other hand in Corinthians talks about the foolishness of the cross to those who are perishing. God in this act of love, bringing Christ on earth to die for our sins, made foolish the wisdom of the world. He calls out the scholar and the debater. He tells how the Jews looked for a sign and the Greeks – the Gentiles looked to human wisdom. But as Paul points out, God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom. The proclamation of Christ crucified is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. But God used this foolishness to save those who believe – those who put aside human wisdom a...

  Genesis 9:18-17, Psalm 25:1-10   Every time we see a rainbow, we need to remember it as a sign of God’s covenant to never flood the earth again. Later in Genesis 17, God will make a covenant with Abraham promising him he would be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. A covenant is a promise, something on which we can depend. In Psalm 25 David lifts up his soul to the Lord putting his trust in God. He asks to not be put to shame in his trust for protection and not to let his enemies triumph over him. He asks that those who wait on God will not be put to shame but only those who are wantonly treacherous. In contrast to these evil folks, David seeks to learn God’s ways and what godly paths he is to take. He asks to be led in God’s truth realizing that the Lord is the God of his salvation. The patience of him awaiting deliverance is shown as he says – for you I wait all day long. He reminds the Lord of God’s mercy and steadfast love that have been since the days of Noa...