O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
    and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
    it is high; I cannot attain it.
 
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
    Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
    If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
    and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
    and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
    and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
    the night is bright as the day,
    for darkness is as light with you.
 
13 For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
    I awake, and I am still with you.
 
19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
    O men of blood, depart from me!
20 They speak against you with malicious intent;
    your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
    And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred;
    I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
    Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting!
 
Meditation
Grace awakens us to an awareness of God’s intimate and infinite love, opening our hearts to know and show God’s love. Francis Thompson (1859-1907) penned the poem The Hound of Heaven after being ambushed by God’s love during a season of homelessness and opium addiction, demonstrating how an understanding of the height and depth of God’s love increases the impact God’s love has when it finds a home in our hearts.
 
God’s love is infinite and intimate, catalyzing an invitation for us to become more like the God who loves us. God is sovereign (1-6) and ever-present (7-12), and from love He promises to never leave us or forsake us. God’s love is intimate, possessing creative knowledge of our most finite parts (13-18). God fully knows us and God wholly loves us.
 
God is holy as well as loving, and He sees our hate manifested in unrighteous anger, vengeance, and desire to control (19-22). God’s high holiness exposes our deep need for intimate application of forgiveness, increasing our love and affection for Him. We love only because He first loves us!
 
God’s infinite and intimate love invites us to love like Him. With security in God’s steadfast love we ask God to search us, exposing our sin so we can be forgiven to begin again (23-24). God’s love launches us into the ancient way, a “path like the dawn that shines brighter and brighter until full day” (Proverbs 4:18), a life of love that looks like Him in every way.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What descriptions of God’s infinite and intimate love stand out to you the most? Why?
 
-Where do you need to be searched and known, shown your sin so you can apply the work of Jesus on the cross, finding forgiveness, and beginning again?
 
-God wants to lead you in the way everlasting, His ancient way that leads to light and life. Where do you need to move from His grace to walk in this new way? Be specific.
 
Key Verses
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!  24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. 2 At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah.3 For Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying, “Why do you prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord: Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it; 4 Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye. 5 And he shall take Zedekiah to Babylon, and there he shall remain until I visit him, declares the Lord. Though you fight against the Chaldeans, you shall not succeed’?”
6 Jeremiah said, “The word of the Lord came to me: 7 Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you and say, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.’ 8 Then Hanamel my cousin came to me in the court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the Lord, and said to me, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.’ Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord.
9 “And I bought the field at Anathoth from Hanamel my cousin, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. 10 I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales. 11 Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions and the open copy. 12 And I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my cousin, in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in the court of the guard. 13 I charged Baruch in their presence, saying, 14 ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware vessel, that they may last for a long time. 15 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.’
Jeremiah Prays for Understanding16 “After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord, saying: 17 ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. 18 You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts, 19 great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds. 20 You have shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day. 21 You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror. 22 And you gave them this land, which you swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 And they entered and took possession of it. But they did not obey your voice or walk in your law. They did nothing of all you commanded them to do. Therefore you have made all this disaster come upon them. 24 Behold, the siege mounds have come up to the city to take it, and because of sword and famine and pestilence the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What you spoke has come to pass, and behold, you see it. 25 Yet you, O Lord God, have said to me, “Buy the field for money and get witnesses”—though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.’”
26 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?28 Therefore, thus says the Lord: Behold, I am giving this city into the hands of the Chaldeans and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall capture it. 29 The Chaldeans who are fighting against this city shall come and set this city on fire and burn it, with the houses on whose roofs offerings have been made to Baal and drink offerings have been poured out to other gods, to provoke me to anger. 30 For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth. The children of Israel have done nothing but provoke me to anger by the work of their hands, declares the Lord. 31 This city has aroused my anger and wrath, from the day it was built to this day, so that I will remove it from my sight 32 because of all the evil of the children of Israel and the children of Judah that they did to provoke me to anger—their kings and their officials, their priests and their prophets, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.33 They have turned to me their back and not their face. And though I have taught them persistently, they have not listened to receive instruction. 34 They set up their abominations in the house that is called by my name, to defile it. 35 They built the high places of Baal in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to offer up their sons and daughters to Molech, though I did not command them, nor did it enter into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
They Shall Be My People; I Will Be Their God36 “Now therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning this city of which you say, ‘It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword, by famine, and by pestilence’:37 Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I drove them in my anger and my wrath and in great indignation. I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety.38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. 40 I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.
42 “For thus says the Lord: Just as I have brought all this great disaster upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good that I promise them. 43 Fields shall be bought in this land of which you are saying, ‘It is a desolation, without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.’ 44 Fields shall be bought for money, and deeds shall be signed and sealed and witnessed, in the land of Benjamin, in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the Shephelah, and in the cities of the Negeb; for I will restore their fortunes, declares the Lord.”
 
Meditation
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). The resurrection of Jesus Christ gives an inheritance of hope to stand on, enduring pain by knowing His sovereign grace purchased property for believers in the new heavens and new earth.
 
Recently a dear friend experienced a life altering traumatic event. Out of the devastation of the catastrophe he said to me, “I hope God makes something beautiful out of this.” My heart longs for the same.  Hope is a light in the darkness, an anchor in a storm, or purchasing a piece of land during crisis.
 
Jeremiah bought a field of dreams to demonstrate tangible hope. The prophet was in prison for promising Babylon would capture the king and devastate Judah (1-5) when God commanded Jeremiah to buy a field outside Jerusalem. The equivalent would be buying a field in Eastern Ukraine along the Russian boarder, land already occupied and scorched by the enemy. When prison and problems prevail, hope finds land on which to stand in faith.
 
Jeremiah bought the field (6-15) and prayed for clarity (16-36). God responds by reminding Jeremiah that He is who He says He is, a God of steadfast and covenant love. And God will do what He promises to do, return His people to the land and restore their fortunes (36-44). God is faithful.
 
Hope is tangible, actions demonstrating concrete confidence in resurrected Jesus. The work of Jesus guarantees inheritance for believers, land on which to stand in hope. God will redeem all He allows.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Where does Jeremiah’s actions and God’s faithfulness fuel hope for you?
 
-Where are you struggling to have hope? Why?
 
-How does the work of Jesus, especially His victory over the grave, give ground for you to stand and have hope that God will redeem all He allows?
 
Key Verses
14 ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware vessel, that they may last for a long time. 15 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.’

After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). 3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.
5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. 7 Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ 10 And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— 11 behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 And the Spirit of the Lord came[d]upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”
18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. 19 And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” 21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lordand praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,
“Give thanks to the Lord,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.”
22 And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. 23 For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.
The Lord Delivers Judah24 When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there[e] were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped. 25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them, in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the Lord. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day. 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28 They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the Lord. 29 And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the Lordhad fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.
31 Thus Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.32 He walked in the way of Asa his father and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. 33 The high places, however, were not taken away; the people had not yet set their hearts upon the God of their fathers.
34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from first to last, are written in the chronicles of Jehu the son of Hanani, which are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.
The End of Jehoshaphat's Reign35 After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly. 36 He joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish, and they built the ships in Ezion-geber. 37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.” And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.
 
Meditation
God will deliver those who depend on Him. When you renew resolve to follow Jesus you will meet resistance, tempted to be discouraged by circumstances or despondent from a lack of control. God’s secure love invites you to stand in His sovereign care and see His salvation.
 
Jehoshaphat reformed Judah before meeting resistance from enemies. The record of his leadership is inspirational and informational for how to stand in God’s secure love:
 
Prayer: King Jehoshaphat was afraid but sought the Lord and proclaimed a fast for all Judah to seek the Lord (3-4). Public prayer included families, even children (13), following Jehoshaphat’s vulnerable and prayerful leadership.
 
Powerlessness: Dependency on the Lord is marked with a recognition of powerlessness. “We are powerless!...” proclaimed the king. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You!
 
Promise: The Lord promises to deliver all who trust in Him. For Judah and Jehoshaphat, God commanded them to not be afraid in the face of their enemies.  The battle belongs to Him so we can simply stand and see the Lord’s salvation when we meet resistance. (15-17).
 
Praise: Songs of victory come from God’s people before battle (18-19), going into battle (21-22), and after battle. Praise comes from knowing God will accomplish His purposes.
 
Divine dependance rescues us from despondency and discouragement when we face difficulties. Christians are sure of God’s victory because through the cross Christ has disarmed our enemy and put Him to shame (Colossians 2:15).
 
Richly Dwelling
-Which aspect of dependency stands out to you the most? Why?
 
-When difficulties come, where do you go for security and strength other than the Lord? Why do you not trust Him to deliver you?
 
-Jesus was delivered to destruction so those who trust in the Lord through dependency can live FROM victory. Where do you need to claim this victory rather than live in despondency or discouragement?
 
Key Verses
17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the people of Israel and say to them, ‘My offering, my food for my food offerings, my pleasing aroma, you shall be careful to offer to me at its appointed time.’ 3 And you shall say to them, This is the food offering that you shall offer to the Lord: two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by day, as a regular offering. 4 The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; 5 also a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with a quarter of a hin of beaten oil. 6 It is a regular burnt offering, which was ordained at Mount Sinai for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord. 7 Its drink offering shall be a quarter of a hin for each lamb. In the Holy Place you shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to the Lord. 8 The other lamb you shall offer at twilight. Like the grain offering of the morning, and like its drink offering, you shall offer it as a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
Sabbath Offerings9 “On the Sabbath day, two male lambs a year old without blemish, and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, and its drink offering: 10 this is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
Monthly Offerings11 “At the beginnings of your months, you shall offer a burnt offering to the Lord: two bulls from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish; 12 also three tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, for each bull, and two tenths of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, for the one ram; 13 and a tenth of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering for every lamb; for a burnt offering with a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord. 14 Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull, a third of a hin for a ram, and a quarter of a hin for a lamb. This is the burnt offering of each month throughout the months of the year. 15 Also one male goat for a sin offering to the Lord; it shall be offered besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
Passover Offerings16 “On the fourteenth day of the first month is the Lord's Passover,17 and on the fifteenth day of this month is a feast. Seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. 18 On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work, 19 but offer a food offering, a burnt offering to the Lord: two bulls from the herd, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old; see that they are without blemish; 20 also their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil; three tenths of an ephah shall you offer for a bull, and two tenths for a ram; 21 a tenth shall you offer for each of the seven lambs;22 also one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you.23 You shall offer these besides the burnt offering of the morning, which is for a regular burnt offering. 24 In the same way you shall offer daily, for seven days, the food of a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. It shall be offered besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. 25 And on the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work.
Offerings for the Feast of Weeks26 “On the day of the firstfruits, when you offer a grain offering of new grain to the Lord at your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work, 27 but offer a burnt offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord: two bulls from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old; 28 also their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for each bull, two tenths for one ram, 29 a tenth for each of the seven lambs; 30 with one male goat, to make atonement for you.31 Besides the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, you shall offer them and their drink offering. See that they are without blemish.
 
Meditation
“Once and for all” is a repeated phrase in Hebrews to emphasize the finished work of Jesus. The sacrifices of goats and bulls cannot cleanse us of sins “once and for all” as the sacrifice of Christ does (Hebrews 10:2). Believers are cleansed for all time, “once and for all” by faith (Hebrews 10:14), and eternally secure because Jesus enters the most holy place “once and for all” on our behalf (Hebrews 9:12).
 
Numbers celebrates God’s grace by looking forward to life in the promise land, how God’s people can live in God’s promises through worship and sacrifices. Various appointed offerings are described (3-8) before we read of weekly offerings (9-10), monthly offerings (11-15), and an annual offering that took place during Passover (16-25). Worship and sacrifice are at the center of God’s people living in God’s promises.
 
The directions carry a unique urgency, directing God’s people to a life of faithfulness after Moses and under Joshua and the priests. The weight of the moment leaves the reader longing for greater provision.
 
“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” Is how Jesus is introduced by John the Baptist (John 1:29). The greater sacrifice, as provision for our sin, is the death of Christ, where we can find atonement and begin again. Only in Jesus can we be forgiven and free “once and for all” so that we do not need bloody altars hosting daily, monthly, or annual sacrifices. The sacrifice of Jesus has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified (Hebrews 10:14). Amen!
 
Richly Dwelling
-What aspects of worship and sacrifice stand out to you? Why?
 
-Is it hard to believe that the “once and for all” sacrifice of Jesus is enough, for all time, to cover your sin?
 
-Where do you need to claim this eternal forgiveness, apply forgiveness from the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, and embrace the freedom to begin again?
 
Key Verses
9 “On the Sabbath day, two male lambs a year old without blemish, and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, and its drink offering: 10 this is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.

Traditions and Commandments15 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
8 “‘This people honors me with their lips,
    but their heart is far from me;
9 in vain do they worship me,
    teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
What Defiles a Person10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled?  18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
The Faith of a Canaanite Woman21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
Jesus Heals Many29 Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. 30 And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, 31 so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.
Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand32 Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” 33 And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” 34 And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35 And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over.38 Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 And after sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.
 
Meditation
A heart that hopes in Christ will cry out for mercy, marvel at Christ’s majesty, and marinate in the word of God. A heart hoping in human ability will speak self-righteously, judgmentally, and from a scarcity mentality. God’s loving grace invites you to give Him your heart to hope in Him.
 
Scribes and Pharisees came to accuse Jesus of defiling Himself by not washing His hands before eating (1-2). Jesus redirects the attack by focusing on what truly makes someone clean or unclean, specifically the direction of the heart (8, 11, 17-20). Out of the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34) and only God’s grace gives us a heart of love and life.
 
Illustrating this point is Jesus’ encounter with the Canaanite woman and His healing of the sick (21-31). Passing through a traditionally unclean place and encountering unclean people, Jesus’ actions highlight how hearts that hope in Him cry out for mercy. Like Rahab, the traditionally defiled Syrophoenician woman hopes in God alone for salvation, crying out “Have mercy on me, Son of David” (22). She saw Jesus as the king He is! So too did the sick in the region, hoping in Christ for healing and having hearts that soon overflow by crying out Christ’s majesty (31).
 
The contrast between religious elites accusing Jesus of defilement and defiled people from unclean regions crying out to Jesus for mercy forces us to examine our hearts. With David we pray for God to create in us a new heart and to restore a right spirit within us (Psalm 51:1-10).
 
Richly Dwelling
-Who do you identify with most in this chapter? Why?
 
-Do Jesus’ words convict you, that what comes out of your mouth is what defiles you? Where do you see the defilement of your heart?
 
-The work of Jesus gives us a new heart and a new spirit. How can you be more intentional in crying out for mercy, proclaiming His majesty, and marinating your heart in His word? Be specific.
 
Key Verses
 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart…
 
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The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's.
The Bride Confesses Her Love
She
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your love is better than wine;
3     your anointing oils are fragrant;
your name is oil poured out;
    therefore virgins love you.
4 Draw me after you; let us run.
    The king has brought me into his chambers.
Others
We will exult and rejoice in you;
    we will extol your love more than wine;
    rightly do they love you.
She
5 I am very dark, but lovely,
    O daughters of Jerusalem,
like the tents of Kedar,
    like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Do not gaze at me because I am dark,
    because the sun has looked upon me.
My mother's sons were angry with me;
    they made me keeper of the vineyards,
    but my own vineyard I have not kept!
7 Tell me, you whom my soul loves,
    where you pasture your flock,
    where you make it lie down at noon;
for why should I be like one who veils herself
    beside the flocks of your companions?
Solomon and His Bride Delight in Each Other
He
8 If you do not know,
    O most beautiful among women,
follow in the tracks of the flock,
    and pasture your young goats
    beside the shepherds' tents.
9 I compare you, my love,
    to a mare among Pharaoh's chariots.
10 Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,
    your neck with strings of jewels.
Others
11 We will make for you ornaments of gold,
    studded with silver.
She
12 While the king was on his couch,
    my nard gave forth its fragrance.
13 My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh
    that lies between my breasts.
14 My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms
    in the vineyards of Engedi.
He
15 Behold, you are beautiful, my love;
    behold, you are beautiful;
    your eyes are doves.
She
16 Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, truly delightful.
Our couch is green;
17     the beams of our house are cedar;
    our rafters are pine.
 
Meditation
The world is longing for the affirmation of beauty as it is looking for the security of being someone’s beloved. In my home town, a random sign on a building offers empty affirmation: You are beautiful. Humanity will only find the satisfaction we are looking for when we allow True Love to celebrate the beauty of who we are and how we are created. Christ alone offers this love.
 
The Song of Solomon is a poetic portrait of God’s love song celebrating His Bride, the people He has chosen for Himself. Cloaked in sexual imagery and allegory we will not attempt to unpack; the short wisdom book joyfully celebrates intimacy as it affirms human sexuality. God desires for you to trust His intimate love, allowing yourself to know Him even as you are fully known.
 
The first six poems begin without the context of relationship yet quickly reveal the heart of the matter: The woman desires love (2-4) but feels disqualified to know her lover (5-7). The gracious love of the king celebrates the woman beyond her insecurities, using culturally distant images to emphasize two familiar terms of endearment: Beloved and beautiful (8, 13, 14, 15, 16). The King sees the one he loves as both beloved and beautiful even when she cannot accept these truths for herself.
 
Jesus Christ displays both the belovedness of God’s love for you and the beauty He sees in you. God loves the unlovely and makes them His beloved Bride, beautifully adorned for eternal relationship with Him (Revelation 21:2).
 
Richly Dwelling
-Does the intimate language of celebration and sexuality make you uncomfortable? Why or why not?
 
-God’s love for you desires this level of intimacy as He makes you beautiful and beloved. Where do you need to open yourself up for this level of intimacy with the Lord?
 
-How does the work of Christ free you to love the Lord with all your heart? You are fully accepted, fully forgiven, and free!
 
Key Verses
15 Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves.