Today, October 1, I am turning in the first draft of my doctoral thesis. While I normally refrain from personal posts, it feels fitting to use the "Wednesday in the Word" post-slot to mark this milestone. After consulting around 100  books and articles and completing thirty-five case studies, I am submitting the first draft of a 184-page research paper along with a 174-page handbook. More information on the thesis will come, both in process and in content.

For now, I want to thank those who have prayed for me, supported me, participated in the project, put up with me during the process, encouraged me, and helped me endure by acting interested in the topic.



"He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

​Key Verse
2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 Not with our fathers did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today.
 
Meditation
Covenant relationship with God is the framework for the word of God and context for the work of God. Covenant is the means through which God draws His people to Himself for relationship.
 
Tim Keller defines covenant relationship between God and His people as “a stunning blend between law and love.” It is “stunning” because the personal relationship is made more loving through its legality. 
 
In today’s reading, Moses reconvenes Israel to review God’s direction for preparation to enter the Promised Land. Specifically, Israel must “hear” and “obey” because of the covenant relationship they have with the Lord (vv. 1-3). God’s covenant relationship with Israel began through Abraham, His choosing of them in love (see Genesis 15 and 17). This covenant relationship is made legal through Moses, the land promised to Abraham to be given through the obligation of Israel hearing and obeying.
 
Moses reviewed the ten commandments (see Exodus 20) to reinforce the legal obligations. Israel “must be careful” to obey that “it may go well” and that they may “live long, in the land you will possess” (vv. 30-33). God’s promise was a land. Israel’s obligation was obedience.
 
Jesus is the perfect blend of love and law. Jesus’ work confirms the new covenant because He is our covenant representative, fulfilling covenant obligations through full obedience to the law (Matthew 5:17) and dying in our place to satisfy the penalty for breaking our covenant obligations.   Eternal life comes through Christ’s representative work, alone (Romans 5:20-21). From Jesus finished work, we “hear” and “obey” His word to display our love for Him (John 14:15) and experience blessing in Him.
 
Today’s Reading
And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the rules that I speak in your hearing today, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them. 2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 Not with our fathers did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today. 4 The Lord spoke with you face to face at the mountain, out of the midst of the fire, 5 while I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord. For you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up into the mountain. He said:
6 “‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
7 “‘You shall have no other gods before me.
8 “‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 9 You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
11 “‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

12 “‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. 15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

16 “‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

17 “‘You shall not murder.
18 “‘And you shall not commit adultery.
19 “‘And you shall not steal.
20 “‘And you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
21 “‘And you shall not covet your neighbor's wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.’

22 “These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and he added no more. And he wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. 23 And as soon as you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes, and your elders. 24 And you said, ‘Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man still live. 25 Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, we shall die. 26 For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have, and has still lived? 27 Go near and hear all that the Lord our God will say, and speak to us all that the Lord our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.’

28 “And the Lord heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the Lord said to me, ‘I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken. 29 Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants[e] forever! 30 Go and say to them, “Return to your tents.” 31 But you, stand here by me, and I will tell you the whole commandment and the statutes and the rules that you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land that I am giving them to possess.’ 32 You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the covenant context of Moses’ message?
 
-Why is it important to acknowledge both, the faithfulness of God through covenant relationship is for every generation, and that we have not obeyed God’s law and thereby rejected relationship with Him?
 
-Where do you need to respond to God’s grace from Christ’s representative work by showing your love for God through obedience to Him and His eternal and unchanging Divine design for all of life? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 Not with our fathers did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today.

​Key Verse
11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
 
Meditation
Today’s reading may be digested more effectively if you stand on your head to read it upside down. The initial scene at a sabbath meal (vv. 1-24) is followed by Jesus speaking to large crowds (vv. 25-34). In both scenes, Jesus inverts everything.

Love vs. rote religiousness (vv. 1-6): Lawyers and Pharisees were rarely quiet, but they were silent when Jesus asked if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath. Love leads Jesus to heal over and against religious norms.
 
Seeking social status (vv. 7-11): Jesus taught people at the Sabbath meal to seek the lowest seat in social gatherings. A greater truth than momentary comfort is that “He who exalts Himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
 
Outsiders become insiders (vv. 12-24): People who can never repay the invitation should be the target of kingdom hospitality. Those who are comfortable in life have too many good things competing for heart affection (A field, oxen, marriage in vv. 18-20). The kingdom invitation goes to the fringes, compelling outsiders to come inside for the banquet of the King.
 
The cost of discipleship (vv. 25-33): Jesus calls followers to love Him more than family, over and above mother, father, and wife- Even more than our own life. Disciples count the cost of renouncing everything to follow the King of kings.
 
Hearing leads to living (vv. 34-35):  Jesus commands disciples to hear and do so we will dwell with distinction. Like salt, our lives are set apart from hearing and doing God’s word. 
 
Today’s Reading
One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully.2 And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy.3 And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” 4 But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. 5 And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” 6 And they could not reply to these things.

The Parable of the Wedding Feast
7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them,8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Parable of the Great Banquet
12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

The Cost of Discipleship
25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Salt Without Taste Is Worthless
34 “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
 
Richly Dwelling
-Which upside-down portion of Jesus’ teaching stands out to you most from today’s reading? Why?
 
-How can your life reflect the distinction required by truly hearing and obeying God’s word?  This is to ask, which part of your life needs to be inverted to reflect the priorities of the King?
 
-Jesus renounced everything and died on the cross to give grace to those of us who struggle renouncing everything to follow Him. Grace is the ground of our discipleship. Take a moment to sink your faith into the soil of Christ’s love so you can more faithfully and fruitfully follow Him.
 
Key Verse
11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

​Key Verses
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
 
Meditation
Encountering God personally will grow a life that glorifies God globally.
 
The imperative, “bless the Lord, oh my soul!” begins and ends today’s reading. Like ripples in still water, the praise circle widens from Israelites who fear God (vv. 6-19) to the cosmic universe created by God (vv. 20-22). The basis for blessing the Lord is the unchanging character of God.
 
God’s steadfast love is the basis for all His benefits (vv. 7-17). God has revealed Himself through covenant relationship, and He is merciful, forgiving, gracious, and giving. God’s love for us removes our sin from us so we can know His compassion and covenant care. God’s steadfast love meets us personally so we can know Him intimately and worship Him corporately, in His family.
 
“The steadfast love is from everlasting to everlasting! ” (v. 17) Who is like our God (Micah 7:18)? No one and no thing, so worshippers respond to encountering Him with everything. Satisfied with His goodness (v. 5) we grow in godliness, obeying the word of God and living for the glory of God (vv. 11, 13, 18).
 
Jesus Christ is the ultimate revelation of the steadfast love of the Lord. Jesus “works righteousness and justice” through His life, death, and resurrection.  Jesus forgives sins, modeling God’s mercy and giving us a window into God’s sovereign grace. Jesus knows us deep in our soul, and He still loves us! This love frees us to bless Jesus with all that is in us, joining the covenant community and all the cosmos in His creation.
 
Today’s Reading
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The Lord works righteousness
    and justice for all who are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,
    his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
    nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
    nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

14 For he knows our frame;
    he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
    he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
    and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to children's children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
    and remember to do his commandments.

19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
    and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his word,
    obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
    his ministers, who do his will!
22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
    in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the intimate touch of God’s steadfast love and the infinite chorus we join in blessing His Holy name?
 
-The psalmist is doing more than preaching the gospel to himself. He is summoning song with the steadfast love of God. When have you encountered this love and how does it compel worship from your lips and life?
 
-Jesus is the fullness of God’s love and faithfulness. Take a moment to meditate on how Christ’s love fulfills all of these promises for you. Re-orient your heart with God’s faithfulness in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
 
Key Verses
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,

​Key Verse
19 and the sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei; and the sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah, and Shelomith was their sister; 
 
Meditation
Genealogies are tapestries to reveal the beauty of God’s redemptive story. Every word of God’s word is a gift to God’s people. Embedded in the Chronicler’s long list of names we unearth gold nuggets of grace, minerals of mercy, and diamonds of Divine faithfulness. 
 
Ezra was writing actual history for a real audience, and for this reason he begins the book of Chronicles as he began his short history of the exile’s return to rebuild the temple, with a list of names (see Ezra 2). Today’s reading chronicles a summary of the sons of David (vv. 1-9) and the sons of Solomon (vv. 10-24).
 
One key take-a-way is God’s faithfulness to preserve a remnant to return from exile to the land, a historical fact highlighting God’s faithfulness. Zerubbabel is mentioned in 3:19 and is the first name on Ezra’s list in Ezra 2. He is important because Zerubbabel is king Jehoiachin’s grandson (2 Kings 25:27-30). Jehoiachin was the king taken into Babylonian exile (2 Kings 25) and the return of Zerubbabel displays the Davidic line continued in exile! Matthew highlights this at the beginning of his gospel (Matthew 1:12-13). God is faithful to keep His covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:16) and His first gospel promise in the garden (Genesis 3:15). 
 
God will fulfill his plan of redemption through exile and return. Jesus is the greater king to come through the lineage of David (Luke 1:32-33), the fullness of both God’s promises and plan, who was exiled by our sin on the cross so by His resurrection we can return to the Father’s covenant love!
 
Today’s Reading
These are the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn, Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelite; the second, Daniel, by Abigail the Carmelite, 2 the third, Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith; 3 the fifth, Shephatiah, by Abital; the sixth, Ithream, by his wife Eglah; 4 six were born to him in Hebron, where he reigned for seven years and six months. And he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 5 These were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon, four by Bath-shua, the daughter of Ammiel; 6 then Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, 7 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 8 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine.9 All these were David's sons, besides the sons of the concubines, and Tamar was their sister.
10 The son of Solomon was Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, 11 Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, 12 Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son, 13 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, 14 Amon his son, Josiah his son. 15 The sons of Josiah: Johanan the firstborn, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum. 16 The descendants of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son; 17 and the sons of Jeconiah, the captive: Shealtiel his son, 18 Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama and Nedabiah; 19 and the sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei; and the sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah, and Shelomith was their sister; 20 and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed, five. 21 The sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, his son[a] Rephaiah, his son Arnan, his son Obadiah, his son Shecaniah. 22 The son of Shecaniah: Shemaiah. And the sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat, six. 23 The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam, three.24 The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani, seven.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Which names from today’s reading are familiar to you? Why?
 
-Why is it important to see the continuity of God’s word?
 
-What are some names in your spiritual genealogy that reveal God’s faithfulness to keep His promises?
 
Key Verse
19 and the sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei; and the sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah, and Shelomith was their sister; 

​Key Verse
10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. 
 
Meditation
God’s Word uncovers the fullness of His covenant blessing through deeper revelation of His plan, His promises, and the person of the Holy Spirit.
 
In today’s reading, Zechariah directs the perspective of God’s people towards the future, detailing what to expect “on that day” (vv. 3, 6, 8, 11, 13:1). After the king comes (9:9) there will be opposition, but the Lord will deliver His people (vv. 1-9). Following the victory, God promises to “pour out a spirit of grace” (v. 10). The people will see the one who was pierced, mourn (vv. 11-14), and receive cleansing from all sin and uncleanness (13:1). 

God’s plan was for Jesus to be pierced (John 19:34-37) for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5), water and blood flowing from His side. 
God’s promise is that Jesus is the headwaters of the “fountain opened for the house of David… to cleanse from sin.” William Cowper wrote his famous hymn celebrating the fountain of grace highlighted 13:1, There is a fountain filled with blood. 
The person of the Holy Spirit connects God’s plan on the cross and God’s promise for the hearts of His people, the “Spirit of grace” (v. 10) to be “poured out” on all who believe.
 
The promised covenant Spirit (Galatians 3:14) came after the King’s victory, collectively at Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2) and individually in our adoption (Romans 8:15). He is the person of the Trinity who gives faith so that the fountain of grace is open for all who look upon the One who was pierced for our sins, that we might receive His forgiveness and begin again. 
 
Today’s Reading
The oracle of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: Thus declares the Lord, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him: 2 “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. 3 On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. 4 On that day, declares the Lord, I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. But for the sake of the house of Judah I will keep my eyes open, when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. 5 Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the Lord of hosts, their God.’
6 “On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a blazing pot in the midst of wood, like a flaming torch among sheaves. And they shall devour to the right and to the left all the surrounding peoples, while Jerusalem shall again be inhabited in its place, in Jerusalem.

7 “And the Lord will give salvation to the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not surpass that of Judah. 8 On that day the Lord will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the Lord, going before them.9 And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Him Whom They Have Pierced
10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. 11 On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12 The land shall mourn, each family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; 13 the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself, and their wives by themselves; 14 and all the families that are left, each by itself, and their wives by themselves.
 
13:1 “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you appreciate the promises of verse 10 and 13? Why or why not? Take a moment to meditate on Cowper’s hymn: There is a fountain filled with blood.
 
-Why is it significant that the work of Christ is the headwaters of the fountain of God’s grace and not our own works- and  that it is God’s Spirit who connects God’s work and His promise of grace for your heart (In other words… it is all Him!)?
 
-Where in your heart and life do you need to believe and receive God’s grace, to be washed in the fountain of His faithfulness for forgiveness and cleansing? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.