You Can Read the Hard Parts: Bible Prophecy

 By: Lauren Thomas 

Prophetic literature makes up some of the least read parts of the Bible by Christians. With all the symbolism to be confused by, all the timelines to figure out, and all the judgement to get bogged down in, prophetic literature can be challenging to comprehend.

 

And yet, there is so much good content in the books of the Bible we call “prophetic literature”: such that brings a deeper understanding of God’s character, of our sinfulness, a glimpse of Jesus, and incredible hope.

 

What if a few simple points could help demystify prophetic literature for you? Would you give reading it a shot?

First, what is prophetic literature? Prophetic literature is a genre within the Bible and includes such books as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Revelation, and a handful of short books in the Old Testament. This genre does not have a plot line. Just knowing this can help when reading. You don’t have to look for the storyline, because there isn’t one. Rather, these books are often anthologies or compilations of various visions and oracles, sometimes including bits of narrative or autobiographical information. This information is sometimes grouped according to a pattern: judgement against the prophet’s nation, judgement against other nations, and future hope of restoration.

 

I don’t know anyone who gets excited about reading about judgement. But by reading about judgement, we learn some important theology that we could otherwise miss: 1) God is holy and righteous; 2) we are sinners, prone to straying from right worship; 3) our sin separates us from God; 4) judgement is a natural consequence for sin; 5) even God’s judgment is for the purpose of drawing people to Him; and 6) God has a plan for future restoration for those who do repent! When reading judgement oracles, don’t be tempted to think, “God is peevish and mean.” No, God is loving and redemptive towards us. Just keep the context of this theology forefront as you read.

 

Another challenging aspect of reading prophetic literature is knowing when prophesied events did/will take place. While this can be aided by carefully selected commentary, here’s something to keep in mind for more casual reading: prophecy is like a mountain range. From a distance, it looks 2-dimensional. But in reality, mountains are anything but 2-dimensional! Some peaks are closer; some are farther. In reading just a few chapters, you might be reading about multiple events occurring at different times. Just because they are close together in the text, does not mean a single event or date is being covered.

 

Another tip is looking out for formulas that separate oracles/prophecies. They often start with some variant of the phrase “the word of the Lord came to me,” and end with something like “and they shall know that I am the Lord.” This is a recognition formula. One goal of Bible prophecy is to turn people to the Lord, to recognize his glory.

 

Bible prophecy is full of symbolism, and this can be confusing. Don’t get caught up in the symbolism, but look for what the symbols represent. Also keep the context in mind. Is the prophecy addressing a certain country? A certain place? A theme that applies to all people or to a specific people?

 

Two final tips:

1) Get a good study Bible! I recommend the ESV Study Bible. The commentary will help you understand things that are more obscure and reveal connections you might miss.

2) Invite the Holy Spirit to illuminate the Scripture during your reading time. He will give you what you need.

 

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

John 16:13 ESV

 

Reflection:

How confident do you feel about reading Bible prophecy?

How might these tips change the way you approach reading prophetic literature in the Bible?

Waiting For Your Prayers

By: Grace Metzger

For you know that the testing of your faith

produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness

have its full effect, that you may be perfect

and complete, lacking in nothing.

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭4

Recently my mind has been on patience a lot. I would not call myself a patient person, I can not wait for something for the life of me. But as fall and winter are approaching I’ve started wanting to focus more on slowing down and living a more patient and calm life. One part of my life that I have no patience in is unanswered prayers. I’ve noticed a pattern of praying for something and if my prayer doesn’t get a yes in, at most, a day then I assume it’s God telling me no.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in

tribulation, be constant in prayer.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I think being patient while waiting for a prayer is one of the most difficult things I’ve done. I remember my frustrations and anger when I was praying so hard for something and never seeing that prayer come to life. I think back on my prayer life with my health, as a kid I didn’t really pray to be healed. In fact I didn’t start praying for it until pretty recently in my life. The reason for this is that I prayed probably once or twice when I was younger but as I continued to have my condition I thought that God was telling me I would never be healed and I gave up. I didn’t dig deeper, I didn’t look into His word for an answer, I didn’t fast or seek wise counsel instead I just gave up.

I don’t blame young me for giving up so easily because it can be SO hard to tell the difference between God saying no and God saying not right now. I think as Christians we just jump into assuming it’s one or the other without ever actually hearing from God. Instead, if we don’t see a miracle right away we give up. 

I’ve been reading the story of Hannah, how she was childless for years but was patient in her prayers to God. It didn't take God years to realize that Hannah was praying to Him, instead I believe that He knew when would be the right time for them and used the waiting period to strengthen Hannah. 

The waiting period is hard and painful, some may even see it was a punishment. But God is using this time to prepare you for what is coming! He’s strengthening for what’s ahead so that way when the time comes you’re able to honor Him. Maybe you’ve been praying for that promotion for years and God keeps telling you to wait, only for Him to give it to you once you are strong enough to do that job for His glory. Maybe it’s a healing that you are waiting on and God is using this time to build your testimony and your relationship with Him. 

God has a plan for every minute of our lives and that plan is going to give us a hope and a future. Don’t try to jump ahead in His plan just to get an answer. Instead wait patiently, knowing that this very moment was planned out by God and it will end in glory to Him!

Discussion Question: 

What helps you stay strong in a season of waiting?

The Enemy Knows

By: Jenifer Metzger

Therefore, submit to God. Resist the
devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw near
to God, and He will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands, sinners, and
purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ CSB

I have never tasted alcohol of any kind. Not hard liquor, not beer, not wine, nothing. I don't say that as a boast, I say it because it has never had any appeal to me in the slightest. I've never wanted it, thought about it, had a desire to just try it, nothing. Because I have no experience or taste for it, the enemy doesn't try to tempt me with it. He knows it is a worthless effort. Instead, he puts his focus elsewhere, he tries to tempt me toward sin where I struggle.

The enemy knows what gets to us. He knows exactly how to make us fall. He knows what we struggle with. He knows our temptations. He’s not going to come at you with something that is not an issue for you. He’s going to come at you with something he knows you struggle with.

If he knows lust is an issue for you, he’ll put that attractive person in your view to make you lust and sin. You'll see that neighbor or co-worker and feel temptation. Or you'll scroll through social media and see posts of guys that cause you to feel temptation. If he knows anger is an issue for you, he’s going to make sure that traffic is backed up and people cut you off. Or he'll cause that one fellow mom in the school pick up line to say just the right thing to set you off. If he knows laziness is where you struggle, he'll make sure your tired and don't want to get up and get going. Or he'll make sure all the right Reels and TikToks come up to keep you glued to your phone.

He knows how to get you. He studies you closely. He knows all the right things that will have you battling within and all the right things that will cause you to stumble. BUT, we CAN resist him.

When the enemy tries to get us, we have power against him. We can say no and fight back. And when we do, all of heaven rejoices and the enemy walks away. But make no mistake, he will be back so we have to consciously submit to God and resist the devil. It’s a daily, hourly even, choice we have to make.

Here are five ways to resist the devil:

Recognize where you struggle. What is that sin you battle with? You can't fight back if you don't recognize it.

Pray. Ask God for help. God doesn't want you to live in this sin. He wants to help you. But you need to give it over to God and ask Him for help.

Open the Word. Open the Bible and begin to find Scriptures that deal with the sin you are struggling with. All sin falls into one of three categories: lust of flesh, lust of eyes, and pride of life. Jesus was tempted by the enemy in these ways too and He always fought back with the Word. You may not find Scripture about TikTok or mean girls in the mom group, but you can find Scripture about not being lazy (Proverbs 6:9-11) and on kindness (Ephesians 4:32). So open the Word, write out Scriptures to keep close by, and even memorize those Scriptures.

Seek counsel. Talk to your spouse, a trusted friend, mentor, or even your pastor. Share your struggles and ask for wise counsel and prayer. We don't have to fight our battles alone.

Remember, the enemy will come for you. That is a given. But you are called to submit to God and resist the enemy. It is possible.

Discussion:
1. Think of that sin you struggle with. Think back to times you submitted to it. Can you see where the enemy was working?
2. Now think of ways you can fight the enemy. Scriptures you can memorize. Places you need to avoid. Hard conversations you may need to have with your spouse or trusted friend.

Names of God Series: Constantly Companioned by Jehovah Shammah

By: Rebekah Hargraves

Photo Courtesy of: Felipe Correia

"The perimeter of the city will be six miles, and the name of the city from that day on will be The Lord Is There.”

~Ezekiel 48:35

In our series studying the names of God, we come today to the name referenced here at the end of verse 35 - the name "Jehovah Shammah" - which is translated "The Lord is There" and points to how our God is ever-present with His people. 

I don't know about you, but I have had times in my life when I have felt all alone. Lies ran through my head such as,

No one understands what I'm going through.

No one knows what this is like. 

No one is on my side.

No one gets me.

No one is aware of the heavy burden I'm carrying.

No one can help me to figure out which direction to go in.

Sound familiar at all? Perhaps you have thought one or all of these before yourself. But they are all just that - lies from the enemy himself. Because what we are shown to be true throughout Scripture is that God companions us and remains with us everywhere we go, at all times and in every moment of every day. Consider, for example, these passages:

"Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, 'I will never leave you or abandon you.'" ~Hebrews 13:5

"Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” ~Joshua 1:9

"The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never left its place in front of the people." ~Exodus 13:21-22

"See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated 'God is with us.'” ~Matthew 1:23

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever." ~John 14:16

The truth of the matter, friend, is that you are truly never, ever alone - no matter what your feelings might try to tell you to the contrary. The Lord has promised to be with you every step of the way throughout your life, and He keeps His promises. Not only is the name we are studying today proof of that fact, but so is the name given to Jesus - Immanuel, literally meaning "God with us". 

The Lord is companioning you through life - today and always!

Reflection Questions:

1) What stood out to you about today's study?

2) How you ever felt as if you are alone? Have you believed that lie? How can you refute that lie with the truth we covered today? How can you live in light of the fact that you are never alone, but that God Himself is always with you? What difference should that make in your life?

3) How can you encourage someone else with the truth we studied today?

The Better Choice

 By: Joanne Viola

 

We are all unique, having our own personalities, talents, and quirks. So it should be no surprise two Biblical sisters – Mary and Martha – can confirm this to be true. They were pretty different from each other as well. Jesus took note of it; Luke made sure we knew the details.

As the disciples were traveling, they were welcomed into the home of these two sisters. Martha, who had extended the invitation, was hustling about preparing a big dinner. Mary, we are told, sat at the Lord’s feet. Martha gets a little peeved when she notices Mary is not helping her at all with the preparations. And she complains to Jesus.

“Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? 
Then tell her to help me.” 
(Luke 10: 40, NASB)

Martha was doing exactly what women in her day would have been expected to do – prepare and serve the meal. She was the one who had opened her home, and had to have recognized the amount of work it would entail to prepare a meal for Jesus and the disciples. Yet she seems to want Jesus to tell Mary to get up and assist her.

Jesus doesn’t do so.

“But the Lord answered and said to her, 
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 
but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, 
which shall not be taken away from her.” 
(Luke 10: 41-42, NASB)

Instead of telling Mary to go help her sister, Jesus gently puts Martha in her place and affirms Mary. Given that Mary was joining Jesus and His disciples, it is almost as if Jesus was saying, “Be a disciple.”

A disciple learns the ways of another. They are trained by the Teacher. They adhere to their teachings and doctrines because they know Him. They become like their teacher or mentor.

I think He would say those very same words to us today. We can so get busy with activities, good ones at that, and mistake these to be relationship and time spent with Him. But this is not what He wants from us.

Jesus longs for us to take the time to be with Him. To learn His ways. To be a disciple.

As we get busy these coming months, may we think about these two sisters. Martha was distracted with the preparations and missed the most important which was in front of her. Jesus pointed out that Mary had chosen to pause and spend time with Him. He tells us she was the one who had made the better choice.

May we remember to make the better choice.
For it will always come down to choice, and the choice is ours.
Be a disciple.

 

Reflection:
How do you stay focused on your relationship with God during this time of year? Do you struggle with balancing preparation and devotions?

 

Photo by Libby Penner on Unsplash