Date: Tue, 22 Nov 1994 12:11:41 CET Reply-To: t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel From: Teus Benschop Subject: The Scriptures opened, 5 Contents -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Weekly reading, Genesis 39:9 2. Psalm 20:7 3. New Testament, John 7:37 4. From the editor 5. Books 1. Weekly reading, Genesis 39:9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Genesis 39:9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? Yosef was tempted by the wife of Potifar. She asked him to commit adultery, a sin that clearly is against the commandments of God. This wife tempted him. We see how far the lusts of the flesh can bring someone. When one does what he wants, he executes his sinful lusts, which will lead to things like adultery and likewise. Through the grace of God, Yosef resisted the temptation. He said: "how then can I do this great wickedness". Why was this sin so wicked? Potifar trusted Yosef, because he had given him whole his house. Yosef was the greatest in that house, the ruler. Potifar had much confidence in Yosef. So, when Yosef would sin in this situation, the sin would be very great. The more people trust us, the more we may not break this trust. When Yosef would sin, this was not only a sin against Potifar and his wife, but above all against God. "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" The fear of God kept Yosef from sinning. Therefore, there is written: "Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief". (Proverbs 28:14) The man who always fears to sin, he will be kept from sinning, and therefore be happy. It is important for us to see that all our sin is against God. We often think easy about sinning, but let we not anymore do this. Each sin, which we commit, is against God, and needs forgiving. Yosef did not this sin, but how many do them? And if we not commit adultery, we do many other sins. We call many sins light, but in reality they are serious. Let we ask for forgiving through God. This forgiving is not possible without the blood of a sacrifice. In the old times, the blood of the animal sacrifices showed the blood of the coming Messiah. After the Messiah had come, we do not need these animal sacrifices. Therefore, they have stopped now. Reader, you need the blood of the Messiah; otherwise, there is no forgiving. 2. Psalm 20:7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. The enemies of David trusted in chariots and horses. The more horses they had, the more powerful they were, they thought. Iron chariots and fast horses, therein was their trust. David and his army did otherwise. They trusted not in the amount of armed forces; not in iron chariots and fast horses; not in the amount of soldiers. What was their trust? "We will remember the name of the LORD our God". He is the best Trust there is. Who trusts God will never be deceived. God made all things, and the enemies are in His hand. He will do with the enemies what He wants. Their iron chariots are weak against the power of God. Their horses fall dead when God takes away their life. In present times, the wars are not leaded by horse and chariot, but by other means. But this text remains the same. Some trust in tanks, missiles and strategy (all things which we need), but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. Let the army keep this in mind. Also for them, who not have to fight, this text is important. Some trust in their good jobs, in their health, in their insurance, in their rabbi. But we will remember the name of the LORD our God. All people, who trust in something besides God, will fall. But they who trust in God will stand upright. This trusting is something impossible for them, who not know God. They only know about their chariots and horses, and therein they trust. The knowledge of God is needed to trust in Him. About them, who trust in their good jobs and all other things, I doubt if they know God. Although they may mention God's Name, they not really know Him. Please examine yourself whether you have the knowledge of God, or not. 3. New Testament, John 7:37 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- John 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink". Here is not spoken about the common thirst, and the common water. The thirst about which is spoken here is a spiritual thirst. There are people who thirst to the living Word of God. Let them go to Jesus and drink, according to His promise. Who thirsty comes to Him will surely get water to drink. Who is thirsty to the righteousness? Let him go to Jesus and get His righteousness. Who is thirsty to holiness? Let him go to Jesus and drink to become holy. Who sees his own great sins, and is thirsty to forgiving? "Let him come unto Me, and drink". The words that Jesus spoke here, are not new. Already Isaiah had said this. "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." (Isaiah 55:1) It is like the prophet says here. Who thirsts? Let him come to the waters. Yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Pay attention to the words "without money and without price". When you long to the righteousness, come to Jesus, and get His righteousness. You need not to pay for it; all is free. You need not to pay with your good works. You need not to pay with your love. Do not think that you can earn this "wine and milk". Only go and get it. Many do not have any thirst to the righteousness. They will surely not go to Jesus, but reject Him. They are erring, and think that their own righteousness is pleasantly in the eyes of God. What will I say to these people? I say: Your righteousness is not enough before God. You think that you are righteous, but in reality are not. You overlook all your little sins. When will the time come that you see that you cannot exist before God? It will come when God show it to you. For now, I say: Leave your proud righteousness. If you will thirst in the future, come unto Jesus, and drink. 4. From the editor -------------------------------------------------------------------------- To show you the difference between the lovers of the world and the lovers of God, I tell you the next story. John needed an automatic telephone-switch, and ordered one. After testing it, it did not work. He got another one, which also not worked. The seller promised that he would solve the problem, but didn't. After many telephone-calls nothing happened. Then John got a letter from a cashing- organisation, that he must pay the money. John was thinking about what he had to do. Phoning to the seller? Phoning to the cashing-organisation, and saying that all was unfair? It would surely not have any effect, and they were superior in power. What to do? Then he thought about what is written in the Scriptures. "You took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance." (Hebrews 10:34). After he had read this, he knew what to do. He payed, because his part was not on this earth but in heaven. Let the unrighteous have their money. His part was far better and enduring. The second and the fourth issues of "Scripture opened" were unclear to some people. While I used the Hebrew names in the explanation, many English-speaking people could not understand it. In the next issues, I will use also the English names. For example, I wrote "Dvarim", what is the same as "Deuteronomy". Some think that the only thing that will be done on this list, is proving that Jesus is the promised Messiah. This is not the only thing that will be proved. Also preaching and explaining the Word is needed. Many Christians think that the only thing to do is saying that Jesus is the Messiah. I think that there is many more to do. The people have to be spurred to live a righteous life, to serve God and believe in the Messiah for forgiving of the sins. The people have to know that there are only two main groups in the world. The people of God and the people of Satan. And many more is there to know and to do. 5. Books -------------------------------------------------------------------------- George Whitefield's letters. This is undoubtedly the most exciting of the six volumes of Whitefield's Works published in 1771, to which have been added 34 letters not contained in the first edition. J.C. Ryle once expressed astonishment that the volumes of Whitefield's Works were so little known. Readers of this volume will share that surprise. ISBN 0 85151 239 9 585 pp. Cloth-bound. Price around $20,00. Ask your local bookstore or order from: Lindenberg Slaak 4-14 3061 CS Rotterdam tel. 31 104111607 The Netherlands fax. 31 104136682 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chr-Exp, a Christian explanation of the Tanach and the New Testament Editor: Teus Benschop t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl No copyrights on this publication Institution Practical Bible-education -------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/ipb-e/so: s-open-005.txt .