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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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file: /pub/resources/text/ipb-e/so: s-open-005.txt
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