News Boys

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting July 23 to study Luke 2:15 through 35.  We didn't finish with the shepherds last week, so we'll pick up there and continue through Simeon, or as far as we get.  We have a lot of chapter 2 left, so we'll take it as we can.

This passage (or two passages) are very interesting.  The shepherds tell their story far and wide, but we're left wondering about the people's response.  And then there's the process with Jesus' parents and the legal rules they're following.  And then there's Simeon, an enigma.

Read through the passage a few times, jotting down observations, questions, notes.  Read it in a few different translations to see differences. Think through those differences and make more notes. After you have some notes and questions, only then look through commentaries (Blue Letter Bible app or site if you need some).  Adjust your questions and notes accordingly.  After you've done that, go back through with the questions below:

Luke 2:15-20

• The show is over, and all they know to look for is a baby in cloths lying in a feed trough.  Why do you think that was enough?
• It is enough detail and they find the three.  Luke doesn't say what the shepherds did while with Joseph and Mary, but what do you think they did?  They had to have done one thing at least.
• The shepherds then tell everyone (and Bethlehem is crowded right now).  The people who hear wonder, what do you think is significant about what Mary does?  Keep in mind, Luke uses Mary's response as a 'contrast' to everyone else here.
• Who else from Bethlehem do you think came to see the three?

Luke 2:21-22

• In Matthew, we find none of this detail.  We do in the case of John's circumcision in the previous chapter, except for one detail, the trip to Jerusalem.  See what 'law' you can find that explains why they need to go Jerusalem and why.
• What laws of purification are 'they' following?  See what you can find, again.
• Why do you think it is so important for Luke to include these details?  What point do you think he's trying to make with his readers?

Luke 2:23-35

• Read verse 23 in several versions.  What is Simeon waiting for?  What do you think that means?
• How old do you think Simeon is?  We always think he's old, but it never actually says that.  So how old do you think he was?
• The Holy Spirit is 'on' Simeon.  Considering the infrequency of such qualities in the Old Testament, what purpose do you think the Holy Spirit has for him?
• So how do you imagine Simeon 'receives' the baby? What does that look like as you imagine it?  How do you imagine Joseph and Mary responding?
• What do you think of Simeon's 'song'?  It begins with, "Now dismiss" and in Latin it's 'Nunc Dimitis' which is used in Catholic and Protestant liturgical worship.  
• What do you think is going on in Simeon's mind and heart?
• Joseph and Mary witness this 'song' by Simeon.  What do you think they think?
• After this brief musical interlude, Simeon has some things to say to Mary.  Why do you think Mary specifically?
• In his song, Simeon says that Jesus will illuminate the glory of Israel, but to Mary he says that he is appointed for the 'falling and rising of many'.  How do you think these ideas might be connected, or do you think they are?
• You are told that your new-born son will be "a sign to be opposed", what do you feel?  What emotions (gut response) do you have in response?
• Oh, and by the way, a sword will pierce your soul too.  He just a bearer of great news isn't he?  What do you think he meant by that remark? 
•  So, does the sword through Mary's soul reveal the thoughts of many hearts, or does the sign to be opposed reveal those thoughts, and a sword pierces Mary too?  Look around at different translations.  What do you think that all means?
• What does this comment tell you about Luke's perspective of Mary as he writes?  
• Why do you think he seems to know her so well?

That should be plenty to wade through for us.  Be sure to bring your own notes, questions, and comments. See you Thursday!

And Now We Meet David

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting September 19 to study 1 Samuel 16.  This chapter begins the ascent of David to the throne.  The account of  Saul has set this up for us, and from here on the narrative is pretty much about David.  This chapter sets the stage for the rest of the book of 1 Samuel.

Read through the chapter several times on your own.  Jot down the funky strange things you will find.  Some will be blatant and really difficult to grapple with.  Others not so much, so be sure to look beyond evil spirits.  We will be working through the obvious ones as well as not so obvious ones; as you know, we don't skip much.  You are going to find ones I miss though, so please don't just rely on the questions below.

Once you've been through the chapter a few times, go back through again using the questions below:

• Why do you think Samuel mourns Saul so long when Samuel didn't even want a king in the first place?
• To get Samuel out of his funk, God gives him a job (not unlike Elijah later on).  Why, after facing down Saul at Gilgal, would Samuel fear him?
• God accommodates Samuel's fear (or excuse) by telling him to use a ruse.  Why would He do that?  Why not push Samuel to simply be obedient in faith alone?
• The elders of Bethlehem tremble when Samuel shows.  What might they be thinking to come out that way?  How do you think they perceive Samuel if this is how they go out to greet him?  What might we have missed to explain their behavior?
• What do you think Jesse might have thought that Samuel pays his family such attention?  After such attention by Samuel, why leave David out?
• What are the obvious similarities between Eliab and Saul (1 Samuel 9:2)? Do you think that God is using a different standard now than he did with Saul?  Why or why not?
• How many sons does Jesse have?
• When David arrives, how different is his description from Saul's (1 Samuel 9:2)?
• Who witnesses the anointing?  Keep that in mind for the next chapter.
• From this time on, the Spirit of Yahweh is on David.  How different is this from Saul in 1 Samuel 10 and 11?
• Verse 14 begins a totally separate account, but the connection is obvious.  Try reading chapter 17 entirely, and then coming back and reading the rest of 16.  How does that work in the literary flow of the story?
• God sends an evil spirit to terrorize Saul.  There's really no other way to translate this account, the spirit is evil, and it comes from God.  What does that say about God's character, what do you learn from that?
• The servants of Saul know what's going on with Saul, they realize both the spirit's evil, and that it came from God.  How strange is this sort of thing if they recognize it, and have a solution?
• Consider the sort of 'musician' they look for, why would these qualities beyond the ability to play an instrument/harp be so important?  
• So how old is David in this description?
• Jesse sends David with 'gifts' for Saul beyond his son.  Why do that if he's already sending his son?
• How does Saul view David?  What job beyond 'court musician' does David get?  Considering the guy that does that for Jonathan, how safe is such a job?
• Saul sends to Jesse to have David stay with him, so David is now employed full time.  How does that mesh with the following chapter?
• Read verse 23 in as many versions as you can.  If you have a Strong's Concordance, look up 'refreshed' (H7304) or look it up on the Blue Letter Bible website.  Look how similar it is to 'spirit' (H7307).  In fact, on the Blue Letter Bible website, you can listen to the pronunciation of both, and see how close they are to each other.  Why might this be an important literary element to this specific account of David and Saul?

I suspect that there is way more than enough in this chapter to discuss for one night.  Going forward the story gets more familiar, but still with plenty of peculiarities.  I look forward to seeing everyone in a few weeks!