This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of an exposition of Psalm 2 by Dr. Wellum from Sunday June 21, 2008.

Like all scripture, Psalm 2 should be interpreted with a view to its immediate context, its place in the unfolding plan of God, and its place in the canon of scripture. After analyzing these three areas, applications can be drawn from the Psalm.

Psalm 2:7 says, “I will proclaim the decree of the Lord: He said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father.’” The early church interpreted this as a statement made by God the Father to God the Son in eternity. However, when the psalm is compared to the Davidic Covenant in 2 Samuel 11 and 1 Chronicles 17, the similarity in the language makes a strong argument for viewing Psalm 2 as a reflection on the promises to David and his lineage in the covenant. Therefore, this Psalm would remind the reader that God had promised to make David’s house great and establish him as His chosen king.

When we consider that the book of Psalms was compiled under inspiration after the exile and that Psalm 2 serves along with Psalm 1 as an introduction to the Psalter, our reading of the Psalm becomes more full. In this post-exilic time, there was no Davidic king ruling on the throne. Therefore, this Psalm must be seen as a Psalm of hope and trust in the promises of God. The Israelite community reading the book of Psalms would be reminded that God would keep His promises to David. They could look to the future with a hopeful faith in the promises of God.

Psalm 2 ultimately finds fulfillment in the New Testament in the coming of Jesus Christ. Psalm 2 is quoted directly four times in the NT, Acts 4:25-26, Acts 13:33, Hebrews 1:5, and Hebrews 5:5. The common theme in these texts is the appointment of Jesus as King. Jesus is Lord by virtue of who he is (the eternal second person of the trinity) and by what he does (his victory on the cross) (cf. Rom. 1:3-4). This Psalm and the Davidic covenant could only be fulfilled by Jesus Christ in its fullest sense, for only a king who lives forever can have a kingdom and a throne forever (2 Sam. 7:16).

Having examined Psalm 2 in these three contexts, we can understand how we should apply it today. Acts 4:25-26 helps us understand one application of this text. When the early church faced threats and persecution, they prayed quoting this Psalm and asked for boldness to share the faith in the face of persecution. We too can read this Psalm and take confidence as we share our faith. Also, this Psalm is a strong missions text. As we go out to the nations, we can have confidence that the rule of Christ will be realized over all peoples.

Audio from this week’s lesson: Psalm 2

~TWM

Ladies’ night was held Saturday, June 14, complete with a fairy tale ending! Kelli Bishop hosted the event at her home, and the ladies were all told to bring their wedding albums. They poured over pictures, laughed about wedding memories and played wedding bingo, among other wedding-themed games. Kristi Hunter even made a wedding cake, and she led an encouraging devotional on Biblical marriage. The ladies were also so excited to welcome Mrs. Wellum to the Sunday school class. Mrs. Wellum has been serving in the children’s ministry and just recently announced she’d be joining the class on Sunday mornings. Thanks to Kristi, Kelli, Kedra Giddens and Julie Rue for planning such a fun evening.

This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of an introduction to the book of Psalms by Dr. Wellum from Sunday June 15, 2008.

The book of Psalms, like any other book of the Bible, must be interpreted with a view to its place in the overarching storyline of Scripture if one is to grasp its full significance. While each Psalm is, in a sense, a self-contained literary work, the book of Psalms is not merely a collection of disparate poems, strung together without rhyme or reason. Neither is the book itself without particular salvation-historical significance in relation to the other books of the Bible.

A study of the Psalms reveals that the book was given its final and canonical form during the post-exilic era. Included are songs as early as that of Moses (Ps. 90) and as late as that of the exiles who “sat down and wept” “by the rivers of Babylon” (Ps. 137:1). The latter reveals the book’s post-exilic arrangement, meaning that the first people to actually use the Psalter to which we now have access were those who were either suffering in exile at the hands of the Babylonians, or by those who had returned to Judah under Persian rule (making them in effect exiles in their own land). When this is understood, the strong Messianic overtones of the Psalms may be read with a greater sense of the urgency with which they were first sung. Post-exilic Jews were anticipating God’s return to His people, His defeat of their enemies, His reestablishment of the Kingdom of Israel, and His reinstatement of Israel’s Davidic king. It is no wonder, then, that these themes dominate the Psalter.

That these themes are important for the book as a whole may be seen in the fact that they appear in the first two Psalms, songs that serve as a programmatic introduction to the book. Psalm 1 distinguishes between the righteous and the wicked. There is “the assembly of the righteous” (v. 6, a reference to Israel) and there are “sinners” (v. 6, a reference to enemy nations and those within Israel who rebel against Yahweh). Psalm 2 then asserts God’s sovereignty, His choosing of Israel, and a warning to the nations to pay homage to Israel and Israel’s God lest they be destroyed by the true King.

In singing through the Psalter, a post-exilic Jew would recount the glory days of the Kingdom under David and Solomon and God’s deliverance in times past. He or she would also sing of their present distress and need for deliverance in the present, and look with great anticipation to the day when God would, once again, place His King on Israel’s throne. It should come as no surprise that when this King arrived, His followers appealed to these songs frequently as testimony to the fact that God’s promises were being fulfilled. The One of whom Israel sang had appeared. The Son of David had come. The object of Israel’s praise had taken on flesh and blood.

Audio from this week’s lesson: Overview of the Psalms.

~DGG

This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of an exposition of Genesis 37-50 by Dr. Wellum from Sunday June 8, 2008.

Before turning from this study of Genesis toward the book of Psalms next week, we conclude the closing 13 chapters (37-50) with a brief summary and analysis of the life of Joseph, a key figure in the history of Israel and in the fulfilling of God’s promises to Abraham.

After telling his brothers of a dream he had in which all of their sheaves bowed down to his sheave, his brothers began to hate him (37:7). A similar dream involving his parents would lead to a rebuke by his father (37:9). The animosity that these events developed resulted in Joseph’s brothers selling him into slavery to Midianite traders who would eventually turn Joseph over to Potiphar (37:46). Once in Potiphar’s hands the Lord would prove to be with Joseph as he found favor in the eyes of this new master, eventually setting him in charge of his entire estate (39:3). His success with Potiphar would not last long, however, after the wife of Potiphar lied in regards to Joseph’s ill-treatment of her (39:17). The lies of his wife would lead Potiphar to having Joseph thrown in jail. Now in captivity a second time, the Lord would prove to be with Joseph yet again, allowing him to find favor in the eyes of the chief jailer, and eventually in the eyes of Pharaoh himself. With the favor of Pharaoh, Joseph was set in charge of the entire land of Egypt (41:41). A famine in the land would eventually place Joseph’s brothers at his service, marking the fulfillment of Joseph’s dreams envisioned in chapter 37. However, Joseph would not subject them to the same treatment with which they had subjected him when they sold him to slavery; rather, he would show them mercy (Gen 50:19-20).

Gen 50:20 serves as a crucial text in the unfolding plan of God. In the person of Joseph exists an individual who had been sold into slavery, slandered, and imprisoned; however, none of these evil events would prove to be his end. Instead, according to Joseph, all that has happened to him, including the evil committed against him by his brothers, was completely in line with the sovereign purposes of the Lord: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (50:20) Joseph’s rise to power now meant that the nation of Israel would be sustained even through a severe famine in the land. In this closing chapter of Genesis, indeed, it would have been evident to the original hearers that the Lord God alone is responsible for the perseverance of their nation and would serve as a guarantee that He would bring about his promises to Abraham. To us, as well, we who find our identity in Jesus Christ may rest in knowing that the God of the patriarchs is our God as well. The faithfulness he has shown to these of old, he shows all the more today to those who find themselves heirs of Abraham in Christ Jesus.

Audio from this week’s lesson: Genesis 37-50.

~TDG

This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of an exposition of Genesis 28-34 by Dr. Wellum from Sunday June 1, 2008.

The Bible displays the life of Jacob and the patriarchs without cleaning up their faults and shortcomings. This shows that God works through sinful men to bring about his righteous purposes. We continue to look at the life of Jacob this week in Genesis 28-36. A key element in this section of Genesis is the change that takes place in Jacob.

In Genesis 28:20-22 Jacob responds to God’s promises at Bethel without much humility. The heel grabber and deceiver wishes to maintain his control. He basically makes a deal with God by saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” (vs.20-22) However, as Jacob’s story unfolds we will see a change in him.

Chapters 29-30 recount the interesting story of how Jacob works for seven years to earn Rachel, is tricked by his father-in-law receiving Leah, works another seven years for Rachel, and ultimately prospers greatly. The birth of many children is the beginning of God’s fulfillment to make Jacob into a great nation. In Chapter 31-32, Jacob leaves Laban to reenter the land. Upon hearing that Esau is coming to meet him, Jacob prepares for the worst and devises a plan to protect his family.

In Genesis 32:22-32, after sending his family and possessions across the ford of the Jabbok, Jacob has a life-changing encounter with God. Jacob wrestles with a man until daybreak, and will not let him go until He blesses him. Jacob’s name is changed to Israel, and after the encounter Jacob realizes that he has wrestled with God.

In chapter 33, Jacob meets Esau. Though he dreads meeting the brother who threatened his life years before, the reunion is a happy one. The two are reconciled to one another. It is also clear in this passage that Jacob has changed since he left the land. Three things point to this. First, he goes out first to meet Esau putting himself in the most danger. Second, he makes restitution to Esau by giving him a gift to win his favor. Third, he attributes all that he has, his children and his possessions, to the grace of God.

If chapter 33 is a highpoint for Jacob, chapters 34-35 are a low point for his sons. These chapters explain the remarks that Jacob makes about is sons in Genesis 49. Again, we see in these stories the unlikely people that God uses to bring about his purposes. Genesis 36 gives Esau’s genealogy. Next week, we will turn to the final chapters in the book of Genesis in the narratives about Joseph and his role in the fulfillment of God’s purposes.

At least two things can be learned in the life of Jacob. One, God takes the initiative in fulfilling his purposes and in keeping his promises. This would have given hope to Israel as they prepared to enter the Promised Land, and it gives us hope now in Jesus Christ. We know God is trustworthy. Two, God uses unlikely people to accomplish his purposes. Jacob and the other patriarchs are flawed and sinful. Jacob met God and was changed. Later he could attribute all things to God’s grace. We are also sinful and need to be transformed by God’s grace. Further, we should not count unlikely candidates out of God’s purposes. If we do, we fail to recognize the power of God.

Audio from this week’s lesson: Genesis 28-34.

~TWM

Brice was born September 9, 1983; he is two minutes older than his twin brother, Blake. Brice gave his life over to Christ sometime in middle school, but it wasn’t until his freshman year of college that his faith really took off. He was accepted into Texas A&M’s school of engineering, and he had planned to room with his best friend from high school. When those plans fell through, he went pot luck and ended up with a strong Christian roommate. That roommate told him about a Christian camp called Impact that was put on by Christian students at A&M; the camp encouraged freshmen to have a solid foundation in Christ. Brice fell madly in love with the Lord during his Impact camp experience, and it changed his priorities forever. The summer before Brice’s senior year of college, he landed an internship at his dream engineering company. By the end of the summer, the company had offered him a job. After returning to school that Fall, Brice began wrestling with a desire to teach the Word. He sought wisdom from a mentor who suggested he start a Bible study on campus. During the Bible study, Brice felt an even greater call into ministry. Finally, he couldn’t fight the desire anymore, and he submitted to following what looked like a call. Once he had committed to the ministry, he receieved the formal contract for the engineering company that night. He turned it down.

Jeni was born February 5, 1983. Her parents divorced when she was young, and she and her mom moved in with her grandparents. She grew up very close to her grandparents, so she was devestated when her grandmother passed away the day before the Senior prom. Jeni moved away to college that next Fall, but she was very depressed. She had made the college dance team, and one of the girls on the dance team shared the Gospel with her. Jeni had heard it all before, but there was something different about hearing the Gospel that time; there was so much hope offered in a time when she was at rock bottom. Jeni wrestled with the idea of God for about a year. She tried partying away the pain with her new college friends, but it never made her feel any better. On the one year anniversary of her grandmother’s death, Jeni helped plan a party in the dorm, hoping to forget the grief. The next morning, she felt more depressed than ever and finally gave her life over to Christ, begging him to fix the pain. Jeni moved home from college that summer and began waiting tables at Chili’s. Her trainer at Chili’s turned out to be a Christian and became a wonderful discipler. Jeni was baptized on October 13, 2002.

Brice and Jeni were both part of the college Sunday school class at Houston’s First Baptist Church, and they met during a local mission project. They began dating during the Fall of 2003 and got engaged June 2004. They were married May 21, 2005. They both were still finishing up college at the time. Jeni graduated from the University of Houston in 2006 with a degree in history and journalism. Brice graduated May 2007 with his degree in mechanical engineering. They moved up to Louisville for Brice to pursue Seminary in July 2007. They both love board games, beaches and their Beagle, Calvin.