Readers, if you’ve already received this message with your marriage prayer, there’s no need to read it again. Just skip past me to find the chapters below. Thanks. đ
A Message from Darlene, The Time-Warp Wife…
I’ve never really considered this website a job, because for me it’s a ministry where I try to give as much as much as I can to my readers. With that said, I still have online expenses to cover. For example, the mail subscription alone is $308.00 monthly. In addition to that, I’m paying high fees to GoDaddy because of the traffic volume I get. Every one of the images I use comes with a licensing fee, and there’s the unexpected expenses like the one I had a few weeks ago when my laptop stopped working the day before our new Bible study was to come out. As you can imagine–that was a fun day! đ
Before I continue, let me just say that I’m not complaining. The blessings of this ministry far outweigh the cost of running it.
Nevertheless, it’s costly to run this website. The sales of my Bible study journals certainly help to offset the expenses, but unfortunately some months they don’t. My goal is to continue ministering at Time-Warp Wife, offering online Bible studies, and daily marriage prayers. I know that together we can make a difference in the lives of women around the world, and so I’m asking you for two things:
- Please keep this ministry in prayer. The Bible says that a strand of three is not quickly broken. And with that I’m confident that a strand of 10,000 cords is much stronger yet.
- Secondly, I wanted to ask if you might consider a one-time donation (or an occasional donation should you feel led). Whatever you can give is greatly appreciated, and no gift is too small. Gifts can be made through Paypal at: www.paypal.me/timewarpwife
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Chapter 7 – Jesus Likened to Malchizedek
What similarities are there between Jesus and Melchizedek?
I have listed the similarities in the graphic below. If the image is not clear on your email, please click through to the blog: here.
If Jesus wasnât from the tribe of Levi, what tribe was He from?
He is from the tribe of Judah.
Why is our understanding of Melchizedek important in understanding this chapter?
Because we need to understand that the priesthood was not appointed by Moses. It was appointed by God before the Levitical Law was put into place, while the Levitical Law was in place, and after the law was fulfilled through the death and resurrection of Christ.
If the priesthood was already established through the descendants of Aaron, why was it (and why is it still) necessary for Jesus to be our High Priest?
Those things that were established under the Levitical law were merely a shadow of the coming Messiah and His gift of salvation. They didn’t take away the sins of the people, but rather pointed to the One who would. The Bible points out that had these sacrifices been able to take away the sin, there wouldn’t have been a need for the annual ceremony of cleansing year after year.
Because of His spotless perfection Jesus was able to make us holy once and for all. He is now in heaven serving at the Tabernacle, not made by human hands, but by God’s own hand.
John Piper writes, “the point of the book of Hebrews is that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, has not just come to fit into the earthly system of priestly ministry as the best and final human priest, but he has come to fulfill and put an end to that system and to orient all our attention on himself ministering for us in heaven. The Old Testament tabernacle and priests and sacrifices were shadows. Now the reality has come and the shadows pass away.”
By what oath was Jesus sworn in as High Priest? Also see Psalm 110:4.
By the Word of God when He said to Him, “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”
According to verses 26-28, what sets Jesus apart from all other high priests?
He has been made perfect forever. He is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. (NIV)
Chapter 8 – A New and Better Covenant
What is the main point of Hebrews according to this chapter?
That we have a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.
Why was it important for Moses to make everything in the tabernacle exactly as he was commanded? Also see Exodus 25:40.
Because it was a pattern of the true tabernacle in heaven.
What does the word âtabernacleâ mean?
A meeting place for worship.
Why is the new covenant better than the old one?
The new covenant is established on better promises.
Where has God written the laws of the new covenant?
In our hearts and in our minds.
Why did the old covenant become obsolete?
What we see in Exodus 19:3-6 is that God made a covenant with the Israelites, “Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, âThis is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: âYou yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eaglesâ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.â These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.â
What we also see in Exodus is that the Israelites broke their covenant with God. They did not obey Him, and they did not keep their promise.
Davide Guzik writes, “The weakness of the Old Covenant was not in the Covenant itself. It was in the weakness and inability of man.”
What we see here with the New Covenant replacing the Old one is not that God came up with “Plan B” but that Christ was “Plan A” from the beginning of time. The sinfulness of man is no surprise to God. He knew us before we were born. He knew that the Israelites would not obey His voice. He knew that we needed Salvation.
This covenant was in place to illustrate their need for a Savior, in the same way that the sacrificial system under the Levitical Law illustrated their need for redemption.
The Old Covenant was there for a time and a purpose. That purpose has been served and the time for redemption through Christ has come.
Chapter 9 – A Perfect Tabernacle
What was in the first room of the tabernacle? And what was it called?
The lampstand and the table with consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place.
FYI: The consecrated bread, otherwise known as “show bread” was placed on the table in the Holy Place every Sabbath Day. What that bread represented was God’s desire to fellowship with man. When we break bread with friends, we fellowship with them. In the same way we’re told in Acts that the early church broke bread together.
So why then does Christ call Himself the bread of life? The main reason of course is that He sustains life. We all need to eat in order to live, and we all need Christ in order to live spiritually.
But there’s also another reason: Jesus tabernacled among us. In other words, He dwelled among us, breaking bread as He fellowshipped with man.
What was in the second room of the tabernacle? And what was it called?
In the second room, on the other side of the curtain was the Holy of Holies, or The Most Holy Place. That room had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.
What was inside the Ark of the Covenant? And what was above the ark of the covenant?
Inside the ark was a gold jar of manna, Aaronâs staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover.
Who was permitted to enter The Most Holy Place, and when?
The High Priest was permitted to enter once a year on the day of atonement to make a sacrifice for himself and for the sins of the people.
Verse 9 tells us that this tabernacle was a âfigureâ or an âillustrationâ of something yet to come. The original Greek word for figure was âparabole.â (Strongâs G3850). Can you find the definition of that word?
Metaphorically (definition from Strong’s)
- a comparing, comparison of one thing with another, likeness, similitude
- an example by which a doctrine or precept is illustrated
- a narrative, fictitious but agreeable to the laws and usages of human life, by which either the duties of men or the things of God, particularly the nature and history of God’s kingdom are figuratively portrayed
What did Jesus obtain for us when He entered The Most Holy Place (not made by human hands)?
Eternal redemption
Why was everything in the tabernacle sprinkled with blood? And why was it necessary for Christ to shed His blood?
A will is not in force until the testator dies. It will not take affect as long as that person is living. In order for the will to come into affect, blood must be shed.
Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins, therefore it was necessary for Christ to shed His blood on the cross.
Can you find a verse in the New Testament that is comparable to this quote from Exodus 24:8? âBehold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.â
At the last supper, Jesus took the cup, saying to His disciples:
“Likewise also [He took] the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” – Luke 22:20
That’s all for today. I’ll see you on Monday for chapters 9-13.
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About the Author
Darlene Schacht and her husband Michael live in Manitoba Canada where the summers are beautiful and the winters are cold. Together theyâve come to learn that relationships arenât always easy, but that marriage, the way God intended it to be, is a treasure worth fighting for.
She began her publishing journey about twelve years ago when she pioneered one of the first online magazines for Christian women, known at the time as âChristian Women Online Magazine.â After three years, Darlene left CWO to blog as a solo author at Time-Warp Wife Ministries.
It was also during this transition that she worked alongside actress Candace Cameron Bure to write the NYT Best-Selling book, Reshaping it All: Motivation for Spiritual and Physical Fitness. Reshaping it All was the winner of both the 2011 USA Best Book Awards and the 2012 Christian Reading Retailers Choice Awards.
Author of more than 15 books, Darlene continues to write and to minister to her readers through her blog at TimeWarpWife.com.
Connect with Darlene:
Facebook: @timewarpwife
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You are loved by an almighty God,
Darlene Schacht
The Time-Warp Wife