‘The Beard.’
a) Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 41:1-5; 48:37. Was cut off as a sign of mourning.
b) Leviticus 19:27. The Jewish men were to wear them.
c) Leviticus 21:5. The priests must never trim them.
d) Ezekiel 5:1-4. To remove it was a response to God’s anger.
e) Psalm 133:2. The anointing oil for the priests would flow down over it.
f) 2 Samuel 19:24. They could be trimmed tidily.
g) Isaiah 50:6. Those people who tortured Jesus pulled out His beard.
h) 2 Samuel 10:4. David’s ambassadors were humiliated by Hanun, he shaved off their beards.
i) Genesis 41:14. In Egyptian culture it was clean and polite to shave off one’s beard.
(This QT reminds me of the cultural differences between God’s people of Israel and the Nations surrounding Israel and challenges me as how to behave in a multi ethnic environment for the Glory of God and the sake of the Gospel in this Gentile World system)
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‘A Different Twelve Year Old Son.’
Luke 2:40-52.
a) Luke 2:40. Jesus as a growing boy:-
1- Became strong.
2- Was filled with Wisdom.
3- Had God’s special Favour upon Him.
b) Luke 2:41-42. Annually accompanied His earthly parents to Jerusalem for the Jewish Passover memorial festival.
c) Luke 2:43. At the age of twelve, for the first time, when the parents went home with all the travellers together, Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.
d) Luke 2:43-45. Jesus’ parents thought that He was with some others in this large group that were travelling together, but in the evening, at bed time, He didn’t turn up. They could not find Him so Joseph and Mary went back to Jerusalem to search for Him there.
e) Luke 2:46. After three days they found Jesus in the Temple, He was discussing deep questions with the religious teachers.
f) Luke 2:47. All the people who heard Jesus were amazed at His:-
1- Insight.
2- Understanding.
3- Responses.
4- Answers.
g) Luke 2:48. Joseph and Mary spoke to Jesus strongly because of their fears. He acted totally out of character and culture for a twelve year old Jewish boy.
h) Luke 2:49-50. Jesus spoke to them about Him being in His Father’s house but they could not understand.
i) Luke 2:51. He then went back together with them obediently to Nazareth. Mary continued to ponder these things in her heart.
j) Luke 2:52. Jesus:-
1- Continued to grow physically.
2- Continued to grow in Wisdom.
3- Was loved by God.
4- Was loved by the people who knew Him.
(In this Second one I find A Different Twelve Year Old Son – Jesus Christ)
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Chris.
The Lord understands us very well. He is our Creator and He has revealed Himself to us in His Word. When we have personal issues to pray about that we cannot talk to other people about we can have confidence to talk to Jesus about these things in our prayers because He understands us. The Lord Jesus Christ is full of understanding and understands all things.
