Tag: bsf lesson 22 day 3

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 3: Zechariah 12:10-13:9

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Zechariah 12:10-13:9

God will pour out a spirit of grace and supplication on His people. They will mourn when they realize they pierced Jesus and grieve. But, the people will be cleansed on that day. Idols will be banished and not remembered. The sheep will scatter when the shepherd is struck. Some of the people. will be struck down, but there will be a remnant who will be God’s people.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 3: Zechariah 12:10-13:9

7a) A spirit of grace and supplication and a fountain that will cleanse the people from their sins and impurity.

b) One has to have a truly repentant heart in order to receive the grace and blood of Jesus and be cleansed of one’s sins. Sorrow over sins is just part of forgiveness and then a renewed desire to do better.

c) Jesus had to die to save all of us because all of us sin.

8 ) Both predict the future national salvation of Israel. Romans promises that “all Israel will be saved” after the Gentile fullness. Zechariah describes the event that fulfills this: God pouring out a spirit of grace, causing the nation to recognize their Messiah (the “pierced one”), mourn in repentance, and receive cleansing. No.

9a) It was in God’s will for Jesus to sacrifice himself for all of humanity. This passage reveals the crucifixion as God’s sovereign plan, not a tragedy. God commands the sword against His “Associate” (Jesus) to strike Him, intentionally scattering the flock to refine a faithful remnant. This mirrors Isaiah 53:10, confirming it “pleased the Lord to crush Him” to secure salvation for His people.

b) God has forgiven all of my sins, each and every day. He has mercifully blessed me and given me a desire to do His will. I have passed this on to my kids so that they, too, can work for God’s kingdom.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 3: Zechariah 12:10-13:9

Great passage of God’s grace through His son, Jesus Christ.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 3: Zechariah 12:10-13:9

God’s grace will allow His people to turn to Jesus.

This is good news, as we learn that all of God’s people will turn to Christ Romans 11:26.

The mourning at Hadad Rimmon refers to the people’s mourning when King Josiah died  (2 Kings 23:29 and 2 Chronicles 35:20-25).

Because God’s people will turn to Him through Jesus, they will be cleansed and forgiven of their sins.

The analogy of God as a fountain for His people is common in the Bible.

God will also cleanse His people of idolatry and false prophets, 2 common ways Israel sinned against God and were led astray.

False prophets would be ashamed, and even their family would condemn them.

The Shepherd in verse 7 is Jesus, and God is the one who commands the Shepherd to be struck.

Jesus’ sacrifice was God’s plan, and they worked together to do so.

The sheep will be scattered refers to the disciples. Jesus quoted this phrase from Zechariah 13:7 in Matthew 26:31.

This seems to say that only 1/3 of the Jewish people will survive the Tribulation. Interestingly, this group includes the 144,000 of Revelation 7 and Revelation 14 as Jesus establishes his millennial rule on earth.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

The Spiritual Awakening (12:10)

Following the physical victory, God pours out a “spirit of grace and supplication” upon Jerusalem. This triggers a profound revelation: they will “look on me, the one they have pierced,” recognizing their historical rejection of the Messiah (God Himself).

The National Repentance (12:11–14)

This realization leads to deep, bitter mourning, comparable to the grief over an only child. It is a solemn, segregated sorrow where families mourn privately and separately (men and women apart), indicating that this is a genuine, individual conviction of heart, not just a public ceremony.

The Cleansing from Sin (13:1–6)

In response to this repentance, a “fountain” is opened to cleanse the people from sin and impurity. God ruthlessly purges idolatry and false prophecy from the land. The rejection of deception becomes so intense that false prophets are ashamed of their visions, and even parents would condemn a son who speaks lies in God’s name.

The Shepherd Struck and the Remnant Refined (13:7–9)

God commands the sword to strike “My Shepherd” (the Man who is My Associate), causing the sheep to scatter. This initiates a severe refining process: two-thirds of the land is cut off, while the remaining third is brought through the fire. This refined remnant calls on the Lord, finally restoring the covenant bond: God says, “They are my people,” and they respond, “The Lord is our God.”

Conclusion

While the previous section dealt with physical deliverance, this section details Israel’s spiritual restoration. It demonstrates that true salvation requires recognizing the wounded Messiah, deep repentance, and a painful refining process that ultimately restores the intimate, reciprocal relationship between God and His people.

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 3: Revelation 17:3-6

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Revelation 17:3-6

John next sees a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that is covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. The name written on her forehead was: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes, and the abominations of the earth. The woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 3: Revelation 17:3-6

6) John next sees a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that is covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. The name written on her forehead was: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes, and the abominations of the earth. The woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

7a) She’s a prostitute whose mission is to destroy God’s people. She does this by luring them into sin and getting them to turn from God.

b) 2 Chronicles 36:15-21 tells us about the Fall of Jerusalem and how God’s people were exiled to Babylon. Jeremiah 39:1-10 tells of how Nebuchadnezzar marched against Jerusalem and laid siege to it. Daniel 5 describes how Daniel interpreted the writing on the wall for King Belshazzar of Babylon. All of these tell of the evil of Babylon and how God used the country and kings as punishment for His disobedient people. The woman is the same.

8 ) The attractions of the world are simply shallow with no meaning and purpose behind them. They are fleeting and temporary; whereas, God and His glory are eternal. I’m attracted to God because you feel empty once you obtain the attractions of the world, but you always fill whole and satisfied with God.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 3: Revelation 17:3-6

Great lesson on not being deceived by looks, appearances, and the flashiness of this world but by holding fast to God.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 3: Revelation 17:3-6

We saw this beast in Revelation 13:1.

She is blasphemous, but she fools the earth’s people into appearing religious.

Remember that purple was the color of royalty in ancient times and Rome. Scarlet was an expensive dye only used by the rich as well.

Notice she only has abominations and filth aka sin. Abominations can be anything that’s detestable. It can also be idolatrous beliefs.

Many Roman prostitutes wore headbands with their names on them.

The prostitute is drunk/revels in her persecution of God’s people.

Remember, Babylon represents sin and rebellion against God. They want to destroy God’s people.

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BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 22, Day 3: John 17:6-10

by atozmom, posted in BSF John's Gospel: The Truth 2023/2024

Summary of John 17:6-10

Jesus prays for his disciples. They have obeyed him and know everything comes from God. They accept Jesus and know he is from God. They are God’s and his. They glorify him.

BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 22, Day 3: John 17:6-10

6) The disciples have obeyed God’s word. They were given to Jesus by God.

7a) By the disciples’ belief in Jesus and by the works they will do when he is gone.

b) I can contemplate God’s glory and His word more and grow my faith in God. I can let the Holy Spirit guide me. I can praise God more. I can rejoice and be happy. I can praise and honor Christ and God.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 22, Day 3: John 17:6-10

I love Jesus’ heart for others and how he prays for our/their well-being.

End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 22, Day 3: John 17:6-10

Jesus lived out God’s goodness and righteousness.

God gave Jesus the disciples. Jesus then gave them to the world.

Believers belong to both God and the Son. We have Jesus glorified in us.

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 3: Genesis 3:19; Job 5:7; and Psalm 109:21-22 & Others

by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided 2022/2023

SUMMARY OF GENESIS 3:19; JOB 5:7 & PSALM 109:21-22

Genesis 3:19: “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Job 5:7: “Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.”

Psalm 109:21-22: “But you, Sovereign Lord, help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.”

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 3: Genesis 3:19; Job 5:7; and Psalm 109:21-22 & Others

6a) Since the Fall, humans have and will suffer as part of the Fallen condition. Yet, the glory that awaits us makes our sufferings pale in comparison.

b) Human suffering tests us and strengths us. It also grows us closer to God. It can also be the work of Satan or of God who wishes for others to see his work through others’ pain and suffering.

c) That God’s ways are not our ways. He is higher than us, and He has a purpose for pain and suffering that most of the time we do not understand why. Our lot is to walk the path He has laid out for us, whether we like it or not.

7) God does all things. He is in control. Yet, He is with us and will strengthen us. God keeps us humble.

8 ) Our troubles achieve for us eternal glory, and we are being renewed in God each and every day. We will once again reign with God in Eden. When life is tough, we know that there is much more beyond this world, so we can persevere and endure, waiting on God’s timing.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 3: Genesis 3:19; Job 5:7; and Psalm 109:21-22 & Others

I love how there’s always a purpose in our suffering, even when we can’t see it. We just have to trust that God has it.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 3: Genesis 3:19; Job 5:7; and Psalm 109:21-22 & Others

Trouble comes to us as a judgment from God. Since all men sin, they deserve the trouble that befalls them.

Jesus bore these sins for us as our Redeemer.

The plain fact of the matter is that no one knows why we suffer because God’s ways are not our ways. He knows why we suffer, and it’s up to us to discover the purpose in our suffering and to rely wholeheartedly on Him in the midst of it.

It’s an on-going challenge to resist sin; yet, it’s an opportunity to experience God’s strength

Suffering can be as discipline, from Satan coming against us, or from living in a fallen world. It’s how you respond that matters most.

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 3: Matthew 21:23-32

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 21:23-32

Jesus is questioned again by the chief priests and the elders while he was teaching at the temple courts about his authority. Jesus in turn asked them to answer one question first which was if John’s baptism was from heaven or from man. The elders conferred and couldn’t draw a good conclusion so they said they didn’t know. Thus, Jesus declined to answer their question since they could not answer his.

Jesus told the parable of the two sons. The father asked both sons to go to the vineyard to work for him. One said no, but went later in the day. The other son agreed to work, but never went. Jesus asks which of the two did what his father wanted. They answered the first. Jesus then says the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of heaven ahead of many for they believed John who showed the way of righteousness.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 3: Matthew 21:23-32

6a) They asked Jesus: “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” Jesus told them they must first answer a question he poses. Then he will answer their questions.

b) They were only taking into account the politics of their answer and what the people would think. They did not care what the real answer was to Jesus’s question. Since they couldn’t decide which answer would be better viewed by the people and would be “right” to say, they said they did not know. They did not care about the will of God.

7a) Probably in every aspect of my life. Really too many to say precisely.

b) Jesus has authority over the entire world. It should not be questioned.

8 ) The first son said no but had regrets and went later. This represents those who have accepted Jesus. The second son said yes but never went. The second son represents many Christians who and answer God’s call of “Will you follow me?” and they say “I will,” but in their hearts, they are not believers.

9) I’m more the first. My initial reaction is no because it’s usually something uncomfortable, but in the end, I follow. Human nature and sin prompt us to immediately say no.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 3: Matthew 21:23-32

I love the Parable of the Two Sons. How many of us do this? We say yes to God with no intention of following through.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 3: Matthew 21:23-32

Remember that the previous day Jesus had just cleansed the temple by throwing out the money lenders and price gougers. The priests were curious what right he had to do those things.

The answer to the question Jesus posed the religious leaders is the answer to the question of Jesus’s authority. The answer “men” would upset the crowd who revered John. The answer “heaven” would have shown them to be hypocrites since John believed Jesus to be the Messiah.

When the leaders failed to acknowledge Jesus’s authority, they rejected God at the same time.

God will reveal truth; all you have to do is ask.

Jesus knew this was another trap by the religious leaders. He had no compassion for them.

The Three Parables of God’s Judgment

  1. The Parable of the Two Sons
  2. The Parable of the Tenants
  3. The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

Remember a parable is a story that aims to reveal truth in an understandable way. Jesus’s parables are merciful to the receptive and informative of your fate if you reject him. At each parable, the religious leaders could have repented. They did not.

The Parable of the Two Sons

Since the sons lived in the father’s household, it was expected they work for him. He asked the sons individually, not collectively. He addressed them as son.

The first son said no but had regrets and went later. (This represents all of humanity).

The second son said yes but never went. (This represents the teachers of the law who profess obedience to God, but don’t accept Christ).

Both rejected the father’s authority (the father is God in this story).

The second son represents many Christians who and answer God’s call of “Will you follow me?” and they say “I will,” but in their hearts, they are not believers. You will forever be lost without acceptance.

Actions are what matter, not your words.

Tax collectors and prostitutes were regarded as the lowest class. This should have made those who don’t follow Jesus repent.

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BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 22, Day 3: Genesis 27:26-41

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2012/2013

Summary of passage:  Isaac kissed his son.  He smelled Esau’s clothes and concluded this was Esau.

Isaac blessed Jacob, asking God to give him abundance and have the nations serve him and bow to him, have him be lord over his brothers and have those who curse him be cursed and those who bless him be blessed.

Esau returned from hunting and brought in the food to Isaac.  Isaac realizes he had been tricked by Jacob.  But it was too late.  Isaac cannot bless both.  He did not reserve another blessing.  Esau wept and Isaac tells him he will serve his brother and he will live away from the earth’s riches but eventually he will throw off Jacob’s yoke.

Questions:

6a)  God will grant riches of the earth and an abundance of grain and wine.  Many nations will serve Jacob and people will bow down to him.  He will reign over his brothers and mother’s sons.  May those who curse him be cursed and those who bless him be blessed.

b)  God will punish the nation that enslaves His people (Genesis 15:14) but afterwards they will come out with great possessions.  Same as those who curse him be cursed.  Repeated in Genesis 12:3 where God says “I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse.”

7a)  According to Webster’s dictionary, regret is “to mourn the loss or death of; to miss very much; to be sorry for.”  Repentance is “the act or process of repenting (to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life; to feel regret) for misdeeds or moral shortcomings.”

As you can see, their meaning are the same in a way.  Regret is more to feel sorry for what you did (or did not do).  Repentance is to feel sorry for what you did but also to resolve to change and it’s emphasis is more on sin.

b)  Esau is regretful.  He’s sorry for himself that he did stupid things like sell his birthright for a meal and marry unbelievers.  But he doesn’t change his ways. Immediately, he wants to kill his brother–for his mistakes (of selling the birthright) but also for God’s will as I’m sure they all knew the prophetic words revealed to Rebekah. His heart is not repentant at all.

Jacob is repentant.  He realizes he tricked his father and lied to him and I think he’s truly sorry.  God spoke to him afterwards and does not condemn his actions.  For He doesn’t need to as Jacob has learned his lesson.

8a)  It would have gone against God’s will as spoken to Rebekah (Genesis 25:23).  Esau was flippant and despised his birthright as we see in Genesis 25:29-34 when he sold his birthright for a meal.  Esau married Hittite women (Genesis 26:34) which would have jeopardized the raising of his sons in terms of faith in the Lord.  Esau wants to kill his brother (Genesis 27:41)–a direct violation of God’s law of murder.  He is vengeful and his heart is not God’s.  Definitely not something God wants in the line to Jesus.

b)  They doubt.  They sin when they know it’s wrong.  They have no desire to do God’s will here on earth. They are in the world instead of of the world.

c)  He’s a provider.  He brings home meat for the family.

d)  Personal Question.  My answer:  I hope going in the right way.  I’m trying every day to be more like Jesus.  I’m trying to be in the Word as much as possible.  I’m trying to follow God’s purpose for my life.  I’m trying to raise my kids to know Him.  I’m trying to be a good wife and spouse to my husband.  We are at a turning point in our lives where we’re trying to plan for the future and put God at the center (both with our money and our hearts).  My husband and I are finally on the same page about this.  I pray I do His will every day.

9)  Isaac’s prophecy is:  Esau will dwell away from the earth’s riches.  He will live by the sword and will serve his brother.  But he will eventually throw off his brother’s yoke. During the Exodus, Moses asked to pass through Edom’s lands which they refused and so Israel turned from them (Numbers).  David conquered the Edomites (2 Samuel 8:14).

Edom did rebel against Judah (Israel) in 2 Kings 8:20-22.  Another war is depicted in 2 Kings 14:7 between Judah and Edom.  Another time Edom attacked Judah in 2 Chronicles 28:17.

Obadiah is where God has had enough of the Edomites and their sins against the Israelites.  God tells Israel to not abhor Edom for Edom is their brother (Deuteronomy 23:7) but when the Edomites cheer the fall of Jerusalem during the Babylonian invasion and help plunder the city and prey on fleeing Israelites God says through Obadiah “There will be no survivors from the house of Esau” (verse 18).

God says “As you have done, it will be done to you” (verse 15).  Like I said BEFORE, the Edomites were obliterated from history when Rome conquered Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

Conclusions:  Question 9 is almost the exact same as Question 4 on Lesson 21 except here they give us the passages and last week they did not.

I’m really struggling here.  I’m floundering to be precise.  So I’m praying through this. This repetition and re-wording of the questions with virtually the same concept is driving me mad to be honest with you.

I GET it!  I do.  Part of me feels like BSF doesn’t trust me to get it.  So I’m being bombarded with the same passages (which in my view is not really all that hard when compared to say Isaiah for instance).  So I’m spending 3 lessons on the same thing (and tomorrow is Hebrews!).

I’m no Biblical scholar by any stretch of the imagination.  But I understand right and wrong and why Jacob was the chosen one (simple–cause God chose him and God can do whatever He wants) and why Esau wasn’t worthy, etc, etc, etc.

Instead of growing I feel stuck.  I’m at the point of skipping some classes to be honest with you.  The last two weeks have been difficult.  My group has fallen to half its normal size from September.  So has my kids’ classes.

I can’t remember ever feeling like this with BSF before.  So I’m praying.  That’s all I can do really.