Tag: bsf lesson 26 day 4

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 26, Day 4: Nehemiah 10:1-29

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

Summary of Nehemiah 10:1-29

The people who sealed the agreement with God are listed. The rest of the people then join their fellow Israelites in the agreement, too, promising to obey all the commands, regulations, and decrees of the Lord our Lord.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 26, Day 4: Nehemiah 10:1-29

9a) They signed to establish personal accountability and lead by example. By physically sealing the document, they transformed temporary emotion into binding commitment. This public act of ownership was crucial for unifying the nation, encouraging the rest of the community to join the oath and take their obedience seriously.

b) I verbally affirm it in prayer and to others.

10) They would be cursed (judgment and God turning His back on them). The Israelites need the Lord in order to survive and thrive in life. They needed to be His.

11) Instead of signing a physical scroll, believers today are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13), marking them as God’s eternal property and guaranteeing their inheritance. Their names are recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev 21:27), ensuring citizenship in heaven is based on Christ’s work, not human willpower.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 26, Day43: Nehemiah 10:1-29

I love when names are recorded. It emphasizes their importance and how God cares for all of us.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 26, Day 4: Nehemiah 10:1-29

The people enter into a covenant with God and seal the document.

There were 84 leaders who signed here.

The people would be cursed if they did not obey.

Since this was public, it held them accountable.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

After the confession of Chapter 9, the people moved from talk to action by creating a sealed document.

  • The Leaders Go First (vv. 1–27): Nehemiah (the governor) and Zedekiah led the way, followed by 21 priests, 17 Levites, and 44 chiefs of the people. This list of names signifies that leadership requires visibility. They did not ask the people to sign something they weren’t willing to put their own seal on first.

  • Corporate Unity (v. 28): The movement wasn’t limited to the elite. The “rest of the people”—priests, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and their families (wives and children who could understand)—joined in. It was a total community commitment.

  • The Serious Oath (v. 29): This was not a casual agreement. They entered into a “curse and an oath” to walk in God’s Law. This legal language meant they were inviting God’s judgment upon themselves if they broke the promise. They fully accepted that obedience was the only path to survival.

Conclusion

This section demonstrates that revival must be ratified. Spiritual emotion fades, but a covenant stands. By recording their names, these leaders and families took personal ownership of their spiritual walk, transitioning from a “crowd” of listeners to a “community” of covenanted believers.

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BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 26, Day 4: John 19:38-42

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

Summary of John 19:38-42

Joseph of Arimathea asked for Jesus’ body. Along with Nicodemus, the two men wrapped Jesus’ body for burial in accordance with Jewish customs. They laid Jesus in a new tomb in a garden.

BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 26, Day 4: John 19:38-42

9) Joseph of Arimathea was a secret disciple of Jesus and a member of the Council. He was a good and upright man who did not agree with Jesus’ death. Nicodemus was the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. He was a Pharisee who came to Jesus asking who he was. Jesus told him about being born of the Holy Spirit. He tried to defend Jesus to the Pharisees.

10a) They lost the chance to personally know Jesus and to bring others to him.

b) They risked excommunication from the church and their livelihood. They gained so much by worshipping Jesus this night as they buried him, including eternal life.

11a) I think many are afraid to give up control of their lives. Many are afraid to give up their sins and follow Jesus.

b) By giving Jesus the credit for my amazing life more.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 26, Day 4: John 19:38-42

I love how these two men who had the means to bury Jesus stepped up and did so. They overcame their fear for their Savior. Wonderful!

End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 26, Day 4: John 19:38-42

Normally, servants would prepare a body for death, but here these two wealthy men did. They washed Jesus’ body and ensured it was in pristine shape for burial.

The burial of Jesus fulfilled prophecy (Isaiah 53:9 ). It was proof Jesus was truly dead. His body would not decay (Psalm 16:10)

The burial allowed Jesus to conquer sin and death. As Jesus was in the tomb, he went to Hell to bring out the faithful to heaven (1 Peter 3:18-20 )

The tomb was Joseph’s, and it would be grand for a rich man as himself.

In Jewish custom, bodies were left in small tombs to decay. The bones would then be collected and put into ossuaries. The doors to the tombs would be heavy, so no one would disturb the bodies.

It was important that the tomb was empty so that no other theory or resurrection could take place except by the Hand of God.

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 26, Day 4: Jeremiah 30-33

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

SUMMARY OF JEREMIAH 30-33

Jeremiah 30

The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity[a] and restore them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess. They will serve God again. ‘I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. God is with them and will save them. God will not completely destroy them; only discipline them. ‘But all who devour you will be devoured; all your enemies will go into exile. Those who plunder you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you I will despoil. 17 But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’

‘I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents and have compassion on his dwellings; the city will be rebuilt on her ruins, and the palace will stand in its proper place. He will add to their numbers. They will bring him honor. God will punish all who oppress them. Their leader will be one of their own; their ruler will arise from among them. So you will be my people, and I will be your God.’”

Jeremiah 31

I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.” “The people who survive the sword will find favor in the wilderness; I will come to give rest to Israel.” God will build them up again. They will proper again with plenty of fruit. The Lord will preserve a remnant adn they will come back to the Lord. The people will be delivered and redeemed and be abundant.

The Lord will make a new covenant with His people. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jerusalem will be rebuilt.

Jeremiah 32

The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace of Judah.  I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it. 4 Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape the Babylonians[a] but will certainly be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, He will take Zedekiah to Babylon, where he will remain until I deal with him, declares the Lord. If you fight against the Babylonians, you will not succeed.’”

Jeremiah buys his uncle’s field because the Lord told him to do so.

I am about to give this city into the hands of the Babylonians and to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who will capture it. The people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth; indeed, the people of Israel have done nothing but arouse my anger with what their hands have made, declares the Lord. I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. 38 They will be my people, and I will be their God.  I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. The Lord will prosper them.

Jeremiah 33

The Lord says: They will be filled with the dead bodies of the people I will slay in my anger and wrath. I will hide my face from this city because of all its wickedness. Yet, the Lord will restore His people: Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. 7 I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity[b] and will rebuild them as they were before. I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. The land will be restored and the people will prosper again. Jesus will come and save Judah. He will be called the Lord Our Righteous Savior.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 26, Day 4: Jeremiah 30-33

9a) He will bring His people Israel and Judah back from captivity[a] and restore them to the land He gave their ancestors to possess. ‘I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. God will not completely destroy them. ‘But all who devour you will be devoured; all your enemies will go into exile. Those who plunder you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you I will despoil. 17 But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds.

‘I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents and have compassion on his dwellings; the city will be rebuilt on her ruins, and the palace will stand in its proper place. He will add to their numbers. They will bring him honor. God will punish all who oppress them. Their leader will be one of their own; their ruler will arise from among them. So you will be my people, and I will be your God.’”

I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.” “The people who survive the sword will find favor in the wilderness; I will come to give rest to Israel.” God will build them up again. They will proper again with plenty of fruit. The Lord will preserve a remnant adn they will come back to the Lord. The people will be delivered and redeemed and be abundant.

b) Because at this point in their history they are about to be taken captive. They needed words of encouragement that this would not be forever; that their children will inherit and inhabit the Promised Land once again. Everyone needs hope, or life is utterly meaningless. And, there is only hope found in God.

10a) The Lord will make a new covenant with His people. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” 

b) They have the Holy Spirit who guides them. Jesus fulfilled the law. The Holy Spirit tells us: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”[a] Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”[b]

c) I’m not weighed down by my sins as I know God forgives me. I know Jesus took my judgment. For that, I feel I do become closer to Jesus each and every day and can be more like him, too. I can pray and feel guided by the Holy Spirit as to what God wants me to do. This in and of itself is freedom.

11) By Jeremiah purchasing a piece of land that would soon be overrun by Babylonians and be worthless, the message was clear: God would restore Judah and God’s people would once again inherit the Promised Land.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 26, Day 4: Jeremiah 30-33

LOVE Jeremiah 32:40: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 26, Day 4: Jeremiah 30-33

Jeremiah 30

God says again how he will bring His people back from captivity. They will no longer be slaves. He will gather His people in the Promised Land and restore them. God’s judgment will be like a whirlwind.

Jeremiah 31

Israel will have salvation in the latter days. God is faithful to Israel because of His everlasting love for them. He will build up His people, and they will be joyful. God will gather His people who have been scattered. Israel will repent, and God will forgive them. The people will be restored and blessed.

God promises a New Covenant because Israel could not keep the Old Covenant. There will be an inner transformation with the presence of the Holy Spirit. God loves His people and will forgive their sins. Jerusalem shall be restored.

Jeremiah 32

Jeremiah is told by God to purchase property as proof of a future for His people in the Promise Land. God will restore His people. Jeremiah prays for understanding. God responds with the judgment and with the restoration and the New Covenant promise.

Jeremiah 33

There is hope after the judgment for restoration. And, there shall be gladness and a branch of righteousness (Jesus) shall come. The covenant shall be repeated.

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 26, Day 4: Matthew 26:31-35

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 26:31-35

Jesus says that they will all fall away (desert him) because of him (who he is) this very night. But after he has risen, he will go ahead of them to Galilee. Peter says he never will, which is when Jesus says he will deny him 3 times before the rooster crows. Peter says no, as do the other disciples.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 26, Day 4: Matthew 26:31-35

8 ) They will all fall away because of him that very night.

9a) Peter tells Jesus he won’t fall away.

b) They are all in denial. It’s ironic how they know it will happen, but they do it anyway.

c) I don’t overestimate my own strength because I know I can’t do anything without God, His strength, and His power.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 26, Day 4: Matthew 26:31-35

I love how the rooster crows! We now own chickens, and we have one rooster. Although I have to say, he never stops crowing except at night.

An interesting read:

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 26, Day 4: Matthew 26:31-35

Jesus tells the disciples they will desert him in order to show them that Scripture must be fulfilled. Peter, like most of us, is in denial of wrongdoings and reliant on his own strength rather than God’s. Peter would falter, but Christ never does.

Peter was smug and self-assured. He will soon be humbled beyond belief. I’d be embarrassed and feel extremely guilty. This would definitely be hard to forgive myself for this one.

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BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 26, Day 4: Genesis 44:1-17

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

Summary of Genesis 44:1-17:

Joseph then gives his brothers all of the grain that they can carry. He then orders each man’s silver to be placed back in the mouth of their sacks and for his silver cup to be placed in Benjamin’s sack. Joseph lets his brothers pack up and leave. Then he sends men after them to accuse them of stealing. The brothers deny having stolen anything, citing the fact that they even brought back the other silver they had found in their sacks. They boast that if anyone finds it, that person will die and the rest of them will become slaves. The silver cup is found in Benjamin’s sack. The brothers tore their clothes and returned to the city.

Joseph asked them why they stole from him since he can divine things with the cup. The brothers have no defense, taking this as God’s payback for what they did to Joseph. They declare themselves Joseph’s slaves. Joseph says only the one who was found with the cup will be his slave.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 26, Day 4: Genesis 44:1-17

11) Joseph is testing his brothers to see how they react when Benjamin is found to have the silver. Perhaps Joseph wants to see if they are happy that they will be rid of Benjamin like they were him.

12a) Night and day. The brothers couldn’t wait to be free from Joseph who told them he would rule over them and they would bow to him one day. Here, they tear their clothes and accompany Benjamin back to Egypt.

b) The brothers are older now with families of their own. They have matured. They know how much they hurt their father by getting rid of Joseph, and they can’t bear to tell him Benjamin is gone, too. Judah says he is personally responsible for Benjamin.

c) Anyone can change, even those who do evil. This is good to remember when evil is done to us as well.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 26, Day 4: Genesis 44:1-17

Great way to see how the hearts of the brothers have changed and to test them, bringing them to complete repentance for what they did to him.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 26, Day 4: Genesis 44:1-17

Bible scholars doubt that Joseph actually used the cup for divination. I mean, God speaks to him. Joseph obviously doesn’t need a cup. It was probably just to emphasize to the brothers the magnitude of the crime they were being accused of.

The brothers are so confident no one stole it that they offer death as a penalty.

Their reaction to Benjamin having the cup says it all: they did not want any harm to come to him, as they did Joseph.

We see the brothers bowing before Joseph for a third time (Genesis 37:5-11). They needed Benjamin to go free and were humble in their approach.

The brothers could not return to Jacob without Benjamin. So, they would stick by him, becoming slaves with him. It took all this time for the brothers to finally realize their wrong against Joseph, and now they would pay the price. It seems they have accepted that. No one can hide from God or escape the penalties of their decisions. Time will get you; either on this side of heaven or the other.

BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 26, Day 4: Skimming Joseph’s Story in Genesis 39-41

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2012/2013

Summary of passage:  Genesis 39 tells how Potiphar’s Wife wanted to sleep with Joseph but he refused so she told her husband he tried to take her and he ended up in prison. Genesis 40 tells that while Joseph was in prison he began interpreting others’ dreams. Genesis 41 tells how Joseph languored in prison for 2 years until he was called upon to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams.  Joseph credits God and seeing that God is with him Pharaoh puts Joseph in charge of all of Egypt–second in command beneath him.

Questions:

9a)  Jacob refused to be comforted and was disconsolate when his favorite son, his whole world, died.  He refused to rejoice that Joseph was in heaven, in a better place.  Instead, he only wanted to die.  This was from his emphasis on Joseph as his favorite son.  When Joseph died, so did Jacob.

b)  Throughout all the circumstances that happened to Joseph, he rose to become the number two guy of the most powerful nation on earth.  He not only saved God’s chosen people but he also saved Egypt and all the peoples around.  God used Joseph to ensure all prospered.  Joseph’s family was reconciled.

Just like Romans 8:28 says “In all things God works for the good of those who love him”. All things work together for my good.  Even the bad works for good.  We just have to remember to trust God and what He is doing for He has a purpose that we cannot see nor understand.  God is in control and no matter what happens to us or around us we must not worry.  For His plan will prevail.

10)  Thrown down the cistern and sold by his brothers.  Potiphar’s wife lied to have him thrown in prison.  He explained a dream to a cellmate who forgets about him.  There he sat for 2 years until he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams.

11)  God protects Joseph from the death of his brothers (Genesis 37).  Potiphar’s wife tempts Joseph day after day but he tell her he cannot sin against God (Genesis 39:9). Potiphar puts him in jail when he could easily have killed him and while in jail Joseph is favored by God (Genesis 39:21) and put in charge of the prisoners and God “gave him success in whatever he did” (Genesis 39:23).

While in prison, Joseph meets those who will tell Pharaoh about him, the chief cupbearer.  Joseph credits his interpretations to God (Genesis 40:8; 41:16)

Conclusions:  Honestly, didn’t like this lesson.  Not much point to it.  Why not just be assigned to read the passages and then answer questions?

9b is why the story of Joseph is so powerful and why almost everyone (even non-Christians) know his story. For despite all the terrible things that happen to Joseph, he never once gives up on God and God never forgets Joseph.  I think this story particularly resonates with Americans who hold the American dream:  that no matter where you come from you can rise to succeed.  No matter how many hard knocks you take, you must always get up and keep fighting.

With one caveat:  As long as you give God the credit.

I know, even non-Christians rise and succeed but it is all God’s plan and God’s credit even if they don’t believe nor acknowledge it.

But as Christians we must.  His glory.  Never ours.  As Joseph so wondrously shows us how.