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Acts 4:18-20 (ESV)
So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."
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Class Notes
Powerpoint slides from this and previous classes can be found here. You may follow any of the highlighted links.
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Greetings!
Deciding that a particular verse in the Bible is the "middle verse" is really a very arbitrary exercise. The English Bible was not divided into chapters until the year 1238, and it wasn't until 1551, after the advent of printing, that Robertus Stephanus added the verse numbers. So, as I explained right at the start of this lesson, it is "interesting" to call Psalm 118:8 the middle verse, but it is not anything more than that. Indeed, we saw at the beginning of the evening that our different translations did not even agree on the number of verses in 3 John. Some translations have fourteen verses, while others have fifteen.
Having said that, Psalm 118:8 does give us a really good lesson on what it means to be in the middle of the Bible. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man."
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The Middle of the Bible
Psalm 118:8
Psalm 118 is an antiphonal psalm. That is, the first line of a verse was sung by the leader, and then everybody else sang the response (the second line). This psalm was traditionally sung at the end of the Passover meal. Psalms 113 and 114 were sung before the meal, and then Psalms 115-118 afterwards.
It is exciting to think that this may well have been the song that Jesus and his disciples sang as they left the Last Supper (Matthew 26:30, Mark 14:26). Jesus, having seen his betrayer leave the meal, and knowing that he would soon be arrested, tried, and executed, left the upper room with the eleven and sang, "Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good" (Psalm 118:1). His disciples echoed, "for his steadfast love endures forever." As he stepped out to meet those who would hand him over to some of the most unimaginable suffering, he sang, "The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me" (Psalm 118:6).
As you and I go about our daily business, let us remember the words of Psalm 118:14, "The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."
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Next Lesson will be January 4, 2012
On December 21, and 28, 2011, there will be a combined devotional in the Main Auditorium. I invite you to be part of those. Our next class session will be on January 4, 2012, when our subject will be, "The Fear of the Lord." Our scripture is a familiar one; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. Please join us as we continue looking at The Heart of the Matter.Thank you for your continued interest in God's Word and His plan for your life. I pray that you may find peace with God every day of your life. Colin Vine 713.464.0271 my email
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