Hebrews 7 - 8.27.25

Scripture Hebrews 7:11

If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?

Observation

“The law provides expert diagnosis of our sin problem, which is absolutely essential. But the law does not provide the cure to our sin problem. Only Jesus can save us from our sin problem.” Enduring Word Bible Commentary.

In the Old Testament, all priests were descendants of Aaron. They were the teachers and interpreters of the law.

The writer of Hebrews was speaking to new Christians with a Jewish background, who were brought up under the Old Testament law. They had an intellection objection to the idea of Jesus as High Priest because he wasn’t from the “priestly” family of Aaron – he was from the wrong tribe. This intellectual objection was a roadblock to maturing in Christ. He reminds them of another priest in the Old Testament who wasn’t a descendant of Aaron, who is a foreshadowing of the great High Priest to come.

Vs. 18-19 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

Application

God said I have a better way.

Vs. 26-28 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who 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. For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Prayer

Lord, thank you that you made a better way – a way for us to come into right relationship with You. Thank you, Jesus, for the sacrifice you made, the cure for our sin. May we put aside anything that hinders our walk with you and put our hope and trust in You in all things.

- Debbie Dunn

Isaiah 9 - 8.26.25

SCRIPTURE:  ISAIAH 9:6

“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

OBSERVATION

We have seen this verse used in countless songs such as Handel’s Messiah, the Christmas song, “Unto Us a Child is Born,” and “Joy to the World.” But this Scripture holds much more meaning because it was a prophecy of the coming Messiah that was fulfilled about 736 years later. To Christians, we know this is a prophecy of Christ’s birth.

In Luke 2:11, an angel of the Lord proclaimed this to the Shepherds:

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

I love how God brings about the most important person in history as a baby. When we think about a baby, we know them to be weak, dependent on others, and not able to sustain themselves. Yet, here is this baby, who is born for us, a son given to us, who will be powerful with the government on his shoulders. God brought about this baby, Jesus, who would be the sacrificial lamb, to take away the sins of the world.

I’m wondering if some who read this in Isaiah’s time thought “how in the world would a child help us?” Maybe they expected God to bring about someone stronger, maybe even a Samson type individual? I know in the human sense, we would never expect a baby or child to hold such a position. God’s ways are not our ways, but His plans are perfect.

Another highlight of how God uses the small things in life to show his greatness came about in Pastor Levi’s service on Sunday, “Swallowed up.” Pastor Levi highlighted Exodus 8:16 – 19 which talked about the plague of gnats – the one and only plague the Egyptian magicians could NOT replicate. The magicians admitted “this is the finger of God.”  I’m amazed that God would use a plague of knats – a very small insect – to show His great power over everything on this earth. In the same way, God used a baby to bring about salvation to all.

In regards to the part that says the “government is on his shoulders,” many Israelites thought the Messiah would provide a new government on this earth. Again, in our human mind, some scriptures are taken literal when there’s a deeper meaning. Jesus would end up governing more than an earthly government but all of heaven and earth, as Matthew 28:18 says:

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Isaiah lists the great names of Jesus: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. Through Jesus, he became the mediator and counselor between us and God. The name of Mighty God and Everlasting Father speaks to Jesus as part of the Trinity. Jesus is the one who brings us peace in many ways but most importantly in Heaven, as Revelation 21:4 says “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

APPLICATION

God provided this prophecy as a means of hope to the Israelites and later confirmation of Jesus as the fulfillment of this prophecy. We can take comfort in seeing God’s mighty hand by providing a child, Jesus, to be our Savior. I’m encouraged to know that God can use a knat to a baby to show His power. If God can use a knat and a baby to fulfil His plans, then think of what He can do if you’re willing to be used?

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for the prophecy of Jesus’ birth and for fulfilling the prophecy in Jesus’ birth. We can see your plan at work in this prophecy. You brought about salvation to all men through a baby, Jesus. He became to embody the titles of Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. I’m so thankful and encouraged to know that you can use the little things in life to bring out your big and perfect plan. Help me to see and follow the plan you have for my life, and to bring others to know Jesus, the baby who came to save us. Forgive me for the times when I thought “I’m not (fill in the blank) enough to do this work.” I can now see that You’re the one who can use anything and anyone to get your plans to work. Praise your name! Amen

- Mary Oberg

Hebrews 5 - 8.25.25

Scripture

Hebrews 5:14

“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” 

Observation

This chapter begins with the role of a High Priest and how Jesus is our ultimate High Priest. Then it speaks about the difference between a baby Believer and a Mature Believer. Mature Believers are able to distinguish between good and evil. The writer is urging his audience to grow their faith into maturity. 

Application

To grow from infancy to maturity, set aside daily time to be in God’s Word.

As we study and apply His Word everyday, we are better able to discern God’s voice vs. the enemy’s voice.  

The devil knows scripture too and can twist God’s Words, just like he did in the Garden with Eve and with Jesus in the desert. However, Jesus is stronger than our adversary, so we must not let that scare us from diving into Scripture. We will also be able to discern good from evil as a believer because we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us! We all get tempted by evil.  Even Jesus wasn’t exempt from it, but He overcame through knowing God’s Word.

Last Sunday, Pastor Katie spoke about how we will be doing a Bible challenge to read our Bibles everyday starting in the month of September! I’m so excited for that! The great news is that we don’t have to wait until the kick off for that challenge to start. We can read our Bibles everyday with help from our Bible reading and SOAP journal blog! Here’s the link: https://desertstreams.com/bibleandjournal

There’s this song that I was taught as a young child that goes: “Read your Bible, pray everyday and you grow, grow, grow.” 

Let’s read our Bibles and continue growing in Christ! 

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your Word.  Thank You for our daily bible readings and SOAP blogs, where we discipline ourselves to be in Your Word everyday. Holy Spirit, please help us to read, study and apply it to our lives so that we can overcome any evil and temptation the devil throws at us, just like You did when tempted in the desert. Help us to discern good from evil through Your Word. Thank You that we are overcomers and conquerors through You Jesus. Amen!

-Michelle Gaddi