Hebrews 8 - 8.28.25

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 8:6

A New, Better Covenant

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

OBSERVATION

The author of Hebrews most likely had some connection with Paul, whether it was Paul himself or one of his friends who had heard a number of his sermons and read his writings. But ultimately, there is no conclusive answer to who wrote this book.

He has obtained a more excellent ministry: No earthly priest could take away sin the way Jesus did. Therefore, Jesus’ ministry is far better than the ministry of the priesthood under the Law of Moses.

Mediator of a better covenant: Jesus has mediated for us a better covenant, a covenant of grace and not of works, guaranteed for us by a cosigner (Hebrews 7:22). It is a covenant marked by believing and receiving instead of by earning and deserving.

i. Jesus is our Mediator for this greater covenant. Mediator is the ancient Greek word mesites, which means “one who stands in the middle between two people and brings them together.” (Barclay)

ii. Moses was the mediator of the Old Covenant because he “brought the two parties together.” Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant, a better covenant, bringing us to God the Father.

iii. Jesus’ covenant is a better covenant, better than any of the previous covenants God made with men. The covenant of Jesus fulfills the other covenants described in the Bible.

· There is an eternal covenant between the members of the Godhead that made possible the salvation of man (Hebrews 13:20).

· God’s redemptive plan was continued through the covenant He made with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3).

· The Mosaic covenant was another step in God’s redemptive plan (Exodus 24:3-8).

· The Davidic covenant was yet another step in God’s redemptive plan (2 Samuel 7:1-16).

· The redemptive plan of God was fulfilled in the New Covenant (Luke 22:14-20).

APPLICATION

The New Covenant that replaced the old is one of unmerited redemption (salvation, liberation, and transformation) and nothing we earned or can earn, which was established on better promises through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  Jesus has better promises for us:

These are promises to see us through the most desperate and dark times.

These are promises that become alive to us through the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus as our savior, the promised Messiah.

These are promises of blessing and undeserved favor instead of promises to curse and judge based on our actions/choices as was the old covenant.

And how do we receive these promises?

John 3:16  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

PRAYER

Lord, Jesus, thank you for ALL you did to give us, undeserved, unmerited grace and forgiveness, and that you walk with us every minute of every day.  Lord let me watch my words and live a life that honors you in looking for those who need you so that they come to know you as their savior and the promises you make of eternal life!! I want to be your servant and do what your word says and let each of us at DSC be a beacon of light that we may attract others to come to know your unfailing grace, forgiveness and receive all the blessings in your promises. Amen!

- Charleen Zakarian

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