OceanSide church of Christ
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(3)
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
The first question asked in
the New Testament book of Matthew is found in Matthew
2:1-2.
Now when Jesus
was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there
came wise men from the east to
1.
This was an honest question
posed by honest men.
2.
Fortunately, there were
those in
3.
These men traveled to
B.
This event shows us that
questions can be very valuable to us.
They can assist us in reaching our ultimate
destinations.
C.
We have been encouraging you
to put your questions in our box in the foyer. Some of you have done this, and we want
to respond to a couple of your questions this evening.
I. THE
WORD “SUCCESS” IS USED JUST ONE TIME IN Joshua 1:8. DOES THAT MEAN THAT IT IS ALSO FOUND
ONLY ONE TIME IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE?
A.
The answer to this question
can be both “Yes” and “No.”
B.
If a person looks up the
English word “success” in the Bible, he will only find it one time in the KJV
(Josh. 1:8).
This book of the
law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and
night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written
therein: for then thou shalt make
by way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
C.
It must be remembered,
however, that this English word is a translation of a Hebrew
term.
1.
The Hebrew word is “sawkal”
(7919).
2.
This Hebrew word has a wide
variety of meanings. BDB gives four
definitions: be prudent, be
circumspect, wisely understand, and prosper.
3.
Strong notes that the word
is translated eleven different ways in the OT.
4.
In my research, I found the
word “Sawkal” used 49 times in the OT.
a.
Consider (2): Job 34:27; Ps.
64:9
b.
Expert (1): Jer.
50:9
c.
Guide his hands wittingly (1):
Gen. 48:14
d.
Instruct (2): Neh. 9:20; Ps.
32:8
e.
Prosper (6): Deut. 29:9;
Josh. 1:7; I Kings 2:3; Jer. 10:21; 20:22; 23:5
f.
Prudent (2): Prov. 19:14;
Amos 5:13
g.
Prudently (1): Isa.
52:13
h.
Skill (2): Dan. 1:17;
9:22
i.
Success (1): Josh.
1:18
j.
Taught (1): II Chron.
30:22
k.
Teacheth (1): Prov.
16:23
l.
Understand (9): I Chron.
28:19; Neh. 8:13; Ps. 14:2; 53:2; Isa. 41:20; 44:18; Dan. 9:13; 9:25;
11:33.
m.
Understandeth (1): Jer.
9:24
n.
Understanding (5): Ps. 47:7;
119:99; Prov. 21:16; Jer. 3:15; Dan. 11:35
o.
Wisdom (2): Job 34:35; Prov.
1:3
p.
Wise (12): Gen. 3:6; Job
22:2; Ps. 2:10; 36:3; 94:8; Prov. 10:5; 10:19; 14:35; 17:2; Dan. 12:3;
12:10.
D.
This question and its answer
are important because of what it teaches us about Bible study and its
results.
1.
The conclusions of our Bible
study depend upon the depth of our study.
2.
The treasures of Bible study
pile up when we dig into the various words and their
meanings.
3.
The conclusions to which we
come and that we teach are very important.
a.
Some will heed the things that we say.
b.
Some will challenge the things we say.
c.
God will judge us for the things that we say.
II. ARE ALL PRAYERS
ANSWERED?
A.
The key to this question is
in the word “answered.”
1.
Some believe that “answered”
mean “getting that which has been requested.” If this is the sense, then the answer
would be, “No.”
2.
Some believe that the word
“answered” involves “any form of response by God.” If this is the way it is used, then the
answer is, “Yes.”
B.
There are several directions
that one could go with this response in addition to what has been
said.
1.
Does God hear the prayers of
non-Christians?
2.
What about the prayer of
Cornelius?
3.
What are the responses God
can give to our prayers?
C.
Most of us in this audience
are Christians.
1.
We are been convinced of
three facts:
a.
We are to pray (I Thess. 5:17).
Pray without
ceasing.
b.
God has promised that if we ask we will receive (Matt.
7:7).
Ask, and it
shall be given you.
c.
There are times that we ask and we do not get our
requests.
2.
We need to understand a few more things about our
prayers.
a.
There are times when God “cannot” answer our prayers, even if He wants
to.
1)
Our prayers are not asked in faith (Matt. 21:22).
And all things
whatsoever ye ask in prayer, believing ye shall receive.
2)
Our prayers were not in harmony with the Lord’s will (I John
5:14-15).
And this is the
confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will,
he heareth us: and we know that he
hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired
of him.
3)
The things we requested in our prayers were intended to be consumed on
our lusts (James 4:3).
Ye ask, and
receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your
lusts.
4)
Our prayers were not effectual and fervent (James
5:16).
Confess your
faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much.
5)
Sin within our lives (Ps. 66:18).
If I regard
iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.
b.
There are three responses that God can give to our
prayers.
1)
Yes.
a)
Hannah (I Sam. 1:11, 19-20).
b)
Elijah (James 5:17-18).
c)
Hezekiah (II Kings 20:1-6).
2)
No. The example of Paul (II
Cor. 12:8-9).
For this thing I
besought the Lord thrice, that it might be depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is
sufficient for thee: for my
strength is made perfect in weakness.
3)
Wait a little while. David
in the wilderness (Ps. 142:6).
Attend unto my
cry; for I am brought very low:
deliver me from my persecutions; for they are stronger than
I.
CONCLUSION
A.
As disciples of Christ, let
us become better students of the Word of God.
B.
As children of God, let’s
approach our Father often and lay our petitions before His holy throne (Heb.
4:16).
Let us therefore
come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace
to help in time of need.
THE USE OF THE WORD “Sawkal”
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT (49 times)
Consider (2):
Job
34:27; Ps. 64:9
Expert (1):
Jer.
50:9
Guide his hands wittingly
(1):
Gen. 48:14
Instruct (2):
Neh.
9:20; Ps. 32:8
Prosper (6):
Deut.
29:9; Josh. 1:7; I Kings 2:3; Jer. 10:21; 20:22; 23:5
Prudent (2):
Prov.
19:14; Amos 5:13
Prudently (1):
Isa.
52:13
Skill (2):
Dan.
1:17; 9:22
Success (1):
Josh.
1:18
Taught (1):
II Chron.
30:22
Teacheth (1):
Prov.
16:23
Understand (9):
I Chron.
28:19; Neh. 8:13; Ps. 14:2; 53:2; Isa. 41:20; 44:18; Dan. 9:13; 9:25;
11:33.
Understandeth (1):
Jer.
9:24
Understanding (5):
Ps. 47:7;
119:99; Prov. 21:16; Jer. 3:15; Dan. 11:35
Wisdom (2):
Job
34:35; Prov. 1:3
Wise (12):
Gen. 3:6;
Job 22:2; Ps. 2:10; 36:3; 94:8; Prov. 10:5; 10:19; 14:35; 17:2; Dan. 12:3;
12:10