Week of 1 January AD 2023
Meditations on God the Father
| Sun | The Names of God–Gen. 1:1; 14:17-24; Exod. 3:1-16; 34:5-7; Isa. 6:1 The starting point for thinking about God is what He reveals about Himself. The name Elohim (Gen. 1:1) simply means “Mighty One” and is a singular noun in plural form. Elyon (Gen. 14:17-24) is “Most High God.” As YaHWeH (the LORD) God revealed Himself to Moses (Exod. 3:1-16) as the only God who exists when He said, “I AM WHO I AM. He is also the God with whom His people were in covenant when He says He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He revealed something of His character when He renewed His covenant after the sin of the people with the Golden Calf (Exod. 34:5-7). Lastly, He is Adonai (the Lord), high and exalted and seated on His throne over all things (Isa. 6:1). What do these names suggest about how we are to approach God? How can we incorporate the names of God into our worship? |
| Mon | Unitary, Simple, Most Pure Spirit—Deut. 4:15-19; 6:4-5; 1 Cor. 8:4-6; John 4:24 The God of Scripture is the only true God (Deut. 6:4-5, 1 Cor. 8:4-6), who does not have any form or likeness (Deut. 4:15-19), a most pure spirit to be worshiped in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). He is simple in the sense that He cannot be reduced to anything smaller: all that is in God is God. How does this understanding of God contrast with popular notions? If God is a most pure spirit, then how can we truly know Him? |
| Tues | Immense in His Presence—1 Kings 8:27; Ps. 139; Jer. 23:23-24; Amos 9:2-4 |
| Wed | Immense in His Power—Gen. 1:1-2:3; 17:1; Job 38:1-42:6; Jer. 32:17, 26-27; Eph. 1:19-23 |
| Thurs | Immense in His Knowledge & Wisdom—Ps. 147:5; Acts 15:18; Rom. 16:27; 1 Tim. 1:17 God’s immensity in terms of His presence, power, knowledge, and wisdom is perfect and unsurpassed by anything in creation. How would the fact that God is everywhere, all-powerful, and all-knowing be both a comfort and a conviction to us? |
| Fri | Eternal & Unchangeable—Ps. 33:11;45:6;90:2;102:25-27; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 6:17-18; Jam. 1:17 God’s eternality means that He is outside of time altogether. His unchangeability means He can never be less than He is now, nor can He evolve into some more than He is now. How might this fact be an assurance to us in our salvation? |
| Sat | Most Holy & Glorious—Isa. 6:1-5; Rom. 11:33-36; Rev. 4:1-11 God has numerous attributes, but only one—His holiness—is mentioned in trifold repetition, which highlights its unsurpassed nature. To be holy is to be set apart. How is this true of God? How should this shape our worship of and devotion to Him? |
Covenantide 