Expectation of the Messiah...Week 4 with Dr. Rydelnik

This week in our meeting Dr. Rydelink, one of MBI's Jewish studies professors, shared with us about "The King of Israel." Much was to be learned from him about the concept of kingship throughout the history of Israel (as well as many of us probably realizing we should brush up on our Old Testament history). 

He gave us a really helpful outline (and all the "Type A's" cheered inside) defining the three leadership offices in Israel: prophet, priest and king (more to come on the other two later in the semester).  The prophets received messages from the Lord, and the priests instruct the people about God and mediate the people to God. It was possible for someone to be both priest and prophet but history will tell us through King Saul, it is not possible for a man to be both priest and king (see the disastrous results of this in 1 Samuel 13).  

This lesson was rich in so many other respects as he discussed the beauty of the covenant God made with David and the "perfect king" notion that came to be the standard by which all future kings were compared. 

However, as Dr. Rydelnik was going along, he wove a theme throughout--the rightful kingship and priesthood of Jesus. 

--Zechariah 6:14 says: "Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices."--

Although the Old Testament closes with the people in exile, there is still hope that the promised Son of David will come, one that will be a priest while sitting on His throne. And come He does with the proclamation "I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star" (Revelation 22:16). 

Prayer is the Greatest Work...Week 3 with Paul and Becky Santhouse

This past Thursday at SWF we were honored to hear from our very own beloved mentor Becky Santhouse and her Moody publisher-extraordinaire husband, Paul.  They spoke to us about their journey as a couple with prayer and all they’ve learned along the way.  Both shared vulnerable moments detailing how God has brought them from places of autonomy from God up to moments of deep connectedness and dependence on God and one another.

Perhaps as you sat in the room you thought to yourself all the ways in which your prayer life is boring, forced, or even nonexistent (maybe this is on your mind right now).  Becky shared how in the early years of their marriage she didn’t pray with or for her husband nearly as much as she does now, because she didn’t know how much they really needed God and how much God works through prayer. 

They then gave us a quote by Hudson Taylor that profoundly shaped the way they view prayer.  Taylor writes, “Move men, by God, through prayer.” 

Becky encouraged us to pray for our spouses because God works in our spouse’s life in ways that we as their mate, in our finiteness, simply cannot.  By praying we are inviting God, our Creator who knows every intimate detail of our life, into our marriage.  We also pray for our spouses because we want the very best for them.  To love is to have the highest good of the other in our heart.  Only God can supply them with that.  And so as they beautifully taught us tonight, “Prayer is the work, marriage is the fruit.” 

In closing, they left us with some practical ways that we can effectively pray for and with our spouses.  They mentioned things such as being intentional with time set apart for prayer, praying as you are in conversation about things that are burdening you, and don’t feel the need to present verbose, flowery prayers to the Lord. He is closer then our next breath, knowing our prayers before we even utter them.  Use determination in your prayer life, seasons of life are trying and prayer will be a constant friend. 

And finally, rely on the beauty of what’s in Scripture to make your requests known before God.  Substitute your spouses name in places of Scripture (David is patient, David is kind…) and press into the fullness of God on their behalf.  By praying together with and for your spouse God will “move men.”