You have been ransomed

1 Pe 1:17-21

17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

• How does being holy lead to a discussion about your conduct on earth?
  
• How does knowing that God judges impartially make you feel?
  
• Why should you conduct yourself in fear while on earth?
  - How effective is fear as a motivator?
  - How does fear relate to being ransomed by Christ's blood?
  
• What was your futile way of life?
  - What does concept of ransom mean to you?
  - What was the Jewish concept of ransom / redemption?
  - What does ransomed by Christ's blood mean to you?
  
• Why did Christ appear on earth?
  - How are you a believe in God through Christ?
  - Where is your faith and hope?
  
• How holy has your life been this week?
  
• How often did you go back to your futile way of life?
  
• How would your behavior change if you realized God's presence and holiness?

Harold's Musings:
We have all probably seen a TV show or movie in which someone is kidnapped and a ransom is required to get them back. Most shows have the parent or spouse willing to pay any ransom price for their loved one. Redemption is one of those words that has grown to be a Bible word. I like how the ESV uses ransom. We were kidnapped by our futile lives and Christ paid the ransom price to free us. I can get that. The ransom price was impossibly high, but he was willing to do anything to pay the ransom price.

Results of knowing about your inheritance

1 Pe. 1:13-16

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, [1] and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Footnotes
[1] 1:13 Greek girding up the loins of your mind

• What does the "therefore" connect to? [Consider previous days passages]
  
• What is involved with girding your minds for action?
  - What action is expected?
  
• What is involved in keeping sober in spirit?
  
• How completely is your hope fixed on the grace to come?
  - When will you receive this grace?
  - What other things compete as anchors for your hope?
  
• How does obedience relate to not conforming to lusts?
  - Why does Peter call them "former lusts"?
  - What is involved in dealing with or getting rid of lusts?
  
• What is contrasted with being conformed to lusts?
  - What is holy behavior?
  - How often do you consider yourself holy?
  - Why is being holy sometimes seem impossible?
  - Why are you to be holy?
  - What are the implications of your not being holy?
  - How often is your goal to be holy?
  - How often is your goal to fit in with your friends and neighbors?

Harold's Musings:
I suppose this one of the hardest concepts to grasp in a meaningful way. Both the Jews and the Greeks understood the concept of holy. To be holy is to be devoted entirely to the deity or the work of the deity. They had temples and objects that were physical, visible, and recognizable. The culture around them recognized that "this" or "that" is devoted to "the god". While the gods that were being recognized were most often not gods at all, the concept of holy was present. In our culture, we struggle with the concept as God wants it. God is not concerned about a holy building anymore. He is not concerned about holy lampstands, basins, or even arks and altars. God is concerned about his holy people and his holy dwelling, which are the same thing. Oh, that I could completely recognize my call to holiness throughout my day!

Christ was prophesied

1 Pe 1:9-12

… 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

• Did you realize that the grace you have received was prophesied centuries before?
  - What is this grace that was prophesied?
  - Which prophets prophesied about it?
  
• Why would _prophets_ search and inquire? Didn't people inquire of prophets?
  - What were the prophets trying to find out?
  - Who was directing the prophets?
  - What did the prophets predict?
  
• Who was being served by the prophets?
  - How were you served by the prophets?
  - Through what means was the gospel preached?
  - Who was unable to look into the gospel?
  
• What is your response to this salvation that you have received?

Distressed by Trials

1 Pe 1:6-9

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

• How often do you greatly rejoice in your future salvation and inheritance?
  - Why is it important to rejoice in these now?
  
• What is your usual response to distressful trials?
  - Is enduring distressful trials required to be a Christian?
  - What is the outcome of trials from God's perspective?
  - What is valuable to God, Creator of the Universe?
  - Why must faith be tested and refined?
  - What are some ways your faith has been tested?
  - What will be the result of your faith? When?
  
• How often have you wanted to "see" so that you could believe more?
  - What are you to do even though you have never seen Jesus?
  - How often does your faith in Jesus cause you to greatly rejoice?
  - How does Peter describe the rejoicing?
  - When has your rejoicing been like this?
  
• How is your rejoicing and your salvation intertwined?
  - What is the source of your rejoicing?
  - What is the object of your rejoicing?
  - What are the outcomes of your rejoicing?

Harold's Musings:
This is a very challenging passage for me. I am encouraged by the outcome but not so happy about the path to get there. The readers of the original letter were undergoing hardships I have not had to face and Peter challenges them to rejoice. It makes me ashamed that I might fuss over my relatively small struggles. I think that we must be careful not to grade sufferings any more than we should grade sins. If my small struggle is enough to test my faith (and it is not a test if you cannot fail), then this passage applies. There are just too many things that I try to handle on my own, depending on faith in me not God. I need to learn to rejoice in my little struggles with the knowledge that bigger struggles are likely to follow.

Spiritual inheritance

1 Pe 1:3-5

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

• How did God's mercy cause you to be born again?
  - What was the result of your being born again?
  - What is living hope?
  - Through what means or mechanism were you born again?
  
• What is the object of your living hope?
  - How does Peter describe the permanence of your inheritance?
  - Where is your inheritance now?
  - How does this inheritance reinforce your being alien in this world?
  
• What protects you?
  - What is the goal or outcome of this protection?
  - What role does faith play in this protection?
  - When will you receive your salvation?
  
• How do the following influence your daily life?
  - living hope
  - reserved inheritance in heaven
  - God-powered protection
  - waiting salvation

Harold's Musings:
While I was growing up, I don't think I ever thought of what I would inherit from my parents when they went Home. As they get older, they bring up things that they have left in their will for me or for my sister. Some of the things have only sentimental value. Some have financial value. Others are of undetermined value. Regardless they will be mine or my sister's because our parents have chosen to give them to us. God has planned an inheritance for his children that is of matchless value. It is waiting in heaven just for you as His child. The object of your hope should be waiting in heaven. The inheritance is there, but is that where your hope is anchored?

Chosen Aliens

1 Peter 1:1-2

1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

• When do you feel like aliens, scattered throughout the world?
  - How comfortable are you living in the world?
  - How often do you feel out of place in the world because you are a Christian?
  
• What was involved in being chosen/elected?
  - Is this choosing of individuals or a group (like the nation of Israel)?
  - How can God choose/elect individuals and also say He wants all to be saved?
  - Why would God choose a group?
  - How did God's foreknowledge play a role in the choice?
  
• What role did the Spirit have the choice?
  - What does it mean to be sanctified?
  - What were you set apart to do?
  
• What was the intended outcome of your being chosen/elected?
  - How well do you like commands and rules that you must obey?
  - How comfortable are you with the idea of obeying Jesus Christ?
  - How well do you obey Jesus Christ?
  
• What is the significance of being sprinkled by his blood?
  - How was blood used in the sanctification of the tabernacle and its objects?
  - How was blood used in the sanctification of the priests?
  
• How do you feel knowing you were chosen and sanctified to obey Christ?
  - How does this passage help you understand your identity in Christ?
  - How would realizing you are chosen and sanctified make you an alien?
  

Harold's Musings:
I generally feel uncomfortable in a group of new people, but feel excited in a new place. Perhaps I am more concerned about my emotional well-being (e.g. being rejected by the new group) than my physical well-being (e.g. walking the streets of New York). I know that I don't like to be an outsider. The word that the ESV translates as exiles has been translated as aliens, strangers, pilgrims, or sojourners. One scholar states that it presents Christians as men who have no country of their own on this earth; they are simply temporary residents. When I'm in a new place for a couple of days on a trip, I know that I'm going home soon and do not look for ways to settle in. In our moves to various places, I want to settle in quickly and feel at home. Perhaps as Christians we have forgotten our transient nature and have settled into the world around us. What do you think? Are you more comfortable in your community that you are with God?

And in conclusion...

Eccles. 12:13-14

13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. [1] 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with [2] every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Footnotes
[1] 12:13 Or the duty of all mankind
[2] 12:14 Or into the judgment on

• What had Solomon tried in his quest for meaning in his life under the sun?
  
• What do you see as Solomon's appraisal of life under the sun?
  
• From what source should a person look for happiness under the sun?
  
• What conclusion did Solomon reach at the end of his quest?
  
• How do you feel about his conclusion?
  - Where is your happiness in this conclusion?
  - What happiness is there in being afraid?
  - What happiness is there in being obedient to a bunch of restrictive rules?
  
• Where in the New Testament is the warning about every act being judged basically repeated?
  
• How often do you need to remember this warning in order to be more obedient?
  

Wise words and many books

Eccles. 12:11-12

11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

• Why would the words of wise men prod and goad you?
  
• What is the "natural" path and inclination of man under the sun?
  
• How likely are you to seek out the words of wise men?
  
• How likely are you to heed the words of wise men?
  
• What skills are involved in putting together a collection of wise sayings?
  
• Where do the wise words come from?
  
• Why is it important to be sure of the source of the wisdom?
  
• How does Solomon contrast the collection of Godly wisdom to the writing of books?
  
• How does Solomon's warning about writing books remind you of his previous comments?
  
• What are some of the problems with excessive study?
  
• How do you define excessive study?

Wisdom, knowledge, and words

Eccles. 12:9-10

9 Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. 10 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.

• What responsibilities does a preacher or teacher have?
  
• What seems to be a prerequisite to being a preacher or teacher?
  
• How can a person teach that which they do no know or have not experienced?
  
• What is involved in preparing to teach or preach?
  
• What is the essential balance between what words are used and what message is expressed?
  
• When have you heard a message of Truth that was anything but delightful?
  - What presentation issues hinder you from hearing the Truth?
  - What presentation methods help you hear the Truth?
  - How might your requirements be different from another person?
  
• When have you heard a delightful message but found out it did not present Truth correctly?
  - Why might a teacher/preacher do this?
  
• Which is more important to you: the delightful words or correct words of Truth?

Remember that death comes

Eccles. 12:6-8

6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.

• Why is it wise to remember your Creator before
  - your lamp holding the light of life is crushed
  - you can no longer draw the water of life
  - your body returns to dust
  - your spirit returns to God
  
• Why does Solomon consider life under the sun as vanity and meaningless?
  
• How does realizing that you were created by God help you accept life under the sun?
  
• How would you live if you knew that you were merely a product of evolution?
  
• How would you live if you knew that there was no God?
  
• In what ways can you improve how you remember your Creator as your creator

A view of old age

Eccles. 12:1-5

12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, [1] and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets—

Footnotes
[1] 12:5 Or is a burden

• Why would God's role as Creator be the focus in a complaint about old age?
  
• Why would it be important to remember God as Creator while a person is young?
  
• Considering the impact of age on physical abilities, why might a person complain against God?
  
• What will your view of God be when ...
  - your sight grows dim (the sun, light, moon, and stars darken)
  - you get over one trouble to find another behind it (clouds return after rain)
  - your body tremors and shakes uncontrollably (keepers of house tremble)
  - your body will not let you stand up straight (the strong are bent)
  - you lose your teeth (grinders stop because they are few)
  - everything looks blurry to you (windows grow dim)
  - you won't eat from loss of appetite or poor digestion (doors shut, grinding low)
  - you cannot hear and enjoy music (daughters of song sing softly)
  - you are afraid of heights and have balance problems (afraid of high places)
  - you cannot defend yourself (afraid of terrors on the road)
  - your hair turns white (almond tree blossoms)
  - your strength is weak and you always move slowly (grasshopper drags himself)
  - your sexual desires are gone
  - you die

How do you look at life now?

How will you look at life later?

Enjoy youth

Eccles. 11:9-10

9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. 10 Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain [1] from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

Footnotes
[1] 11:10 Or evil

• How many people today need to be told to enjoy their youth?
  
• Why does seem that so many children are growing up too soon?
  
• What are some things that you have seen or heard of that are evidence of this?
  
• What role do parents play in this "too old too soon" situation?
  
• What is your first thought when you read that youth should follow their impulses and desires?
  
• What is the constraint on these impulses and desires?
  
• Why is the young person to put away grief, anger, and pain?
  
• How much control does a person have over grief, anger, and pain in their life?
  
• Why do some older people dwell on their younger days?
  

Dark Days

Eccles. 11:7-8

7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. 8 So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.

• How do the shortened days of winter affect your mood?
  
• What are some ways that sunlight is important to you?
  
• What are some ways that spiritual light is important to you?
  
• Why should a person rejoice in all of their years, even the bad ones?
  
• Why should a person remember the dark days in their life?
  
• How do the dark days of life under the sun keep the bright days in perspective?
  
• If life were always bright and pleasant with no hardships and trials, how can heaven compare?
  
• As pilgrims under the sun why is it important to remember the futility of life here?
  
• If light is pleasant here under the sun, what will life be like in heaven where there is no darkness, either physical, emotional, or spiritual?
  

Work not knowing what will succeed

Eccles. 11:6

6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

• Why would a farmer believe that he should only sow in the morning?
  
• How do most farmers go about planting their crops?
  
• How much trust do farmers have that their efforts will succeed?
  
• When have you been so sure about a work or project related decision that you would not consider other options?
  
• Why is it valuable to keep an open mind in making decisions?
  
• What is your success rate with regard to decisions about work or projects?
  
• How do you handle making an incorrect work or project related decision?