Month: April 2017

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JOSHUA 5:1-7:15 | LUKE 15:1-32 | PSALM 81:1-16 | PROVERBS 13:1

Joshua is now in charge, and he goes about the business of preparing to enter the city of Jericho after crossing the river Jordan.  God continues to speak directly to Joshua as he did with Moses, and Joshua is quick to take instruction on everything he is told: from circumcising the young men, to celebrating the Passover, to paying heed to the commander-like angel who instructs Joshua in strategy for the fall of Jericho. 

It is a fascinating account of how the walls of that city come crashing down without the lifting of a single hand!  They come crashing down when the armies of Israel simply march around the city seven times and shout in one accord the praises of the Living God.  If you ever doubted the power of the spoken word, here’s proof that it is as potent as a sword!

But there is trouble not far away.  The sin of Achan in keeping for himself some of the “devoted things”—which most likely are idols from the city of Jericho—causes their downfall.  The armies of Israel are not able to overcome the other surrounding cities, and God very matter-of-factly tells Joshua that he will no longer go with them because of the sin that has been committed within the camp. 

And so, it is now to be seen how this might be resolved, but the bottom-line is this: idolatry has been strictly forbidden of the children of Israel, and when they choose to willfully forget this one directive, they then lead themselves down the path of destruction.  Time and again, we have seen this, and yet, they are slow to learning their lessons.

Turning next to our reading in Luke, we find Jesus engaged in teaching the people about the Kingdom of God.  The parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin serve to make the point that there is great value even in the smallest of numbers, nay, even in one person who repents and comes into the fold.  There is great value in the lowliest and smallest of these, and it is cause for great rejoicing in Heaven even when it is only one person who is saved, Jesus says.  The pomp and circumstance applies to the one sole sinner as it would for a large group—what a concept!

To further support this, Jesus tells the story of the prodigal son:  it is cause for the greatest of rejoicings when the son who had turned away from his father’s house returns to his father.  This is a powerful story of repentance, but even more so of amazing grace and forgiveness. 

The prodigal son had already determined that he would return to his father and with a contrite spirit seek his father’s forgiveness.  He says to himself, ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’

But do you see what really happens?  The son is still a ways off when his father sees him approaching and has such great compassion on him that he runs out to greet the son. The account says, “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

And what else does the father do? He says: ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’

That is amazing grace… how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me…  Yes, the son does go on to voice his great remorse and asks for his father’s pardon, but what great love and what great mercy the father shows to the son in embracing him even before the son has a chance to say anything at all!  That is God’s reaction every time a person turns to him.  He pardons without condition; he pardons without restraint. 

And how sweet is this pardon—it is beyond comprehension!  It cannot be human, nay, it must be divine!  And this is the story of the prodigal son that Jesus tells the people.  How different from what they had learned and what they knew—these were radical teachings, indeed!

Our Psalm for the day is one in which David recounts the history of his people from the days of old, even from the very beginning when God first established a covenant with his ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  It is not uncommon to therefore refer to his God as the God of Abraham or the God of Jacob. 

This was the God of his fathers who talked with them and walked with them, and was as real as the fire in the burning bush, the cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night that traversed with them through the desert for forty years from their exodus out of Egypt into Canaan’s promised land.  This was the same God today that David called his own, and adopting a tone of remorse at how many times the children of Israel had forgotten all the blessings that had poured forth from God’s hand, David pens these lines as if he were God’s mouthpiece to Israel:

¹³ “If my people would but listen to me,
if Israel would follow my ways,
¹⁴ how quickly would I subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!
¹⁵ Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him,
and their punishment would last forever.
¹⁶ But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.“

This was indeed an amazing God who could do just that—satisfy you with honey from the rock.  Honey, mind you, not just plain water!  And if you think getting water out of a rock is amazing enough, the exaggerated metaphor of getting honey out of a rock serves to make the point that this was a God who would provide for all your needs—and then some. 

This was a God who would give to you the most beautiful of things, and what’s more, out of virtually nothing would this God provide for all of your needs!

Finally, our one verse for the day from the book of Proverbs is as follows:

¹ A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

Ironically, it would take a wise son to understand and apply even this verse to heart!

May God bless the reading and reflection of His Word.  Amen.

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JOSHUA 3:1-4:24 | LUKE 14:7-35 | PSALM 80:1-19 | PROVERBS 12:27-28

When they crossed the Red Sea, the children of Israel witnessed a great miracle in how the waters were parted and God allowed them to cross on dry land—out of slavery as they began the great exodus into the “promised land.”  And now, forty years later, there is another miraculous crossing:  the crossing of the River Jordan.  The waters of this river are stayed from coming downstream as soon as those carrying the Ark of the Covenant step into the water, and about a quarter million people cross over into the land that was promised to their ancestors eons ago. 

While Moses was the leader for that first crossing, today it is Joshua who leads them to their new homeland.  And so this great event establishes Joshua as God’s chosen, indeed.  The account tells us this about what Joshua did next:

²⁰ And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. ²¹ He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ ²² tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ ²³ For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. ²⁴ He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.”

Turning next to our reading in the Book of Luke, we find Jesus giving advice on etiquette related to being a good host and guest.  As a guest, do not aim to be shown as important, Jesus says, because:  ¹¹ For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

And for a host, Jesus has these words of advice:  “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Jesus goes on to speak about the cost of discipleship:  it can be a very high price, Jesus says.  Prepare to leave family and friends, wealth and comfort, and perhaps everything that is dear to you in order to follow me.  This ain’t no joyride, people, this is some serious stuff!  “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear” is Jesus’ sole exhortation on this matter.

Next, we turn to the Psalms, and find that Psalm 80 is a plea of mercy.  David’s tone is one of deep remorse even as he pleads for redemption and restoration of his people.  He says:

¹⁶ Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;
   at your rebuke your people perish.
¹⁷ Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
   the son of man you have raised up for yourself.

¹⁸ Then we will not turn away from you;
   revive us, and we will call on your name.

¹⁹ Restore us, LORD God Almighty;
   make your face shine on us,
   that we may be saved.

Finally, a verse from the Book of Proverbs to ponder upon:

²⁸ In the way of righteousness there is life;
along that path is immortality.

May God bless the reading and reflection of His Word.  Amen.

Click Here For Today’s Reading

DEUTERONOMY 34:1-12 | JOSHUA 1:1-2:24 | LUKE 13:22-14:6 | PSALM 79:1-13 | PROVERBS 12:26

The time has come for Moses to be taken up, and after the many instructions and reminders that he has given to the children of Israel, Moses breathes his last.  His is a legacy that will remain unsurpassed as the greatest leader and prophet of the children of Israel.  But Moses has appointed Joshua, son of Nun, as his successor, and Joshua takes charge of the operation to cross over the Jordan and into the “promised land.”

And God says to Joshua, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. ⁶ Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.” 

And the people are also accepting of Joshua’s leadership.  They say to him, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. ¹⁷ Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses. ¹⁸ Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”

We see next an interesting set of events unfold:  Joshua sends out a few men on a reconnaissance mission into Jericho who conduct their spying operations from the house of a prostitute by the name of Rahab.  This woman’s name has gone down in history because of her kindness to these men, nay, to the entire nation of Israel.  And she is not only kind, but shrewd as well. 

Rahab bargains with the men that she gives shelter to in asking that she and her family be spared when the time comes.  ¹² “Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign ¹³ that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”

Turning next to Luke, we see Jesus engaged in his ministry of teaching, preaching and healing.  Word comes to him that Herod is out to get him, but Jesus says of this:  “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’

Jesus also speaks of the narrow door or gate to enter into the Kingdom of God.  This is not to discourage any one from entry, rather it is to caution against simply “talking the talk” and getting so caught up in the lingo of the day that one forgets how to “walk the walk.”

And once again, we have here another incident of Jesus blatantly violating the rules of the Sabbath in that he actively moves to take action, i.e., to do some work on the one day that it is forbidden.  He sees a sickly man, and proceeds to heal him.  Right then and there.  Matters not that it is the Sabbath.  And matters not that he is a guest in the house of a Pharisee, a keeper of the Law. 

Let it be known to one and all that the Sabbath was made for Man, and not Man for the Sabbath.  Is that sufficiently clear, all ye Law Keepers?

Our Psalm for the day is one in which David adopts a tone of repentance, and on behalf of the people of Israel, cries this prayer to the Lord:

⁸ Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;
   may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
   for we are in desperate need.
⁹ Help us, God our Savior,
   for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
   for your name’s sake.

And finally, our one verse for the day from the book of Proverbs is a good one to be reminded of:

²⁶ The righteous choose their friends carefully,
   but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

May God bless the reading and reflection of His Word.  Amen.