Just in case you thought David had an easy time setting up his kingdom, take a second to skim the first four chapters of 2 Samuel. David was a warrior king right from the beginning.
As I read about David establishing his kingdom first in Judah at Hebron and then over all Israel at Jerusalem, it made me wonder where Saul's palace was. I found references to several Benjamite towns, especially to Gibeah, Mizpah, Micmash, and the hill country of Bethel. Gilgal was also mentioned several times. It is in the territory of Manasseh, just north of the Benjamite city of Jericho. So, it makes me wonder if Saul ever really established a central headquarters for his kingdom. It sheds some light on the instability of his reign. As I was researching, I found an interesting link http://www.northforest.org/BiblicalArchaeology/background.html. When you click the link for Saul on the left-hand side of the page, it mentions the Amarna Letters, artifacts that give credence to the biblical account of history. I think it is fun to discover evidence that proves the Bible is true. There is a lot of info on this site that I did not explore; so don't assume that I agree with everything the author has to say, okay. Interesting reading, however.
2 Samuel 5:10 reminds us why David was successful, "because the LORD God Almighty was with him." Verse 12 is one of my favorite verses, "And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel." [emphasis mine] David knew it wasn't about his own personal glory. He was called to be king for the people's sake. I love that! Often we are placed in positions of authority, not because of how it can benefit us, but because we can help promote the welfare of others. Have you looked at your job in that light today? Stop the "poor me" attitude, and start looking for ways you can bless others. Ouch.
2 Samuel 5:13 describes the source of David's ruin. His wives, concubines, and children would become a major source of distraction and discontent in his life. He also set a poor example for his son Solomon, who would become the next ruler of Israel. According to Deuteronomy 17, having many wives was against the rules for the king too. Did you know that God included rules for how the king should live when He gave the law to Moses? He knew all along that Israel would ask for a king. Nothing takes Him by surprise!
In the remainder of the chapter, David inquires of the LORD, and God gives him the plan of attack against the Philistines. I think it is terrific that David can talk directly to God. He does not consult a priest. I also think it is terrific that God responds directly to David. LORD, help me to listen to Your voice today. I want to hear You plainly. Please forgive me for trying to tell You what the plan should be.
Okay, I hope I have given you enough to ponder today. We'll check on David again next time in 2 Samuel 6-8.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
1 Samuel 28 & 31
In 1 Samuel 27, David finally decided he needed to get away from Saul; so he and his men went to live with the Philistines for a year and 4 months. In 1 Samuel 28:1-2 Achish, a Philistine leader, declares David as his bodyguard and invites him to help them fight Saul's army. A flash forward to Chapter 29 shows us that the other Philistine commanders did not trust David. So they made Achish send him back home. I see this as God's protection for David. If David had helped pursue Saul's army, he would have been fighting his own countrymen, and perhaps his own brothers. God kept David away from the scene of Saul and Jonathan's death, and for that I am very glad.
1 Samuel 25:1a and 1 Samuel 28:3a are the only description we have of Samuel's passing. That's not fair! Samuel deserved a hero's burial, and I don't like that God only gave him two partial Scriptures. It is a reminder to me that Samuel's treasure was stored up in heaven. He did not waste any reward on the temporal praise of men here on earth. Oh, that I would learn this lesson!
The remainder of 1 Samuel 28 is another example of Saul not practicing obedience. Saul himself had banned the practice of sorcery in Israel. Yet, he resorts to consulting a witch when God does not answer his selfish prayers. At first, verses 6 & 15 really bothered me. Why wouldn't God answer Saul's prayers? Saul was finally seeking God; so why would God not want to respond? God knew that Saul's heart was still unchanged, and God is not obligated to work on behalf of anyone who is asking for selfish gain. It really bothers me when nonbelievers get mad at God for not answering their prayers. If you are not willing to give your life to God, why would you expect Him to give you anything?
Verses 12-14 are very intriguing. The woman is shocked when Samuel really does appear. I don't think she expected her incantation to produce real results. Then she is furious at Saul for tricking her. Turnabout is fair play, don't you think? And her description of Samuel cracks me up! "An old man wearing a robe." Wouldn't that describe just about any dead soul? Saul had never asked Samuel for advice before. Why does he think he should consult him now that he is dead? All Samuel does in this chapter is reconfirm what he had already told Saul before. The LORD had torn the kingdom from Saul and given it to David. And now Saul and his sons would meet their Maker.
1 Samuel 31 is a sad ending to a sad story of a sad man. Saul, his three sons, and his armor-bearer all die in the battle against the Philistines. Then the Philistines greatly dishonor them in a postmortem display. Why did the people of Jabesh Gilead care about Saul? Glance back at 1 Samuel 11. Saul had come to their rescue before he was confirmed as king. And 42 years later, they were able to repay his act of kindness.
Today we said goodbye to the prophet Samuel and to King Saul. Tomorrow we will see David take the throne in 2 Samuel 5-8. However, before we leave 1 Samuel, I want you to notice a couple of things David did to help ensure the successful start of his kingdom. In Chapters 24 & 26 of 1 Samuel, David spared Saul's life twice. Why??? Because David believed Saul to be God's chosen man for the time being. I am so impressed that David did not try to hurry God's plan for his own life. I am often guilty of asking God to fast-forward to the good part so I don't have to endure the tough parts of life. David had the spiritual maturity to pray for his enemy Saul. Jesus asks us to do the same. At the end of 1 Samuel 30, David also demonstrates his wisdom by sending gifts to all the people in the region who had helped David and his men. This will pave the way for David to have plenty of allies when he becomes king. However, I believe David gave the gifts out of genuine gratitude with no strings attached. He was generous without expecting anything in return. LORD, help us to model our lives after David, a man after Your own heart.
1 Samuel 25:1a and 1 Samuel 28:3a are the only description we have of Samuel's passing. That's not fair! Samuel deserved a hero's burial, and I don't like that God only gave him two partial Scriptures. It is a reminder to me that Samuel's treasure was stored up in heaven. He did not waste any reward on the temporal praise of men here on earth. Oh, that I would learn this lesson!
The remainder of 1 Samuel 28 is another example of Saul not practicing obedience. Saul himself had banned the practice of sorcery in Israel. Yet, he resorts to consulting a witch when God does not answer his selfish prayers. At first, verses 6 & 15 really bothered me. Why wouldn't God answer Saul's prayers? Saul was finally seeking God; so why would God not want to respond? God knew that Saul's heart was still unchanged, and God is not obligated to work on behalf of anyone who is asking for selfish gain. It really bothers me when nonbelievers get mad at God for not answering their prayers. If you are not willing to give your life to God, why would you expect Him to give you anything?
Verses 12-14 are very intriguing. The woman is shocked when Samuel really does appear. I don't think she expected her incantation to produce real results. Then she is furious at Saul for tricking her. Turnabout is fair play, don't you think? And her description of Samuel cracks me up! "An old man wearing a robe." Wouldn't that describe just about any dead soul? Saul had never asked Samuel for advice before. Why does he think he should consult him now that he is dead? All Samuel does in this chapter is reconfirm what he had already told Saul before. The LORD had torn the kingdom from Saul and given it to David. And now Saul and his sons would meet their Maker.
1 Samuel 31 is a sad ending to a sad story of a sad man. Saul, his three sons, and his armor-bearer all die in the battle against the Philistines. Then the Philistines greatly dishonor them in a postmortem display. Why did the people of Jabesh Gilead care about Saul? Glance back at 1 Samuel 11. Saul had come to their rescue before he was confirmed as king. And 42 years later, they were able to repay his act of kindness.
Today we said goodbye to the prophet Samuel and to King Saul. Tomorrow we will see David take the throne in 2 Samuel 5-8. However, before we leave 1 Samuel, I want you to notice a couple of things David did to help ensure the successful start of his kingdom. In Chapters 24 & 26 of 1 Samuel, David spared Saul's life twice. Why??? Because David believed Saul to be God's chosen man for the time being. I am so impressed that David did not try to hurry God's plan for his own life. I am often guilty of asking God to fast-forward to the good part so I don't have to endure the tough parts of life. David had the spiritual maturity to pray for his enemy Saul. Jesus asks us to do the same. At the end of 1 Samuel 30, David also demonstrates his wisdom by sending gifts to all the people in the region who had helped David and his men. This will pave the way for David to have plenty of allies when he becomes king. However, I believe David gave the gifts out of genuine gratitude with no strings attached. He was generous without expecting anything in return. LORD, help us to model our lives after David, a man after Your own heart.
Monday, July 28, 2008
1 Samuel 18-20
I know I say, "I love," a lot when I am writing, but I just love the picture God paints for us of David and Jonathan's friendship. They were true friends who stuck by one another through thick and thin. 1 Samuel 18:3 says Jonathan loved David as he loved himself. Jesus says that is the second greatest commandment, to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Here we witness an example of what that looks like.
- 18:1 They became one in spirit
- 18:3 They loved each other
- 18:4 They gave gifts to one another
- 19:2 Jonathan warned David of trouble
- 19:4 Jonathan spoke well of David and stood up for his reputation
- 20:3 They confided in one another
- 20:4 They would do absolutely anything for each other
- 20:23 They had their faith in God in common
- 20:41-42 They valued their friendship above all else
18:5 & 14 God granted David success in everything he put his hand to! This was a true sign that David was chosen by God. Did David still have to fight the battles? Did David still have to run from Saul? Yes. He still faced difficulties, but when all was said and done, David was successful.
18:9 Saul kept a jealous eye on David. I don't see any indication that Saul was actually aware that Samuel had anointed David to replace him as king. But Saul must have known that God's Spirit was no longer with him. I wonder if Saul recognized the Spirit of God resting on David? Do people recognize God's Spirit resting on me? (18:12 answers my first question, huh.)
18:11 David eluded Sauls's spear TWICE! I'm sorry, but once would have been all it took for me to high-tail it out of there! In 19:10 David eludes Saul once more and finally makes good his escape. That was one harp performance I would have not shown up for!
18:17 & 20 Saul offers his daughters to David in marriage so they would be a snare to him. Shame on Saul. He should have been raising his daughters to be godly women who would be helpmates for their future husbands. Am I a snare or a helpmate?
18:25 Saul knew just the challenge David could not refuse. In v. 27 David actually brings Saul double what he asked for.
18:28-30 Saul's plan backfired. David wins the girl and the fame, and Saul is more afraid and jealous than ever before.
19:11-17 Michal protects David from her father's soldiers. Then she lies to her father. I admire her for protecting her husband, but I don't appreciate that she lied to daddy to do it. She should have boldly stood up to him. Would I have stood up to him? Maybe not. Don't skip over the word "idol" in 19:13. What was an idol doing in the house? We will see later in 2 Samuel 6 that Michal does not approve of David's worship of the One True God.
19:20-24 I don't think the prophesying here is the good kind. I think this was probably a crazy chaos that kept Saul and his men from pursuing David. Does anyone else have any insight here?
1 Samuel 20 is a story I remember hearing as a young girl in Sunday School. I was amazed that Jonathan would be brave enough to help his best friend when he knew how outraged his father would be. If you are already familiar with the story, resist the temptation to skim the pages. Read it and marvel at the detail in planning they went to. Notice David's patience as he waits to hear from Jonathan. Notice the faithfulness of Jonathan when he could have backed out on the plan. After all, David would be taking Jonathan's spot as the next king of Israel. Notice their commitment to one another as they pledge loyalty for future generations. Notice their extreme grief when they have to part ways. Their friendship is a beautiful picture of the way we should treat our relationships. Treasure the people God brings into your life.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
1 Samuel 17
David vs Goliath--I love this story!
v. 11--Saul, dismayed and terrified. Just what I look for in a leader.
v. 12--David, the son of an Ephrathite. David's daddy was Jesse, whose daddy was Obed, whose mommy and daddy were Ruth and Boaz!
v. 16--Forty days! Have you ever been away from home for forty days? Our family just returned from a 13-day vacation, and I was worn out. We should be extremely mindful of the families whose loved ones are fighting the war on terror. They are making extreme sacrifices for our freedom!
v. 24--The Israelite army ran in fear. They are a reflection of their leadership. This makes me stop to reflect on my own leadership style. Sometimes the people following me flake out on me. (I'm not talking about you; so don't take any of this personally.) Anyway, instead of blaming it on their lack of commitment, maybe I should take a look at how I have trained my followers to respond to situations.
v. 25--So, if the soldiers were so excited about what Saul would give the hero, why wasn't anyone stepping up to the challenge? Beware of the salesman who will not taste his own wares!
v. 26--"Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" Way to go, David! He knew God was living because He had talked to him personally through the Spirit. Do you know that God is living today? He is, and He is waiting for you to begin a personal relationship with Him.
v. 28-30--Sibling rivalry is as old as Cain and Abel! Does anyone have any helpful advice for helping brothers and sisters learn to get along? I remember my mom making my brother and I sit on the couch and hold hands if we were fighting. That cured us fairly fast. I also remember my brother being a pest in jr. high, and I remember vividly the last time I was able to take him down in a headlock. I had to take him by surprise because he was bigger than me!
v. 32-37--How could David have such confidence? Because his confidence was in the power of God, not in his own strength. God had been faithful to deliver David many times, and David had the faith to believe he would do it again. My husband and I were talking about this story, and his thought was that David probably said to himself, "If I want to have a kingdom to inherit, then I better stand up and fight this Philistine!"
v. 40--David took his staff, five smooth stones, and his slingshot. Cool. I'm trying to think about what this looks like in my life. David chose not to use the biggest and the best equipment. Instead, he stuck to the basics, the tools of his trade, the tools he had seen God use in his life. The world tries to tell me that I have to have all the latest technology to be effective. While that may be true in some circumstances, most of the time I should rely on God to provide what I need rather than spending all my energy on trying to get ahead in life.
v. 41-44--Goliath is such a bully. LORD, give me the courage of David to stand against the bullies in my life.
v. 45-47--David's bravado is very inspiring! "I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty." "This day the LORD will hand you over to me." "The whole world will know that there is a God in Israel." "The battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands." LORD, may the whole world know that You are God! May I proclaim Your Name boldly, even in the face of my enemies.
v. 51--This is such a guy's story! Not for the faint of heart (or stomach).
v. 52--Can you hear the men shout?!!
v. 55-58--I want to know the rest of the story. Why didn't Saul know who David was if David had been serving in his court? Probably kings didn't get overly personal with their servants, huh. Well, from here on out, Saul will definitely become aware of just who this little boy from Bethlehem is!
I hope you don't mind that I've been taking the chapters one at a time for awhile. I just don't want to miss any of the good stuff. Next time we try to press a little further by taking on 1 Samuel 18-20. Thanks for sticking with me!
v. 11--Saul, dismayed and terrified. Just what I look for in a leader.
v. 12--David, the son of an Ephrathite. David's daddy was Jesse, whose daddy was Obed, whose mommy and daddy were Ruth and Boaz!
v. 16--Forty days! Have you ever been away from home for forty days? Our family just returned from a 13-day vacation, and I was worn out. We should be extremely mindful of the families whose loved ones are fighting the war on terror. They are making extreme sacrifices for our freedom!
v. 24--The Israelite army ran in fear. They are a reflection of their leadership. This makes me stop to reflect on my own leadership style. Sometimes the people following me flake out on me. (I'm not talking about you; so don't take any of this personally.) Anyway, instead of blaming it on their lack of commitment, maybe I should take a look at how I have trained my followers to respond to situations.
v. 25--So, if the soldiers were so excited about what Saul would give the hero, why wasn't anyone stepping up to the challenge? Beware of the salesman who will not taste his own wares!
v. 26--"Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" Way to go, David! He knew God was living because He had talked to him personally through the Spirit. Do you know that God is living today? He is, and He is waiting for you to begin a personal relationship with Him.
v. 28-30--Sibling rivalry is as old as Cain and Abel! Does anyone have any helpful advice for helping brothers and sisters learn to get along? I remember my mom making my brother and I sit on the couch and hold hands if we were fighting. That cured us fairly fast. I also remember my brother being a pest in jr. high, and I remember vividly the last time I was able to take him down in a headlock. I had to take him by surprise because he was bigger than me!
v. 32-37--How could David have such confidence? Because his confidence was in the power of God, not in his own strength. God had been faithful to deliver David many times, and David had the faith to believe he would do it again. My husband and I were talking about this story, and his thought was that David probably said to himself, "If I want to have a kingdom to inherit, then I better stand up and fight this Philistine!"
v. 40--David took his staff, five smooth stones, and his slingshot. Cool. I'm trying to think about what this looks like in my life. David chose not to use the biggest and the best equipment. Instead, he stuck to the basics, the tools of his trade, the tools he had seen God use in his life. The world tries to tell me that I have to have all the latest technology to be effective. While that may be true in some circumstances, most of the time I should rely on God to provide what I need rather than spending all my energy on trying to get ahead in life.
v. 41-44--Goliath is such a bully. LORD, give me the courage of David to stand against the bullies in my life.
v. 45-47--David's bravado is very inspiring! "I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty." "This day the LORD will hand you over to me." "The whole world will know that there is a God in Israel." "The battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands." LORD, may the whole world know that You are God! May I proclaim Your Name boldly, even in the face of my enemies.
v. 51--This is such a guy's story! Not for the faint of heart (or stomach).
v. 52--Can you hear the men shout?!!
v. 55-58--I want to know the rest of the story. Why didn't Saul know who David was if David had been serving in his court? Probably kings didn't get overly personal with their servants, huh. Well, from here on out, Saul will definitely become aware of just who this little boy from Bethlehem is!
I hope you don't mind that I've been taking the chapters one at a time for awhile. I just don't want to miss any of the good stuff. Next time we try to press a little further by taking on 1 Samuel 18-20. Thanks for sticking with me!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
1 Samuel 16
Basically, God tells Samuel, “Quit your whining and get on with it!” Has God ever had to tell you that? He certainly has me. I get down and depressed and get the “I don’t wannas,” and God has to tell me to suck it up and move on. I like that Samuel is honest enough to ask God, “How can I?” When we take time to listen for God’s voice, He will tell us His plan of action.
1 Samuel 16:4—I didn’t realize that the elders were present when Samuel anointed David. It makes me wonder then how David’s anointing as king did not become public knowledge. I think it is very interesting that David had enough humility to remain silent about his anointing to be king. It must have been very difficult for him, especially during the times when Saul tried to take David’s life.
1 Samuel 16:11—How did Samuel know that he had not seen all of Jesse’s sons? I want to be that in tune with God’s Spirit; that in the midst of the situation, I can hear Him speaking to me, telling me what steps to take. What do you think David’s big brothers thought when little brother was chosen, and they were all passed over? I can just imagine the sibling rivalry!
1 Samuel 16:12b-13a—“Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power.” Wow! I love this! David was God’s chosen man for the job. In the Old Testament, the Spirit would come and go. David must have reveled in God’s glory. I must say that I take it for granted that I can enjoy God’s fellowship every moment of every day. It is easy to push Him aside and forget that His power is at hand whenever I choose to tap into it. Will you pray right this moment, “Dear Jesus, please fill me to overflowing with your Holy Spirit! I want to be used by you from this day on.”
Verse 14 really bothers me. Not only had God’s Spirit left Saul, God had sent an evil spirit to torment him. It is hard for me to fathom that God would torment anyone. I’m still trying to piece that together in my head. I must remember that before Christ, no one could have assurance of salvation. Their faith had to be in sacrifices and daily obedience. Saul was rejected by God because Saul never really obeyed God. Saul did not place his faith in God at all. Have you? Email me at tydyd_89@yahoo.com and tell me your story.
I love how God orchestrated the events that brought David into the king’s palace. We should not think it is a coincidence that one of Saul’s servants knew a lowly shepherd boy and invited him to play the harp for the king. Neither is it a coincidence that the young boy filled with the Holy Spirit was able to bring comfort to the tortured king. LORD, may I bring comfort and joy to the people around me who are suffering in this world.
I really want to keep writing, but the next chapter is the story of David and Goliath, and I think it may require lots of writing. See you in Chapter 17!
1 Samuel 16:4—I didn’t realize that the elders were present when Samuel anointed David. It makes me wonder then how David’s anointing as king did not become public knowledge. I think it is very interesting that David had enough humility to remain silent about his anointing to be king. It must have been very difficult for him, especially during the times when Saul tried to take David’s life.
1 Samuel 16:11—How did Samuel know that he had not seen all of Jesse’s sons? I want to be that in tune with God’s Spirit; that in the midst of the situation, I can hear Him speaking to me, telling me what steps to take. What do you think David’s big brothers thought when little brother was chosen, and they were all passed over? I can just imagine the sibling rivalry!
1 Samuel 16:12b-13a—“Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power.” Wow! I love this! David was God’s chosen man for the job. In the Old Testament, the Spirit would come and go. David must have reveled in God’s glory. I must say that I take it for granted that I can enjoy God’s fellowship every moment of every day. It is easy to push Him aside and forget that His power is at hand whenever I choose to tap into it. Will you pray right this moment, “Dear Jesus, please fill me to overflowing with your Holy Spirit! I want to be used by you from this day on.”
Verse 14 really bothers me. Not only had God’s Spirit left Saul, God had sent an evil spirit to torment him. It is hard for me to fathom that God would torment anyone. I’m still trying to piece that together in my head. I must remember that before Christ, no one could have assurance of salvation. Their faith had to be in sacrifices and daily obedience. Saul was rejected by God because Saul never really obeyed God. Saul did not place his faith in God at all. Have you? Email me at tydyd_89@yahoo.com and tell me your story.
I love how God orchestrated the events that brought David into the king’s palace. We should not think it is a coincidence that one of Saul’s servants knew a lowly shepherd boy and invited him to play the harp for the king. Neither is it a coincidence that the young boy filled with the Holy Spirit was able to bring comfort to the tortured king. LORD, may I bring comfort and joy to the people around me who are suffering in this world.
I really want to keep writing, but the next chapter is the story of David and Goliath, and I think it may require lots of writing. See you in Chapter 17!
Monday, July 21, 2008
1 Samuel 15
I’m trying to settle on a good title for 1 Samuel 15.
How to Ensure Your Failure
15 Ways to Screw up Your Kingdom
Disappoint Your God Today
Poor Saul! He didn’t have a single day of success in his entire 42-year reign as king of Israel. Sure, he may have won some battles, but He never won the heart of God. He screwed it up in 1 Samuel 13 when he offered burnt offerings without waiting for Samuel to arrive. He starved his own army in Chapter 14. In Chapter 15 Saul continues to disobey God’s commands by sparing King Agag and the best of his livestock.
1 Samuel 15:10-11 “Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel: "I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions." Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the LORD all that night.” Oh, LORD, may I never ever grieve You! May I seek to obey You and to carry out Your instructions to the best of my ability. Have you ever cried out to the LORD all night over anything? If yes, then you know what Samuel was going through. He loved the nation of Israel, and He was trying to figure out how to fix the mess their new king was creating. Samuel felt the responsibility heavily on his shoulders because these were his beloved people, whom he had led in following God for years.
1 Samuel 15:13-14 “When Samuel reached him, Saul said, "The LORD bless you! I have carried out the LORD's instructions." But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?" Come on, Saul. Just how stupid do you think Samuel is? Samuel, the guy who told you your donkeys were found, the guy who foretold miracles that came true, the guy who anointed your head with oil!!! Saul was one of those habitual liars who didn’t even realize anymore that he was lying through his teeth. He blames the whole situation on his innocent army. When Samuel asks Saul why he didn’t obey in verse 19, Saul says in verse 20, “But I did obey . . . .” Liar, liar, pants on fire. Do you notice how Saul says “I, I, I” in verse 20, and then blames the bad decisions on the soldiers in verse 21? “Devoted to God . . . for sacrifice,” yeah, right.
1 Samuel 15:22 “But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” This has always been a favorite verse of mine. It was really good for me to read it in context today to remember where these words come from. Saul’s life is a good reminder for us as we strive to please God in our daily lives. Doing good things for God is not always obedience. Maybe Saul really did think he was doing the right thing by saving the livestock. Perhaps he really did desire to make sacrifices to God. But that was not what God had asked of him. Our Holy God demands obedience. LORD, help me pay attention to Your Holy Spirit every moment of every day.
After Samuel confronts him, Saul seems to repent, but I think Samuel was tired of hearing it. He lost complete respect for Saul and never went back to see him during his reign as king. Saul reigned for 42 years. We don’t know exactly where 1 Samuel 15 falls in those four decades, but I assume it was earlier rather than later. Can you imagine trying to run a kingdom without God’s direction? No wonder Saul went mad in his old age. “And the LORD was grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel.”
Sorry this chapter was such a downer. Maybe we will enjoy meeting David in 1 Samuel 16-20 tomorrow.
How to Ensure Your Failure
15 Ways to Screw up Your Kingdom
Disappoint Your God Today
Poor Saul! He didn’t have a single day of success in his entire 42-year reign as king of Israel. Sure, he may have won some battles, but He never won the heart of God. He screwed it up in 1 Samuel 13 when he offered burnt offerings without waiting for Samuel to arrive. He starved his own army in Chapter 14. In Chapter 15 Saul continues to disobey God’s commands by sparing King Agag and the best of his livestock.
1 Samuel 15:10-11 “Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel: "I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions." Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the LORD all that night.” Oh, LORD, may I never ever grieve You! May I seek to obey You and to carry out Your instructions to the best of my ability. Have you ever cried out to the LORD all night over anything? If yes, then you know what Samuel was going through. He loved the nation of Israel, and He was trying to figure out how to fix the mess their new king was creating. Samuel felt the responsibility heavily on his shoulders because these were his beloved people, whom he had led in following God for years.
1 Samuel 15:13-14 “When Samuel reached him, Saul said, "The LORD bless you! I have carried out the LORD's instructions." But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?" Come on, Saul. Just how stupid do you think Samuel is? Samuel, the guy who told you your donkeys were found, the guy who foretold miracles that came true, the guy who anointed your head with oil!!! Saul was one of those habitual liars who didn’t even realize anymore that he was lying through his teeth. He blames the whole situation on his innocent army. When Samuel asks Saul why he didn’t obey in verse 19, Saul says in verse 20, “But I did obey . . . .” Liar, liar, pants on fire. Do you notice how Saul says “I, I, I” in verse 20, and then blames the bad decisions on the soldiers in verse 21? “Devoted to God . . . for sacrifice,” yeah, right.
1 Samuel 15:22 “But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” This has always been a favorite verse of mine. It was really good for me to read it in context today to remember where these words come from. Saul’s life is a good reminder for us as we strive to please God in our daily lives. Doing good things for God is not always obedience. Maybe Saul really did think he was doing the right thing by saving the livestock. Perhaps he really did desire to make sacrifices to God. But that was not what God had asked of him. Our Holy God demands obedience. LORD, help me pay attention to Your Holy Spirit every moment of every day.
After Samuel confronts him, Saul seems to repent, but I think Samuel was tired of hearing it. He lost complete respect for Saul and never went back to see him during his reign as king. Saul reigned for 42 years. We don’t know exactly where 1 Samuel 15 falls in those four decades, but I assume it was earlier rather than later. Can you imagine trying to run a kingdom without God’s direction? No wonder Saul went mad in his old age. “And the LORD was grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel.”
Sorry this chapter was such a downer. Maybe we will enjoy meeting David in 1 Samuel 16-20 tomorrow.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
1 Samuel 9-10, 12
Come on, Saul; just how hard is it to find lost donkeys? That’s donkeys plural. My aunt and uncle had a neighbor with a donkey named Jack. You could hear him braying from a mile away. And donkeys don’t typically travel terribly fast. They like to stop and smell the roses. Don’t you think the neighbors would have noticed loose donkeys plural? Did Saul stop to ask?
I think it’s funny, though, how God used donkeys to lead Saul to meet the man of God, Samuel. God used a donkey to get Balaam’s attention in Numbers 22. Funny story there too, if you haven’t read it. Has God ever frustrated your plans to get your attention? The next time you find yourself in a pickle, stop to look around you and ask God what it is He wants you to see.
Saul didn’t even want to be king. Samuel anointed Saul, and God fulfilled signs to prove Himself to Saul, but Saul didn’t even tell his family about it. (1 Samuel 10:16) When you are excited about something God has done in your life, aren’t you excited to tell others? You can’t get me to shut up about it! And you have to tell me more than once, “Yes, you told us that already.”
The end of Chapter 10 puzzled me. Why did Samuel go through the process of bringing all the tribes forward clan by clan, only to choose Saul as king? It is because this was part of their tradition as a nation. Joshua 7 gives an example of seeking out the sinful family by calling the people out clan by clan. The land was divided clan by clan throughout the book of Joshua. When we read 1 Samuel 16, we will see that Samuel goes through a similar process when he selects David to be king out of his family of 8 strapping, young men. As all possible candidates pass before the prophet of God, every man is given fair opportunity to be chosen by God. When the prophet announces who has been chosen, everyone is able to accept his choice.
1 Samuel 10:21-24 is further evidence that Saul did not want to be king. When his name was called on the roll, he was hiding among the baggage! Ladies, when God calls our names, let us be present and accounted for, ready and willing to accept our assignments.
1 Samuel 10:26-27 “Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched. But some troublemakers said, "How can this fellow save us?" They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.” This passage bothers me for a number of reasons. From Saul’s first day in office, Israel would be a kingdom divided. It makes me mindful of our own nation. No matter what the results of the 2008 elections, we must commit to pray for our nation’s leaders. Whether we agree or disagree with the party in power, we must recognize that God has granted them authority. This should spur us on to pray that our leaders will listen to godly wisdom, and they will surround themselves with godly advisors. Let us bring our newly appointed leaders gifts of encouragement to stand for the truth. You can sign up to pray at http://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/.
This passage also bothers me because “Saul kept silent.” Saul would prove to be a cowardly leader who did not command respect from his people, neither did he earn their respect.
Samuel’s farewell speech in Chapter 12 is very touching. Samuel was a faithful leader for Israel, a leader with integrity, who lived his life without regret. The conclusion of the chapter is my favorite. “For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” (1 Samuel 12:22-24)
I think it’s funny, though, how God used donkeys to lead Saul to meet the man of God, Samuel. God used a donkey to get Balaam’s attention in Numbers 22. Funny story there too, if you haven’t read it. Has God ever frustrated your plans to get your attention? The next time you find yourself in a pickle, stop to look around you and ask God what it is He wants you to see.
Saul didn’t even want to be king. Samuel anointed Saul, and God fulfilled signs to prove Himself to Saul, but Saul didn’t even tell his family about it. (1 Samuel 10:16) When you are excited about something God has done in your life, aren’t you excited to tell others? You can’t get me to shut up about it! And you have to tell me more than once, “Yes, you told us that already.”
The end of Chapter 10 puzzled me. Why did Samuel go through the process of bringing all the tribes forward clan by clan, only to choose Saul as king? It is because this was part of their tradition as a nation. Joshua 7 gives an example of seeking out the sinful family by calling the people out clan by clan. The land was divided clan by clan throughout the book of Joshua. When we read 1 Samuel 16, we will see that Samuel goes through a similar process when he selects David to be king out of his family of 8 strapping, young men. As all possible candidates pass before the prophet of God, every man is given fair opportunity to be chosen by God. When the prophet announces who has been chosen, everyone is able to accept his choice.
1 Samuel 10:21-24 is further evidence that Saul did not want to be king. When his name was called on the roll, he was hiding among the baggage! Ladies, when God calls our names, let us be present and accounted for, ready and willing to accept our assignments.
1 Samuel 10:26-27 “Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched. But some troublemakers said, "How can this fellow save us?" They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.” This passage bothers me for a number of reasons. From Saul’s first day in office, Israel would be a kingdom divided. It makes me mindful of our own nation. No matter what the results of the 2008 elections, we must commit to pray for our nation’s leaders. Whether we agree or disagree with the party in power, we must recognize that God has granted them authority. This should spur us on to pray that our leaders will listen to godly wisdom, and they will surround themselves with godly advisors. Let us bring our newly appointed leaders gifts of encouragement to stand for the truth. You can sign up to pray at http://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/.
This passage also bothers me because “Saul kept silent.” Saul would prove to be a cowardly leader who did not command respect from his people, neither did he earn their respect.
Samuel’s farewell speech in Chapter 12 is very touching. Samuel was a faithful leader for Israel, a leader with integrity, who lived his life without regret. The conclusion of the chapter is my favorite. “For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” (1 Samuel 12:22-24)
Thursday, July 17, 2008
I Samuel 7-8
The story of Samuel's mother Hannah, a desperate woman begging God for a child, has always been very special to me. Then I married a fabulous guy, whose first name is actually Samuel. Then the story became more personal to me because I too desperately begged God for the gift of a godly husband, and He gave me Samuel Trent Young. Okay, that's getting too sappy, isn't it? Anyway, take the time to read of young Samuel's beginning in Samuel 1-3 if you have the time. I'll move on for the sake of our group.
In Samuel 7, the prophet questions his people to find out if they are committed to serving the LORD. In verse 4, they seem to be since they put away their idols and served the LORD only. However, they are wishy-washy when pressure from the Philistines comes along. They ask Samuel to cry out to God for them because they are scared. Samuel does pray for them, but the people miss out on a blessing by not speaking to God personally. God does choose to answer their prayer for help, and He thunders against their enemies. "The LORD thundered with loud thunder" has a new meaning for me this week. Our family enjoyed a vacation at Niagara Falls, which means Thundering Waters. As I stood there in awe of the tremendous power of the falls, I praised God for His thundering power in our lives.
The second verse of the hymn "Come Thou Fount" begins with "Here I raise mine Ebenezer; hither by thy help I'm come." http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh400.sht So, now I understand the meaning of those words. They come from 1 Samuel 7:12.
I was very excited to read in verse 17 that Samuel was able to visit Ramah, which is where his parents lived. You see, Hannah promised that if God would grant her a son, she would dedicate him to the LORD. So, when Samuel was about three years old, she took him to live with Eli, the priest at Shiloh. I am very thankful he was able to stay connected to his family as he grew older.
1 Samuel 8:1-3 Samuel seemed to be a man of God who practiced what he preached. Why didn't his sons get it? Samuel had witnessed Eli's failure at fathering. He had even been the one to deliver God's message to Eli that the priesthood would be taken from his family because of his sons. Why didn't he make sure his own sons received proper spiritual training? Can you believe verse 5? The elders of Israel even brought it to Samuel's attention that his sons were out of control. Why didn't Samuel take action? I know we can't control the decisions our children will make. And there are parents who did everything right, yet their children still choose to rebel. Why didn't Samuel seek someone else to appoint as priest? I'm going to have to have a sit-down chat with him to find out his story when I see him in heaven.
Later in Chapter 8, God assures Samuel that he should not take Israel's request for a king too personally. They were rejecting God's kingship in their lives. This was a pattern of behavior for their nation. Even after Samuel gives Israel a list of all the horrible things their king would do to them, they refused to listen to him. They threw a fit, and told God to give them what they wanted. Have you ever begged God for something, and then wished later that you could take it back? I'm almost certain you have asked God for things and didn't get it, then you pouted, and it wasn't until years later that you could look back and sing the lyrics of the Garth Brooks song "Unanswered Prayers." http://www.lyricsfreak.com/g/garth+brooks/unanswered+prayers_20058116.html
Well, God does grant Israel's petition for a king, and they are extremely disappointed in Saul's lack of leadership skills. We'll discuss his story in greater detail next time in 1 Samuel 9-12.
In Samuel 7, the prophet questions his people to find out if they are committed to serving the LORD. In verse 4, they seem to be since they put away their idols and served the LORD only. However, they are wishy-washy when pressure from the Philistines comes along. They ask Samuel to cry out to God for them because they are scared. Samuel does pray for them, but the people miss out on a blessing by not speaking to God personally. God does choose to answer their prayer for help, and He thunders against their enemies. "The LORD thundered with loud thunder" has a new meaning for me this week. Our family enjoyed a vacation at Niagara Falls, which means Thundering Waters. As I stood there in awe of the tremendous power of the falls, I praised God for His thundering power in our lives.
The second verse of the hymn "Come Thou Fount" begins with "Here I raise mine Ebenezer; hither by thy help I'm come." http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh400.sht So, now I understand the meaning of those words. They come from 1 Samuel 7:12.
I was very excited to read in verse 17 that Samuel was able to visit Ramah, which is where his parents lived. You see, Hannah promised that if God would grant her a son, she would dedicate him to the LORD. So, when Samuel was about three years old, she took him to live with Eli, the priest at Shiloh. I am very thankful he was able to stay connected to his family as he grew older.
1 Samuel 8:1-3 Samuel seemed to be a man of God who practiced what he preached. Why didn't his sons get it? Samuel had witnessed Eli's failure at fathering. He had even been the one to deliver God's message to Eli that the priesthood would be taken from his family because of his sons. Why didn't he make sure his own sons received proper spiritual training? Can you believe verse 5? The elders of Israel even brought it to Samuel's attention that his sons were out of control. Why didn't Samuel take action? I know we can't control the decisions our children will make. And there are parents who did everything right, yet their children still choose to rebel. Why didn't Samuel seek someone else to appoint as priest? I'm going to have to have a sit-down chat with him to find out his story when I see him in heaven.
Later in Chapter 8, God assures Samuel that he should not take Israel's request for a king too personally. They were rejecting God's kingship in their lives. This was a pattern of behavior for their nation. Even after Samuel gives Israel a list of all the horrible things their king would do to them, they refused to listen to him. They threw a fit, and told God to give them what they wanted. Have you ever begged God for something, and then wished later that you could take it back? I'm almost certain you have asked God for things and didn't get it, then you pouted, and it wasn't until years later that you could look back and sing the lyrics of the Garth Brooks song "Unanswered Prayers." http://www.lyricsfreak.com/g/garth+brooks/unanswered+prayers_20058116.html
Well, God does grant Israel's petition for a king, and they are extremely disappointed in Saul's lack of leadership skills. We'll discuss his story in greater detail next time in 1 Samuel 9-12.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Ruth 1-4
I love the story of Ruth. It is a love story replete with a knight in shining armor who rescues the princess.
Did you notice the date of the book in Ruth 1:1? "In the days when the judges ruled . . . ."
Ruth 1:6 "When Naomi heard in Moab . . . ." I have to wonder how Naomi heard. Was there a daily newspaper from across the Dead Sea? How often did the caravans travel from Bethlehem to Moab?
Ruth 1:16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." These verses are used often at weddings. Did you know that it was Ruth who said them to her mother-in-law? I think all of us should aspire to show love and kindness and loyalty to our moms-in-law as Ruth did. My mom-in-law makes this an easy thing to do, but I'm not as kind and thoughtful as Ruth was. I think her story inspires me to try a lot harder.
Ruth 1:20 "Don't call me Naomi, [b] " she told them. "Call me Mara, [c] because the Almighty [d] has made my life very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted [e] me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me." Naomi had a very difficult time understanding why God would put her in such a predicament. Can anyone relate? Naomi was suffering consequences of her husband's decision to take their family far from the Promised Land. Seemingly, Naomi had no control over the circumstances she found herself in. In the midst of her sorrow, it was impossible for Naomi to foresee the blessings God would bring through her Moabite daughter-in-law. Was it God's will for Naomi's husband to die? I don't know. Was it God's will for Naomi's sons to marry foreign wives and then die as young men? I have no idea. Was God able to turn disappointments into something wonderful, and was God's plan for His chosen people fulfilled? Absolutely.
In Ruth 2:5 Boaz asks, "Whose young woman is that?" Then in verse 11, Boaz says, "I've been told all about what you have done." This makes me giggle! Boaz was curious enough to check Ruth out! Okay, take time to remember how you went about finding out the scoop on your true love. Makes me blush. ;-)
Ruth 2:12 "May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." Ruth 3:11 "And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character." Ruth's reputation was getting all over town, and it was good news! Are people talking about what I do for others? Is it good news? Am I known around town as a woman of noble character? I most definitely hope so. While we are not called to be in a popularity contest, we are called to bring glory and good repute to the Name of Christ. Am I doing all within my power to make that happen?
We read the law about kinsman-redeemers in Leviticus 25. Since Naomi's husband and sons were no longer living, her closest of kin had to buy her land so that it could stay in the family. I like what she says about Boaz in Ruth 3:15, "For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today." He was a man of action. I like that! I laughed at the way Boaz talked his relative out of purchasing the land too. In 4:1, Boaz calls the man "my friend." Then in verse 5, Boaz convinces the guy that he doesn't want to marry the dead man's widow, implying that he would be marrying an old woman, Naomi. After he gets the man to swear that he doesn't want the land before several witnesses, then Boaz declares his intentions to marry Ruth. Tricky guy!
The elders and witnesses become prophets when they wish Boaz fame in 4:11. Their blessing in Ruth 4:12 is very fitting. "Through the offspring the LORD gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah." Tamar and Ruth are both mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1. Rahab and Bathsheba are the only other women mentioned there. Rahab was Boaz's mom. Boaz married Ruth. Their great-grandson David married Bathsheba. These women were grafted into the family line of the Messiah. God's chosen people expands to include all people who choose to follow God. Hallelujah!
I certainly hope you enjoyed Ruth's story. Come with me now to the book of 1 Samuel 7-10 and 12, where we read of Israel's request for a king.
Did you notice the date of the book in Ruth 1:1? "In the days when the judges ruled . . . ."
Ruth 1:6 "When Naomi heard in Moab . . . ." I have to wonder how Naomi heard. Was there a daily newspaper from across the Dead Sea? How often did the caravans travel from Bethlehem to Moab?
Ruth 1:16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." These verses are used often at weddings. Did you know that it was Ruth who said them to her mother-in-law? I think all of us should aspire to show love and kindness and loyalty to our moms-in-law as Ruth did. My mom-in-law makes this an easy thing to do, but I'm not as kind and thoughtful as Ruth was. I think her story inspires me to try a lot harder.
Ruth 1:20 "Don't call me Naomi, [b] " she told them. "Call me Mara, [c] because the Almighty [d] has made my life very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted [e] me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me." Naomi had a very difficult time understanding why God would put her in such a predicament. Can anyone relate? Naomi was suffering consequences of her husband's decision to take their family far from the Promised Land. Seemingly, Naomi had no control over the circumstances she found herself in. In the midst of her sorrow, it was impossible for Naomi to foresee the blessings God would bring through her Moabite daughter-in-law. Was it God's will for Naomi's husband to die? I don't know. Was it God's will for Naomi's sons to marry foreign wives and then die as young men? I have no idea. Was God able to turn disappointments into something wonderful, and was God's plan for His chosen people fulfilled? Absolutely.
In Ruth 2:5 Boaz asks, "Whose young woman is that?" Then in verse 11, Boaz says, "I've been told all about what you have done." This makes me giggle! Boaz was curious enough to check Ruth out! Okay, take time to remember how you went about finding out the scoop on your true love. Makes me blush. ;-)
Ruth 2:12 "May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." Ruth 3:11 "And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character." Ruth's reputation was getting all over town, and it was good news! Are people talking about what I do for others? Is it good news? Am I known around town as a woman of noble character? I most definitely hope so. While we are not called to be in a popularity contest, we are called to bring glory and good repute to the Name of Christ. Am I doing all within my power to make that happen?
We read the law about kinsman-redeemers in Leviticus 25. Since Naomi's husband and sons were no longer living, her closest of kin had to buy her land so that it could stay in the family. I like what she says about Boaz in Ruth 3:15, "For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today." He was a man of action. I like that! I laughed at the way Boaz talked his relative out of purchasing the land too. In 4:1, Boaz calls the man "my friend." Then in verse 5, Boaz convinces the guy that he doesn't want to marry the dead man's widow, implying that he would be marrying an old woman, Naomi. After he gets the man to swear that he doesn't want the land before several witnesses, then Boaz declares his intentions to marry Ruth. Tricky guy!
The elders and witnesses become prophets when they wish Boaz fame in 4:11. Their blessing in Ruth 4:12 is very fitting. "Through the offspring the LORD gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah." Tamar and Ruth are both mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1. Rahab and Bathsheba are the only other women mentioned there. Rahab was Boaz's mom. Boaz married Ruth. Their great-grandson David married Bathsheba. These women were grafted into the family line of the Messiah. God's chosen people expands to include all people who choose to follow God. Hallelujah!
I certainly hope you enjoyed Ruth's story. Come with me now to the book of 1 Samuel 7-10 and 12, where we read of Israel's request for a king.
Judges 2-4, 13-16
Judges 2:15 "Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the LORD was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress." The LORD was against His own people? He sold them, defeated them, and tested them. As Melinda mentioned, Israel was caught in a vicious cycle throughout the time of the judges. Did you notice that each time Israel strayed from God, He allowed their captivity to last even longer? 8, 18, 20 years. It took longer and longer for Israel to cry out for deliverance.
Ladies, I absolutely do not want us caught in a cycle like that! When we begin a time of testing, we must immediately ask God what He wants us to learn. We must cry out the very moment we recognize that our hearts have been taken captive by the worries of this world. Ask God to send one of His judges into your life to come along side you to fight the battle. Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon (read Gideon's story in Judges 6-7). When God sends these people into our lives, we should welcome them, even when what they have to say to us may be painful.
The story of Deborah in Judges 4 is interesting. This passage would have been the story of Barak if he had taken the leadership role God had commanded him to take. Judges 4:8-9 "Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go." "Very well," Deborah said, "I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will hand Sisera over to a woman." Pray for God to raise up godly men in our day. If you are married, pray continually for God to strengthen your husband, that he will have the courage to follow God with wild abandon.
Judges 13-16 Samson, what a character! God allowed him to lead Israel 20 years, which amazes me. He must have had good qualities, but the stories we get to read certainly highlight Samson's weaknesses. He seemed to enjoy living on the edge, and he had a pattern of tricking people. His motto seemed to be "I merely did to them what they did to me." (Judges 15:11) The story of Samson and Delilah astounds me. Samson had to know that Delilah was planning to tell the Philistines his secret, yet he told her anyway. Women were certainly one of his weaknesses. Pray that God will protect our leaders from this temptation.
What insights did you gain from reading about the Judges?
Next, we will read the book of Ruth, only 4 brief chapters. I think you will enjoy her story.
Ladies, I absolutely do not want us caught in a cycle like that! When we begin a time of testing, we must immediately ask God what He wants us to learn. We must cry out the very moment we recognize that our hearts have been taken captive by the worries of this world. Ask God to send one of His judges into your life to come along side you to fight the battle. Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon (read Gideon's story in Judges 6-7). When God sends these people into our lives, we should welcome them, even when what they have to say to us may be painful.
The story of Deborah in Judges 4 is interesting. This passage would have been the story of Barak if he had taken the leadership role God had commanded him to take. Judges 4:8-9 "Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go." "Very well," Deborah said, "I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will hand Sisera over to a woman." Pray for God to raise up godly men in our day. If you are married, pray continually for God to strengthen your husband, that he will have the courage to follow God with wild abandon.
Judges 13-16 Samson, what a character! God allowed him to lead Israel 20 years, which amazes me. He must have had good qualities, but the stories we get to read certainly highlight Samson's weaknesses. He seemed to enjoy living on the edge, and he had a pattern of tricking people. His motto seemed to be "I merely did to them what they did to me." (Judges 15:11) The story of Samson and Delilah astounds me. Samson had to know that Delilah was planning to tell the Philistines his secret, yet he told her anyway. Women were certainly one of his weaknesses. Pray that God will protect our leaders from this temptation.
What insights did you gain from reading about the Judges?
Next, we will read the book of Ruth, only 4 brief chapters. I think you will enjoy her story.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Judges 1-2 1/2
During the life of Joshua, the land was assigned to the tribes of Israel, but there were still battles to be fought. Judges 1:8 was sort of a surprise to me. I didn't realize that Jerusalem was an established city before the tribe of Judah moved in. In fact, the notes in my Bible indicate that they did not fully conquer the city until the reign of David. I guess I always thought Jerusalem was the City of God, founded by God's chosen people. This sheds light on why there is still so much dispute today over who should control Jerusalem.
Over and over in Judges 1, it states that the tribes did not drive out the people but subjected them to forced labor. Ha. Joshua predicted correctly that they would not be able to fully serve the LORD. When we obey God in one part of our lives but not in others, we cannot give Him ALL our worship. Our allegiances are divided. While the Israelites thought they could control the Canaanites, they ended up allowing their sons to marry foreign wives. And like many families I know, the wives' beliefs were stronger than the husbands'. This led to Israel's worship of other gods.
Judges 2:1-3 sums it all up. "1 The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, "I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you, 2 and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.' Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? 3 Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you."
Judges 2:10-11 "After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals." My husband Trent preached on these verses recently, after the Wednesday night Bible study group had finished their study of Bruce Wilkinson's Three Chairs. The idea of that study is that people in the first chair know God, the people in the second chair know of God, and people in chair three know not God. Trent reminded me this morning that people sitting in the second chair do not teach their children to know God. Therefore, their children end up in chair three, knowing nothing about the stories of how God worked in the lives of their parents and ancestors.
I'm getting chill bumps seeing how God's Word continually ties all together. Our study of Joshua brought up the idea of what it would look like in our lives today to set up memorial stones so that our children will hear the stories of our faith. Here in Judges we see why this is so critical. I've been thinking about this a lot over the past several months because I have one child who reads the Bible on a regular basis without being reminded. I have another child who responds to my reminders with heavy sighs and eye rolls. How do I encourage this child to fall in love with God's Word without being a nag?
God showed me a couple of things to try yesterday when we visited the P. Graham Dunn Gallery in Dalton, OH. You have to go see the beautiful Christian wood carvings at their website! www.pgrahamdunn.com One of our children fell in love with the laser-carved plaques of hymns, and the other was intrigued with the Ten Commandments plaques. While I am going to need to ask God to provide some funding, I really believe He is leading us to cover our walls with Scripture. Trent and I really loved the vinyl wall decor. They are transfers of Bible verses that apply directly to the wall.
The other thing God showed me was kinda fun. As we drove up the driveway to the gallery, there were flags with the fruits of the Spirit listed on them. As a family, we read Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. Then I asked the kids if they knew where to find these in the Bible. They guessed several times but did not get it right. Then the challenge was on! I told them I would pay a small monetary reward to the one who could find it first. We were in the car without our Bibles; so when we returned to the hotel, the child who sighs and rolls the eyes looked up the fruits of the Spirit in the concordance of the Bible and was the first to find it. Five dollar bill in hand, there were high fives all around! I'm thinking we'll be doing lots more Bible trivia challenges in the near future.
Okay, well, I planned to get through Joshua 4 today, but God's Word is so full of wisdom! I think this is enough to digest for now.
Over and over in Judges 1, it states that the tribes did not drive out the people but subjected them to forced labor. Ha. Joshua predicted correctly that they would not be able to fully serve the LORD. When we obey God in one part of our lives but not in others, we cannot give Him ALL our worship. Our allegiances are divided. While the Israelites thought they could control the Canaanites, they ended up allowing their sons to marry foreign wives. And like many families I know, the wives' beliefs were stronger than the husbands'. This led to Israel's worship of other gods.
Judges 2:1-3 sums it all up. "1 The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, "I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you, 2 and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.' Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? 3 Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you."
Judges 2:10-11 "After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals." My husband Trent preached on these verses recently, after the Wednesday night Bible study group had finished their study of Bruce Wilkinson's Three Chairs. The idea of that study is that people in the first chair know God, the people in the second chair know of God, and people in chair three know not God. Trent reminded me this morning that people sitting in the second chair do not teach their children to know God. Therefore, their children end up in chair three, knowing nothing about the stories of how God worked in the lives of their parents and ancestors.
I'm getting chill bumps seeing how God's Word continually ties all together. Our study of Joshua brought up the idea of what it would look like in our lives today to set up memorial stones so that our children will hear the stories of our faith. Here in Judges we see why this is so critical. I've been thinking about this a lot over the past several months because I have one child who reads the Bible on a regular basis without being reminded. I have another child who responds to my reminders with heavy sighs and eye rolls. How do I encourage this child to fall in love with God's Word without being a nag?
God showed me a couple of things to try yesterday when we visited the P. Graham Dunn Gallery in Dalton, OH. You have to go see the beautiful Christian wood carvings at their website! www.pgrahamdunn.com One of our children fell in love with the laser-carved plaques of hymns, and the other was intrigued with the Ten Commandments plaques. While I am going to need to ask God to provide some funding, I really believe He is leading us to cover our walls with Scripture. Trent and I really loved the vinyl wall decor. They are transfers of Bible verses that apply directly to the wall.
The other thing God showed me was kinda fun. As we drove up the driveway to the gallery, there were flags with the fruits of the Spirit listed on them. As a family, we read Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. Then I asked the kids if they knew where to find these in the Bible. They guessed several times but did not get it right. Then the challenge was on! I told them I would pay a small monetary reward to the one who could find it first. We were in the car without our Bibles; so when we returned to the hotel, the child who sighs and rolls the eyes looked up the fruits of the Spirit in the concordance of the Bible and was the first to find it. Five dollar bill in hand, there were high fives all around! I'm thinking we'll be doing lots more Bible trivia challenges in the near future.
Okay, well, I planned to get through Joshua 4 today, but God's Word is so full of wisdom! I think this is enough to digest for now.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Joshua 4-6, 23-24
The twelve stones the men took out of the middle of the river probably were not little, and Joshua did not simply pile them up in a mound. They were big and noticeable to anyone who passed by the memorial. It was not just a little pile of rocks. It is interesting that Joshua 4:6-7 and 4:21-23 are so similar. Why is it repeated within the same chapter? I think that it must be of extreme importance to memorialize what God has done for us. Do we do that? Do my children ever ask me, "What do these stones mean?" Is there anything in my home that makes my children curious about my history with Jesus? In our culture, we are always longing for the future, and we rarely take time to reflect on the past. Are there stories you need to tell your children so that they will be able to carry on the Christian heritage you wish to pass on to them?
Joshua 4:24 "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." God works in our lives, not just for our benefit, but so that all the people of the earth might know the He is powerful!
Joshua 5:1 News of the Jordan crossing spreads through the land. God is already winning the battle for Israel.
Joshua 5:10-12 The people cross the Jordan, they celebrate the Passover, and then the manna stops, and they get to eat the fruit of the Promised Land. Cool!
Joshua 5:13-6:5 Okay, I wish I could have the entire video of this scene. Do you think Joshua listened to the plan, said that sounds good, and then told it to the people? Come on, no questions, Joshua? Oh, that I could have the faith to follow what sounds like a crazy plan when I know it has come from the mouth of the LORD.
Joshua 6:10 This verse is proof that there were no women in Israel's army!
Joshua 6:16 "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city!" When the walls crumbled, the Israelites destroyed everything in Jericho. Only Rahab and her family were saved. God was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.
Joshua 23 & 24 is Joshua's farewell address to Israel. At the conclusion of my life, I want to say with confidence as Joshua did that I have seen every promise from God fulfilled in my life (v 14). While I know God will definitely be faithful, sometimes I am not. Sometimes I miss the blessings God has for me because I take a path to the left or the right.
Chapter 24 is a recounting of Israel's entire history. It is a summation of everything you and I have studied thus far. If you find anything that makes you curious in this chapter, go back and read more about it from Genesis through Deuteronomy. For example, the story about Balaam can be found in Numbers 22-24. It has always been one of my favorites.
Joshua 24:13 Israel gets to enjoy the fruit of someone else's labor. Rarely do we get to enjoy something for nothing. When we do, we should recognize it as provision from God.
Joshua 24:15 "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." I can echo Joshua's statement. Our family has chosen to serve the LORD. Will you join us? If you have not chosen to follow Christ wholeheartedly, will you choose today? It's a great adventure!
Joshua 24:19-27 When the people say they want to follow God, Joshua argues with them about their commitment and makes them swear on it and draw up a covenant and set up a memorial as a reminder. I'm thinking he had lived with these people long enough to know how fickle they could be.
Joshua 24:31 "Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the LORD had done for Israel." What a tremendous testimony to Joshua's leadership.
Verse 33 I didn't realize that Aaron's son Eleazar got to come into the Promised Land with Joshua and Caleb. His descendants were given the hill country of Ephraim. That's where the prophet Samuel's family is from. Cool connection, huh.
Are ya keepin' up? Are ya still with me? We go to Judges 1-4 and 13-16 next. Judges contains some amazing stories; probably some you may have heard as a child in Sunday school.
Joshua 4:24 "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." God works in our lives, not just for our benefit, but so that all the people of the earth might know the He is powerful!
Joshua 5:1 News of the Jordan crossing spreads through the land. God is already winning the battle for Israel.
Joshua 5:10-12 The people cross the Jordan, they celebrate the Passover, and then the manna stops, and they get to eat the fruit of the Promised Land. Cool!
Joshua 5:13-6:5 Okay, I wish I could have the entire video of this scene. Do you think Joshua listened to the plan, said that sounds good, and then told it to the people? Come on, no questions, Joshua? Oh, that I could have the faith to follow what sounds like a crazy plan when I know it has come from the mouth of the LORD.
Joshua 6:10 This verse is proof that there were no women in Israel's army!
Joshua 6:16 "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city!" When the walls crumbled, the Israelites destroyed everything in Jericho. Only Rahab and her family were saved. God was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.
Joshua 23 & 24 is Joshua's farewell address to Israel. At the conclusion of my life, I want to say with confidence as Joshua did that I have seen every promise from God fulfilled in my life (v 14). While I know God will definitely be faithful, sometimes I am not. Sometimes I miss the blessings God has for me because I take a path to the left or the right.
Chapter 24 is a recounting of Israel's entire history. It is a summation of everything you and I have studied thus far. If you find anything that makes you curious in this chapter, go back and read more about it from Genesis through Deuteronomy. For example, the story about Balaam can be found in Numbers 22-24. It has always been one of my favorites.
Joshua 24:13 Israel gets to enjoy the fruit of someone else's labor. Rarely do we get to enjoy something for nothing. When we do, we should recognize it as provision from God.
Joshua 24:15 "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." I can echo Joshua's statement. Our family has chosen to serve the LORD. Will you join us? If you have not chosen to follow Christ wholeheartedly, will you choose today? It's a great adventure!
Joshua 24:19-27 When the people say they want to follow God, Joshua argues with them about their commitment and makes them swear on it and draw up a covenant and set up a memorial as a reminder. I'm thinking he had lived with these people long enough to know how fickle they could be.
Joshua 24:31 "Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the LORD had done for Israel." What a tremendous testimony to Joshua's leadership.
Verse 33 I didn't realize that Aaron's son Eleazar got to come into the Promised Land with Joshua and Caleb. His descendants were given the hill country of Ephraim. That's where the prophet Samuel's family is from. Cool connection, huh.
Are ya keepin' up? Are ya still with me? We go to Judges 1-4 and 13-16 next. Judges contains some amazing stories; probably some you may have heard as a child in Sunday school.
Joshua 1-4
Joshua 1:3 "I will give you every place where you set your foot." Beth Moore taught about this in one of her studies. Her comment was that the Israelites had to actually step foot on the ground before they could conquer the land. She applied it to our lives by saying that we have to step out and fight the battle before God will give us the victory over sin in our lives.
God repeatedly reassured Joshua that He would never leave or forsake him and that Joshua should be strong and very courageous. God assured Joshua that he would be revered by the people. This is important for any leader. Without encouragement, it is difficult to stay at the head of the pack.
I laughed when I read verse 17, "just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you." Fully?? Tee hee! I admire their spunk that day though as they prepared for the long-awaited battles.
I think it is very interesting that Joshua sent 2 spies in Chapter 2. Did he choose to send two instead of 12 because he and Caleb were the only two who wanted to follow God's wishes at the beginning of their journey? Hmmm. I think I'll ask Joshua when I run into him in heaven.
There are lots of ponderable questions in this passage. I want to know how the king of Jericho knew to talk to Rahab when men visited the city. Rahab is listed in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1. She was King David's great-great grandmother. How's that for enjoying God's grace?!!
I love what Rahab says in Joshua 2:9-11. The people of the land already knew that God was the ruler of the universe because of the miracles He had performed for Israel. Do the people around me know God is the True God because they know and hear about what He does for me? Rahab's testimony gave the two spies the courage to say to Joshua, "The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us." (v. 24)
Joshua 3:5 "Consecrate yourselves." Have you ever consecrated yourself unto God? What did you do? I would love to hear your stories.
The Jordan was at flood stage, and we learned in our Ray VanderLaan film series that the banks of the Jordan are fairly steep. Can you imagine being one of the priests charged with the responsibility of going first into the water? I can feel my heart pounding! Yet, as soon as their feet touched the water, it piled up in a heap. Hallelujah! I like Joshua 4:18 too, "No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before." Praise God!
I got to thinking, however, would I have been praising God for getting us all safely across, or would I have been complaining because I almost got washed away by the river? We have a tendency to do that. After a near miss, I focus on the almost negative rather than the supernatural positive!
I'll come back online later to post about the standing stones in Joshua 4.
God repeatedly reassured Joshua that He would never leave or forsake him and that Joshua should be strong and very courageous. God assured Joshua that he would be revered by the people. This is important for any leader. Without encouragement, it is difficult to stay at the head of the pack.
I laughed when I read verse 17, "just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you." Fully?? Tee hee! I admire their spunk that day though as they prepared for the long-awaited battles.
I think it is very interesting that Joshua sent 2 spies in Chapter 2. Did he choose to send two instead of 12 because he and Caleb were the only two who wanted to follow God's wishes at the beginning of their journey? Hmmm. I think I'll ask Joshua when I run into him in heaven.
There are lots of ponderable questions in this passage. I want to know how the king of Jericho knew to talk to Rahab when men visited the city. Rahab is listed in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1. She was King David's great-great grandmother. How's that for enjoying God's grace?!!
I love what Rahab says in Joshua 2:9-11. The people of the land already knew that God was the ruler of the universe because of the miracles He had performed for Israel. Do the people around me know God is the True God because they know and hear about what He does for me? Rahab's testimony gave the two spies the courage to say to Joshua, "The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us." (v. 24)
Joshua 3:5 "Consecrate yourselves." Have you ever consecrated yourself unto God? What did you do? I would love to hear your stories.
The Jordan was at flood stage, and we learned in our Ray VanderLaan film series that the banks of the Jordan are fairly steep. Can you imagine being one of the priests charged with the responsibility of going first into the water? I can feel my heart pounding! Yet, as soon as their feet touched the water, it piled up in a heap. Hallelujah! I like Joshua 4:18 too, "No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before." Praise God!
I got to thinking, however, would I have been praising God for getting us all safely across, or would I have been complaining because I almost got washed away by the river? We have a tendency to do that. After a near miss, I focus on the almost negative rather than the supernatural positive!
I'll come back online later to post about the standing stones in Joshua 4.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Deuteronomy 29-31, 34
Deut 29:5-6 I think it was Karen who pointed out these verses in an earlier post. God's provision for His people is always amazing. Notice that He provided "so that you might know that I am the LORD your God."
Deut 29:12-15 I especially like verses 14-15, "I am making this covenant, not only with you who are standing here with us today, . . . but also with those who are not here today." This idea is further emphasized in Deut. 31:13, when Moses tells the Israelites to be sure that their children hear and learn to fear God. The covenant God made with them was to continue even to our generation.
Deut 29:18-19 Am I reading this correctly? Is this saying that when I see others turning away from God, then I am to "make sure there is no root of bitter poison" allowed to grow? Do the sins of others directly affect my life? Do I have concern for the spiritual growth and holiness of my Christian sisters and brothers? Ouch!
This could be a wonderful life verse, "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law." Deut 29:29
Deut 30:2-4 Here we see that God already knows that Israel will endure His discipline. God already knows that they will disappoint Him and that He will have to bring them back. And still He loved them . . . .
Deut 30:11 God's commands are not too difficult? Now, wait a minute! Verse 14 "No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. " Wow! When God's Word is in my mouth and heart, it is not too difficult to obey. What a concept!
Deut 30:19 "Choose life so you may live!" Sounds like a great song to me . . . . http://lyrics.crossmap.com/track/big-tent-revival/choose-life-enhanced/choose-life.htm
Deut 31 Moses passes the baton to Joshua. I love that he gives Joshua his authority "in the presence of all Israel" (vs 7). These people were not good followers, and you can bet your bottom dollar that they would have rebelled heartily against the changing of the guard if Moses had secretly told Joshua to be the new leader. Verses 6 & 8 are great words of encouragement!
Deut 31:19-22 refer to chapter 32. If you have some extra time, please read this beautiful song of Moses which recounts all the ways God had delivered His people.
Deut 34 What a sweet story of God's love relationship with Moses! We should weep at the tenderness God demonstrates toward this faithful servant. The LORD knew Moses face to face (vs 10).
Deut 34:9 "Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses." Glory!
I'll see you next time in Joshua 1-6 and 23-24!
Deut 29:12-15 I especially like verses 14-15, "I am making this covenant, not only with you who are standing here with us today, . . . but also with those who are not here today." This idea is further emphasized in Deut. 31:13, when Moses tells the Israelites to be sure that their children hear and learn to fear God. The covenant God made with them was to continue even to our generation.
Deut 29:18-19 Am I reading this correctly? Is this saying that when I see others turning away from God, then I am to "make sure there is no root of bitter poison" allowed to grow? Do the sins of others directly affect my life? Do I have concern for the spiritual growth and holiness of my Christian sisters and brothers? Ouch!
This could be a wonderful life verse, "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law." Deut 29:29
Deut 30:2-4 Here we see that God already knows that Israel will endure His discipline. God already knows that they will disappoint Him and that He will have to bring them back. And still He loved them . . . .
Deut 30:11 God's commands are not too difficult? Now, wait a minute! Verse 14 "No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. " Wow! When God's Word is in my mouth and heart, it is not too difficult to obey. What a concept!
Deut 30:19 "Choose life so you may live!" Sounds like a great song to me . . . . http://lyrics.crossmap.com/track/big-tent-revival/choose-life-enhanced/choose-life.htm
Deut 31 Moses passes the baton to Joshua. I love that he gives Joshua his authority "in the presence of all Israel" (vs 7). These people were not good followers, and you can bet your bottom dollar that they would have rebelled heartily against the changing of the guard if Moses had secretly told Joshua to be the new leader. Verses 6 & 8 are great words of encouragement!
Deut 31:19-22 refer to chapter 32. If you have some extra time, please read this beautiful song of Moses which recounts all the ways God had delivered His people.
Deut 34 What a sweet story of God's love relationship with Moses! We should weep at the tenderness God demonstrates toward this faithful servant. The LORD knew Moses face to face (vs 10).
Deut 34:9 "Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses." Glory!
I'll see you next time in Joshua 1-6 and 23-24!
Deuteronomy 28
Who ever thought we would find so much in the Old Testament to apply to our post-modern lives! God's Word is truly living and active.
Deuteronomy 28--The word that jumps off the page at me over and over again is ALL. We are to fully and carefully follow ALL God's commands. I don't know about you, but that leaves me out of the blessings group. Did you notice how much longer the list of curses is than the list of blessings? God is serious when He says to obey His commands.
But when I read the list of blessings, I realize that I am blessed! I am blessed in the city and blessed in the country, etc., etc. So, how does that happen when I clearly miss the mark daily and fall into temptation often? Why do I enjoy blessings when others around me find their lives falling apart from time to time? I don't have a complete answer to that question because God's ways are higher than my ways, and only He knows and understands why He chooses to bless some and not others. I do know that I try to follow as closely to God's commands as humanly possible. I had Christian parents and grandparents who prayed for me and taught me to obey God's Word. I married a godly man, and we keep one another accountable before God. I seek to listen and obey the Holy Spirit whenever I hear His voice (and it has taken lots of years and spiritual discipline to recognize His still, small voice). I have a thankful heart, and even when things go wrong, I am seeking God's face and asking what He has in store for me to learn. My goal is to make decisions that glorify God alone, and I ask for His help and wisdom almost every moment of the day. "Jesus help me," is my mantra. When I am old and in the nursing home, no one will be able to communicate with me because I will only be able to repeat over and over, "Jesus help me!"
If you find yourself feeling as though you are part of the cursed group, earnestly pray and ask God to show you what command He wants you to obey, no matter how small a thing it may seem to you. I have found that obeying God in the smallest matters grows my faith tremendously in the important matters of life. Ask God how you can become "the head and not the tail" (vs 13 & 44). I do not want the curses to become signs and wonders to me and my descendants (vs 45-46). I do not want God to give me an anxious mind or to live a life of weary longing, despair, suspense, and dread (vs. 65-66). I want to enjoy every moment of every day, not wish for a new day to arrive (vs. 67).
Okay, that's enough food for thought. I'll end this here and pick up the rest of Deuteronomy on a new post.
Love and prayers! Dana
Deuteronomy 28--The word that jumps off the page at me over and over again is ALL. We are to fully and carefully follow ALL God's commands. I don't know about you, but that leaves me out of the blessings group. Did you notice how much longer the list of curses is than the list of blessings? God is serious when He says to obey His commands.
But when I read the list of blessings, I realize that I am blessed! I am blessed in the city and blessed in the country, etc., etc. So, how does that happen when I clearly miss the mark daily and fall into temptation often? Why do I enjoy blessings when others around me find their lives falling apart from time to time? I don't have a complete answer to that question because God's ways are higher than my ways, and only He knows and understands why He chooses to bless some and not others. I do know that I try to follow as closely to God's commands as humanly possible. I had Christian parents and grandparents who prayed for me and taught me to obey God's Word. I married a godly man, and we keep one another accountable before God. I seek to listen and obey the Holy Spirit whenever I hear His voice (and it has taken lots of years and spiritual discipline to recognize His still, small voice). I have a thankful heart, and even when things go wrong, I am seeking God's face and asking what He has in store for me to learn. My goal is to make decisions that glorify God alone, and I ask for His help and wisdom almost every moment of the day. "Jesus help me," is my mantra. When I am old and in the nursing home, no one will be able to communicate with me because I will only be able to repeat over and over, "Jesus help me!"
If you find yourself feeling as though you are part of the cursed group, earnestly pray and ask God to show you what command He wants you to obey, no matter how small a thing it may seem to you. I have found that obeying God in the smallest matters grows my faith tremendously in the important matters of life. Ask God how you can become "the head and not the tail" (vs 13 & 44). I do not want the curses to become signs and wonders to me and my descendants (vs 45-46). I do not want God to give me an anxious mind or to live a life of weary longing, despair, suspense, and dread (vs. 65-66). I want to enjoy every moment of every day, not wish for a new day to arrive (vs. 67).
Okay, that's enough food for thought. I'll end this here and pick up the rest of Deuteronomy on a new post.
Love and prayers! Dana
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Deuteronomy 5-8
I held off posting for a couple of days because I know everyone was busy celebrating our freedoms for July 4. We should be so grateful to live in a country where we can openly worship the One True God. May we never take it for granted, and may we speak up when anyone tries to take our freedom of worship away from us.
The book of Deuteronomy is sort of Moses' farewell address to the people and the passing of the baton to his successor Joshua. I've always wondered why Deuteronomy is largely a repeat of the previous two books of the Bible. It is because Moses is addressing the new generation of Israelites. The former generation has passed away in the desert, and now God is preparing new leadership to lead the nation into the Promised Land. Are you and I doing a good job of telling the story of Christ to the generation who will follow us? Are we mentoring someone who can take our place when God calls us home?
Deuteronomy 5:3 "It was not with our fathers that the LORD made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today." This verse makes better sense when you understand that the people "who are alive here today" were the children and grandchildren of the generation that crossed the Red Sea out of Egypt. I also think it gives us permission to apply this covenant to ourselves. Even though we were not present at Mt. Sinai, many of the people whom Moses addressed in this chapter were not there either. I believe Moses is saying that the LORD makes His covenant available to all who will follow and obey.
Deuteronomy 5:9-10 "for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments." When we read Exodus 20, we skipped over this part of the commandments. I love this promise! We tend to easily remember that God will punish us for sin for three and four generations. Let's focus on the promise that when you and I are faithful and train our children to be faithful and loving toward God, He will reward a thousand generations who follow us. Praise be to God! Deuteronomy 5:29, 32-33 "Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever! 32 So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. 33 Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess."
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is known as The Shema. The Jews recite it and post it on a mezuzah on the doorframes of their homes. They are very intentional about passing these words on to their children. Does anyone have an example you wish to share about how you are passing on your beliefs to the next generation? In verses 20-25, Moses tells the Israelites how to respond when their children ask the meaning of the law.
The first verses in Deut 7 seem harsh. Why would God command that the Israelites wipe out the other nations? What was the harm in marrying foreign wives? It was because God had set Israel apart as holy. They could not live a separate life from the foreign culture; so God told them to destroy all others. We will see later the effects of Israel's disobedience in this area.
Deut 7:7-10 further answers our question from before about why God chooses some and does not choose others. God chose the weaker nation as His people so that He could display His power through them and so that He could show love to them.
Deut 7:22 "The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once," I'm not sure I noticed this verse before. I always wondered why God didn't send them in to divide and conquer immediately. I think this verse describes the battles you and I face in our lives. We want God to give us immediate victory over sin in our lives, but many times it happens "little by little." Anyone identify?
Deut 8:2 "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands." Do I keep God's commands during the time of humility and testing? Verse 5 "Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you."
Deut 8:6-10 I like this passage. Obey God because He is bringing you into a good land where you will lack nothing. You will be satisfied. Be sure to give God the glory!
Deut 8:14-20 Don't become proud and think you achieved it all on your own power. God gives you the ability to succeed. Don't forget it!
We will pick up with Chapters 28-31 & 34 in Deuteronomy tomorrow.
The book of Deuteronomy is sort of Moses' farewell address to the people and the passing of the baton to his successor Joshua. I've always wondered why Deuteronomy is largely a repeat of the previous two books of the Bible. It is because Moses is addressing the new generation of Israelites. The former generation has passed away in the desert, and now God is preparing new leadership to lead the nation into the Promised Land. Are you and I doing a good job of telling the story of Christ to the generation who will follow us? Are we mentoring someone who can take our place when God calls us home?
Deuteronomy 5:3 "It was not with our fathers that the LORD made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today." This verse makes better sense when you understand that the people "who are alive here today" were the children and grandchildren of the generation that crossed the Red Sea out of Egypt. I also think it gives us permission to apply this covenant to ourselves. Even though we were not present at Mt. Sinai, many of the people whom Moses addressed in this chapter were not there either. I believe Moses is saying that the LORD makes His covenant available to all who will follow and obey.
Deuteronomy 5:9-10 "for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments." When we read Exodus 20, we skipped over this part of the commandments. I love this promise! We tend to easily remember that God will punish us for sin for three and four generations. Let's focus on the promise that when you and I are faithful and train our children to be faithful and loving toward God, He will reward a thousand generations who follow us. Praise be to God! Deuteronomy 5:29, 32-33 "Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever! 32 So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. 33 Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess."
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is known as The Shema. The Jews recite it and post it on a mezuzah on the doorframes of their homes. They are very intentional about passing these words on to their children. Does anyone have an example you wish to share about how you are passing on your beliefs to the next generation? In verses 20-25, Moses tells the Israelites how to respond when their children ask the meaning of the law.
The first verses in Deut 7 seem harsh. Why would God command that the Israelites wipe out the other nations? What was the harm in marrying foreign wives? It was because God had set Israel apart as holy. They could not live a separate life from the foreign culture; so God told them to destroy all others. We will see later the effects of Israel's disobedience in this area.
Deut 7:7-10 further answers our question from before about why God chooses some and does not choose others. God chose the weaker nation as His people so that He could display His power through them and so that He could show love to them.
Deut 7:22 "The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once," I'm not sure I noticed this verse before. I always wondered why God didn't send them in to divide and conquer immediately. I think this verse describes the battles you and I face in our lives. We want God to give us immediate victory over sin in our lives, but many times it happens "little by little." Anyone identify?
Deut 8:2 "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands." Do I keep God's commands during the time of humility and testing? Verse 5 "Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you."
Deut 8:6-10 I like this passage. Obey God because He is bringing you into a good land where you will lack nothing. You will be satisfied. Be sure to give God the glory!
Deut 8:14-20 Don't become proud and think you achieved it all on your own power. God gives you the ability to succeed. Don't forget it!
We will pick up with Chapters 28-31 & 34 in Deuteronomy tomorrow.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Numbers 3-4, 6, 11-14
I love how the stories of the Bible are so intertwined. The Bible is its own best commentary because when one part is hard to understand, we can find a related passage that helps to clarify it by giving more explanation. The first few verses of Numbers 3 is a flashback to what we read in Leviticus 10 concerning the disobedience of Aaron's sons. Then, to fully understand why God is setting apart the tribe of Levi for His service, we must look back at Exodus 32. When Moses came down from Mt. Sinai to find the people worshipping the golden calf, it was the Levites who stood at his side to punish the disobedient. We have asked the question, "Why does God choose some and reject others?" Here we have an example of God choosing men who are obedient, no matter the cost.
Chapters 3 & 4 of Numbers go into great detail to show who was responsible for each part of the Tabernacle. It should remind us that taking care of God's house takes all of us. There is so much work that must be done behind the scenes to make corporate worship possible. Are we all doing our part to make it happen? Most people do not realize all the work that goes into preparing for worship on Sunday mornings. They are content to show up for the ceremony, fill a pew, and leave mostly unchanged. Ladies, the people who are most satisfied after a church service are the people who were involved with putting all the pieces in place. If you find yourself bored with coming to church, perhaps you should volunteer to be part of the planning process.
Numbers 3:40-51 is a beautiful picture of substitution for redemption. By law, the firstborn from every family was required to serve in the Temple. God accepted the service of the Levites as a substitution. This is a flash forward of God's acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice for you and me. By law, you and I are required to offer a perfect sacrifice for our redemption. We couldn't do it; so Jesus took our place.
Numbers 6--Are any of you ready to sign up to be a Nazirite? This vow took a tremendous commitment to live a holy life. The most well-known Nazirite in the Bible is Samson. Other examples are Samuel, and John the Baptist, and Paul mentions taking a vow in Acts 18 & 21.
Numbers 6:24-26--The Priestly Blessing
"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."
Amen!!!
Numbers 11--The Israelites are grumbling again. I'm thinking you and I would have been right in the middle of it. Very few of us are happy travelers. I can understand Moses' complaint in verses 10-15 too. I like that God appointed 70 helpers for Moses in verses 16-17.
Numbers 11:20--The Israelites would get what they prayed for. Reminds me of the song "Thank God for Unanswered Prayer." Why do we fall into the trap of telling God what He has to do for us? From experience, I have learned that trusting Him to provide for my needs always turns out much better than I would have planned it.
Numbers 12--Poor Moses! Not only are the multitudes grumbling against him, but now his brother and sister get in on the whining. May we all strive to have God describe us as he does Moses in verses 6-8. I want to be known as faithful. I want God to speak to me face to face, clearly and not in riddles. I'm impressed that Moses interceded for Miriam and asked God to heal her. You and I would be more likely to kill her and tell God she died. (Just kidding.)
Numbers 13--Are we willing to go against the crowd like Caleb and Joshua did? How many times have we caved in to public opinion rather than standing in the face of opposition? God is looking for people to reward. He rewards people of integrity who do the right thing even when it is the costly thing.
Numbers 14:1-4--The people's constant negativity and worry is rebellion against God.
Numbers 14:5-9--I want to be a part of this group, the group that demonstrates faith.
Numbers 14:13-19--Moses intercedes for the people by appealing to God's desire for glory among the nations. I would have been agreeing with God's decision to strike the people down!
Numbers 14:39-45--After the pronouncement of God's judgment on their unbelief, the people disobey once again. They say, "Oops, we messed up. Now we want to go into the Promised Land." Sorry folks, you can't change directions that fast. God's will prevails.
Our next reading will be in Deuteronomy 5-8, 28-31, and 34.
Chapters 3 & 4 of Numbers go into great detail to show who was responsible for each part of the Tabernacle. It should remind us that taking care of God's house takes all of us. There is so much work that must be done behind the scenes to make corporate worship possible. Are we all doing our part to make it happen? Most people do not realize all the work that goes into preparing for worship on Sunday mornings. They are content to show up for the ceremony, fill a pew, and leave mostly unchanged. Ladies, the people who are most satisfied after a church service are the people who were involved with putting all the pieces in place. If you find yourself bored with coming to church, perhaps you should volunteer to be part of the planning process.
Numbers 3:40-51 is a beautiful picture of substitution for redemption. By law, the firstborn from every family was required to serve in the Temple. God accepted the service of the Levites as a substitution. This is a flash forward of God's acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice for you and me. By law, you and I are required to offer a perfect sacrifice for our redemption. We couldn't do it; so Jesus took our place.
Numbers 6--Are any of you ready to sign up to be a Nazirite? This vow took a tremendous commitment to live a holy life. The most well-known Nazirite in the Bible is Samson. Other examples are Samuel, and John the Baptist, and Paul mentions taking a vow in Acts 18 & 21.
Numbers 6:24-26--The Priestly Blessing
"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."
Amen!!!
Numbers 11--The Israelites are grumbling again. I'm thinking you and I would have been right in the middle of it. Very few of us are happy travelers. I can understand Moses' complaint in verses 10-15 too. I like that God appointed 70 helpers for Moses in verses 16-17.
Numbers 11:20--The Israelites would get what they prayed for. Reminds me of the song "Thank God for Unanswered Prayer." Why do we fall into the trap of telling God what He has to do for us? From experience, I have learned that trusting Him to provide for my needs always turns out much better than I would have planned it.
Numbers 12--Poor Moses! Not only are the multitudes grumbling against him, but now his brother and sister get in on the whining. May we all strive to have God describe us as he does Moses in verses 6-8. I want to be known as faithful. I want God to speak to me face to face, clearly and not in riddles. I'm impressed that Moses interceded for Miriam and asked God to heal her. You and I would be more likely to kill her and tell God she died. (Just kidding.)
Numbers 13--Are we willing to go against the crowd like Caleb and Joshua did? How many times have we caved in to public opinion rather than standing in the face of opposition? God is looking for people to reward. He rewards people of integrity who do the right thing even when it is the costly thing.
Numbers 14:1-4--The people's constant negativity and worry is rebellion against God.
Numbers 14:5-9--I want to be a part of this group, the group that demonstrates faith.
Numbers 14:13-19--Moses intercedes for the people by appealing to God's desire for glory among the nations. I would have been agreeing with God's decision to strike the people down!
Numbers 14:39-45--After the pronouncement of God's judgment on their unbelief, the people disobey once again. They say, "Oops, we messed up. Now we want to go into the Promised Land." Sorry folks, you can't change directions that fast. God's will prevails.
Our next reading will be in Deuteronomy 5-8, 28-31, and 34.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Leviticus 1, 10-11, 12, 16, 25-26
This is a lot of reading. It took me two days; so feel free to take your time.
Leviticus 1--There are so many details! How did the priests keep all 613 laws from the Torah straight? In fact, they even added their own rules. It just proves again the futility of trying to keep the whole law based on our own righteousness. James 2:10 says that if we even break one little command, we are guilty of breaking the whole law. Isaiah 64:6 describes our righteousness as filthy rags. We cannot be righteous on our own. It is only because Christ paid the penalty for us on the cross. Have you asked Him to exchange your sinful life for His perfect life? It is available to you for the asking!
Leviticus 10--Aaron's sons take matters into their own hands because they thought they knew better than God. Hmmmm. Sounds familiar. It is shocking to me that Aaron and his family are forbidden to mourn for the rebellious sons. Again, God has extremely high expectations for the leaders of His people. Leviticus 10:10 "You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean," Holy means to be set apart. God had set apart Aaron's family for His service. They had to distinguish themselves from acting as common men. God has set apart you and me for special acts of service in His Kingdom. Are we acting like the common man who does not know God?
Leviticus 11--Dietary laws are still a big part of what it means to be Jewish today. In our day of refrigeration and food processing technology, these laws may be puzzling to us. However, God knew what would keep His chosen people healthy and what would make them sick. All of His laws were given for a purpose. I knew that pork was forbidden, but I did not realize that shellfish were also on the do-not-eat list. I'm thinking I wouldn't eat the winged insects anyway, even if they were permitted by God. At the end of this chapter, God tells His people to be holy (set apart) as He is holy. Are we willing to purify our lives of the things God tells us are unclean for us today?
Leviticus 12--This chapter is not on the original reading list, but I want you to read it anyway, and compare it with the story in Luke 2 when Mary and Joseph take Jesus to be presented at the temple as a baby. As a woman, these chapters are very interesting to me.
Leviticus 16--In verse 2, God tells Aaron that he can no longer come into the Holy of Holies whenever and however he chooses. Praise God that the sacrifice Jesus made for us opens the way for us to approach the throne boldly to find His mercy and grace (Hebrews 4:16). This chapter (especially verses 10 & 22) describes the scapegoat. Did you know this was where that term comes from? Leviticus 16:30 "Because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins." The Israelites had to go through this ceremony every year. Jesus paid for our sins once and for all! Hallelujah!
Leviticus 25--Cindy mentioned wishing that we followed the financial laws. I especially wish we still celebrated the Sabbath Year and the Jubilee. Verse 21 "I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years." This chapter describes an economy that would work! Why was it never strictly followed? Does anyone know if the Jews ever actually celebrated a Jubilee year? I looked for info but didn't find any.
Leviticus 26--Rewards for obedience, Punishment for disobedience. Trent and I enjoyed a Colorado Renewal Conference in Denver this week. The theme was to encourage pastors to take a stand on political issues that affect our freedoms. We heard several speakers on the history of the American Revolution. The first part of this chapter sounds much like the blessing God has bestowed on our nation. Colorado Renewal was a tremendous reminder that our freedoms will be lost if we do not stand for biblical truths. Verses 40 & 42 "If they will confess their sins . . . I will remember my covenant." In verses 44-45, I am impressed to recognize that God already knew His people would rebel, and He had already made provision for their redemption.
Our next reading will be Numbers 3-4, 6, 23-24, but take your time here if needed. Don't feel like you need to rush.
Leviticus 1--There are so many details! How did the priests keep all 613 laws from the Torah straight? In fact, they even added their own rules. It just proves again the futility of trying to keep the whole law based on our own righteousness. James 2:10 says that if we even break one little command, we are guilty of breaking the whole law. Isaiah 64:6 describes our righteousness as filthy rags. We cannot be righteous on our own. It is only because Christ paid the penalty for us on the cross. Have you asked Him to exchange your sinful life for His perfect life? It is available to you for the asking!
Leviticus 10--Aaron's sons take matters into their own hands because they thought they knew better than God. Hmmmm. Sounds familiar. It is shocking to me that Aaron and his family are forbidden to mourn for the rebellious sons. Again, God has extremely high expectations for the leaders of His people. Leviticus 10:10 "You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean," Holy means to be set apart. God had set apart Aaron's family for His service. They had to distinguish themselves from acting as common men. God has set apart you and me for special acts of service in His Kingdom. Are we acting like the common man who does not know God?
Leviticus 11--Dietary laws are still a big part of what it means to be Jewish today. In our day of refrigeration and food processing technology, these laws may be puzzling to us. However, God knew what would keep His chosen people healthy and what would make them sick. All of His laws were given for a purpose. I knew that pork was forbidden, but I did not realize that shellfish were also on the do-not-eat list. I'm thinking I wouldn't eat the winged insects anyway, even if they were permitted by God. At the end of this chapter, God tells His people to be holy (set apart) as He is holy. Are we willing to purify our lives of the things God tells us are unclean for us today?
Leviticus 12--This chapter is not on the original reading list, but I want you to read it anyway, and compare it with the story in Luke 2 when Mary and Joseph take Jesus to be presented at the temple as a baby. As a woman, these chapters are very interesting to me.
Leviticus 16--In verse 2, God tells Aaron that he can no longer come into the Holy of Holies whenever and however he chooses. Praise God that the sacrifice Jesus made for us opens the way for us to approach the throne boldly to find His mercy and grace (Hebrews 4:16). This chapter (especially verses 10 & 22) describes the scapegoat. Did you know this was where that term comes from? Leviticus 16:30 "Because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins." The Israelites had to go through this ceremony every year. Jesus paid for our sins once and for all! Hallelujah!
Leviticus 25--Cindy mentioned wishing that we followed the financial laws. I especially wish we still celebrated the Sabbath Year and the Jubilee. Verse 21 "I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years." This chapter describes an economy that would work! Why was it never strictly followed? Does anyone know if the Jews ever actually celebrated a Jubilee year? I looked for info but didn't find any.
Leviticus 26--Rewards for obedience, Punishment for disobedience. Trent and I enjoyed a Colorado Renewal Conference in Denver this week. The theme was to encourage pastors to take a stand on political issues that affect our freedoms. We heard several speakers on the history of the American Revolution. The first part of this chapter sounds much like the blessing God has bestowed on our nation. Colorado Renewal was a tremendous reminder that our freedoms will be lost if we do not stand for biblical truths. Verses 40 & 42 "If they will confess their sins . . . I will remember my covenant." In verses 44-45, I am impressed to recognize that God already knew His people would rebel, and He had already made provision for their redemption.
Our next reading will be Numbers 3-4, 6, 23-24, but take your time here if needed. Don't feel like you need to rush.
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