2 Samuel 22:1-20 - David's Song of Deliverance

2 Samuel 22:1-20

Moreover, Absalom would say, “Oh that someone would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has a lawsuit or claim could come to me, and I would give him justice!” (verse 4)

Message: David's Song of Deliverance

Time: Second Samuel is set in the land of Israel during the reign of David and follows the course of his forty years as king of Israel (1011–971 BC). It chronicles the establishment of the Davidic dynasty and the expansion of Israel under God’s chosen leader. 

What the Lord is Saying: While this Psalm or Song appears after chapter 21, it does not necessarily follow the events of Chapter 21 but rather David records this song of praise following a battle victory, most likely. It is repeated in Psalm 18. There is a tradition among God's people to sing their praises to God. It is personal and also communal. 

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

Rock here is crag which means a steep or rugged cliff which is sought for refuge. The Hebrew word is Sela. Thus, God is unmoving. He is Strength. A fortress in these times was essential for survival against enemies. He is my deliverer. He is active in rescuing me from perilous situations. He saves. He liberates. 

My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,

This rock is a different Hebrew word. It is tsur. It is a strong rock or cliff or bedrock. He is my continual and unmoving refuge. The previous 'rock' is specific for a purpose. This 'rock' seems to be continuous. 

My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge;

A shield is for defense. Horn is a symbol of strength and is also a reference for Jesus (Luke 1:69). As a refuge, God is my sanctuary in times of trouble. 

My savior, You save me from violence.

God is my savior and in Titus 2:13, savior is also Jesus Christ. God intervenes to save us from physical harm, but also from spiritual harm. 

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,

David calls because he knows God to be trustworthy and he is thankful to God. There is a response always to God after He provides of thankfulness and turning to Him. There is an immediate recognition that God is the source of our deliverance and so we return to Him praise and thanksgiving. We are thankful to God for his power, his faithfulness, his righteousness.

And I am saved from my enemies.

At numerous times, God intercedes. He is the reason my enemies are not victorious over me. Exodus 14:30, "That day the Lord saved Israel from the hand of the Egyptians." Psalm 34:17, "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles." God hears and God acts. Sometimes in these days, it seems that our enemies are not as clear. Our true enemy is Satan today who wants to get us off track of our spiritual purpose in life. 

For the waves of death encompassed me;

Waves are sorrows. Water often symbolized chaos and destruction. 

The floods of destruction terrified me;

Floods are torrents in the King James Version. Thus, the danger is overwhelming. There is a disorder and confusion that I simply cannot face alone. In times of trouble, I need people close. It is no fun to be sick alone, to ache in pain, to experience a virus. 

The ropes of Sheol surrounded me;

The ropes or cords of Sheol refer to being ready to be devoured. This is being in a place of separation from God. It is darkness. Once again, it is overwhelming. 

The snares of death confronted me.

Snares are traps. "For the wages of sin is death." Sin results in death. Sin traps me. The reality in all of these phrases is the trap of falling into sin is real. 

In my distress I called upon the Lord,

So what does the Christian do in this situation of distress? Call upon the Lord. He is the reliable one. I have faith in Him. I can trust in Him. This should be an automatic response of God's people. 

Yes, I called out to my God;

It is a repetitious calling out. It is not one time. We often do not pray one time but continually pray for God to intercede. 

And from His temple He heard my voice,

The temple was not yet built in David's time. But it symbolizes God's dwelling place and in that place God is ready to hear me. Church is often this place for all people. Though we can call upon God anywhere, at any time, we always see Church is that place where God for sure hears us. 

And my cry for help came into His ears.

God hears me. It is one thing to cry out. It is another to be heard. The baby or child that cries out to its mother and the mother picks up the child. To be heard is to be known. I want to be know, to be seen, to be heard. 

Then the earth shook and quaked,

This is the earth responding to God's presence. This is God making himself known to His people. The natural disasters in life that are sometimes horrific in tearing apart lands - hurricanes, earthquakes - violent upheaval of land.  

The foundations of heaven were trembling

And the extent of these disasters are so immense they reach heaven. Here, judgment is real. It is interesting, we want God to deal with sin individually in a person's life, but not globally. And we are also quick to not ascribe famines or disasters to him. We don't want the judging God. We want the God to only be one of comfort. 

And were shaken, because He was angry.

But the reality is God's anger is real. This shaking and upheaval is in response to God's indignation and his anger towards sin. 

Smoke went up out of His nostrils,

This snorting. In movies or cartoons, this is anger where smoke is coming out of every opening on an animal or person's faith, often from his nose or ears. The anger is so intense. We will often say, "He is blowing off steam." 

And fire from His mouth was devouring;

Fire destroys. Fire purifies. With food, fires takes something raw and purifies it. 

Coals were kindled by it.

The hot coals kindle and let off heat to seer something, often food. Again there is purification. God is going to cleanse people. He is going to take that which is present and change it. 

He also bowed the heavens down low, and came down

God can manipulate the heavens for his purpose. And he came down, he appears, he makes himself known. In Jesus He made Himself known to people. John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and dwells among us." God makes himself known to his people. He is active in making himself known. He is clear. God is to be seen. In Jesus, he wants to make himself known. 

With thick darkness under His feet.

In Revelation 1:7, "He is coming with the clouds." Thick darkness in the King James is think clouds. The pillar of cloud guided the Israelites. There is God's mystery. There is God's majesty. The cloud is moving across the earth. There is authority and returning of God. In a storm, the clouds come down and are in the middle of us. He comes down to us. 

He rode on a cherub and flew;

Cherubim are often depicted as angelic beings. God rode beyond human limitations. He is omnipresent. He is omniscience. 

He appeared on the wings of the wind.

God moves, unhindered by earthly constraints. Wind often is the Spirit of God. He is swift in His movement. 

He made darkness canopies around Him,

This darkness is not evil but rather a representation of God's unapproachable holiness and glory. The canopy signifies protection and authority, much like a king's tent, indicating God's sovereign rule over creation.

Exodus 20:11, "Moses approached the thick darkness where God was."

A mass of waters, thick clouds of the sky.

The thick clouds symbolize God's ability to bring both judgment and blessing, as clouds can bring rain or storms.

From the brightness before Him

God's presences is often associated with brightness, overwhelming light. It is purity, holy, and unapproachable light. 

Coals of fire were kindled.

Fire represents divine judgment. And God has ultimate authority. 

The Lord thundered from heaven,

God intervenes. 

And the Most High uttered His voice.

He speaks into people's lives. God's message is clear to His people. 

And He shot arrows and scattered them,

God is precise in taking care of man's enemies. 

Lightning, and routed them.

God uses nature to accomplish his purposes. 

Then the channels of the sea appeared,

God makes a way where there seems to be no way. 

The foundations of the world were exposed

The beginning of the earth were laid bare. 

By the rebuke of the Lord,

God expresses disapproval. 

From the blast of the breath of His nostrils.

God's breath expresses his power. I think of a superman movie in which someone blows and people go swirling. There is a power in the breath. 

He sent from on high, He took me;

From His exalted position, God reaches down. 

He drew me out of many waters.

God removes me from the most difficult of situations. 

He rescued me from my strong enemy,

God intervenes on behalf of his people. 

From those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.

Believers are to rely on God's strength and not their own. 

They confronted me on the day of my disaster,

David experienced intense distress, trial and danger. 

But the Lord was my support.

But David can always rely on God for his strength in any situation. 

He also brought me out into an open place;

God took him away from confinement and moved him to open space to freely be. 

He rescued me, because He delighted in me.

God has a favor toward David. David is chosen and loved by God. 

I took my time in reviewing each line of this Song. What I saw are some consistent themes. God is my deliverer. I call on him. He hates sin. He will purify me. And He does this in a personal way. God comes to man. God comes down to man. God loves man. 

Summary: The author of 2 Samuel starts to conclude the life of David by offering here a song of praise with God as David's deliverer, fully expressing God's intervention in David's life.

Promise: Thank the Lord for His protection.

Prayer: O God, you are faithful. I thank you for the time today in further looking into this text and thinking about these words of Praise toward you. You are my Deliverer. I call on You and You answer. You purify me and rescue me. You are great and mighty. You hate sin and You will deal with it. I pray that I have not safeguarded my life to the point that I don't see your handiwork in my life, but also that I don't have reasons to trust in You for all your defeats of my enemies. Lord, let me continually see the active role you play in my life. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

I Samuel 14:1-23 - Jonathan Defeats the Philistines

I Samuel 14:1-23

Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, "Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps the Lord will work for us, for the Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few." (verse 6)

Message: Jonathan Defeats the Philistines

Time: This book is a biography of Samuel's life and career up to his death. It took place over a period of about 110 years, stretching from the closing days of the judges, when Samuel was born (ca. 1120 BC) through the death of Saul (1011 BC).

What the Lord is Saying: As I mentioned in the last lesson, in the choosing of God, he was to deliver the Israel people from the Philistines (I Samuel 9:16), though it was his son Jonathan that initiated this while Saul was staying back in Gibeah. In this chapter we pick up the battle. 

Jonathan left to "cross over to the Philistines' garrison...but he did not tell his father" (v. 1). He had to cross over these crags or steep rugged rock or cliff which had names Slippery (“Bozez”) and Thorny (“Seneh”) and in verse 6 he does something his father Saul had not done and mentions that the "Lord will work for us" (v. 6). In crossing over with his armor bearer he looks for a sign from the Lord that the Philistines have been given into their hands. In the process, about twenty men were put to death (v. 13-14). 

We are to be a people that speak of the Lord in our life and give honor and glory to Him for working out the details of our lives. It is God who is at work in our lives. 

Meanwhile back in Gibeah, Saul's watchmen and later Saul saw that Jonathan and his armor bearer were not present. Saul and his men proceeded to the battle. 

"The Lord delivered Israel that day (v. 23)." It was threw Jonathan's initiative that this conquering occurred. He looked to the Lord, but even in looking he did not assume God word work, but rather said words like "perhaps" and then looks for a sign, again showing a confidence in the Lord, but still making a request. 

Summary: The people had in Saul the king they wanted and yet despite being called by God, anointed and set apart as king, in this instance it was his son that initiated the defeat of the Philistines. 

Promise: Our confidence is to be in God and his power and we can forge ahead trusting in Him and waiting to to see how he might work in the process. 

Prayer: God, you are good and I need to be a person that speaks more of You and proclaims You as Lord but also actively working in my life and as things are happening in my life, realizing that You are walking with me every step of the way. Change my thinking. Thank you for the praying time with Pamela and continue to help me to voice my confidence in You, like Jonathan did in this day. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Judges 15 - Samson Avenges Himself on the Philistines

Judges 15

Then Samson said,

“With the jawbone of a donkey,

Heaps upon heaps,

With the jawbone of a donkey

I have killed a thousand men.”

Message: Samson Avenges Himself on the Philistines

Time: Judges covers about 250 years from death of Joshua to birth of Samuel (1360-1110 BC). The people of Israel largely divided with different local triable judges. It was a period of stirring interventions by the Lord and also great disobedience on the part of the Israelites. Without a king, everyone did right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). 

What the Lord is Saying: As I continue to study Joshua and now Judges, one thing that stands out is while God used these men and worked his will through them, many of the men he used were not necessarily men of piety that I am to emulate. It also makes sense that in the last 20 years, there have been biblical like TV shows chronicling these individuals and to good reason, they lived sordid lives. They had difficulty often with temptations from women that we have today. They did not stay true to God's ways but entered into relationships with people of the world. On one level, their imperfect ways is encouraging for me, for I am far from perfect. Somewhere in Joshua I recorded that certain leaders from tribes allowed the non-Israelites to remain in the land. 

The Philistines are one of those groups that remained. Samson's first wife, Timnah, was a Philistine, though he later abandons her. 

This chapter begins with a back and forth of fighting fire with fire. It starts with Samson approaching the abandoned wife, Timnah, bringing a gift of a young goat, and wanting to sleep with his wife. But the father intercedes with the idea, "That ship has sailed but I can offer her younger sister." Samson doesn't like that idea. He therefore plans an attack, grabbing foxes, torches between the tails, end to end, lighting fire to the torches and releasing the foxes to run and burn themselves and the all of the crops. Naturally, the people did not like this. They find out the reason for him doing this is vengeance toward his wife and her father for not getting what he believes is his. The Philistines then kill the father and daughter. Samson did not like that and responded by striking many people and then hid in a cleft of a rock (1-8). Samson's remark, "As they did to me, so I have done to them" (v. 11). 

The Philistine go to Judah but Judah shows up to Samson wondering why the Philistines have been come to them with anger when the Philistines rule over them. Samson agrees to allow Judah to tie him up and hand him over to the Philistines. But the Lord was not done with Samson. His death probably loomed so the Spirit of the Lord came upon him (v. 14) and used a jawbone from a donkey to kill a thousand men. He goes to the Lord for provision of water and the Lord makes a way for him to have water and his strength returned to him. 

There is a good way to serve the Lord and a not so good way. I am not to emulate this episode in Samson's life. There is also the reminder, that God's will is to be done, no matter what the circumstances appear. God is in control. I think he obviously prefers Godly people, but either way he will carry out his purposes. His plan is bigger than we can see. 

Summary: Samson and the Philistines fight fire with fire. Eventually, Samson prevails, but only because of the Spirit of the Lord giving him the power. 

Promise: The Lord redeems us and uses us despite our sin. 

Prayer: You are Lord of All, God. I believe we need to be a people that honors you at all times, but your ways will occur whether we are faithful in all the areas we need to be. You choose your people to be your people. You have a purpose in that. I admit, it is not always clear. Maybe it seems clearer today amongst many because of the morality of the day, but there continue to be men of God that falter - struggling with sexual sin and/or other types of vices in their lives that often cause hurt and pain to many around them. I am not to condone that behavior and yet the work you have done through them is not null and void. Our culture does get caught up in cancelling them and everything they did and have done, but you still do great deeds through people who sin. I pray that people would see that your will is to be done. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Judges 4:1-16; 5:1-5, 21 - Deborah and Barak

Judges 4:1-16; 5:1-5, 21

4 “Lord, when You went out from Seir,

When You marched from the field of Edom,

The earth quaked, the heavens also dripped,

Even the clouds dripped water.

5 “The mountains quaked at the presence of the Lord,

This Sinai, at the presence of the Lord, the God of Israel.

Message: Deborah and Barak

Time: Judges covers about 250 years from death of Joshua to birth of Samuel (1360-1110 BC). The people of Israel largely divided with different local triable judges. It was a period of stirring interventions by the Lord and also great disobedience on the part of the Israelites. Without a king, everyone did right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). 

What the Lord is Saying: I am noticing a common phrase now in these passages of Judges, "Then the Sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord." I see this in 2:11, 3:7, 3:12, and now here in 4:1. This seems to be the purpose of this book - Israel enters a period of falling away from the Lord. They profess a faith in Him. God chooses them. They are to follow Him, but they have these periods of not doing that. It seems they lack a leader. God judges them in some way and will raise up a judge to lead them. That judge will pull them back to the life they are to live before the Lord. Left to their own ways and devices, they lose their ways. There is something needed - a leader for the people. 

It seems today we often look for this leader. It seems to be our pastor or Sunday School teacher or another leader we believe God has placed in our lives to lead us. I wonder if this was part of the reason of having the Pope for Roman Catholics. 

After 4:1 and the evil they did, "The Lord sold them in the hand of Jabin king of Canaan." Here it is again. The people do evil and before raising up a judge to deliver them that generally is preceded by they crying out to the Lord. Maybe the word that is said is that while they are doing evil in the sight of the Lord, they are fine with that and God sends them a wake up call hopefully, leading them through some sort of discipline through a man-made king that God orchestrates for his purposes. At this time, this lasted 20 years. 

Deborah is on the scene (v. 4), judging Israel, and the son of Israel come to her for judgment (v. 5). She summoned Barak (v. 6). She speaks to Barak stating that she give over to them the commander of Jabin's army (v. 7) - Sisera. Deborah and Barak go together, committed to one another. "And all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not even one was left. (v. 16)"

Chapter 5, verse 1 mentions now a song Deborah and Barak sing. It is a praise song in response to what God has done for them, in response of who God is to them. "I will sing praise to the Lord, the God of Israel (verse 3)." Plus we learn more about the judgement that begat Sisera. It included a storm sent to flood the Kishon River to help the advantage to Israel (v. 4-5). 

God uses Deborah to guide Barak. Barak doesn't seem to be a huge man of faith. Instead of waiting on God, he is waiting on Deborah's direction (4:8). Deborah is not a military leader but she is somewhat the guide in this whole judgment. She is a prophetess. 

Overall, God continues to work through people to carry out His purposes. Sometimes through discipline and judgment and sometimes through rescue. We need both. We need to turn to Him and direct our trust in Him. God wants a people that will follow Him and trust in Him. Not everyone will. Not everyone is on the Lord's side. For those that are, He has a deep care and concern for and as they get of course, he will judge them and use others that are not of His kingdom as well to act as judges. 

Summary: Once again, Israel does evil in the sight of the Lord. After being sold over to the king of Canaan, Deborah and Barak team up to deliver Israel from that king. 

Promise: God uses different people to address evil in His less than perfect people. 

Prayer: God, you are holy and true and you are a jealous God. You have a purpose with us, as your people and that is for us to follow You and trust You all of our days. As we do not, you sometimes will do things in our lives to get our attention. You judge those who continue to ignore you. You are pulling us back to You. And yet there are many in this world that are completely against You. That is not a popular message I know, but it seems to be a true one. What is important is for me to be one that stays close to You and honors You and seeks to glorify You in all I do. Help me to be the best person you have called me to be. Forgive me for my error. I am not a perfect man, nor even a good man. I am only good because of You. I need your help and I thank You for the people that you place in my life, friends to spur me onto love and good deeds and leaders that you place in my path. You are worthy of my praise. I praise your name. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Judges 3:12-30 - Ehud and Eglon

Judges 3:12-30

So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land was undisturbed for eighty years. 

Message: Ehud and Eglon

Time: Judges covers about 250 years from death of Joshua to birth of Samuel (1360-1110 BC). The people of Israel largely divided with different local triable judges. It was a period of stirring interventions by the Lord and also great disobedience on the part of the Israelites. Without a king, everyone did right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). 

What the Lord is Saying: In the previous lesson, something I saw and began to understand was that God used the poor choices of the Israelites for an opportunity to determine if they will rely on Him. I saw in that lesson that my life is really meant to glorify God, not so that I would get a reward but so that God would simply be glorified and receive the praise. The primary focus of our lives is on Him, not ourselves. And in this situation with the Israelites in Canaan, they are going to be challenged and tested with the hope that their lives will be lived in praise and honor of God. 

The Tabletalk lesson for today states, "God still used them (the subsequent judges after Othniel), but the judges tend to receive a greater focus than the Lord Himself." See, too often, I am thinking life is about me and what I want and what I need and my happiness and my joy - but life is about God and His glory. I am living in His World. I am created because of Him and for Him. This book - the Bible - is meant to be a story about God and who He is and what He is doing. And people in this story serve His purposes. I serve His purposes. It is more important for God to get the glory than for man. 

After Othniel dies, following 40 years of the land resting (v. 11), "the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord." In other words, the sons of Israel entered a time of apostasy. Apostasy is turning away from one's faith after declaring or making a profession of faith. In seeing this evil - "The Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel." Eglon's purpose is to discipline them. This is what God can do during a time of apostasy - turn people back to Him. Here, he is doing that through discipline. After this "the sons of Israel served Eglon...18 years." -- Eglon is not a Godly representative; He is not a righteous judge. He is a worldly ruler. Joseph Benson states, "As God raised up deliverers to Israel, when they became penitent, so he spirited up enemies against them, and gave them power to oppress them, whenever they revolted from his service."

Then "the sons of Israel cried to the Lord" and "the Lord raised up a deliverer. (v. 15)" Ehud is the next judge and the next deliverer to the people of Israel. Ehud will kill Eglon in a rather gruesome way, surprising him with a sword and thrusting it into his belly and then scurrying away. This is a story of what God did, but that doesn't mean this is a story that is to be emulated or repeated, but is describing what God has done. God steps in when His people are falling away from him, exchanging other gods for the God of Abraham. God sees this and uses a non-Godly man to turn people back to Him, but He does it through discipline. Then, at a point, that God determines, after the people cry to Him, He raises up a deliverer. 

After the death of Eglon, 10,000 Moabites are struck down. Moab is subdued. "And the land was undisturbed for eighty years." There were 18 years that the people were disciplined, but then this is followed by 80 years of living undisturbed or had rest (not the entire land, but the eastern part which had shaken off Moab).

Summary: For 18 years, God disciplines Israel under the hand of Eglon. After crying to the Lord, the Lord delivers Israel through Ehud and they have peace for 80 years. 

Promise: "Through every storm, through every fight, Your hand has held me, guiding my life." - Belle Ballesteros, "I am Chosen." 

Prayer: God, you are good. You are holy. You created me for your purpose. But even more than me, you have a purpose in people, to keep them with You. Yet, we as your people can get off track. We can turn from You and seek our own desires, our own ways. We erect gods that we seek and make a big part of our lives. We are impatient and in the process we start taking control of our own lives or we think we do. But you God still have your purpose, to be with You. O God - keep your people close to You. You will draw them back to You. I see this. Maybe I discover it greater than I have ever seen before. You are a God that brings your people home to You. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Judges 3:1-11 - The Model Judge

Judges 3:1-11
And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother (v.9)."

Message: The Model Judge

Time: Judges covers about 250 years from death of Joshua to birth of Samuel (1360-1110 BC). The people of Israel largely divided with different local triable judges. It was a period of stirring interventions by the Lord and also great disobedience on the part of the Israelites. Without a king, everyone did right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). 

What the Lord is Saying: Judges is an interesting title for this book because in a way what God seems to be doing here in this book is challenging the Israelites, but in a rather natural way based upon their choices to not completely trust God after allowing non-Israelites to continue to inhabit the lands that they were promised by God in Canaan. Rather than wiping those people out, they allow them to stay. We do the same thing in our lives. We dance with danger. We try to have our cake and eat it too. We say we are surrendering to God and yet we let in those things that potentially could bring our faith down and make us ineffective. And then as we do this, we still go to God and ask Him to bless us. People marry people of different faiths or of no faith. We saturate ourselves in so many different types of entertainment and music. We make alcohol too much a part of our life and we spend much of our time with people that do not share our beliefs. And yet there are challenges even in me saying this as we are called to be in the world, but not of it. It is the world where people that are not of our faith reside and we need to go to them to bring them into the fold. 

But the Lord God in His providence and sovereignty does something else - though the Canaanites remain because of the disobedience of the people in not conquering them when they had the chance, God also will now use this remnant to teach the Israelites that are now there about war - fighting and "God's extraordinary power and providence manifested therein (Joseph Benson)." A generation had fought previously under Joshua, but now a new generation is present and God needs to teach this new generation fighting and also dependence and reliance on Him. David Guzik writes, "These nations would remain because God wanted to prove the faithfulness of Israel to Himself, and to improve their reliance on Him." My obedience is for God's glory and something He wants not simply so my life will be better but because He wants my faithfulness. "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)"

This is powerful and maybe something I haven't really noticed or realized before. That these words in Scripture are describing God and His ways and purposes. God is wanting to do something in me - for Him -- for His Glory. That it isn't first and foremost about my spiritual growth. It is about me being in Christ, in God. Because He wants a people that is dependent on Him. This isn't all about me and making me better, but it is about Him and making Him great. 

In verse 1 of chapter 3, it says, "these are the nations which the Lord left, to test Israel by them." In verse 4, "to find out if they would obey the commandments of the Lord." In verse 5, "They took their daughters for themselves, and gave their own daughters for their sons." In verse 7, "The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord." Evil must be defined by God, not man. All too often I think the danger we have as people is defining what is wrong by what we think is wrong. But, God wants us to uphold His word and look to it as our plumb line. The standard is His. Thus, the mark of a Christian or Jesus follower or one who really wants to obey the Lord is to constantly measure ourselves against what His word says is right and wrong. 

Verse 9, "When the sons of Israel cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the sons of Israel to deliver them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother." Verse 10 - "And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and He judged Israel." Verse 11, "then the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died." Not much is written here about Othniel. It says the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and that seems to be all that is needed to describe him. 

Thus, the first judge. The Lord provided. He judged them. He delivered them. 

Summary: God tests Israel to prove they are a people relying and depending on Him. They serve other Gods and Othniel delivers and judges them and the land has rest for 40 years. 

Promise: God delights to use people to accomplish His purposes, but we should take care to give Him the credit. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for teaching me these lessons and truths - that life is always and only about You and my obedience is what You are supposed to receive. I need to follow You all of my days. This life is Yours. Help me to keep that the focus and not on my own learning or focus. You are to be glorified. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Joshua 21 - Our Promise-Keeping Lord

Joshua 21

Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass. (Verse 45)

Message: Our Promise-Keeping Lord

Time: Joshua "Yahweh saves" led Israel, under God's command, to victorious conquest of the Promised Land. The book spans about 25 years, beginning about 1406 BC. The conquest of Canaan, numerous military campaigns and regathering of the nation are major components. 

What the Lord is Saying: This chapter marks a culmination of a promise made to Abraham centuries earlier - Genesis 12:1-9. In verses 6 and 7 it reads, "Now the Canaanite was then in the land. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And now in Joshua 21:45 it states, "Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass." From the promise to the conclusion. Unfortunately, in a way, the way Israel gets the land is through domination and many people going to their deaths. God provides for his people Israel. Yet, we submit and surrender to God for his ways are not our ways. Israel would carry out God's commands. One people would receive His promise. One important lesson is that God is on the throne and we submit and surrender to His will. 

Levi did not receive the land provided to the tribes (of the 12 tribes, Joseph was separated into land for his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh). Levi instead ministered in the tabernacle and taught God's law and instead Levi was allotted cities as described in Joshua 21:1-40. Numbers 35:1-8 gives this promise of the cities to the Levites, also includes the cities of refuge spoken of in Joshua 20. 

Numbers 21:1-7 mentions how the Levites received their lands - receiving 13 cities from the tribe of Judah, Simeon, Benjamin; 10 cities from the tribe of Ephraim and Dan and half-tribe of Manasseh, 13 cities from the tribe of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and half-tribe of Manasseh, 12 cities from tribe of Reuben, Gad, Zebulun. 

Joshua 21:43-45 is really an exciting passage. It is quite the culmination of hundreds of years. "The Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give..." "And the Lord gave them rest on every side..." "Not one of the good promises...failed." God is faithful. He is our deliverer. He promises and carries those promises out. He provides rest to His people. And we celebrate the promise keeping God we have. 

Summary: God keeps his promises and comes through on all promises. He never fails and provides land for all the tribes of Israel, culminating here in cities given from each tribe to tribe of Levi. 

Promise: The Christian faith is founded on the promises of God. The Lord keeps His promises. 

Prayer: Praise God. Praise God for your faithfulness and providing land and cities to the tribes of Israel. You are a Great God and the one that never fails to deliver your promises. Only you are praised and adored and you receive all of our thanksgiving. You are faithful. You provide us rest and all that is good. You know what is best for us. The reality is not everyone yields your promises. You do indeed set aside your riches for those you choose. This is life. Forgive us Lord for writing a different way in life and not really understanding these truths. Let us be a people that is always submitting ourselves to You and You alone. And then may we be a people that carries out your tasks, protects people and looks forward to being united with You in heaven and earth for all eternity. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Joel 2:12 - Fasting in Worship

Joel 2:12

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“Return to Me with all your heart,
And with fasting, weeping and mourning;

Message: Fasting in Worship

Time: Little is known of the prophet Joel. He identified himself as the son of Pethuel, preached to the people of Judah, and expressed a great deal of interest in Jerusalem. A date of approximately 835 BC or soon after is what can be pieced together. Joel gives no indication of the time period.

What the Lord is Saying: Fasting is the lesson today. Corporate and individual. Lately, whenever I think of fasting, I think of my brothers and sisters in Africa and how fasting is a normal part of their lives - a common occurrence. My friend Daniel and new convert Akeem in Nigeria have been fasting for 30 days now. A friend in Tororo, Uganda mentions that he and his church fast frequently, dedicating their time together to pray for all of the various needs of their community and beyond. In contrast, fasting is something in the United States that is not mentioned much or I don't hear of people fasting very much or at all. 

And in this lesson today, the writers of Tabletalk mention that fasting is not necessarily only an individual practice by people but something groups of people will do or the church even corporately. 

Today's passage from Joel 2 is an interesting call by the priests of that day to warn people of the consequence of sin. In this passage is a description of the impending judgments - the Day of the Lord is coming (Joel 2:1) - and then its description follows. There is meant to be an alarm going off before the people of the intensity and wide effects of this judgment (darkness, never been like it nor again, nothing escapes it, people are trying to flee with all of their power because of what is coming, people in anguish, faces pale, who can endure it?). It affects everyone and this description seems to take up the first 11 verses of the chapter. 

And so then the response from the people is a response now to return to God with all of our hearts. "All" to me points to everything. It is consecrating everything to Him. It is complete surrender. It is to align ourselves only with the way of Jesus Christ. It is to stare at everything in our life that is potentially an idol and turn from it. The word "return" is used. "Return to Me." It is the realization that we have gone astray, that I do go astray, that I get myself off track often and aligned in other realms and other dimensions of my life and so I need to return to God. And so in this recognition, this turning from our sin - is it just to be different? Yes. But the response begins first with a time of "fasting, weeping and mourning." 

To start new is to wipe out everything that was there before. And for us as believers in Christ, it starts with fasting. Everything is silenced for a moment (food, TV, screens, worldly ways), for a time to get things right with God and this includes weeping and mourning over getting off track in my life -- so that when I start anew I start right with him, then introducing things into my life that are correct. It is pulling back and seeing that the going through of the motions of life is moving me away from Him. It is complete surrender and complete turning away from sin to embrace completely Christ and His righteousness. 

In some ways this is what happens anytime I come before God. It is right now as I read and discover this passage and spend time alone with God as I start my day. It is when I gather together with other Christians and re-root myself as we discuss our lives and how they have gotten off-centered and Christ needs to be at the center. It happens when I go to church and sing songs and lift up the name of Jesus in song and praise. I return to Him, to center myself, to align myself with him, setting aside all that has happened maybe in the week prior of getting my focus off of Him. And in that there is worship through fasting, through weeping over my sin and what I did, mourning over my sin and the consequences that resulted from that. 

And then what follows is verse 18 and beyond is God's deliverance. See the problem - turn - God will save. This the extent of the gospel -- 1) see your sin; 2) turn from your sin and 3) God saves us. 

In this seeing sin is seeing that judgment is real and is coming. This is a reminder I need, because in my selfish interests continually of getting things I want I forget about this future judgment actually taking place. It is true I made a point decision in life in 1982 to turn from sin to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ, but this turning needs to be daily because the temptation to follow idols is present each day. And so because of this, shouldn't my actions be fasting, weeping and mourning - over the fact that I trade truth for a lie continually. 

Summary: I need to realize that judgment is a reality. I have wandered from him and still do. Judgement is coming. So stop. Return to God. With All of My Heart. Start with fasting, weeping, and mourning. 

Promise: When we fast, we are driven to more urgent prayer and to remember our creaturely dependence. If you have not fasted before, consider whether you should fast and pray this week.

  

Prayer: O God, wow. Your word is so alive. Even in this moment, you remind me that judgment is coming and from that I can see more clearly now that I still get side tracked and away from you and aligned with other priorities of my days and get off track. I refuge in entertainment, selfish ways. Yes, I work hard, but I don't actively and intentionally bring you up and show others that what I am doing is for your glory. God, I return to You. With all of my heart. I consecrate all of me to You. You are Holy Forever. I can then start afresh with Fasting, while in those moments I weep and mourn for my past sin of replacing You. O God, thank you that you are there waiting to deliver me and set me right always. You are the God who saves. You are Holy Forever. 

Isaiah 53 - Penal Substitution

Isaiah 53:5-6

But He was pierced through for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being upon Him; and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. 

Message: Penal Substitution

Time: Isaiah prophesied from 739-681 BC under the reign of 4 Judean kings -- Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, dying under the 5th king, Manasseh. Most likely he hailed from Jerusalem. He spoke of judgment - hoping God's chosen people would return to Him. 

What the Lord is Saying:

As I studied previously, Jesus as our Priest made it possible for human beings to approach God. Through His sacrifice on the cross Jesus covered our sin. Let's better understand the crucifixion. 

Jesus' death is described as the ransom or delivering man from the punishment for sin and to defeat Satan (our rulers/authorities). In penal substitution, the penalty is paid by a substitute. In our case, the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) as the act of sin results in death. This is described first in the garden (Genesis 2:16-17) -- The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” 

In Leviticus 4, God speaks to Moses outlining sin offerings to occur when a person sins in any of things that which the Lord has commanded not to be done. An animal (bull, goat, or lamb) will be slain in the presence of the priest with the hand on the animal, placing blood on the altar and pouring out the rest; all fat is removed and it is burned as a soothing aroma to the Lord and thus the priest makes atonement of the person and sins are forgiven. This depicts the transfer of sin and guilt from the sinner to the substitute. The sinner lives because the animal died in the sinner's place, bearing the punishment the sinner deserved. This was effective, but it was an act that must be repeated and did not represent true atonement, once and for all. Hebrews 10:4 says, "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins" and therefore they were shadows of the true atonement as is recorded in Isaiah 53, "by His scourging we are healed" as "the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him." 

This is the gospel. Jesus paid it all. All to him I owe. 

Promise: All people have guilt for their sin or transgression, though many suppress it, justify it, or compare themselves to others, but against the Law of God we are condemned. If you have trusted in Christ alone for salvation, He has paid for your sin and your guilt is no more. 

Prayer: Thank you God for providing us, right after sin was committed by Adam and Eve, that you would bring forth a substitute for my sin in order to bring me back into the book of Life. Lord, draw people to this truth all around me. Help me to voice this to those in need. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of May is about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April was about salvation by grace alone; March about the sovereign providence of God; February was about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January was about the doctrine of God.

- The Divine Nature of Christ, The Human Nature of Christ, Jesus the Last Adam, Jesus the True Israel, Jesus the Messiah, Obedience in Childhood, Obedience in Baptism, Obedience in Temptation, Obedience under the Law, Obedience in Suffering, Christ Our Prophet, Christ the Priest, Christ Our King, Penal Substitution

Isaiah 45:1-13 - Jesus The Messiah

 Isaiah 45:1-13

Thus says the Lord to Cyrus His anointed, whom I have taken by the right hand, to subdue nations before him, and to loose the loins of kings; to open doors before him so that gates will be shut; "I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze, and cut through their iron bars. And I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden wealth of secret places, in order that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. For the sake of Jacob My servant, and Israel My chosen one, I have also called you by your name, I have given you a title of honor though you have not known Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God, I will gird you, though you have not known Me; that men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other, the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these." 

"Drip down, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds pour down righteousness; let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, and righteousness spring up with it. I, the Lord, have created it."

"Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker--an earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, "What are you doing?" or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands?' Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting?' Or to a woman, 'To what are you giving birth?'"

Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and His Maker: "Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, and you shall commit to Me the work of My hands. It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it. I stretched out the heavens with My hands, and I ordained all their host. I have aroused him in righteousness, and I will make all his ways smooth; he will build My city, and will let My exiles go free, without any payment or reward," says the Lord of hosts. 

Message: Jesus the Messiah

Time: Isaiah, the prophet, the writer of this book, in Jerusalem. The year is 739-681 BC. Isaiah lived during the time of four Judaen kings and pronounced judgment on the people of Judah as they did not love their neighbors and serve God with humility, but offered meaningless sacrifices in temple. Isaiah asks them to return to Him. 

What the Lord is Saying:

Solus Christus - Christ alone saves His people for the sake of His glory. One of Jesus' titles is Messiah, the English translation of the Hebrew word mashiach, or the "anointed one." This Hebrew word comes into the Greek as Christos, which we get Christ. Thus, Jesus Christ is Jesus Messiah or Jesus the Anointed One.  

The passage today begins with, Thus says the Lord to Cyrus His anointed. Thus, the title of messiah is applied here to Cyrus. Who was Cyrus? Cyrus is a king who reigned over Persia between 539-530 BC. Cyrus, conquered Babylonia in 538 and gave the Jews permission to leave to Palestine. The Jews had been forced into captivity in Babylon (known as Babylon Captivity), around 70 years prior. The Jews were then able to restart their temple practices. Cyrus did not know the Lord (I have given you a title of honor though you have not known Me), but God used him as an instrument to release or deliver His people from captivity. In the Lord calling Cyrus His anointed or Messiah, the office of the messiah includes the work of deliverance or rescue. 

The purpose of this deliverance is described later in the passage - that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. He proclaims - I am the Lord, and there is no other and besides Me there is no God and there is no one besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other, the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these. He remarks - Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker and the Lord continues His remarks to let everyone now that He is Lord, He is deliverer, He is creator.

Cyrus was God's instrument for God's glory and through him communicated His work as our Lord and King. Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed, and like Cyrus, He was commissioned to deliver God's people. Yet, Jesus' work of deliverance or rescue is far greater as we are freed for all time from the enmity or discord that exists between God and Man, namely sin. Jesus saves us from our wickedness. Cyrus freed the Jews from captivity, from the hands that held them. Jesus frees man from his/her own captivity with sin. Yet, this passage provides a great example of deliverance by the Lord's anointed one. 

Promise: Martin Luther stated, "Just as Cyrus would by his power and his expanse set them free, so Christ would redeem us by His Word and grace, without cost." 

Prayer: Lord, I am reminded today, once again, of my own deliverance, my own captivity with sin and how you have rescued me and allow me following rescue to live free from the burden. What you did for me is the greatest and thus, I continue to worship you in any and every way that I can in my life. Let my life be lived in such a way that it is a worship song to You. You God are God and there is no other and besides You there is no God. You formed light and created darkness and cause all well-being and calamity. I yield my life to You. You are in control and I can always trust You. 

  

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of April is about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April was about salvation by grace alone; March about the sovereign providence of God; February was about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January was about the doctrine of God.

- The Divine Nature of Christ, The Human Nature of Christ, Jesus the Last Adam, Jesus the True Israel, Jesus the Messiah

Psalm 18 - Speaking About God

Psalm 18
1“I love You, O Lord, my strength.”
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Message: Speaking About God

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

Psalm 18 encompasses 50 verses which is a lot of verses to study here in this lesson. The thrust of the lesson today from Tabletalk is how we speak about God and the language that we use. At the beginning of this passage - Psalm 18 - a Psalm of David written about the Lord delivering David from the hand of all of his enemies and from the hand of Saul - David here uses a work in an analogical way. To speak analogically is to use the same word to describe two different things. Traditionally, it is said that human language about God is analogical language. It is taking a word that might mean one thing to a human and then using it to describe God which then takes on a different meaning. For instance, yesterday I saw that when we say God is great, that greatness of God is the apex of who he is and so describing a person like an athlete as being great or a athletic play might
mean that the person achieved something spectacular at that moment, but God is entirely great for all time.

The Lord is my rock - doesn't mean that Yahweh is literally a rock, but the Lord is instead firm and unshakable. Rock is also thought to be more of a cliff. The rock was a place that people would go to find refuge. It does not move.

David goes on to describe God as his fortress. The fortress is a mountain castle. It is a resident constructed on a hill, a place so strengthened that an enemy couldn't approach it. And this is how David describes God as with God by his side he because a fortress that no one could touch.

My deliverer - We enjoy so much stories of people getting caught by an enemy and then being delivered or rescued from the hands of an enemy. The picture of being rescued from the hands of someone holding a person against their will is what God is to us all too often. In redeeming mankind, we are delivered from the hands of the devil.

The Lord is My God. God is now personal with David. God is not far and away, high and above, but God is near. a Protector, Helper, Friend, Father, Saviour. This word for God is always personal.

This translation says, My God, my rock, but the word while still rock conveys the idea of God being my strength. Earlier, rock is more of a shelter and now God is my strength. He is my rock. He is not simply an object that is immovable and impersonal but again David is getting personal with his language and saying that God becomes his very strength.

in whom I take refuge - He is now the one I take refuge in. God is my refuge. This make me think of my 2nd cousin, who is not yet 1 and she was down on the ground with people all around her and in that moment she wanted to be held by her father. He reached down and picked her up and with him next to her she felt safe and secure. She had her refuge. And this is how God is to us, He is our refuge and with Him near we are safe. We can embrace the world and all that it may offer.

My shield - without a shield I am dead. In video games, the shield keeps my guy from dying. I throw the shield on me and I am protected.

the horn of my salvation - The horns of an animal is their defense. The horn is connected to the animal and part of their body. God is my horn. He is connected to me. When I use the horn as my defense it delivers me. It is interesting to me because in these words horn is something I must decide to you. I must turn my horn into my enemy. God wants to be my deliverer, but will I allow him to deliver.

my stronghold or my high tower means that He is high above the crowd.

As I read these words that David used to describe God as his deliverer and sustenance and all that He needs, I'm reminded that in my life I don't find that my words go to God first to express deliverance. But this is what David did. I might say this to a fellow Christian or while I am in church but then when I walk outside and start mingling with people that are not of faith and we talk about different events in life that we have been rescued from I don't think I respond that God delivered me. Maybe it is because it isn't a deliverance from death or being caught by an enemy against my will. Most of my deliverance is avoiding car accidents or falls. But there is also bodily accidents I avoid or illnesses.

At times, you will hear an athlete thank God after he has won a game or a musical artist thank God after winning an award. When this happens I often think of the person that lost and wonder if they are also thanking God. Maybe this is my problem often with these events is that I think of the person on the other side and wonder if they then think God is not on their side because they have not come out on top.

Whether out loud or to myself, I need to do this. I need to give glory to God more in my life. That is clear. I don't need to look for an excuse or give myself or anyone else glory. I need to thank God more. That is clear.

Promise: As I read God's word and hear God referred to as a rock, a light, a shepherd and many other metaphors, I pray that it would help enrich my life to realize how God is like all of these things and that it will help me pray and thank Him and worship Him.

Prayer: Lord, I love You. O Lord, my strength. You Lord are my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. You are my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge. You are my shield and the horn of my salvation and my stronghold. You God are all of these things and more. Help me to remember this God throughout my days. Lord, I need to clear my mind and realize that you are near and You have got these things of my life in order and in control. Forgive me for taking the credit all too often and not acknowledging you.


Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.

Mark 14:32-36 - Jesus in Gethsemane

Mark 14:32-36
32 They *came to a place named Gethsemane; and He *said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.” 33 And He *took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled.34 And He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.” 35 And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. 36 And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.”

Message: Jesus in Gethsemane

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus was anointed with oil by Mary 2 days before the passover and Judas questioned this. Judas would go to betray him and Jesus prepared for our gathering of the disciples for the Passover meal with the Lord's supper where he gave his body to take through bread a cup for His blood, given to many (not all). He mentioned that one would betray him though the disciples didn't think it was anyone of them. He stated that he would die by the plan of God and the disciples and followers would scatter. The disciples didn't think that any one of them would ever deny Him before men, but Jesus knew better. But they would return to Him.

They *came to a place named Gethsemane - Gethsemane was a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives. They are down now from the Mount of Olives which is where Jesus gave his discourse in the previous set of verses. He *said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.” Jesus needs to take a moment to pray and talk to God. He is distressed. It seems somewhat normal to be distressed in this moment. I can think of times when I knew something difficult was ahead - it may be a meeting that I am preparing for or it may be a medical procedure or going to the dentist or doing anything difficult - I know in those times I was distressed. When I was younger, I remember preparing to go on the air at the radio station and I would often have diarrhea prior to going live on the air. My stomach was twisted and in knots. Jesus I think here is anticipating his death. He knows it is coming. While he has predicted it and spoke of it and even stated over and over it would happen, the closer it gets the more real it gets. And He *took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. He is a man of no sin that is preparing to take on all sin and bear the full wrath of God for that sin. It is definitely a distressing time.

And He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.” To take on the sin of the world is an enormous weight, of all. I'm often reminded of the Passion of the Christ movie that was done several years ago and the detail at which it showed the death of Jesus. It is a very real picture of this death. And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. His prayer was wondering if it was possible for this hour to pass. Even through all the preparation and prediction He reveals His human nature and does not want this to occur. He manifests His true human nature here. Even though the cross was the only way, he still asks for another way. And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” How often do we pray something like this, going to God recognizing that He has all power and can take care of this situation in a word - whether it is a foxhole confession during war, a student asking God for a good grade on a test, securing a job -- the present situation appears to have no clear outcome that we are looking to and so we ask God with the idea that all things are possible for You, do this. Step in. Jesus does the same thing here. He has just prayed and said that the cup of His blood, the sealing of justification, of the wrath of God for all people is given for all, to take, but now He asks God to remove this cup from Me. 

Yet, in the end, the message is yet not that I will, but what You will. Though Jesus pleas to God, he still wants His will to be done.

Summary - Jesus comes down from the Mount of Olives, to Gethsemane, to pray to God. He is distressed and asks God to take this cup from Him and asks for another way to fulfill the wrath of God. While this time has been predicted He still asks for another way.

Promise: Though Jesus asked for another way out of this situation, He still wanted the will of God. May this be the same way that I come before God with my requests.

Prayer: Lord, your will be done in my life. You be praised and glorified. But I admit, like Jesus that sometimes I don't want to experience the pain and weight of sin. Yet, you so often carry me through. Help me in those moments to keep my faith secured on You. No matter what it takes I trust in Your will and ways.

Mark 1:2-3 - The Fulfillment of the Prophet

Mark 1:2-3

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way;
The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Make ready the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight.’”

Message: The Fulfillment of the Prophet

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word immediately used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Mark begins his gospel in a different way than Matthew, Luke and John. Matthew and Luke give lengthy accounts of the birth of Christ. John goes all the way back to eternity. Mark, however, simply gives an Old Testament quote. That said, Scripture, at this time, was primarily the Old Testament and in this quote Mark links the Old Testament with his writing showing that Jesus is continuing the old covenant community.

Mark combines 3 Old Testament messianic texts: Exodus 23:20 (1526-1446 BC), Isaiah 40:3 (739-681 BC), Malachi 3:1 (538-333 BC)

Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.

A voice is calling,
“Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness;
Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.

Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts.

By themselves, these passages are interesting. The Exodus verse, "angel" has been said to be Moses but also the Messiah or Christ as a messenger sent to rescue people. Isaiah 40:3 is a verse quoted by John in John 1:23 ascribing it to himself as the "voice." Now, as a reminder, this book of Mark is written between 57 and 59 AD, so it is 20 years since Jesus' death. Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament. And this Malachi verse is speaking of someone preparing the way of the Lord, the Lord Jehovah. In other words, Mark is proclaiming immediately that John is preparing the way for Jehovah God or God. Personal, I think THE central issue in all of religious history is whether Jesus is God. And right now, 2 to 3 verses into his book Mark is saying "John is coming and preparing the way for the Lord - for God - for Jesus." 

John is the Messenger who will prepare the Lord's way.  He is linking the exodus or the deliverance of God's people, or to say it another way, the exodus follows the Babylonian exile and the final atonement for sin, and all things will consummate in the Christ: Jesus is coming to His temple, our God is coming on the highway. And John is showing the way and introducing Jesus who will come.  

And yet, Mark uses the present tense in talking about this. He is sure of it. 

Promise: We need to be grounded in the study of the Old Testament. Jesus is Coming. His way is being prepared. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the clarity of Your Word. Thank you for coming as you have and showing us that you are consistent with the message of the Scripture. Continue to give me understanding of Your Word as I study it.

Study Question: did God use anyone in your life to help you understand Jesus? When I was 15, God used several people - he provided people from church that came and visited me; he provided a pastor at a church gathering and he used a friend that was 17, 2 years older than me -- all of them helped me to understand Jesus for the first time and who he was and what he did for me. Who did God use in your life?

Psalm 144:9-15 - The Blessings of Having the Lord God

Psalm 144:9-15

9 I will sing a new song to You, O God;
Upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,
10 Who gives salvation to kings,
Who rescues David His servant from the evil sword.
11 Rescue me and deliver me out of the hand of aliens,
Whose mouth speaks deceit
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
12 Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants,
And our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace;
13 Let our garners be full, furnishing every kind of produce,
And our flocks bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;
14 Let our cattle bear
Without mishap and without loss,
Let there be no outcry in our streets!
15 How blessed are the people who are so situated;
How blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

Message: The Blessings of Having the Lord God

Time: Based upon authorship and subject matter, Psalms cover a range of centuries. David is mentioned 73 times, Solomon 2, Moses 1, and 50 designate no specific person. It is believed they were compiled around 537 BC. The psalms deal with such subjects as God and His creation, war, worship, wisdom, sin and evil, judgment, justice, and the coming of the Messiah.

What the Lord is Saying:

In review of the first 8 verses of this Psalm, David is crying out to the Lord recognizing first that God is great and the reality that he is small. God is the reason people see him as great. God is the reason he is a warrior in battle and is the reason he is the leader over his people. David also can't quite understand why God would even consider him of value. I know many times I have wondered why God would choose me. The peace I have seems almost unfair to what others have in our world. In light of this perspective, David calls on God to work in a mighty way.

This perspective or view point of God being the one that is capable of delivering and rescuing David continues in verse 9 forward.

His Determination
I will sing a new song to You, O God; upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You. Here is David's crescendo proclamation that the Lord God is in charge. His song, his new song, his forever song to he Lord is to sing his praises. Victory is in Jesus, now and forever.

His Discernment: Destroys Them
Who gives salvation to kings, who rescues David His servant from the evil sword. David had been in many battles and yet he is not ever testifying of his own greatness, but all of his praise of being rescued from the evil sword resides in the Lord.

His Discernment: Defame Them
Rescue me and deliver me out of the hand of aliens, whose mouth speaks deceit and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. David has clearly seen the evil present in many people's lives. It is no fun to witness evil, but it is there. He may have even been thinking of the murder of Amasa by Joab recorded in 2 Samuel 20. Joab was a cold-blooded murderer. Just as there are truly good people we want to emulate their are bad people we detest. But being rescued and delivered belongs in the hands of God.

His Desire: For A Magnificent Population 
Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants, and our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace. David envisions a nation of youth drawing their strength from the Lord. These are people sure of their foundation. May we have youth in our country proud of our country, proud of our nation.

His Desire: For a Manifest Prosperity
Let our garners be full, furnishing every kind of produce, and our flocks bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; Let our cattle bear. He thinks of a nation with a healthy economy, where production is high and the gross national product beyond all normal expectation. In many ways this is modern day America.

His Desire: For a Meaningful Peace
Without mishap and without loss, let there be no outcry in our streets! Here there are no invasions of our country by a foreign foe. Are we a nation of peace? Unfortunately, we have lost our way as a nation from this with the many killings that occur at our schools, our military bases, businesses -- there is nothing that is truly safe now. 9/11 also showed that we can be attacked. For a moment, after that, people returned to the Lord, but it was momentary. Afterwards, they returned to their ways. What is missing from people? A right relationship with the Lord.

His Desire: For a Mirthful People
How blessed are the people who are so situated; how blessed are the people whose God is the Lord! We have all the resources to be content, but somehow we aren't. We are often a people still wanting more or being told we need more. And being taught that our economy is focused on people getting more. We have a lot but in order to get it we must borrow. It's amazing where we are at.

Here is the statement that should be the hallmark of our lives -- How blessed (happy) are the people whose God is the Lord. We think we have made it on our own, but actually, our praise belongs to the Lord. We need to return to this.

Promise: David recognizes in this Psalm that the secret to life is no secret. It is very apparent that God is to be our Lord and King and we are happiest in all of life with him at the center. This psalm declares that everything good about man is from God. Our positions, our roles, our jobs, our families, our money, our possessions is all there when we place him in charge. Evil men will continue, but we an rest in the Lord being our rescuer and deliverer.

Prayer: Thank You God for saving us. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for giving me life, abundance life, and peace, abundant peace. Help me to declare you and praise your name and acknowledge you as the reason for it all. I pray that you would be our peace. I pray that you would train us in how to be content and not simply focused on having more. Daily, bring back the joy of our salvation so we never lose that perspective of making you known in our world. Save me and save my family and friends. I praise you. And I thank you for what you have done so far. You are great.

Psalm 144:1-8 - God's Greatness and Man's Smallness

Psalm 144:1-8

1 Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle;
2 My lovingkindness and my fortress,
My stronghold and my deliverer,
My shield and He in whom I take refuge,
Who subdues my people under me.
3 O Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?
Or the son of man, that You think of him?
4 Man is like a mere breath;
His days are like a passing shadow.
5 Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down;
Touch the mountains, that they may smoke.
6 Flash forth lightning and scatter them;
Send out Your arrows and confuse them.
7 Stretch forth Your hand from on high;
Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters,
Out of the hand of aliens
8 Whose mouths speak deceit,
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

Message: God's Greatness and Man's Smallness

Time: Based upon authorship and subject matter, Psalms cover a range of centuries. David is mentioned 73 times, Solomon 2, Moses 1, and 50 designate no specific person. It is believed they were compiled around 537 BC. The psalms deal with such subjects as God and His creation, war, worship, wisdom, sin and evil, judgment, justice, and the coming of the Messiah.

What the Lord is Saying:

David's Source of Vitality: A Soldier
This Psalm begins with a praise to the Lord, recognizing that God is the reason for David's greatness. David acknowledges that the reason for his gifts is the Lord has provided. He does not attribute his greatness to himself but he thanks God and God is the one that is great, a rock - Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;

David's Source of Vitality: A Sovereign
As David attributes his greatness as a fighter, here he also attributes his greatness as a ruler to the Lord. My lovingkindness and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and He in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me. Everything about David points back to the Lord, "My rock." God is the strong one and however people want to view him or label him, it all points to the Lord.

The Vanity of Man's Person: How Insignificant is our existence
In verse 3 are two words for man -- adam and enosh. O Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You think of him? Adam denotes mankind in general. Enosh as son of man is a world that stands for man's frailty and weakness. It comes from the word that mean "to be sick" or "to be wretched or weak." Here is the question, given the greatness of God and his great power, how is it that he considers man. What a difference this statement is from society who thinks that God must not simply be thinking of man, but only wanting the best for him at all times. God is often set aside because man has not been made great. But, it is the greatness of God that we need to be about.

The Vanity of Man's Person: How Inconsequential is our experience
The question of why God would consider man is further foreshadowed in these words - Man is like a mere breath; his days are like a passing shadow. David survey's his life and looks at his temporary time on earth. If we are honest with ourselves and our existence, sure there are good moments when we think we are on top of the world and have done good things, but there are other times that we see our sin and see the evil of our ways. As I survey life, and the shortness of life, how is it that God takes account of me. This is a far cry from our world today where all the focus is on the greatness of man and the greatness of his existence and experience. We are all about enjoying life to the max, not praising our God on high. But, David sees it. He sees the insignificance of man and sees that man is nothing without God.

The Vanity of Man's Plans: Apprehending the Power of God
In verses 5 and 6 is the following: Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down; Touch the mountains, that they may smoke. Flash forth lightning and scatter them; Send out Your arrows and confuse them. David does not ask for his greatness to be manifested, but he asks for the Lord's greatness to be manifested. Lord, show your power throughout this world. He wanted to people to see the greatness of God and he asks God to work in this way.

The Vanity of Mans Plan: Appropriating the Power of God
Stretch forth Your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hand of aliens whose mouths speak deceit, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.  It is the power of God that will rescue David and will rescue man. Man cannot rescue himself and God recognizes this. All the saving that goes on in this world is attributed to God. It is just some people give him praise for it and some do not. David's confidence was in God.

Promise: David praised God and understand that his position in this world was due to the great God. God is so great, it makes us wonder why he would have anything to do with us at all. But, he does. So, our response is to call on him and ask him to intervene in our lives. His power needs to be manifested on this earth.

Prayer: O Lord, you are the Rock. You are the great One. You are all power. The roles I find myself in and who I am is because of you being so great. I don't comprehend why you see value in me. I don't comprehend why you chose me and saved me. But, you have and I am so thankful. Forgive me for not always showing this thanks. I need you God. I need your help. So send down your power O God and make it known in my world by rescuing me. You are great.

Proverbs 11:21 - The Certainty of Deliverance

Proverbs 11:21
Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished,
But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.

Message: The Certainty of Deliverance

Time: King Solomon is the principal writer of Proverbs. Solomon's proverbs were penned around 900 B.C. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon reveals the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations, too. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.

What the Lord is Saying:

The Contrast
As in many Proverbs, this verse presents a contrast. Here it speaks of the evil man and the descendants of the righteous. And then it also contrasts their two outcomes: not going unpunished contrasted with being delivered. The outcomes presented here of punishment and deliverance are outcomes we are all trying to avoid and receive, respectively.

Evil Outcomes
To me, the hallmark belief of the Bible is just this here and that is principally evil will be punished. I think this is one of the primary principals of the Bible that is chiefly being assaulted today. One of the big ways this is being done is what is defined as evil is being diminished or lessened. Conversely, what is called punishment is also being diminished.

I love old shows. One reason I love old shows is they generally are absent of vulgar thoughts and living in the shows and the tenets of what I would subscribe to in my life are often not as apparent. Sure, there still may be adultery or murder present but it is not explicitly shown. And bad language and cursing God's name is generally completely absent. And often there is a cord of faith in most movies because the country at large had a backdrop of faith even if they may not have really had their heart into it. So overall, I like these old shows and movies for those reasons.

Regarding this verse, I think of cop shows like Adam-12 and Dragnet. Adam-12 followed the lives of 2 officers, throughout their day as they encountered offenses that occurred in society. Offenses that were present were stealing TV's, revenge, domestic disturbances, investigating noise complaints, settling a dispute between arguing neighbors, arresting drug abusers (not dealers, but users). I guess my sense is many of these types of situations don't get dealt with by police today. But, also we in society may not even call these serious offenses. Much of the focus is what we term serious offenses now.

I think most people today would agree with this verse completely in that evil should be punished, but I also think that what they call evil today is way different from 50 years ago. TV shows, Movies, and the media have worked to redefine what is evil in society. And so the belief in society is punishment will not come to many because evil is not as prevalent in society as Scripture would make us to believe.

Deliverance
The contrast to the evil outcomes of evil choices and people and acts is the deliverance that comes from the descendants of the righteous. Now, this is different because it doesn't say the righteous, but rather the descendants. Could it be that there is power in living a righteous life; that living a righteous life yields dividends beyond the current generation? Perhaps this is the importance of living in a righteous manner. And yet it is possible the seed or descendant is more line with the children of God that we are called, those that have trusted Jesus as Savior and depend on his righteousness. We know we are not righteous without Christ. He is complete righteousness, so rather than this saying that this is a promise to my children, maybe rather what it is is a promise to those that have surrendered their lives to the Lord and accepting his riches.

The deliverance we have received is being in Christ and the peace that comes from this. We have peace in Christ that will last forever, for eternity. Those that keep the commandments of God; and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, we were delivered from the outcome that is deserved. We deserve punishment and to be separated from God, but through Christ we have been redeemed and we have been delivered.

Again, this is a message so contrary to the message that we hear in our world today. What is preached is human effort and outcomes from what we have done. The need to even be delivered has been replaced by the idea that we are all self-dependent. I don't need God when I have lots of savings in my back account. I don't need God when I can clearly see the result of my hard work and good decisions. I have much so I pray little. There is such a danger in riches or having things because it so easily makes me think that I can do it on my own, without God. It's the same lie that was presented to Adam and Eve. The serpent gave the idea that nothing really bad will come from breaking God's commandments. And even better we need to change God's rules into rights.

Promise: This is the essence of this verse - it isn't necessarily talking of immediate punishment or immediate deliverance, but these are final outcomes.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the clarity of this verse. Thank you for your great love for me and for saving me. Lord, keep me centered on You. Keep me focused on the great need in the cross. Help me to not be self-dependent and self-sufficient. I pray to remain urgent for truth, for deliverance. I thank you for your patience and allowing so many the opportunity for salvation by giving them time.