Thursday, October 31, 2024

CHOOSE WHOM YOU WILL SERVE

Joshua 24:14-28 / Keywords 24:14

Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

 

24:14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”


16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! 17 It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the Lord drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.”


19 Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.”


21 But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the Lord.”


22 Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord.”


“Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied.


23 “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”


24 And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.”


25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws. 26 And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the Lord.


27 “See!” he said to all the people. “This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the Lord has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God.”


28 Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to their own inheritance.


1. How would the people of Israel respond to the grace of God? How would their lives be changed? By accepting God’s gift of salvation, we commit ourselves to living as his holy and redeemed people. Joshua says, “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness.” We put aside the false gods of this world and worship the true and living God. We serve him in sincerity with all our hearts by making his honor and glory our one passion and desire. We serve him in faithfulness by obeying his word as the absolute authority in our lives. He is our God and we are his people. Serving him is the choice that we make each and every day.

 

2. The people of Israel confessed everything the LORD had done for them and promised to serve him as their God. However, in verse 19, Joshua says, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God.” They should have realized that they were not able to serve God with their own strength. Salvation is by the power of God and so is sanctification. We need God’s help to obey his commands and live lives that honor him. We must be fully surrendered and dependent on Him. Joshua set up a large stone by the sanctuary of the LORD as a witness to the commitment they made. Then, every man went to his inheritance.

 

Prayer Father, give us strength to serve you.

One Word Choose the LORD your God!

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

THE WONDERFUL GIFT OF GOD

Joshua 24:1-13 / Keywords 24:13

So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.

 

The Covenant Renewed at Shechem

24 Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.


2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. 3 But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac, 4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his family went down to Egypt.


5 “‘Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out. 6 When I brought your people out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen[a] as far as the Red Sea.[b] 7 But they cried to the Lord for help, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians; he brought the sea over them and covered them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time.


8 “‘I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land. 9 When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you. 10 But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand.


11 “‘Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands. 12 I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you—also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow. 13 So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’


Footnotes

a. Joshua 24:6 Or charioteers

b. Joshua 24:6 Or the Sea of Reeds


1. Joshua gathered all the leaders and tribes of Israel at Shechem. It was time for the nation to reflect on all the things God had done and how they should live as his people. In verse 13, God reminds his people that he had given them a land that they had not labored for, cities that they had not built, and luscious vineyards and orchards that they did not plant. Indeed, they were enjoying the abundant blessings of God. How did they get to this place? It was God’s grace every step of the way! Abraham and his father were idolaters when God called Abraham and established his covenant with him. It was God who fulfilled his promises and blessed Abraham with a whole nation of descendants. God delivered his people from Egypt, provided for them in the wilderness, and fought for them in the land of Canaan. It was all the one-sided grace of God.

 

2. Like the Israelites, it is good for Christians to pause and reflect on the wonderful grace of God in their lives. In Christ, we have received a new birth into a living hope and an inheritance that will never perish, spoil, or fade. We have been seated in the heavenly realms with Christ and have been adopted as children of God. One day, we will be with Christ forever. We will see him in all his glory and we will be like him. How is this possible? It is the work and gift of our amazing God.

 

Prayer Father, we honor and praise you.

One Word Salvation is the gift of our God

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD

Joshua 23:1-16 / Keywords 23:11

So be very careful to love the LORD your God.

 

Joshua’s Farewell to the Leaders

23:1 After a long time had passed and the Lord had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then a very old man, 2 summoned all Israel—their elders, leaders, judges and officials—and said to them: “I am very old. 3 You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the Lord your God who fought for you. 4 Remember how I have allotted as an inheritance for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain—the nations I conquered—between the Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 The Lord your God himself will push them out for your sake. He will drive them out before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the Lord your God promised you.


6 “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. 7 Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. 8 But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now.


9 “The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. 10 One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised. 11 So be very careful to love the Lord your God.


12 “But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them, 13 then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the Lord your God has given you.


14 “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. 15 But just as all the good things the Lord your God has promised you have come to you, so he will bring on you all the evil things he has threatened, until the Lord your God has destroyed you from this good land he has given you. 16 If you violate the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you.”


1. What would your parting words be to the Christian leaders in our nation? If you followed Joshua’s example, you would remind them of all the magnificent things God has done and of all the wonderful things he has promised. Joshua reminded the leaders of Israel that it was God who fought for them and gave them victory over all the nations they had conquered. It was God who allotted an inheritance to each of the tribes of Israel. Now, their task was to claim this inheritance by driving out the nations that remained by faith. God promised to push the remaining nations back and to drive them out of their sight so his people could possess the land. They were to cling to God by obeying his word and loving him instead of mingling with the other nations and adopting their gods. Failure to do so would result in these nations being a trap and a snare to them and their land being forfeited.

 

2. God kept all the promises he had made to his people. Without exception, God fulfills each and every one of his promises. God promised good things for his people if they kept his covenant, and evil things if they broke it. If they served other gods and bowed down to them, God promised that they would perish quickly from the land. The choice was theirs. What would the leaders decide?

 

Prayer Father, help us to obey your word.

One Word Be very careful to love God

Monday, October 28, 2024

GIVE BACK TO GOD WHAT IS GOD’S

Luke 20:19-26 / Keywords 20:25

"Caesar's," they replied. He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

 

20:19 The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.


Paying Taxes to Caesar

20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. 21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”


23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”


“Caesar’s,” they replied.


25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”


26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.


1. The religious leaders were offended by Jesus’ warning through the parable, but they couldn't arrest him right away because they were afraid of the people. They sent spies to trap him into doing or saying something that would get him in trouble with the Roman government. “Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” If Jesus said yes, he would appear to support evil to the eyes of people. If Jesus said no, then he was inciting a riot against Rome. Jesus let them show him a denarius and asked them, “Whose image and inscription are on it?” They replied, “Caesars.” Then, Jesus said, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

 

2. Like the tenants in the parable, they did not want to give their due to anyone, either to the governing authority or to God. But Jesus said to them to give their due both to Rome and to God. As Caesar’s image and inscription were on a Roman coin, so we have God’s image in us. We have a basic duty toward God and to our country. However, duty to God supersedes duty to our country. Since God’s people have a dual citizenship, they should not evade their duty to God, their Creator. We owe everything to God and must give him our love, obedience, and worship.

 

Prayer Lord, help me love and worship you and live for your glory in my daily life while fulfilling my basic duty to my country.

One Word Give to God; give to Caesar

A MISUNDERSTANDING CLEARED UP

Joshua 22:10-34 / Keywords 22:31

And Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, said to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, "Today we know that the LORD is with us, because you have not acted unfaithfully toward the LORD in this matter. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the LORD'S hand."

 

22:10 When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan. 11 And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, 12 the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.


13 So the Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to the land of Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 14 With him they sent ten of the chief men, one from each of the tribes of Israel, each the head of a family division among the Israelite clans.


15 When they went to Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh—they said to them: 16 “The whole assembly of the Lord says: ‘How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the Lord and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now? 17 Was not the sin of Peor enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the Lord! 18 And are you now turning away from the Lord?


“‘If you rebel against the Lord today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community of Israel. 19 If the land you possess is defiled, come over to the Lord’s land, where the Lord’s tabernacle stands, and share the land with us. But do not rebel against the Lord or against us by building an altar for yourselves, other than the altar of the Lord our God. 20 When Achan son of Zerah was unfaithful in regard to the devoted things,[a] did not wrath come on the whole community of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.’”


21 Then Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh replied to the heads of the clans of Israel: 22 “The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the Lord, do not spare us this day. 23 If we have built our own altar to turn away from the Lord and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the Lord himself call us to account.


24 “No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? 25 The Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you—you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the Lord.’ So your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the Lord.


26 “That is why we said, ‘Let us get ready and build an altar—but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.’ 27 On the contrary, it is to be a witness between us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the Lord at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings. Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to ours, ‘You have no share in the Lord.’


28 “And we said, ‘If they ever say this to us, or to our descendants, we will answer: Look at the replica of the Lord’s altar, which our ancestors built, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.’


29 “Far be it from us to rebel against the Lord and turn away from him today by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings and sacrifices, other than the altar of the Lord our God that stands before his tabernacle.”


30 When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community—the heads of the clans of the Israelites—heard what Reuben, Gad and Manasseh had to say, they were pleased. 31 And Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, said to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, “Today we know that the Lord is with us, because you have not been unfaithful to the Lord in this matter. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the Lord’s hand.”


32 Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders returned to Canaan from their meeting with the Reubenites and Gadites in Gilead and reported to the Israelites. 33 They were glad to hear the report and praised God. And they talked no more about going to war against them to devastate the country where the Reubenites and the Gadites lived.


34 And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A Witness Between Us—that the Lord is God.


Footnotes

a. Joshua 22:20 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.


1. As the eastern tribes crossed the Jordan to return to their homes, they built an altar by the Jordan. They were determined to be faithful to God and set up an altar to testify of God’s faithfulness and their covenant commitment to Him. It would also remind them that they were to identify with the 12 tribes and express their unity with the Western tribes. However, the Western tribes misunderstood this as idolatrous worship and were ready to go to war. The Eastern tribes patiently explained their case and motives and avoided an all out conflict. It is important to note that both sides were zealous for the glory of God. After receiving clarity in the situation, they rejoiced and blessed God together.

 

2. Christians are to keep both the purity and unity of the church. Sometimes, however, we refuse to listen to one another and fail to keep unity. Regrettably we may tolerate sin and draw back from controversy to keep unity and peace. In His high priestly prayer, Jesus prayed for His people to be sanctified by the truth (Jn 17:17), and to be brought to complete unity (Jn 17:23). Jesus’ people are to zealously pursue the purity and unity of the church.

 

Prayer Lord, help us grow in Jesus so that we may build up your church with purity as well as unity.

One Word Unity in purity

Sunday, October 27, 2024

THE EASTERN TRIBES RETURN HOME

Joshua 22:1-9 / Keywords 22:5

But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul.

 

Eastern Tribes Return Home

22:1 Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh 2 and said to them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. 3 For a long time now—to this very day—you have not deserted your fellow Israelites but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you. 4 Now that the Lord your God has given them rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan. 5 But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”


6 Then Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their homes. 7 (To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half of the tribe Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan along with their fellow Israelites.) When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them, 8 saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth—with large herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze and iron, and a great quantity of clothing—and divide the plunder from your enemies with your fellow Israelites.”


9 So the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in Canaan to return to Gilead, their own land, which they had acquired in accordance with the command of the Lord through Moses.


1. The conquest of Canaan had ended, and the land was divided into twelve tribes. Then Joshua dismissed the two and a half tribes of those in the Transjordan with honor. They had kept their promise to Moses and helped the other tribes in the conquest faithfully. As he sent them to their families, Joshua reminded them to remain faithful to the Lord—loving Him, walking in obedience to Him, keeping His commands, holding fast to Him, and serving him. God’s people need to be both encouraged and challenged to remain faithful to the Lord in their lives of faith. We are not to rest on our laurels but keep on living by faith (Phil 3:13-14).

 

2. Joshua didn’t send them away empty handed but gave them blessing and bounty. They received the fruit of faithful living. Obedience to God and faithfulness to Christ bring God’s great blessings. Jesus says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mt 6:33).

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for giving me a mission to spread the gospel. Help me to complete it. Remind me of living by faith to the end.

One Word Keep on running the race of faith

Saturday, October 26, 2024

NOT ONE OF GOD’S PROMISES FAILED

Joshua 21:1-45 / Keywords 21:45

Not one of all the LORD'S good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.

 

Towns for the Levites

21:1 Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribal families of Israel 2 at Shiloh in Canaan and said to them, “The Lord commanded through Moses that you give us towns to live in, with pasturelands for our livestock.” 3 So, as the Lord had commanded, the Israelites gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own inheritance:


4 The first lot came out for the Kohathites, according to their clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin. 5 The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten towns from the clans of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan and half of Manasseh.


6 The descendants of Gershon were allotted thirteen towns from the clans of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.


7 The descendants of Merari, according to their clans, received twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun.


8 So the Israelites allotted to the Levites these towns and their pasturelands, as the Lord had commanded through Moses.


9 From the tribes of Judah and Simeon they allotted the following towns by name 10 (these towns were assigned to the descendants of Aaron who were from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because the first lot fell to them):


11 They gave them Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), with its surrounding pastureland, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) 12 But the fields and villages around the city they had given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.


13 So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Libnah, 14 Jattir, Eshtemoa, 15 Holon, Debir, 16 Ain, Juttah and Beth Shemesh, together with their pasturelands—nine towns from these two tribes.


17 And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon, Geba, 18 Anathoth and Almon, together with their pasturelands—four towns.


19 The total number of towns for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, came to thirteen, together with their pasturelands.


20 The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted towns from the tribe of Ephraim:


21 In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Gezer, 22 Kibzaim and Beth Horon, together with their pasturelands—four towns.


23 Also from the tribe of Dan they received Eltekeh, Gibbethon, 24 Aijalon and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands—four towns.


25 From half the tribe of Manasseh they received Taanach and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands—two towns.


26 All these ten towns and their pasturelands were given to the rest of the Kohathite clans.


27 The Levite clans of the Gershonites were given:


from the half-tribe of Manasseh,


Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Be Eshterah, together with their pasturelands—two towns;


28 from the tribe of Issachar,


Kishion, Daberath, 29 Jarmuth and En Gannim, together with their pasturelands—four towns;


30 from the tribe of Asher,


Mishal, Abdon, 31 Helkath and Rehob, together with their pasturelands—four towns;


32 from the tribe of Naphtali,


Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Hammoth Dor and Kartan, together with their pasturelands—three towns.


33 The total number of towns of the Gershonite clans came to thirteen, together with their pasturelands.


34 The Merarite clans (the rest of the Levites) were given:


from the tribe of Zebulun,


Jokneam, Kartah, 35 Dimnah and Nahalal, together with their pasturelands—four towns;


36 from the tribe of Reuben,


Bezer, Jahaz, 37 Kedemoth and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands—four towns;


38 from the tribe of Gad,


Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Mahanaim, 39 Heshbon and Jazer, together with their pasturelands—four towns in all.


40 The total number of towns allotted to the Merarite clans, who were the rest of the Levites, came to twelve.


41 The towns of the Levites in the territory held by the Israelites were forty-eight in all, together with their pasturelands. 42 Each of these towns had pasturelands surrounding it; this was true for all these towns.


43 So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44 The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands. 45 Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.


1. According to God’s command, the Levites received no inheritance of the land. Rather, they were given several towns and pasturelands from among the inheritances of the other tribes. The Levites were scattered throughout the land of Israel. This way each tribe would have a priestly influence and presence among them. Priests were chosen not to be served but to serve God and His people. As “a royal priesthood” (1 Pe 2:9), Christians are to be scattered throughout the world and become salt and light. They are called to serve people around them.

 

2. God fulfilled His promised to give the land to Israel. All the tribes took possession of the land and settled there. God also gave them rest from war and rest from their enemies as He had promised their forefathers. God’s promises to their forefathers turned into a reality. God is faithful in keeping his promises even though we often fail to keep our promises to Him. All of God’s promises are “good,” (45) because God is good. God’s good promises never fail and lead us to rest.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for your “good” promises. Help me to hold onto them and pass them on to the next generation.

One Word God’s promises are good

Friday, October 25, 2024

CITIES OF REFUGE

Joshua 20:1-9 / Keywords 20:2

Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,

 

Cities of Refuge

20:1 Then the Lord said to Joshua: 2 “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, 3 so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood. 4 When they flee to one of these cities, they are to stand in the entrance of the city gate and state their case before the elders of that city. Then the elders are to admit the fugitive into their city and provide a place to live among them. 5 If the avenger of blood comes in pursuit, the elders must not surrender the fugitive, because the fugitive killed their neighbor unintentionally and without malice aforethought. 6 They are to stay in that city until they have stood trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest who is serving at that time. Then they may go back to their own home in the town from which they fled.”


7 So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 8 East of the Jordan (on the other side from Jericho) they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau in the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead in the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan in the tribe of Manasseh. 9 Any of the Israelites or any foreigner residing among them who killed someone accidentally could flee to these designated cities and not be killed by the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.


1. God had spoken to Moses about cities of refuge in Exodus 21. These cities were to be an integral part of their justice system. A manslayer who accidentally killed a person could flee to these cities to be protected against the avenger of blood. The six cities of refuge were designated throughout the land. These cities were God’s appointed places, where the slayer would receive protection, justice and mercy. God cares for all people without partiality and maintains His perfect mercy and justice. Jesus is the ultimate God-appointed city of refuge. Anyone who comes to Him in faith will receive His mercy, justice, and protection.

 

2. The slayer who was proven innocent had to dwell in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Although the slayer would be granted pardon, the loss of life was still considered a very serious matter. The death of the priest in a way was considered a substitute for the slayer. The slayer would be acquitted of his transgression and would be able to go back home. This points us ultimately to the death of Jesus, our great high priest who paid for all our sins.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for Jesus, the city of refuge for all sinners including sinners like me.

One Word Jesus is the city of refuge

Thursday, October 24, 2024

DIVIDING THE LAND

Joshua 18:1-19:51 / Keywords 18:3

So Joshua said to the Israelites: "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?

 

Division of the Rest of the Land

18:1 The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The country was brought under their control, 2 but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance.


3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you? 4 Appoint three men from each tribe. I will send them out to make a survey of the land and to write a description of it, according to the inheritance of each. Then they will return to me. 5 You are to divide the land into seven parts. Judah is to remain in its territory on the south and the tribes of Joseph in their territory on the north. 6 After you have written descriptions of the seven parts of the land, bring them here to me and I will cast lots for you in the presence of the Lord our God. 7 The Levites, however, do not get a portion among you, because the priestly service of the Lord is their inheritance. And Gad, Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan. Moses the servant of the Lord gave it to them.”


8 As the men started on their way to map out the land, Joshua instructed them, “Go and make a survey of the land and write a description of it. Then return to me, and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh in the presence of the Lord.” 9 So the men left and went through the land. They wrote its description on a scroll, town by town, in seven parts, and returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh. 10 Joshua then cast lots for them in Shiloh in the presence of the Lord, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions.


Allotment for Benjamin

11 The first lot came up for the tribe of Benjamin according to its clans. Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah and Joseph:


12 On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan, passed the northern slope of Jericho and headed west into the hill country, coming out at the wilderness of Beth Aven. 13 From there it crossed to the south slope of Luz (that is, Bethel) and went down to Ataroth Addar on the hill south of Lower Beth Horon.


14 From the hill facing Beth Horon on the south the boundary turned south along the western side and came out at Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim), a town of the people of Judah. This was the western side.


15 The southern side began at the outskirts of Kiriath Jearim on the west, and the boundary came out at the spring of the waters of Nephtoah. 16 The boundary went down to the foot of the hill facing the Valley of Ben Hinnom, north of the Valley of Rephaim. It continued down the Hinnom Valley along the southern slope of the Jebusite city and so to En Rogel. 17 It then curved north, went to En Shemesh, continued to Geliloth, which faces the Pass of Adummim, and ran down to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. 18 It continued to the northern slope of Beth Arabah[a] and on down into the Arabah. 19 It then went to the northern slope of Beth Hoglah and came out at the northern bay of the Dead Sea, at the mouth of the Jordan in the south. This was the southern boundary.


20 The Jordan formed the boundary on the eastern side.


These were the boundaries that marked out the inheritance of the clans of Benjamin on all sides.


21 The tribe of Benjamin, according to its clans, had the following towns:


Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz, 22 Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 23 Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, 24 Kephar Ammoni, Ophni and Geba—twelve towns and their villages.


25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, 26 Mizpah, Kephirah, Mozah, 27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28 Zelah, Haeleph, the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah and Kiriath—fourteen towns and their villages.


This was the inheritance of Benjamin for its clans.


Allotment for Simeon

19:1 The second lot came out for the tribe of Simeon according to its clans. Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah. 2 It included:


Beersheba (or Sheba),[b] Moladah, 3 Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, 4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 5 Ziklag, Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susah, 6 Beth Lebaoth and Sharuhen—thirteen towns and their villages;


7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether and Ashan—four towns and their villages— 8 and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah in the Negev).


This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Simeonites, according to its clans. 9 The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the share of Judah, because Judah’s portion was more than they needed. So the Simeonites received their inheritance within the territory of Judah.


Allotment for Zebulun

10 The third lot came up for Zebulun according to its clans:


The boundary of their inheritance went as far as Sarid. 11 Going west it ran to Maralah, touched Dabbesheth, and extended to the ravine near Jokneam. 12 It turned east from Sarid toward the sunrise to the territory of Kisloth Tabor and went on to Daberath and up to Japhia. 13 Then it continued eastward to Gath Hepher and Eth Kazin; it came out at Rimmon and turned toward Neah. 14 There the boundary went around on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El. 15 Included were Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah and Bethlehem. There were twelve towns and their villages.


16 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of Zebulun, according to its clans.


Allotment for Issachar

17 The fourth lot came out for Issachar according to its clans. 18 Their territory included:


Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem, 19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, 20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, 21 Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah and Beth Pazzez. 22 The boundary touched Tabor, Shahazumah and Beth Shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. There were sixteen towns and their villages.


23 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar, according to its clans.


Allotment for Asher

24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher according to its clans. 25 Their territory included:


Helkath, Hali, Beten, Akshaph, 26 Allammelek, Amad and Mishal. On the west the boundary touched Carmel and Shihor Libnath. 27 It then turned east toward Beth Dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El, and went north to Beth Emek and Neiel, passing Kabul on the left. 28 It went to Abdon,[c] Rehob, Hammon and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. 29 The boundary then turned back toward Ramah and went to the fortified city of Tyre, turned toward Hosah and came out at the Mediterranean Sea in the region of Akzib, 30 Ummah, Aphek and Rehob. There were twenty-two towns and their villages.


31 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Asher, according to its clans.


Allotment for Naphtali

32 The sixth lot came out for Naphtali according to its clans:


33 Their boundary went from Heleph and the large tree in Zaanannim, passing Adami Nekeb and Jabneel to Lakkum and ending at the Jordan. 34 The boundary ran west through Aznoth Tabor and came out at Hukkok. It touched Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west and the Jordan[d] on the east. 35 The fortified towns were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth, 36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 37 Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor, 38 Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath and Beth Shemesh. There were nineteen towns and their villages.


39 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali, according to its clans.


Allotment for Dan

40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan according to its clans. 41 The territory of their inheritance included:


Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh, 42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, 43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron, 44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon, 46 Me Jarkon and Rakkon, with the area facing Joppa.


47 (When the territory of the Danites was lost to them, they went up and attacked Leshem, took it, put it to the sword and occupied it. They settled in Leshem and named it Dan after their ancestor.)


48 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Dan, according to its clans.


Allotment for Joshua

49 When they had finished dividing the land into its allotted portions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them, 50 as the Lord had commanded. They gave him the town he asked for—Timnath Serah[e] in the hill country of Ephraim. And he built up the town and settled there.


51 These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel assigned by lot at Shiloh in the presence of the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. And so they finished dividing the land.


Footnotes

a. Joshua 18:18 Septuagint; Hebrew slope facing the Arabah

b. Joshua 19:2 Or Beersheba, Sheba; 1 Chron. 4:28 does not have Sheba.

c. Joshua 19:28 Some Hebrew manuscripts (see also 21:30); most Hebrew manuscripts Ebron

d. Joshua 19:34 Septuagint; Hebrew west, and Judah, the Jordan,

e. Joshua 19:50 Also known as Timnath Heres (see Judges 2:9)


1. After seven years of war, the land of Canaan was subdued, and the tabernacle was finally set up. But seven of the tribes were not interested in their inheritance since it would involve more warfare and struggle. They wanted to retire and relax. Joshua knew their fatigue, so he held a conference at Shiloh to renew their spirit and strength before God to complete their conquest. Complacency in the Christian life is usually the mark of weariness or a distant relationship with God. “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles…” (Is 40:31).

 

2. Three men from each tribe went out to survey the land. Perhaps Joshua wanted them to see first-hand how good the land was, and to have the desire to take it. By taking possession of the land between Judah on the south and Joseph on the north, they could gain the final victory and fulfill God’s promise. The surveyors went out and recorded all the details. Then Joshua cast lots and made assignments for the seven tribes. Our priceless inheritance is kept in heaven. And we are to push on through the struggles to receive it.

 

Prayer Lord, I come to renew my relationship with you. Give me strength to continue serving your mission.

One Word How long will you wait?

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

GO, CLEAR LAND FOR YOURSELVESF

Joshua 16:1-17:18 / Keywords 17:15

"If you are so numerous," Joshua answered, "and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites."

 

Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh

16:1 The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan, east of the springs of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel. 2 It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz),[a] crossed over to the territory of the Arkites in Ataroth, 3 descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon and on to Gezer, ending at the Mediterranean Sea.


4 So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance.


5 This was the territory of Ephraim, according to its clans:


The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar in the east to Upper Beth Horon 6 and continued to the Mediterranean Sea. From Mikmethath on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah on the east. 7 Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. 8 From Tappuah the border went west to the Kanah Ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, according to its clans. 9 It also included all the towns and their villages that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites.


10 They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor.


17 This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph’s firstborn, that is, for Makir, Manasseh’s firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead and Bashan because the Makirites were great soldiers. 2 So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh—the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.


3 Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. 4 They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the Lord’s command. 5 Manasseh’s share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan, 6 because the daughters of the tribe of Manasseh received an inheritance among the sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.


7 The territory of Manasseh extended from Asher to Mikmethath east of Shechem. The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah. 8 (Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.) 9 Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine. There were towns belonging to Ephraim lying among the towns of Manasseh, but the boundary of Manasseh was the northern side of the ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. 10 On the south the land belonged to Ephraim, on the north to Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh reached the Mediterranean Sea and bordered Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.


11 Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan, Ibleam and the people of Dor, Endor, Taanach and Megiddo, together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth[b]).


12 Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. 13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.


14 The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly.”


15 “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites.”


16 The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”


17 But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment 18 but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”


Footnotes

a. Joshua 16:2 Septuagint; Hebrew Bethel to Luz

b. Joshua 17:11 That is, Naphoth Dor


1. The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, received their allotted land. Then from the tribe of Manasseh, the five daughters of Zelophehad, who had no son, came to Joshua and claimed the land that Moses had promised to give them (Nu 27). They had petitioned both to Moses and to Joshua challenging the firm norms by their faith and courage. God honored these women’s faith and courage and gave them an inheritance.

 

2. The tribes Ephraim and Manasseh complained that the land was not enough for them, because they neither cleared the forest nor drove out the powerful Canaanites equipped with iron chariots. Joshua saw that their real problem was not lack of land, but lack of faith, vision and fighting spirit. So, he encouraged them to be strong in the Lord to clear the forest to its farthest limits and drive their enemies out. Without faith, we see only obstacles and formidable enemies and complain. By faith we can see “spacious land” and great blessing beyond obstacles and enemies. Faith causes us to quit complaining and hold to what God has promised.

 

Prayer Lord, help me to have faith and courage so that I may see God’s great promises and hold onto them boldly. Help me to clear the land.

One Word Go up and clear land for yourselves

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

 THE INHERITANCE OF JUDAH

Joshua 15:1-63 / Keywords 15:1

The allotment for the tribe of Judah, clan by clan, extended down to the territory of Edom, to the Desert of Zin in the extreme south.

 

Allotment for Judah

15:1 The allotment for the tribe of Judah, according to its clans, extended down to the territory of Edom, to the Desert of Zin in the extreme south.


2 Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Dead Sea, 3 crossed south of Scorpion Pass, continued on to Zin and went over to the south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it ran past Hezron up to Addar and curved around to Karka. 4 It then passed along to Azmon and joined the Wadi of Egypt, ending at the Mediterranean Sea. This is their[a] southern boundary.


5 The eastern boundary is the Dead Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan.


The northern boundary started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan, 6 went up to Beth Hoglah and continued north of Beth Arabah to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. 7 The boundary then went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor and turned north to Gilgal, which faces the Pass of Adummim south of the gorge. It continued along to the waters of En Shemesh and came out at En Rogel. 8 Then it ran up the Valley of Ben Hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem). From there it climbed to the top of the hill west of the Hinnom Valley at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim. 9 From the hilltop the boundary headed toward the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, came out at the towns of Mount Ephron and went down toward Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim). 10 Then it curved westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Kesalon), continued down to Beth Shemesh and crossed to Timnah. 11 It went to the northern slope of Ekron, turned toward Shikkeron, passed along to Mount Baalah and reached Jabneel. The boundary ended at the sea.


12 The western boundary is the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.


These are the boundaries around the people of Judah by their clans.


13 In accordance with the Lord’s command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah—Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) 14 From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites—Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, the sons of Anak. 15 From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). 16 And Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Aksah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.” 17 Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage.


18 One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him[b] to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?”


19 She replied, “Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.


20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, according to its clans:


21 The southernmost towns of the tribe of Judah in the Negev toward the boundary of Edom were:


Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, 24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor), 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, 27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, 28 Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah, 29 Baalah, Iyim, Ezem, 30 Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah, 31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain and Rimmon—a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages.


33 In the western foothills:


Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34 Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, 35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Sokoh, Azekah, 36 Shaaraim, Adithaim and Gederah (or Gederothaim)[c]—fourteen towns and their villages.


37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel, 39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, 40 Kabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, 41 Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah and Makkedah—sixteen towns and their villages.


42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 44 Keilah, Akzib and Mareshah—nine towns and their villages.


45 Ekron, with its surrounding settlements and villages; 46 west of Ekron, all that were in the vicinity of Ashdod, together with their villages; 47 Ashdod, its surrounding settlements and villages; and Gaza, its settlements and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypt and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.


48 In the hill country:


Shamir, Jattir, Sokoh, 49 Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir), 50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 51 Goshen, Holon and Giloh—eleven towns and their villages.


52 Arab, Dumah, Eshan, 53 Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah, 54 Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) and Zior—nine towns and their villages.


55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57 Kain, Gibeah and Timnah—ten towns and their villages.


58 Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor, 59 Maarath, Beth Anoth and Eltekon—six towns and their villages.[d]


60 Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah—two towns and their villages.


61 In the wilderness:


Beth Arabah, Middin, Sekakah, 62 Nibshan, the City of Salt and En Gedi—six towns and their villages.


63 Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.


Footnotes

Joshua 15:4 Septuagint; Hebrew your

Joshua 15:18 Hebrew and some Septuagint manuscripts; other Septuagint manuscripts (see also note at Judges 1:14) Othniel, he urged her

Joshua 15:36 Or Gederah and Gederothaim

Joshua 15:59 The Septuagint adds another district of eleven towns, including Tekoa and Ephrathah (Bethlehem).


1. The land of Canaan was distributed among the twelve tribes of Israel. Through Caleb’s faith (Num 13), the tribe of Judah was recognized as the prominent tribe, but that came with big responsibilities. First, they needed to fight and take possession of the allotted land from the Canaanites and set an example for the other tribes. Second, they needed to provide security to the other tribes from Israel’s southern enemies: the Egyptians, the Philistines and the Edomites. Godpleasing-faith brings great blessings as well as responsibility to help and protect His people.

 

2. Caleb received a portion of the land of Judah as his inheritance, but first needed to drive out the Anakites. Caleb drove them out with God’s help and then pressed on to the city of Debir. He offered his daughter Acsah in marriage to the man who would capture it with faith and courage. Othniel stepped forward, delivered Debir and took Acsah as his wife, but Judah could not drive out the Jebusites in Jerusalem. God promised the land, but they needed to claim it by an act of faith. God’s promises are given to those who claim them by faith.

 

Prayer Lord, help me to walk in obedience and faith to your word and cling to your promises.

One Word Faith in action

Monday, October 21, 2024

JEREMIAH’S PAIN

Jeremiah 15:1-21 / Keywords 15:19

Therefore this is what the LORD says: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.

 

15:1 Then the Lord said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence! Let them go! 2 And if they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says:


“‘Those destined for death, to death;

those for the sword, to the sword;

those for starvation, to starvation;

those for captivity, to captivity.’


3 “I will send four kinds of destroyers against them,” declares the Lord, “the sword to kill and the dogs to drag away and the birds and the wild animals to devour and destroy. 4 I will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem.


5 “Who will have pity on you, Jerusalem?

    Who will mourn for you?

    Who will stop to ask how you are?

6 You have rejected me,” declares the Lord.

    “You keep on backsliding.

So I will reach out and destroy you;

    I am tired of holding back.

7 I will winnow them with a winnowing fork

    at the city gates of the land.

I will bring bereavement and destruction on my people,

    for they have not changed their ways.

8 I will make their widows more numerous

    than the sand of the sea.

At midday I will bring a destroyer

    against the mothers of their young men;

suddenly I will bring down on them

    anguish and terror.

9 The mother of seven will grow faint

    and breathe her last.

Her sun will set while it is still day;

    she will be disgraced and humiliated.

I will put the survivors to the sword

    before their enemies,”

declares the Lord.


10 Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth,

    a man with whom the whole land strives and contends!

I have neither lent nor borrowed,

    yet everyone curses me.


11 The Lord said,


“Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose;

    surely I will make your enemies plead with you

    in times of disaster and times of distress.


12 “Can a man break iron—

    iron from the north—or bronze?


13 “Your wealth and your treasures

    I will give as plunder, without charge,

because of all your sins

    throughout your country.

14 I will enslave you to your enemies

    in[a] a land you do not know,

for my anger will kindle a fire

    that will burn against you.”


15 Lord, you understand;

    remember me and care for me.

    Avenge me on my persecutors.

You are long-suffering—do not take me away;

    think of how I suffer reproach for your sake.

16 When your words came, I ate them;

    they were my joy and my heart’s delight,

for I bear your name,

    Lord God Almighty.

17 I never sat in the company of revelers,

    never made merry with them;

I sat alone because your hand was on me

    and you had filled me with indignation.

18 Why is my pain unending

    and my wound grievous and incurable?

You are to me like a deceptive brook,

    like a spring that fails.


19 Therefore this is what the Lord says:


“If you repent, I will restore you

    that you may serve me;

if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,

    you will be my spokesman.

Let this people turn to you,

    but you must not turn to them.

20 I will make you a wall to this people,

    a fortified wall of bronze;

they will fight against you

    but will not overcome you,

for I am with you

    to rescue and save you,”

declares the Lord.

21 “I will save you from the hands of the wicked

    and deliver you from the grasp of the cruel.”


Footnotes

a. Jeremiah 15:14 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Syriac (see also 17:4); most Hebrew manuscripts I will cause your enemies to bring you / into


1. The Lord was going to bring about the complete destruction of Judah and Jerusalem (1-3). He prophesied this through Jeremiah, so Israel would know that it was the result of their great sin. With each generation, Judah slid further and further from God, culminating in the evil king Manasseh, who practiced every kind of cruelty and idolatry over a 55-year reign (4). This should remind us that once we begin to slide away from God, it is very difficult to change our direction.

 

2. The message that Jeremiah had to bring was almost too much for him to bear. Though he had never taken advantage of anyone, everyone cursed him because he brought words of judgment (10). The Lord tried to comfort Jeremiah (11), but still, Jeremiah asks: Why do I have to suffer so much pain when I only deny myself to serve you? (18) In reply, the Lord commands Jeremiah to repent and recommit himself to speak only worthy words, not becoming like people of the world (19).

 

3. It is indeed too hard for us to keep standing against the pattern of the world with our own strength. But if we commit ourselves to God and resolve to speak only his words, no one will be able to overcome us (20-21).

 

Prayer Father, thank you for the privilege of being your messenger, even when it brings trouble. Let my true joy be in your words.

One Word Speak worthy words

Sunday, October 20, 2024

THE WEEPING PROPHET

Jeremiah 14:1-22 / Keywords 14:17

"Speak this word to them: ‘Let my eyes overflow with tears night and day without ceasing; for my virgin daughter--my people--has suffered a grievous wound, a crushing blow.’”


Drought, Famine, Sword

14:1 This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:


2 “Judah mourns,

    her cities languish;

they wail for the land,

    and a cry goes up from Jerusalem.

3 The nobles send their servants for water;

    they go to the cisterns

    but find no water.

They return with their jars unfilled;

    dismayed and despairing,

    they cover their heads.

4 The ground is cracked

    because there is no rain in the land;

the farmers are dismayed

    and cover their heads.

5 Even the doe in the field

    deserts her newborn fawn

    because there is no grass.

6 Wild donkeys stand on the barren heights

    and pant like jackals;

their eyes fail

    for lack of food.”


7 Although our sins testify against us,

    do something, Lord, for the sake of your name.

For we have often rebelled;

    we have sinned against you.

8 You who are the hope of Israel,

    its Savior in times of distress,

why are you like a stranger in the land,

    like a traveler who stays only a night?

9 Why are you like a man taken by surprise,

    like a warrior powerless to save?

You are among us, Lord,

    and we bear your name;

    do not forsake us!


10 This is what the Lord says about this people:


“They greatly love to wander;

    they do not restrain their feet.

So the Lord does not accept them;

    he will now remember their wickedness

    and punish them for their sins.”


11 Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray for the well-being of this people. 12 Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague.”


13 But I said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! The prophets keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place.’”


14 Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries[a] and the delusions of their own minds. 15 Therefore this is what the Lord says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine. 16 And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them, their wives, their sons and their daughters. I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.


17 “Speak this word to them:


“‘Let my eyes overflow with tears

    night and day without ceasing;

for the Virgin Daughter, my people,

    has suffered a grievous wound,

    a crushing blow.

18 If I go into the country,

    I see those slain by the sword;

if I go into the city,

    I see the ravages of famine.

Both prophet and priest

    have gone to a land they know not.’”


19 Have you rejected Judah completely?

    Do you despise Zion?

Why have you afflicted us

    so that we cannot be healed?

We hoped for peace

    but no good has come,

for a time of healing

    but there is only terror.

20 We acknowledge our wickedness, Lord,

    and the guilt of our ancestors;

    we have indeed sinned against you.

21 For the sake of your name do not despise us;

    do not dishonor your glorious throne.

Remember your covenant with us

    and do not break it.

22 Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain?

    Do the skies themselves send down showers?

No, it is you, Lord our God.

    Therefore our hope is in you,

    for you are the one who does all this.


Footnotes

a. Jeremiah 14:14 Or visions, worthless divinations

 

1. Judah was suffering from a severe drought that was the consequence of their sins. Jeremiah prayed, confessing that his people had often rebelled, but he asked the Lord not to forsake the people who bore his name (9). Some so-called prophets were proclaiming that Judah would not suffer, but they were prophesying falsely. They were just saying what people wanted to hear (14).

 

2. The Lord told Jeremiah not to pray for the people because he had decided to punish them (11-12). But this was really just a test of Jeremiah’s heart. Jeremiah was determined to keep praying for his people with tears, night and day without ceasing, if by any means they could be spiritually healed (17). Sometimes, God’s people need a “weeping prophet”, as Jeremiah is called. When we see the evil and suffering in our times, we can be tempted to give up on the people of the world. But God is the source of undying hope. We should pray to God for the world no matter what, even if his judgment seems inescapable.

 

Prayer Father, I confess that we are a sinful people who wander from you so much. But I believe you put me here to be an intercessor. May the tearful prayers of your saints work for good in the world.

One Word Pray for the sinful world with tears

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