February 22
Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, judged Israel at that time. She sat under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came up to her for judgment.
— Judges 4:4-5
Whether we look at Miriam, Deborah, Esther, and Ruth in the Old Testament or Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, or Priscilla in the New Testament, we easily see that God has always used women in ministry. For instance, Deborah was a prophetess and a judge. As a prophetess, she was a spokesperson for God. As a judge, she made decisions on God’s behalf. When God needed someone to save the Jews from the destruction that wicked Haman had planned for them, He called upon Esther (Esther 4:14). If God is against using women, why didn’t He call a man for this job? Esther sacrificed her plans as a young woman and allowed herself to be taken into the king’s harem in order to be in a position to speak on behalf of God’s people when the time came to do so. Because of her obedience, God gave her favor with the king, and she exposed a plot to kill all of the Jews. She saved her nation and became a queen who held a high position of leadership in the land and cared for the poor. Lord, help me to be a spokesperson for You today. Wherever You put me, I will do whatever it takes to represent Your great name. Amen.
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“Again he said, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.’”
John 20:21 (NLT)
Two sisters stood at the front of the church. Both were marked by a hard life. The younger sister sat down beside me. She had become a believer the year before. Just a few weeks earlier, she and a woman in the church had rescued her older sister from domestic violence and drug addiction.
“Can I pray with you?” I asked.
The older sister knelt on the floor, pressed her forehead between my knees and wrapped her arms around my legs. Her need was so tangible, her hunger so great. As she held tight to my legs, I felt her tears bleeding through the fabric of my pants. I was suddenly overwhelmed as God’s presence flooded that moment and that space, and I felt His love for His broken, sweet daughter.
I leaned down and wrapped my arms around her and prayed, but it wasn’t the words that mattered. It was God showing me all over again the truth: He transforms lives. He loves. He came to heal the broken-hearted and to place their feet on a new path.
Later that night I thought about that moment again, and I thanked God that I get to do what I do.
Sometimes the details of ministry life can take center stage. Whether you teach Sunday school, or work with youth, or are a pastor’s wife, or lead worship, or anything you feel God has called you to do, sometimes people are difficult, or even discouraging. Sometimes you feel like a failure, even though you prepared and prayed for this.
No matter the challenge, it’s nothing compared to what the early Christians experienced. I can only imagine the highs and lows these faithful people felt. But they kept their focus on the one thing that they got to do — carry the Good News to those who were seeking truth. Perhaps they saw the fruit of their labor, but it’s more likely that they didn’t.
Transformation doesn’t happen overnight. So while they were tossing seeds of hope here and there, it’s likely that they experienced imperfect people, human nature, and obstacles, just like us.
In John 21, we find Peter, a guy pretty discouraged by ministry. He was enthusiastic in the beginning. But when he hit hard times in ministry, he almost forgot why he was doing what he was doing, and he ran in the other direction. But in verses 15-17 we see Jesus reminding Peter of the beauty of serving others. “Feed my sheep,” He said three times. Peter rediscovered his mission. He went on to become a rock in the church.
Are you discouraged by the details, by people, by the mountains that keep popping up when it seems you just prayed them away the week before?
If so, today I pray that He will remind you all over again of why you do what you do. I pray He shifts your attention to those, like the beautiful young woman once abused and broken, whose lives are in the process of change.
You see, there will be many who “do what they do” who will come alongside the hurting woman. Sunday school teachers, pastors, women’s ministry leaders, soup kitchen cooks, Christian friends—people just like you—and in the end they all will have written the Gospel on her heart.
Dear Lord, reignite my passion for ministry. Let me glimpse Your burden for those I come in contact with, and let me rediscover all over again why I love serving You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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“Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)
| "When we get to heaven, there will be no more disappointment or pain. Until then, you can choose to keep loving." |
(Tom Holladay is a teaching pastor at Saddleback Church and author of The Relationship Principles of Jesus.)
If there is any high and low that is greater than any other, it is the high and low of relationships. You can experience the high of joy and the low of disappointment sometimes within minutes of each other.
When you find yourself struggling with each other’s faults, go to God with your disappointments.
Disappointments come into relationships because none of us are perfect. We have an idealized view of love, relationships, and marriage, and when reality doesn’t match up to this picture it leaves us disappointed.
We will never have the perfect wedding or the perfect marriage or the perfect family because we are imperfect, sinful people. The idea that two imperfect, sinful people can come together and have a perfect relationship is unrealistic. You need to adjust your expectations.
One of the reasons we are often disappointed in our relationships is because we’re asking another human being to meet needs that only God can meet. Another human being can’t promise you that they will always be with you or that they won’t fail you. Only God can meet those promises. He tells us in his Word, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5 NIV).
When we get to heaven, there will be no more disappointment or pain. Until then, you can choose to keep loving. As 1 Corinthians 13:7 says, “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (NLT).
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Daily Devotional for Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011
"So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him." Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me." (Matthew 17:16-17)
Jesus gave His disciples the power to cast out demons and to perform miracles of healing (Matt. 10:8). He gave them His authority to minister to people, yet they became so self-centered that they lost the power to do the work of God. When God sent a father with his epileptic son to them for healing, they failed miserably. They were so concerned with position and status (Mark 9:32-35) that they lost their focus on what God wanted to do through them.
Jesus' response to His disciples included some of the harshest words ever to come from His mouth. He called His own disciples ?unbelieving? and ?perverse? and questioned how much longer He had to endure them! Why? Because they were supposed to be on mission with Him to bring salvation to others, but they had become so disoriented to Him that they were spiritually powerless, lacking the faith to bring physical and spiritual comfort to those God had sent to them.
God ought to be able to send a hurting person to any child of His and expect that they will be helped. Like the disciples, we can become so preoccupied with our own ambitions and distracted by the busyness of our lives that we become ineffective in ministering to those whom God sends to us. It is even possible to become so involved in religious activity that we are of no help to anyone. Regularly take inventory of your life to see if you are being a faithful steward of every life God sends to you.
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I first met my wife, Marlene, in college. I was majoring in pastoral studies, and she was working on a degree in elementary education. The first time I saw her working with children, I knew what a natural fit this was for her. She loved children. It became even more obvious when we got married and had children of our own. Seeing her with them was an education in unconditional love and acceptance. It was clear to me that there is nothing in all the world like the tender love and compassion of a mother for her newborn child.
That’s what makes Isaiah 49:15 so remarkable. It’s here that God told His people, who were feeling forsaken and forgotten (v.14), that His compassion is even greater than a mother’s: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you.”
Sometimes we face struggles in life, and we are tempted to think that God has forgotten us. We may even believe that God no longer loves us. But God’s love for us is as expansive as the open arms of Christ on the cross. And the tender compassion of our heavenly Father is more dependable and more enduring than the love of a nursing mother for her infant. Be comforted—His love never fails.
God will not forget His children
Nor will He forsake our care;
His compassion is enduring—
Even when we’re unaware. —Sper
God’s love for us is as expansive
as the open arms of Christ on the cross.
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Do you feel ill equipped to serve the Lord? A sense of inadequacy is one of the many excuses people use to avoid ministering for Him, but it is not a valid one. Failing to follow His call has three consequences: 1) we hinder God's work on earth, 2) we miss a blessing for obedience, and 3) we lose out on rewards in heaven.
Jesus Christ knew all about the human tendency to feel inadequate. That is why He assured His followers they would receive a Helper—the Holy Spirit—who would come to abide in them forever. The Spirit enables, energizes, and equips believers to serve the Lord. One of the ways He aids us is by providing spiritual gifts, which are special capabilities given to believers.
Our heavenly Father has a ministry in mind for each of His followers. Therefore, necessary spiritual "equipment" has been selected to help us carry out His work. These gifts will complement and augment the natural talents our Creator built into us before birth. It is His purpose that we combine the two in order to serve Him with all of our heart. Even the smallest job contributes to the Great Commission and the strengthening of Jesus Christ's body, the church.
The Lord has a plan for every believer. To ensure that we can meet the Lord's expectations, He first builds natural talents into us. At salvation, He adds a spiritual gift. Then God opens doors of opportunity and the Holy Spirit manifests His power so that we can carry out the work set before us.
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| February 22 | ||
| And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. | ||
| Judges 6:11-12 | ||
| The threshing of wheat was usually done at a higher elevation in order to allow the wind to blow the chaff away. Gideon, however, realized that every time he threshed wheat, the Midianites would sweep in and rip him off. So he threshed wheat not on a mountaintop but in a winepress, a lower spot, a hidden area. I love this! Here’s Gideon, hiding from the Midianites, knees knocking, shaking with fright - yet the Lord calls him a mighty man of valor. Why? Because He sees His own not in their present problems, but as finished products. How do I know? Turn to Romans 8 . . . And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30 Please hang on to this. God is saying that you who are part of the elect were predestined by Him, called by Him, made just by Him, and glorified by Him. It doesn’t say you will be glorified. It says you are glorified. That is why in Ephesians 5:27, Paul talks about the Church as being a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle. When we look at each other, we see lots of wrinkles and a whole bunch of spots. But God transcends the time/space dimension and views us in our eternal state. Yes, He’s aware of our present struggles, but He also sees us as glorified. This is fabulous, folks, because I am one of the few who, throughout the history of humanity, have been selected, elected, and chosen by God to be part of His eternal family. So are you. | ||
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Consecrated to God (Joshua 5:1-6:27) Two more things remained before the people of God were ready for their first battle in taking the land of Canaan. First, they had to be circumcised. Second, Joshua had to be clear about who was to be the general over the army of God. Circumcision was an outward sign of being consecrated to God. God had commanded Abraham, the first Jew, to have every male born in his family circumcised as a sign of consecration. It was to be established in the hearts of the people by this outward act before any of the Promised Land was taken. All that they were or would have as a people was to be consecrated to God. They were to be a unique nation. All that had come from God had to be given back to God for His use and purposes. It was to be a pattern for the nations of the world to see. As long as Israel kept this consecration at the center of their lives, they would be a people that revealed God's glory and bounty for the world to see. But they were warned that if they took what was God's and did what they pleased with it, He would remove from them everything He had given them. The lesson is obvious. We who are God's people cannot get away with what this fallen world can when it comes to consecration. Those who reject God are not His people and He leaves them to suffer whatever natural consequences, good or bad, occur in their lives. It is at the Great White Throne of Judgment where the lost will be judged. But we are God's people. As a Father, He will not bear forever the misuse of what He has given His children. As a father, He will discipline His children for their ultimate good. Joshua had to personally accept a life of consecration as leader of this new nation. This was made clear to him when he encountered the "commander" of the army of God. This manifestation of God made it clear that the real battles belong to the Lord. The point being that Joshua had to consecrate himself and be under the authority of God in the battles he led. God promised great success to Joshua, but he could not think that these successes came independent of consecration. We see the fruit of this in the amazing victory over Jericho. God commanded an unconventional approach to taking the city, a seemingly impossible one. But Joshua, consecrated to the Lord, did what he was told to do with his army. The success was complete! Consecration must be foremost in our taking and using all that God gives us. Otherwise, we should not be surprised when God removes Himself from prospering what He has given us to be and do. Joshua 5:1-6:27 1 So it was, when all the kings of the Amorites who were on the west side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we had crossed over, that their heart melted; and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel. 2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time." 3 So Joshua made flint knives for himself, and circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. 4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: All the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way, after they had come out of Egypt. 5 For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness, on the way as they came out of Egypt, had not been circumcised. 6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people who were men of war, who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of the LORD—to whom the LORD swore that He would not show them the land which the LORD had sworn to their fathers that He would give us, "a land flowing with milk and honey." 7 Then Joshua circumcised their sons whom He raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
"And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, 'Are You for us or for our adversaries?' So He said, 'No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.' And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, 'What does my Lord say to His servant?'" -Joshua 5:13-14NKJV Bible Text
The Second Generation Circumcised
| The Second Generation Circumcised v. 1 King of the Amorites – The Amorites of this confederacy of city-states were gripped with fear, a fulfillment of Exodus 23:27 and also a confirmation of Rahab's statements (2:11). Some of the Amorite people on the eastern side of the Jordan had already been conquered (3:10). v. 2 Flint Knives – These were considered the sharpest knives available. v. 3 Circumcised a Second Time – The first time was a reference to the circumcision that had been done on all the men under Moses 40 years earlier. Hill of the Foreskins – Literally this is "Gibeath Haraloth" in Hebrew. "Foreskins" refers to the skin that was cut off as a part of the circumcision. | v. 5 Not Been Circumcised – There was no reason given for why they did not circumcise the children eight days after birth as God had commanded. One reason may have been simply because of their rebellion against God. God chose circumcision as an outward sign of being marked as a people separated from the nations around them. Because their hearts were not separated unto God, it is possible that the circumcision was not emphasized because it would have been a meaningless act with no corresponding reality in their hearts. v. 6 Did Not Obey – Their rebellion had many expressions. However, the one referred to here would have most likely been their unwillingness to obey God by going into the Promised Land to possess God's promise to them. Flowing with Milk and Honey – This common expression through the Pentateuch expressed abundant fertility. Milk spoke of the cows, goats, and sheet that produced it, and the lush grazing they required. Honey referred to the abundance of not only bee honey but also the many other tasty fruits and vegetables of the land. |
8 So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed. 9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day. 10 Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho. 11 And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day. 12 Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year. The Commander of the Army of the LORD 13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, "Are You for us or for our adversaries?" 14 So He said, "No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?" 15 Then the Commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, "Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so.
| v. 9 Rolled Away the Reproach – Through circumcision, the people of Israel declared that their slavery under Egypt was behind them. The idolatrous influence and immoral practices that they had accepted in Egypt were removed from them. By acting in faith to the call to cross over the Jordan, they said they were willing to become a new people. The past was behind them. Passover – The Passover was a ceremony that celebrated God's protection of all those who came under the protection of the blood of the Passover lamb. God declared that a death angel would pass through Egypt and the first born in each family would die. However, any family that by faith sacrificed an unblemished lamb and then marked their door with its blood was saved. The Passover feast was reestablished at this time as evidence that they were a saved people, protected from the judgment of God. v. 12 Manna Ceased – The people were not in need of a divine miracle to feed them any longer, so this miracle ceased. If regular natural means are available, we should not presume to expect a "miracle." | Commander Of The Army Of The Lord v. 13 You For Us – Joshua asked to whom this mighty warrior was aligned. The warrior said neither. He is Lord over the hosts of heavenly angels. Thus Joshua discerned that it was up to him to be on the side of this Captain of God's angels. God can be depended on to fight our battles if our battles are truly His! v. 14 Worshiped – Only God was to be worshiped, something Joshua obviously knew. This is therefore a theophany, or physical manifestation of God. It is also important to note that the title "Lord" used here is the same title given to our Lord Jesus Christ. What Does My Lord Say – This revealed the authority under which Joshua had to submit himself if he expected to win any battles with God's help. Sandals Off – This act of humility was similar to that which was required of Moses when God encountered him in the Sinai desert (Ex. 3:5). |
Joshua 6 The Destruction of Jericho 1 Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2 And the LORD said to Joshua: "See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him." 6 Then Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD." 7 And he said to the people, "Proceed, and march around the city, and let him who is armed advance before the ark of the LORD."
| Chapter 6 The Destruction Of Jericho v. 1 Securely Shut Up – This is an explanatory statement by the writer of this account before he went on to convey what had happened between Joshua and the Lord in their encounter just outside the city of Jericho. The city had been secured, a common practice in ancient times when an attack was anticipated. Because of the thick walls around the city and the bolted gates, a siege could take months. Often the one with the most stored food would win. Either the city was starved out, or the army ran out of provisions over the extended siege. v. 2 Lord Said – This is a continuation of the encounter recorded in 5:13-15. See I Have Given – God asked Joshua to see by faith what He had promised would soon be seen in physical reality. This is an example of what Hebrews 11:1 declares, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." In Romans 4:17, Abraham expresses a similar example of faith in God, when it says of God that He "calls the things which do not exist as though they did." Mighty Men of Valor – Along with the King, the warriors of this regional center of power were a great source of fear and intimidation. Therefore, God specifically faced this by declaring victory over them. v. 3 March Around the City – After the extensive preparation recorded up to this point, there had finally come God's specific instructions on how the Israelites would begin conquering the Land of Promise. Now we can see why there was such an extensive process of spiritual preparation prior to following God's instruction about taking the land. God's ways, as seen here, were definitely not man's ways. Because they prepared themselves with a series of steps that gave them consecrated and obedient hearts, they were able to receive this strange method for the overthrow of Jericho. As the songwriter William Cowper wrote, "God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform." | v. 3 Men of War – This referred to those within the camp of Israel who were of fighting age. v. 4 Seven Priests – These seven priests were to follow the men of war in this march. At times in scripture, the number seven was used as a sign of completion (i.e. as in the days of creation). Here it was used in their first battle to convey the promise that God would complete His promise of divine intervention for the Jews. Seven Trumpets – In this passage, the word for the Jubilee trumpets is used. There were Jubilee trumpets, "jobel" in Hebrew, and silver trumpets (Num. 10:2). The silver trumpets were generally used to call the people of Israel together (Num. 10:9). The Jubilee trumpets, in the shape of a horn, were used to announce the year of Jubilee and the Sabbatical years. According to Leviticus 25, the Year of Jubilee was celebrated every 50 years. During this year, any Israelite who had sold himself into slavery because of debt was set free, all ancestral lands that had been lost due to debt were returned, and all agricultural work was to cease in order to provide rest for the people and the land. Every seventh year was a Sabbath year. During this year, the people and the land were given rest from agricultural work. Blow the Trumpets – These large horns gave a far-reaching sound (Lev. 23:24, 25:9). v. 5 Shall Shout – This was a shout of praise in faith for what God would do. Fall Down Flat – The steps of faith had to precede the results of faith. It was only after the seven-day process of obedient faith to God's direction that the results occurred. v. 6 Take Up the Ark – We have here one of many details that God gave Joshua not recorded in the summary statements in v. 2-5. The ark was the emblem of God's presence. v. 7 Advance Before – There was to be a company of soldiers in front of the ark and the rest of the soldiers following behind (v. 9). We see God signifying that His presence would be in the midst of the army to help and protect it. |
8 So it was, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the LORD advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. 9 The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. 10 Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying, "You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, 'Shout!' Then you shall shout." 11 So he had the ark of the LORD circle the city, going around it once. Then they came into the camp and lodged in the camp. 12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. 13 Then seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually and blew with the trumpets. And the armed men went before them. But the rear guard came after the ark of the LORD, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. 14 And the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they did six days. 15 But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times. 16 And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: "Shout, for the LORD has given you the city! 17 Now the city shall be doomed by the LORD to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the LORD; they shall come into the treasury of the LORD."
| v. 8 Joshua Spoke the Word – We see in this the vital role of leadership in guiding God's people into obedient faith. v. 9 Rear Guard – We see laid out in this march: 1) a company of warriors, 2) the seven priests with the seven horns, 3) the ark, 4) the rear guard of warriors. Blowing the Trumpets – This was a glorious proclamation of their faith each day in receiving their Promised Land (v. 4) as they marched around the walls. v. 10 Shout! – There was to be worshipful, awe-filled silence until the seventh day at the appointed time. v. 14 Did Six Days – Verses 12-14 describe how the instructions were actually carried out. | v. 15 Seventh Day – Verses 15-16 describe the last day of this march, concluding with their shout of faith and praise to God that the walls would come down. v. 17 Only Rahab – Because of her faith in God manifested by protecting God's servants, this prostitute and all in her family that had come under her roof were protected (See notes on chapter 2). v. 18 Abstain – This city had been wholly given over to immorality and idolatry. God warned that if they took these things dedicated to Satan and wickedness, the curse that was upon them would bring a terrible curse upon the people of God. Treasury of the Lord – They were to keep only what could be sanctified for use by God. |
20 So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. 21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword. 22 But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country, "Go into the harlot's house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her." 23 And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel. 24 But they burned the city and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. 25 And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father's household, and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. 26 Then Joshua charged them at that time, saying, "Cursed be the man before the LORD who rises up and builds this city Jericho; he shall lay its foundation with his firstborn, and with his youngest he shall set up its gates." 27 So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout all the country.
| v. 21 Utterly Destroyed – The complete destruction of this idolatrous city is an example of what it means in the New Testament to fall into the hands of a Holy God. God judges sin. That is why there is not only a heaven to bless those who come by obedient faith but a hell to judge those who are in rebellion to Him. v. 22 Bring Out the Woman – Joshua made sure that the promise of protection for Rahab was acted on. So it is with all of God's promises. v. 23 Outside the Camp – This was done as a temporary measure to introduce these Gentiles to the process of consecration to God. | v. 25 Dwells In Israel – After the process of consecration, Rahab became a part of the people of God. She ended up marrying into the bloodline of Jesus Christ, which is recorded in Matthew 1:5. v. 26 Cursed Be – A man did in fact seek to build on this same spot years later, according to 1 Kings 16:34. In the process, two of this man's sons died. v. 27 Fame – We should never seek fame but instead a life of obedient faith. God will sometimes allow His servant some form of fame if it will ultimately point people to the God from whom all blessings flow. He does this because such fame will always result in bringing glory to what God has done in the person. |
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Perseverance is more than endurance. It is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to happen. Perseverance means more than just hanging on, which may be only exposing our fear of letting go and falling. Perseverance is our supreme effort of refusing to believe that our hero is going to be conquered. Our greatest fear is not that we will be damned, but that somehow Jesus Christ will be defeated. Also, our fear is that the very things our Lord stood for— love, justice, forgiveness, and kindness among men— will not win out in the end and will represent an unattainable goal for us. Then there is the call to spiritual perseverance. A call not to hang on and do nothing, but to work deliberately, knowing with certainty that God will never be defeated.
If our hopes seem to be experiencing disappointment right now, it simply means that they are being purified. Every hope or dream of the human mind will be fulfilled if it is noble and of God. But one of the greatest stresses in life is the stress of waiting for God. He brings fulfillment, “because you have kept My command to persevere . . .” (Revelation 3:10).
Continue to persevere spiritually.
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13 I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me: 14 There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siegeworks against it. 15 Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. 16 SoGod's wisdom can turn what looks like sure defeat into victory, although His wisdom may not even be remembered; it may even be popularly rejected. I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." But the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.
17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded
than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
but one sinner destroys much good.
There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siegeworks against it. Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembers the poor man (Ecclesiastes 9:14-15).
There is no record of this event elsewhere in Scripture. Perhaps Solomon, the greatest king of his day, heard of this from a delegation from some other country. It maybe that he was slightly confused about an incident recorded in 2 Samuel 20 that did happen, probably when he was a boy. King David sent his general, Joab, to capture a traitor named Sheba who had taken refuge in a small city in northern Israel. Joab set his army around the city, built siegeworks against it, and was ready to knock down its walls and capture it when a wise woman called out to him from the walls and suggested that the leaders of the city throw the traitor's head out to Joab. They did so and thus saved the city. Perhaps that is what Solomon is referring to here. Regardless of Solomon's source, he presents an important lesson here.
That is what verse 16 implies: So I said, 'Wisdom is better than strength.' But popular rejection is no sign that something is wrong or ineffective. We have to remember today that the world will never applaud the basic truth of the Christian faith because Christianity judges the world, points out its error, and exposes its illusions; it humbles it. The world cannot take that. So we can expect that the wisdom that we are learning from God will not necessarily be popular. Nevertheless, it is that which can deliver, that which can free.
What is this wisdom we are talking about? All through this book we have been looking at wisdom versus foolishness, and in this section there is a great contrast drawn between them. Wisdom is to act upon the revelation of reality that the Scriptures give us; wisdom refers to actions that are controlled by the revelation of God. In Romans 12:2 Paul says, Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world [do not run after all the attractive, illusive dreams shouted at you constantly by the world], but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Think Christianly about life! Look at what you are going through, not from the standpoint of what seems right but upon what is right according to the Word of God. Here is true wisdom: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Lord, You provide me with the wisdom that frees, though many reject it because it does not always make sense by the world's standards. Renew my mind each day by the wisdom found in your word, through Your Spirit.
Life Application: Real wisdom is the application of the knowledge & freedom contained in God's word. Do we lean on our own understanding or simply seek to know the Reality revealed?
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Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-21
Thessalonica was a populous seaport in Macedonia. The Roman Empire's highway from Rome to the East, The Egnatian Way, cut its path through Thessalonica. The city was continually buzzing with visitors from around the world. I'm impressed by the commerce, wealth, and activity. But I'm more impressed that God sent the apostle Paul there. God had something important to say to this fast-paced, cosmopolitan group. And by extension, us.
Paul encouraged them to keep communication open with heaven. He said, "pray without ceasing." The Greek word Paul chose for "without ceasing" literally means "without intermission." No breaks in the action or music. Constant motion. To "pray without ceasing" doesn't mean you have to stay on your knees 24/7. It means, maintain an attitude of prayer. Allow prayer to become like breathing or blinking--something you do instinctively as part of your existence.
Just open your eyes, look around, and talk with God. Share with Him what makes you scared, what you need, what you're thankful for, and what you love about His character.
"Pray without ceasing" means that you have an upward perspective as you move around throughout your day. You are communicating with the One who promises to always listen. He is the only one capable of responding with power in every situation.
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Good leaders build organizations that learn from the past so they don’t make the same mistakes in the present or future. Read Jeremiah 26:1-19.
God sent Jeremiah to prophecy in the temple so the priests, prophets and all the people who came to worship could hear His judgment against the temple, Jerusalem and Judah. The prophecy was that if the leaders and people did not change their evil ways, God would make the city an object of cursing among all the nations.
The religious leaders and the people in the temple could not believe their ears! After all, this was Jerusalem, God’s selected city and the temple of God built by Solomon as instructed by God. They felt Jeremiah could not be speaking words from God as surely God would protect His city and temple no matter their behavior. They were prepared to kill Jeremiah. At that moment some of the elders stepped forward and reminded everyone of a similar prophecy by the prophet Micah during the reign of King Hezekiah. They helped the people learn from the successes and failures of the past when King Hezekiah did not kill Micah but rather responded by repenting and the nation was spared.
For a leader and an organization to show continuous improvement requires continuous learning. God gives leaders more wisdom as they respond to the wisdom they have already received. For the learning leader God’s word is a progressive revelation in which clearer and fuller insights concerning the person and work of God are communicated in a gradual and dynamic way. God doesn’t convey a new point to a leader until they have the capacity to receive it; God chooses the right time to communicate the next lesson. No leader can afford to ignore the curriculum that God builds into their past and current activities.
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Previously, we took a look at Abraham who arguably represents faith more than any other biblical figure. Now notice what we read when it comes to his son, Isaac, and Isaac's son, Jacob. The Book of Hebrews tells us that they both continued in Abraham's legacy of faith.
Here's a lesson that deserves our attention: Faith is something that will have a continuing influence and effect on subsequent generations. When parents walk by faith, it's going to be observed by and instilled in their children.
For example, imagine a single mom who's struggling to make ends meet financially. She's working two jobs just to ensure the family's basic needs are met. But she does more than just work those two jobs. She's also a woman who prioritizes her spiritual walk. She's often on her knees in prayer before God. She sets the alarm clock early so she can spend time in His Word each morning. She does what it takes to be in fellowship with other believers, and she even manages to sacrificially give as the Lord leads her. And by His grace, the bills get covered and the refrigerator is never empty.
Little eyes and ears are tracking all of that, and what they're seeing is the reality of a simple yet sincere faith in God. And when the time comes for them to leave the nest, the example of faith they've observed is going to have a large part in shaping them.
Obviously, there are exceptions to this. But in general, when faith is simply and sincerely lived out by the parents, it's inherited by the children. How sobering yet encouraging! For if we seize the opportunity to be people of faith today, we can also help establish a legacy of faith for tomorrow.
Think About It…
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
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Leviticus 13:1-59 ~ Mark 6:1-29 ~ Psalm 39:1-13 ~ Proverbs 10:10
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TranslateOld Testament - Today in Leviticus chapter 13 we read about contagious skin diseases and mildew. Quite a chapter! It does make sense to me that this level of detail is given by God on these topics. These instructions were health instructions for the community of Israel as a whole. The NIV Study Bible notes that "the ceremonially unclean were excluded from the camp (the area around the tabernacle and courtyard), where the Israelites lived in tents. Later, no unclean persons were allowed in the temple area, where they could mingle with others." I look at this from the standpoint that they did not have medicines back then to heal people of these contagious diseases - and as such, the only way to keep the diseases from spreading to the entire population was to isolate the sick. I know this doesn't sound compassionate on the surface... but was there a better option at that time? In the New Testament we read about Jesus curing people of leprosy, which was a couple of thousand of years later. It's obvious that skin diseases were a major issue in Moses' day and through Jesus' day - as was mildew during Israel's rainy season of October through March - particularly along the coast and by the Sea of Galilee where it is very humid. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Leviticus chapter 13 begins at this link and you'll see a few "Next Commentary" links at the bottom of each page to take you through the chapter.
On a side note, leprosy, or Hansen's disease, is still in existence in our world today, though at much lower incidence rates than ever before. It is a sad disease to learn about... I did a google image search on the word leprosy and was pretty shocked by the pictures. The World Health Organization's website says this - "Today, diagnosis and treatment of leprosy is easy. Essential work is being carried out to integrate leprosy services into existing, general health services. This is especially important for communities at risk for leprosy, which are often the poorest of the poor and under-served. Full control of leprosy has eluded mainly in some parts of Angola, Brazil, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nepal, and United Republic of Tanzania." More info on leprosy in our world today is at the World Health Organization's website at this link.
All of a sudden now these 3 verses about Jesus and leprosy in Matthew chapter 8 verses 1 through 3 really stand out to me... - "When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy."
New Testament - Today we read in Mark Chapter 6 verse 4– “Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” This verse reminds me that sometimes when we really move forward in our faith, our friends (“hometown” from the verse above) and our relatives can sometimes not understand what is going on with us. I think there are phases of our walk with God where really it becomes very personal – between us and God – and through that process God will transform us. And our friends and relatives sometimes may not appreciate our change for various reasons – just as Jesus’ friends and relatives did not appreciate his ministry in this verse. I hope that this verse can be of comfort to you if by chance you are having challenges reconciling your faith and your changed heart with your friends & relatives expectations of who you were in the past. Know that you are on the right path. As long as you are staying focused on God and his will for your life, you may have to accept some loss of “honor” (per the verse above) in your status with your friends and relatives. You may not seem to be as “cool” or “fun” as you once were in your friends’ eyes. But – if in God’s eyes you are loving Him with all of your heart and you are loving your neighbors as yourself, then you are eternally cool and fun in the Kingdom of Heaven. And that’s where it really counts. Where are you seeking “honor” in your life today? In the eyes of your friends and relatives – or in God’s eyes?
An image for verses 18 & 19: "John kept telling Herod, "It is illegal for you to marry your brother's wife." Herodias was enraged and wanted John killed in revenge, but without Herod's approval she was powerless." -
Psalms - Today we read in Psalm 39 verse 5 – “My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath." This verse is a powerful verse for each of us to meditate upon.
I love verse 7 of this Psalm - "And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you." Is this true of your life today? Are you putting your hope anywhere else?
Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 10 verse 10 today teaches us - "People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace." This is a great reminder that in the long run it is so much better - more peaceful - to stand up to an injustice or wrong. We should not let things slide. I think this can apply to our own lives as well. If we know we ourselves are doing something wrong, we should not just "wink" at our wrong. But we must reproof it and confess it and let Jesus heal it.
Worship God: Based on our Leviticus on clean and un-clean, and how Jesus is our only hope and salvation for eternal cleanliness, I'm reminded of Brandon Heath's great video about being changed by Christ called "I'm not Who I Was":
Are you who you were? Click here to be made clean!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: "Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered — how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath." Psalm 39:4-5 NLT
Prayer Point: Pray that God will remind you daily of how brief your time on earth is. Pray that you would live each day fully for the Lord in light of the brevity of your life.
Comments from you & Questions of the Day: Back to Psalm 39 verse 5 above - how does this verse speak to you? Do you feel like life moves fast sometimes? If so, how are you spending your time? Are you being intentional about how you invest your time? Are you being intentional about your work? Your friends? Your finances? Volunteering? Serving others? Loving others? Watching TV – or not watching TV? (Have I gone off on my “Kill Your Television” soap-box yet this year? :) I’ll save it for a future post...) Do you think life really is “but a breath”? Are you spending your breath wisely? With your breath are you constantly loving God with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
Love, Trust, and Obey Jesus,
Mike
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