February 3rd readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Exodus 17:8-19:15 ~ Matthew 22:34-23:12
Psalm 27:7-14 ~ Proverbs 6:27-35

Old Testament - Today in Exodus chapter 17 we read about the Israelites defeating Amalekites.  We are introduced to Joshua in verse 9.  Joshua is from the tribe of Ephraim and he has a strong faith in God and loyalty to Moses - along with leadership skills.  He will be Moses' successor who leads the Israelites into Canaan 40 years later. Below is a painting from 1915 by Hungarian artist Adolf Fenyes of "The Jews Defeating Amalek's Army" -

Verse 12 reminded me of how oftentimes we cannot always do things on our own - we oftentimes need our friends - "Moses' arms finally became too tired to hold up the staff any longer. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side, holding up his hands until sunset."  Who are your Aaron and Hur?  Who is holding you up your arms when they get tired?  And whose arms are you holding up when their arms get tired?

In Exodus chapter 18 we read about Jethro's visit of Moses and Jethro's wise advice to Moses.  This chapter has been pointed out to me as something I should take heed of a couple of times over this past year or so...  Like Moses in this chapter, I think I have a hard time delegating!  :)   But, indeed, Jethro's advice in verses 17 &18 about how Moses was settling every single case is something I need to reflect upon often - "This is not good!" his father-in-law exclaimed. "You're going to wear yourself out--and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself." How about you?  Are there areas of your life where you are doing too much?  Where you need to delegate to others?  Where you need to "let go and let God"?  Are you wearing yourself out?  Will you follow Jethro's advice to Moses? Great advice on how to avoid "burnout" in our lives as based on Exodus chapter 18 titled "The Tyranny of the Urgent" is online at bible.org at this link.  Below is an image of Moses as the judge of the people's cases from today's readings -

Exodus chapter 19 is a significant chapter because the Israelites arrive at Mt. Sinai.  Exodus chapter 19 verse 3 all the way through Exodus chapter 24 verse 18 is what is called by many commentators "The Sinaitic Covenant."   You'll recall that we have already read about the Noahic Covenant in Genesis 9:8-17, the Abrahamic A Covenant in Genesis 15:9-21, and the Abrahamic B Covenant in Genesis 17.  Per Zondervan, this Sinaitic Covenant was "made with Israel as the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and as the people God has redeemed from bondage from Egypt.  This Sinaitic Covenant is a conditional divine pledge to be Israel's God on the condition of Israel's total consecration to God as his people who live by his rule and serve his purposes in history."  Tomorrow we read about the Ten Commandments!  Welcome to Mt. Sinai!

New Testament - If you are into memorizing Scripture at all, Jesus' teaching Matthew chapter 22 verses 37-40 is certainly worth memorizing! "`You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: `Love your neighbor as yourself.'  All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.""  So, I think it is fair to say that if you learn nothing else this year in the One Year Bible, please at least learn these 3 verses above. :)   However - I am quite sure you will learn these 3 verses and so much more this year!  Then, of course, to take things beyond just learning - we need to be applying the learnings from the Bible this year in our lives.  How about these two commandments from Jesus above - think you've learned them?  Now, can you practice applying them to your life each and every day?  How will you go about doing this?   How will you love God with all your heart, soul, and mind?  How will you love your neighbor?  Commentary on verse 39 entitled, "Is Self-Love Biblical?" is online at bible.org at this link.

In Matthew 22 verse 44 Jesus quotes and teaches from Psalm 110.  An interesting trivia note is that Psalm 110 is the most frequently quoted Old Testament chapter in the New Testament.  Must be an important Psalm, eh?   It's a surprisingly short Psalm I think, in light of this trivia note.  We'll read this Psalm later this year - or you can read it now at this link. (image below is courtesy of and Copyright © 2004 by MessianicArt.com.)

Matthew chapter 23 verse 5 is referring to exaggerated phylacteries - "Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear extra long tassels on their robes."  From bible-history.com -  "Phylacteries (tephillin) are strips of leather to which is attached a very strong, square box made of parchment and painted black. The box contains four parts of the Torah written on parchment: Exodus 13:1-10 and 13:11-16; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21. According to Deut 6:4-9 two phylacteries were used, one for the head and one for the arm. These (called frontlets in Deuteronomy) were put on in such a way that one box rested on the head, between the eyes (seat of the mind) and the other on the left arm opposite the heart (seat of the actions and the emotions, denoting that one loves the Lord with one's heart)."  This definition and a good picture of what phylacteries look like is at bible-history.com at this link.  And another image is here - 

Psalms -  I love verse 11 today - "Teach me how to live, O LORD. Lead me along the path of honesty."   Teach me how to live...  what a beautiful prayer!  God - Teach us how to live!  Lead us along the path of honesty!  Teach us how to live...   And Psalm 27 verse 14 today is wonderful for us to meditate upon - "Wait patiently for the LORD.  Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD."  Is there an area of your life where you feel like you are waiting for the Lord to show up?  Do you believe that the Lord will show up?  I pray that this Psalm will encourage within you the virtue of patience.  The Lord will show up.  Be brave and courageous.  Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Proverbs - Today in Proverbs chapter 6 verses 27 & 28 we read – "Can a person scoop fire into their lap and not be burned? Can a person walk on hot coals and not blister their feet?" How do these Proverbs speak to you? For me, it reminds me of the old adage – "If you play with fire, you're going to get burned!" And, I believe that if there is unchecked sin in our life, we are literally playing with fire. The sin will burn us. If there is a sin in your life you are struggling with, will you pray unceasingly to God to heal you of the sin? And will pray to God to lead you to any resources or counseling or corrective measures that you should take to facilitate the healing process? Will you allow God to discipline you with his holy and healing love? Will you stop scooping fire on your lap? Will you stop walking on hot coals?

Comments from you & Question of the Day - In Matthew chapter 23 verse 5 above, I don't think Jesus was demeaning phylacteries in and of themselves - but, he was demeaning those that used phylacteries only for "show", for the wrong motives - the wrong motive of people noticing us instead of giving the glory to God.  Which can lead us to this question in our lives today - are there any "religious things" that we do in our life just for "show"?  Just so that others will honor us?  I think this is such a fine line and something that we have to monitor all of our lives.  Are you monitoring yourself when it comes to your faith to make sure you are not doing anything for "show" or for the wrong reasons?  Have there been times in your past where you have done things just for "show" when it comes to your faith?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace,
Mike

Comments

[John]

Exodus 17:8-16

Odd how so many commentaries leave out these verses.

Some thoughts:
Amalek - means 'down in the valley' which can be a metaphor for sin. So go thru these verses and substitute "sin or evil" for Amalekites.

As Rev(?) Jeff wrote on a previous day, 'take action and pray'. Moses sent Joshua out to battle and then he went up to rock and prayed. Confident in the Lord's previous promises, or already having consulted the Lord -I don't know????

Praying with two or three people is powerful, and in this case led to Joshua's victory. The support and focus is stronger in prayer groups like this one of Moses. No coincidence that in Greek transcripts Joshua = Jesus (The same name used for both). Joshua is a "type" of Jesus. The Sword he used in victory when mentioned as a weapon in NT is "The WORD".

To me the greatest part of these verses is the foreshadowing of The Lord's war and victory over Evil.
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"The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation."

We will never be abandoned in this fight against evil, and isn't that a comforting thought?
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".. because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven."

The Lord will eradicate Evil in the end - the victory will be total and permanent. And glory and Honor to HIS NAME!

[Roslyn]

I am aware that the bible is loaded with metaphorical language and it would be good sometimes if we can focus our commentaries on those metaphors. Taking things literally can be so misleading and even harmful, I think...particularly to the growth of our faith.

[Ramona]

Exodus 17:8-19:15

While reading this passage I became fascinated with the attack of the Amalek on Israel, it seemed unprovoked. So, “Why? After reading several commentaries, it seems that this group of people were either descendents of Esau or descendents of the tribe of Ham (pick one any one, either way the people were Bedouins, nomads who would be coming down at this time of year to graze their extensive flocks and herds. Seeing Israel occupy their official unofficial grazing land would certainly cause the ire of their fury to be vented.

You have heard the voice of God clearly and you have chosen to follow that voice. Along the way you are attacked and you are just minding your own business. What’s up God? Others seeing you occupy their official unofficial territory are coming in for the kill. No questions asked they just see you as a threat to their centuries old grazing land. There is a lesson for all of us in this. Jesus sends we are attacked: this comes with the territory of being a Christian. Now if the attackers are descendents of Esau, God had already stated before your birth that two nations (Gen 25:23), who happened to be brothers but who had differencing mindsets, would always battle. Therefore, if these descendents are “Esau’s”, your long lost brothers, appeasement won’t be possible. Now, if these are descendents from the line of Ham, then they may only see you as not only a threat to their survival, your trampling the grass needed for the flocks to graze. Who ever or whatever the motive for the attack, they want you dead.

All in the day of the life of a Christian. We are in a war zone put your armor on.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[John]

Ramona,

I thought the same thing about Amalek (Esaus's grandson), but Amalekites are referenced in Gen 14:7 back in Abram's time. Arab historians also claim Amalekite's origin is much older than the time of Esau.

More than likely the people were named after being "down in the valley", and Esau's grandson was named after them or also after the image of "down in the valley"

So, must be descendants of Ham????

[Ramona]

Thanks John--But they still wants us dead. I think what struck in trying to figure out who was from where, and why, is this: No matter if "family" or just folks looking out for what they have declared is theirs, they still want us dead. You can't make peace with someone who has war in their hearts.

I also saw this: What we are seeing when people claim territory that doesn’t belong to them, is gang warfare, be it in the valley, on the streets or in the corporate suites, and yes even in our church’s. i.e. “If I was running the single’s ministry, I would do it like …” Well you ain’t and you aren’t and when you try to usurp delegated authority, you are a gang banger.
Must get ready to go to work.

[Luciano Del Monte]

I was struck by the phrase in matthew 23 where it says, "Everything they do is for show" (vs 5). I don't condemn the Pharisees for I believe there's a "Pharisee" in every heart, at least there is in mine. I've noticed that people tend to be 'protective' of the Pharisees but one has to look really hard in the Scriptures to find much good said about them. They were constantly after Jesus. It's interesting that Matthew 23 comes on the heels of what Jesus taught about a relationship with the Father (Matt 22:34--40) Whereas the Pharisees laid out 'The Pharisees guide to total rightteousness' Jesus just said make sure you are rightly related to God, rightly related to others and rightly related to yourself. Therein is authentic spirituality.

As I read these verses I was reminded of Casting Crowns' song "Stained Glass Masquerade' which I will include below as a 'reality check' for all of us, beginning with me. I want to make sure I don't use the one year bible blog as another means of external righteousness to boast of. This song helps me to strive for authenticity.

"Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in Church today feelin' so small

Cause when I take a look around
Everyone seems so strong
I know they'll soon discover
That I don't belong

So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them.

Are we happy plastic people
under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone who's been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who's traded
In the altar for a stage

The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart.

But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be

Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make me stay.

[John]

Dwayne,

Exodus 17:14
To me it seems to go along with the idea of a hsitory lesson when people are looking back in time: They will be asking, "Amalek who? There once was evil?" God's representative or God himself can say, "look it up - it is written for you to know that I got rid of evil completely and totally."

It will be the history lesson for future generations whether here on earth, the millenial kingdom, or judgement day.

Exodus 19:5-6
God loves all creation, that is true, but most of creation will not be in heaven with him. All you have to do is look at what God has done for Israel since recorded History has been around. Individuals have been blessed like that, and occasionally a nation gets some providential help, but nothing like the Jewish people. Must mean something???

[John]

Rosalyn,

"I am aware that the bible is loaded with metaphorical language and it would be good sometimes if we can focus our commentaries on those metaphors. Taking things literally can be so misleading and even harmful, I think...particularly to the growth of our faith."

I think this is a very important point. I do not like to say 'I read the Bible literally'. I will say, "I like to read it as plain and strightforward as possible."

There is plenty of history and narrative, there are parables, similes, metaphors, allegories, symbolism etc.

To me - it is pretty obvious when things go away from historical and narrative. When that is not possible to discern, I look up a half dozen or so commentators I respect, and see what the concensus is and why they believe it to be so.

As I said before - understanding the Jewish customs and cultures make discernment quite a bit easier. Especially in Old Testament and Matthew.

[Ramona]

I’m trying to figure out the time frame of Moses’ Father-In-Law’s visit, was it before or after God gave the Law to Israel? I am asking this question because of the following passage,

When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, What is this that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening? Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to inquire of God. When they have a dispute they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God and His laws. (Exodus 18:14-16 AMP).

If this exchange took place BEFORE the giving of the Law on Mt Sinai, Moses’ relationship with God at this point was such that God spoke to him directly because this translations states, “…I make them know the statutes of God and His laws.” Where did the knowledge of God’s law come from? Was this knowledge general knowledge passed down from one generation to the next? On the other hand, did Moses receive this knowledge through direct revelation from God? If Moses was teaching the people the law after the giving of the Law at Sini, then like us, these are some “dense” folk.

Just something that makes you go, “Hmmm.”