Joshua 24:1-33 ~ Luke 21:1-28 ~ Psalm 89:38-52 ~ Proverbs 13:20-23
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Old Testament - Today we finish up the book of Joshua! What a book. I have definitely learned much from this book this year. And today's readings are no exception. Chapter 24 is a wonderful closing to this book where the Israelites renew their covenant with God. Verses 25 through 27 are awesome - "So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day at Shechem, committing them to a permanent and binding contract between themselves and the LORD. Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. As a reminder of their agreement, he took a huge stone and rolled it beneath the oak tree beside the Tabernacle of the LORD. Joshua said to all the people, "This stone has heard everything the LORD said to us. It will be a witness to testify against you if you go back on your word to God."
It's great to read verse 32 and realize that Joseph's wishes from 200 years earlier of being buried in the Promised Land came to fruition! It is amazing to realize the Israelites carried Joseph's bones with them throughout the 40 years in the desert to fulfill this wish - "The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought along with them when they left Egypt, were buried at Shechem, in the parcel of ground Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor for one hundred pieces of silver. This land was located in the territory allotted to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph."
New Testament - Bible.org's commentary on our Luke chapter 21 readings today titled "Jerusalem in the Last Days" is at this link.
Psalms - Psalm 89 verse 48 is something important to keep in mind as I think it does help us think about how we are really living our short earthly lives - "No one can live forever; all will die. No one can escape the power of the grave." Knowing this, how are you living your life? Are you living your life with love? Are you loving God and loving other people with all that you are? Are you living your life intentionally? Are you living your life as God would want you to live your life? I heard someone once state: "Just keep in mind that we're not going to live forever. 100 years from now on this planet? It will be all new people." That is an interesting thing to keep in mind... 100 years from now... all new people. Hopefully this is a fact that encourages each of us not to waste our precious time here on things that are not of God! No one escapes the grave. Our condition is terminal. (But of course our condition can be eternal through faith in Jesus!)
Proverbs - Wow. Today in Proverbs chapter 13 verse 20 we read – “He who walks with the wise grows wise.” There is so much wisdom in this verse. Basically, you can boil this down to “choose your friends with care” – but I think there is more going on here. This life we each live really is so short. And there are so many people in our lives that we can choose to spend our time with. And I think it would be very wise on our part to attempt to spend quality time with quality people. Wise people. Otherwise, we can get swept up in a myriad of pop-cultural distractions and cares. And who we choose to hang around with a lot is who we too shall become. Don’t get me wrong – there are clearly times that we are called to minister or serve or love or spend time with people that may not appear “wise” – at first glance. I think if you truly are ministering or serving or loving someone who is down and out, you may be surprised how wise a down and out person can be – sometimes I think they can be closer to God in some ways. So – I’m just saying don’t insulate yourself with only spending time with people who appear worldly & wise. :) Wisdom and wise people truly can be found in the most unlikely of places. Last point I’ll make on this verse. When I read this verse – “He who walks with the wise grows wise” – it makes me think of how important it is for each of us to be attending a church each and every week. The church is the body of Christ. The church is truly “wise.” And if we ourselves are not walking with other believers in the body of Christ by investing in a church on a weekly basis, then I think we are at risk of getting swept up in the pop-cultural cares of this fleeting world. Church is wise. Attending church on a weekly basis is wise. I believe attending church on a weekly basis will make you wise.
Worship God: Today's Proverb reminds me of Jeremy Camp's song "Walk By Faith." Here's a great live version:
Are you walking by faith? Click here and walk unafraid!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: Based on our Proverb today, are you walking with the wise? Do you want to walk with the wise? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
Joshua 24:1-33
Every year that I have gone on this journey, I am always amazed at the things that stand out to me. Although I have gone on a read-thorough-the-Bible-journey over thirty times, I am amazed at the things that I constantly uncover. Things that were there all the time, things that on my first journey I either chose not to see or could not see things that I have read before but now am just discovering. God’s Word is ever pregnant birthing new thoughts and new perspectives.
Joshua said to all the people, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt in olden times beyond the Euphrates River, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, and they served other gods. And I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates River and led him through all the land of Canaan and multiplied his offspring. I gave him Isaac, (Joshua 24:2-3 AMP).
In the midst of my depravity, God called me out from those who worshiped gods that were not God, just like He did Abraham. Called out from the midst of depraved influences, God incubated Abraham in the comfort of His womb. The womb He had provided, Cannon, to give birth to His people, His Word by way of the Law, His Words through the Prophets, and finally, His Word, Jesus Christ. Then, as stated in the fourth verse of this chapter, they were sent down to Egypt, “And I gave to Isaac Jacob and Esau. And I gave to Esau the hill country of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.” (Joshua 24:4 AMP)
For some strange reason I have gotten stuck with and am drawn to the history of mathematics. I am currently reading a book called, Mathematics for the Million: How to Master the Magic of Numbers by Lancelot Hogben. This is my second book on numbers having read Isaac Asimov’s humorous book, The Realm of Numbers. I’m not sure the purpose of my sudden fascination with books like this, but I have learned that besides working through problems that presented themselves in the ancient world, the learned priests elevated the art of numbers, specifically Geometry to a priestly endeavor. All the work of the Babylonians and the Egyptians laid the foundation for every current young scholar’s (grades 1 through 12, and up) nightmare or dream in the handling of numbers; they also laid down the groundwork for the building of Temples, pyramids, etc.
Abraham and his descendents, having no use for numbers, other than counting his sheep, cattle and other such stuff, was a nomad. But down in Egypt where geometry (geo – earth; metry – measuring—where we get the word meter) would be used to calculate the “plumb” line needed to create and measure “right” angles to successfully build its temples, Israel would get math lessons needed to build up the country God had Promised her, in Egypt. I may be called far from my Promise to learn something, you may be called into situations that may become “slavery” for God’s purpose to build His Kingdom upon the earth.
And He made from one [common origin, one source, one blood] all nations of men to settle on the face of the earth, having definitely determined [their] allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation (their settlements, lands, and abodes), So that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each one of us.
(Acts 17:26-27 AMP)
Posted by: Ramona | April 21, 2009 at 08:38 PM
it's not just 'attending church' that makes you wise, it's ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING in the life of the Body of Christ that might make you wise. The operative word is 'actively participating' in the lives of others. That's what the many 'one another' exhortations area all about---church is about relationships not following prescribed rituals without the relational motivation. Just my two cents worth.
Posted by: Luch | April 22, 2009 at 04:16 AM