February 3rd One Year Bible Readings

Exodus 17:8-19:15 ~ Matthew 22:34-23:12 ~ Psalm 27:7-14 ~ Proverbs 6:27-35
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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 help: "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 the NIV Study Bible, 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.

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?

Worship God:  Today's readings in Matthew about the great commandments reminds me of the beautiful Chris Tomlin song "Praise the Father:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_SlSggkcqw

Do you Praise the Father?  Click here and Praise the Son!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on five verses of Scripture today: ""Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."" Matthew 22:36-40 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you would love God with all of your heart, soul and mind each and every day. Pray that you would love your neighbor as yourself.

Comments from You and Questions 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?  How did you catch yourself / notice that you were doing something just for "show"?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

Comments

[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.

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.”

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Raeann]

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

[John A.]

Exodus 19

4Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. 5Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed,....KJV

Before this - I just want to say in Jethro's visit - the people were still not going to the Lord. They came to Moses as judge. One man cannot do God's job. So an in imperfect world - a judging system is set up.

In verse 4 above Bill and Elizabeth nailed it. God did to the Egyptians, God put them on His back (eagle) and brought them out. notice it is the idea of soaring - God provided at great heights. And God brought them to Himself.

Not Moses, not you or me in salvation, but God....

Vs. 5 I like the KJV because it is truer to the Hebrew text. Again God is not just saying do this and do that and you will be my treasured possession (remember Matthews's parable of the treasure in the field)......Even being redeemed because of our flesh we cannot just obey.

God SAYS if you will obey (actually "hear my voice with perception) my voice.... God does not abandon anyone after redemption. God will provide the guidance and instruction for what you need to do....Just listen, hear, and then you can obey. Stay connected with the same belief you had at salvation, and God will lead you on your walk.

God is an Awesome God who will finish the works that he started - just trust Him and listen and hear.

[NOTE: Israel obeyed off and on, so did they lose their treasured status? Go back to Matthew's parable of the discovered treasure in the field (world). God put the treasure back in the ground, purchased the field (world) at the cross, and will come back to recover it at the second coming. It may be just a remnant of the Jewish people, but they will call on the name of the Lord and be saved. - and they will be His recovered treasure]

[John A.]

Matthew 22:34-23:12

A few notes:

1)37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the greatest command of God because if one can do it 100% you would not sin. Sin is against God not man, and if you loved God this much you would not want to affront God with sin.

Can we do it? No - certainly not before we are saved, and not afterwards because we are still imperfect (with the "flesh").

However if you want to pray a prayer that is in the Will of God revealed by His Word - pray for this. Pray that God through the Holy Spirit will enhance and develop your love for God to these levels. THAT is a prayer God will answer.

2)Jesus asks the Pharisees whose son is the "annointed" (Christ). They gave the safe answer "son of David" because the annointed Messiah would come from the line of David. But their answer reveals that they do not understand that God (David's Lord) came to Earth. For David called the Savior Lord. The Messiah pre-existed David. The Pharisees had no answer - because they just could not fathom this point.
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8"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.

THIS MAY OFFEND SOME CHRISTIAN SECTS, but I want to look at it in the context of Jesus' words in this chapter.

Jesus is speaking to the multitudes and to the disciples regarding obeying the teachings from the temple. Not what the teachers do in real life, but their teachings (Word and Law of God).

Goes on and lists some faults of the teachers.

Then these verses:
Jesus has been speaking of spiritual teaching in the temple, and the actions of the spiritual leaders and now who is Christ talking to?

Because the answer to each phrase is Christ, Father in Heaven, and Christ it is being addressed to believers whether in the crowd or disciples. But spefically the disciples as they are going to perform the teaching roles in early Church. This is about future spiritual teachings and the people who perform those functions in the coming church after the resuurection.

The Church in Greek means assembly - the body of believers - the Body of Christ. So how are the teachers of the Body of Christ - the assembly - not to be addressed?

Rabbi - sign of respect and title of a Jewish teacher or Master. Don't be called that for their is only one Master and source of instruction in the Church - Christ.

Father - an affectionate term given to a Jewish teacher/rabbi. Don't be called that for there is but one Father and He is in heaven. Note: Jesus is talking about spritual relationships between a teacher and the body, not a physical paternal relationship. It is OK to call your biological or step-father - father (IMO).

Master - again a sign of respect for a learned rabbi who teaches God's Law. Do not be called that because there is only one master of the church - the Head of the body - Christ.

Why be so adamant about not having titles for disciples when they teach the early church? One, because giving one a title takes away from the Glory of God. People may seek the titled person instead of God (Israelites today in Exodus????) It diminishes God's role through the Holy Spirit. God shares His Glory with no one (Isaiah). Secondly, there is always the danger with titles that the individual will come to believe it is about himself and not God. That the title lifts him up to a special place reserved only for God. Pride is a dangerous thing.

[John A.]

Exodus 17:8-19:15

The Amalekites Defeated

[Excellant observation Diana!]

The battle with Amalekites follows the incident of getting water from the Rock of Horeb. They seem unrelated, but perhaps they are back to back to show how Moses is being built up by God. Note - it is occuring at the same place - Rephidim. God is changing Moses and conforming him into the image of Christ - Moses is growing in his walk with the Lord, and as a leader.

What are the differences in the two incidents:
- the people grumbled about water, Moses did not complain about the attack.
- Moses was irritated with the people's gripe above, but at attack Moses just puts them to work.
- The Lord stood before Moses at the rock of Horeb, and Moses could take confidence in that the Lord trusted him to be the leader. At the battle Moses is going to stand on the hill (rock) and trust Joshua as a leader.
- Moses depended on God to provide the water from the rock. Joshua by Moses postion on the hill is encouraged to trust in the Lord. How so? Because the "staff of God" when held up symbolized "dependance on God". It was not Moses Joshua was to depend on, but that link to God.

One problem, when Moses lowers the staff - things do not go well.

"Moses finds that he not only leads people and instructs people but that he needs people! He needs the people - even the people that were ready to stone him. Dependence on the Lord is a beautiful thing - among the most beautiful of things. But even the best leaders grow weary. It's difficult to be out there all alone, slugging it out, depending on the Lord. We need others to prop us up, so to speak, to remind us that dependence on the Lord, not ourselves, is the way to go. There are no Lone Ranger leaders or disciples. We need each other to point us to the Lord.

The result of all this is a crushing victory. Moses trusts Joshua; Moses depends on the Lord; Aaron and Hur help Moses depend on the Lord; and the people win a crushing victory. It's a beautiful picture of how the body of Christ works." - Scott Grant

At the Rock of Horeb Moses names the place and it is translated as testing and quarreling with the Lord. After the attack - Moses builds an altar, and Moses names the altar "The Lord is my Banner," he's saying, "I rally behind the Lord; it is he I look to; it is he whom I follow."

Moses is growing in the Lord, Moses is changing, and Moses is becoming a leader. Can you see elements of growth in Moses in Ex18 (Jethro's visit)?