~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Judges 8:18-9:21 ~ Luke 23:44-24:12
Psalm 99:1-9 ~ Proverbs 14:9-10
Old Testament - Judges chapter 8 verses 23 & 24 are an intriguing look at beautiful humility mixed with a unique request - "But Gideon replied, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD will rule over you! However, I have one request. Each of you can give me an earring out of the treasures you collected from your fallen enemies."" It is awesome that Gideon says he will not rule over the Israelites- but that God will. But then, his ask of a piece of gold from each person is intriguing. We read in verse 27 that Gideon made a sacred ephod from the collected gold - so, this does appear worshipful perhaps at first glance. But then verse 27 tells us - "But soon all the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshiping it, and it became a trap for Gideon and his family." Yikes! Not exactly what should have happened here... It's interesting. I wonder if we do this in our lives today as well. Perhaps we are very humble in one regards - but then maybe we make some sort of unique request of those around us... and that unique request goes awry. I don't know if I can give you a good example of this. But perhaps this will ring true for you in some area of your life? If so, can you abandon the false idol you are worshiping as quickly as possible? Particularly if this false idol was born out of something that was initially worshipful. Will you let it go?
Jotham's parable is quite good in Judges chapter 9 today! Good idea that he got out of Dodge after telling that parable... :)
New Testament - In Luke chapter 23 verse 45 we read just before Jesus died on the cross - "The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the thick veil hanging in the Temple was torn apart." The tearing of the veil in the Temple symbolized that men and women could now access God directly through Jesus. No longer was the veil needed to keep separate the Holiest of Holy place in the temple, where God dwelled in the Old Testament. No longer could only the High Priest approach God in the Temple on behalf of men and women. Jesus' death and coming resurrection signified that the veil was no longer needed. God was accessible now directly through faith in Jesus.
An image is below for Luke chapter 23 verse 53 - "Then Joseph took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock."
Bible.org's commentary on Luke chapter 23 readings today titled "Dealing with the Death of Jesus" is at this link and commentary titled "From Heartbreak to Heartburn" is at this link.
Psalms - I love Psalm 99 verse 3 - "Let them praise your great and awesome name. Your name is holy!" I think sometimes in our modern world we can forget that God's name is holy. Jesus' name is holy. These holy names change things. They change everything. If ever you are ever feeling like you are being confronted by evil - maybe even in your sleep in a dream - call upon Jesus' name and watch the evil flee from you immediately. It is true... Jesus' name is holy. God's name is holy. I don't know if anyone has a CD by Vineyard Worship with Kathryn Scott singing on it? I forget the name of it. I think it is Hungry, Live in London. This is a great CD and they have a wonderful song that includes lyrics saying, "You are the sovereign I AM, your name is holy!" Beautiful tune... And so true. Actually, I just found a link to this CD with audio clips of songs - check out track #2 "Your Name is Holy" at this link.
Proverbs - Wow. Proverbs 14 verse 9 I don't think I've ever really noticed before - "Fools make fun of guilt, but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation." How true is this?? Wow... Guilt is real. Valid. And yes perhaps we can overdo it... but it's real and it's purpose is to call us to reconciliation with God. Great Proverb here... Do you acknowledge guilt? When you are guilty do you seek reconciliation with God?
What verses or insights jumped out for you in today's readings? Please post up in the Comments section below!
Grace,
Mike
Gideon at first says, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD will rule over you!” and makes a golden ephod to determine God’s will. But instead of using it and worshiping God, they worship the tool as a trap for Gideon and his family. It turned out likely that it was Gideon and not God that led them and the Israelites soon forgot Gideon’s family and returned to worshiping Baal when his left.
Prayer is often a trap for Christians that worship it as a process instead of using it as a tool to get answers. The famous story of a man on his roof as the flood waters rose who prayed to God for salvation while ignoring the people God sent to save him reminds us that prayer alone can not provide salvation or solutions to our problems. In this particular example, an unbeliever, in fact, would have had a better chance for survival than the praying Christian. There are many choices one can make that are less than doing nothing. For example, if I feel poorly and I start to blame others and worry about what is going to happen, I am doing less than nothing and harming myself. If I take a systematic approach, however, to considering what type of health problems I am having to rationally decide what type of doctor to go to and use prayer to confirm (Nehemiah 1:4) that, say, I don’t understand my condition well enough in order to decide that I should go to a general MD for advice (and who to see), I am using prayer as a tool and using it as part of a healthy process.
As mentioned, blame can be less than nothing when used as a process but more than nothing when used as a tool in a healthy process. Too often we attack problems by only asking who is to blame and feel the resolution efforts are basically completed when a general consensus has been formed. Such as: this is wrong, let’s decide who is to blame, and then get rid of them. When we recognize ours sins, we often blame Christ, and kill Him. The movie Bowling for Columbine asked who is to blame for violence in America, decided it was guns (even when the data had to be fudged in order to support this conclusion), and then presented the solution as getting rid of guns. Moore’s efforts would have been far more useful if only he had instead asked, “How do you think you’ve contributed to the conditions that led to the incident at Columbine? Let me start, however, with how I think I have been a negative influence for violence.” Too often people do nothing (or less than nothing) when they pray about a particular problem. Really working to solve the problem is when people blow off steam with exercise or a small break from the problem with a hobby in order to come back with a fresh perspective, maintain a positive outlook by focusing on the positive encouragement of the Word with faith and a high commitment to tackling the problem, take into account various different points of view by seeking professional and social support, and use prayer for spiritual guidance every step of the way. In addition, “real” efforts will include journaling and process assessments in order to more honestly see ourselves and manage even better results the next time the same kind of problem arises (you can’t manage what you don’t measure).
Only Peter who has risked his life by leaving the boat and walked upon the water with Jesus ran to the tomb to check the women’s story of Christ’s missing body. The more we humble ourselves before God and take risks in the face of other’s opinions, the more we exalt Him. Wherever the disciples went, there were many that spoke against them. Thus, let us be reverent and courageous when we cry to the Lord for help (like Moses, Aaron, and Samuel). “Oh Lord our God, you answered them. You were a forgiving God, but you punished them when they were wrong.” (Psalms 99:8) The veil in the Temple was torn as there was no longer any separation between man and God. God is now directly accessible through faith in Jesus Christ. Even the Roman soldiers praised God and saw that Jesus was innocent and the crowd all went home in deep sorrow (realizing what they had done). We should remember that Judas’ mortal sin was not that he betrayed Christ for we have all done that many times, but that once he realized his sin that he could not accept God’s forgiveness and hung himself. Judas “raised the bar” too high to be saved. For example, Peter failed Christ three times over, but while both Peter and Judas were both remorseful that they had sinned, only Peter wept for forgiveness and returned to the apostles. God also protected Cain with his mark in order to give him time to think and to repent. The story of Cain is another story when sin, suffering, and un-repentance were met by continued love and mercy. Proverbs 14:9-10 reminds us that the godly acknowledge guilt and seek reconciliation. Christ said that only a person who believes that he or she has a poor relationship with God actually has a right one. In Luke 18:13, Christ suggested we should always pray, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!”
Posted by: Footsteps of God | April 28, 2005 at 07:57 AM
Judges 8:18-9:21
In the passage about Gideon’s son, Abimelech, I see a warning about allowing someone whose only leadership qualification is either looking like you or being related. Abimelech’s folks elected him a man who was a seriel killer only because they were related to his mother that is a sorry state of affairs. Daily we make choices not based on principles and integrity of values and beliefs but based on who or what can benefit us by way of relationships.
The parable Abimelech’s half-brother, Jotham, shows what happens when there is a leadership vacuum. The olive tree doesn’t serve (spiritual leadership), the fig tree doesn’t step-up (political); the grapevine (I’m not sure who the vine represents) however, the bramble bush I believe represents “gang” or mob rule. Having a thorn bush as “king” will not bring any comfort. It has nothing to use to shade anyone from the sun and for those who gather under it, they will be stuck.
What kind of leadership should “Believers” elect to lead them, someone who looks like them or someone who hold spiritual and national authority?
Luke 23:44-24:12
Jesus told His followers everything that would happen to Him. They heard Him but didn’t hear Him. What are the memory triggers that make me remember the Word of the Lord. As I read the One-Year-Bible, how much do I take in and how much do I just “don’t get?” May the Holy Spirit bring all things to my remembrance?
Psalm 99:1-9
We are told to “Exalt the Lord our God” (Verse 5) and then given a listing of Old Testament saints who did just that. God doesn’t tell us just to do something without letting us see the great company we would be in if we obeyed God’s command
Proverbs 14:9-10
Mike’s asks if we acknowledge guilt. I would like to add when you feel guilty do you try to do lots of things, busy things, to num feelings of guilt by constantly being on the move (Doing good things trying to pay one’s way out of guilt)? That won’t work. Getting before God and “reconciling with God is the only way. Thanks Mike for the word in season.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
Posted by: Ramona | April 28, 2005 at 06:41 PM