April 27th One Year Bible Readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Judges 7:1-8:17 ~ Luke 23:13-43
Psalm 97:1-98:9 ~ Proverbs 14:7-8

Old Testament - Okay, the big question from today's readings in Judges is are you the type of person that cups water in your hands and laps it up like a dog or are you someone who kneels down and puts your mouth directly in the stream to drink??  :)  I confess I'm option #1, so I guess I would have gone on with Gideon for the battle. In all seriousness, a commentary suggested that God chose those that cupped water in their hands rather than kneeled down, because it meant those who didn't kneel down were always ready for any emergency situation that might come up.  I guess I can buy that...  Nowadays perhaps the person who is always ready may be the person who drinks directly from the water cooler like this guy?? :)

Much of our readings in Judges chapter 7 & 8 today are like Braveheart! Quite action packed readings today!  An image is below for Judges chapter 7 verses 19 & 20: "It was just after midnight, after the changing of the guard, when Gideon and the one hundred men with him reached the outer edge of the Midianite camp. Suddenly, they blew the horns and broke their clay jars. Then all three groups blew their horns and broke their jars. They held the blazing torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands and shouted, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!""

New Testament - Today in Luke chapter 23 verse 34 we read this when Jesus was on the cross: "Jesus said, "Father, forgive these people, because they don't know what they are doing.""  Tyndale's One Year Bible companion has a great commentary on this verse today, as follows - "There are seven sayings of Jesus uttered from the cross.  They were spoken in the following order:

1) the word of forgiveness: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:24)

2) the word of salvation: "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43)

3) the word of affection: "Woman, behold thy son"; "Behold thy mother." (John 19:26-27)

4) the word of despair: "My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?" (Matt 27:46; Mark 15:34)

5) the word of physical torment: "I thirst" (John 19:28)

6) the word of triumph: "It is finished" (John 19:30)

7) the word of committal: "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.""

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Luke chapter 23 titled "The Rejection of Israel's Messiah" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 97 verses 10 & 11 are so spiritually powerful & true: "You who love the LORD, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked. Light shines on the godly, and joy on those who do right."  I do believe that God protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked.  Honestly, I believe that God does this in our lives much more often than we even consciously realize.  I am sure there are a few moments in our life when we fully realize we were being protected by God.  But, I also have a strong belief that God protects us from unforeseen things that never entered our consciousness.  Do bad things still happen to godly people?  Yes, of course they do.  Why?  I can't answer this - I've heard C.S. Lewis' book "The Problem of Pain" gets at this a bit.  I need to read it.  We are in a fallen world.  There is evil and an enemy in this world.  Bad things do happen.  But, overall, I believe these verses above are so true.  I do believe that light shines on the godly and joy on those who do right.  Do you believe these verses above to be true?  Have you experienced the truth of these verses in your life?

Bible.org's commentary on Psalm 97 titled "The Display of God's Majesty" is at this link.

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 14 verse 8 is great wisdom - "The wise look ahead to see what is coming, but fools deceive themselves."  Jesus taught that we should live our lives not worrying about tomorrow.  However - this Proverb does show there is wisdom in looking ahead to see what is coming.  Don't worry about it - but pay attention to it!  For example, we shouldn't deceive ourselves into thinking that we can be reckless with our health today - we should know what this will do to us tomorrow.  We should see what is coming.

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  How do you think we should balance wisely looking ahead to see what is coming versus not worrying about tomorrow?  Should we be looking toward the future on occasion?  Or just try to stay focused on today?  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

Comments

[A]

"Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink." 6 Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.
I think it is wiser,more efficient and more "human"if not dignified to lap water with your hands than with your tongue!!God looks at the heart...true but he does care about our actions.He certainly seemed to mind that his people were drinking like animals,he does care when we act like the enemy...the world.Do we by our actions show that we're "civilized"..that got my attention.
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I keep thinking about the thief that believed that Jesus was the saviour.Faith comes by hearing the word of God...even though it was written in irony and mockery on his cross,Jesus was the King of the Jews(was the King of Kings)...was it the words that came out of the soldiers...how did this thief hear and believe...I can only pray that the seeds we sow into the people around us bear fruit.The word of God has the power to save...we can't convince anyone,only the Holy Spirit can...It was a lesson I had to learn over and over(I'm not even still sure I got it).

[Caryn]

Some thoughts on Psalm 98:
It occurred to me that "salvation" spoken of here is not the same as what automatically comes into my mind. I think of Jesus' salvation of me/us into God's kingdom. However, since Jesus had not yet come in the Psalms era, I think salvation from God is about physical/military defeats where it was clearly God that saved the Israelite people. In the light of Gideon's story, the "shouts of joy" and general bursting into jubilation makes sense. How amazing the victories must have felt, and I can imagine the party and praise for God that must have happened afterwards. (Of course, our salvation is also cause for celebration)

So now it's clearer to me why Jesus' followers just didn't understand when He died, even though he TOLD them that he would rise in three days (Luke 18:31-34). They understood physical salvation well from their history. Spiritual salvation must have been a hard concept to grasp. Which is why Jesus had such a hard time getting people to understand his teaching. Even to the end, people were expecting Jesus to be their saviour in the same way as Gideon etc were deliverers of Israel. I can start to understand why even Jewish people of today have difficulty with the idea of Jesus as the Messiah/Saviour.

[R]

Judges 7:1-8:17

How long will it take me to understand that I’m am just a spectator along for the ride when I am confronting my enemies. From Gideon to King Jehoshaphat, God is in the business of “small” beginnings, small army’s, ‘fraidey cat people, and wavering believers. He is in the business of working for them and through them in spite of their insufficiencies because in Him is everything we need.

He said, Hearken, all Judah, you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you King Jehoshaphat. The Lord says this to you: Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow go down to them. Behold, they will come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the ravine before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You shall not need to fight in this battle; take your positions, stand still, and see the deliverance of the Lord [Who is] with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Fear not nor be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you. (2 Chronicles 20:15-17 AMP)

As long as I know that God is sending me, that I am on God’s side, and not thinking that He is on mine, then it is God calling the charge, God doing the fighting and I’m only along for the ride. How cool is that?

It has to be God for three-hundred men to successfully take on and win, an army of 135,000.

[Pat]

In Judges 8:1-3 we get a marvelous lesson in how to handle jealousy!

“1 The men of Ephraim spoke to Gideon. They asked, "Why have you treated us like this? Why didn't you ask us to help you when you went out to fight against Midian?" They spoke very sharply against Gideon. 2 But he answered them, "What I've done isn't anything compared to what you have done. After Ephraim's grapes have been gathered, isn't what is left over better than all of the grapes that have been gathered from Abiezer's vines? 3 God handed Oreb and Zeeb over to you. They were Midianite leaders. So what was I able to do compared to what you did?" After Gideon had said that, they didn't feel angry with him anymore.”

Gideon didn’t argue or display anger with the men of Ephraim or chastise them or belittle them or shame them – instead he built them up and made them feel important! This is a lesson that all of us need to learn as adults and a lesson that we should be teaching our youth.

God Bless!
Pat

[Jenny]

i love this story of Gideon. Looks like Gideon no longer is doubting the Lord, even wen he gets down to 300 men, he just seems to go with it. I would cup the water too, guess i'm going to battle too! :p But please, i dont want to cut off heads! yeckkk. Think this is where Jars of Clay got their name!?

I heard a sermon on the two thieves...kinda represent the two types of ppl, the humble/believing and the scoffer/doubter. Even on the edge of death this guy wouldnt repent! I hear ppl say they will repent on their deathbed..really? their heart may be to hardened by that time. I think that other criminal was very wise and was blessed to be crucified next to Jesus.
Also this is proof that faith in Christ is the only thing necessary for salvation. This guy didnt have time to do good works, he couldnt be baptized, etc.
I was hearing a radio show today and "Paradise" is also known as Hades. when i think of Hades, i thought that was hell, but i guess it was the "waiting room" if u will until Jesus opened heaven. So Hades was two sides...a gulf separated the two. like with the rich man n Lazarus. One where they were awaiting Jesus' victory, being comforted in Abraham's bosom, n one where they were in a miserable state.
Yes, i do know God has definitely protected me in times i'm aware and even more in things i'm not aware, especially from the enemy who has his bow aimed right at us, but he cannot touch us when we have a shield of protection around us. wow! to be God's child is amazing!