January 29th One Year Bible Readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Exodus 8:1-9:35 ~ Matthew 19:13-30
Psalm 24:1-10 ~ Proverbs 6:1-5

Old Testament - Today in Exodus chapters 8 & 9 we read about many of the plagues!   I've got to say, for some reason the plague of frogs really resonated with me in today's reading.  I'm not sure why - but for some reason I could really envision frogs being everywhere...  and how disgusting this would truly be...

An interesting thing I read in a commentary today is that the plagues in some ways were direct attacks on the Egyptian "gods".  For example, the Egyptians had a god named Hopi, who was god of the Nile river.  Hopi couldn't stop the river from turning to blood. They had a cow-goddess named Hathor, who couldn't stop the livestock from dying.  They had a sun-god named Amon-Re who couldn't stop darkness from coming over the land. (in tomorrow's readings).  God's plagues were going after these false gods - and showing to Pharaoh and the Egyptians, and the Hebrews too I think, who the one true living God is, was, and forever shall be.  Did you ever stop and wonder if there were masks out there that depicted the various plagues of the Exodus?  Me neither.  But they exist!  :)

Chapter 8 verses 18 & 19 stand out: "Pharaoh's magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed. And the gnats covered all the people and animals. "This is the finger of God!" the magicians exclaimed to Pharaoh." The magicians tricks were beginning to fail!  They realized that God was creating the plagues with their exclamation, "This is the finger of God!"  God's name & fame was becoming known.  Have you seen or experienced the finger of God in your life?  Below is a super-sized image that will give you an idea of the grossness of the plague of gnats:

Chapter 9 verse 16 is powerful: "But I have let you live for this reason--that you might see my power and that my fame might spread throughout the earth."  In the New Testament, Paul quotes this verse in Romans 9:17, which we'll view in context here from Romans 9:14-18 - "What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.  For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden."   Wow... great stuff in this Roman's verse... it does not depend on our desire or effort, but on God's mercy.  Do you believe in God's mercy?  Will you relinquish any of your own desire or efforts over to God's mercy?  As you probably have seen by now, I'm trying to cover many of the plagues in today's readings with images... so now I give you pharaoh and the flies!  :)

Exodus chapter 9 verse 20 is also powerful, as we read about some Egyptians beginning to believe in God: "Some of Pharaoh's officials believed what the LORD said. They immediately brought their livestock and servants in from the fields."  How about us today?  Do we believe what the Lord says?  Like these Egyptians in this instance, do we then also immediately do what the Lord says?  In verse 27 Pharaoh finally confesses his sin: "Then Pharaoh urgently sent for Moses and Aaron. "I finally admit my fault," he confessed. "The LORD is right, and my people and I are wrong."  Though he doesn't stay repentant for long.  How about us - do we confess our sins to God - and then not stay repentant for long?  Can we instead confess our sins to God and make a complete U-turn - go completely in the other direction and not look back?  Below we have the plague of hail - and I guess that fire is from the lightning strikes.

Bible.org's commentary on the plagues of Exodus titled "The Finger of God" is at this link.

New Testament - Today in Matthew 19 we read some challenging verses about the Rich Young Man.  I have read some commentaries say that we don't need to take Jesus' words literally that each of us must sell all of our goods and give to the poor.  However, these words in context to this rich young man were indeed to be taken literally by him - and he knew it.  He wouldn't do it.  Jesus called him to do this, I think, because the young man's "stuff" was an impediment to his relationship with God.  Perhaps the young man literally valued his stuff more than God.  So - while the commentaries say that we don't have to take Jesus' teaching to this young man literally, I do think we should keep in mind that Jesus may ask of us something along these lines.  Jesus may ask us to pack up and become a missionary.  Or maybe he'll ask us to leave a high powered, high paying job, to go serve the poor in our town.  Or he may ask us to not spend our money on luxury items, but to invest in micro credit loan programs in third world countries.  So - while this may seem like Jesus was asking a lot of this rich young man, keep in mind that Jesus asks much of each of us.  And really, Jesus simply asks us to follow him.  Will you follow Jesus?  No matter the cost?  No matter what you have to "give up"?  Will you follow him?  Below is a painting by Heinrich Hoffman from the late 19th century of Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler:

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Matthew chapter 19 titled "Wealth and the Kingdom of Heaven" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 24 is a beautiful Psalm!  Check out this brief snippet of commentary on this Psalm from bible.org: "The Israelites have returned from a battle with the Canaanites. They are proceeding up to the sanctuary on the holy mount to give praise to Yahweh for the great and mighty victory in battle, carrying with them the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of Yahweh’s presence with them. As they approach the gate, they are met by the Levites who function as gatekeepers. It is their part to ask who may enter the sanctuary of the Lord; and it is the priests’ part to answer with the stipulations from the Law. Whoever meets these qualifications may enter and fellowship with Yahweh... The psalm then concludes with the worshipers calling to the gates to make way for Yahweh to come in to His sanctuary, for why should the King of Glory stoop to go under a doorway? "  This quote is from, and there is much more commentary on Psalm 24, at bible.org at this link.  (also, any Chris Tomlin fans out there will definitely recognize this Psalm - on his CD "Arriving" I think the 2nd or 3rd to last song is called "King of Glory" based on this Psalm - it's the best song on this overall fantastic CD in my humble opinion! :)

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 6 verses 1 through 5 were intriguing to me.  I guess my first thought was that getting our own selves in debt is bad enough - but then to be a guarantor for our friends debt?  Well, these verses certainly warn against doing this.  Let us avoid debt!

Worship God:  I couldn't find Chris Tomlin singing "King of Glory" on YouTube, per my Psalm reflection above.  However, I did find him talking about and playing "Made to Worship."  Enjoy!

Have you been made to worship?  Click here and Worship!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace." Colossians 3:15 NIV

Comments from You and Questions of the Day:  Based on the Proverbs verses today about debt, does anyone have debt-relief resources, websites or books you could share with everyone in the Comments section below?  I've heard Financial Peace University is good and I hear there are some other good Christian financial management / debt relief books & seminars out there.  I'm personally not that familiar with them - well, I did run sound once at a church for a 4 hour session on one of these seminars once, and it was quite good....  it's amazing how wise it is to get out of debt and to save $.  I've often heard that it is wise to give 10% of your income and save 10% of your income with each check that comes in.  What's your reaction to this type of formula?  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

[John]

Psalm 24

A SONG OF TRIUMPH
Songs Of The Savior Our Messiah Revealed In The Psalms

This psalm is disputed, and the folowing is a different perspective than at Mike's link.

David wrote this psalm out of a difficult time in his own life, the effort to bring the ark of the covenant to the city of Jerusalem. Perhaps this is writen not after a battle, but after the ark was returned from the Philistines in 1Sam6. David did not follow instructions the first time, and a priest died after touching the ark. this psalm may be about the second time the ark was being brought up to the temple.
======================================================
Psalm 24:1-5

God is sovereign and everything is His. Why? Because He created it. who may stand in the sanctuary. Someone perfect and blameless.

So far so good - and no one seems to disagree with these thoughts.

Now the difficult part - verse 6.
======================================================
The literal Hebrew translation here in poetic form is:

"This is the generation

seeking him

seeking your face,

Jacob."

The implication is not that one is seeking God, but the question is being asked:

"What man or woman can stand before God? What man in all of Jacob, the twelve tribes of Israel, can say, "I'm the one--I can stand before the Lord with absolute purity of motives and purity of action, absolute integrity, absolute confidence in my righteousness, and complete confidence in God's blessing on my life"? - Doug Goins

The use of "Jacob" is interesting. Jacob means "deceiver" the name of Jacob before God changed it to Israel (God rules). Using Jacob instead of Israel in the Psalm implies the answer to the question about who in all the land may approach the sanctuary.

The answer: No one answers, because out of all the country there is no one worthy to enter the sanctuary.
======================================================
Conundrum

So will anybody ever rightfully ever enter the sanctuary?

Yes.

Lift up your heads, O gates,
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!
Who is the King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
The LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O gates,
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
He is the King of glory.

Who is this person? Who is this King of Glory and Lord of Hosts? It is Jesus Christ.

For a thousand years after David asked the question, no one stepped forward. Then on Palm Sunday Jesus came and ascended the hill to the song of Psalm 118 - the Hosanna. "Yahweh save us!", and that is exactly what Christ came to do for us.

[John]

Proverbs 6

Do not Provide surety or a guarantee for another.

I really struggled with this one. Why not? seems like a nice thing to do for someone. Help them to get ahead, etc.

It was not until I read Martin Luther's sermon (link below) on the subject that I began to understand. All quotes are from Martin Luther:

1) "Standing surety is a work that is too lofty for a man; it is unseemly, for it is a presumptuous encroachment upon the work of God." We are to put our trust in God alone, not in any man.

2) "In the second place, the surety is trusting in himself and making himself God (for whatever a man trusts in and relies upon is his god). But his own life and property are never for a single moment any more secure or certain than those of the man for whom he becomes surety. Everything is in the hand of God alone. God will not allow us a hair's breadth of power or right over the future, nor will he let us for a single moment be sure or certain of it."

Solomon condemns surety here and in Proverbs 27. Judah was punished for his presumption of providing surety for Benjamin in Gen 44. James sys it is arrogant to presume in James 4:13-16. Also in Luke 12 presumption is condemened. See link for more Scriptural support for condemning surety.

John MacArthur acknowledges that surety is not without precedent. Martin Luther says, "Hence, it is decreed according to Scripture that no one shall become surety for another, unless he is able and entirely willing to assume the debt and pay it himself."
======================================================
So what do we do with our money?
- Give it to the needy.
-Luke 6:35 Lend expecting nothing in return. If it is not returned - it is a gift.

Maybe besides the presumption issue - while our money is tied up in a guarantee, we are not able to do the above?????

http://www.reformation.org/luther-trade-usury.html

[john b]

i think u missed Chris Tomlin and "king of Glory cause its THIRD DAY that does that one.... not Chris T

jb

[Julie R]

This is going to be redundant probably but I think the reason debt is mentioned in the Bible is not just the obvious reason but that the constant demand of it takes our mind off the Lord. Matt 6:24, Ecc 5:10 is on the other end of the scale. It is not ours to begin with & how we handle it shows our true faith in Him that gifted us with it.

[Denise H.]

A couple of resources regarding debt management and the development of a stewardship lifestyle could be Ron Blue's oft-used book "Manage Your Money" - the other is Crown Financial Ministries found at http://www.crown.org/ There is a wealth of information at this site, as well as very helpful financial and career tool downloads.

[John]

Matthew: The Rich Young Man

21Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Some people think this verse means everyone has to become "poor" - give all your money away - and then you can be saved, or continue in your walk down the path of Christian maturity for sanctification.

I disagree with that analysis. I believe everyone has one thing closest to their heart. One thing that can keep them from salvation. One thing that is closest to their heart that can block advancement in your Christian walk.

God is sovereign and His will will be done in salvation and conforming us into the image of Christ. God is also patient, and until we come to realize what that one thing is and release it (give it up) - perhaps He is just patiently waiting for that moment to start shaping the clay on the potter's wheel in earnest.

For the rich man that one thing close to his heart was money. If Jesus had turned and pointed to someone else it may have been power. For another drinking. For another gambling. For another lust. etc. Each person has their own favorite "want to hold onto" item. Perhaps more than one.

For me at salvation - the thing closes to my heart was independance. I was willing to admit I was a sinner, repent, accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, but I still wanted to run parts of my own life. I was willing to give God most of my life (will), but a few things I wanted to stay in control of while here on earth. It took two weeks of praying before I finally admitted to God - OK, enough. You win. My whole life is yours do with it as you will. Run my life for me. That night - I knew I was saved. There was no doubt in my mind. God gave me peace, joy, and the Holy Spirit, healed me from debilitating mental illness, and removed two of my addictions.

It did not end there. Shortly after salvation, it became clear to me, that God wanted something else I was holding onto in my heart. Privacy. I really did not like people. Would rather be left alone. God just kept putting people in my path that needed interaction. I kept refusing to interact. Got really convicted to the point that I gave up my privacy, and God has had me working with people Christians and non-Christians ever since. Actually quite enjoy it at this point.

Is something holding you back from coming to Christ? Pray about it to God, and ask Him to reveal it to you. Give it up - so you too can heave eternal life. Not happy with your Christian walk. Same advice, go to God and tell Him you really want to know. I pray that God will reveal it to you, and you will joyfully take up your Christian walk.

There is nothing we can do to earn Salvation. Nothing we can "do" to conform ourselves into the image of Christ. The point of this post though is - there may be something you need to give up.

[One of those posts where the above is my opinion, and I may be off base.]

[John]

Exodus: Plagues

See yesterdays post :)

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2008