Yesterday, after Israel took (was given) Jericho, Joshua (6:26) cursed anyone who attempted to rebuild Jericho. Now, you don't have to go looking for it now, but as you read through the OT this year, you will find the guy who ordered the rebuilding of Jericho and what happened to the builder who did the work. This is why reading through the Bible is fun. You find stuff, and the Spirit makes all sorts of connections for you. It is always better when you find something on your own and get that "kick" of excitement. That's the kind of joy and motivation that stays with you and it energizes your teaching and your sharing. The truth actually becomes a part of you.
Yesterday we witnessed a national disaster for Israel. In 7:5 it says that all of the people were disheartened by the defeat and loss of men at Ai. In contrast to how Israel was before, you don't see everyone at their tent doors weeping and ready to stone Joshua.
Joshua prayed and cried out to God, but God sort of says to him, "What are you doing? Get up off your face. Obviously the people sinned." The people and Joshua were to learn an important lesson. If they were defeated, it was because of sin. It meant there was something wrong with them, not God.
Joshua 7:16-9:2
Joshua 7:16-26
V. 16 When it says that Judah was taken, I'm guessing a tribal leader stood before the priest and the priest rolled the Urim and the Thummim and the result showed if a man was to be selected or not.
You can imagine Achan standing there watching his nightmare come true as the people were whittled down to his tribe, his clan, his family, his household, and finally he's standing nose to nose with Joshua, who I think was a rather imposing dude.
Vs. 24 and 25 are pretty fearful verses. The innocent were immediately with God and enjoying it. The hard reality is, even today, that the sins of the fathers (and mothers) harm the children, even in Christian homes.
V. 26 God's anger was satisfied. Now imagine that this is what happened to Jesus. God just kept heaping it on until He was totally punished in our place. When Jesus had paid every last penalty for us, you could quote part of verse 26 in that, "God turned away from His burning anger" toward all who are covered by the blood of the Lamb.
Joshua 8:1-29
I find it interesting that God turned the entire situation around so that it made Israel's defeat look like a ploy.
Notice that God allowed them to take the plunder. Achan should have waited.
Notice in verse 29 that Joshua made an example of the king of Ai. He will do this to other kings, but what he does here is interesting. In Deut. 21:23 it says, "... for a hanged man is accursed by God."
Joshua 8:30-35
This is the ceremony that the Lord commanded Israel to carry out: the blessings and the curses. The way this was organized with the Ark in the middle was really cool.
Reading the Bible Knowledge Commentary adds that Joshua had to move the nation 30 miles to get to the place God said this ceremony was to take place.
I've never seen before that Joshua wrote on the stones and that he copied it from his own copy that he himself had written. Joshua was not a king, but fulfilled one of the requirements of a king by making his own copy of the law and reading it every day.
This was a long event that could have gone days and weeks. Notice verse 35. Everyone was present to hear the law. Joshua's strength was in fulfilling the law and all that was commanded him.
Joshua 9:1-2
While Israel was on its pilgrimage, apparently all the kings of the land thought it was a good time to mount an offensive against the worshiping nation. But not everyone wanted to fight, as we'll see tomorrow.
Luke 16:1-18
So, imagine there is a connection between this chapter and the past chapter. What would it be?
I'll make a suggestion. Jesus was in conflict with the Pharisees over the question of reaching out to sinners. When Jesus told the parables of the lost sheep, coin and son, He was really teaching his disciples, because the Pharisees weren't open anyway. The Pharisees were these dishonest managers. The Pharisees were also rich. And actually, the disciples were rich by biblical standards, since they had food for several days and had several changes of clothes.
Now if we put what Jesus is saying here, together with what he said elsewhere about seeking the kingdom first and selling everything and having treasure in heaven, you understand Jesus telling them to use their resources for the kingdom. What I find interesting here is that the steward got everyone squared up with the master and decreased their debt so it was paid up. So you have two elements to how the steward used his last days of influence: People paid up their debts and they were in good standing with the master. I guess, applying it to us, we should be using our resources so people can trust Christ (who paid their debt) so they can be forgiven and in good standing with God.
Vs. 10-15 show that the Pharisees were still present. As Jesus was telling His disciples that God does measure our faith by our faithfulness to Him in using the resources we've been given, the Pharisees must have been scoffing audibly. The Pharisees were justifying themselves; because, generally speaking, they were generous in tithing, although they did it publicly for their own appearance and recognition.
Vs. 16-18 Jesus changes the direction of the discussion and gets the Pharisees on a point they couldn't deny they were at fault. They felt they were teachers of the people and the policemen of adherence to the Law. They "forced their way" into the kingdom, trying to make the Law conform to them, stretching truths to make themselves acceptable. But Jesus said the Law couldn't be perverted. It would always stay the same regardless of how they reinterpreted it for themselves.
Then Jesus got the Pharisees on divorce. Divorce was very commonplace in those days, so much so that when Jesus told them that God was against divorce, even Jesus' disciples were astonished and said in Matthew 19:10, "The disciples said to him, "If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.""
And then, the OT speaks very clearly regarding God's view of divorce. For example, Malachi 2:16 "For I hate divorce, says the LORD the God of Israel, and covering one's garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So take heed to yourselves and do not be faithless."
In Jewish society it was a man's world. If a wife was out of place, it was easy, especially for a wealthy person, to trade her in for a newer model. The Pharisees probably weren't scoffing now.
Psalm 82
So, what's going on here? It looks like God could be referring to the angelic hosts, but looking at the rest of the psalm shows you that God is talking primarily to the leaders of Israel. Yet, even in the two references we have to Satan and his fall (Isaiah 14:12, Ezekiel 28:12), his description is taken from the description of the king of Babylon and king of Tyre, and given such language that makes it obvious to us that God has now begun to talk about the fallen angel, whose arrogance was similar to the human kings being described. It could be that the references to "sons of the most high" and "princes" could be shadows, in a secondary sense, of angelic authorities, since "sons of God" (in Job 2:1) and "prince of Persia" (in Daniel 10:20) are both titles that refer to angels. If, in fact, the angels had a guardianship to serve and guide mankind, they perverted it and did not guide anyone to honor God by giving justice and protection.
The main meaning is to the leaders of Israel. They had a privilege to serve and guide the people. Think of men like Moses and the elders he appointed under him who were given a portion of his spirit (spiritual enabling) to serve before the people and give them justice. That is why God can refer to them figuratively as "gods," mighty ones. Jesus refers to verse 6 in John10:34. Even Jesus' usage there has a twist to it, because in referring to this psalm, He is standing before leaders of the people who have led the people astray.
As reflected in this psalm, as Israel settled into the land, they strayed from God and were led by many who did not honor God. The prophets brought God's judgments upon the leaders who misled the people. As we go on through the year, we'll find many portions of Scripture like this in the OT. One that I'll use here is a good one that eventually promises the Messiah.
Jeremiah 23:1 "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" says the LORD. 2 Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: "You have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD. 3 Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, says the LORD. 5 "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: `The LORD is our righteousness.'
Proverbs 13:2-3
I don't know how often my stupid mouth has gotten me in trouble. What's wrong with it, anyhow? Jesus actually said what the real problem is in Luke 6:45, "The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."
For me, the best way to get my mouth under control daily is to tune my heart to God via the Lord's Prayer.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.
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