April 22, Reading Notes

Joshua 24

This location had a lot of significance. Shechem was where God met with Abraham and promised his descendants the land. If you do a word search, you'll find this place mentioned often. Now, neither you nor I would know this if not for helps like the Bible Knowledge Commentary, but Shechem is between Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim from Joshua 8:30-35. This is where Joshua set up the stones upon which he wrote the Law. The people were on the mountains opposite each other pronouncing the blessing and the curses involved with obeying or disobeying God's Law. So, this is a pretty important place.

V. 1 says they presented themselves before God. This was to be a renewal of the covenant.

V. 2 It is interesting that Joshua speaks in the 1st person as God, or it is God speaking though him.

Note that God goes back to Terah and mentions that they served other gods. Noah was still alive during this time. Noah didn't serve other gods, but sin in man creates an incredible impulse in man to stray from God. I think Abe was chosen because he learned from Noah (Abe might have known Noah since Noah died when Abe was about 65-70) and didn't worship other gods, but rather the true God. It's interesting to think of that possible connection between Noah and Abe in terms of discipleship.

Vs. 6-13 All of these references to God's protection also reflect the inability of the false gods to stand against God. These peoples, particularly Egypt, were known for their gods. Balaam's inability to work against Israel, again, shows that their God is the only God and He's for them.

Vs. 14-15 This seems pretty strong and you notice that Joshua is pushing them to a point of commitment. It seems to me, that Israel was already straying and he knew it. The last part of verse 15 would make a good wall plaque and song.

Notice the interaction between Joshua and the people. What gets me is that they insist in verse 22 that they are witnesses before the Lord and that they are true to Him, but in verse 23 Joshua tells them to get rid of the idols that were already among them.

The covenant in verse 25 is followed very strongly by Joshua setting up a monument and writing out the details of this meeting and covenant. Sadly, Joshua was right.

We never think of idols and worshipping falsely today, especially in the church. Paul accuses the Corinthians of it in 1Cor. 10 and Paul redefines covetousness as idolatry in Ephesians 5. Israel gathered pretty looking stuff, some of which was used in foreign worship before they acquired it. I wonder if this stuff began to entice them. I wonder if the stuff that we have has taken such importance in our lives, that without realizing it, we are no longer devoted to Christ.

I was reading this morning where Jesus says, "whoever loves father and mother, …son or daughter more than Me, is not worthy of Me." I wonder if we have lost our affection for Him and don't realize it.

The book of Joshua ends with three burials. Sounds like a movie, "A Covenant and Three Burials." It is interesting that they mention the burial of the bones of Joseph. The land was Israel's so now it was time to bury them. I wonder, since they were buried at Shechem if Joshua did this at the end of that ceremony.

Luke 21:1-28

Vs. 1-4 are an interesting connection between two events. Jesus has just condemned the rich scribes and now is contrasting them to this simple, but fully devout, woman.

Vs. 5-10 Up to verse 10 the two signs given, false Messiahs and wars, will come before the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem in 70 AD and before Jesus returns at the end of the Tribulation. Interestingly, in talking about the Tribulation alone, it never talks about that temple being destroyed. Since there is no temple today in Jerusalem it means it would have to be rebuilt, but that could happen easily during the first 3 and a half years of the Tribulation when there is a peace treaty with Israel.

Vs. 11-24 seem to be more focused on the future Tribulation of Israel. Much of what is said here, the disciples have heard before when Jesus sent out the twelve. The same things will be true for His future disciples during those seven years on earth. The call for endurance in verse 19, in my thinking, means saving from the fear and emotional terror of those times.

Vs. 25-28 Of course this time won't be all fun and games and killing God's people. The universe will be out of whack and it will show on the earth, especially in the oceans. These disasters will create mass terror and fear (and probably ruin a lot of good vacation spots), but not for those who understand that it is all exactly as God has planned.

V. 27 However this is to happen, it will be a world event, and it will be evident that there is something strange about those clouds and that lightning.

V. 28 Those followers of Christ will be weighed down with survival, working under cover, praying. Regardless of where they are, they will see the signs and know that their deliverance is close.

Imagine, for most of us, we don't have those conditions to work in as we follow Christ in the harvest. Now is the time to cut loose and go for it.

Psalm 89:38-52

The psalmist is asking God to look down and have mercy. Again, verse 51 could be referring to how David was mocked when He left Jerusalem when Absalom took over.

If this is referring to Israel, destroyed and taken into exile to Babylon, then it is the fulfilling of what Joshua warned the people of as they made the covenant in the valley of Shechem.

Proverbs 13:20-23

For the first three verses I'd just say, "Amen, amen and amen!" But, they you have verse 23. Maybe it is somehow referring to the truly righteous who protect the poor from injustice. In a land of righteous people, the poor would have plenty.

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.