May 5, Reading Notes

Judges 21

This event just keeps getting worse. What I find interesting in all of this is that Israel asks God about fighting, but they don't appear to ask God regarding a solution to the problem with Benjamin and where to get wives for them. It was like they sought God for something difficult like fighting and then, when their lives weren't at stake, they said, "We can figure this out on our own." I've always wondered why there is no direct question to the Lord and why there is no answer.

I wonder, too, what is meant when it says, "they came before the Lord." Apparently Phinehas was present with them during the fighting because the answers from the Lord would have come through the Urim and Thummim. The Tabernacle was in Shiloh, and although some people speculate that it might have been moved to Bethel, in verse 4 it says they built an altar. If the Tabernacle was there, they wouldn't need to build an altar. Also, it was forbidden in the Law to build another altar or sacrifice any place other than the Tabernacle.

It seems to me that things had fallen apart with the worship at the Tabernacle. The Ark of the Covenant was easier to move and possibly they moved the inner sanctuary (holy of holies) with it. In 1 Samuel we have the Ark being moved and brought into battle, and afterward, the Ark was separated from the Tabernacle for years. It seems then, that Phinehas brought the Ark to Bethel, but the Tabernacle and altar and lampstand, etc…remained in Shiloh. So when they sacrificed at Bethel, they needed to build an altar.

Even in their worship and inquiry, there is something here that is not right. The verdict, "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes," was wide sweeping in almost everything that happened in Israel.

V. 5 The oath they took doesn't seem to have been from the Lord, but rather, it was what the leaders thought was a good idea. It made some sense that anyone who didn't send a representative to the battle, was in some way saying they agreed with the men of Gibeah or didn't think cleansing the land was important.

Vs. 19-24 The next big idea was to allow 200 men from Benjamin to kidnap the young women from Shiloh. Brilliant!?!?! I wonder how God would have weighed in on that idea if they had asked Him?

V. 25 I think, gives the commentary on all of this activity. They did not inquire of the Lord. They followed their own mind and "god" thoughts and feelings.

As disciples, we don't want to be wooden and rigid in seeking God's will, but we don't want to just live by good and godly feelings. I think it is good for us to consider God in every decision we make, just to stay in the habit. If we can buy thing after thing, and watch show after show, go where want and do what we want, without really laying it before God, I think we might be kidding ourselves. Maybe we're not really following God and His Word at all, just our "god" thoughts.

Ephesians 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ruth 1

V. 1 In the days of the Judges. The Bible Knowledge Commentary suggests that this might have taken place during the judgeship of Gideon. Since we know that Ruth's son will be Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of King David, these time references put this event a couple of generations before Samuel and Samson.

V. 2 Notice with this story, and in the last two stories in Judges, there is mention of Bethlehem. This area of Israel was taking on dominance, and this story in particular points to God's selection of David as king. So then, even in all of this history, God's plan of redemption is working. A tribe, Judah, has been given a privileged standing and now the region around Bethlehem and Jerusalem is becoming, not just the geographical center of Israel, but the redemptive center as well.

Vs. 1-14 I don't know that Elimelech did something bad in leaving. I don't read it was somehow God's punishment that all these guys died. We have the advantage of seeing God's plan in this. They didn't. As disciples, we learn not to judge God because of chaos in our lives. God is working for good.

It looked like one of the boys married OPRAH, but alas, it is really ORPAH.

Vs. 15-18 Somewhere in this, there is not only loyalty, but also great faith on Ruth's part. She was literally turning her back on her previous way of life. Whatever this family was doing, even in dying and doubting their way, they were a testimony to these two woman. Ruth couldn't find a home anymore apart from Naomi and her ways, and part of "her ways" was the worship of Yahweh.

They returned around the time of the Passover. There is a lot of redemption going on here. The BKC also mentioned the frequency of the forms of the word, "return." This morning I was reading that the pairs of apostles Jesus sent out, preached the gospel "that men should repent"…that is, the Gospel says to turn from sin and turn toward God. I think that the image of turning or returning is part of the early story in Ruth.

John 4:4-42

You know this story, and you'll make lots of great observations, so I'll only make a few remarks.

V. 19 I've read this story several times and have never understood, as many preachers say, that she was trying to get Jesus off onto a side issue. It seems to me that she asked a question that was important for her, and Jesus gave her a very direct and sensitive answer.

V. 27 Apparently you didn't talk to strange women.

V. 34 Somehow I think this needs to be truer of me and of us all with each passing day.

V. 35 I believe this. Lord, help my unbelief.

What an amazing story.

Psalm 105:1-15

V. 1 Peoples = Nations

Just look for everything that has to do with God's plan of redemption and underline it.

Proverbs 14:25

The truth saves. Period. No amount of "fuzzy speak," even Christian "fuzzy speak" saves lives.

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.