Posts
Reflections on Joshua 19-20
The cities of Simeon (Joshua 19:2-7) (2nd son overall, 2nd by Leah, entymology: Shama 'heard') reflect the cities near the border of Edom as noted in Joshua 15:21-32 of the southernmost cities of Judah. Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar Shual, Ezem, Eltolad, Hormah, Ziklag (still held by the Philistines before David's reign), Ain, and Rimomon are mentioned directly. Ether and Ashan of verse 7 are also mentioned by name in Joshua 15:42 in relation with Judah's alottment. Balah appears to be Baalah of Joshua 15:29; Bethul appears to be Kesis in Joshua 15:30; Beth Marcaboth may be Madmannah with Hazar Susah being Sansannah of Joshua 15:31. Beth Lebaoth is rendered Lebaoth in Joshua 15:32 and Sharuhen is rendered Shilhim in the same verse. Given the different names and renderings between the two chapters, it seems to suggest different records were accessed for these writings. It does not appear there is a set boundary for Simeon, but only an alottment of cities. Simeon appears to be a nomadic people within Judah, being referred to only as Jews with the Judeans as they emerged from the Babylonian captivity. They receive historical backing in I Chronicles 4:24-43 and have become the characters of folklore and legend throughout history.
Zebulun (Joshua 19:10-16) (10th son overall, 6th by Leah, entymology: 'honor') received the third lot. The modern city of Nazareth now lies within the tribal boundaries of Zebulun, but it is not mentioned in the Old Testament, nor is an exact location given in the New Testament. Although Jacob seemed to forcast Zebulun's boundaries in Genesis 49:13 "Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon." However, neither of these prophecies have been fulfilled in Joshua's allotment of Joshua 19:10-16. The prophecy appears to represent Asher's portion.
Zebulun shares its southwest border with Manasseh along the Kishon River at the northern base of Mount Carmel. The tribes southernmost tip meets a confluence with Issachar and Manasseh near Sarid in the plain of Megiddo west of the Jezreel Valley (akin to Armageddon). Zebulun's border then travels due east sharing this southern border with Issachar towards Mt. Tabor where it meets a confluence with Naphtali. The eastern border shared with Naphtali travels along the summit of the hill country reaching a Northern point at the confluence of Asher and Naphtali east of Cabul. Zebulun follows the eastern border of Asher south from Cabul back to the Kishon river (brook) and the border of Manasseh.
Issachar (Joshua 19:17-23) (9th son overall, 5th by Leah, entymology: 'Sakar' hire) received the fourth lot. Heading southeast from the southern point of Zebulun near Mt. Har and Megiddo (present day tel-Megiddo) Issachar's southern border was shared with Manasseh's northern along the Kishon River and the Plain of Megiddo (within the Plain of Esdraelon today). At En-gannim (near present day Janin) their border turned north toward Jezreel (present day Afula). Just south of Jezreel, the border turned toward the east finding the North edge of the Jarmuth river valley near the spring of Harod (En-Harod) with which it met the Jordan River past Beth-Shan (across from present day Khirb-at-ash). Issachar's western border was the Jordan River from Ramoth (Jarmuth) North to Beth-shemeth (near present day Ashdot Ya'agov). Their northern border encompassed Mt. Tabor, meeting the eastern border of Zebulun at the Mountain's northwest base near Daberath (perhaps near present day Dabburiya). From Mount Tabor, Issachar shared Zebulun's border back to the Kishon River near Sarid.
The name "Issachar" itself means "wages". Consider Romans 6:19-23 "I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in [through] Christ Jesus our Lord."
En-gannim (Janin) lies at the southern end of the valley of Jezreel. By satelite photo, one can see that the valley itself is a fertile loam, well organized into agricultural fields. The meaning of this city, not surprisingly includes "garden". Consider this quote from http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/EnGannim.html and note that Eden itself is second in the column to the left. "The name En-gannim is a compound of two elements. The first element is the word (ayin 1613), meaning eye, or spring of water. The second part may (be) the the plural form of (ganah 367b), meaning garden. This noun comes from the verb (ganan 367) to defend in the sense of to cover over or shield from danger. This common verb, however, is only used to describe God's guardianship over man."
Two other cities of note are Megiddo near Mount Har and Jezreel (meaning "God sows") across the valley. Megiddo was held by Manasseh, but certainly lay near the confluence of Issachar and Zebulun. From this position on earth come the tales of Armaggon. (Har-Megiddo). An entymology brings up words such as cut or invade from the verb gadar which also is used in the tribal name of Gad, known for military prowess. Combined with the letter mem, this verb tense is 'ongoing'. http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Megiddo.html Combined, "the verb most often refers to the pagan ritual of self laceration during worship (1 Ki 18:28)." Thus we have the sign of the one true God destroying all the false religions of Elijah's time from Mount Carmel. After God thus destroyed the religious myths of Elijah's day, Elijah looked out over the valley of Jezreel (valley of Armageddon) and saw the smallest of rainclouds rising and realized the blessings of the Lord were about to drench the earth and the people ran for cover from the storm. Near the north and west ends of this valley in Issachar lie Nazareth and Bethlehem of Zebulun.
As Jacob spoke of Issachar in Genesis 49:15, he said "When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor." May we too submit to our King of Peace, in complete consideration of the dangers of refusal! Thereby, may we too lay down our weapons of warring faiths and dance in the coming blessings of His rain. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to study the entymologies of the rest of these cities!
Asher (Joshua 19:24-31) (8th son overall, 2nd son of Zilpah, entymology: 'happy') received the 5th lot. From the mouth of the Kishon River Asher followed the river valley which was also the northern border of Manasseh southeast to Helkath, turning north along the base of the mountains of the Hittites which was the border of Zebulun. As the border passed Cabul (Kabul), Asher's eastern border became the western border of Naphtali northward to the Litani River valley. According to Joshua 19, this Litani river valley appears to be Asher's northern border heading west back to the Mediterranian Sea north of Tyre. Asher bordered the Mediterranean on its western side from the Litani south to the Kishon.
Although Sidon is mentioned in verse 28, Asher only appears to have gained control of the coastal plains and the ladder of Tyre as far as the Litani (Leontes) River. Sidonian Phoenicia extended south of the Leontes (Litani) river and certainly represents the reference "Sidon the Great". The Sidonian's then represented Asher's northern neighbor at or near the Litani river (brook). Zarephath of the Sidonians of I Kings 17 represents a Sidonian city north of the Leontes (Litani) brook along the coast. It was perhaps this brook and certainly this town where Elijah spent time with the widow and her son.
The Modern city of Haifa may well represent the southwest border of Joshua's inheritance of Asher leading down to Kiryat Tiv'on and turning north through Northern Israel near Shefa-'Amr, reaching the Lebanon border between Shlomi and Eilon. The present day city of Beit Chama in Lebanon lies near Ramah while Kafra and Siret Hanna lie near the city of Kanah. Northern Israel's border today reaches the ladder of Tyre south of Labboune Lebanon to the sea - near the ancient city of Misrephoth-maim.
Naphtali (Joshua 19:32-39) (6th son overall, 2nd by Bilhah, etymology: 'wrestled' also twisted like a cord or thread) received the sixth lot. Naphtali's boundaries begin at Heleph in the hill country west of the basin to the south and west of the Sea of Galilee. The cities mentioned in verse 33 follow the west side of that basin down to Lakkum, along the Jordan, south of the Sea. The border then goes west towards Mount Tabor along the border of Issachar through the river valley of Anaharath until it meets the Zebulun border near Daberath. As stated in verse 34, Naphtali shares the border with Zebulun to the southwest from Mt. Tabor to Cabul. From Cabul north to the Litani River Naphtali's western border coinsides with Asher's eastern border. Naphtali's northern border along Syria (Aram) meets the Jordan river past Lake Huleh perhaps as far as Ijon and the Litani River west of Mount Hermon. (see I Kings 15:20)
Perhaps the most peculiar mention of Naphtali in Joshua 19 is the mention of its touching Judah at the Jordan. Considering the context of this verse, there is no doubt that the tribe of Judah is meant. It is possible this refers to Moses blessing of Deuteronomy 33:23 granting Naphtali the lake and the south depending upon the translation. However, this is questionable due to the translation and the logic of the verse in that the context of the verse is well North of the sea of Galilee, much less Judah! Plus, if Naphtali had water rights to the Jordan, their territory would have touched more tribal boundaries than just Judah's. It is more likely that Judah had claimed water rights to the Jordan River! The only mention I can think of is the peculiar story of Caleb's daughter's request of Joshua 15:13-19. By controlling the water rights to the upper and lower lakes, Caleb's family inheritance of the Negeb could be assured that the upper tribal allotments would not abuse their water rights, allowing enough water to reach their valley. This also would have established the road Jesus followed along the Jordan from the Sea of Galilee to Jerusalem.
A second reflection is that given that the mention of boundary lines did not encompass the fortified cities along the Sea of Chinnereth, it would appear these cities were written into the record before they had been conquered.
As Naphtali represented the bulk of the area where Jesus ministry took place, perhaps it would be worthwhile to check the etymologies of the cities within this region. Heleph = 'exchange'; Zaanannim akin to 'sleepwalkers' (nomadic slumber); Adaminekeb = a kind of bird; Jabneel = 'God causes to build'; Lakkum = 'fortification' (to stop up by barricade); Aznoth-tabor = peaks of Tabor (Tabor = 'to make plain,' - 'well,' 'purify', 'purge', 'choose', 'cleanse'); Hukkok = 'appointed'; Ziddim = 'downward slopes'; Zer = 'scattering or moulding'; Hammath = 'be warm'; Rakkath = 'shore' or 'beach'; Chinnereth = 'harp' or 'lyre'; Adamah = 'ground' or 'whole earth', Ramah = 'hill'; Hazor = 'village', 'trumpet', or 'castle'; Kedesh = 'sanctified' or 'holy place'; Edrei = 'goodly pasture' or 'fountain of the village'; Iron = 'fearing'; Migdalel = 'tower of God'; Horem = 'sacred'; Beth-anath = 'house of response' or 'affliction'; Beth-shemesh = 'house of the sun';
Dan (Joshua 19:40-48) (5th son overall, 1st by Bilhah, etymology; "He Judged") received the 7th lot. Zorah and Eshtaol were also mentioned in the lowland of Judah of Joshua 15:33. They lie just east of Mount Jearim where the Nahal Sorek (Wadi Surar) flows westward out of the Judean foothills into the Sorek valley. This was the home of Samson, the Danite and his dealings with the Philistines of Judges 13-16. This brook of Sorek was often seen as the southern border between the Danites and the Philistines of the Gaza strip, although Ekron may have been a bit south of the brook. Dan's western border was the Mediterranean Sea north past Joppa to the mouth of the Yarkon River at Me-jarkon. Dan shared its Northern border along the Yarkon River with Manasseh for less than 10 miles before meeting Ephraim with whom they shared most of their eastern border. The eastern border encompassed Jehud and Gibbethon rounding Ephraim through Gezer and meeting Benjamin near the western base of Mount Heres. The most prominent point of Dan, besides Samson's escapades was the seaport of Joppa where cedars from Lebanon were brought for the first and second temples (II Chronicles 2 and Ezra 3). Joppa was also the port Jonah ran to to escape his call (Jonah 1) and was an influential city of the early church as mentioned in Acts 9, 10, and 11.
600 men from the Tribe of Dan also moved north in Judges 18 to Laish of the Sidonions, north of Naphtali. They destroyed the people and rebuilt the city, calling it Dan. This is why the tribe of Dan became split in two. In Joshua 19, this land had been alotted to Naphtali.
Joshua's city of Timnath-Serah was approximately 12 miles east of the Danite inheritance of Joshua 19.
Joshua 20 reflects the cities of refuge which have greater mention in Numbers 35 and Deuteronomy 4 and 19. In commenting on those chapters, I reflected on the refuge of the church and the refuge we may find within the confines of prayer with our Heavenly Father.
It certainly is possible that the use of Hebron as a city of refuge as well as a city for the descendants of Aaron and the Kohathites had something to do with Judah's receiving claim of the Jordan River.
Kedesh of Naphtali in Galilee was also given as a Levitical city to the Gershonites in Joshua 21:32. In Judges 4, Deborah would mount her defense with Barak out of Kedesh of Naphtali with 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun. The city would fall to the Assyrians in II Kings 15.
As Abram journeyed toward the Negeb in Genesis 12, the Lord stopped him in Shechem and promised to give him all the land he could see. Jacob bought land and began to raise his family in Shechem when he returned from Aram until Simeon and Levi slaughtered the men of the town forcing them to move (Genesis 33-34). While the family lived in Hebron, Josephs brothers sold Joseph when he came to check on them at Shechem (Genesis 37). Joshua gave his farewell address from Shechem in Joshua 24. Abimelech, son of Gideon by his concubine in Shechem was made King in that city and laid seige to it in Judges 9 following the murder of Gideon's 70 sons. Israel rebelled against Rehoboam in Shechem and made Jeroboam king in his place (I Kings 12). The road to Shechem, this city of refuge, became known as a dangerous place both in Judges 9 and the prophecy of Hosea 6:9 "And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way toward Shechem; yea, they have committed lewdness." Joseph's bones were buried in Shechem as reflected in Joshua 24:32 and Acts 7:16.
As directed by Moses in Deuteronomy 4:43 "Bezer in the desert plateau, for the Reubenites; Ramoth in Gilead, for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, for the Manassites." were also designated cities of refuge. Bezer was also given to the Merarites as Levitical land in Joshua 21:36 as was Ramoth in Joshua 21:38. The Gershonites received Golan in Joshua 21:27.
Jehoshaphat joined Ahab in a quest to take Ramoth-Gilead from the Syrians in I Kings 22 and were still unable to dislodge it. Ahab met his death from that battle. Their sons; Joram, son of Ahab, and Ahaziah, son of Jehoshaphat attempted Ramoth-Gilead again in II Kings 8:28-29 without success and Joram was wounded. While Joram was laid up in Ramoth, Elisha had Jehu annointed King in Ramoth Gilead and Jehu assassinated Joram to establish his Kingdom over Israel. Ramoth remained in the hands of Aram. (II Kings 9).
Reflections on Luke 19:28-48
Who is This Who Comes in the Name of the Lord Luke 19:28-40
"The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
O Lord, save us; O Lord, grant us success. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you.
The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 118:22-29
Say it again "His love endures forever," "His Love endures forever," His Love endures forever!" (see Psalm 118:1-4)
The Lord's right hand is lifted high; the Lord's right hand has done mighty things!" I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
The Lord has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death. Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. Psalm 118:16-21
The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. (see also Exodus 15:2, Isaiah 12:2)
Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: 'The Lord's right hand has done mighty things! Psalm 118:14-15
Luke 19:1-10 began with the story of Zacchaeus, bringing to a final week 3 years of the ministry of challenging the religious elite and spending time with sinners preaching the Kingdom of God. Verse 10 said "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
The Father also came seeking to save what was lost in Genesis 3:7-11a "Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?'
He answered, 'I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.'
And he said, 'Who told you that you were naked?'"
And yet, things continued to get worse as man rebelled against man imagining a God who showed favoritism and stood in judgment and wrath against one another as their son, Cain killed his brother. Again, God shared the natural consequence of disrupting His balance of peace within creation: "The Lord said, 'What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.'" Genesis 4:10-12
Following this teaching from Zacchaeus (I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance), Jesus spoke of the economy of ministry in his name in Luke 19:11-27. If that ministry was bringing sinners to repentance, it would be blessed! However, if it did not reach out to the sinner, such ministry was doomed. Such were His issues with the House of God in Jerusalem.
Jesus made a point not to ride into Zion on a White Horse as his was not to be a military conquest, but to establish a Kingdom of Peace welcoming the sinner back into His presence. It would seem the only one who understood this that day was the Father and the Son. The Son who chose to ride on the donkey, and the Father who had fortold this day through the prophets of old. " Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth."
As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit." Zechariah 9:9-11.
For what reason would that Kingdom change when our Lord and Savior comes again? For what purpose would he then come to save the righteous, sending the sinner - those who sought the wrong Jesus or the wrong Father - to eternal separation? This theology goes against all of scripture and the good news of salvation and peace that comes through our Loving Lord and Saviour who seeks and saves that which is lost.
He's coming for you!
For 10 chapters, Jesus has been following a steady course from Galilee, past Samaritan lands as he traveled the Jordan road back to Judah. His journey began in Luke 9:51! His followers from Galilee have joined with him on this journey as their conquering King will set up His throne in the Holy City of God! Little did they know, this House had buried his good news and intended to bury Him. These builders had already rejected this stone as He had been defiled with the likes of his disciples! His disciples themselves and the women within His crowd were representative of prostitutes, demon possessed, and tax collectors! Again, only Father and Son carried the knowledge of what was about to happen.
Therefore, as Jesus entered the gates of Jerusalem that day, there was not a large welcome crowd from within! The welcoming crowd had come along with Him! It was the disciples and this crowd from Galilee and perhaps some Greeks and Samaritans who chanted those words from Psalm 118 above! (verse 38) "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
Their words were reflective of the Angels as Luke had shared that moment when Jesus first made His appearance on this earth not far from these very gates, dressed in swaddling cloths and lying in a feeding trough for the beasts of earth in the form of a helpless babe. Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." The kings of the earth also recognized his presence from the start as Matthew reflects in Matthew 2:2 "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east [when it rose] and have come to worship him."
Due to the uproar his followers were causing, Jerusalem was astonished. Matthew 21:10-11 reflects "When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, 'Who is this?' The crowds answered, 'This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.'" No doubt, most of the crowd, including the disciples thought there were such words in the holy scriptures. The Pharisees themselves chastised Jesus in Luke 19:39, fearing the safety of their people both ethnically and philosophically.
In response to the Pharisees, Jesus reflected the words of Habakkuk 2:7-14; "Will not your debtors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their victim. Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you. For you have shed man's blood;
you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.
Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain to set his nest on high, to escape the clutches of ruin! You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life. The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.
Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by crime! Has not the Lord Almighty determined that the people's labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing? For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."
Admonishment of the Builders Luke 19:41-48
In consideration of this scripture, Luke may have brought the context of the tax collector and the Levite together in Luke 19. As Luke 19:41-44 describe his sorrow over Jerusalem, and reflect his coming prophecy regarding its destruction in 70 AD, allow me to quote Isaiah 62:10-12 as even the stones of the temple and the removal of its roadblocks to salvation for the nations cry out and tie into this passage:
"Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway!
Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations. The Lord has made proclamation to the ends of the earth:
'Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted.'"
I truly believe that today Jerusalem flourishes and will do so until the end of our time on earth as the nations rally around Zion in Peace as the Kingdom of our God becomes firmly established among us.
Luke 19 closes reflecting the hostility and tension between this Prince of peace and those servants who had tended his vineyard since the days of Moses. As he cleansed the temple, it was not books and crafts that were removed, it was birds and animals fit for sacrifice. It was the moneychangers who sat in judgment over the people providing salvation for a sum through the blood of creation. He stood before them as the new covenant in His blood so that such sacrifice might be banished once and for all from the earth and Man might once again live in peace and harmony with his creation - and with his Creator!
Habakkuk 2:2-4 "Then the Lord replied: 'Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.
See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright - but the righteous will live by his faith"
Thanks to the scribes and the Pharisees, the heralds of good tidings of which even they did not understand, we have the word of God and it shall accomplish His plan for our salvation. Thank You Israel!
Reflections on Psalms 88
Real World Faith Psalms 88:1-9
Although the Psalmist is Heman the Ezrahite, it is quite possible this Psalm reflects the heart of David. Heman was the grandson of Samuel, singer in David's courts (I Chronicles 6:33), David's seer, and ancestor of the sons of Korah (I Chronicles 25:1-4). Solomon's wisdom was said to be greater than Heman and Ethan in I Kings 4:31.
Whether or not this represents his life, Psalm 88 could well reflect David who was another man of faith who had his tendancies to be puffed up (Habakkuk 2:4)! However, he also had his moments of depression and this was certainly one of them. Thanks also to David for writing down his songs and the thoughts of his heart that we today can be blessed by his faith.
David began his reign at the age of 30, yet he had been annointed as a child. He had been established as a shephard and had been forced to face adversity from an early age. Listen to his testimony of I Samuel 17:33-37 in response to Saul when it came time to face another giant!
"Saul replied, 'You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth.'
But David said to Saul, 'Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.'
Saul said to David, 'Go, and the Lord be with you.'"
After killing the giant and entering the house of Saul, Saul's anger and jelousy over David's relationship with God and the people was aroused and he became David's enemy, haunting him until the time of Saul's death. David then dealt with family hostilities and personal failure regardless of his throne and righteousness. Certainly, he was a man well versed in adversity and depression despite his seeming successes in life. He was one of us. He dealt with pain and anguish; hatred and hostility; sleepless nights and questions of faith.
In Psalm 88:3-9, David feels abandoned by God to the point of imagining himself in the depths of Sheol as he understood the way of the dead; cast off, broken, separated from God. He is a man of prayer, yet even David has found that prayer often seems hollow and there is no answer! His faith is pertinent in this real world we all experience. He again appears desparate and on the verge of rage asking God, Why!
What Happens After We Die? Psalm 88:10-14
His questions of Psalm 88:10-14 are deep and worthy of consideration: Let's see if there are any answers from the rest of scripture: Does God have relationship with those who have passed on from this life?
Numbers 16:48 "He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped."
Ruth 2:20 "He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead."
I Kings 3:23-25 "The king said, 'This one says, 'My son is alive and your son is dead,' while that one says, 'No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.' '
Then the king said, 'Bring me a sword.' So they brought a sword for the king. He then gave an order: 'Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.'
The bantering between these two women remind me of the controversies over "right Christ" theologies I hear today! Thank goodness there is enough of the living Christ to go around and that all who call on His name shall be saved. Thank goodness his body has already been broken for us.
Psalm 49:15 "But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself."
Psalm 86:13 "For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave"
Psalm 89:47-52 "Remember how fleeting is my life. For what futility you have created all men! What man can live and not see death, or save himself from the power of the grave?
O Lord, where is your former great love, which in your faithfulness you swore to David? Remember, Lord, how your servant has been mocked, how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations, the taunts with which your enemies have mocked, O Lord, with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one.
Praise be to the Lord forever! Amen and Amen.
Ecclesiasties 4:2 "And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive."
Matthew 22:32 "'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' ? He is not the God of the dead but of the living." (see also Mark 12:27, Luke 20:38)
Acts 10:42 "He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead."
Romans 14:9 "For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living."
Revelation 1:18 "I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."
Philippians 2:9-11 "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
As I have often prayed the prayer of Psalm 88:14, allow me to share the answer I have found: "the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete," James 1:3b-4a.
"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12.
Refinements and Judgments of His Love Psalm 88:15-18
"People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood (salvation) came and destroyed (covered) them all" Luke 17:27 ( personal additions)
The judgment of God has indeed come. Dead as we are in our misdeeds and unrighteousness, separated it would seem at times from the love of God, we seek that flooding of our world by His Spirit of Love! As the water of purification and the fires refining our souls, so His righteousness will blot out our transgressions, wash away all our iniquity, and cleanse us from all our sin. (see Psalm 51:1b-2).
"on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth...the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth. The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. They rose greatly on the earth, and all the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered. The waters rose and covered the mountains to a depth of more than twenty feet. Every living thing that moved on the earth perished" Genesis 7:11b-21a.
Call a friend and share a little light in their darkness. Too many of us are lost in the depths of Psalm 88.
Reflections on Proverbs 13:12-14
(vs 12) What if all we knew was Love, Joy, and Peace? What if we made that our life's desire? What if we made that our Lord! and yet, Genesis 3:3-7a "God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'
'You will not surely die,' the serpent said to the woman. 'For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked;" - and for the first time, they were ashamed!
(vs 13) The entire Bible seems to be about this one thing: Love God + Love Man. If our decisions cannot be justified in Love for our fellowman, it is bound to be judged by our Father! Listen to Hebrews 10:31-37
"It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."
(vs 14) As a father, I wish I could do more to help my children out of trouble! As a son, I'm sure my Dad feels the same about me. I am pretty sure the same is true of God. Perhaps that's why we have the Bible in the first place. Some have referred to the Bible as: "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth"! How true. The Spirit and guidance within this word is certainly a fountain of blessing in life! And yet, turning from our creator and not making the establishment of His Love our first priority - when we put our own needs before those of our fellowman - we soon find snares of enmity, hatred, strife, hopelessness, and all those things that make our lives miserable and lonely.
Choose Life
Rick
Monday, April 19, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
April 18, 2010; Joshua 16-18, Luke 19:1-27, Psalm 87, Proverbs 13:11
Reflections on Joshua 16-18
Joseph's Western Allotments Joshua 16-17
Perhaps it is fitting that the boundaries and possessions of the tribe of Judah are followed by the boundaries and possessions of Ephraim. Such is the royal tribe of Judah and the royal tribe of Israel as the two nations split following the reign of David's son, Solomon. Solomon's son Rehoboam of Judah remained King over Judah, Benjamin and Simeon while Jeroboam, an Ephraimite was given the remaining tribes in I Kings 12.
Although Manasseh had received land on the east side of the Jordan, they were also given land with the tribe of the sons of Joseph on the west side of the Jordan. Although Bible maps vary, the land west of the Jordan given to Ephraim and Manasseh began on the Southeast at or near the Jordan River valley between Jericho and Gilgal. Ephraim's southern border ran along the northern border of Benjamin over the pass of the hill country passing near Luz (Bethel), Beth-horon, Gezer, and Ekron reaching a confluence with Dan and Benjamin and angled Northwest along a western border with Dan (and for a period, Philistine territory of Judah) The Jarkon River valley seems to act as a border between Dan and the tribes of the sons of Joseph reaching into the Ephraim territory. According to Joshua 15:6 Ephraim's border reached the Mediterranean Sea, but many maps show Dan holding the coastline and Manasseh holding the Jordan River valley.
The tribes of Joseph shared the Eastern border of the Jordan River from Jericho on the South to Beth-Shean on the North where Manasseh met the Southeast corner of the tribe if Issachar near the mouth of the river valley coming at the base of a drainage opposite Jezreel east across the hill country. Ephraim was separated from Manasseh about halfway up the Jordan river valley, near the mouth of a drainage that began northwest of Shechem east of the pass. Ephraim's Northern border running from the Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea just south of Mt. Ebal along the Kanah (Auja?) brook (Joshua 16:8, 17:9). That line was shared as Manasseh's Southern border.
Manasseh's western border ran along the Mediterranean Sea northward from Ephraim (or Dan) to the southern border of the tribe of Asher (some maps show Manasseh holding Mount Carmel while others show it being held by Asher. The border probably resides along the pass). Heading around Asher's southern point (the river valley near Shihorlibnath (Joshua 19:26), the northern border continued Northeast along Asher until it reached a confluence with Zebulun near the pass of the hill country. This border of Manasseh then followed the southern Zebulun border until the confluence with Issachar Northwest of Megido. From Zebulun to Beth-Shean along the Jordan river, Manasseh's northern border shares the southern border of Issachar passing Jezreel and returning to Beth-shean.
In studying the Bible, it becomes apparent that many of its books are abridgments of the cumulative efforts of many writings. This part of Joshua is certainly representative of that effort as the author has provided in depth detail of historical documents in an almost readable format. As mentioned with Joshua 15, Joshua 16-19 documents histories and people groups - not only Israelite, but also Canaanite for posterity. All bear witness to ancient times in this, God's historical book of life. Although there may be discrepancies in the historical record - as there is in historical records today, one can only stand amazed that such records have been preserved through countless devastations throughout history to provide this revelation to man until the end of time.
The reading of Joshua 17:3-6 brings up the story of the daughters of Zelophehad, first chronicled in Numbers 26. In consideration of these verses, it would appear the case of Zelophehad's daughters may have had a strong play in the major portions of land given to Manasseh, splitting the tribe into two halves east and west of the Jordan. Certainly, considering the numerous mention of the case, their case carried significant weight in the organizations of the nation of Israel.
Another point of interest is the reference of Joshua 17:11-13 that the alottments included not only the lands and the cities, but often the people within those cities. These people would obviously become the aliens among them and served as forced labor. The ongoing treatment of these aliens was a tremendous concern regarding faith as referenced over and over within the Bible as the poor and needy. Few cultures today can avoid this part of scripture as their own histories parallel Israel's in that they have consumed the land of others and the natives still reside within their cultures as a subculture. The reservations within America and the alien communities are reflective of the aliens that resided within Israel. The histories of injustice of colonial Europe and the America's stand in judgment upon many who consider themselves religious. Conquest and domination have been justified biblically as bloodlusts have avoided the very heart of scripture relating to the proper treatment of the poor and the needy, the widow, the orphan, the alien, and the Levite.
Such treatment begins with Genesis 17:8 reminding that first Hebrew, Abraham, that he was a sojourner in a land not his own. "The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God."
The world's consternation with religion is not unlike Sodom and Gomorrah's treatment of Lot in Genesis 19:9 "This fellow came here as an alien, and now he wants to play the judge!"
Abimalech and Phicol, commander of his forces, spoke for the world relating the concern of the Children of God in Genesis 21:23 "Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you are living as an alien the same kindness I have shown to you." If we have been blessed upon this earth, it is our responsibility to be a blessing as our offering back to its creator in praise and thanksgiving.
When Isaac blessed Jacob in Genesis 28:1-4, he reminded him of the promise of the land where they now lived as aliens and prophesied that Jacob would become a community of peoples. Most often this is considered to be the 12 tribes of Israel, but a quick consideration of Jerusalem and the Kingdom of God and one will realize this community of peoples is much greater than those original 12 sons - it includes all of us as God is calling all men back to Himself through His covenant promises. Just as in the days of Joshua, we are a community of aliens - new and old - together, we are ONE community being brought together under ONE God.
In Exodus 2:22 Moses named his firstborn son Gershom stating "I have become an alien in a foreign land."
There are a multitude of verses prodding the Child of God to treat the Alien within their midst with mercy and justice; Exodus 23:9 states "Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt." In the same way, as we welcome those who are seeking welcome within the Kingdom of God, we must accept them with open arms, understanding so well what it is to be held captive by sin. http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=56699155
Numerous verses chide us to show the alien special treatment as Children of God. The treatment given them is classified of severe importance as is that of the widow and orphan. Leviticus 19:10 states; "Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God."
Too often, the term "neighbor" is considered "brother". However, based on Leviticus 19:34 and the second commandment given in Mark 12:31, it would appear our treatment of the alien should be paramount in our minds as second only to our love for God! Consider the similarity of these two verses:
Leviticus 19:34 "The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God."
Mark 12:31 "The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
According to scripture, we continue to live on this world as aliens and tenants. Our purpose is to bring in His Harvest of Souls. We are not the judges, but the workers within His vineyard!
Leviticus 25:19-24 "Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety. You may ask, 'What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?' I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years (Jesus ministry?). While you plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in.
The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land."
I Corinthians 10:23-25 states "Everything is permissible - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible - but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, 'The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it.'" (reference to Psalm 24:1)
So, as we work as harvesters within His vineyard as aliens and brothers, what is our produce suppose to look like as we brush elbows with one another within this Kingdom of God? My personal guess is that as we submit our lives to our creator's will, loving the alien (anyone who is different in any way), we will find that God has already been at work and together, we will harvest those fruits of His spirit which are Faith, Hope, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, and Gentleness. Upon careful reflection, one may note that these fruits are not only coming from the Christian community; or just the Jewish community; or just the Hindu community; They are coming from us as we work together as aliens in this land of foreigners.
Consider for a moment that the very word "Hebrew" in its simplest English translation is "Alien".
Therefore, just as Joseph cleared land and found place and position within Egypt; just as his children cleared land and found a place among the Perizzites and the Rephaim; We too, as Children of God serving our King of Peace are numerous and possess the power of our Creator! We too shall consume the strength of hatred and enmity that has divided mankind since the first child of Adam killed his brother. With God's help, we shall pursue His purposes and establish Peace in our land.
Three Apportion Seven Allotments Joshua 18
Leah was quite fertile, giving Jacob his first four children in Genesis 29:31-35. Reuben (son of affliction), her firstborn sinned and slept with Bilhah, Rachel's maid and lost his birthright bringing the wrath of his Father down upon his head. Simeon (the Lord has heard that I am hated) was her second born and brought the wrath of the people upon the house of Jacob bringing a curse and disappointment from his father. Hoping for the love of Jacob, she named her third son Levi (joined - lawah). He also judged the community putting his fellowman to death and bringing mankind's wrath upon the house of Jacob which also brought a curse and separation from his Father. Finally, in her fourth child, she refused to complain and gave him the name Judah (I will praise the Lord).
Genesis 49:8-11 "Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons will bow down to you. You are a lion's cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness - who dares to rouse him?
The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs [Or until Shiloh comes; or until he comes to whom tribute belongs] and the obedience of the nations is his. He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.
In the hill country of Ephraim, the congregation chose a place where the House of God (the tabernacle) would come to rest. They set up the House of the Lord at Shiloh. The name as used in Genesis 49 above means "the one to whom tribute belongs." Other etymologies include "offspring"; "sent out"; and "origin". All prophetic names for the coming Son(s) of God.
As fate would have it, there were "7" allotments still to be determined. As we found in studying the city of Beer-Sheba (root word Shiva) in reflection from Genisis 31, this root word for the Hebrew number 7 also represents covenant or oath. (Upon further reflection, I also find the number 7 is represented by the word Zayan meaning sword or judgment). Here then, once again, is a sign of the covenant and the promises of God to the Hebrew nation and through them, promises from God to this community of peoples, now reflected by all men. The second symbolism of note in this passage is the number three (Gimel) in Hebrew.
Mark 14:58 reflects witnesses to the life of Jesus as claiming "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.' " This root word for three (gimel) is also used in the etymology of the word Galilee! Jesus began his ministry at 30 years of age. He ministered for 3 years in and around Galilee re-interpreting the scriptures for the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, claiming the Love of God His Father. He went to Jerusalem, and the temple and condemned their hatred and persecution of the prophets. They condemned him and put him to death, bringing about the new covenant in His blood.
These three then were sent out by the community into a land not their own with a feeling of entitlement as they understood that God had promised this land to them. Throughout the rest of history, those firm lines of borders and boundaries would be redefined as the cycles of sword and treaty, peace and bloodshed would continue. This beginning of divisions had begun again as according to Joshua 18:10, Joshua "cast lots for them in Shiloh in the presence of the Lord, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions."
In Joshua 22:12 "the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them." (their own brothers - all in the name of righteousness). It was from Shiloh also that the rulers and priests chose to send the ark of the Lord before them into battle, wherin the ark of the covenant passed into the hands of the Philistines. Following 7 years of ruling in Hebron, David captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites and made it his holy city. He then retreived the ark from Baalah (Kiriath-Baal or Kiriath-jearim) and brought it into Jerusalem. The holy city of Shiloh resided outside the tribe of Judah and became neglected due to the wickedness of Jeroboam following the Israeli-Judah split. The Psalmist remembered Shiloh in Psalm 78:60 "He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent he had set up among men."; and the prophet Jeremiah spoke of its demise and strongholds like it in Jeremiah 7 and 26 when men use the house of God to establish their own ends.
Jeremiah 7:3-15 "This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words and say, 'This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!' If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever. But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.
Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, 'We are safe - safe to do all these detestable things?' Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching!' declares the Lord.
'Go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for my Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel. While you were doing all these things, declares the Lord, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer. Therefore, what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears my Name, the temple you trust in, the place I gave to you and your fathers. I will thrust you from my presence, just as I did all your brothers, the people of Ephraim.'"
Jeremiah 26:11 "Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, 'This man should be sentenced to death because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!' "
So, what has changed? Man is still killing man and judging man in the name of a just God! And yet, we have had the words of Jesus Christ and his transformation of the old covenant understanding of wrath for over 2000 years. Yet, instead of listening to Him, we have listened to men who brought us back to beliefs of exclusionary atonement and salvation by works and proper doctrines, theologies, and beliefs - which if true would condemn every last one of us to eternal judgment. Yet, this old understanding has been destroyed in a matter of three days by Him who represented God on earth - our Shiloh - our gathering place - our Emmanuel.
II Corinthians 5:16-21 "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." No longer does "7" represent a sword, "7" represents His "peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:14b.
The chapter of Joshua 18 ends with the establishment of the tribal alottment of Benjamin between the powerhouses of Judah and Ephraim. His border passed south of the Jebusite city which would become Jerusalem, meaning Jerusalem initially resided within Benjamin territory (vs. 28). Although Ephraim touched Jericho, the city belonged within the boundaries of Benjamin as noted in Joshua 18:21. To them also was given Luz (also known as Bethel) although this also was mentioned along the borders of Ephraim. As Gibeah and Kiriath-Jearim are mentioned both in the allotments of Judah and Benjamin; and as the city of the Jebusites (Jerusalem) is mentioned in different context in Joshua 18:28 and Joshua 15:63, it becomes apparent various historical documents were being used in this writing and boundary lines were not firmly established - as noted above.
Reflections on Luke 19:1-27
Salvation for Sinners! Luke 19:1-10
Known in Egypt at times as the "tree of life", the 'ficus sycomorus' grows to over 60' tall and 20' wide. In Solomon's era, sycamore tree forests in the hills above the Jordan river valley resulted in I Kings 10:27 "The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills" As Jesus entered Jericho, (laying claim to the lowest and oldest permanently inhabited city on earth at nearly 200' below sea level), it was in one of these trees that Zacchaeus climbed to see his Christ.
It is well documented throughout the gospels that the tax collectors were found detestable within Jewish religious custom, and that they were prominent followers in both the ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus. This story once again does not fail to make that fact known as even the crowd following Jesus was appalled that He would accept invitation - even invite such invitation - to dine with tax collectors and sinners. This reflection falls directly within the context of Luke 18 in the routine judgment being given by the Children of God - as represented by the followers of Christ - both disciples and skeptics.
Zacchaeus reputation was not only that of a tax collector, oppressing the Jewish nation at the behest of the Roman Empire, but that he had become rich by doing so leading to the reputation of deception and skimming. Zacchaeus justified his behavior in that he excercised philanthropy in tithing 50% of his earnings to the poor and going out of his way to compensate those he was found to have defrauded. Jesus commended Zacchaeus behavior before the crowd noting that salvation had come to His house. He referenced that Zacchaeus was a son of Abraham, but we are not told whether he was Jew or Gentile. The judgmental crowd was reminded once again the purpose of Jesus ministry on earth was to "seek and to save what was lost." (vs. 10)
Ezekiel 34:15-16; "I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice."
Hear the words of a terrorist who was out to destroy a faith He did not understand in the first century from I Timothy 1:15-17; "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen"
Open Our Eyes Lord! Luke 19:11-27
Isaiah 6:9-12 "Go and tell this people: 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed."
Then I said, 'For how long, O Lord?' And he answered: 'Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant,
until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, until the Lord has sent everyone far away
and the land is utterly forsaken."
How frustrating it is to see history repeating itself. How frustrating to know that God could withdraw his goodness and mercy for yet another generation as we have once again soiled our garments in the bloodbath of war. How can this be when there are Bibles so plentiful within the world that the righteous return to the battlefield in vengeance and anger against their fellowman expecting the Prince of Peace to come to rain fire down on the alien and the enemy who is our brother.
For the Jews, it was the Romans. They had just listened to Jesus speak of the Kingdom as represented within the house of the tax collector, yet the rumble remained that here was a conquering King on His way to Jerusalem. Jesus had spoken over and over of the Kingdom of God and the Love that this Kingdom would revolve around, yet the bloodthirst and entitlement and dilusions of favoritism would not die. That was bad enough then, but why now after 2000 years of chanced maturity? One of the reasons is that our schools and theologies have bought into a final battle against flesh and blood and have interpreted scripture with these thoughts and apostacies in mind. We have been stuck on this wrathful, vengeful God even though such thoughts confuse our minds as we consider His perfect Love and Power to bring about Peace for mankind. We have been stuck in a Jewish first century mindset all along. So, how can we invest the fruit of His Spirit throughout our brethren and be that generation to break the cycle and the bloodbath and establish His Kingdom of Peace once and for all so that we do not go to our graves filled with this hatred and bloodshed?
When asked about the Kingdom of God, He claimed it was here now - among us. Therefore, perhaps it is unclear when the nobleman who is quite obviously the Christ had gone away and come back again! As He was there presently refining His followers, there certainly was fulfillment happening throughout His ministry as He continued to chastise the people for mistaken ideologies. For that understanding, the nobleman would have left perhaps at the Garden of Eden or following the strong presence of God at the time of Moses or David.
Yet, this judgment continues within the Kingdom even today! Churches are being judged, not only by God, but by our children and by our fellowman. As disciples, we have a choice to go out into all the world spreading a Kingdom of Peace - or to despise such a Kingdom and act as the Jews did and despise the Roman rulers or those infidels across the sea. In this understanding, each man or ministry must give an accounting before God. If the message is not drawing a harvest into the Kingdom, it is cut off. There is a lot of worry within our churches that our Children are leaving in droves of over 70%! Who has considered that this is the judgment of the King of Peace Himself! How can we produce fruit when we have cut ourselves off from our cultures and stand in judgment upon them? What has happened to our invitations - or have we become guilty of the judgment of Matthew 23:15 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are."
There is absolutely nothing wrong with telling the world about our Creator who is a Loving Father who wishes Peace to men on earth with whom He is well pleased. If we stop killing each other and blaspheming one another in His name, He will unstop His ears and shine His face upon us once again. There is nothing wrong with big churches that draw men unto our Father! Those ministries have obviously been blessed with talents and pounds!
II Timothy 4:1-5 "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."
Isaiah 9:5 "Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire."
Leviticus 19:34 "The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God."
Isaiah 45:21-25 " there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me. 'Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, My mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.'
All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. But in the Lord all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult."
Luke 18:8 "I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
I ask again; What is the myth? What is the apostacy? Read this word of God again in the purity and light of His Love.
Reflections on Psalm 87
Psalm 2:1-4a "Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. 'Let us break their chains,' they say, 'and throw off their fetters.'
The One enthroned in heaven laughs;"
Psalm 2:6 "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill."
Why is there so much beauty in scripture regarding the peace surrounding Jerusalem in the last days as all men join together to worship our Lord as One and yet so many of His children choose to focus on the valley of Armageddon?
Psalm 87:1 agrees with Psalm 2:6 above! The foundations of His Kingdom on earth have been set on Zion!
Isaiah 28:15-18a "You boast, 'We have entered into a covenant with death, with the grave [sheol] we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood [false gods] our hiding place.'
So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place. Your covenant with death will be annulled; your agreement with the grave will not stand."
Psalm 87:2 The Lord loves all who enter his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise! Revelation 21:25 "On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there."
Isaiah 60:10-11 ""Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. Though in anger I struck you, in favor I will show you compassion. Your gates will always stand open, they will never be shut, day or night, so that men may bring you the wealth of the nations - their kings led in triumphal procession.
Psalm 87:3 as reflected by Psalm 48:2 "It is beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth. Like the utmost heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King."
Isaiah 54:7-11 "For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,' says the Lord your Redeemer.
'To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,'says the Lord, who has compassion on you. 'O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will build you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires.' "
Psalm 87:4 "community of nations" (Gen.35:11) as reflected by John 10:16 "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd."
Isaiah 49:5-6 "And now the LORD says - he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength - he says: 'It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."
Psalm 87:5 "all nations on earth will be blessed through him." (Gen.18:18b) as reflected by Ephesians 1:4b-6a "In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us"
Psalm 72:16-19 "Let grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon; let it thrive like the grass of the field. May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.
Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.
Psalm 87:6 "Keys to the Kingdom" as reflected by Psalm 69:26-28 "For they persecute those you wound
and talk about the pain of those you hurt. Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation. May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous. I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me."
John 17:20-26 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."
Psalm 87:7 "My Strength and my Song" as reflected by Isaiah 12:2 "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."
Romans 15:5-13 "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:
'Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name.'[2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49] Again, it says, 'Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.'[Deut. 32:43] And again, 'Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples.'[Psalm 117:1] And again, Isaiah says, 'The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.'[Isaiah 11:10]
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Reflections on Proverbs 13:11
It is so easy to get bogged down in salvation theologies and end times! But what about now! What about living today given the knowledge of salvation and the hope of eternity? We still need to earn a living and live in this world, right?
Allow me to reflect on Proverbs 13:11 from two realities: 1. Salvation 2. Worldly wealth.
1. Salvation; Salvation hastily received might very well disappear when adversity or temptation strikes and hope is lost. And yet, with an understanding and commitment towards faith building, while honoring the Love of God through a series of ups and downs in life, faith is built on a solid foundation that God's hand is always there. We find that even those moments we must face adversity only proves to make our faith stronger. Through such patient endurance, a faith can be built that will last a lifetime and can feed others.
2. Worldly wealth; Worldly wealth hastily received might very well disappear when adversity or temptation strikes and hope is lost. And yet, with an understanding and commitment towards financial acumen, while honoring the Love of God through a series of ups and downs in life, wealth is built on a solid foundation that God's hand is always there. We find that even those moments we must face adversity only proves to make our faith stronger. Through such patient endurance, wealth can be built that will last a lifetime and can feed others.
James 1:2-8 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Until tomorrow
Rick
Joseph's Western Allotments Joshua 16-17
Perhaps it is fitting that the boundaries and possessions of the tribe of Judah are followed by the boundaries and possessions of Ephraim. Such is the royal tribe of Judah and the royal tribe of Israel as the two nations split following the reign of David's son, Solomon. Solomon's son Rehoboam of Judah remained King over Judah, Benjamin and Simeon while Jeroboam, an Ephraimite was given the remaining tribes in I Kings 12.
Although Manasseh had received land on the east side of the Jordan, they were also given land with the tribe of the sons of Joseph on the west side of the Jordan. Although Bible maps vary, the land west of the Jordan given to Ephraim and Manasseh began on the Southeast at or near the Jordan River valley between Jericho and Gilgal. Ephraim's southern border ran along the northern border of Benjamin over the pass of the hill country passing near Luz (Bethel), Beth-horon, Gezer, and Ekron reaching a confluence with Dan and Benjamin and angled Northwest along a western border with Dan (and for a period, Philistine territory of Judah) The Jarkon River valley seems to act as a border between Dan and the tribes of the sons of Joseph reaching into the Ephraim territory. According to Joshua 15:6 Ephraim's border reached the Mediterranean Sea, but many maps show Dan holding the coastline and Manasseh holding the Jordan River valley.
The tribes of Joseph shared the Eastern border of the Jordan River from Jericho on the South to Beth-Shean on the North where Manasseh met the Southeast corner of the tribe if Issachar near the mouth of the river valley coming at the base of a drainage opposite Jezreel east across the hill country. Ephraim was separated from Manasseh about halfway up the Jordan river valley, near the mouth of a drainage that began northwest of Shechem east of the pass. Ephraim's Northern border running from the Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea just south of Mt. Ebal along the Kanah (Auja?) brook (Joshua 16:8, 17:9). That line was shared as Manasseh's Southern border.
Manasseh's western border ran along the Mediterranean Sea northward from Ephraim (or Dan) to the southern border of the tribe of Asher (some maps show Manasseh holding Mount Carmel while others show it being held by Asher. The border probably resides along the pass). Heading around Asher's southern point (the river valley near Shihorlibnath (Joshua 19:26), the northern border continued Northeast along Asher until it reached a confluence with Zebulun near the pass of the hill country. This border of Manasseh then followed the southern Zebulun border until the confluence with Issachar Northwest of Megido. From Zebulun to Beth-Shean along the Jordan river, Manasseh's northern border shares the southern border of Issachar passing Jezreel and returning to Beth-shean.
In studying the Bible, it becomes apparent that many of its books are abridgments of the cumulative efforts of many writings. This part of Joshua is certainly representative of that effort as the author has provided in depth detail of historical documents in an almost readable format. As mentioned with Joshua 15, Joshua 16-19 documents histories and people groups - not only Israelite, but also Canaanite for posterity. All bear witness to ancient times in this, God's historical book of life. Although there may be discrepancies in the historical record - as there is in historical records today, one can only stand amazed that such records have been preserved through countless devastations throughout history to provide this revelation to man until the end of time.
The reading of Joshua 17:3-6 brings up the story of the daughters of Zelophehad, first chronicled in Numbers 26. In consideration of these verses, it would appear the case of Zelophehad's daughters may have had a strong play in the major portions of land given to Manasseh, splitting the tribe into two halves east and west of the Jordan. Certainly, considering the numerous mention of the case, their case carried significant weight in the organizations of the nation of Israel.
Another point of interest is the reference of Joshua 17:11-13 that the alottments included not only the lands and the cities, but often the people within those cities. These people would obviously become the aliens among them and served as forced labor. The ongoing treatment of these aliens was a tremendous concern regarding faith as referenced over and over within the Bible as the poor and needy. Few cultures today can avoid this part of scripture as their own histories parallel Israel's in that they have consumed the land of others and the natives still reside within their cultures as a subculture. The reservations within America and the alien communities are reflective of the aliens that resided within Israel. The histories of injustice of colonial Europe and the America's stand in judgment upon many who consider themselves religious. Conquest and domination have been justified biblically as bloodlusts have avoided the very heart of scripture relating to the proper treatment of the poor and the needy, the widow, the orphan, the alien, and the Levite.
Such treatment begins with Genesis 17:8 reminding that first Hebrew, Abraham, that he was a sojourner in a land not his own. "The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God."
The world's consternation with religion is not unlike Sodom and Gomorrah's treatment of Lot in Genesis 19:9 "This fellow came here as an alien, and now he wants to play the judge!"
Abimalech and Phicol, commander of his forces, spoke for the world relating the concern of the Children of God in Genesis 21:23 "Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you are living as an alien the same kindness I have shown to you." If we have been blessed upon this earth, it is our responsibility to be a blessing as our offering back to its creator in praise and thanksgiving.
When Isaac blessed Jacob in Genesis 28:1-4, he reminded him of the promise of the land where they now lived as aliens and prophesied that Jacob would become a community of peoples. Most often this is considered to be the 12 tribes of Israel, but a quick consideration of Jerusalem and the Kingdom of God and one will realize this community of peoples is much greater than those original 12 sons - it includes all of us as God is calling all men back to Himself through His covenant promises. Just as in the days of Joshua, we are a community of aliens - new and old - together, we are ONE community being brought together under ONE God.
In Exodus 2:22 Moses named his firstborn son Gershom stating "I have become an alien in a foreign land."
There are a multitude of verses prodding the Child of God to treat the Alien within their midst with mercy and justice; Exodus 23:9 states "Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt." In the same way, as we welcome those who are seeking welcome within the Kingdom of God, we must accept them with open arms, understanding so well what it is to be held captive by sin. http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=56699155
Numerous verses chide us to show the alien special treatment as Children of God. The treatment given them is classified of severe importance as is that of the widow and orphan. Leviticus 19:10 states; "Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God."
Too often, the term "neighbor" is considered "brother". However, based on Leviticus 19:34 and the second commandment given in Mark 12:31, it would appear our treatment of the alien should be paramount in our minds as second only to our love for God! Consider the similarity of these two verses:
Leviticus 19:34 "The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God."
Mark 12:31 "The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
According to scripture, we continue to live on this world as aliens and tenants. Our purpose is to bring in His Harvest of Souls. We are not the judges, but the workers within His vineyard!
Leviticus 25:19-24 "Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety. You may ask, 'What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?' I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years (Jesus ministry?). While you plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in.
The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land."
I Corinthians 10:23-25 states "Everything is permissible - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible - but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, 'The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it.'" (reference to Psalm 24:1)
So, as we work as harvesters within His vineyard as aliens and brothers, what is our produce suppose to look like as we brush elbows with one another within this Kingdom of God? My personal guess is that as we submit our lives to our creator's will, loving the alien (anyone who is different in any way), we will find that God has already been at work and together, we will harvest those fruits of His spirit which are Faith, Hope, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, and Gentleness. Upon careful reflection, one may note that these fruits are not only coming from the Christian community; or just the Jewish community; or just the Hindu community; They are coming from us as we work together as aliens in this land of foreigners.
Consider for a moment that the very word "Hebrew" in its simplest English translation is "Alien".
Therefore, just as Joseph cleared land and found place and position within Egypt; just as his children cleared land and found a place among the Perizzites and the Rephaim; We too, as Children of God serving our King of Peace are numerous and possess the power of our Creator! We too shall consume the strength of hatred and enmity that has divided mankind since the first child of Adam killed his brother. With God's help, we shall pursue His purposes and establish Peace in our land.
Three Apportion Seven Allotments Joshua 18
Leah was quite fertile, giving Jacob his first four children in Genesis 29:31-35. Reuben (son of affliction), her firstborn sinned and slept with Bilhah, Rachel's maid and lost his birthright bringing the wrath of his Father down upon his head. Simeon (the Lord has heard that I am hated) was her second born and brought the wrath of the people upon the house of Jacob bringing a curse and disappointment from his father. Hoping for the love of Jacob, she named her third son Levi (joined - lawah). He also judged the community putting his fellowman to death and bringing mankind's wrath upon the house of Jacob which also brought a curse and separation from his Father. Finally, in her fourth child, she refused to complain and gave him the name Judah (I will praise the Lord).
Genesis 49:8-11 "Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons will bow down to you. You are a lion's cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness - who dares to rouse him?
The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs [Or until Shiloh comes; or until he comes to whom tribute belongs] and the obedience of the nations is his. He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.
In the hill country of Ephraim, the congregation chose a place where the House of God (the tabernacle) would come to rest. They set up the House of the Lord at Shiloh. The name as used in Genesis 49 above means "the one to whom tribute belongs." Other etymologies include "offspring"; "sent out"; and "origin". All prophetic names for the coming Son(s) of God.
As fate would have it, there were "7" allotments still to be determined. As we found in studying the city of Beer-Sheba (root word Shiva) in reflection from Genisis 31, this root word for the Hebrew number 7 also represents covenant or oath. (Upon further reflection, I also find the number 7 is represented by the word Zayan meaning sword or judgment). Here then, once again, is a sign of the covenant and the promises of God to the Hebrew nation and through them, promises from God to this community of peoples, now reflected by all men. The second symbolism of note in this passage is the number three (Gimel) in Hebrew.
Mark 14:58 reflects witnesses to the life of Jesus as claiming "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.' " This root word for three (gimel) is also used in the etymology of the word Galilee! Jesus began his ministry at 30 years of age. He ministered for 3 years in and around Galilee re-interpreting the scriptures for the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, claiming the Love of God His Father. He went to Jerusalem, and the temple and condemned their hatred and persecution of the prophets. They condemned him and put him to death, bringing about the new covenant in His blood.
These three then were sent out by the community into a land not their own with a feeling of entitlement as they understood that God had promised this land to them. Throughout the rest of history, those firm lines of borders and boundaries would be redefined as the cycles of sword and treaty, peace and bloodshed would continue. This beginning of divisions had begun again as according to Joshua 18:10, Joshua "cast lots for them in Shiloh in the presence of the Lord, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions."
In Joshua 22:12 "the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them." (their own brothers - all in the name of righteousness). It was from Shiloh also that the rulers and priests chose to send the ark of the Lord before them into battle, wherin the ark of the covenant passed into the hands of the Philistines. Following 7 years of ruling in Hebron, David captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites and made it his holy city. He then retreived the ark from Baalah (Kiriath-Baal or Kiriath-jearim) and brought it into Jerusalem. The holy city of Shiloh resided outside the tribe of Judah and became neglected due to the wickedness of Jeroboam following the Israeli-Judah split. The Psalmist remembered Shiloh in Psalm 78:60 "He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent he had set up among men."; and the prophet Jeremiah spoke of its demise and strongholds like it in Jeremiah 7 and 26 when men use the house of God to establish their own ends.
Jeremiah 7:3-15 "This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words and say, 'This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!' If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever. But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.
Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, 'We are safe - safe to do all these detestable things?' Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching!' declares the Lord.
'Go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for my Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel. While you were doing all these things, declares the Lord, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer. Therefore, what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears my Name, the temple you trust in, the place I gave to you and your fathers. I will thrust you from my presence, just as I did all your brothers, the people of Ephraim.'"
Jeremiah 26:11 "Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, 'This man should be sentenced to death because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!' "
So, what has changed? Man is still killing man and judging man in the name of a just God! And yet, we have had the words of Jesus Christ and his transformation of the old covenant understanding of wrath for over 2000 years. Yet, instead of listening to Him, we have listened to men who brought us back to beliefs of exclusionary atonement and salvation by works and proper doctrines, theologies, and beliefs - which if true would condemn every last one of us to eternal judgment. Yet, this old understanding has been destroyed in a matter of three days by Him who represented God on earth - our Shiloh - our gathering place - our Emmanuel.
II Corinthians 5:16-21 "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." No longer does "7" represent a sword, "7" represents His "peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:14b.
The chapter of Joshua 18 ends with the establishment of the tribal alottment of Benjamin between the powerhouses of Judah and Ephraim. His border passed south of the Jebusite city which would become Jerusalem, meaning Jerusalem initially resided within Benjamin territory (vs. 28). Although Ephraim touched Jericho, the city belonged within the boundaries of Benjamin as noted in Joshua 18:21. To them also was given Luz (also known as Bethel) although this also was mentioned along the borders of Ephraim. As Gibeah and Kiriath-Jearim are mentioned both in the allotments of Judah and Benjamin; and as the city of the Jebusites (Jerusalem) is mentioned in different context in Joshua 18:28 and Joshua 15:63, it becomes apparent various historical documents were being used in this writing and boundary lines were not firmly established - as noted above.
Reflections on Luke 19:1-27
Salvation for Sinners! Luke 19:1-10
Known in Egypt at times as the "tree of life", the 'ficus sycomorus' grows to over 60' tall and 20' wide. In Solomon's era, sycamore tree forests in the hills above the Jordan river valley resulted in I Kings 10:27 "The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills" As Jesus entered Jericho, (laying claim to the lowest and oldest permanently inhabited city on earth at nearly 200' below sea level), it was in one of these trees that Zacchaeus climbed to see his Christ.
It is well documented throughout the gospels that the tax collectors were found detestable within Jewish religious custom, and that they were prominent followers in both the ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus. This story once again does not fail to make that fact known as even the crowd following Jesus was appalled that He would accept invitation - even invite such invitation - to dine with tax collectors and sinners. This reflection falls directly within the context of Luke 18 in the routine judgment being given by the Children of God - as represented by the followers of Christ - both disciples and skeptics.
Zacchaeus reputation was not only that of a tax collector, oppressing the Jewish nation at the behest of the Roman Empire, but that he had become rich by doing so leading to the reputation of deception and skimming. Zacchaeus justified his behavior in that he excercised philanthropy in tithing 50% of his earnings to the poor and going out of his way to compensate those he was found to have defrauded. Jesus commended Zacchaeus behavior before the crowd noting that salvation had come to His house. He referenced that Zacchaeus was a son of Abraham, but we are not told whether he was Jew or Gentile. The judgmental crowd was reminded once again the purpose of Jesus ministry on earth was to "seek and to save what was lost." (vs. 10)
Ezekiel 34:15-16; "I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice."
Hear the words of a terrorist who was out to destroy a faith He did not understand in the first century from I Timothy 1:15-17; "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen"
Open Our Eyes Lord! Luke 19:11-27
Isaiah 6:9-12 "Go and tell this people: 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed."
Then I said, 'For how long, O Lord?' And he answered: 'Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant,
until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, until the Lord has sent everyone far away
and the land is utterly forsaken."
How frustrating it is to see history repeating itself. How frustrating to know that God could withdraw his goodness and mercy for yet another generation as we have once again soiled our garments in the bloodbath of war. How can this be when there are Bibles so plentiful within the world that the righteous return to the battlefield in vengeance and anger against their fellowman expecting the Prince of Peace to come to rain fire down on the alien and the enemy who is our brother.
For the Jews, it was the Romans. They had just listened to Jesus speak of the Kingdom as represented within the house of the tax collector, yet the rumble remained that here was a conquering King on His way to Jerusalem. Jesus had spoken over and over of the Kingdom of God and the Love that this Kingdom would revolve around, yet the bloodthirst and entitlement and dilusions of favoritism would not die. That was bad enough then, but why now after 2000 years of chanced maturity? One of the reasons is that our schools and theologies have bought into a final battle against flesh and blood and have interpreted scripture with these thoughts and apostacies in mind. We have been stuck on this wrathful, vengeful God even though such thoughts confuse our minds as we consider His perfect Love and Power to bring about Peace for mankind. We have been stuck in a Jewish first century mindset all along. So, how can we invest the fruit of His Spirit throughout our brethren and be that generation to break the cycle and the bloodbath and establish His Kingdom of Peace once and for all so that we do not go to our graves filled with this hatred and bloodshed?
When asked about the Kingdom of God, He claimed it was here now - among us. Therefore, perhaps it is unclear when the nobleman who is quite obviously the Christ had gone away and come back again! As He was there presently refining His followers, there certainly was fulfillment happening throughout His ministry as He continued to chastise the people for mistaken ideologies. For that understanding, the nobleman would have left perhaps at the Garden of Eden or following the strong presence of God at the time of Moses or David.
Yet, this judgment continues within the Kingdom even today! Churches are being judged, not only by God, but by our children and by our fellowman. As disciples, we have a choice to go out into all the world spreading a Kingdom of Peace - or to despise such a Kingdom and act as the Jews did and despise the Roman rulers or those infidels across the sea. In this understanding, each man or ministry must give an accounting before God. If the message is not drawing a harvest into the Kingdom, it is cut off. There is a lot of worry within our churches that our Children are leaving in droves of over 70%! Who has considered that this is the judgment of the King of Peace Himself! How can we produce fruit when we have cut ourselves off from our cultures and stand in judgment upon them? What has happened to our invitations - or have we become guilty of the judgment of Matthew 23:15 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are."
There is absolutely nothing wrong with telling the world about our Creator who is a Loving Father who wishes Peace to men on earth with whom He is well pleased. If we stop killing each other and blaspheming one another in His name, He will unstop His ears and shine His face upon us once again. There is nothing wrong with big churches that draw men unto our Father! Those ministries have obviously been blessed with talents and pounds!
II Timothy 4:1-5 "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."
Isaiah 9:5 "Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire."
Leviticus 19:34 "The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God."
Isaiah 45:21-25 " there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me. 'Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, My mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.'
All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. But in the Lord all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult."
Luke 18:8 "I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
I ask again; What is the myth? What is the apostacy? Read this word of God again in the purity and light of His Love.
Reflections on Psalm 87
Psalm 2:1-4a "Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. 'Let us break their chains,' they say, 'and throw off their fetters.'
The One enthroned in heaven laughs;"
Psalm 2:6 "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill."
Why is there so much beauty in scripture regarding the peace surrounding Jerusalem in the last days as all men join together to worship our Lord as One and yet so many of His children choose to focus on the valley of Armageddon?
Psalm 87:1 agrees with Psalm 2:6 above! The foundations of His Kingdom on earth have been set on Zion!
Isaiah 28:15-18a "You boast, 'We have entered into a covenant with death, with the grave [sheol] we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood [false gods] our hiding place.'
So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place. Your covenant with death will be annulled; your agreement with the grave will not stand."
Psalm 87:2 The Lord loves all who enter his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise! Revelation 21:25 "On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there."
Isaiah 60:10-11 ""Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. Though in anger I struck you, in favor I will show you compassion. Your gates will always stand open, they will never be shut, day or night, so that men may bring you the wealth of the nations - their kings led in triumphal procession.
Psalm 87:3 as reflected by Psalm 48:2 "It is beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth. Like the utmost heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King."
Isaiah 54:7-11 "For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,' says the Lord your Redeemer.
'To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,'says the Lord, who has compassion on you. 'O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will build you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires.' "
Psalm 87:4 "community of nations" (Gen.35:11) as reflected by John 10:16 "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd."
Isaiah 49:5-6 "And now the LORD says - he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength - he says: 'It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."
Psalm 87:5 "all nations on earth will be blessed through him." (Gen.18:18b) as reflected by Ephesians 1:4b-6a "In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us"
Psalm 72:16-19 "Let grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon; let it thrive like the grass of the field. May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.
Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.
Psalm 87:6 "Keys to the Kingdom" as reflected by Psalm 69:26-28 "For they persecute those you wound
and talk about the pain of those you hurt. Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation. May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous. I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me."
John 17:20-26 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."
Psalm 87:7 "My Strength and my Song" as reflected by Isaiah 12:2 "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."
Romans 15:5-13 "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:
'Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name.'[2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49] Again, it says, 'Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.'[Deut. 32:43] And again, 'Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples.'[Psalm 117:1] And again, Isaiah says, 'The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.'[Isaiah 11:10]
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Reflections on Proverbs 13:11
It is so easy to get bogged down in salvation theologies and end times! But what about now! What about living today given the knowledge of salvation and the hope of eternity? We still need to earn a living and live in this world, right?
Allow me to reflect on Proverbs 13:11 from two realities: 1. Salvation 2. Worldly wealth.
1. Salvation; Salvation hastily received might very well disappear when adversity or temptation strikes and hope is lost. And yet, with an understanding and commitment towards faith building, while honoring the Love of God through a series of ups and downs in life, faith is built on a solid foundation that God's hand is always there. We find that even those moments we must face adversity only proves to make our faith stronger. Through such patient endurance, a faith can be built that will last a lifetime and can feed others.
2. Worldly wealth; Worldly wealth hastily received might very well disappear when adversity or temptation strikes and hope is lost. And yet, with an understanding and commitment towards financial acumen, while honoring the Love of God through a series of ups and downs in life, wealth is built on a solid foundation that God's hand is always there. We find that even those moments we must face adversity only proves to make our faith stronger. Through such patient endurance, wealth can be built that will last a lifetime and can feed others.
James 1:2-8 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Until tomorrow
Rick
Saturday, April 17, 2010
April 17, 2010; Joshua 15:1-63, Luke 18:18-43, Psalms 86:1-17, Proverbs 13:9-10
Response to Joshua 15:1-63
First and formost, as we venture into the names of cities and peoples and families - both old and new - both Hebrew and Canaanite (Gentile) - we must realize that all of these names have been recorded in this word of God, His book of life. These names shall not pass away! They join the ranks of all the law and the prophets. That being said, allow me to highlight a couple pieces of this scripture for those who wish to gain some insight into these boundary lines and lineages.
http://www.spiritrestoration.org/Church/Research%20History%20and%20Great%20Links/Maps/Boundaries%20of%20the%20Tribes%20of%20Israel.jpg This site represents Judah well in representation of Joshua 15. I found it difficult to locate a clearer map.
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/google_map_israel.htm modern google map of Israel
The southern border of Joshua 15:1-4 follows the line given by Moses in Numbers 34:3-5
Hezron (vs. 3) was a son of Judah from Genesis 46:12
http://www.bible.ca/archeology/bible-archeology-exodus-kadesh-barnea-fortresses-ein-qedeis.htm Study the archeological history of Kadesh Barnea with a likely explanation of the border described in Joshua 15.
The word "beth" generally means house of
The word "ben" generally refers to a mountain or "son of"
The valley of Achor (vs 7) represents the story of Achin from Joshua 7 http://bibleatlas.org/full/valley_of_achor.htm (follow the trail from Joshua 15:7-10)
Jebus (Jerusalem) (vs 8), still was held by the Jebusites, would eventually be given to the tribe of Benjamin, although its mention in verse 8 and verse 63 reflect a timing of this writing.
The waters of Nephtoah most probably represent a spring near the present day village of Lifta on the east side of the Wady beit Hanina. This area appears to feed into the Sorek river basin and out to the Mediterranian sea. Lifta village lies about 2 miles NW of present day Jerusalem.
Kiriath Jearim (vs 9) had also been known as Baalah or Kiriath Baal (city of Baal). II Chronicles 2:52 speaks of the name "Jearim" coming from a descendant of Caleb. This was the city the ark would come to rest in I Samuel 7:1-2 following its loss to the Philistines and the plagues they encountered. Kiriath Jearim would lie on the boundary line shared by Benjamin and Judah. Mount Jearim of verse 10 may also be named after Caleb's descendant.
http://bibleatlas.org/full/kiriath-jearim.htm Beginning from Kiriath Jearim in verse 9, it appears the boundary lies along the Sorek river valley.
Beth Shemesh (house of the Sun) of verse 10 is mentioned in Joshua 18:17 as part of the Benjamin border; Joshua 19:22 as a border city of Issachar; Joshua 19:38 in relation to Naphtali. Certainly there were at least two cities which shared this name. The first lies along the border of Judah and Benjamin and the second along the Jordan River below the Sea of Galilee.
The Judean city of Beth Shemesh is referenced most in scripture. It is the location the cattle first brought the ark from the Philistines in I Samuel 6. Jehoash and Amaziah faced off at Beth Shemesh in II Chronicles 25:20-24 perhaps showing its nearness to Ephraim and Dan. This area of Beth Shemesh and Timnah was captured by the Philistines in II Chronicles 28:16-21. They also stood as a border between Judah and the Philistines. Most likely, Beth Shemesh of Judah is represented by the modern city of Ain Shems.
According to verse 12, the western boundary of the tribe of Judah was the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. However, a slight knowledge of Bible History shows that the Philistines held tightly to that border right up until David conquered the region.
Verse 13-19 returns to the history of the family of Caleb, son of Jephuneh, the Kennizite. A Kenaz was a descendant of Esau by Eliphaz (Genesis 36:10-11). The Kennizites were referred to earlier in Genesis 15:19 as Canaanites! Judges 3:9 coinsides with Joshua 15:17 referring to a Kenaz who was a younger brother of Caleb and I Chronicles 4:15 claims Caleb had a grandson named Kenaz. Jephunneh is only mentioned in reference to Caleb as his father, except for a Jephunneh of the tribe of Asher. Although some wish to believe Caleb was a member of the Kennizites of the Canaanites acting as a double agent, I feel there is no conclusion from the Bible and no reason to believe he was anything other than Judean.
When Caleb first spied out Kiriath-arba in Numbers 13:22, 45 years before, Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai were also mentioned.
Debir (vs. 15) is the same name as the King of Eglon who fought against Israel in Joshua 10, although any relation between the two is purely speculative. The Debir of vs. 15 also would not appear to be the same city as Debir above the Valley of Achor (vs. 7). Joshua 15:49 will reflect that Debir (Kiriath-sepher) is also known as Kiriath-sannah. According to the footnotes, after Othniel, nephew of Caleb won Caleb's daughter Achsah for taking Kiriath-sepher, he sent Achsah to Caleb to ask for the water rights in the hills as well as the lower meadows of the Negeb. Othniel became one of the early Judges in Israel as found in Judges 3:7-11.
Notes on Joshua 15:20-63
Although 38 names are given for the extreme South (vs. 20-32), verse 32 states 29 cities with their villages. One reason may be that only 29 were considered cities and the rest were villages. Another may be that several of these named locations were later given to the tribe of Simeon. Perhaps the most recognizable name is Beer-sheba, a town where Abraham had signed a peace treaty with Abimelech and Phicol in Genesis 21
"'God is with you in everything you do. Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you are living as an alien the same kindness I have shown to you.'
Abraham said, 'I swear it.'" Genesis 21:22b-24
Isaac also signed an agreement of peace at Beer-sheba in Genesis 26:33 calling the place 'Shibah' representative of "oath" or "seven." Such had been the desire of the Patriarchs for peace within the land.
Of the remainder of the cities in the lowland and the hill country of Judah, one obvious link to the coming Christ is not even mentioned, that being Bethlehem. This city had been referred to as Ephrath in Genesis 35:19 as the burial site of Rachel (see also Genesis 48:7). There was a Bethlehem given to the tribe of Zebulon which should not be confused with the Bethlehem of Judah (Joshua 19:15). Perhaps the only Bible history known of the Bethlehem of Zebulon would be the mention of Ibzan of Bethlehem who judged Israel in Judges 12:8-10. The separation of the two cities is known as Bethlehemjudah (Bethlehem in Judah) is mentioned in Judges 19 and Ruth 1.
Disputes regarding the Gaza strip in the western border continue into the modern era. Although Ashdod and Gath are mentioned to be within the borders of Judah, the Philistines held onto these areas well into the reign of David.
Any further mention of these cities within Judah in this commentary will have to await notation within their Biblical stories as they come along, but you can check their names for further reference on websites such as Bible Gateway's Keyword search. http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/#intersite
Reflections on Luke 18:18-43
Continued training for Kingdom Discipleship
Following an answer to the Pharisee's question of Luke 17:20 regarding the coming of the Kingdom of God, Jesus gave an explanation to the crowd through the remainder of Luke 17. Luke then shared a couple of parables at the beginning of Luke 18 regarding the unjust judge and the proud Pharisee, followed by the obstinance of the disciples who were keeping the children from coming to Jesus.
Beginning with the story of the children in Luke 18:15, Luke's gospel now falls in line with the gospels of Matthew 19:13-30 and Mark 10:13-34 as the teachings of Jesus continue to follow true discipleship. Following Jesus rebuke of the disciples for hindering the children from His presence and His Love, The rich young ruler enters the story in each gospel. Each follows a basic pattern of great importance! Given the context of the previous Kingdom question and discussion, plus the Parables of Luke 18, I believe Luke provides the strongest message of the three.
Who is asking the question?; Luke claims this man is a 'ruler' whereas Matthew and Mark have only referred to him as a man. Luke's rendering 'ruler' ties his identity to the unjust judge, the Pharisee, and the disciple of the chapter context. In John 10:34, Jesus refers to Psalm 82:6 by stating that we are all not only men or rulers, but gods, sons of the Most High, members of the divine counsel itself, set in judgment upon one another!
Who is the "Good Teacher!" Jesus responds almost in a reprimand to this title in stating quite emphatically that God alone is good! This again ties into the parable of the unjust judge at the beginning of this chapter, Luke 18. I find Jesus goes out of his way to bring glory to God, refusing to take His glory upon himself. I am concerned with the Love focus we have with the Son in association with the fear (being afraid) of the Father. This is one of those pieces of scripture where I feel Jesus is saying such focus is misguided. Listen to greater detail of this teaching from Matthew 23:5-15 about how Jesus really felt about the religious elite!;
"Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries[That is, boxes containing Scripture verses, worn on forehead and arm] wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'
But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.[Or Messiah, God with us] The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.[Some manuscripts add verse 14 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Therefore you will be punished more severely.]
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are."
What is the Law? In all three gospels, Jesus does not add to his statement that "Only God is Good" by reminding us of the first commandment to "Love God" but only refers to those commandments of how we should treat one another. Honor in relationships, Honor, Honor, Honor, Honor. Live lives of peace with your fellowman.
How does this man judge himself? He claims he has done all the right things! Like most of us who have attempted to justify our own behavior - except for those of us who have just figured its too hard to be so righteous and have just given up.
Would Jesus ever say; "That's good enough!"? As long as we have more than our fellowman and fail to look after their needs above our own, it will never be enough. Our work must be for the whole of humanity just like Christ's work was. Our blessings from above were not given that we might find comfort on this earth, our blessings from above were given that we might be a blessing to others. Our very lives are forfeit to the Kingdom of God and His purposes of Peace on Earth. Jesus Christ came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.
How many students attend college hoping to offer their lives as a sacrifice for the betterment of humanity? How many Rulers look at the average wage and claim they deserve nothing more? How many CEO's are willing to accept only the wage of the common worker regardless of the affluence of their parents and families standard of life? How many rich are willing to give it all up to lift thousands out of poverty or adopt the financial strain on the single mother, widow, orphan, or handicapped? How many of us are willing to see past the sin of our fellowman and consider them worthy of our love, our honor, and our help?
How many of us have justified behaviors against our fellowman because we have bought into the theologies and doctrines of election and exlusionary love - therein rejecting guilt stemming from our behavior in killing the foreigner or sending the alien back where they belong regardless of family ties and decades of reputable history? How many of us stand in judgment on the poor and needy imagining our righteousness within our affluence is based on God's favoritism exemplified by His obvious blessings in our lives?
Lo and behold, we stand as unjust rulers! We stand condemned as Pharisees. It is us who keep the little children from running into the loving arms of our Father's care and comfort on this earth! We are rich young rulers. We stand condemned together as self-righteous antagonists in need of His refinement and His compassion. None of us are worthy of eternal life! Thats the answer to Luke 18:18. If you've heard this message, you may ask as they did in verse 26 "Who then can be saved?" We must each hear his answer of verse 27 "Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
This brings us right back to Isaiah 45:24-25 "They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.' All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. But in the Lord all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult."
Men throughout scripture and history have come to this same conclusion! Despite our shame and guilt as we are humbled by our unworthiness, we can run into the loving arms of our Father and find in Him Glory, Love, Joy, and Peace with which we can step out into our world with His heart of compassion, thankful for His gifts to us which have allowed us the pleasure we have. Psalm 28:7 "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=ptcspX7oNRM&feature=related
So, what is the commandment? We Love Him because He first loved us (I John 4:19) Now, go out and serve Him out of reverence for that Love, realizing it is a gift regardless of our works lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:3-10 "All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
So, what have you done? Peter had left house and home to devote his life to Jesus! Jesus answers "Whatever you have done for the least of these, you have done it unto me (Matthew 25:40) - and you will be blessed for your good works." Works may not be our means for salvation, but they shall be rewarded and celebrated within the family of God - both in the good we experience on this earth and great is our reward in Heaven itself and the loving arms of a greatful Dad. Welcome Home good and faithful! Let's celebrate!
The entire context of Luke 17-18 stemming from the Pharisee's question of Luke 17:20 has been on discipleship and our call as Children of God. For some that understanding has come, for others, that understanding has yet to come. Most of us are already serving that Kingdom with knowledge of our call, but little understanding of the Bible - others have a great knowledge of the Bible, but little understanding of its call.
Luke's message regarding that call is not lost as we move into Christ's explanation of what it is to take up our cross and follow Him in Luke 18:31-34. As Christ laid claim to the prophetic scriptures regarding His life and death that all must be accomplished in verse 31, so He said that His words would not pass away in Luke 21:33, Mark 13:31, and Matthew 24:35. In the same way, He spoke in Mathew 5:18; "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished." His calling was the fulfillment of the law and the prophets, bringing Heaven and Earth back together again. The same is true of our own calling - establishing the peace that exists in Heaven between men and God to earth as He dwells among us. "Do this in remembrance of Him." This is our fellowship offering.
I Corinthians 11:20-33; "When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other."
As we finish Luke 18, we again hear the disciples, (perhaps not the 12, but certainly followers of Jesus who ran ahead of Him), rebuking the poor and needy. Physically, this man was seen as blind and begging. Spiritually speaking, he was hungry for knowledge, understanding, love, and acceptance. As the widow cried unto the unjust judge "Grant me justice against my adversary," so this blind beggar cries "Jesus, have mercy on me," believing certainly that the power of God Himself resided within this great man. He wanted to see - which often reflects wisdom, knowledge, and understanding! This blind beggar believed, and He received His sight. Hebrews 11:6 claims we must believe in order to receive His power! "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
James 1:5-8 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." (see also Proverbs 14:6)
Therefore, if you happen to be that widow who desires to see the Kingdom of God, but has faced that unjust judge represented by the religious of this world, or if you are that sinner who has come to recognize the hypocrisy of those of us within the church; If you are that child in need of the Salvation and Love of our master or if you have failed to receive your blessing from the hands of those of us who have been blessed; If you are willing to take up your cross and enter the Kingdom, but have found the doors of the church to be closed to such as the likes of you; If you are blind and begging for mercy from our Almighty God; Do not give up hope! Jesus said believe in God, believe also in me! In my Father's house there are many mansions - and He has prepared a place for you. It is us, the religious of this world who must request your forgiveness for our hard heartedness. We repent of our own wickedness and daily need of His salvation also. We seek to know His compassion, His grace, and His mercy.
Jesus spoke in Luke 11:7-13 "Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
For those of us who believe we have this down, I suggest we look at the least of these our brethren! How have we treated the alien, the widow, and the orphan? How have we treated the terrorist within our midst? One thing we know about the terrorist is that he is seeking God. We may not like his methods and thus we have responded with retribution, veangance, and bloodshed. We have found we cannot beat them, so we have joined them. Peace with them is the farthest thing from our minds, yet it is the closest desire of our Father's heart. We must take up our cross and follow Him. We must open the doors of the Kingdom and seek Peace in the name of our mutual Father and stop our justifications which have stemmed out of our own self-righteousness and the vain deceits of our corrupt theologies. If it is not Love, it is not pure! God has written their names in the book of life, and what God has put together, let not man put asunder. (Mark 10:9 and Matthew 19:6)
What should you do? Matthew 10:7-8 "As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." These indeed represent the weaknesses and failures of our faith - the alien, the terrorist, and all these children of impure faith. "Go ye into all the world!" (Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 24:47-48)
Response to Psalms 86:1-17
The Prayer of the poor and needy Psalm 86
How easy it would be to own this prayer as we face our trials of each day! How beautiful the words as it carries so many of the themes from the Bible! How true it is that each of us in our own way - both physically, spiritually, and emotionally - reflect the poor and needy of the Bible. Yet, at the same time, how important it is to hear this prayer from our brothers and sisters around the planet - and even within our nearby communities as we stand together as our Father's hands and feet to be the answer to this prayer to them bringing Glory to our Father who has blessed us enough to be an answer to the prayers of others.
Note the virtues of the petitioning heart; poor, needy, devoted, trusting, serving, penitent, persistant, willing, teachable, open, greatful, loyal, studious, worshipful, humble, full of praise, fearful, vulnerable, dependant, weak, peaceful, helped, comforted, seeking.
Note the virtues given in praise and thanksgiving to God as the penitent servant calls on His name; merciful, full of joy, forgiving, good, loving, attentive, trustworthy, inclusive, majestic, worthy, great, powerful, marvelous, praisworthy, saving, compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, faithful, strong, comforting, helping.
Note the Biblical themes;
(vs 1) The poor and needy shall always be with us to test our hearts towards God (Deuteronomy 15:11)
(vs 2) The relationship between God and man as Master and servant (Genesis 27:37)
(vs 3) Penitent sinner, Merciful God (Numbers 15:24)
(vs 4) Worshipful Man finds strength in the Joy of the Lord (Nehemiah 8:10)
(vs 5) God is merciful and compassionate, forgiving and good, abounding in Love to all who seek Him. (Exodus 34:6)
(vs 6) God is the just Judge, listening to the cries of His children. (Exodus 16:12)
(vs 7) God is trustworthy even though man often waits until trouble strikes to call upon Him. (Romans 5:8)
(vs 8) Man imagines there are more than one God - even though God is One. He alone is good. (Isaiah 45:20-22)
(vs 9) One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess (Isaiah 45:23-25)
(vs 10) God is one and besides Him there is no other. (Deuteronomy 4:35)
(vs 11) God seeks a pure heart, fully devoted to Him for our own good. (Jeremiah 32:39)
(vs 12) We must come before Him with praise and thanksgiving (Psalm 95:2)
(vs 13) He is our Redeemer and our Deliverer (Job 19:23-27)
(vs 14) In this world we are destined to be refined through adversity (James 1:2-4)
(vs 15) see also vs. 5 God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in Love (Exodus 34:6)
(vs 16) In our God we will find mercy and strength (Exodus 15:13)
(vs 17) Through His children God's name will be glorified, calling all men unto Him. (John 12:28)
Response to Proverbs 13:9-10
I John 1:5-10 "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives."
Job 18:4-11 "You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger, is the earth to be abandoned for your sake? Or must the rocks be moved from their place?
The lamp of the wicked is snuffed out; the flame of his fire stops burning. The light in his tent becomes dark; the lamp beside him goes out. The vigor of his step is weakened; his own schemes throw him down. His feet thrust him into a net and he wanders into its mesh. A trap seizes him by the heel; a snare holds him fast. A noose is hidden for him on the ground; a trap lies in his path. Terrors startle him on every side and dog his every step."
I John 2:16-17 "For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."
Job 29:3 "when his lamp shone upon my head and by his light I walked through darkness!"
John 14:23-27 " Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Proverbs 3:3-8 "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."
John 3:29-35 "The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
He must become greater; I must become less. The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands."
Isaiah 45:22-25 " 'Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked:
Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.' '
All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. But in the Lord all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult."
There are few words I can add that scripture has not said in a truth and a beauty by which I stand amazed.
Until tomorrow
Rick.
First and formost, as we venture into the names of cities and peoples and families - both old and new - both Hebrew and Canaanite (Gentile) - we must realize that all of these names have been recorded in this word of God, His book of life. These names shall not pass away! They join the ranks of all the law and the prophets. That being said, allow me to highlight a couple pieces of this scripture for those who wish to gain some insight into these boundary lines and lineages.
http://www.spiritrestoration.org/Church/Research%20History%20and%20Great%20Links/Maps/Boundaries%20of%20the%20Tribes%20of%20Israel.jpg This site represents Judah well in representation of Joshua 15. I found it difficult to locate a clearer map.
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/google_map_israel.htm modern google map of Israel
The southern border of Joshua 15:1-4 follows the line given by Moses in Numbers 34:3-5
Hezron (vs. 3) was a son of Judah from Genesis 46:12
http://www.bible.ca/archeology/bible-archeology-exodus-kadesh-barnea-fortresses-ein-qedeis.htm Study the archeological history of Kadesh Barnea with a likely explanation of the border described in Joshua 15.
The word "beth" generally means house of
The word "ben" generally refers to a mountain or "son of"
The valley of Achor (vs 7) represents the story of Achin from Joshua 7 http://bibleatlas.org/full/valley_of_achor.htm (follow the trail from Joshua 15:7-10)
Jebus (Jerusalem) (vs 8), still was held by the Jebusites, would eventually be given to the tribe of Benjamin, although its mention in verse 8 and verse 63 reflect a timing of this writing.
The waters of Nephtoah most probably represent a spring near the present day village of Lifta on the east side of the Wady beit Hanina. This area appears to feed into the Sorek river basin and out to the Mediterranian sea. Lifta village lies about 2 miles NW of present day Jerusalem.
Kiriath Jearim (vs 9) had also been known as Baalah or Kiriath Baal (city of Baal). II Chronicles 2:52 speaks of the name "Jearim" coming from a descendant of Caleb. This was the city the ark would come to rest in I Samuel 7:1-2 following its loss to the Philistines and the plagues they encountered. Kiriath Jearim would lie on the boundary line shared by Benjamin and Judah. Mount Jearim of verse 10 may also be named after Caleb's descendant.
http://bibleatlas.org/full/kiriath-jearim.htm Beginning from Kiriath Jearim in verse 9, it appears the boundary lies along the Sorek river valley.
Beth Shemesh (house of the Sun) of verse 10 is mentioned in Joshua 18:17 as part of the Benjamin border; Joshua 19:22 as a border city of Issachar; Joshua 19:38 in relation to Naphtali. Certainly there were at least two cities which shared this name. The first lies along the border of Judah and Benjamin and the second along the Jordan River below the Sea of Galilee.
The Judean city of Beth Shemesh is referenced most in scripture. It is the location the cattle first brought the ark from the Philistines in I Samuel 6. Jehoash and Amaziah faced off at Beth Shemesh in II Chronicles 25:20-24 perhaps showing its nearness to Ephraim and Dan. This area of Beth Shemesh and Timnah was captured by the Philistines in II Chronicles 28:16-21. They also stood as a border between Judah and the Philistines. Most likely, Beth Shemesh of Judah is represented by the modern city of Ain Shems.
According to verse 12, the western boundary of the tribe of Judah was the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. However, a slight knowledge of Bible History shows that the Philistines held tightly to that border right up until David conquered the region.
Verse 13-19 returns to the history of the family of Caleb, son of Jephuneh, the Kennizite. A Kenaz was a descendant of Esau by Eliphaz (Genesis 36:10-11). The Kennizites were referred to earlier in Genesis 15:19 as Canaanites! Judges 3:9 coinsides with Joshua 15:17 referring to a Kenaz who was a younger brother of Caleb and I Chronicles 4:15 claims Caleb had a grandson named Kenaz. Jephunneh is only mentioned in reference to Caleb as his father, except for a Jephunneh of the tribe of Asher. Although some wish to believe Caleb was a member of the Kennizites of the Canaanites acting as a double agent, I feel there is no conclusion from the Bible and no reason to believe he was anything other than Judean.
When Caleb first spied out Kiriath-arba in Numbers 13:22, 45 years before, Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai were also mentioned.
Debir (vs. 15) is the same name as the King of Eglon who fought against Israel in Joshua 10, although any relation between the two is purely speculative. The Debir of vs. 15 also would not appear to be the same city as Debir above the Valley of Achor (vs. 7). Joshua 15:49 will reflect that Debir (Kiriath-sepher) is also known as Kiriath-sannah. According to the footnotes, after Othniel, nephew of Caleb won Caleb's daughter Achsah for taking Kiriath-sepher, he sent Achsah to Caleb to ask for the water rights in the hills as well as the lower meadows of the Negeb. Othniel became one of the early Judges in Israel as found in Judges 3:7-11.
Notes on Joshua 15:20-63
Although 38 names are given for the extreme South (vs. 20-32), verse 32 states 29 cities with their villages. One reason may be that only 29 were considered cities and the rest were villages. Another may be that several of these named locations were later given to the tribe of Simeon. Perhaps the most recognizable name is Beer-sheba, a town where Abraham had signed a peace treaty with Abimelech and Phicol in Genesis 21
"'God is with you in everything you do. Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you are living as an alien the same kindness I have shown to you.'
Abraham said, 'I swear it.'" Genesis 21:22b-24
Isaac also signed an agreement of peace at Beer-sheba in Genesis 26:33 calling the place 'Shibah' representative of "oath" or "seven." Such had been the desire of the Patriarchs for peace within the land.
Of the remainder of the cities in the lowland and the hill country of Judah, one obvious link to the coming Christ is not even mentioned, that being Bethlehem. This city had been referred to as Ephrath in Genesis 35:19 as the burial site of Rachel (see also Genesis 48:7). There was a Bethlehem given to the tribe of Zebulon which should not be confused with the Bethlehem of Judah (Joshua 19:15). Perhaps the only Bible history known of the Bethlehem of Zebulon would be the mention of Ibzan of Bethlehem who judged Israel in Judges 12:8-10. The separation of the two cities is known as Bethlehemjudah (Bethlehem in Judah) is mentioned in Judges 19 and Ruth 1.
Disputes regarding the Gaza strip in the western border continue into the modern era. Although Ashdod and Gath are mentioned to be within the borders of Judah, the Philistines held onto these areas well into the reign of David.
Any further mention of these cities within Judah in this commentary will have to await notation within their Biblical stories as they come along, but you can check their names for further reference on websites such as Bible Gateway's Keyword search. http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/#intersite
Reflections on Luke 18:18-43
Continued training for Kingdom Discipleship
Following an answer to the Pharisee's question of Luke 17:20 regarding the coming of the Kingdom of God, Jesus gave an explanation to the crowd through the remainder of Luke 17. Luke then shared a couple of parables at the beginning of Luke 18 regarding the unjust judge and the proud Pharisee, followed by the obstinance of the disciples who were keeping the children from coming to Jesus.
Beginning with the story of the children in Luke 18:15, Luke's gospel now falls in line with the gospels of Matthew 19:13-30 and Mark 10:13-34 as the teachings of Jesus continue to follow true discipleship. Following Jesus rebuke of the disciples for hindering the children from His presence and His Love, The rich young ruler enters the story in each gospel. Each follows a basic pattern of great importance! Given the context of the previous Kingdom question and discussion, plus the Parables of Luke 18, I believe Luke provides the strongest message of the three.
Who is asking the question?; Luke claims this man is a 'ruler' whereas Matthew and Mark have only referred to him as a man. Luke's rendering 'ruler' ties his identity to the unjust judge, the Pharisee, and the disciple of the chapter context. In John 10:34, Jesus refers to Psalm 82:6 by stating that we are all not only men or rulers, but gods, sons of the Most High, members of the divine counsel itself, set in judgment upon one another!
Who is the "Good Teacher!" Jesus responds almost in a reprimand to this title in stating quite emphatically that God alone is good! This again ties into the parable of the unjust judge at the beginning of this chapter, Luke 18. I find Jesus goes out of his way to bring glory to God, refusing to take His glory upon himself. I am concerned with the Love focus we have with the Son in association with the fear (being afraid) of the Father. This is one of those pieces of scripture where I feel Jesus is saying such focus is misguided. Listen to greater detail of this teaching from Matthew 23:5-15 about how Jesus really felt about the religious elite!;
"Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries[That is, boxes containing Scripture verses, worn on forehead and arm] wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'
But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.[Or Messiah, God with us] The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.[Some manuscripts add verse 14 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Therefore you will be punished more severely.]
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are."
What is the Law? In all three gospels, Jesus does not add to his statement that "Only God is Good" by reminding us of the first commandment to "Love God" but only refers to those commandments of how we should treat one another. Honor in relationships, Honor, Honor, Honor, Honor. Live lives of peace with your fellowman.
How does this man judge himself? He claims he has done all the right things! Like most of us who have attempted to justify our own behavior - except for those of us who have just figured its too hard to be so righteous and have just given up.
Would Jesus ever say; "That's good enough!"? As long as we have more than our fellowman and fail to look after their needs above our own, it will never be enough. Our work must be for the whole of humanity just like Christ's work was. Our blessings from above were not given that we might find comfort on this earth, our blessings from above were given that we might be a blessing to others. Our very lives are forfeit to the Kingdom of God and His purposes of Peace on Earth. Jesus Christ came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.
How many students attend college hoping to offer their lives as a sacrifice for the betterment of humanity? How many Rulers look at the average wage and claim they deserve nothing more? How many CEO's are willing to accept only the wage of the common worker regardless of the affluence of their parents and families standard of life? How many rich are willing to give it all up to lift thousands out of poverty or adopt the financial strain on the single mother, widow, orphan, or handicapped? How many of us are willing to see past the sin of our fellowman and consider them worthy of our love, our honor, and our help?
How many of us have justified behaviors against our fellowman because we have bought into the theologies and doctrines of election and exlusionary love - therein rejecting guilt stemming from our behavior in killing the foreigner or sending the alien back where they belong regardless of family ties and decades of reputable history? How many of us stand in judgment on the poor and needy imagining our righteousness within our affluence is based on God's favoritism exemplified by His obvious blessings in our lives?
Lo and behold, we stand as unjust rulers! We stand condemned as Pharisees. It is us who keep the little children from running into the loving arms of our Father's care and comfort on this earth! We are rich young rulers. We stand condemned together as self-righteous antagonists in need of His refinement and His compassion. None of us are worthy of eternal life! Thats the answer to Luke 18:18. If you've heard this message, you may ask as they did in verse 26 "Who then can be saved?" We must each hear his answer of verse 27 "Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
This brings us right back to Isaiah 45:24-25 "They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.' All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. But in the Lord all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult."
Men throughout scripture and history have come to this same conclusion! Despite our shame and guilt as we are humbled by our unworthiness, we can run into the loving arms of our Father and find in Him Glory, Love, Joy, and Peace with which we can step out into our world with His heart of compassion, thankful for His gifts to us which have allowed us the pleasure we have. Psalm 28:7 "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=ptcspX7oNRM&feature=related
So, what is the commandment? We Love Him because He first loved us (I John 4:19) Now, go out and serve Him out of reverence for that Love, realizing it is a gift regardless of our works lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:3-10 "All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
So, what have you done? Peter had left house and home to devote his life to Jesus! Jesus answers "Whatever you have done for the least of these, you have done it unto me (Matthew 25:40) - and you will be blessed for your good works." Works may not be our means for salvation, but they shall be rewarded and celebrated within the family of God - both in the good we experience on this earth and great is our reward in Heaven itself and the loving arms of a greatful Dad. Welcome Home good and faithful! Let's celebrate!
The entire context of Luke 17-18 stemming from the Pharisee's question of Luke 17:20 has been on discipleship and our call as Children of God. For some that understanding has come, for others, that understanding has yet to come. Most of us are already serving that Kingdom with knowledge of our call, but little understanding of the Bible - others have a great knowledge of the Bible, but little understanding of its call.
Luke's message regarding that call is not lost as we move into Christ's explanation of what it is to take up our cross and follow Him in Luke 18:31-34. As Christ laid claim to the prophetic scriptures regarding His life and death that all must be accomplished in verse 31, so He said that His words would not pass away in Luke 21:33, Mark 13:31, and Matthew 24:35. In the same way, He spoke in Mathew 5:18; "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished." His calling was the fulfillment of the law and the prophets, bringing Heaven and Earth back together again. The same is true of our own calling - establishing the peace that exists in Heaven between men and God to earth as He dwells among us. "Do this in remembrance of Him." This is our fellowship offering.
I Corinthians 11:20-33; "When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other."
As we finish Luke 18, we again hear the disciples, (perhaps not the 12, but certainly followers of Jesus who ran ahead of Him), rebuking the poor and needy. Physically, this man was seen as blind and begging. Spiritually speaking, he was hungry for knowledge, understanding, love, and acceptance. As the widow cried unto the unjust judge "Grant me justice against my adversary," so this blind beggar cries "Jesus, have mercy on me," believing certainly that the power of God Himself resided within this great man. He wanted to see - which often reflects wisdom, knowledge, and understanding! This blind beggar believed, and He received His sight. Hebrews 11:6 claims we must believe in order to receive His power! "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
James 1:5-8 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." (see also Proverbs 14:6)
Therefore, if you happen to be that widow who desires to see the Kingdom of God, but has faced that unjust judge represented by the religious of this world, or if you are that sinner who has come to recognize the hypocrisy of those of us within the church; If you are that child in need of the Salvation and Love of our master or if you have failed to receive your blessing from the hands of those of us who have been blessed; If you are willing to take up your cross and enter the Kingdom, but have found the doors of the church to be closed to such as the likes of you; If you are blind and begging for mercy from our Almighty God; Do not give up hope! Jesus said believe in God, believe also in me! In my Father's house there are many mansions - and He has prepared a place for you. It is us, the religious of this world who must request your forgiveness for our hard heartedness. We repent of our own wickedness and daily need of His salvation also. We seek to know His compassion, His grace, and His mercy.
Jesus spoke in Luke 11:7-13 "Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
For those of us who believe we have this down, I suggest we look at the least of these our brethren! How have we treated the alien, the widow, and the orphan? How have we treated the terrorist within our midst? One thing we know about the terrorist is that he is seeking God. We may not like his methods and thus we have responded with retribution, veangance, and bloodshed. We have found we cannot beat them, so we have joined them. Peace with them is the farthest thing from our minds, yet it is the closest desire of our Father's heart. We must take up our cross and follow Him. We must open the doors of the Kingdom and seek Peace in the name of our mutual Father and stop our justifications which have stemmed out of our own self-righteousness and the vain deceits of our corrupt theologies. If it is not Love, it is not pure! God has written their names in the book of life, and what God has put together, let not man put asunder. (Mark 10:9 and Matthew 19:6)
What should you do? Matthew 10:7-8 "As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." These indeed represent the weaknesses and failures of our faith - the alien, the terrorist, and all these children of impure faith. "Go ye into all the world!" (Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 24:47-48)
Response to Psalms 86:1-17
The Prayer of the poor and needy Psalm 86
How easy it would be to own this prayer as we face our trials of each day! How beautiful the words as it carries so many of the themes from the Bible! How true it is that each of us in our own way - both physically, spiritually, and emotionally - reflect the poor and needy of the Bible. Yet, at the same time, how important it is to hear this prayer from our brothers and sisters around the planet - and even within our nearby communities as we stand together as our Father's hands and feet to be the answer to this prayer to them bringing Glory to our Father who has blessed us enough to be an answer to the prayers of others.
Note the virtues of the petitioning heart; poor, needy, devoted, trusting, serving, penitent, persistant, willing, teachable, open, greatful, loyal, studious, worshipful, humble, full of praise, fearful, vulnerable, dependant, weak, peaceful, helped, comforted, seeking.
Note the virtues given in praise and thanksgiving to God as the penitent servant calls on His name; merciful, full of joy, forgiving, good, loving, attentive, trustworthy, inclusive, majestic, worthy, great, powerful, marvelous, praisworthy, saving, compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, faithful, strong, comforting, helping.
Note the Biblical themes;
(vs 1) The poor and needy shall always be with us to test our hearts towards God (Deuteronomy 15:11)
(vs 2) The relationship between God and man as Master and servant (Genesis 27:37)
(vs 3) Penitent sinner, Merciful God (Numbers 15:24)
(vs 4) Worshipful Man finds strength in the Joy of the Lord (Nehemiah 8:10)
(vs 5) God is merciful and compassionate, forgiving and good, abounding in Love to all who seek Him. (Exodus 34:6)
(vs 6) God is the just Judge, listening to the cries of His children. (Exodus 16:12)
(vs 7) God is trustworthy even though man often waits until trouble strikes to call upon Him. (Romans 5:8)
(vs 8) Man imagines there are more than one God - even though God is One. He alone is good. (Isaiah 45:20-22)
(vs 9) One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess (Isaiah 45:23-25)
(vs 10) God is one and besides Him there is no other. (Deuteronomy 4:35)
(vs 11) God seeks a pure heart, fully devoted to Him for our own good. (Jeremiah 32:39)
(vs 12) We must come before Him with praise and thanksgiving (Psalm 95:2)
(vs 13) He is our Redeemer and our Deliverer (Job 19:23-27)
(vs 14) In this world we are destined to be refined through adversity (James 1:2-4)
(vs 15) see also vs. 5 God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in Love (Exodus 34:6)
(vs 16) In our God we will find mercy and strength (Exodus 15:13)
(vs 17) Through His children God's name will be glorified, calling all men unto Him. (John 12:28)
Response to Proverbs 13:9-10
I John 1:5-10 "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives."
Job 18:4-11 "You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger, is the earth to be abandoned for your sake? Or must the rocks be moved from their place?
The lamp of the wicked is snuffed out; the flame of his fire stops burning. The light in his tent becomes dark; the lamp beside him goes out. The vigor of his step is weakened; his own schemes throw him down. His feet thrust him into a net and he wanders into its mesh. A trap seizes him by the heel; a snare holds him fast. A noose is hidden for him on the ground; a trap lies in his path. Terrors startle him on every side and dog his every step."
I John 2:16-17 "For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."
Job 29:3 "when his lamp shone upon my head and by his light I walked through darkness!"
John 14:23-27 " Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Proverbs 3:3-8 "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."
John 3:29-35 "The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
He must become greater; I must become less. The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands."
Isaiah 45:22-25 " 'Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked:
Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.' '
All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. But in the Lord all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult."
There are few words I can add that scripture has not said in a truth and a beauty by which I stand amazed.
Until tomorrow
Rick.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
