April 21, 2010; Joshua 22:21-23:16, Luke 20:27-47, Psalms 89:14-37, Proverbs 13:17-19

Reflections on Joshua 22:21-23:16

Deuteronomy 10:17-19 "For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.  He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.  And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt."

It may seem odd to you that I continue to quote verses about Love for the alien!  However, this is a central theme of scripture that it seems the average child of God has missed from my understanding of history, my culture, and other religious cultures today.  We are so quick to stand in judgment, not only against the enemy across the world we do not understand, but against our brother when his beliefs challenge our own.  Although our desire for purity is wonderful and good, our enmity and strife have nothing to do with the Spirit of God.  Our judgment - especially when it leads to bloodshed - destroys the purity we seek and stands against our Lord.

Psalm 133 "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore."

Deuteronomy 3:9 "(Hermon is called Sirion by the Sidonians; the Amorites call it Senir.)" The Children of Israel had just conquered the land of Og King of Bashan in Deuteronomy 3 up to Mount Hermon ("Sanctuary").  Considered "Snow Mountain" (Senir [Shenir]) by the Arameans or "Breastplate" (Sirion) by the Sidonions.  This Mountain to the north of eastern Manasseh connected the three cultures to the north along the Northeast border of the land of Israel.  The Jordan (descender) river begins within this mountain first emptying into Lake Huleh (Merom = High Place).  Therefore, the brothers of Psalm 133 could well express a brotherhood beyond that of the 12 tribes of Israel.

However, that is getting beyond today's reading.  Our focus is just in keeping the peace between the brotherhood of the 12 tribes.  As Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh imagined the descendants of their brothers forgetting they were one, it is doubtful they imagined hostilities to arise so early within their history together across the dividing waters of life.  Yet here was the threat of war based on faith between brothers - that ancient hostility that purification meant killing your fellowman.  Certainly, our righteousness is too often nothing more than filthy bloodsoaked rags adding fuel to the fire.  Thankfully, peacefull minds prevailed and brothers came to an agreeable understanding before their God. 

Perhaps there was a reason Jesus Christ came to earth to calm our fears about our Father's wrath.  Our fear and worry over His judgment sets Father against son and brother against brother, nation against nation and culture against culture.  Wouldn't it be nice if we could come together before our God of Shalom and talk with one another about His Love and what He'd been doing in our lives?  Couldn't Love be grand?  I'm pretty sure the words of Joshua 22:22 stand true: "The Mighty One, God, the LORD! The Mighty One, God, the LORD! He knows!"

Thankfully, we need not call one another to account.  Thankfully, we need not shed one another's blood to save our souls from Hell. "May the Lord himself call us to account." (vs. 23) Who are we to say to any son or daughter, brother or sister, Mother or Father "You have no share in the Lord." (vs. 23) Such words are too often believed by the hearer as they "stop fearing the Lord." (vs. 23).

Our altars bear witness against us and for us.  Our places of worship and our religious edifices stand witness that we believe there is a God.  He has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us.  When we tell our brother anything different, we can destroy faith.  Our judgment shall come down on our own heads.  As we approach our brethren within this world, first and formost, we must acknowledge that they too are loved by God.  If we don't believe this, we must return to the word of God and seek first His Kingdom - not our own.  As we witness the work of God in their lives, opportunity will come to share our faith also.  We must have faith that God will honor our efforts if we will first honor the efforts and faith of our brethren throughout the world and if we will honor our own faith that the Spirit of God is at work within His creation.  No one ever said that we should go into all the world and share bad news and destroy the hearts and lives of men.

Isaiah 55:5-13 "Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor."
     Seek the Lord while he may be found; (within your neighbor!) call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
     'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
     You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.'"

In Joshua 22, when brothers took time to understand the heart of their brothers, they responded in verse 31b "Today we know that the Lord is with us, because you have not acted unfaithfully toward the Lord in this matter. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the Lord's hand." May this indeed is our witness! "The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows! And let Israel (His Kingdom Seekers) know! If this (our worship) has been in rebellion or disobedience to the Lord, do not spare us this day (convict us of our sin). If we have built our own altar to turn away from the Lord and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the Lord himself call us to account." (vs 22-23)

Therefore we can rejoice when we hear that a brother seeks God - for the Lord our God is One and those who seek Him seek His Spirit and His Truth.  He has promised His very great reward! (see Hebrews 11:6)
     "I rejoiced with those who said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord.' Our feet are standing in your gates," Psalm 122:1-2a.  When you hear those words, "Let us go to the house of the Lord" remove your shoes, you stand in the presence of His Holiness, for two or more are present seeking the One True God.
     "Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture(s). Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:3-5.

Reflections on Joshua 23

Having just reflected on Isaiah 55:12-13 "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed." we must equate Joshua 23 to all our verses relating to Love, Joy, and Peace and treating the alien as one of our native born witnessed throughout scripture.

Verse 23:1 reflects that the people lived in peace.  Following 40 years in the wilderness, the sons of Israel had experienced two great military offensives against Sihon and Og of the Amorites.  This had established the lands west of the Jordan as early as Numbers 21.  Confident in their strength, they went in to the daughters of Moab and Midian in the valley of Shittim, forgetting their call to be Holy.  They suffered greatly by plague and understood this call by God that they had been set apart to be His chosen people.  He had chosen them to be representative of men on earth as God was preparing His plan of redemption through their culture.  As we have read, they were to be holy because He was Holy.  From their culture, Jesus Christ would come to die for all men.  They had been offered up to God as a pleasing sacrifice through circumcision and the law. 

They had entered the land of Canaan and again dedicated themselves to the Lord through circumcision and observance of the passover.  Before their military efforts began, Joshua had met the military commander of the Lord's army and found that He was neither for them or against them, but was prepared to represent the host of heaven. (Joshua 5:13-15) However, through defeat on Ai and Bethel, they were once again reminded of their reliance upon God and their personal call to faith and purity.  Our master designer continued fashioning them according to His will.

Jericho had fallen miraculously as they stood witness once again to the power of God on their behalf.  
 
Scripture of Joshua 9 then provided a look at the vision of Peace God had for the land in the story of Gibeon.  We reflected on the importance of honoring that peace with reference to other scripture on April 14th. 

Perhaps following their initial failure at Ai the people of Canaan, whose hearts had melted in fear before the awesome power of the Lord displayed through these people, rose up against them.  Joshua 10 and 11 detailed two successful defensive military efforts as God led His people into the land by His mighty hand and according to his plan for and purpose of their establishment.  

The people had then joined together to partition the land following 7 years of primarily defensive military campaigns.  At this point, their neighbors had ceased their onslaughts and the land was at rest.  The people gathered together and allotted the land to the 12 tribes even though the Canaanites still lived in the land.  They received their plots and co-existed.  All of their instruction of how to treat the alien now came with the utmost importance as they lived among the people - the supposedly blessed lived among the supposedly cursed.  The alien was to be treated as the native born.  They were to share the celebrations and festivals which they had learned in the desert within their new home and with their new neighbors - and yet, they were not to foget that they had been set apart to be holy as reflected in Joshua 22 as they considered appropriate faith between brothers.
 
(verse 2) Now advanced in years - and perhaps full of wisdom, Joshua calls the rulers of the Israelites and reflects on their lives together.  He has been living at his home in the hill country of Ephraim, perhaps looking out over the Mediterean sea - over the land of Dan and the Philistines certainly a peaceful setting unblemished from his distant view by the hostilities among men.

(verse 3) Joshua reminds the people of all the Lord has done for them as He had fought their battles.

(verse 4) Joshua reminds the people of all he had done for them as he had commanded the battles.  Notice the change in tone between verse 3 and 4.  And yet, we can tell of what the Lord has done through us as reflected in Phillippians 4:13 "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

(verse 5) This verse begins the same theme as Moses gave in Exodus 23:20-33 telling once again what God would do; "See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him. If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you.  My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites, and I will wipe them out.  Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices. You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces.  Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you,  and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.

     I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run.  I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way.  But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you.  Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.
     I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the River. I will hand over to you the people who live in the land and you will drive them out before you. Do not make a covenant with them or with their gods.  Do not let them live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you."

In the same way the land of Canaan had been invaded by God's presence of reclamation, so he works within our hearts and minds, communities and nations cleansing us of all unrighteousness.  Wisdom 12:1-2; "for your imperishable spirit is in all things! Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little, warn them, and remind them of the sins they are committing, that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O Lord!"

(verse 6) Stay on the narrow way, pursue Peace as well as your own holiness. Love God + Love Man.  Do not jump in and destroy! Matthew 7:6-16; "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
     Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For (not only you but) everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
     Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 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 good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
     Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
     Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Do not worry, in the end, you will have no choice but to follow the Lord's leading as found in Numbers 22:26: "Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left."  Through Him we shall find Love, Joy, and Peace both now and forevermore.  But first, we must die to self.

(verse 7-8) The jist of this verse appears to deal with religious practice.  As we found, as the Israelites lived in the desert for 40 years, they were weaned from idolotrous cycles of addiction.  They learned to rely on God Himself for their sustenance.  They were motivated from their struggles in life to remain holy and righteous before Him.  God's intent as we live with our fellowman is that they will see our devotion to God and choose to follow our lead as they witness the joys of the fruits of His Spirit within.  Although they might desire we join them in unrighteousness, that is not our call and would dishonor our God who had claimed us and was refining us to be holy because He is holy.  Plus, why would we wish to re-enter that area of pain and death? (For further reading, see Psalm 16.)

(verse 9-11) Joshua remembers the wonderful works of the Lord that His people have witnessed as He has destroyed the giants from within their land and brought them to a time of peace "within the presence of their enemies." (Psalm 23:5) He reminds them that this blessing is dependant upon their loyalty to abide by His law which we know to be righteousness and love.  This assurance is reflected again by the Psalmist in Psalm 28:7-8; "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. The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one."

(verse 12-13) From a mindset of righteous vs. wicked these verses would make a pretty strong case.  But if we look closer, we will find a messianic portrayal as once again, the life of the righteous is given for the wicked. As the purity of the Israelites was to change the communities in which they lived, so Christ died for all of us.  Can you imagine Christ's choice to become snared in our world for all intents and purposes to die for our sins in order to bring us back to His Heavenly paradise!  "they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the Lord your God has given you."  He chose to become one of us so that we could live with Him forever - not because of our will, but because of the will of His Father in Heaven.  Then too, there is the symbolism of his purity as Christ succeeded where even the people of Israel failed, regardless of their human efforts. 

Romans 6:11-14 "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."

Our sin and separation was to know good and evil.  God has continued to grant us our desire.  We have separated mankind into good and evil ever since.  Christ removed the curse by wearing our thorns in His brow and receiving the lashes on His back.  We can now worship our one true God in Spirit and Truth with one another in an atmosphere of Love, Joy, and Peace!

(verse 14) "I am about to go the way of all the earth" words of Joshua here and of David in I Kings 2:2.  Again, Joshua reflects that all of God's promises have been fulfilled.  Thus, the fact many of the people still lived within the land was not considered a part of the fulfillment of the promise.  As most of the world cultures today subsist of subcultures, so was the culture of Israelites west of the Jordan river in Canaan from the beginning of their domain.

(verse 15) Just as the promises had come true, so the curse of Leviticus 26:33 would come true.  I have checked several English translations and each time, the translators expressed the surety of what was to come.  There was no doubt, this also was by the plan and design of God.  Such things must come before the Christ would appear to display the Gospel truth of redemption, and the spreading of the seeds of righteousness.  Perhaps few have understood the importance of a Daniel affecting the Kingdom of Babylon, Persia, and an empire.  Perhaps few have understood the righteousness exemplified within the books of Maccabees as History continues to tell the story of God and how He uses his people, not to bring a few unrighteous souls home, but to reclaim all of creation as his word went forth to claim His prize, his Love.  He used their purification, their righteousness, their unrighteousness, their chastisement, their refinement, their obedience, their devotion - all for His Glory.  When we consider these attributes of God; He alone is Pure, He alone is Righteous, He alone is Holy, He alone Redeems, He alone is our Redeemer, He alone is our Justice, He alone is our Judge.  He personified these attributes within the body and blood of His only begotten Son, yet He alone is our Lord and Savior.  His Spirit dwelt within the Christ, the Messiah - who reminded us time and again that He alone is good.  (Why do you call Christ good? (Luke 18:19) - except for the Spirit of God within)
     "The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him." (Exodus 15:2)
     "The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)
     "I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation." (Psalm 118:13-14)
     "'I will praise you, O Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. 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.'
     With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: 'Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.'" (Isaiah 12:1b-5)

(verse 16) If we do not live in purity and righteousness; if we do not pursue love and peace with God and Man, we will not last long, nor enjoy the Joy of the Lord that is available for us.  If we rebel and dishonor His Love for all that He has created, He most assuredly will remove our Joy and our Peace.  This is purely logical.  This passage reflects Deuteronomy 4:25-31.
     "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."  (Isaiah 45:24)

And yet, there is hope in the Love of His blessed redemption: "But in the Lord all the descendants of Israel
will be found righteous and will exult." (see also Ephesians 1:3-14) "


     "In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will" (Ephesians 1:5)
     "For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen. (Romans 9:3-5)
     "But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." (I Thessalonians 5:8-11)

Response to Luke 20:27-47

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadducees "The Sadducees (or Tzedukim) were a group of Jews opposed to the Pharisees (today's Rabbinical Jews), founded in the second century BC. They ceased to exist sometime after the destruction of the second Temple in Jerusalem (Herod's Temple) in 70AD."
     "The Hebrew name, Tsdoki, indicates that they are the followers of the teachings of the High Priest Tsadok, often spelled Zadok, who anointed Solomon king at the start of the First Temple Period."

The etymology for the word Zadok appears to represent "righteous."

II Samuel 15:27 "The king (David) also said to Zadok the priest, "Aren't you a seer? Go back to the city in peace"

I Kings 1:45 "and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him (Solomon) king at Gihon. From there they have gone up cheering, and the city resounds with it. That's the noise you hear."

Ezekiel 48:10-12 "This will be the sacred portion for the priests. It will be 25,000 cubits long on the north side, 10,000 cubits wide on the west side, 10,000 cubits wide on the east side and 25,000 cubits long on the south side. In the center of it will be the sanctuary of the Lord.  This will be for the consecrated priests, the Zadokites, who were faithful in serving me and did not go astray as the Levites did when the Israelites went astray. It will be a special gift to them from the sacred portion of the land, a most holy portion, bordering the territory of the Levites. "

I often remember this name "Sadducees" and their belief that there is no resurection in that without resurection, there is no hope.  This would make you sad, you see?  The first mention of the Sadducees comes with the Pharisees in Matthew 3:7-8 "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: 'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.'"  Considering their religious focus on wrath and judgment given a theology void of the hope of resurrection, theirs was a depressing theology indeed.  "The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all." Acts 3:8

To understand the Sadducee and their beliefs and the importance of their reference in understanding the written documentation of the oral law and its interpretation by these various Temple leaders during the time of Jesus, read the Wikipedia reference on Sadducees at the beginning of this section.  For Jesus to enter the world stage as these groups were determining theology was nothing less than divine coincidence.  This again, brings up a little known theological belief of divine prevenience - Our awesome God is involved in our histories having set up in what was to come, and being in complete control of what is to be.

As mentioned in my commentary on Luke 20:27-40's sister passage of Mark 12:18-27, the Sadducee's question of the 7 grooms who died possibly reflects the story from: "the book of Tobit. This book portrays Jewish folklore of a man named Tobit from the tribe of Naphtali living in Nineveh following the Assyrian deportation of the 10 tribes of Israel around 721 B.C. In this story, We hear of the plight of Sarah, who shall be wed to Tobit's son, Tobiah:
     From The Old Testament of the New American Bible copyright 1970: Tobit 3:8: 'For she had been married to seven husbands, but the wicked demon Asmodeus* killed them off before they could have intercourse with her, as it is prescribed for wives. So the maid said to her: 'You are the one who strangles your husbands! Look at you! You have already been married seven times, but you have had no joy with any one of your husbands.'"
     *Asmodeus: in Persian aeshma daeva, "demon of wrath," adopted into Aramaic with the sense of "the Destroyer." He will be subdued (Tb8,3) by Raphael (v 17), "God heals."

This story in itself displays our adversity and the Leviathan of wrath on earth, causing the hopelessness that so many of us face.  However, the grace and mercy of good triumphs over evil as it so often happens in all good stories.

Deuteronomy 25:5 "If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her."  The first consideration of this law was seen in Biblical scripture in Genesis 38:8-10 "Then Judah said to Onan, 'Lie with your brother's wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to produce offspring for your brother." But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so whenever he lay with his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from producing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the Lord's sight; so he put him to death also."  As this story led to a crucial, yet surprisingly difficult step in the Messianic line, the law was certainly well known to Jesus, a critical student of the word of God.  This law carries our understandings of the sanctity of life and the survival of men - all men - to a level beyond most of our comprehension.

Avoiding the application of brotherly love or sanctity of life, Jesus deals with the question and the belief of the Sadducees, reflecting again on the Kingdom of God. As Jesus studied the scriptures within the Rabbinical schools, his teachings reflected those of the Pharisees more than the Sadducees.  His response of verse 35 began His rebuke of their denial of the resurrection as His intent is always to reach the heart of the listener.  He was not afraid to overpower an opponent with words and thereby challenged their worthiness of such a noble gift as that of Resurrection, thereby also granting the listeners within the crowd a touch of pride and confidence in their belief - even a motivation to achieve such worthiness.

Again in verse 36, Jesus mentions the Angels.  Once again, a direct attack on the group asking the question.  Their own beliefs have now excluded them from the worthiness of resurrection, from everlasting life, and from holding even the title of "Children of God."  Quite probably, this was not a condemnation to Hell as even the belief in Hell reflects a resurrection and an eternal spiritual life! His response was as strong as casting out the demons of their theology which was holding them back from the Kingdom of God which was among them. 

Knowing their dedication to know and understand the scripture, Jesus then reflected on the Talmud containing the Mosaic law.  His answer of Luke 20:37-38 sounds like a student of theology making a case in debate class.  He attributes the writing to Moses even though the quote comes from God Himself in Exodus 3:6: "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob."  His final statement of Luke 20:38 slipped in that theme that all will be raised in that "for to him all are alive."

Certainly, His answer pitted the crowd against one another as Jesus had touched the central core of the controversy between the Pharisee and the Sadducee.  The Pharisee's had won this debate through the great debater who stood in their presence and they applauded his answer, reflecting His Rabbinical title and standing in verse 39.  He had been showing His knowledge of scripture since the time He was a child and they no doubt knew of His reputation of knowledge.  Their problem stood more with His moral standing as seen through his associations and his condemnation of much of their own moral and ethical code.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all reflect Jesus asking the next question regarding the Christ being the "Son of David" of Luke 20:41.  Matthew directs this question at the Pharisee's.  This apparently was another debate of the time as this phrase is not reflected in the Old Testament, but makes its first appearance regarding Jesus in Matthew 9:27.  Therefore, it may be assumed this was a title understood by the people of the day as an interpretation of the scripture, perhaps just as the title "Jesus of Nazareth".  This then was perhaps another reflection of a classroom debate within the Rabbinical schools of the day.  Jesus quote of Psalm 110:1, giving the claim that the Messiah was even before David, reflects He was well aware of their studies.  His self reference throughout the gospels was "Son of Man", a title quite common in scripture, making its first entry in Numbers 23:19.

Having thus mastered the scriptures with the masters, He had exemplified his authority in reference to their concern of Luke 20:2.  Turning then to the disciples, Jesus spoke to the crowd and to all of us in reflecting the innapropriate attitudes of the religious when it comes to service within the Kingdom of God.  Do not flaunt your wealth or blessings.  Do not seek the esteem of man for your spirituallity or righteousness; Do not consider yourself specially chosen and loved by your God who does not play favorites, but loves all men; Do not justify the excesses of your place of blessed priviledge at the cost of the greater community as the less fortunate succomb to the cycles of poverty your excess creates. Philippians 1:2 summarizes it this way "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."

Haggai 1:5-11 speaks well of the discipline of the Lord which shall come upon those of such vain conceit:
     "Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.'
     This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,' says the Lord.  'You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?' declares the Lord Almighty. 'Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops.  I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands.'"

Reflections on Psalms 89:14-37

(verse 14) "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you."
Hosea 2:19-20 "I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord."

(verse 15) "Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord."
I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

(verse 16) "They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness."
I Corinthians 1:30-31: "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.'" (See also Isaiah 45:24)

(verse 17) "For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn."  
Psalm 23:5b-6: "I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."


(verse 18) "Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel."
Romans 8:38-39 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

(verse 19) "Once you spoke in a vision, to your faithful people you said: 'I have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have exalted a young man from among the people.'"
I Samuel 18;6b-7 "the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." 

(verse 20) "I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him."
I Samuel 16:12 "So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."

(verse 21) "My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him."
I Kings 8:42a "for men will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when he comes and prays"

(verse 22) "No enemy will subject him to tribute; no wicked man will oppress him."
Ezra 8:22b "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him."


(verse 23) "I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries."
Zechariah 8:20-22 "Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, 'Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.' And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him."

(verse 24) "My faithful love will be with him, and through my name his horn will be exalted.
Isaiah 55:3 "Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David."

(verse 25) "I will set his hand over the sea, his right hand over the rivers."
Zechariah 9:10 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."

(verse 26) "He will call out to me, 'You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.'"
II Corinthians 6:18 "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

(verse 27) "I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth."
Daniel 7:14 "He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed."

(verse 28) "I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail."
Jeremiah 31:3b-4a "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt"

(verse 29) "I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure."
Deuteronomy 11:21 "so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the Lord swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth."

(verse 30) "If his sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes,"
II Samuel 7:14 "I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men."

(verse 31) "if they violate my decrees and fail to keep my commands,"
Ezekiel 22:29 " The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the alien, denying them justice."

(verse 32) "I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging"
Job 9:33-35a "If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. Then I would speak up without fear of him,"

(verse 33) "but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
Hebrews 13:5b-6 "God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."[Deuteronomy 31:6b] So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'"[Psalm 118:6-7]
(verse 34) "I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered."
Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"
(verse 35) "Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness - and I will not lie to David-"
Hebrews 6:17: " Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath."

(verse 36) "that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun;"
Luke 1:31-33: "You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

(verse 37) "it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky."
Job 16:19-20: "Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God;"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDncpDmqA88

Reflections on Proverbs 13:17-19

(verse 17) "A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing."
Matthew 3:7b-8 "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance."
I John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Since John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, the message has been all about repentance and the forgiveness of sins.  The reputation of our God as a God of wrath and judgment should be wiped away due to his abounding Love and Mercy to all who call on His name.  As children of God, we must quit promoting enmity with God and bring the Glory due His name.  Truly, He can claim the vilest sinner on earth.

(verse 18) "He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored."

Isaiah 45:24b "All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame."
II Timothy 1:7; "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
Matthew 16:26-27; "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done."

(verse 19) "A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil."
Psalm 119:102-103;  "I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"
Judges 3:4-5a; "They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord's commands, which he had given their forefathers through Moses. The Israelites lived among the Canaanites"
Matthew 7:11-12; "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 good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
Until Tomorrow

Rick

April 20, 2010; Joshua 21:1-22:20, Luke 20:1-26, Psalms 89:1-13, Proverbs 13:15-16

Reflections on Joshua 21:1-22:20

Lest we forget, Jacob had one more son. Leah (wearied, offended) had 6 of Jacob's sons and Levi was the third.  Upon Levi's birth, Leah again chose the name in reference to her relationship with Jacob.  Genesis 29:34b "'Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.' So he was named Levi" (joined/attached). One might imagine that the Hebrew word for Leviathan may be similar, and they would be right.  Etymology for Leviathan brings up words such as entwined, twisted, or coiled such as a serpent.

As Levi had joined his older brother in the Shechem slaughter of Genesis 34, Jacob had cursed them in Genesis 49:5-7 "Simeon and Levi are brothers -  their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel.

Although Gershon was Levi's firstborn; "The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari." Genesis 46:11, Moses and Aaron were from the Kohathite clan and the Aaronites held the High Priestly office.  In fact, although the third book of the bible is Leviticus, the entire book dealt with the Aaronites and the Levitical duties of the rest of the tribe were not detailed until the fourth book, Numbers 35:2 states "Command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. And give them pasture lands around the towns. Then they will have towns to live in and pasture lands for their cattle, flocks and all their other livestock. This then sets the stage for the dispersion of the Levites in Joshua 21.

The High Priestly office was set in Judah from the very beginning as reflected in Joshua 21:4 and verses 9-19.  Reuben the firstborn had been given land east of the Jordan, we see sons 2 and 4 (Simeon and Judah) uniting forces in the southwestern portion of Canaan with Benjamin and the ruling class of the tribe of Levi.  Thus, the scepter of Genesis 49:10 is fulfilled (The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.)

 As mentioned previously, Caleb's inheritance of Hebron became a prominent city in Israel being a city of refuge, city of the High Priests, and David's royal city for the first 7 years of his reign.  Until the capture of Jerusalem, Hebron gained prominence beyond that of Shiloh and Shechem.  Given the double mention of Kiriath-arba in verse 11 and Hebron in verse 13, it is possible that these represented two cities within the Hebron community.  However, it is also possible that the writer of Joshua consulted two historical and/or legal documents.

Thirteen cities total within this grouping of what would become the southern Kingdom of Judah were now allotted to the High Priests.  From these would come the annals of Judaism leading up to the promised Messiah, the prophesied destruction of 70 AD, and the prophesied coming together of nations in the last days.  From this community, religious tendrils would weave into empires and peoples until the end of time as they sought after, and documented their affairs within the Kingdom of God.

I Chronicles 6:1-3 "The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar." Kohath had taken pre-eminence among the sons of Levi as Moses and Aaron had received the special calling by God in Exodus.  Next in line then from the High Priestly line from Aaron were the remainder of the Kohathites from Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.  By lot in Joshua 1, they received cities and pasture lands within the ruling body of the coming Northern Kingdom, the territories of the Ephraimites and their eastern neighbor Dan and the remainder of the tribe of Joseph (stemming from the allotments given to the daughters of Zelophehad.)  Most notable of these cities was Shechem of Ephraim where these allotments were taking place.  Overall, these territories would eventually be considered Samaritan lands in the time of Jesus, lying between Galilee and Judah.

Following the Kohathite assignments, the descendants of Levi's first son, the Gershonites received their possessions.  These received 9 cities within the northernmost 3 tribal territories of eastern Manasseh, Naphtali, and Asher.   They also received 4 cities and pasture lands within Issachar, including En-gannim (southernmost and meaning 'garden' or 'the Lord's protection').  As mentioned, the tribal boundaries of Issachar are most in line with the valley of Armageddon, so prevalent in today's end times philosophies. 

The descendants of Levi's third son, the Merarites were split with 4 cities with pasture lands being given west of the Jordan in the territory of Zebulun (perhaps Jesus childhood stomping grounds), and the other 8 cities being given east of the Jordan in the territories of Gad and Reuben.

One might imagine that the summary of Joshua 21:43-45 were the wishful musings of a dreamer as there was not peace within the land following Joshua's death as reflected within the first few verses of the next book of Judges.  However, as all nations would be blessed through their culture and they had inherited both lands and peoples, they had come into the land and had full opportunity to live at peace with their neighbors.  Thus, in fact, the Lord had provided all that He had promised. 

Perhaps also, these words are prophetic as the peace among men available within the Kingdom of God shall come to pass.  All of His good promises which He has made to Abraham and all the offspring covered in His new covenant have been covered by the conquests of Jesus Christ.  His salvation has been made available to all men and all men can have Peace with Him.  Certainly, following the 7 years of conquest within his lifetime and the treaty concerning the allotment of lands written at Shechem (of which the Canaanites had not been invited), Joshua was able to live out his days in peace at his home in the hill country of Ephraim.  Certainly, His faith could have allowed him to pen these words.

These words of faith were uttered again by Solomon in I Kings 8:56 "Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses."  However, as these promises have been interpreted within conquests of lands and people groups throughout history, they have only served to cause conflict and bloodshed through rival nation groups.  Considering the Peace to all Men reflected within the new covenant, such conquests and interpretations must necessarily come to an end as all people gather before their Creator as one.

Reflections on Joshua 22:1-20

Crossing Over Joshua 22:1-10

Numbers 32:20-25 "Then Moses said to them,'If you will do this - if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for battle, and if all of you will go armed over the Jordan before the Lord until he has driven his enemies out before him - then when the land is subdued before the Lord, you may return and be free from your obligation to the Lord and to Israel. And this land will be your possession before the Lord.
     'But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. Build cities for your women and children, and pens for your flocks, but do what you have promised.'
     The Gadites and Reubenites said to Moses, 'We your servants will do as our lord commands. Our children and wives, our flocks and herds will remain here in the cities of Gilead. But your servants, every man armed for battle, will cross over to fight before the Lord, just as our lord says.'"

Ok, Let's switch gears and follow the commander of the new covenant as we His servants arm ourselves to serve within his Kingdom.

John 2:5 "His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.'
 
Luke 9:35 "A voice came from the cloud, saying, 'This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.'
 
Luke 5:30-32 "But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, 'Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?
     Jesus answered them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.'"
 
Luke 10:32b-37 "when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

     'Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?'
     The expert in the law replied, 'The one who had mercy on him.'
     Jesus told him, 'Go and do likewise.'"

Matthew 28:16-20 "Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'"

Daniel 7:13-14 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed."

Matthew 11:27-30 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

     'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.'"

Romans 12:1-5 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.
     For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."


Joshua 22:2b-4a "you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. For a long time now - to this very day - you have not deserted your brothers but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you.  Now that the Lord your God has given your brothers rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land"

Our work is not yet done as our brethren are suffering worldwide.  The poor and needy are oppressed in our homes and cities! They are oppressed in our nations and cultures.  Mankind stands broken and divided and in need of earthly salvation.  There are still multitudes who seek God that we may comfort, befriend, and heal - until that glorious day of the Lord when we shall again shall enter His rest.

John 14:1-3 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. (You) Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

Joshua 22:5 reminds us again that while we are on this earth, we must be focused on His Law "Love God + Love Man" and all the ramifications of that found throughout this scripture of which we are studying.

For the history relating to verses 6-9, see Numbers 31-32 and Joshua 17.  Note that only the fighting men of these three tribes crossed to the West of the Jordan seven years before leaving their parents, wives, and children on the east to cultivate the land and subdue their inheritance. 

Righteous Hostility Erupts Joshua 22:11-20

Surprisingly, following seven years of conquest with their brothers, the peace in the land was quickly shattered by judgment as brother turned on brother.  Verse 11 immediately considers those on the west side of the Jordan to be Israelites while those on the east to be named individually by tribal name - or perhaps even grouped as Gileadites as that was representative of the land.  Jacob had run from Laban in Genesis 31 South from Aram across the Euphrates river into the land of Gilead.  Ishmaelites from Gilead bought Joseph from his brothers outside of Shechem in Genesis 37.  Makir, descendant of Manasseh named a son Gilead beginning the Gileadite clan.  These three tribes had built their altar in the Israelite side and passed over into their land of Gilead.  As this was seen immediately as dishonor to Jehovah's wishes that the people worship as one, the Israelites prepared to make war upon their brothers, and peace was fleeting.

Such was the history of the early understandings of the law and the experiences of the Israelites.  The Purity, Holiness, and Righteousness of the law given by Moses was of paramount importance.  Those who held it closest were emboldened by it.  The result, too often was very similar to the story of Cain and Abel.  In the hands of men, the law became a tool for an exclusive faith.  For those who felt distant or separated from that law, there was a jealousy and a disillusionment as the requirements did not gel with real life.  Such visions of the law's intent has caused wars and strife among men throughout history.  Thankfully, Jesus came and made sense of mankind's misunderstandings.  The Jewish word for Peace reflects God's original intent of the Law - that being to restore or to make whole - the very opposite of what well meaning men intended to do that day - and perhaps this.

These people had learned from the words of Moses and the experiences of history.  When they dishonored the Lord by joining with the Moabite and Midianite women below Mount Peor in the valley of Shittim, the Lord had brought them back to a place of honor through death and plague.  Certainly, the words of Moses held them tightly as the plague was blamed on their sin and unrighteousness.  They had learned the importance of Righteousness and Holiness and felt the discipline of the Lord.  Their anguish from those hard lessons is still paramount in many of our hearts and minds today as we are reminded of the importance of those virtues even in the disciplines of our own lives.

 Their point was valid.  The community often suffered for the defilement of a few.  Sin left unchecked can defile a nation. And yet, war between brothers does not improve the situation.  As the brothers were open to the concerns of brothers, so we today must be willing to consider the concerns of our fellowman and allow ourselves to be called to Holiness and Righteousness as these too are the requirements of God.  Peace without righteousness and Holiness does not set mankind right with his maker.  And yet, correction of our fellowman takes much greater care than going to war when we realize that God loves the sinner.

Hebrews 1:21-31 "and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
     If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' [Deuteronomy 32:35] and again, 'The Lord will judge his people.' [Deuteronomy 32:36; Psalm 135:14] It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."


James 5:19-20 "My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins."

Proverbs 10:11-13a "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, "

Ephesians 4:15-16 "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

Matthew 18:10-17 "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
     What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
     If your brother sins [against you], go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'[Deuteronomy 19:15] If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

Just remember, the tax collectors and sinners were followers of Christ.  He came to seek and to save the likes of them.  Do not write such individuals off as unsaved - the next section of Matthew 18:21-35 condemns the one who does not offer forgiveness and welcome the repentant sinner back into the fold.  Don't make repentance a power trip where you hold all the cards or those very cards will be stacked against you by the master dealer!

Reflections on Luke 20:1-26

A Righteous Battle! Luke 20:1-8

Isaiah 5:7 "For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel and the men of Judah His delightful plant.  Thus He looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; For righteousness, but behold, a cry of distress."

Isaiah 3:14 "The Lord enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: 'It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses.'"

Jesus knew the cross He was to bear as He ventured toward Jerusalem.  The scheming of the Jerusalem church seeking to put an end to His ministry had been in the works long before the triumphal entry.  Jesus had healed on the sabbath.  He had partied with sinners and tax collectors.  His reputation had preceded them and He had made enemies as He refined the Levites with fiery words of judgment and condemnation.  For His part, Jesus had fueled that fire, knowing what must take place for the fulfillment of His Father's redemption plan.

It was no surprise then that the leaders of the Jerusalem temple, the religious center of the empire, accosted Jesus routinely during that Holy week, hoping to stem this threat to their religious ideals.  They knew the blasphemy they sought.  As we study the gospel of John, we will find Jesus often claimed that He and the Father were One!  For them, this was outright blasphemy!  Certainly, this man who rode into town on a donkey was not the conquering King they all envisioned who would destroy all wickedness in men and reclaim the glory days of David and Solomon!  Surely, this was not the man to set all the world right and gather all nations toward Jerusalem in Peace and Glory!

Thus, they sought blasphemy.  Yet Jesus knew his time was not yet and sidestepped their trap.  In so doing, he again fulfilled scripture.  Proverbs 28:10 "He who leads the upright along an evil path will fall into his own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance." Isaiah 8:14 "and he will be a sanctuary; but for both houses of Israel he will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare." 

Vine Dresser's Eviction Notice Luke 20:9-18 (see also Mathew 21:33-46, Mark 12:1-12)

Luke 18:7-8 "And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 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?"

The question of the parable of the vine dressers carries on the message of discipleship within this Kingdom of God.  In answer to the Pharisee's question of Luke 17:20, Christ said the Kingdom was in the midst of you.  As we have considered, Jesus then condemned unjust discipleship!  He spoke of those who would be called to serve within that Kingdom throughout the rest of Luke 17.  We have seen that this calling is while we are yet alive, not some rapture to grab us out of the world, but a calling that sends us into the world - sharing His love, joy, and peace with our neighbors.  Luke 18:1-8 condemned the injustice of mankind compared to the justice of God.  Luke 18:9-14 condemned our pride in life and our own self-righteousness.  Luke 18:15-17 spoke of accepting the weak through the purity and peace of a child.   Luke 18:18-30 reminded the disciple of the importance of reaching out to the poor and needy with all that we are and all that we have - pure selflessness.  Luke 18:31-34 said it would not be easy to take up our cross and follow Jesus.  Luke 18:35-43 exemplified bringing sight to the blind and the light of understanding to those in darkness.

Luke 19:1-10 continued the message of discipleship by claiming the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost - and witnessed his association with the tax collectors and sinners so that all would understand. Luke 19:11-27 judged those who would not bear fruit - which brings us back to today's parable.  As Jesus entered the vineyard of Jerusalem in Luke 19:28-40, he immediately met hostility with the tenants.  He cried over their coming devastation as reflected in Luke 19:41-44, exemplifying the love He still had for them.  And yet, his purpose was not to console, but to cleanse and refine - to prepare the way for the new covenant in His blood which would come to all people.  He therefore cleansed the Temple of the sacrificial laws in Luke 19:45-48 as He reiterated the prophecy of Isaiah 56:7 that His Father's house would be a house of prayer for all nations. 

Following the question of his authority, He placed the questioners ill at ease before the people in Luke 20:1-8 before giving His answer in Luke 20:9-18.  His parable itself turns the question back upon these tenants of His Father's vineyard who had received their lease through the law of Moses.  Who indeed has authority over my Father's vineyard?  My Father called you to serve within this Kingdom in righteousness and holiness.  He made it clear it was not because of your righteousness, but because He was Holy that He called you to be holy to be his light unto His creation.  And yet, as He sent prophets to refine that self-righteousness into His-righteousness and Love, they were mistreated and disrespected.  Each time, as He sent to harvest the hearts and minds of men, he found his vine dressers were keeping the fruit of His vineyard for themselves and refusing the counsel of his prophets.

So, now, as Jesus spoke to these Levites, His answer to their question of authority was that He held the position of Son and heir.  He let them know in the hearing of all people of all time that the Father had sent Him into their world.  He let them know that He was aware of their intentions to kill Him.  He let them know of their coming punishment and the change coming within the Kingdom their God.  And the people said "May this never be!"  (vs 16).

Jesus then quoted to them Psalm 118:22 "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;" This stone would not only destroy their previous understandings, but it would shame the self-righteousness of all men from the beginning until the end of time who imagined any righteousness within them apart from their creator.  Perhaps with red faces of shame, but more probable of anger, the Levites gnashed their teeth as they felt the judgment of this powerful adversary towards their world and life view and against the very pride and justification they felt before their understanding and view of God.

As He became more and they became less - even within the eyes now of their followers of Jerusalem, they changed their stance and attempted to find fault with Him before their Roman governance.  Knowing their people hated the taxman as much as they, they attempted also to dissuade the people.  He answered by pointing out the worldliness of money and its appropriate earthly use.  He honored those in authority and separated church and state.  Love (exemplified by honor) God + Love (exemplified by honor) men.

Further notes on Jesus the cornerstone:

Ephesians 2:19-21 "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord." (Although we may have been given authority over who may be let into this citizenship, we will be judged by our inclusions or exclusions - our ability to forgive according to the justice of our God with which He has forgiven us (see Matthew 18:21-35))

I Peter 2:4-5 "As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (Pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44, Romans 12:14)

Coming Restoration through His Redemption Plan (Seeking to Save the Lost and Chosen)

Romans 8:28-35 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
     What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns?
     Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"

That intercession began on the Cross as Jesus prayed: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:24

Zechariah 10:10 "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son."

Wisdom 5:1-2 "Then shall the just one with great assurance confront [II Thessalonians 1:6] his oppressors who set at nought his labors[Colossians 2:14-15].  Seeing this, they shall be shaken with dreadful fear, and amazed at the unlooked for salvation."

Wisdom 11:13-14 "For when they heard that the cause of their own torments was a benefit to these others, they recognized the Lord.  Him who of old had been cast out in exposure they indeed mockingly rejected; but in the end of events, they marveled at him, since their thirst proved unlike that of the just."

Reflections on Psalms 89:1-13

Responsive verse

(verse 1) "I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations."
Lamentations 3:22-23 "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4zw5kZ65w4&feature=related

(verse 2) "I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself."Hebrews 10:12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.

(verse 3) "You said, 'I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant,'" II Samuel 22:51 "He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever."
 
(verse 4) "I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations."
Isaiah 9:7 "Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."

(verse 5) "The heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
Revelation 7:11-12 "All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

(verse 6) "For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?"
Isaiah 41:13 "For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."

(verse 7) "In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him."
Proverbs 9:10 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

(verse 8) "O Lord God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O Lord, and your faithfulness surrounds you."
I Samuel 2:2 "There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God."

(verse 9) "You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them."
Mark 4:41 "They were terrified and asked each other, 'Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!'"

(verse 10) "You crushed Rahab like one of the slain; with your strong arm you scattered your enemies."
Exodus 15:1b ""I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea."

(verse 11) "The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it."
I Chronicles 29:11 "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all."

(verse 12) "You created the north and the south; Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name."
Proverbs 8:29b-30 "and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,

(verse 13) "Your arm is endued with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted."
Daniel 12:7 "The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, 'It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.'"

Reflections on Proverbs 13:15-16

(verse 15)  As men we have the power to study and grasp an understanding of Wisdom and knowledge in a good way or a bad way.  We can attain a knowledge of good and/or evil.  By striving after the good, we will find favor with God and man.  by striving after evil or folly - or by being lax in study at all, we fall quickly out of that favor.  "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." Luke 2:52

Job 28:28 "And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.' "

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (see also Luke 12:31 where righteousness is replaced with justice)

II Chronicles 1:12a "therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor,"

(verse 16) as exemplified by Jesus in Hebrews 5:7-9 "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him"

Isaiah 64:5-6 "You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved?
     All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away."


Romans 11:32-36 "For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
     Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? [Isaiah 40:13] Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? [Job 41:11]
     For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Amen!

Rick