Judges 2
"The LORD raised up judges... Yet the Israelites would not listen to their judges but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. Unlike their fathers, they quickly turned from the way in which their fathers had walked, the way of obedience to the LORD's commands. Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them, He was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the LORD had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them. But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways."
Humble thoughts, reflections, and/or summaries from readings of God's word. "For if any one is desirous simply to know those things which it has pleased God to reveal, that is the man who accurately knows what it is to be truly wise. " Calvin
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Judges
After the promised land was divided among the twelve tribes, each was responsible for driving out the remaining enemies from its own territory. In chapter 1, we read about some tribes that didn't drive out their enemies from their lands. For their disobedience, God withdrew His help in driving out the Canaanites and His blessing of the Israelites in battle.
After the promised land was divided among the twelve tribes, each was responsible for driving out the remaining enemies from its own territory. In chapter 1, we read about some tribes that didn't drive out their enemies from their lands. For their disobedience, God withdrew His help in driving out the Canaanites and His blessing of the Israelites in battle.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Joshua 24
Joshua addressed the whole assembly of Israelite leaders, elders, judges, and officials, reminding them of their history regarding where they have been and have come from and all the events leading them to the promised land. Joshua reminded them of God's faithfulness, provision, protection, and keeping of His promises. Then Joshua said, "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua addressed the whole assembly of Israelite leaders, elders, judges, and officials, reminding them of their history regarding where they have been and have come from and all the events leading them to the promised land. Joshua reminded them of God's faithfulness, provision, protection, and keeping of His promises. Then Joshua said, "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Joshua 23
Joshua addressed the leaders, elders, judges, and officials of Israel, saying "Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now...You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed."
Joshua addressed the leaders, elders, judges, and officials of Israel, saying "Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now...You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed."
Joshua 22-
Before the Eastern tribes ( Reubenites, Gadites, Manassha half-tribe) had returned home, Joshua gathered them and blessed them saying, "You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and 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 that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan. But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul."
But, when they were leaving, the Eastern tribes built an alter near the Jordan and the Israelites thought they were breaking faith with the God of Israel and turning away for the Lord. The Israelites knew from past experiences that the wrath of God would be on the whole community of Israel, so the whole assembly of Israel gathered to go to war against them. But the Eastern tribes reassured the Israelites that they built the alter to the Lord and to witness before the generations to follow that they also have a share in the Lord.
Before the Eastern tribes ( Reubenites, Gadites, Manassha half-tribe) had returned home, Joshua gathered them and blessed them saying, "You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and 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 that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan. But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul."
But, when they were leaving, the Eastern tribes built an alter near the Jordan and the Israelites thought they were breaking faith with the God of Israel and turning away for the Lord. The Israelites knew from past experiences that the wrath of God would be on the whole community of Israel, so the whole assembly of Israel gathered to go to war against them. But the Eastern tribes reassured the Israelites that they built the alter to the Lord and to witness before the generations to follow that they also have a share in the Lord.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Joshua 12-21
So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD handed all their enemies over to them. Not one of all the LORD's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.
So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD handed all their enemies over to them. Not one of all the LORD's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Joshua 11
All the northern kings came with their troops, horses, chariots, joining forces to fight against Israel. But the Lord told Joshua "Do not be afraid of them," since He would hand them all over to Israel, and Israel was to totally destroy them, not to spare anything that breathed. "So Joshua took the entire land, just as the LORD had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war."
All the northern kings came with their troops, horses, chariots, joining forces to fight against Israel. But the Lord told Joshua "Do not be afraid of them," since He would hand them all over to Israel, and Israel was to totally destroy them, not to spare anything that breathed. "So Joshua took the entire land, just as the LORD had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war."
Monday, July 5, 2010
Joshua 10
The five kings of the Amorites joined forces and attacked the Gibeonites, since they had made a treaty with the Israelites. But, the Lord "threw them into confusion" and rained large hailstones down on them. Israel defeated them in a great victory at Gibeon and the Lord caused the sun and moon to stand still for a full day. Then Joshua and all Israel conquered Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir, destroying their villages and all their people. They subdued the whole region, "because the Lord God fought for Israel". Joshua had done everything according to how the Lord had commanded, and the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hands and none of them were able to withstand the Israelites.
The five kings of the Amorites joined forces and attacked the Gibeonites, since they had made a treaty with the Israelites. But, the Lord "threw them into confusion" and rained large hailstones down on them. Israel defeated them in a great victory at Gibeon and the Lord caused the sun and moon to stand still for a full day. Then Joshua and all Israel conquered Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir, destroying their villages and all their people. They subdued the whole region, "because the Lord God fought for Israel". Joshua had done everything according to how the Lord had commanded, and the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hands and none of them were able to withstand the Israelites.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Joshua 9
Without consulting or inquiring of the Lord, Joshua was deceived by the trickery of the Gibeonites and thereby granted them a treaty of safety from being conquered by the Israelites. When Joshua and the leaders of the Israelites came to a realization of the situation, they had to decide how to proceed. They then acknowledged that they had made a foolish oath by the Lord, but now had to keep it. The Gibeonites admitted that they did what they did because they feared for their lives. Joshua was now confronted with "doing what seemed good and right", so he decided to honor the oath made by the Lord.
We often find ourselves in similar situations, realizing we had made foolish mistakes and wanting to now do the right thing. This lesson from Joshua teaches us to first consult with the Lord in our decisions so that we don't find ourselves in these situations.
Without consulting or inquiring of the Lord, Joshua was deceived by the trickery of the Gibeonites and thereby granted them a treaty of safety from being conquered by the Israelites. When Joshua and the leaders of the Israelites came to a realization of the situation, they had to decide how to proceed. They then acknowledged that they had made a foolish oath by the Lord, but now had to keep it. The Gibeonites admitted that they did what they did because they feared for their lives. Joshua was now confronted with "doing what seemed good and right", so he decided to honor the oath made by the Lord.
We often find ourselves in similar situations, realizing we had made foolish mistakes and wanting to now do the right thing. This lesson from Joshua teaches us to first consult with the Lord in our decisions so that we don't find ourselves in these situations.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Joshua 8
God told Joshua to trust Him and take his army and attack the land of Ai, using an ambush strategy to conquer king Ai's men. Joshua followed the instructions from the Lord and defeated Ai and destroyed the city, keeping the plunder for the Lord. Then Joshua built an alter at Mount Ebal to the Lord as Moses had formerly instructed. There Joshua, in the presence of the Israelites, copied on stones the entire law of Moses and read all the words of the law aloud to the whole assembly of Israel.
God told Joshua to trust Him and take his army and attack the land of Ai, using an ambush strategy to conquer king Ai's men. Joshua followed the instructions from the Lord and defeated Ai and destroyed the city, keeping the plunder for the Lord. Then Joshua built an alter at Mount Ebal to the Lord as Moses had formerly instructed. There Joshua, in the presence of the Israelites, copied on stones the entire law of Moses and read all the words of the law aloud to the whole assembly of Israel.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Joshua 7
The Israelites were defeated by an army from Ai because they had violated some instructions from the Lord to keep some holy items set apart for the Lord (robes,silver coins, gold bars, etc). A man named Achan admitted his sin against the Lord, so Joshua sent some men to find the items and bring them before the Lord. The Lord told Joshua that the man who was guilty of this sin would have to be destroyed along with his entire household. So, Joshua and the Israelites took Achan, the silver, robes, bars of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, and everything he owned and brought them to the valley of Achor. Joshua said to Achan, “Why have you brought trouble on us? The Lord will now bring trouble on you.” Then they were all stoned and burned. Then the Lord was no longer angry with the Israelites.
The Israelites were defeated by an army from Ai because they had violated some instructions from the Lord to keep some holy items set apart for the Lord (robes,silver coins, gold bars, etc). A man named Achan admitted his sin against the Lord, so Joshua sent some men to find the items and bring them before the Lord. The Lord told Joshua that the man who was guilty of this sin would have to be destroyed along with his entire household. So, Joshua and the Israelites took Achan, the silver, robes, bars of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, and everything he owned and brought them to the valley of Achor. Joshua said to Achan, “Why have you brought trouble on us? The Lord will now bring trouble on you.” Then they were all stoned and burned. Then the Lord was no longer angry with the Israelites.
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