Joshua 21 = I think sometimes we get the perception that ALL Levites were priests, but this is simply not true. It seems the vast majority of the Levites were people who lived “normal” lives, except their entire existence—their occupation you might say—was to benefit the direct work of God. While the other tribes would go about their daily business, with the ultimate goal of feeding their family and contributing to society and giving the first fruits of their labor to the Lord, the Levites’ daily work was to contribute to the work of the Lord—specifically ministering to Him and point all the people of Israel to Him. The Levites lived in and among the other tribes and worked right alongside them, raising crops and livestock, raising families and working just like everyone else around them. This is exactly what the church should look like I’m thinking.
Joshua 22 = reflecting back on the last serveral chapters: I wonder how those in the Church who are pacifists or think ALL war is unjust reconcile the book of Joshua. Here’s an invading force who come in and forcibly take over a country, slaughtering possibly millions of inhabitants and taking their land, homes, cities, and resources. Yes, I know this was Old Testament and we’re now under the NT example of the love, grace, and mercy of Christ, and yes I know this was a fulfillment of a direct command from God. All that said, this is also still the same God we say we believe in, love and serve. How do we reconcile the sometimes warrior God of the OT with the God of love in the NT? They ARE one in the same.
22:15-34 = Don’t jump to conclusions about someone’s worship practices when they look strange to you. If you don’t understand why they’ve done what they’ve done, ask.
Joshua 23 = An amazing statement of what obeying the Lord would do for Israel. vs 10: “Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the Lord your God fights for you, just as He has promised.” vs. 12-13 “But if you turn away…then know for certain that the Lord you God will no longer drive them out of you land.”
Joshua 24 = Don’t forget where you came from, identify with your heritage. But never think your culture, heritage, history defines you or your future. You are not your father or grandfather, and should not try to be them. I think this is an important lesson for church culture. We need to serve in faithfulness like our forefathers, but we are not them, and neither do we live in their world. Put away the idols worshiped by our ancestors (tradition) and serve the Lord with a whole and pure heart. Once we do that, engaging and being a a part of the culture will take care of itself. I fully believe the Lord will direct us in how to engage our culture in the proper manner.
Judges 1:6 = Cut off his thumbs and big toes? Huh?
1:7 = Oh, that’s why. Irony.
1:11-13 = In light of Joshua 23:10, I wonder if this Othniel literally conquered the entire town by himself. That would be pretty stinkin’ awesome.
2:1-5 = Go back and read chapter 1. It clearly states that, when the tribes were strong enough to drive them out and destroy them utterly, they instead chose to make them slaves. This was not the Lord’s command.
2:10-15 = Did the failure to follow God in the next generation happen because the previous generation was lax in teaching the truth? I don’t know, I’m just wondering. I do know that part of the problem was that the previous generation did not completely clear out the cultures who had false gods, and this in turn influenced their children. You know how children are, they always want to do things differently than their parents. (ie. my parents worship God and say that Baal/Ashtoreth worship is evil, so you know what I’m gonna do…).
2:17 = “prostituted themselves by worshiping other gods”
3:1 = here’s the answer to one of my previous questions. see, the Bible answers itself if you give it a chance.
3:15 = “a left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin.” funny.
3:22 = Eglon was a fat, fat man
3:23 = Ehud “escaped down the latrine.” see, don’t come complaining that doing God’s work sometimes involves cleaning a toilet or two. it’s not like He’s asked you to climb through a sewer to serve Him.
3:31 = I have a feeling that Shamgar would do well in a UFC battle.
4:4 = Deborah was already a prophet in Israel when she was called upon to deliver it from oppression. When men of God refuse to stand up, He will call on a woman to get the job done. Men, if you are in a church where women are doing the bulk of the service, something’s wrong.
4:9 = “you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.”
4:17-24 = another woman gets the jobs done. don’t mess with a woman who knows how to swing a hammer.
Judges 5 = this is not a song I think we could sing in church. I wonder what the melody was like?
6:1 = these are the kin of Moses’s father-in-law.
6:13 = Gideon asked questions of God, and God didn’t seem to mind. remember that when you are called to do something you don’t understand. ask God questions, and He’ll provide answers.
6:11-23 = pre-incarnate Christ?
6:25-26 = when on a spiritual crusade to clean up your church or community, start with your own household and family first.
6:34 = WOW! “the Spirit of the Lord took possession of Gideon”
Luke 20:1-8 = This is exactly how church leadership should respond to skeptics of said leadership. I’m not saying this is blanket license to let church leaders do whatever they want, but if leadership is of God you dare not stand against it and if it is not of God it will fail on its own. Seems like I’ve read that somewhere.
20:9-19 = I case you were wondering, the tenant farmers=Israel’s religious leaders; the owner of the vineyard=God the Father; the owner’s heir=Jesus Christ.
20:20-26 = Don’t you see, this is what Jesus really thinks about politics. We’ve never had a government as horrible as any of the Caesars on their best day. Look at His attitude toward politics. Is He really all that concerned about the politicians and their politics, or is He more concerned about His followers and their personal heart condition?
20:35 = I’ll be honest. I’m actually a little bummed out about no marriage in heaven. I REALLY love my wife. I’m sure God’s got it all worked out and He’s got something better in store.
20:45-46 = Hmmmm….sounds a little like some televangelists I’ve heard. What Gospel do they preach, and what do they ask from you?
21:1-4 = I know it’s not the same thing, but this is why I get upset when some billionaire gets praise when they donate a few thousand dollars to some cause. Big deal.
21:12-19 = Persecution is the best opportunity to witness for Christ. Don’t back down, stand up!
21:25-28 = When everything looks like it’s about to all fall apart, that’s when your salvation is at its nearest.
21:34 = Fatal distractions: carousing, drunkenness, worry.
22:1-6 = This passage indicates that, while Satan had “entered” Judas, the decisions he made were all his own. He was influenced by Satan, but he was still responsible for his choices.
22:14 = though the “last supper” was a solemn occasion, Jesus was “eager” to eat it with His disciples. the same should be said of how we approach the Lord’s table, solemn yet eager.
22:21 = this is where betrayal comes from, someone sitting among you as a friend.
22:26 = in the Kingdom, true leadership is servanthood. this is the example of Jesus.
22:31-34 = Jesus knew Peter would deny even knowing Him, yet He choose Peter anyway. your past sins, and even your future sins, are not an impediment to serving Christ if you repent and serve Him.
22:36 = Jesus commanded the disciples to buy swords
22:38 = “that’s enough” as in “two swords are plenty,” or as in “enough of this subject, let’s move on?”
22:45 = interesting that Luke mentions they were asleep because they were “exhausted from grief.”
22:54-64 = when Christ-followers go out from church into the wider world and live like they know they shouldn’t, it is not only recognized by the world the same way Peter was recognized, but it is also no less a denial of Christ than was Peter’s. Our very lives are our witness.
23:12 = why have I never noticed this before?: “Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.”
Psalm 89:3-4 = Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of this promise.
89:6-7 = Satan must tremble when he hears this.
89:10 = sea monster!
89:15 = “Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.”
89:35 = the nature and character of God.
89:37 = OK, goofy thought here. Does this indicate the moon will exist for all eternity?
90:1 = No matter where you are, the Lord of heaven is your home.
90:12 = “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.”
91:9-10 = Make the Lord your refuge and no evil will conquer you.
92:2 = “it is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening”
92:6 = if you don’t “get” God, you are proclaimed a fool and a simpleton.
94:9 = “Is He deaf—the one who made your ears? Is He blind—the one who formed your eyes?”
95:6-7 = parallel passage with Ps. 100
Proverbs 13:16 = “Wise people think before they act; fool don’t—and even brag about their foolishness”
13:20 = Iron sharpens iron, but so also does rust rub off on you.
12:24 = tough love
14:1 = a wise vs. foolish woman
14:3 = “a fool’s proud talk becomes a rod that beats him”
photo credit: Pere Tubert Juhé
