Still catching up  First 14 verses of this chapter are the blessings for obedience after entering the Promised Land.  The next 54 verses are the curses for disobedience.  Seems that "the stick" is more of a motivator than "the carrot" God clearly threatens his people who know His laws, statues, commandments and rules with dreadful results if they disobey.   How are we to understand God's blessing and cursing in light of this chapter? God has a high standard for His people.  In the OT, this was Israel and Judah.  In the NT, this is the Church.  But this doesn't mean that perfect perpetual obedience was or is possible.  When I look at Israel, I can be dismayed that they fell away so quickly, but not that they fell away.  As Paul explains in Romans, the law exposes our sinfulness and drives us to the Savior.  It does not and cannot save us. Common grace is the only explanation for delay in judgment.  Common grace is not saving grace. The gospel is the only hope

Trying to catch up Secrecy as a cover for wicked intent.  Herod's murderous plot required secrecy on a human level. The wise men were only warned not to return to Herod after they had completed their task.  They were not warned about what Herod would do with the information they willingly provided.  They had no way of knowing Herod's intent when they gave the information. Likewise, the scribes who provided the location not knowing Herod's intent.  They just provided truthful answer to a question.  Herod then excluded them from further conversation with the wise men. Herod's original intent was only to kill the infant Jesus.  Once this plan was thwarted, he had no moral qualms about expanding to all boys under the age of 2. Herod's plot to maintain power was God's plan to fulfill prophecy regarding the Messiah.  While Herod was keeping the plot secret from other people, he could not keep it secret from God.  In deed, Herod was unknowingly carrying out God's s

Dear Friends, I'm back in the catch up mode.  I've gone back for some part time work at Millstone.  I have become so accustomed to the extra time in the day and a regular schedule that writing up a devotional each day is a challenge. Enough excuses.  Isaiah 53 is one of the most poignant descriptions of the Messiah.  So I hope you spend some additional time thinking about how Jesus fulfilled this description. Blessings, Jeff John Baptist will later say "behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world"  But if was not Jesus' physical appearance that got his attention.  When we think back about Saul and David, each one's physical appearance was remarkable.  Other OT characters also have notable physical traits (hair of Samson and Absalom, Eli's obesity at end of life, etc).  But Isaiah is painting a different picture of the Messiah. Some thoughts: Jesus is the exact imprint of God's nature and the radiance of His Glory.  Yet there is no associ

Good afternoon, Today's passage highlights one of the realities of the fall.  Nations typically don't get along with their neighbors even if they are related.  All of history is full of conflict and remembering what "your people" did to "my people".   For example, "Remember the Maine" was the justification for the Spanish-American War.  European powers were constantly at war with each other for centuries.  Hope for "world peace" and "co-exist" are misplaced because man is fallen.  The only place we find all nations, tongues and tribes at peace is in heaven. Blessings, Jeff Exodus 17:8-16 tells the story of the battle between Israel and Amalekites.  Joshua led the army, but it was Moses holding up the staff of God with the aid of Aaron and Hur that enabled the victory.  This occurred before Israel reached Mt Sinai.  So God is reminding Israel just before the enter the Promised Land. From Complete Word Study Bible Amalek was the s

Good morning fellow pilgrims, As we continue in the comforting portion of Isaiah, the many facets of His promises are on display.  Since we are finite (bound by space and time), it is difficult to see beyond these limits.  Yet God graciously gives us a picture through Isaiah's words.  As believers, the present is not all we have.  We can live knowing that the future is secure. Blessings, Jeff The future comfort of Zion. Isaiah is given a message for the future.  Listen to me, pay attention and similar statements throughout this chapter.  Like a letter written to a generation in the future. Somebody in Isaiah's time could read it but not really understand what he was talking about. The "immediate" application to post-exile which is 100 years in future and the advent of the Messiah even further off.  The Jews living when the messiah comes should see the fulfillment.  God's Justice, righteousness and salvation are connected. "My" refers to God, not Isaiah. 

Hello again my friends, Listened to an Al Mohler commentary this morning.  Quoted a Harvard professor who likened lies to cockroaches.  You just can't get rid of them completely.  Dr. Mohler went on to say that as people of the truth, meditating on God's truth so that we are saturated with it helps us to keep lies out of our minds.  This reading is from yesterday, but that commentary was very appropriate. Blessings, Jeff What is blessedness?  Fearing the Lord and greatly delighting in his commandments..  The material blessings follow.  The narrow gate is fearing the Lord and delighting in his commandments.  The pasture beyond is where the good things described here are found.  Attempting to get the wealth and riches without going through this gate is futile.    Has light dawned in the darkness for you?  This is the sign that you are truly upright, gracious, merciful and righteous.  The proof that you fear the Lord and greatly delight in his commandments. What does fearing the L

Good afternoon friends, As we come to the end of Deuteronomy, we see the extent of God's concern for the social and moral fabric of Israel as they are about to cross over Jordan.  I want to encourage us to consider His ongoing concern for restraint of passions. Blessings Jeff I don't know if I should be surprised that such a prohibition was needed so far back in history.  Not that I am a fashion expert, but I am having a hard time imaging how a man's cloak is different from a woman's cloak.  Yet God knew that such a prohibition was necessary for his chosen people at that time.  My conclusion is that however a culture distinguishes between clothing for men and women, this is a significant distinction.  God is not saying what a man's garment should look like and what a woman's cloak should look like.  The culture recognizes the difference between the sexes in terms of biology and their clothing was made to align with this difference.   That being said, the desire

Good morning friends, Finished up yesterday's devotion.  The church council meeting is an exercise of looking into the short term future and making plans to the best of our ability.  This passage is a much longer view that God gave to Isaiah for the OT saints.  So some thoughts on how the long term might impact our short term. Blessings, Jeff The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob. The message to be proclaimed to the ends of the earth after Judah is released from captivity.  All years in the future, as they haven't even gone into captivity yet.  So how did Isaiah's audience respond to the fact that their children (who might not even be born yet) will be sent into exile but will eventually be released?  Seems to be a good news/bad news scenario.. Did they wonder if there was some way to avoid the bad news?  Or were they just content that the bad news wasn't going to happen to them? Instruction - What about us?  What does God expect? - I often look at the past and see ho

Greetings fellow soldiers, Today's devotion is somewhat militaristic.  But this passage is contrary to inspirational messages.  Maybe you have seen the Geico commercial about why Pinocchio is a bad motivational speaker.  In reality, only God can be the foundation for victory in life. Blessings, Jeff There are "pep talks" and then there is a passage like this.  For you Shakespeare aficionados, there is Henry V and the "band of brothers" speech.  More recently, there is George C. Scott and Patton's highly redacted speech to the Third Army.  However, the best "pep talk" is getting people to believe that they are better than their opponent  When God speaks to the Israelites before going into the Promised Land, it is all about the One who is on their side, not about their innate fighting abilities.  God is the source of victory.  So what about today?  While we are not facing horses and chariots and large armies, we are facing a culture becoming more sec

Greetings fellow readers, Just want to take a moment to encourage you to stick with the challenge.  You may have fallen behind the daily pace, but reading through the Bible is the goal, not necessarily in a calendar year.  When I first started doing this years ago, I never made it through in a year.  There was always something that disrupted the schedule.  As the habit developed, the distractions seem to have faded away as I realized the value of spending time with God in the Word.  We are almost half way through the plan already.  You can do this with the help of the Spirit. Blessings, Jeff Looking at these two bowls, we can make some observations. People respond in the same way - they curse God and they do not repent. God is held responsible for the torment of the people.  (God had power of the plagues and the pain and sores came from Him presumably due to first bowl). The sun becomes hotter and the kingdom of the beast becomes darker. What do these observations mean? People at this

Good afternoon fellow exiles and pilgrims, Making a return to Luther's 4 strands in prayer.  Have somewhat been out of the habit.  Devotions are to be a launching pad for prayer.  Just reading and coming up with some nice conclusions is not the goal.  For those who may have missed by sermon on praying scripture, I mentioned Luther's book "A simple way to pray"  You can find it online. Blessings, Jeff This passage specifically addresses God's relationship to Cyrus, the future Persian king who would end Judah's captivity. Observations Repetition of "though you do not know me".  Of course Cyrus doesn't know the Lord because Cyrus hasn't been born yet. But the point seems to be that even when God actually does these things in the life of Cyrus, he will still not know God.  Cyrus will freely do what God has ordained and will take all the credit for having done so.  Why does God do these things? For the sake of my servant Jacob and Israel my chosen

Good afternoon friends, God's provision of the Word is truly remarkable.  The law is the foundation for a just political structure for God's people in OT times.  He supplies everything we need.  How can we ignore what He supplies? Blessings, Jeff Psalm 1 - Blessed is the man who … delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on the law day and night.  While every man is called to this, the king is required to be immersed in the Law.   The copy that the king makes must be approved by the Levitical priests.  One of the proofs of inerrancy of scripture.  Constant comparison of copies with the original.  The king can't make a copy to suit himself.  Thomas Jefferson "made" his own bible by cutting out all reference to miracles. In the day when all copies were hand made, access was severely limited.  Most would have to rely on priest to teach the law.  Makes me wonder why Biblical literacy is still so rare.  Then there are the numerous excellent teachers available onli

Good afternoon brothers and sisters, Calvin's Institutes Six Reasons why prayer is not superfluous - First that our hearts may be fired with a zealous and burning desire ever to seek, love and serve him, while we become accustomed in every need to flee to him as to a sacred anchor. Prayer is the means by which our hearts are so fired.   If my prayer does not fire my heart to seek, love and serve him, am I really praying?   Blessings, Jeff Why do people get so upset when Christians say Jesus is the only way to God?  It seems that this just shows how little people know about the Bible.  In this chapter, the LORD (YHWH) declares that He is Israel's only Savior.  Of course the only living God claims this exclusive relationship to His creation.  The Bible is all about an exclusive relationship between God and His chosen people (the elect).  If the God of the Bible wanted "many ways to find Hiim," He would have stated this and made it clear what those "many ways"

Good afternoon saints, Thinking about the "multitudes of blind and lam" at the pool of Bethesda who were not healed that we heard about in Jonathan's sermon yesterday.  We don't know, but did the one who was healed physically but also saved go back and tell his friends about the new life Jesus had given him?  Somewhat similar to the psalmist.  Biggest problem appears to be physical condition.  In reality it is the spiritual problem.  The miracle of rebirth is ultimately of more value that miracle of healing.  Will we go and tell our friends about this rebirth that God offers to them? Blessings, Jeff Psalmist returns to consideration of his plight. 1-11 uses lauage of lament, 12-22 look to the hope of deliverance.  The back an forth between life on earth or life in heaven.  Calls to mind Paul in Philippians not sure if he will choose life or death while he sits in prison.  Spurgeon says the Christian should not dread death but it is not wrong to love life. Keller says

Hello again my friends, Hope you have had a good Sabbath.  Thinking of Jonathan's message this morning about Jesus being our Sabbath rest.  How he picks a fight with the religious leaders by healing one man out of a multitude of lame, blind and paralyzed.  Remembering how He came looking for me on a spring evening in Evanston, Ill. Blessings, Jeff The duty to punish entire cities or towns that go astray and worship other gods. Observations: 1.The transition to distributed population poses new challenge to enforcement of commandments.  During the 40 years in the wilderness, any individual who broke first or second commandment would be know to those around him or her.  But once spread throughout Canaan, individuals and groups could go astray and might not be noticed.   2. Intentional drawing away - this is internal source of error, not from the surrounding people.  These "worthless fellows" are Israelites.  Instead of the serpent, they are the ones saying "Did God real

Back on track. We have arrived at the "upbeat" portion of Isaiah.  So far it has mainly been judgment.  But now there is comfort.  If you have never listened to Handel's Messiah, the first aria is a tenor singing v1-4.  You should give it a try.  Anyway, the rest of Isaiah is very Messianic and therefore very encouraging. An example is the contrast between the message given to Isaiah in Chapter 6 and the one given here.  There, people will not hear, see or obey.  He is to preach until Judah goes into exile.  Now, the word of the Lord that has comfort endures forever.  Even though the glory of man will fade, the word of the Lord will not. I think this is one of the things that makes the prophetic books so appealing.  In the midst of impending exile and 70 years of captivity, Isaiah is given a message of hope.  Before the sorrow actually begins, God gives a light of hope.  And Isaiah is obedient.  He records what he is told without really asking questions.  It seems that he

Good afternoon fellow pilgrims, Listened to an Alister Begg sermon on "Belonging".  The need for believers to be members of a local (visible) church as a reflection of their membership in the (invisible) Church.  As I came to end of this devotion, the corporate nature of obedience came to mind.  Being a Christian is an individual decision, but not a solitary process. Blessings, Jeff Blessing for obedience, curse for disobedience.  No middle ground.  One or the other.  Clearly explained so as to remove all possible excuses.  The two mountains in Canaan to stand as a  physical reminder.  How does this advance the promise of Genesis 3:15? Several thoughts: 1. Objective reality must rule the decisions of Israel and by extension the Church.  The objective reality of God's self revelation and establishing criteria for blessing and cursing.  God's people live according to truth regardless of the worldview of other cultures.  Ancient Israel lived in a idolatrous, pagan world.

Another catch up.  Two more tomorrow. The half hour of silence in heaven got my attention.  1. This silence displaces ceaseless praises by living creatures (Rev. 4:8), elders (5:9), angels (5:11–12), and the church triumphant (7:9–10). Every creature in heaven is speechless when the Lamb opens the seventh seal.  And there a lot of creatures in heaven.  There response to being in God's presence has been praise.  The response to opening the last seal is stunned silence. 2. Isn't it surprising that John had a sense of time during his vision.  This is only place where "half hour" is used in Scripture. Hour was 1/12 of daylight period.  The sun dial is only time keeping device.  Yet there is no sun in heaven.  God as pure spirit is outside of space and time.  Past, present and future are where creatures dwell, not God.  Maybe John was just saying that from his perspective there was a relatively short period of silence which was ended by the thunder and rumbling when censer

Good afternoon friends, Hope you have had a good week.  Still catching up, so this one is actually from Wednesday. If you have been following the San Francisco school board adventure of "de-naming" schools, the contrast between how history is dealt with in this passage and today can't be much more clear.  God repeats the story of rebellion and disobedience so it will not be forgotten.  Today we "de-name" in hopes of erasing history.  That way we don't have to learn from it. Which do you think is better for us? Blessings, Jeff After 40 days of no food or water (living on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God),  God makes Israel's disobedience Moses' problem.  God refers to them as "your people whom you have brought from Egypt"  But the Exodus was not Moses' idea.  He didn't go on his own authority.  He didn't part the Red Sea.  He didn't provide manna. Certainly, God was not surprised by any of Israel's disobedie

Almost caught up. Even in these difficult times, this story shows us how bad things can really appear.  How do we respond?  This is not an easy, uplifting passage.  May God give us His peace and may we seek Him at all times. Jeff I think this qualifies as verbal terrorism.  Imagine what the residents of Jerusalem were going through.  Other cities had been captured and the Assyrian army comes to Jerusalem.  Three members of the king's staff go out to talk to the representative of the Assyrian king.  We would watch on TV or the internet.  They were watching from the walls.  The closest thing I can come up with is siege of Vicksburg in the Civil War.  It was one of the few times where the city or town was itself of strategic importance.  Vicksburg controlled the Mississippi River.  An outright attack would be difficult and deadly, so trying to get the city to surrender given the size of the Union Army was a reasonable option.  Here, the Rabshakeh seeks to intimidate the citizens to ge

Dear Friends, Treading water today.  Still a day or two behind. As some of you may know, Ligonier Ministries (R. C. Sproul) does a periodic survey of evangelical Christians.  One of the questions is "Does God accept the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism and Islam?"  Roughly 65% said they strongly disagree (i.e. God definitely does not accept all religions).  So a total of 35% have varying degrees of agreement or are not sure.  Let's see what today's passage points to. I am interested in your thoughts, so please post a comment on the blog. Blessings, Jeff The thread of the second commandment and prohibition of idols and images reappears in the context of the upcoming conquest of Canaan.  Can you hear the Israelites saying, "we didn't make these idols and God only told us not to make our own"?  So Moses elaborates that the second also prohibits using idols that someone else has made. When every culture around them used idols in wors

Good afternoon fellow soldiers, Still catching up. Wisdom literature helps us to express the entire range of our emotions in a way that honors the Lord. The contrasts we experience are real.  God does not tell us to deny our feelings.  We will all have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death.  Since the M'Cheyne plan has us go through the Psalms twice, I hope that your knowledge of the variety of expression will grow.  It is good to have "favorite" psalms, but they go together. Blessings, Jeff The first 37 verses are about God's promises to David.  I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord forever. Then we hit the brick wall.  But now you have cast off and rejected.  The last 13 verses are pondering this problem. Example of Casting our cares on the Lord.  The psalmist looks at the solid foundation and the current condition and lays the differences before the Lord.   God providentially brings difficulties into the lives of His saints.  From our perspectiv

Dear Friends, Still catching up.  We are people of the Book.  As Jonathan mentioned in his intro to last section of John 4, we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us.  It is not that great minds of the past are perfect.  But when we face difficult passages, seeing what others have thought is a blessing.  Does what they said make sense of the passage?  Trying to make prophetic apply to a current condition is generally not a good idea. Blessings, Jeff The proposed theme for this chapter in the ESV is "O Lord, be gracious to us" Assyrian king Sennacherib is on Judah's door step.  From human perspective, this looks like the end for Judah and Jerusalem.   Calvin points out that v13 is a "wake up, pay attention, this is really important".  In a way, everything is significant.  Yet we believers sometimes get distracted and forget that God is actively involved in sustaining of all creation.  We can think that he doesn't notice the challenges we face

Good snowy day, Back in the catch up mode.  This is the reading from last Friday. We often wonder what a passage means.  In Deuteronomy, (the second law), we get Moses inspired commentary on the ten commandments.  Doesn't get much better than than.  Unless it would be Jesus commentary in the Sermon on the Mount. Blessings, Jeff Benefits of keeping and doing the law 1.  They are our wisdom and understanding in the sight of the people around us. McArthur study on Solomon & Proverbs - To the Hebrew mind, wisdom was not knowledge alone but the skill of living as God intended humans to live.  Without revealed laws, man cannot know how God intends humans to live.   Having the Ten Commandments does not make Israel wise, but does show them standard with intent that they realized they cannot attain. 2. Testimony to other nations that they may recognize Israel as a wise and understanding nation.  Having good laws on the books does not make a nation wise and understanding.  They must actu