Psalm 61

Who is your shelter?

WEEK  19                                              Psalm 61

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

David is crying out to God for help. David is also reviewing the ways God is great. He is higher. He is a shelter and a covering. God is always faithful to those who fear Him. David ends by pledging to be faithful in all he has promised God. What in this psalm brings comfort to you? 

Psa 61:1-8
(1)  To the chief Musician upon Neginah, A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
(2)  From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
(3)  For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
(4)  I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
(5)  For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
(6)  Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his years as many generations.
(7)  He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.
(8)  So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

Photo by J W on Unsplash

Joshua 5 don't be discouraged when God stops your manna.

WEEK   18                                            Joshua 5  

TUESDAY  Reflections

The question might be asked as to why the children of Israel didn't circumcise their children in the wilderness. The pain of waiting definitely made it more painful, but this is a subject I'm going to let you think about. However, whatever the reason the time has now come to deal with their disobedience because without obedience they will not have God's help in taking the promised land.

What caught my attention more in this chapter we the end of God's provision. Once they had supplies they could live on the manna ceased. This wasn't even new corn but old corn and what they could get from the land. At this point, the children of Israel didn't need God's provision of manna so God quit providing it.

This reminds me that just because God gave you a blessing in the past doesn't mean you will get it forever. Parents of healthy children expect that they will begin feeding themselves and quit feeding them. Children don't always like it when parents expect them to grow up and we don't always like it when God does the same for us.

We would like the feeling of God's presence to be like it was at the beginning or at some special place or meeting, but God knows we can survive without it. God expects us like he did Israel to survive without the miracle. On the other hand, when the miracle of manna ended, the miracle of victory began. Once a child begins feeding themselves, then come greater challenges, greater freedom, and greater (if I can use this word) blessings.

So, don't be discouraged when God stops your manna. 




Jos 5:1-15
(1)  And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
(2)  At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
(3)  And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
(4)  And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.
(5)  Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.
(6)  For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
(7)  And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.
(8)  And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.
(9)  And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.
(10)  And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.
(11)  And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.
(12)  And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
(13)  And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
(14)  And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
(15)  And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

Photo by Christophe Maertens on Unsplash

Joshua 4

WEEK  18                                               Joshua 4  

MONDAY  Reflections

God here again isn't just concerned with this generation but is setting up reminders for the generations to come. A pile of stones, a memorial to the miracle which God did for Israel. Memorials, feasts, and ceremonies all were there to help Israel teach the next generation. These were tools God gave parents but as with all tools they are only as good when they are used.

 

What I find interesting is that we have no record of these stones being mentioned again. What happened to them? If they were used as God intended is lost to us. We will see later that after this generation passed away the next fell into disobedience, so I wonder if the tools were used as God intended. Whatever really happened, the lesson to learn is we need reminders of all God has done and we need to use the tools (memorials, celebrations, and the like) to pass on the greatness of God.   

Jos 4:1-24
(1)  And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
(2)  Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
(3)  And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.
(4)  Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:
(5)  And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:
(6)  That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?
(7)  Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.
(8)  And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
(9)  And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.
(10)  For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.
(11)  And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.
(12)  And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:
(13)  About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
(14)  On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
(15)  And the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
(16)  Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.
(17)  Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.
(18)  And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.
(19)  And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.
(20)  And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.
(21)  And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?
(22)  Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.
(23)  For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:
(24)  That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.

Jeremiah 2

WEEK   17                                        Jeremiah 2  

SATURDAY  Reflections

God in this chapter bewails that that Israel hasn’t just left him the “living water” but have dug their own cisterns which are cracked. The first is not good because they have walked away from the source of life. The second is willfulness in wanting to save themselves which they can’t do.

Israel was placed between the great countries of the world and served as a conduit for traveling caravans. The place was prime real estate for every major power of the world as a source of income (tariffs) and for military security. The only way they could hope to survive is with something beyond themselves protecting them. This was God’s role. Yet they forsook God and tried to come up with ways they could protect themselves. They, of course, could never work for long. 

Also, God gave them a way of living which provided for the less fortunate which if carried out as commanded could have brought them prosperity. Yet greed caused them to choose something else, which also didn’t work.

Finally, God gave them a way to have a relationship with him and the promise for something greater to come. Here again, they choose to follow other gods, which gave them what they wanted and promised to give them control (they offer the right sacrifice and the god promised your results).

The results were: they rejected life and choose hard work (digging a cistern is hard) to get nothing. Why? The faulty idea that my way is the right way, pride, selfishness, the desire to be a god. Guess what we’re not.

Jer 2:1-37
(1)  Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
(2)  Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
(3)  Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
(4)  Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
(5)  Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
(6)  Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?
(7)  And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.
(8)  The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
(9)  Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.
(10)  For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
(11)  Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
(12)  Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
(13)  For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
(14)  Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?
(15)  The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.
(16)  Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.
(17)  Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?
(18)  And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?
(19)  Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
(20)  For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.
(21)  Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?
(22)  For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.
(23)  How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;
(24)  A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
(25)  Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.
(26)  As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,
(27)  Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.
(28)  But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.
(29)  Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.
(30)  In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
(31)  O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?
(32)  Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
(33)  Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.
(34)  Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.
(35)  Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.
(36)  Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.
(37)  Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.

Photo by Valentin Lacoste on Unsplash

Joshua 3

WEEK   17                                              Joshua 3   

FRIDAY  Reflections

I currently live near the Ohio River and it isn't a river I would try to cross without a bridge or a boat even when it isn't at flood stage. However, when we consider the Jordan river, it isn't really a big river. Yes, during flooding it is always dangerous to cross a river but the Jordan normally is a river one could ford (walk across) when you found the right place. There was no real need for this miracle as the children of Israel could have waited for a little while for the water to subside and then crossed easily.

 

The reason for the miracle was not for Israel's convenience but to give Joshua credibility (verse 7). One of the greatest miracles God did through Moses was the crossing of the Red Sea, this crossing was to remind Israel that the same God who was with Moses was with Joshua. Joshua and Moses had very different missions and leadership styles. God was reminding Israel the thing that really mattered wasn't the leader but the God who the leader was following. The same is true today. It's not the leader or their style but if they are following God.   

Jos 3:1-17
(1)  And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
(2)  And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;
(3)  And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.
(4)  Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
(5)  And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
(6)  And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
(7)  And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
(8)  And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
(9)  And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God.
(10)  And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
(11)  Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.
(12)  Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.
(13)  And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
(14)  And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people;
(15)  And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
(16)  That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
(17)  And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

Photo by Bennett Williamson on Unsplash (not the Jordan river but closest I could find that reminded me of it)