One Year Bible, April 17

JOSHUA 15:1-63                                                                                                    

JUDAH IS FIRST: CALEB AND OTHNIEL: After driving the giants out and coming to Debir, Caleb offered his daughter, Achsah, to whoever would capture it. His nephew, Othniel ("lion of God") won her, and she got her dowry, PLUS the springs to water it. We read again of Othniel, a Judge and Savior of Israel(Judges 3:8-11). The effects of his victory lasted an entire generation (40 years).

JERUSALEM: The sons of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem. BUT.... It was finally taken at the time of David by Joab (2 Sam 5:6-9).

RESPONSE: That's one way to be sure your daughter gets a good husband! Make him work for her. This is actually a picture of Jesus destroying the enemy to win the Bride. No wonder he turned out to also be a Judge and Savior. It gives a good picture of what Jesus has done for us.

LUKE 18:18-43                                                                                                       

PRAYER: An awareness of our helplessness, our dependency on God, and our humility because we are unworthy.   We learn that from children and from the publican. Prayer is an expression of faith. Prayerlessness is an expression of self-sufficiency and self-righteousness.   The "rich, young ruler" - an admired, esteemed member of society was hooked by his treasure (whatever motivates you to action). Our treasure must be in the Kingdom of God. When Peter claimed to have left ALL HIS TREASURES to follow Jesus, Jesus let him know that in God's Kingdom, giving does not diminish us in any way.

JERICHO TO JERUSALEM: Remember the widow who nagged until she got what she wanted (Luke 18:2-8)?  Well, now here is a blind man and a tax collector who won't take "no" for an answer.  Jesus is walking toward His death and He knows it.  But, even with all that darkness and suffering coming, He has two bright lights, two more conversions of two more outcasts.  A blind man and a tax collector.  Jesus has only a few days left. There is NOT ONE JOYFUL EVENT from the time He leaves Jericho until He is raised from the dead.

RESPONSE:   What must it have been like to walk with Jesus from Jericho to Jerusalem - a six-hour walk. What did they talk about? Probably John 14 -17 covers most of it. It is easy to see why He took that route - there were two more people waiting for Him. He was always about people. He seemed to relish interruptions. Those were His best conversations! He had so little time left, yet He took time for these sinners. I want that for myself. God, keep me aware and "in the moment" as I go about my business.

PSALM 86:1-17                                                                                                 

PSALM OF DAVID: This is the only Psalm of David in the "Leviticus" section of Psalms. What is interesting is that it is sandwiched between two Psalms of the sons of Korah before and after - just like in the processional with the Ark: two before and two after the Ark. This may actually be a prophetic prayer prayed by Jesus in Gethsemane.

IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE: Any doubts are about (v.2-7) God's willingness to help us and (v.8-10) God's ability to deliver us. But God is absolutely sovereign - "Among the gods, there is none like unto Thee O Lord neither are there any works like unto Thy works."

GOD HELP ME:
V. 2: "Preserve (protect and defend) my soul, for I am holy (separated from the rest).
V.4: "Rejoice (gladden) my soul (cheer me up).
V.11: "Teach me You way, O Lord (the way of ultimate Reality).
V. 11: "Unite my heart (let me be singleminded).

Indecisiveness about Who God is causes spiritual and emotional instability. There is a big difference between observing God's actions and having spiritual understanding. All God's ways are redemptive and eternal. His is the way of sacrifice.

Evidence of God's mercy toward me is that "He has delivered me from the depths of hell."

RESPONSE: Haven't you ever wondered: Either God can help me but He won't; or He would like to help me but He can't.  Or maybe something is wrong with me.  Entertaining thoughts like these are what bring DEFEAT in our lives. We must stay singleminded about Who God is, the ONLY SOVEREIGN GOD.  The alternative is to be "doubleminded" - and "receive nothing from God" (James 1:6-7). AND we will be "unstable in all our ways" (James 1:8). My prayer for myself right now is "Unite my heart to fear Thy Name."

PROVERBS 13:9-10                                                                                       

I didn't know that wicked people HAD a "lamp" - light in the Bible is "understanding". Their lamp has gone out!

"Pride causes strife". People who take advice have wisdom. Proud and arrogant people don't take advice, so they stay ignorant.