God Wants to Bring Us Into Rest - Deuteronomy 1-3

Deuteronomy 1:19-21 (ESV)

Israel’s Refusal to Enter the Land

“Then we set out from Horeb and went through all that great and terrifying wilderness that you saw, on the way to the hill country of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us. And we came to Kadesh-barnea. And I said to you, ‘You have come to the hill country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God is giving us. See, the LORD your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’

Moses led the people right up to the promised land.  He brought them out of Egypt through great wonders. He brought them across the Red Sea through the great power of God‘s hand. Now they were on the threshold of receiving God‘s promise. Yet here, in this very moment, is where they decided to doubt God. We often wonder why we don’t get what we wish for and what we hope for. Then again, God often brings us right to the impetus of the fulfillment of our desires, and yet, our lack of faith keeps us back. The nation could’ve had grapes as large as cantaloupes. But instead, their fear prevented them from moving forward.

God wants to bring us in to the land of rest. But our fear prevents us from seeing, because our hearts only see the danger.  When Joshua takes over the Leadership, this is what God tell him:

Joshua 1:8-9 (ESV)

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Sanctified, Once for All! Hebrews 8-10

Hebrews 10:8-10 (ESV)

When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

The context of the above passage matters to understand what the writer is saying in these verses.   The writer has been making the case that Jesus is both the fulfillment of the old sacrificial system of bulls and goats and is a better and final sacrifice.    That has been the subject of the first nine chapters.  In the above verses the writer tells us the advantage of that for us.   Since the old system had to be done every year, the purity of the people demanded they come every year and make those sacrifices of bulls and goats.   But, as stated above, when Jesus came to fulfill the will of His Father, He did away with coming year after and year and once for all provided purity (sanctification) for those who come to Him, by faith.  His own body sacrifice was the end of all sacrifices and became our path to purity in Him.   We can rejoice that we don’t need to come and sacrifice and offer and confess over and over and over.   He did this once for all, and established our forever sanctification.  

God Always Intervenes - Acts 5-6

Acts 5:19-21a (ESV)

But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

After the circumstances of Ananias and Sapphira (they lied to the Holy Spirit about their spirit of giving), Luke records great and awesome signs and wonders being done by the apostles.   

Acts 5:12 (ESV)

Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.

As a result the religious leaders began to oppose them and put them into prison:

Acts 5:17-18 (ESV)

But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.

This is where we pick up the story of the above, opening verses, of this journal entry.  Despite man’s interruption, God reaches down with a great intervention.   We can rest assured that when man does something to thwart God’s plans and interrupt the message of the Gospel, God will intervene through miraculous means.   There is nothing He has called us to do that man can stop.   If He called you to a task, man can’t stop it.   Rest assured to that end.     

Remember God’s Blessing - Micah

Micah 6:3-5 (ESV)

“O my people, what have I done to you?

How have I wearied you? Answer me!

For I brought you up from the land of Egypt

and redeemed you from the house of slavery,

and I sent before you Moses,

Aaron, and Miriam.

O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised,

and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,

and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,

that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.”

Remembering what God has done for us in the past might be the best way to make wise choices in the present.   In the above passage, toward the end of Micah’s prophecy, the nation is confronted by God directly.    Up to this point the prophecy has been both condemning (what will happen if they don’t repent) and full of hope (if they do repent).    In the above verses God is asking them to judge who He is.  He invites them to judge His character and treatment of them.  He demands an answer from them.  In this proclamation, Micah recalls four blessings from God for them to remember.   He is trying to spark them to repentance and Godly living.   

1.  God redeemed them from Egypt. 

2. God sent them leaders to guide them (Moses, Aaron and Miriam ... the latter despite her rebellion toward Moses)

3. His protect for them when Barack tried to deceive them with mixed marriages and compromising principles.  

4. When He made a way from them to cross the Jordan River from Shittim to Gilgal.  

He is trying to remind them of His goodness.   It is meditating on God’s goodness that can rescue us from our badness.   

Nations Need Righteous People - Proverbs 29:2

Proverbs 29:2 (ESV)

When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,

but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

 It seems appropriate, in light of what happens in our world in regard to politics and leadership, that we look deeper into this proverb. As much as "politics" reject the "Religious Right,” this proverbs is actually played out time and time again in many organizations and business entities across our nation. When righteous people rule there is prosperity that last and the members of those organization and business ventures "rejoice." However, when a wicked person is ruling there may be "profit" but it is at the cost of people. Their groans are heard from Wall Street to Main Street. Solomon's words here were written well before our country’s two-party system. There is righteousness and wickedness on both sides of that aisle.  He is not concerned with political affiliations as much as deity relations. He knows that a person who loves God and is ruling to glorify God will produce an environment that people can find many things to rejoice about. I do not believe that every person who claims to be on the religious right is righteous. I don’t believe everyone on the “left” is void of faith.   But, I do believe to be right with God is to be righteous and that will always benefit the followers if that is the leaders creed and governance. It will not matter your party affiliation.   You can be any party you want if you want to lead in righteousness.   

Sing! Psalm 119:73-176

Psalms 119:171-172 (ESV)

My lips will pour forth praise,

for you teach me your statutes.

My tongue will sing of your word,

for all your commandments are right.

Singing, song, and music, have been a staple of human existence.  Historians concept all types of dates in ancient history for songwriting.  The first song we recorded in the Bible is the song of Moses and Israelites leaving Egypt (Ex15).  But even before, then we have this recording in Genesis:

Genesis 4:21 (ESV)

His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.

However, I’ll be reading Job that the “morning stars” (angels) sang at creation:

Job 38:4-7 (ESV)

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

Tell me, if you have understanding.

Who determined its measurements—surely you know!

Or who stretched the line upon it?

On what were its bases sunk,

or who laid its cornerstone,

when the morning stars sang together

and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

The content of has many areas of focus.  We can sing to and about our love.  We can sing to and about our friends. We can sing to our lives. 

In the above verses we read that we sing to and about God’s word. That is the source of our praise.  We would not know what to sing about regarding God if it were not for His word.  Singing is our is a main source of our praise to Him.  

Ephesians 5:17-20 (ESV)

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

The Power of Praise and Singing - 2 Chronicles 17-20

 2 Chronicles 20:20-23 (ESV)

And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,

“Give thanks to the LORD,

for his steadfast love endures forever.”

And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.

This is a marvelous example of the power of praise.  King Jehoshaphat, the king of Judea, was about to be attacked by the men of Amman and Moab.   The king assemblies his army and goes to war.   But rather than arm them with swords, shields and spears, he arms them with song.  He literally expects them to go out and shout praises to God against an army of violent men.   What would he expect to happen?  He expected a great victory and that is what God gave him.  Never, ever, underestimate the power of praise and giving thanksgiving to God.