BR-14 Chronological Bible Read (April 2 — 8)

I hope you're having a good week. We continue reading through Judges and then into the Book of Ruth. I know I've promised to keep these brief, and I will try, but we have four major stories in this week's reading: Gideon, Jephthah, Samson, and Ruth! These stories are at the heart of our scriptures.

Blessings,
Steve

P.S. Some folks find parts of Judges confusing. Drop me a line if you think I can help. SCO
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We are reading The One Year Chronological Bible (New Living Translation - Tyndale). The best way is with your own copy of this Bible translation.
LINK HERE or copy and paste this link to the daily reading schedule:
http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan/oneyearchronologicalbiblereadingplan.pdf

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Judges 7:1 through 1st Samuel 1:8


Gideon: April 1 & 2, Judges chapters 6, 7, & 8
Even though Gideon's Judge-ship technically started the previous week, I want to cover his service all in this note.

(1) Gideon is one of my favorite Judges because of his doubts. God is so patient with him. Each time Gideon doubts, God encourages him, either through exhortation or though signs (such as the fleece tests). I'm not suggesting that the story of Gideon gives us license to test God. I only am commenting on how encouraging it is to know that, while I may need to go forward in faith, I don't have to feel "strong and courageous." I can feel weak and timid, but still "go with the strength you have."

(2) I laughed at the new name they gave Gideon (April 2, Judges 6: 25-32): Jerub-baal (meaning "Let Baal Defend Himself!"). The local pagans considered Baal a powerful god. Why would he need defenders? Who says there's no humor in the Bible?

(3) The taking of the Midianite camp by Gideon and his soldiers (April 2, Judges chapter 7) has been taught in the U.S. War College as an effective military strategy.

Jephthah: April 3, Judges 11:1-12:7
This tale shows us that while God can work with the leader chosen by the people, a lack of wisdom will still cause that leader to make poor decisions. Jephthah's vow is one of the saddest moment's in all of Israel's history. A foolish person does not suddenly become otherwise just because they ascend to a position of leadership. God does allow Israel to choose its own leaders from time to time (like Jephthah and King Saul), but things do not always go well for the nation in those circumstances; the same may also be said for those God chooses (like David). It underscores for us the great need that we should pray for our leaders, constantly, regardless how they came to be our leaders. We always want God's wisdom to prevail.

Samson: April 4th, Judges chapters 13, 14, 15, & 16
Three cautionary tales all in one week's reading! First there was Gideon's Ephod (a garment that became an idol and led to all sorts of fallout). Then, there was the entirety of Jephthah's judgeship. And now we come to Samson. Though possessing great strength and confidence, as well as a strong desire to punish the Philistines, Samson continuously demonstrated a lack (almost an absence) of wisdom when it came to romance. His confidence in the strength provided to him by God led to his dependence on it for all his decisions. God may choose us as a tool; but, like Solomon, we can ask for wisdom, too!

The Levite and his concubine: April 6th, Judges chapters 19, 20, & 21
This story illustrates just how bad things had gotten during the time of the Judges. The regard for human life, especially the lives of women, had fallen to near zero. It is tales like this one that people point to when they reference the "patriarchy" of the Old Testament. I don't dispute that, but I want us to take a step back and realize this kind of thing could happen any time in history if, as it says of God’s people at the end of Judges, "all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes."

Ruth: April 7th & 8th, The Book of Ruth
Her story takes place late in the Judges period and aligns with the time of the Levite's concubine story; a period of almost lawlessness prevails (part of the reason Ruth needed protecting when she gleaned grain from the field owned by Boaz). This is the part of the Bible from which we get "Whither thou goest, I will go" that is often heard in wedding vows or wedding music, but those are words Ruth says to her mother-in-law! This little book, all four chapters, is worth your time to re-read at future opportunities. Ruth is a jewel. Her child is the grandfather of King David! Ruth is the second "non-Jew" listed in the lineage of Jesus (Rahab, the Harlot, was the first).

In the interest of space and time, I'll save Samuel for next week.

BR-13 Chronological Bible Read (March 26 — April 1)

Congratulations for making it one-fourth of the way through the Chronological Bible! (And, if I'm any judge, the hardest part to read). I don't know about you, but I am glad to have that behind us. It's important ... but really difficult to slog through.

It's pretty much all story from here. I hope all is well with you. Keep those questions and comments flowing in.

Blessings,
Steve

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We are reading The One Year Chronological Bible (New Living Translation - Tyndale). The best way is with your own copy of this Bible translation. Or, copy and paste this link to the daily reading schedule:
http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan/oneyearchronologicalbiblereadingplan.pdf

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Key thoughts from this week
Joshua 12:7 through Judges 6:40

March 29 - Joshua 20:1-9
More about the Cities of Refuge - this was something new under the sun. Revenge killing was the standard of the day for just about all people, not just the Israelites. You can see some of our present justice system practices reflected in the cities of refuge. The accidental killer is protected from the relatives of the deceased while s/he moves through the justice system. Very interesting change.

March 30 - Joshua 24:14-15
"But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!" - Here's the famous declaration of Joshua, made as he comes to the end of his life. He knows the people are undependable, so he places the choice before them, one more time, hoping their jointly voiced commitment will carry them through.

March 31 - Judges 2:10-15
Not far into the Book of Judges, just one generation later, "the Israelites did evil in the Lord's sight." Here we go again.

March 31st, Judges 3:12-30
Two of my favorite Judges are in this week's readings: Ehud and Deborah. I like Ehud because of the ingenious way he dispatches the evil king of Moab, AND for the fact that because of him, "there was peace in the land for eighty years." Great leader!

April 1 - Judges chapters 4 & 5
Deborah, the great Judge of Israel, called "the mother of Israel," led Israel in good times and bad. She was a prophet, a judge (i.e., the leader of the entire nation), and dearly loved by the people. The military commander refused to go to war without her by his side. And in the end, she brought 40 years of peace to Israel. Here's what we all need to remember: God chose Deborah to lead the nation of Israel. God chose her to be His prophet.

Quick shout out to Jael: gutsy move, woman!

Saving Gideon for next week ...

BR-12 Chronological Bible Read (March 19-25)

We're finally on the road! I know all the repetition of laws, etc., has been difficult to get through. Now you can pat yourself on the back and move on into the narrative. But, as you can see, the Israelites needed all that repetition.

Blessings,
Steve

P.S. I asked you to send me any gems you found in last week’s reading, and you did! See some down below the line. And keep ‘em coming. SCO

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We are reading The One Year Chronological Bible (New Living Translation). The best way is with your own copy of this Bible translation. Or, copy and paste this link to the daily reading schedule:
http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan/oneyearchronologicalbiblereadingplan.pdf

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NOTES FROM THIS WEEK'S READING
Deuteronomy 26:1 to Joshua 12:6

March 19 - Deuteronomy 28
How interesting that the curses took the form of the very things God did to Egypt in bringing the Israelites out of their servitude there. Coincidence? I think not

March 20 - Deuteronomy 30:19
This week's famous quote: "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life ...." —Moses

March 21- Psalm 90
The song we often sing from Lamentations 3 (🎶"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases! His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning!"🎶) is based originally on the 14th & 15th verses of Psalm 90, a psalm attributed to Moses.

March 22 - Deuteronomy 34 and the first chapters of the Book of Joshua
Moses dies and Joshua takes over as leader.

March 23 - Joshua chap 3 & 4
The Israelites cross the Jordan in fashion reminiscent of their Red Sea crossing.

March 23 - Joshua 6:1-27
Jericho falls, Rahab the harlot is saved (one of only fIve women listed in the lineage of Jesus ... and what interesting women they were!)

March 26 - Joshua 11:21-22
Giants! Did you notice that some giants remained in Gath? Ancestors of Goliath and his kin.

YOUR GEMS!
(From Deuteronomy 1-2).

1. It took the Israelites 40 years to travel what could normally be covered in 11 days. Wow!

2. The Israelites were cautioned against harming the land or threatening the descendants of Esau and of Lot. Thought that was interesting. Those folks were not among the chosen people, but were their relatives and God's protection extended to them.

BR-11 Chronological Bible Read (March 12-18)

BR-11 Chronological Bible Read (March 12-18)

It’s all Deuteronomy this week, Chronos!

I hope you're having a good week. Essentially, this week's reading is more of the same. Hang on, though; we cross the Jordan River in just a couple of days! Have you seen any little gems buried in these passages? Let me know and I'll share them with the group.

Also, some Q&A below the line this week.

Deuteronomy, by the way, is the book most quoted by Jesus ... something to think about.

Blessings,
Steve

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We are reading The One Year Chronological Bible (New Living Translation). The best way is with your own copy of this Bible translation. Or, copy and paste this link to the daily reading schedule:
http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan/oneyearchronologicalbiblereadingplan.pdf

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A Few Key Points

March 12-16: Farewell Tour Continues ...
Moses continues to remind the Israelites of their commitment to God and God's commitment to them. He recounts their journey from Egypt up to now, the eve of entering the Promised Land, and reiterates all the laws, commandments, and decrees (dealing with a rebellious son, sexual purity, rights of the first born, how to worship, unsolved murders, war regulations, justice).

March 14 - Deuteronomy 9:4-6
A glimpse into how seriously God takes His commitments ... worth a read and to think on for a bit.

March 16 - Deuteronomy 15:12-18
The Law requires the release of all Hebrew (Jewish) slaves every seventh year ... BUT, there's a surprise buried in here. If you've heard the song, "Pierce My Ear," this section is what it references: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4IMIqORFq0

March 17 - Deuteronomy 17:2-6
Talks of the need for two or more witnesses to testify against a person accused of violating God's commands. It includes this requirement: "The witnesses must throw the first stones...." We see echoes of this when Jesus says, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" to those who have accused the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). Two or more people would have had to step forward and identify themselves as having witnessed the adultery ... something that might have been difficult to explain. This “casting of the first stone” also plays a role in Shirley Jackson's famous short-story, "The Lottery."

March 17 - Deuteronomy 19:1-13
The Cities of Refuge are worth slowing down to take in. Compare them to the United States’ use of “innocent until proven guilty” as the cornerstone of our justice system.

March 18 - a collection of regulations aimed at improving worship and life.


QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS!
This is where I attempt to answer the questions you have sent me.

Q1: In general what is a good reply to people today who say the Ten Commandments are not relevant today?

A: I would quote Jesus to them.

The 10 Commandments have not gone away; rather, we experience them in a different way. For example, the requirement to keep the Sabbath. Its purpose was ALWAYS for us to rest and regenerate for the coming week. It was never about the legalistic nightmare it had turned into by the time Jesus entered his ministry years: “One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” Then he (Jesus) said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”” (Mark‬ ‭2:23-28‬ ‭NIV‬‬) http://bible.com/111/mrk.2.23-28.niv

As to the entirety of the 10 Commandments, they're all still with us:
“Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”” (Matthew‬ ‭22:34-40‬ ‭NIV‬‬). http://bible.com/111/mat.22.34-40.niv


Q2: Could you explain what is meant by stiff-necked people in Deuteronomy 9:6?

A: This phrase is an agricultural one. It refers to draft animals; horses, donkeys, oxen. Some animals would not bend their necks to accept the bridle or the yolk, even to the point of turning their heads away whenever someone tried to place them under control. This is what God means when he calls the Israelites a "stiff-necked people" in Deuteronomy 9:6 (and elsewhere, too): they refuse to accept God's kingship over them, refuse to follow His commands, resisting even at the earliest point in the process. In short, they refuse to "get into harness" for the work that lies ahead of them. Jesus also references this when he declares that His “yoke is easy” and “burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Q3: What about slaves among (or near) the Israelites?

Sadly, slavery was common in ancient times (not just in Israel). Broadly, there were three groups.

(1) Conquered peoples: the empire du jour needed workers (to build pyramids, etc.); conquered peoples filled the bill. These people had no freedom, we’re considered commodities (like cattle), and likely remained slaves (until/unless someone freed them).

(2) Some were hired servants whose existence wasn’t especially different from slaves (due to economics); but, technically, they could quit and move on. Often, these folk elected to remain in servitude because basic needs were supplied by their employers.

(3) Then there were Jewish slaves of Jewish masters. They were, sad to say, quite common in Jewish communities. This was an elective state; that is, entire families of Jews would choose slavery over say, starvation. The typical scenario went something like this: through some misfortune or poor choices, a Jewish family would become impoverished. Sometimes, a sibling or cousin might help them through to a better time. More often, the patriarch of the family would “sell” himself and his family into slavery to a Jewish master.

I call them “Jubilee Slaves.”

Under the Law of Moses, Jubilee Slaves had to be freed every 7th year. However, at this juncture, a Jewish slave could request to remain a slave by pledging an oath to the master. This was a personal decision, not one a family patriarch could impose of his wife and children. Each person had to elect this him/herself. We see this kind of commitment reflected in Paul’s letters when he describes himself as a slave to Christ; an elective state where he committed himself to serve Jesus from then on.

Also (a few thousand years later), the “oath of fealty” made by knights (and others) to the King was based on this choosing to serve a master to the exclusion of all others.

BR-10 Chronological Bible Read (March 5 — 11)

Hi Ho Chronos! It’s all in the Numbers, this week.

The “Almost Missed It” Department
Our March 1st reading included something most of us know very well ... and love. It's from Numbers 6:22-27. Most likely you know it by it's more recent incarnation: CLICK HERE or copy and paste —-> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxn6tmVSljU

The Lord bless you and keep you,
Steve
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We are reading The One Year Chronological Bible (New Living Translation). The best way is with your own copy of this Bible translation. Or, copy and paste this link to the daily reading schedule:
http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan/oneyearchronologicalbiblereadingplan.pdf

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STRIKE ONE! ... YOU'RE OUT!
March 5th (Numbers 20): Moses and Aaron disobey God by striking the rock instead of speaking to it as God had commanded. For their lack of faith, God says neither of them will enter the Promised Land. This one event sets up everything that happens going forward; Aaron's death high atop that mountain, Joshua and Eleazar elevated to the two most powerful positions in this new nation, and Moses' "Farewell Tour."

SNAKES ON A PLAIN
March 5th (Numbers 21): Poor Eleazar has barely settled into his new job as Chief Priest when the people once again insult God's plan and provision. So, God sends poisonous snakes to bite and kill them. In response to Moses' intercession, God has him make a bronze snake and lift it up on a pole. The people who looked on it were healed (did not die). We see this symbol, today, as a common symbol for medical first responders. That Israelite snake-on-a-pole lasted for over 700 years and we'll learn about its destruction in 2nd Kings. Also, Jesus references this event (John 3:14-17) to describe himself! You can Google several great books and articles on the intersection of these two scriptures if you have further interest.

March 6 - Talking donkey: ‘Nuff said.

March 7 - almost all of this day is the census. Unless that interests you, feel free to skim.

INHERIT THE LAND
March 8th: (Numbers 27) The rights of women to inherit property as their distinct property is established by God in the case of the Daughters of Zelophehad. Just one more way in which God distinguished Israel from many other people groups of that time and place. This comes up, again, on March 11th (Numbers 36).

March 9 - A short section addressing vows. It’s followed by an illuminating section on a battle and dividing the spoils.

Map-Making in Numbers 33 - On March 10, unless you want to map their journey, you can skip the recap of all the places the Israelites camped while in the wilderness. That’s the first 49 verses of the chapter. But definitely read verse 50 and following; it’s both commandment and prophecy. The concept, here, is important: When God gives us a gift, we are to “occupy” that gift, fully.