Sunday, January 31, 2010
90 Days: Day 31
Read IChron. 24- IIChron. 7:10. Will post impressions for I and IIChron. together. I had more impressions for IChron. than I thought I would.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Bible In 90 Days: I and IIKings
For 1-227, click the "Bible in 90 Days: Impressions" link below.
IKings:
228. Others who fought Absolom, like Joab, thought David's age made him powerless.
229. Again, Scripture makes a distinction between Judah and Israel.
230. David knew the Lord's promise that David's throne would last forever was conditioned on David's descendants obeying God's law.
231. God's curse on Eli's family was not fulfilled until Solomon's reign. Since Abiather carried the Ark, he was holy to the Lord and could not be killed.
232. Joab's murder of Abner and Amassa caused guilt that had to be removed from Israel by Joab's death.
233. 1st indications of Solomon's disobedience to the Lord: making local sacrifices and marrying Pharoh's daughter.
234. At the beginning of Solomon's reign, all Israelites owned their own property.
235. Solomon took 7 years to build the Temple and 13 years to build his palace. Was this sinful? After all, the Lord did promise him he would have more wealth than any other ruler before or since.
236. When Solomon dedicated the Temple, he prayed that if Israel was exiled because of sin, and Israel repented, Israel could return to the Land.
237. Solomon also prayed for foreigners who observe that God is in Israel and come to worship Him at the Temple.
238. Solomon prayed "Give your people whatever we deserve, for You alone know the human heart."
239. The poles used for carrying the Ark, as well as the Canaanites used in the labor force, were there "to this day." This indicates IKings was written before the destruction of Solomon's Temple by the Babylonians.
240. Was it sin for Solomon to pay King Hiram with land from Galilee? Was Solomon being stingy by giving Hiram land of no value to Hiram?
241. Solomon violated God's Law by acquiring many chariots and horses and wives. He married Pharoh's daughter when God prohibited making an alliance with Egypt. He married women from people God had commanded to be destroyed. By building pagan temples and worshipping other God's, he introduced child sacrifice into Israel.
242. Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam even though God told Solomon that He would tear the 10 kingdoms from Solomon's heirs.
243. The northern tribes of Israel have refused to be ruled by a decsendant of David "to this day." This indicates that IKings was written before Israel's exile by the Assyrians.
244. Jeroboam disbelieved God's promise of protection if he obeyed God's Law. That is the root cause of Jeroboam's introduction of pagan worship into Israel. The priests and festivals were appointed by Jeroboam himself instead of God. Anyone who wanted to could become priests.
245. The man of God who disobeyed God's command not to eat and drink in Israel died because of his disobedience. Was this a sign from God? Did God plan the incident?
246. Rehoboam introduced temple prostitution into Judah, which involved drafting children for these temples.
247. Jericho rebuilt by Hiel in violation of God's prohibition given to Joshua. It cost Hiel his two sons; the death of the 1st son did not stop him. This was allowed by Ahab.
248. IKings 16:20- Elijah's prayer "O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?" It is right to ask God "Why?".
249. IKings 18:5- Ahab more concerned with his horses and mules than his subjects.
250. At Mt. Carmel, Elijah just didn't demonstrate that God is all powerful, but that God is not finite. God can be called on from anywhere.
251. Ahab disobeyed God by sparing Ben hadad so he, Ahab, could get more riches.
252. In Naboth's case, God's Law was exploited for Ahab's/Jezebel's ends. God knew cases like this would happen when He gave the Law.
253. Jehosaphat knew to rid Judah of temple prostitution, but still tolerated the pagan shrines. Was it a sin to make peace with the King of Israel?
IIKings:
254. When Elisha told Elijah he would go with him anywhere, was the dividing of the Jordon and Elijah's walking through it a test for Elisha.
255. Joram knew Baal had been revealed as no god at all. But he still thought other pagan gods were to be worshipped.
256. Naaman's wife's maid from Israel was concerned for her master; she did not return to Israel.
257. Did Elisha pray that his servant would see the Lord's army because Elisha was training him to be a prophet?
258. The Officer of the Guard who doubted Elisha's word died for his lack of faith in God.
259. Ahab's sin of marrying Jezebel affected Israel as Jehoram King of Judah married one of Ahab's daughters.
260. King Joram, Ahab's son, was killed at the scene of Naboth's vineyard. Naboth's sons died with Naboth when Naboth was stoned.
261. Ahab and Jezebel were so wicked that their whole family was infected with their wickedness. They all had to die as the Canaanites had to die, along with the family servants, friends, officials and priests.
262. Elisha's servant was told to run for his life after annointing Jehu. He knew Jehu was extrememly violent, just the person to be trusted to wipe out Ahab's family and Baal worship.
263. The Lord was reducing the size of Israel.
264. IIKings 13:23- "But the Lord was gracious to the people of Israel, and they were not totally destroyed. He pitied them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And to this day he still has not completely destroyed them or completely banished them from his presence."
265. Ahaz sacrificed his son, worshipped at pagan shrines, made an alliance with Assyria, violated the Temple to suit the King of Assyria and took the Bronze Altar for his personal use.
266. IIKings 16:6- The Edomites live in Elath to this day. Shows IIKings was written while the Edomites were still a distinct tribe.
267. Israel exiled "to this day." Written during Israel's time of exile.
268. IIKings 19:34- God defended Jerusalem "For my (God's) honor and for the sake of my servant David."
269. When God made His pronouncement against Hezekiah, Hezekiah was more concerned about what happened to himself than what was going to happen to Judah.
270. Manasseh was more wicked than the Amorites and other pagan nations. He shed innocent blood, which had to be atoned for.
271. Despite Judah's cleansing by Josiah, a more thorough cleansing than any other by a king of Judah, Josiah knew that Judah would still be exiled.
272. No observance of the Passover since the day of the Judges. The observance of the Passover was to remind the people of God's deliverence of Israel from Egypt.
273. The specific sin that caused God to reject Judah- the shedding of innocent blood.
IKings:
228. Others who fought Absolom, like Joab, thought David's age made him powerless.
229. Again, Scripture makes a distinction between Judah and Israel.
230. David knew the Lord's promise that David's throne would last forever was conditioned on David's descendants obeying God's law.
231. God's curse on Eli's family was not fulfilled until Solomon's reign. Since Abiather carried the Ark, he was holy to the Lord and could not be killed.
232. Joab's murder of Abner and Amassa caused guilt that had to be removed from Israel by Joab's death.
233. 1st indications of Solomon's disobedience to the Lord: making local sacrifices and marrying Pharoh's daughter.
234. At the beginning of Solomon's reign, all Israelites owned their own property.
235. Solomon took 7 years to build the Temple and 13 years to build his palace. Was this sinful? After all, the Lord did promise him he would have more wealth than any other ruler before or since.
236. When Solomon dedicated the Temple, he prayed that if Israel was exiled because of sin, and Israel repented, Israel could return to the Land.
237. Solomon also prayed for foreigners who observe that God is in Israel and come to worship Him at the Temple.
238. Solomon prayed "Give your people whatever we deserve, for You alone know the human heart."
239. The poles used for carrying the Ark, as well as the Canaanites used in the labor force, were there "to this day." This indicates IKings was written before the destruction of Solomon's Temple by the Babylonians.
240. Was it sin for Solomon to pay King Hiram with land from Galilee? Was Solomon being stingy by giving Hiram land of no value to Hiram?
241. Solomon violated God's Law by acquiring many chariots and horses and wives. He married Pharoh's daughter when God prohibited making an alliance with Egypt. He married women from people God had commanded to be destroyed. By building pagan temples and worshipping other God's, he introduced child sacrifice into Israel.
242. Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam even though God told Solomon that He would tear the 10 kingdoms from Solomon's heirs.
243. The northern tribes of Israel have refused to be ruled by a decsendant of David "to this day." This indicates that IKings was written before Israel's exile by the Assyrians.
244. Jeroboam disbelieved God's promise of protection if he obeyed God's Law. That is the root cause of Jeroboam's introduction of pagan worship into Israel. The priests and festivals were appointed by Jeroboam himself instead of God. Anyone who wanted to could become priests.
245. The man of God who disobeyed God's command not to eat and drink in Israel died because of his disobedience. Was this a sign from God? Did God plan the incident?
246. Rehoboam introduced temple prostitution into Judah, which involved drafting children for these temples.
247. Jericho rebuilt by Hiel in violation of God's prohibition given to Joshua. It cost Hiel his two sons; the death of the 1st son did not stop him. This was allowed by Ahab.
248. IKings 16:20- Elijah's prayer "O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?" It is right to ask God "Why?".
249. IKings 18:5- Ahab more concerned with his horses and mules than his subjects.
250. At Mt. Carmel, Elijah just didn't demonstrate that God is all powerful, but that God is not finite. God can be called on from anywhere.
251. Ahab disobeyed God by sparing Ben hadad so he, Ahab, could get more riches.
252. In Naboth's case, God's Law was exploited for Ahab's/Jezebel's ends. God knew cases like this would happen when He gave the Law.
253. Jehosaphat knew to rid Judah of temple prostitution, but still tolerated the pagan shrines. Was it a sin to make peace with the King of Israel?
IIKings:
254. When Elisha told Elijah he would go with him anywhere, was the dividing of the Jordon and Elijah's walking through it a test for Elisha.
255. Joram knew Baal had been revealed as no god at all. But he still thought other pagan gods were to be worshipped.
256. Naaman's wife's maid from Israel was concerned for her master; she did not return to Israel.
257. Did Elisha pray that his servant would see the Lord's army because Elisha was training him to be a prophet?
258. The Officer of the Guard who doubted Elisha's word died for his lack of faith in God.
259. Ahab's sin of marrying Jezebel affected Israel as Jehoram King of Judah married one of Ahab's daughters.
260. King Joram, Ahab's son, was killed at the scene of Naboth's vineyard. Naboth's sons died with Naboth when Naboth was stoned.
261. Ahab and Jezebel were so wicked that their whole family was infected with their wickedness. They all had to die as the Canaanites had to die, along with the family servants, friends, officials and priests.
262. Elisha's servant was told to run for his life after annointing Jehu. He knew Jehu was extrememly violent, just the person to be trusted to wipe out Ahab's family and Baal worship.
263. The Lord was reducing the size of Israel.
264. IIKings 13:23- "But the Lord was gracious to the people of Israel, and they were not totally destroyed. He pitied them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And to this day he still has not completely destroyed them or completely banished them from his presence."
265. Ahaz sacrificed his son, worshipped at pagan shrines, made an alliance with Assyria, violated the Temple to suit the King of Assyria and took the Bronze Altar for his personal use.
266. IIKings 16:6- The Edomites live in Elath to this day. Shows IIKings was written while the Edomites were still a distinct tribe.
267. Israel exiled "to this day." Written during Israel's time of exile.
268. IIKings 19:34- God defended Jerusalem "For my (God's) honor and for the sake of my servant David."
269. When God made His pronouncement against Hezekiah, Hezekiah was more concerned about what happened to himself than what was going to happen to Judah.
270. Manasseh was more wicked than the Amorites and other pagan nations. He shed innocent blood, which had to be atoned for.
271. Despite Judah's cleansing by Josiah, a more thorough cleansing than any other by a king of Judah, Josiah knew that Judah would still be exiled.
272. No observance of the Passover since the day of the Judges. The observance of the Passover was to remind the people of God's deliverence of Israel from Egypt.
273. The specific sin that caused God to reject Judah- the shedding of innocent blood.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
90 Days: Day 27
Read IIKings 5-15. Also worked on some devotionals that will appear on my main blog.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Bible In 90 Days: I And IISamuel
For 1-180, click the "Bible in 90 Days: Impressions" link below.
ISamuel:
181. Hannah's song praises God for making the world right.
182. Eli's sons'wickedness threatened the atonement for sins for all who brought sacrifices.
183. While Eli bemoaned his son's conduct, he did nothing to stop them because he honored his sons over God.
184. Samuel had to learn to know God's voice through experience, just like we do.
185. When Israel took the Ark of the Covenant to the battle field, the Israelites had faith in the Ark, not in God. They used a holy object as a weapon. Eli's daughter in law, like all other Israelites, prided themselves on their possession of the Ark and thought its capture meant God's glory had departed, when God had been displeased with Israel already.
186. By Scripture stating that the priests of Dagon have never stepped on the threshold of Dagon's temple "to this day", Scripture tells us this text was written while the Philistines were still a tribe.
187. The Israelites had to learn to understand God's holiness. That is why 70 men looked inside the Ark. That is why God slew them.
188. Why didn't Samuel discipline his sons?
189. Israel wanted a king because they wanted to be like other nations. They wanted someone to rally around rather than rally around God. Their punishment from God: getting exactly what they wanted.
190. Saul had never heard of Samuel. Not to have heard of Israel's Judge indicates a low level of spirituality, a focus on self.
191. While Saul was a punishment for Israel in the long run, God still showed mercy to Israel by using Saul to protect them from the Philistines.
192. Was no one the equal of Saul in Israel because the Holy Spirit had come upon Saul?
193. Saul threatened death to anyone who didn't help him fight the Ammonites. None of Israel's judges did that. He was followed because the people were afraid of his anger, not because of any loyalty to God.
194. Saul's initial success made Israel forget God's warnings about what a King will do to them.
195. God waited a few hundred years to settle accounts with the Amalekites for opposing Israel's journey into the Promised Land.
196. David's killing of Goliath demonstrated that there was a God in Israel and Israel could rely on Him to fight their battles.
197. ISam. 18:16- "All Israel and Judah loved David..." A distinction between Israel and Judah appears in the text.
198. Saul's daughter Michal had an idol.
199. Jonathan knew the Lord had left his father. He stayed with his father, but trusted David and the Lord with his family.
200. David felt responsible for the killing of Ahimelech, the priests and their families.
201. Moab protected David's family.
202. Had David killed Nabal, that would have been murder.
203. The King of the Philistines, Achish, hoped that by letting David live among the Philistines, Israel would hate David and David would have to fight for the Philistines.
204. Why was David and his men going to fight with the Philistines against Saul? Perhaps the Lord stirred up the hearts of the Philistine commanders and the Amalekites who raided Ziklag to get David away from the battle so Israel would not turn against him.
IISamuel:
205. Saul's armor bearer knew not to kill the Lord's annointed, even when the Lord's annointed asked him to do so.
206. Abner killed Joab's brother in battle. Joab murdered Abner while Abner was at peace with David in David's territory.
207. Ishbosheth was not annointed, but did not deserve to be murdered. David had sworn to Jonathan to protect his family.
208. Did the Jebusite taunt influence David to make Jerusalem his capital?
209. David knew enough of God to know that when God promises blessings, those promises are eternal.
210. David allowed Jonathan's son, a cripple, to live at the palace and eat with the King. Unheard of.
211. When David sinned with Bathsheba, he had forgotten that the Lord sees everything.
212. Not only did Uriah the Hittite die for David's sin, so did several other Israelite soldiers. And this would become known. As Nathan said, David had no pity.
213. God said David's sin was disobeying God's Word.
214. IISam 12:23- "I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me." An Old Testament statement concerning Heaven as well as where infants go when they die.
215. Amnon's love for Tamar turned to hate after he raped her. It was no love at all.
216. The instigation for Amnon's crime and David's sorrow came from within David's family, Jonadab, David's nephew. It appears Jonadab went unpunished by David.
217. By trying to reunite David and Absalom, was Joab trying to gain David's favor which he lost after killing Abner?
218. Absalom was angry his father would not see him for two years. Perhaps that was the beginning of his rebellious thoughts. Or, perhaps, they began when David would not punish Amnon for raping his sister. Maybe that is why Absalom promised justice to Israel.
219. David's main reason for leaving Jerusalem; the safety of Jerusalem and others.
220. In David's time onward, it seems while God gave victory to Israel on the battlefield, Israel lost a lot more men in battle.
221. Again, Scripture makes a distinction between David's men and Israel.
222. If Joab really loved David as he said he did, he would not have killed Absalom.
223. Mephibosheth loved David because David had demonstrated love for him. This echos our love of God because He first loved us.
224. Joab murdered Amasa to regain his place as commander.
225. Uriah the Hittie is listed as one of David's elite force of 30 men. Was this Bathsheeba's husband?
226. God was angry with Israel, so to harm it He caused David to take a census.
227. Again, Scripture makes a distinction between Judah and Israel, before Israel and Judah seperated.
ISamuel:
181. Hannah's song praises God for making the world right.
182. Eli's sons'wickedness threatened the atonement for sins for all who brought sacrifices.
183. While Eli bemoaned his son's conduct, he did nothing to stop them because he honored his sons over God.
184. Samuel had to learn to know God's voice through experience, just like we do.
185. When Israel took the Ark of the Covenant to the battle field, the Israelites had faith in the Ark, not in God. They used a holy object as a weapon. Eli's daughter in law, like all other Israelites, prided themselves on their possession of the Ark and thought its capture meant God's glory had departed, when God had been displeased with Israel already.
186. By Scripture stating that the priests of Dagon have never stepped on the threshold of Dagon's temple "to this day", Scripture tells us this text was written while the Philistines were still a tribe.
187. The Israelites had to learn to understand God's holiness. That is why 70 men looked inside the Ark. That is why God slew them.
188. Why didn't Samuel discipline his sons?
189. Israel wanted a king because they wanted to be like other nations. They wanted someone to rally around rather than rally around God. Their punishment from God: getting exactly what they wanted.
190. Saul had never heard of Samuel. Not to have heard of Israel's Judge indicates a low level of spirituality, a focus on self.
191. While Saul was a punishment for Israel in the long run, God still showed mercy to Israel by using Saul to protect them from the Philistines.
192. Was no one the equal of Saul in Israel because the Holy Spirit had come upon Saul?
193. Saul threatened death to anyone who didn't help him fight the Ammonites. None of Israel's judges did that. He was followed because the people were afraid of his anger, not because of any loyalty to God.
194. Saul's initial success made Israel forget God's warnings about what a King will do to them.
195. God waited a few hundred years to settle accounts with the Amalekites for opposing Israel's journey into the Promised Land.
196. David's killing of Goliath demonstrated that there was a God in Israel and Israel could rely on Him to fight their battles.
197. ISam. 18:16- "All Israel and Judah loved David..." A distinction between Israel and Judah appears in the text.
198. Saul's daughter Michal had an idol.
199. Jonathan knew the Lord had left his father. He stayed with his father, but trusted David and the Lord with his family.
200. David felt responsible for the killing of Ahimelech, the priests and their families.
201. Moab protected David's family.
202. Had David killed Nabal, that would have been murder.
203. The King of the Philistines, Achish, hoped that by letting David live among the Philistines, Israel would hate David and David would have to fight for the Philistines.
204. Why was David and his men going to fight with the Philistines against Saul? Perhaps the Lord stirred up the hearts of the Philistine commanders and the Amalekites who raided Ziklag to get David away from the battle so Israel would not turn against him.
IISamuel:
205. Saul's armor bearer knew not to kill the Lord's annointed, even when the Lord's annointed asked him to do so.
206. Abner killed Joab's brother in battle. Joab murdered Abner while Abner was at peace with David in David's territory.
207. Ishbosheth was not annointed, but did not deserve to be murdered. David had sworn to Jonathan to protect his family.
208. Did the Jebusite taunt influence David to make Jerusalem his capital?
209. David knew enough of God to know that when God promises blessings, those promises are eternal.
210. David allowed Jonathan's son, a cripple, to live at the palace and eat with the King. Unheard of.
211. When David sinned with Bathsheba, he had forgotten that the Lord sees everything.
212. Not only did Uriah the Hittite die for David's sin, so did several other Israelite soldiers. And this would become known. As Nathan said, David had no pity.
213. God said David's sin was disobeying God's Word.
214. IISam 12:23- "I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me." An Old Testament statement concerning Heaven as well as where infants go when they die.
215. Amnon's love for Tamar turned to hate after he raped her. It was no love at all.
216. The instigation for Amnon's crime and David's sorrow came from within David's family, Jonadab, David's nephew. It appears Jonadab went unpunished by David.
217. By trying to reunite David and Absalom, was Joab trying to gain David's favor which he lost after killing Abner?
218. Absalom was angry his father would not see him for two years. Perhaps that was the beginning of his rebellious thoughts. Or, perhaps, they began when David would not punish Amnon for raping his sister. Maybe that is why Absalom promised justice to Israel.
219. David's main reason for leaving Jerusalem; the safety of Jerusalem and others.
220. In David's time onward, it seems while God gave victory to Israel on the battlefield, Israel lost a lot more men in battle.
221. Again, Scripture makes a distinction between David's men and Israel.
222. If Joab really loved David as he said he did, he would not have killed Absalom.
223. Mephibosheth loved David because David had demonstrated love for him. This echos our love of God because He first loved us.
224. Joab murdered Amasa to regain his place as commander.
225. Uriah the Hittie is listed as one of David's elite force of 30 men. Was this Bathsheeba's husband?
226. God was angry with Israel, so to harm it He caused David to take a census.
227. Again, Scripture makes a distinction between Judah and Israel, before Israel and Judah seperated.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Bible In 90 Days: Judges And Ruth
To read 1- 160, click the "Bible In 90 Days: Impressions" link below.
Judges:
161. Israel's 1st disobedience was in not completely driving out the pagan tribes; then they degenerated into idol worshippers. The Lord did not drive these tribes out immediately to test Israel's obedience.
162. The Judges, like Deborah, heard from the Lord, even though they were not Levites.
163. Jesus said the Law and the Prophets spoke of Him. Deborah was a prophet. Jesus therefore put His stamp of approval upon the Historical Books.
164. Deborah told Barak he would receive no honor for his victory, yet Barak is in the Heb 11 list of the faithful and she is not.
165. Only Zebulon and Naphtali gave full military support to Barak. The other tribes were afraid.
166. After Gideon distroyed the altar to Baal, Gideon's father Joash used superior reasoning concerning the real nature of Baal (if Baal is real, let Baal defend himself) to convince the crowd not to seek Gideon's life.
167. Ephriam may have feared that if Jephtha received sole credit for defeating the Ammonites, Jephtha would dominate Ephriam and the rest of the tribes.
168. Izban broke God's Law by marrying his children outside the tribe.
169. Samson's mother used her own reason to discern that she and her husband would not die after seeing God.
170. God was using Samson's own Lawbreaking in marrying a Philistine woman to further God's own purposes. Did Samuel know this?
171. Samson did not realize the Lord had left him.
172. Micah was so mixed up in his beliefs that while he engaged in idol worship he thought that having a Levite living with him as his personal priest would bless him.
173. Dan first disobeyed God by not driving out the pagans from their land. Then they sought land not assigned to them. They killed everyone in the village in violation of God's command to seek surrender first.
174. Did the family of priests , descendants of Micah's priest, serve until the Kingdom of Israel fell?
175. While the Levite with his concubine would not stay in a Jebusite village because no Israelite lived there, it was in the Israelite town of Gibeah that the concubine was raped and murdered.
176. The Levite and his concubine are refered to by Scripture as man and wife.
177. Perhaps God did not give all the other tribes victory over Benjamin until after the tribes offered sacrifices? Or perhaps God was bringing judgement upon all by killing so many on both sides.
178. No judge appears after Samuel.
179. Israel had no King to ensure God's Laws were obeyed.
Ruth:
180. This book is about fulfilling God's Law, submitting to God.
Judges:
161. Israel's 1st disobedience was in not completely driving out the pagan tribes; then they degenerated into idol worshippers. The Lord did not drive these tribes out immediately to test Israel's obedience.
162. The Judges, like Deborah, heard from the Lord, even though they were not Levites.
163. Jesus said the Law and the Prophets spoke of Him. Deborah was a prophet. Jesus therefore put His stamp of approval upon the Historical Books.
164. Deborah told Barak he would receive no honor for his victory, yet Barak is in the Heb 11 list of the faithful and she is not.
165. Only Zebulon and Naphtali gave full military support to Barak. The other tribes were afraid.
166. After Gideon distroyed the altar to Baal, Gideon's father Joash used superior reasoning concerning the real nature of Baal (if Baal is real, let Baal defend himself) to convince the crowd not to seek Gideon's life.
167. Ephriam may have feared that if Jephtha received sole credit for defeating the Ammonites, Jephtha would dominate Ephriam and the rest of the tribes.
168. Izban broke God's Law by marrying his children outside the tribe.
169. Samson's mother used her own reason to discern that she and her husband would not die after seeing God.
170. God was using Samson's own Lawbreaking in marrying a Philistine woman to further God's own purposes. Did Samuel know this?
171. Samson did not realize the Lord had left him.
172. Micah was so mixed up in his beliefs that while he engaged in idol worship he thought that having a Levite living with him as his personal priest would bless him.
173. Dan first disobeyed God by not driving out the pagans from their land. Then they sought land not assigned to them. They killed everyone in the village in violation of God's command to seek surrender first.
174. Did the family of priests , descendants of Micah's priest, serve until the Kingdom of Israel fell?
175. While the Levite with his concubine would not stay in a Jebusite village because no Israelite lived there, it was in the Israelite town of Gibeah that the concubine was raped and murdered.
176. The Levite and his concubine are refered to by Scripture as man and wife.
177. Perhaps God did not give all the other tribes victory over Benjamin until after the tribes offered sacrifices? Or perhaps God was bringing judgement upon all by killing so many on both sides.
178. No judge appears after Samuel.
179. Israel had no King to ensure God's Laws were obeyed.
Ruth:
180. This book is about fulfilling God's Law, submitting to God.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Bible In 90 Days: Deuteronomy and Joshua
For 1-119, click the "Bible in 90 Days: Impressions" link below.
Deuteronomy:
120. The relatives of Israel, but not those of the bloodline of Christ, Esau, Moab, and Amorites, were given their own territory by the Lord.
121. Dt. 4:6- Intelligence determined by obedience to God's laws.
122. Obedience to God's laws bring blessings to be witnessed by the surrounding nations.
123. The Law is not just to be transmitted across the generations, but the story of God's appearing on Mt. Sinai would enable future children to learn to fear God and follow His laws.
124. Israel heard the voice of God when He gave the 10 commandments to Israel.
125. By following the Law one lives long in the land.
126. The Lord is one, He is not just one of many, so He must be obeyed and His commands taught to the next generation.
127. So many times while giving the Law, God reminds Israel of His goodness by emphasizing that He, God, is bring Israel into the Promised Land.
128. Again in Dt. 7:22, the Lord tells Israel that they will drive the Canaanites out of the land little by little rather than all at once, for their own protection.
129. God used the wilderness years to humble Israel, teaching Israel to trust in Him for everything.
130. God will prosper Israel in the Promised Land, knowing full well the danger of Israel forgetting that it was God who prospered Israel and following after other Gods.
131. God drove out the pagan tribes from Canaan not because Israel was righteous but because the pagans were wicked and because God promised the land to Abraham and his descendants.
132. Dt. 10: 12-22- Israel should love and obey God because He is the only true God and He loved Israel. God's otherness is described in terms of His seperateness from creation and His ethical nature.
133. Dt. 13: 1-5- False prophets who actually perform miracles , signs, and have dreams of the future must be put to death. Focus on God's Law and hearing His voice. If a family member or close friend tries to lead you astray, you must take the initiative in executing him/her.
134. Dt. 14:23- "...The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to fear the Lord your God."
135. Moses constantly reminded Israel not to forget the Levites.
136. The release of debts only applies to the Israelites. Israel could lend to and make debtors of other nations.
137. No one could be executed except by the testimony of 2 or 3 witnesses. Then those same witnesses must be the first to stone the law breaker. Is this so people would be reluctant to make false accusations because of the seriousness of participating in an execution?
138. The Lord will raise up a prophet like Moses. Jesus, who lived among Israel who once was afraid to hear the voice of God.
139. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot- this was given in the context of warning against false accusations.
140. Dt. 20- Israel only to completely distroy the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, Jebusites. Other people could surrender and become forced laborers. If these did not surrender, the males would be killed and the women and children enslaved.
141. The guilt of an unsolved murder must be cleansed from the community.
142. If an Israelite marries a captive woman, He must shave her head to remove her beauty, wait a month while she mourns the seperation from her family, then marry her. He cannot treat her as a slave.
143. Unlike Islam, a man can not discriminate against the wives he loves and the wives he does not love. If his first born is of a wife he does not love, that 1st born must receive a double inheritance.
144. Dt. 22: 22-23- Unlawful sexual conduct is punished by stoning both parties, not just the woman. If a woman is engaged, she is already married in the eyes of God.
145. Dt. 23: 7-8-"Do not detest the Edomites or the Egyptians, because the Edomites are your relatives and you lived as foreigners among the Egyptians. The third generation of Egyptians who came with you from Egypt may enter the assembly of the Lord."
146. A slave fleeing a pagan master must be given refuge in any town in Israel he chooses.
147. Israel can not charge Israelites interest, but can charge other nations interest.
148. Israelites in debt to an Israelite must not have their means of livlihood or their clothing to protect them from the elements taken from them. The debtor will not suffer the indignity of having his creditor enter his house to collect.
149. The memory of being slaves in Egypt was to motivate Israel to treat all with justice.
150. Israel's enslavement in Egypt was not punishment for sin.
151. Dt. 28- Obedience will bring blessings that will cause other nations to be in awe of Israel.
152. Dt. 29:29- "There are secret things that belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our descendants forever, so they may obey the words of the law."
153. Dt. 30:11- The Lord gave Israel a choice between life and death. Sorry Calvinists.
154. The Song of Moses: God as Father; disobedient Israel not legitmate children.
Joshua:
155. No one can obey the Law without meditating upon it.
156. Reuben, Gad, and the 1/2 tribe of Manasseh could not rest until the rest of Israel rested. A solidarity with implications for the Church.
157. God's actions on behalf of Israel made Israel's enemies fear them and caused Rahab to believe that God is the God of the entire universe and that if she helped the spies she would be safe.
158. Israel circumsized, healed and then celebrated the Passover in front of Israel's enemies.
159. As Rahab is said to have lived among the Israelites "to this day," the book of Joshua was written in her lifetime.
160. Some pagan tribes could not be removed. Some of these pagan peoples became Israel's slaves because Israel could not remove them. The tribe of Ephriam seems to have made little effort to remove them.
Deuteronomy:
120. The relatives of Israel, but not those of the bloodline of Christ, Esau, Moab, and Amorites, were given their own territory by the Lord.
121. Dt. 4:6- Intelligence determined by obedience to God's laws.
122. Obedience to God's laws bring blessings to be witnessed by the surrounding nations.
123. The Law is not just to be transmitted across the generations, but the story of God's appearing on Mt. Sinai would enable future children to learn to fear God and follow His laws.
124. Israel heard the voice of God when He gave the 10 commandments to Israel.
125. By following the Law one lives long in the land.
126. The Lord is one, He is not just one of many, so He must be obeyed and His commands taught to the next generation.
127. So many times while giving the Law, God reminds Israel of His goodness by emphasizing that He, God, is bring Israel into the Promised Land.
128. Again in Dt. 7:22, the Lord tells Israel that they will drive the Canaanites out of the land little by little rather than all at once, for their own protection.
129. God used the wilderness years to humble Israel, teaching Israel to trust in Him for everything.
130. God will prosper Israel in the Promised Land, knowing full well the danger of Israel forgetting that it was God who prospered Israel and following after other Gods.
131. God drove out the pagan tribes from Canaan not because Israel was righteous but because the pagans were wicked and because God promised the land to Abraham and his descendants.
132. Dt. 10: 12-22- Israel should love and obey God because He is the only true God and He loved Israel. God's otherness is described in terms of His seperateness from creation and His ethical nature.
133. Dt. 13: 1-5- False prophets who actually perform miracles , signs, and have dreams of the future must be put to death. Focus on God's Law and hearing His voice. If a family member or close friend tries to lead you astray, you must take the initiative in executing him/her.
134. Dt. 14:23- "...The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to fear the Lord your God."
135. Moses constantly reminded Israel not to forget the Levites.
136. The release of debts only applies to the Israelites. Israel could lend to and make debtors of other nations.
137. No one could be executed except by the testimony of 2 or 3 witnesses. Then those same witnesses must be the first to stone the law breaker. Is this so people would be reluctant to make false accusations because of the seriousness of participating in an execution?
138. The Lord will raise up a prophet like Moses. Jesus, who lived among Israel who once was afraid to hear the voice of God.
139. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot- this was given in the context of warning against false accusations.
140. Dt. 20- Israel only to completely distroy the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, Jebusites. Other people could surrender and become forced laborers. If these did not surrender, the males would be killed and the women and children enslaved.
141. The guilt of an unsolved murder must be cleansed from the community.
142. If an Israelite marries a captive woman, He must shave her head to remove her beauty, wait a month while she mourns the seperation from her family, then marry her. He cannot treat her as a slave.
143. Unlike Islam, a man can not discriminate against the wives he loves and the wives he does not love. If his first born is of a wife he does not love, that 1st born must receive a double inheritance.
144. Dt. 22: 22-23- Unlawful sexual conduct is punished by stoning both parties, not just the woman. If a woman is engaged, she is already married in the eyes of God.
145. Dt. 23: 7-8-"Do not detest the Edomites or the Egyptians, because the Edomites are your relatives and you lived as foreigners among the Egyptians. The third generation of Egyptians who came with you from Egypt may enter the assembly of the Lord."
146. A slave fleeing a pagan master must be given refuge in any town in Israel he chooses.
147. Israel can not charge Israelites interest, but can charge other nations interest.
148. Israelites in debt to an Israelite must not have their means of livlihood or their clothing to protect them from the elements taken from them. The debtor will not suffer the indignity of having his creditor enter his house to collect.
149. The memory of being slaves in Egypt was to motivate Israel to treat all with justice.
150. Israel's enslavement in Egypt was not punishment for sin.
151. Dt. 28- Obedience will bring blessings that will cause other nations to be in awe of Israel.
152. Dt. 29:29- "There are secret things that belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our descendants forever, so they may obey the words of the law."
153. Dt. 30:11- The Lord gave Israel a choice between life and death. Sorry Calvinists.
154. The Song of Moses: God as Father; disobedient Israel not legitmate children.
Joshua:
155. No one can obey the Law without meditating upon it.
156. Reuben, Gad, and the 1/2 tribe of Manasseh could not rest until the rest of Israel rested. A solidarity with implications for the Church.
157. God's actions on behalf of Israel made Israel's enemies fear them and caused Rahab to believe that God is the God of the entire universe and that if she helped the spies she would be safe.
158. Israel circumsized, healed and then celebrated the Passover in front of Israel's enemies.
159. As Rahab is said to have lived among the Israelites "to this day," the book of Joshua was written in her lifetime.
160. Some pagan tribes could not be removed. Some of these pagan peoples became Israel's slaves because Israel could not remove them. The tribe of Ephriam seems to have made little effort to remove them.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
90 Days: Day 15
Finished Deuteronomy. This weekend is going to be busy as I will be helping out at a youth retreat. I may not be able to post my impressions of Deut. until Monday. By that time I will have read through all of Joshua and have begun Judges.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Bible In 90 Days: Numbers
For Impressions 1-94, click "Bible in 90 Days: Impressions" label below.
95. Judah had the most men of military age.
96. The 3 tribes with a combined total of 186,400 were positioned around the east of the Tabernacle facing the sunrise. Was this because this was where the most likely direction an attack would come from?
97. The Levites were the substitutes for all Israel's 1st born sons.
98. Num. 5:6- "Give these instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people...betray the Lord by doing wrong to another person, they are guilty."
99. Levites may not officiate at a Tabernacle service if they are over 50. Is this to prevent certain Levites from becoming too dominant in worship?
100. The Pillar of Cloud either moved or stayed. God was teaching the Israelites to follow Him in all circumstances.
101. Num. 10: 29-31. Why did Moses ask his brother in law to travel with Israel as a guide when God lead Israel with a Pillar of Cloud.?
102. Num. 11:29-30. Moses said he wished all Israelites would have the Lord's Spirit. This should be the attitude of all pastors equipping their flock.
103. Num 12: 5-8. God makes a distinction between receiving dreams and visions and speaking directly to God as Moses did.
104. After Israel refused to enter the Promised Land and Moses interceded for them, Moses used the very words the Lord used of Himself when He revealed His glory to Moses. Moses' earlier time spent in prayer enabled him all the more to pray effectively.
105. When God let the people die in the wilderness, He was giving them what they asked for, literally.
106. If some failed to carry out God's Law unintentionally, atonement must be made by the whole community. If only one person forgets to carry out God's Laws, it is the individual who must be atoned for by the Priest.
107. When the people accused Moses and Aaron of killing Korah and his followers, they probably thought Moses and Aaron had used magical arts to manipulate God, as the pagans thought they were doing with their gods.
108. Only the Levites would be held accountable for any violations connected with the Priesthood.
109. Only the Levite males could eat from the most holy offerings. But all the Levites could eat from the rest of the offerings.
110. To be dependant on Israel's tithes, and to give 1/10th of these tithes as a tithe, and the very best 10th at that, was an act of faith on the part of the Levites.
111. Numbers 19. To perform the purification ceremony for those who were unclean, those who were clean had to become unclean and undergo purification themselves.
112. At Meribah, when Moses struck the rock, God showed His holiness by providing the people with water, even though they had complained and Moses misrepresented God's holiness by his actions.
113. God told Balaam to go with the Moabites, but was mad at Balaam for wanting to go.
114. As the King of Moab was a descendant of Lot and Lot's eldest daughter, he was asking Balaam to curse Israel, the King's relations.
115. Between the 1st and 2nd Census, Simeon lost the most.
116. Even though the people provoked Moses when Moses failed to show God's holiness at Meribah, and so Moses lost the privilege of entering the Promised Land, Moses still interceded for the people.
117. Joshua would not have the same face to face contact with God Moses had. Was one of the reasons that Joshua was not a Levite?
118. God told Israel to utterly destroy the tribes living in Canaan. If they failed, God warned them that what He was going to do to the pagan tribes He would do to Israel. Punishment would not be for failure alone but failure to utterly destroy the pagans would be rooted in Israel's compromise with the sins of the pagans.
119. One who flees to a City of Refuge after killing someone accidentally must stay in that city until the death of the High Priest. Then that person could return to his own land. Why did God want that person to remain until the High Priest's death?
95. Judah had the most men of military age.
96. The 3 tribes with a combined total of 186,400 were positioned around the east of the Tabernacle facing the sunrise. Was this because this was where the most likely direction an attack would come from?
97. The Levites were the substitutes for all Israel's 1st born sons.
98. Num. 5:6- "Give these instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people...betray the Lord by doing wrong to another person, they are guilty."
99. Levites may not officiate at a Tabernacle service if they are over 50. Is this to prevent certain Levites from becoming too dominant in worship?
100. The Pillar of Cloud either moved or stayed. God was teaching the Israelites to follow Him in all circumstances.
101. Num. 10: 29-31. Why did Moses ask his brother in law to travel with Israel as a guide when God lead Israel with a Pillar of Cloud.?
102. Num. 11:29-30. Moses said he wished all Israelites would have the Lord's Spirit. This should be the attitude of all pastors equipping their flock.
103. Num 12: 5-8. God makes a distinction between receiving dreams and visions and speaking directly to God as Moses did.
104. After Israel refused to enter the Promised Land and Moses interceded for them, Moses used the very words the Lord used of Himself when He revealed His glory to Moses. Moses' earlier time spent in prayer enabled him all the more to pray effectively.
105. When God let the people die in the wilderness, He was giving them what they asked for, literally.
106. If some failed to carry out God's Law unintentionally, atonement must be made by the whole community. If only one person forgets to carry out God's Laws, it is the individual who must be atoned for by the Priest.
107. When the people accused Moses and Aaron of killing Korah and his followers, they probably thought Moses and Aaron had used magical arts to manipulate God, as the pagans thought they were doing with their gods.
108. Only the Levites would be held accountable for any violations connected with the Priesthood.
109. Only the Levite males could eat from the most holy offerings. But all the Levites could eat from the rest of the offerings.
110. To be dependant on Israel's tithes, and to give 1/10th of these tithes as a tithe, and the very best 10th at that, was an act of faith on the part of the Levites.
111. Numbers 19. To perform the purification ceremony for those who were unclean, those who were clean had to become unclean and undergo purification themselves.
112. At Meribah, when Moses struck the rock, God showed His holiness by providing the people with water, even though they had complained and Moses misrepresented God's holiness by his actions.
113. God told Balaam to go with the Moabites, but was mad at Balaam for wanting to go.
114. As the King of Moab was a descendant of Lot and Lot's eldest daughter, he was asking Balaam to curse Israel, the King's relations.
115. Between the 1st and 2nd Census, Simeon lost the most.
116. Even though the people provoked Moses when Moses failed to show God's holiness at Meribah, and so Moses lost the privilege of entering the Promised Land, Moses still interceded for the people.
117. Joshua would not have the same face to face contact with God Moses had. Was one of the reasons that Joshua was not a Levite?
118. God told Israel to utterly destroy the tribes living in Canaan. If they failed, God warned them that what He was going to do to the pagan tribes He would do to Israel. Punishment would not be for failure alone but failure to utterly destroy the pagans would be rooted in Israel's compromise with the sins of the pagans.
119. One who flees to a City of Refuge after killing someone accidentally must stay in that city until the death of the High Priest. Then that person could return to his own land. Why did God want that person to remain until the High Priest's death?
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
90 Days: Day 12
Read Numbers 21:8- 32:19. A couple of days ago I wrote that whenever I have read through the Bible I always stumbled in Numbers. So I am surprised how short the chapters actually are. Will finish Numbers tomorrow.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Bible In 90 Days: Leviticus
For 1-62, click "Bible In 90 Days: Impressions" label below.
63. When one presented a sin or guilt offering to the Lord at the Tabernacle, the one offering the animal as a sacrifice had to put their hands on the head of the animal as it was being slaughtered. This violence was the result of human sin.
64. The very best portions of the sacrificed animal belonged to the Lord. They were sacrificed in the fire. Fat and blood could not be consumed.
65. It was an act of faith never to fear that one would not run out of animals without defect for the sacrifices.
66. If the High Priest sins, the guilt is on the entire community.
67. When the offering was presented, sins were forgiven, they were atoned for. But the sin nature was not dealt with.
68. We must seek forgiveness for unintentional sin.
69. What is the difference between a sin offering and a whole burnt offering?
70. A sin against another person was forgiven by God through the sacrifice, not through the person wronged.
71. The fire at the altar was never to go out. It took faith to believe there would always be enough wood to burn.
72. Priests could only eat their portions of food from the sacrifices in the Tabernacle.
73. The altar itself had to be atoned for. Is this because it was made from a cursed creation? Or is this gnostic thinking?
74. The High Priest had to make atonement for himself, unlike our High Priest, Jesus Christ, who had no sin.
75. Obedience in offering the required offerings caused God to reveal Himself among Israel.
76. When Nadab and Abihu were consumed by fire, Moses silenced Aaron with God's own words.
77. Priests could not consume any alcohol before entering the Tabernacle to minister. Only a life of holiness is capable of ministering to the world.
78. If a woman bore a daughter, the woman's purification time was twice as long as a woman who bore a son.
79. In determining whether a person is clean or unclean, privacy was ignored. Personal holiness is not a private matter.
80. Those who were cured of skin diseases had to be atoned for by the Priests.
81. I wonder if the offerings in Lev. 14 for the cleansing of skin diseases are what Jesus was refering to when Jesus healed a man of leprosy and told him to show himself to the priest and offer what Moses commanded.
82. God told Israel that when they entered Canaan, He would inflict some of the houses with mildew. Why?
83. Those whose houses were cleansed by the sprinkling of blood would always be reminded that their houses were purified by the shedding of blood.
84. It was an act of faith to go through the required time of ceremonial cleansing because the person could not work. If they did work, their whole output would be unclean.
85. The purpose for the Laws of cleanliness: so no one would die by defiling the Tabernacle.
86. Israel could only sacrifice in the Tabernacle and no where else. This way God was preventing the worship of evil spirits.
87. Israel was set apart because it was to be holy as God is holy; they were not to worship other Gods in ritual or in unethical personal conduct.
88. Levites with physical defects were not allowed to minister in the Tabernacle. Did God look down on them because of their defects? No, after all, they could eat of the offerings. But Levitical families may have been tempted to offer those with defects for temple service while those without defects would be put to profitable economic use. As the healthy were the most valued, the service of the unhealthy would be no sacrifice.
89. Lev. 24- When the man who blasphamied was stoned to death, those who heard it had to put their hands on his head as he was stoned. Was this so that they could see how serious a sin blasphamy was that they would not be tempted to imitate the behavior they witnessed?
90. Israel could not process its crops during the Sabbath year. But it could eat what grew naturally. Why? Because to process their crops during the Sabbath year would indicate a lack of faith in God that He would take care of them during that year. To obey was a testimony to the neighboring countries concerning God's faithfulness.
91. At the Jubilee, land reverted back to its original owners.
92. The price of redemption was based on the number of years left till the next Jubilee. This would prevent current owners from extorting money or making the redemption price too high.
93. God's main concern in Leviticus- that the Sabbath laws be obeyed and that the Tabernacle be treated with reverence.
94. Lev. 26:13- "I have lifted the yoke of slavery from your neck so you can walk free with your heads held high."
63. When one presented a sin or guilt offering to the Lord at the Tabernacle, the one offering the animal as a sacrifice had to put their hands on the head of the animal as it was being slaughtered. This violence was the result of human sin.
64. The very best portions of the sacrificed animal belonged to the Lord. They were sacrificed in the fire. Fat and blood could not be consumed.
65. It was an act of faith never to fear that one would not run out of animals without defect for the sacrifices.
66. If the High Priest sins, the guilt is on the entire community.
67. When the offering was presented, sins were forgiven, they were atoned for. But the sin nature was not dealt with.
68. We must seek forgiveness for unintentional sin.
69. What is the difference between a sin offering and a whole burnt offering?
70. A sin against another person was forgiven by God through the sacrifice, not through the person wronged.
71. The fire at the altar was never to go out. It took faith to believe there would always be enough wood to burn.
72. Priests could only eat their portions of food from the sacrifices in the Tabernacle.
73. The altar itself had to be atoned for. Is this because it was made from a cursed creation? Or is this gnostic thinking?
74. The High Priest had to make atonement for himself, unlike our High Priest, Jesus Christ, who had no sin.
75. Obedience in offering the required offerings caused God to reveal Himself among Israel.
76. When Nadab and Abihu were consumed by fire, Moses silenced Aaron with God's own words.
77. Priests could not consume any alcohol before entering the Tabernacle to minister. Only a life of holiness is capable of ministering to the world.
78. If a woman bore a daughter, the woman's purification time was twice as long as a woman who bore a son.
79. In determining whether a person is clean or unclean, privacy was ignored. Personal holiness is not a private matter.
80. Those who were cured of skin diseases had to be atoned for by the Priests.
81. I wonder if the offerings in Lev. 14 for the cleansing of skin diseases are what Jesus was refering to when Jesus healed a man of leprosy and told him to show himself to the priest and offer what Moses commanded.
82. God told Israel that when they entered Canaan, He would inflict some of the houses with mildew. Why?
83. Those whose houses were cleansed by the sprinkling of blood would always be reminded that their houses were purified by the shedding of blood.
84. It was an act of faith to go through the required time of ceremonial cleansing because the person could not work. If they did work, their whole output would be unclean.
85. The purpose for the Laws of cleanliness: so no one would die by defiling the Tabernacle.
86. Israel could only sacrifice in the Tabernacle and no where else. This way God was preventing the worship of evil spirits.
87. Israel was set apart because it was to be holy as God is holy; they were not to worship other Gods in ritual or in unethical personal conduct.
88. Levites with physical defects were not allowed to minister in the Tabernacle. Did God look down on them because of their defects? No, after all, they could eat of the offerings. But Levitical families may have been tempted to offer those with defects for temple service while those without defects would be put to profitable economic use. As the healthy were the most valued, the service of the unhealthy would be no sacrifice.
89. Lev. 24- When the man who blasphamied was stoned to death, those who heard it had to put their hands on his head as he was stoned. Was this so that they could see how serious a sin blasphamy was that they would not be tempted to imitate the behavior they witnessed?
90. Israel could not process its crops during the Sabbath year. But it could eat what grew naturally. Why? Because to process their crops during the Sabbath year would indicate a lack of faith in God that He would take care of them during that year. To obey was a testimony to the neighboring countries concerning God's faithfulness.
91. At the Jubilee, land reverted back to its original owners.
92. The price of redemption was based on the number of years left till the next Jubilee. This would prevent current owners from extorting money or making the redemption price too high.
93. God's main concern in Leviticus- that the Sabbath laws be obeyed and that the Tabernacle be treated with reverence.
94. Lev. 26:13- "I have lifted the yoke of slavery from your neck so you can walk free with your heads held high."
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
90 Days: Day 8
Read Lev. 1-14:32. I will be almost through Lev. tomorrow. Everytime I attempted to read the Bible through in a year, I always got bogged down in Numbers. I'll be in Numbers in 2 days.
The Bible In 90 Days: Exodus
For 1-24, see Genesis.
25. Opposition will always intensify as God delivers.
26. Why did God take Israel out of Caanan into Egypt when God promised to give Cannan to Israel? Because God did not want Israel to be tainted with the idolatrous practices of the inhabitants of Canaan.
27. God initially told Pharough that He wanted Israel to leave for three days, even though His ultimate intent was for Israel to leave permenantly.
28. God wanted Israel to be free so Israel could worship Him.
29. When God sent the plague of hail, God warned Egypt so Egypt could act to protect its food and livestock. The wheat and spelt (what is spelt?) survived. Yet Egypt would not listen, so what survived the hail was later distroyed the plague of locusts.
30. Ex 11:8- Moses burned with anger at Pharoh even though God had hardened Pharoh's heart because Pharoh had already hardened his own heart first.
31. Israel was to eat the passover meal in their traveling clothes, ready to leave Egypt. This symbolizes what should be our readiness to flee from sin.
32. Passover was to be observed with no yeast in the house. Yeast had to be removed before the Passover celebration. In the same way we should make no provision to sin against God.
33. The first born son and the first born of livestock were to be offered to the Lord; a sacrifice of what was most valued. (First born sons were redeemed.)
34. Passover was a visible reminder of God's deliverence.
35. God did not lead Israel the shortest way through Philistine territory because Israel might have turned back. God knew what Israel could handle.
36. The parting of the Red Sea was to be the miracle that established Israel's faith.
37. How does God's ransoming of Israel relate to the ransom theory of the Atonement?
38. God gave Israel only as much manna as it needed and nothing more, teaching Israel to rely continually on Him and not to try to hoard His blessings.
39. After 400 years of slavery, Israel had to learn to understand the concept of a Sabbath rest.
40. God did not take Israel out of the desert right away. He was teaching the people to trust Him, that they would learn that He would care for them in the desert before He took them into the Promised Land.
41. Jethro came to believe in God. Why did God choose Israel? So that when the other people groups witnessed God acting for and through Israel, they would know that Israel's God was the one true God.
42. As Jethro witnessed, God's laws were known and taught before God gave the Law on Mt. Sinai. People learned right from wrong from Moses before the Law was given.
43. Before God gave the Law, He reminded Israel what He had done for them in the past and what His future plans for them were.
44. While the people feared the Lord when He revealed Himself on Mt. Sinai, Moses had to teach them to use that fear to keep from sinning.
45. People were allowed to build altars only where God had revealed Himself to them.
46. Hebrew slaves were to be freed after 6 years.
47. Kidnapping anyone for slavery was punishable by death, Ex. 21:16. No, the Bible did not sanction American slavery.
48. If a pregant woman is injured so that her baby is born prematurely but no death results, then the guilty party pays expenses. But if the unborn baby dies, the one responsible is guilty of murder and is to be executed. Ex. 21: 22-25. Unborn children were considered persons who could be murdered.
49. Most of God's Laws concern the just treatment of others.
50. God is so kind that even 1st born animals to be sacrificed were not to be taken from their mothers for 8 days.
51. God promised to bless Israel IF Israel obeyed His commands. No unconditional Covenant.
52. God told Israel that He would let Israel conquer the Promised Land little by little, making it easier for Israel to control the land.
53. God brought Israel out of Egypt so He could live among them in the Tabernacle.
54. God gave special skills, filling Bezalel with the Holy Spirit, to those already naturally gifted in the crafts necessary to build the Tabernacle. God must have given the craftsmen special knowledge of the meaning of each portion of their finished product before they began their work.
55. The Sabbath is to be kept forever.
56. Israel backslid, using the gold for the Golden Calf meant to be used in the worship of God.
57. Israel worshipped the Golden Calf while the glory of God revealed on Mt. Sinai was still visible on the top of the mountain, after they had promised to obey God's commands to only worship Him.
58. Canaan was a land flowing with milk and honey, even when the idolatrous Canaanites lived there. This goes to show you that God will even bless a land when its inhabitants do not worship Him. But the blessings did not guarantee their future possession of the land. Americans should take heed.
59. After the Golden Calf, God's presence was only experienced by Moses in the Tent of Meeting.
60. Like Abraham before God destroyed Sodom and Gommorah, God was molding Moses to ask in prayer what God wanted him to ask when Moses interceeded for Israel. The Holy Spirit indwelling us does the same today.
61. The Fesitvals of Unleavened Bread, the 1st and Final Fruits were aids against the practice of idolatry.
62. In the later chapters of Exodus, God's main concern for Israel was that it not backslide into idolatry. The proactive activities God emphasises to prevent this is the observance of the Sabbath, the Passover, and the Festivals of 1st and Final Fruits.
25. Opposition will always intensify as God delivers.
26. Why did God take Israel out of Caanan into Egypt when God promised to give Cannan to Israel? Because God did not want Israel to be tainted with the idolatrous practices of the inhabitants of Canaan.
27. God initially told Pharough that He wanted Israel to leave for three days, even though His ultimate intent was for Israel to leave permenantly.
28. God wanted Israel to be free so Israel could worship Him.
29. When God sent the plague of hail, God warned Egypt so Egypt could act to protect its food and livestock. The wheat and spelt (what is spelt?) survived. Yet Egypt would not listen, so what survived the hail was later distroyed the plague of locusts.
30. Ex 11:8- Moses burned with anger at Pharoh even though God had hardened Pharoh's heart because Pharoh had already hardened his own heart first.
31. Israel was to eat the passover meal in their traveling clothes, ready to leave Egypt. This symbolizes what should be our readiness to flee from sin.
32. Passover was to be observed with no yeast in the house. Yeast had to be removed before the Passover celebration. In the same way we should make no provision to sin against God.
33. The first born son and the first born of livestock were to be offered to the Lord; a sacrifice of what was most valued. (First born sons were redeemed.)
34. Passover was a visible reminder of God's deliverence.
35. God did not lead Israel the shortest way through Philistine territory because Israel might have turned back. God knew what Israel could handle.
36. The parting of the Red Sea was to be the miracle that established Israel's faith.
37. How does God's ransoming of Israel relate to the ransom theory of the Atonement?
38. God gave Israel only as much manna as it needed and nothing more, teaching Israel to rely continually on Him and not to try to hoard His blessings.
39. After 400 years of slavery, Israel had to learn to understand the concept of a Sabbath rest.
40. God did not take Israel out of the desert right away. He was teaching the people to trust Him, that they would learn that He would care for them in the desert before He took them into the Promised Land.
41. Jethro came to believe in God. Why did God choose Israel? So that when the other people groups witnessed God acting for and through Israel, they would know that Israel's God was the one true God.
42. As Jethro witnessed, God's laws were known and taught before God gave the Law on Mt. Sinai. People learned right from wrong from Moses before the Law was given.
43. Before God gave the Law, He reminded Israel what He had done for them in the past and what His future plans for them were.
44. While the people feared the Lord when He revealed Himself on Mt. Sinai, Moses had to teach them to use that fear to keep from sinning.
45. People were allowed to build altars only where God had revealed Himself to them.
46. Hebrew slaves were to be freed after 6 years.
47. Kidnapping anyone for slavery was punishable by death, Ex. 21:16. No, the Bible did not sanction American slavery.
48. If a pregant woman is injured so that her baby is born prematurely but no death results, then the guilty party pays expenses. But if the unborn baby dies, the one responsible is guilty of murder and is to be executed. Ex. 21: 22-25. Unborn children were considered persons who could be murdered.
49. Most of God's Laws concern the just treatment of others.
50. God is so kind that even 1st born animals to be sacrificed were not to be taken from their mothers for 8 days.
51. God promised to bless Israel IF Israel obeyed His commands. No unconditional Covenant.
52. God told Israel that He would let Israel conquer the Promised Land little by little, making it easier for Israel to control the land.
53. God brought Israel out of Egypt so He could live among them in the Tabernacle.
54. God gave special skills, filling Bezalel with the Holy Spirit, to those already naturally gifted in the crafts necessary to build the Tabernacle. God must have given the craftsmen special knowledge of the meaning of each portion of their finished product before they began their work.
55. The Sabbath is to be kept forever.
56. Israel backslid, using the gold for the Golden Calf meant to be used in the worship of God.
57. Israel worshipped the Golden Calf while the glory of God revealed on Mt. Sinai was still visible on the top of the mountain, after they had promised to obey God's commands to only worship Him.
58. Canaan was a land flowing with milk and honey, even when the idolatrous Canaanites lived there. This goes to show you that God will even bless a land when its inhabitants do not worship Him. But the blessings did not guarantee their future possession of the land. Americans should take heed.
59. After the Golden Calf, God's presence was only experienced by Moses in the Tent of Meeting.
60. Like Abraham before God destroyed Sodom and Gommorah, God was molding Moses to ask in prayer what God wanted him to ask when Moses interceeded for Israel. The Holy Spirit indwelling us does the same today.
61. The Fesitvals of Unleavened Bread, the 1st and Final Fruits were aids against the practice of idolatry.
62. In the later chapters of Exodus, God's main concern for Israel was that it not backslide into idolatry. The proactive activities God emphasises to prevent this is the observance of the Sabbath, the Passover, and the Festivals of 1st and Final Fruits.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
90 Days: Day 6
My day: snow removal, talking on the phone to a childhood friend, reading Ex. 15:19-28:43, posting this daily update. Will finish Ex. tomorrow. Will post my impressions tomorrow or the next day.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
The Bible in 90 Days: Genesis
These are things that came to mind while reading through Genesis while participating in the 90 day Bible reading program. These impressions are not particularly profound as the focus is on reading through long sections of scripture each day, but I would like to leave some record of my participation in this Church wide program.
1. Why didn't God create the whole universe in one act rather than in 6 days?
2. If God provided food for man, then death was possible for man and beast before the Fall.
3. Some refer to two creation stories; this is nonsense. Chapter 1 focuses on the created world being prepared for Man while chapter 2 focuses on the creation of Man himself.
4. God wanted to see what Adam would call the animals; here God was delighting Himself in the actions of His creation.
5. Sin could be subdued even in Cain's day.
6. God promised Noah safety, but Noah still had to obey God's instructions.
7. Sorry Calvinists, God did not make Noah righteous and everyone else else unrighteous against their will and then get angry and distroy the world. All involved had a choice as to their spiritual condition.
8. What was God's purpose in distroying the earth if mankind was still evil after the flood?
9. God's covenant not to destroy the earth by flood again was with both Man and animals.
10. God's scattering of Man after He destroyed the Tower of Babel was so Man would spread the image of God over the whole earth.
11. After Noah, Man's lifespan decreases, see Shem's geneology, Gen 11; it decreases further after God destroyed the Tower of Babel.
12. Abraham was called to live in Caanan to worship God among idol worshippers.
13. A male child of the covenant was circumsized to show he was a member of the Covenant people even before he could have a say in the matter.
14. Abraham asked God if He would distroy Sodom if it had righteous living within it. Abraham stated that the judge of the earth would not act unrighteously. This indicates that even as far back as Abraham, the world's inhabitants understood right and wrong.
15. If Lot's servants were not spared because they were not righteous, this indicates Lot allowed sin to dwell in his home in contact with his family.
16. Abraham loved Ishmael as his first born son, but He loved God more.
17. Ishmael made fun of Issac; God would not permit Issac to feel unworthy as the son of promise.
18. All nations are blessed because Abraham obeyed God.
19. Even Abimelech knew what sin was and God expected him to shun it.
20. Leah was the mother of the Levitical priesthood; Rachael helped give birth to Christ's earthly family.
21. God heard Hagar, Leah, Rachael and Jacob when they were wronged.
22. Before meeting Esau, Jacob reminded God and himself of God's earlier promises.
23. By faith, Jacob left Caanan with EVERYTHING, knowing the Lord would give his descendants the land of Caanan.
24. What is the role of Jacob blessing his sons in Biblical prophecy?
1. Why didn't God create the whole universe in one act rather than in 6 days?
2. If God provided food for man, then death was possible for man and beast before the Fall.
3. Some refer to two creation stories; this is nonsense. Chapter 1 focuses on the created world being prepared for Man while chapter 2 focuses on the creation of Man himself.
4. God wanted to see what Adam would call the animals; here God was delighting Himself in the actions of His creation.
5. Sin could be subdued even in Cain's day.
6. God promised Noah safety, but Noah still had to obey God's instructions.
7. Sorry Calvinists, God did not make Noah righteous and everyone else else unrighteous against their will and then get angry and distroy the world. All involved had a choice as to their spiritual condition.
8. What was God's purpose in distroying the earth if mankind was still evil after the flood?
9. God's covenant not to destroy the earth by flood again was with both Man and animals.
10. God's scattering of Man after He destroyed the Tower of Babel was so Man would spread the image of God over the whole earth.
11. After Noah, Man's lifespan decreases, see Shem's geneology, Gen 11; it decreases further after God destroyed the Tower of Babel.
12. Abraham was called to live in Caanan to worship God among idol worshippers.
13. A male child of the covenant was circumsized to show he was a member of the Covenant people even before he could have a say in the matter.
14. Abraham asked God if He would distroy Sodom if it had righteous living within it. Abraham stated that the judge of the earth would not act unrighteously. This indicates that even as far back as Abraham, the world's inhabitants understood right and wrong.
15. If Lot's servants were not spared because they were not righteous, this indicates Lot allowed sin to dwell in his home in contact with his family.
16. Abraham loved Ishmael as his first born son, but He loved God more.
17. Ishmael made fun of Issac; God would not permit Issac to feel unworthy as the son of promise.
18. All nations are blessed because Abraham obeyed God.
19. Even Abimelech knew what sin was and God expected him to shun it.
20. Leah was the mother of the Levitical priesthood; Rachael helped give birth to Christ's earthly family.
21. God heard Hagar, Leah, Rachael and Jacob when they were wronged.
22. Before meeting Esau, Jacob reminded God and himself of God's earlier promises.
23. By faith, Jacob left Caanan with EVERYTHING, knowing the Lord would give his descendants the land of Caanan.
24. What is the role of Jacob blessing his sons in Biblical prophecy?
90 Days: Day 5
Read Ex. 1-15:18. Decided not to register on the 90 days website because a phone number is required and I do not want to give out my phone number on the world wide web for telemarketers to access. I will publish my impressions of Genesis now, see post above.
Monday, January 4, 2010
90 Days: Day 4
Finished Genesis. Tomorrow will register at the 90 Day website and check out the participant section.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
90 Days: Day 3
Today I read Gen. 28:20-40:11. Only wrote down four impressions. When I post these written impressions, should I type them or do an audio blog? Which ever way I choose, I will post the first series of these impressions after I finish Genesis tomorrow. I would like to break down the reading times into 2 to 3 sessions a day, but so far I have had to read each section in one setting. To break up the sessions might yield more insights.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
90 Days: Day 2
Read Gen. 17:1- 28:19. I will try to post my impressions after each book is read. I think my church in Illinois has study guides to use alongside their Bible reading. Soon I will visit the website of the organization which promotes reading the Bible in 90 days to see if there are questions which I can answer here on this blog. Tomorrow I have the priviledge of attending a Communion Service at my home church. I hope you all have the opportunity to take Communion at least once a month, which is available to me at my home Church and my Church in Illinois.
Friday, January 1, 2010
90 Days: Day One
Today I read the first 16 chapters of Genesis in the NLT, writing down any impressions gained in reading. I had planned to go to bed early last night and start my reading early, but I stayed up with my parents watching the NY Philharmonic. So I slepted in. At least my plan was a plan and not a resolution. I will publish my impressions on some sort of regular basis.
Ben Witherington on "Jesus And The Eyewitnesses"
Since Richard Baukham's "Jesus and The Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony" is easily the most important book concerning the trustwortiness of the New Testament witness to be published this decade and since it was analyzed extensively on this blog, I feel I cannot do enough to promote it. I am glad to bring to your attention the remarks of Dr. Ben Witherington concerning this book on Dr. Witheringtons blog:
"Though this book did not come out in 2009, it has only just begun to have its full effect, and as Richard himself has said to me--it is probably his most important book. If you haven't read it yet, stop everything and do so. It puts the cat among the pidgeons when it comes to a variety of issues including the nature of how Christians passed on the sayings of Jesus and the authorship of the Gospels."
"Though this book did not come out in 2009, it has only just begun to have its full effect, and as Richard himself has said to me--it is probably his most important book. If you haven't read it yet, stop everything and do so. It puts the cat among the pidgeons when it comes to a variety of issues including the nature of how Christians passed on the sayings of Jesus and the authorship of the Gospels."
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