vs 11
That slight rewording may not be enough to re-excite me to what is essentially the same message that has been repeated before.
vs 12-14
Note that it is not wild craven sinning that drags them down from God. It is building houses, collecting livestock, and living comfortably. Don't get me wrong - God wants them to live comfortably! He wants them to have rest! But rest by his rules, his laws and his decrees, so that they don't forget that all their rest depends on him.
vs 15
Just imagine the litany of God's faithfulness in your own life. I know I can easily reflect on my life and see where God has brought me from, and to. And to think the journey continues to yet greener pastures (no, I'm not thinking materially) is quite astonishing.
vs 16
That's the second time the manna has been mentioned in that way. It seems that this is a big deal - this is one of the things that separates this generation from their ancestors. I wonder if it is because it is God's most obvious and most direct provision? Or was it the most obvious manifestation of his power in a supernatural sense - the idea being that it is a one time thing, for no-one else ever? Except in heaven, perhaps. It might just be my mind ticking over in its usual strange way, but surely there is a difference between organising mundane occurrences in happening at pleasantly surprising times (be it locusts plagues or the falling down of the enemy's wall) and making food just appear out of nothing. Like Jesus healing people instantly, or multiplying bread and fish.
vs 17
Which, when you're talking about building a house, or amassing wealth, or even defeating enemies, is a fairly simple line to draw. Perhaps that's why they are so dangerously easy to turn into idols.
vs 18
And really, isn't this a better way? If you trust in yourself, you are to blame when you fail. If you trust in money or wealth, then you're just pandering to it to make it grow for its own sake, in the hope that you will benefit from its growth. But with God, being perfect and powerful, you can rest assured that even if things don't go absolutely right, then you're just missing something. It's the way it's meant to be. Not perfect - we're not in heaven - but under control.
Of course, that is easy to forget when things are going well. What we need is a good theology of comfort and satisfaction. And with CEOs getting mega fat salaries and people being all upset about it, now is a good time to reveal it.
vs 19
You have been warned.
vs 20
You are not irreplaceable. Scary message.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 8
vs 1
I have a feeling you will have this saying memorised by the time you've finished Deuteronomy. It's funny - I am sure, when being read out, such repetition makes it easier to remember. But when I'm reading it, I tend to gloss over similar statements.
vs 2
"Oh, no. The 40 years in the wilderness was a test? But I didn't know, or else I wouldn't have bitched and moaned the whole time!"
vs 3
God does teach in allegorical ways. We can't discount allegory. We just have to be careful about how we do it and what pictures we pick. When God makes one clear like this, it's sort of a freebie.
vs 4
What did that represent? The faithfulness of God? Seems likely, but that's pretty general.
vs 5
Deuteronomy is like the Hebrews of the Old Testament. Wait, that's probably the other way around. Moses is given access to the mind and heart of God in a way that has not been so directly revealed so far in the Bible. Really, the only thing that beats it is Jesus.
vs 6
What has struck me reading this is that this is the first time a statement like this has been made. Or if not, then at least an early time. And even now, the description of a relationship with God, and of obeying him, is one of walking. This stuff is starting to interest me - because the simple fact is that literal walking probably doesn't make you all that much better a servant of God. So it is figurative walking, which means that we have to work out why the author has used the metaphor they have. Walking obviously suggests a journey. So it's putting the obedience of God in a present continuous mode. There is so much focus on obedience and reverence of God alone. This is the bedrock foundation God builds his people on.
vs 7-9
The way this is translated (and it's probably fair), it puts this description of the wonderful land they are going to move into - rich in tasties, regular staples, and mineral resources (Civ Advisor suggests developing Iron Working so that we can develop: Ass Kickery) - in terms of "this is the reason that you should walk in obedience and reverence with God, because he is giving you this awesome land." Part of it will be that if they ever want to truly claim this land that God is giving them, they will need to be obedient to him, and upright.
vs 10
You might think this sounds like the obvious thing to do. But of course, the obvious thing to do is sit down and say, "Bugger me, that was hard work. We're doing so well, though. Yay us! We're awesome. Oh, and look, I brought home this idol." So perhaps it's best to be told.
I have a feeling you will have this saying memorised by the time you've finished Deuteronomy. It's funny - I am sure, when being read out, such repetition makes it easier to remember. But when I'm reading it, I tend to gloss over similar statements.
vs 2
"Oh, no. The 40 years in the wilderness was a test? But I didn't know, or else I wouldn't have bitched and moaned the whole time!"
vs 3
God does teach in allegorical ways. We can't discount allegory. We just have to be careful about how we do it and what pictures we pick. When God makes one clear like this, it's sort of a freebie.
vs 4
What did that represent? The faithfulness of God? Seems likely, but that's pretty general.
vs 5
Deuteronomy is like the Hebrews of the Old Testament. Wait, that's probably the other way around. Moses is given access to the mind and heart of God in a way that has not been so directly revealed so far in the Bible. Really, the only thing that beats it is Jesus.
vs 6
What has struck me reading this is that this is the first time a statement like this has been made. Or if not, then at least an early time. And even now, the description of a relationship with God, and of obeying him, is one of walking. This stuff is starting to interest me - because the simple fact is that literal walking probably doesn't make you all that much better a servant of God. So it is figurative walking, which means that we have to work out why the author has used the metaphor they have. Walking obviously suggests a journey. So it's putting the obedience of God in a present continuous mode. There is so much focus on obedience and reverence of God alone. This is the bedrock foundation God builds his people on.
vs 7-9
The way this is translated (and it's probably fair), it puts this description of the wonderful land they are going to move into - rich in tasties, regular staples, and mineral resources (Civ Advisor suggests developing Iron Working so that we can develop: Ass Kickery) - in terms of "this is the reason that you should walk in obedience and reverence with God, because he is giving you this awesome land." Part of it will be that if they ever want to truly claim this land that God is giving them, they will need to be obedient to him, and upright.
vs 10
You might think this sounds like the obvious thing to do. But of course, the obvious thing to do is sit down and say, "Bugger me, that was hard work. We're doing so well, though. Yay us! We're awesome. Oh, and look, I brought home this idol." So perhaps it's best to be told.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 7
vs 14
That is a huge promise. None will be childless. Imagine Samuel's mother Hannah holding onto that promise when she couldn't bear a child for her husband. And as I have said so many times in the past, children (especially sons) mean a retirement fund. The more children, the more earning potential in your old age. The better you will be looked after.
The breeding capacity of livestock is an obvious benefit.
vs 15
Are these promises for real? Will people really not get sick, at all? This is almost a heaven on earth promise here. Of course, he doesn't promise any salvation from death, though. That is important.
Still, how easy for people to get sick and then look at this promise and lose faith - regardless of the fact that they are breaking God's laws.
vs 16
The snare is in their gods, but also their cultures and their lack of respect and love for God. It is interesting to see God's take on temptation. We would say that it is up to the Israelites to be strong enough to not be tempted by the other things going on around them - they live in a fallen world, after all. God says, "Not good enough. Get rid of all temptation, to the point of killing those who proffer it. Your holiness is worth more than their lives to me."
That's pretty potent. Of course, God has not sanctioned the systematic killing of those who sell chocolate and other tempting goods, so we'll just have to deal with it.
vs 17
A fair question. Just imagine, for a moment, we were going to wage war on every person who sold pornography, every drug dealer, every purveyor of temptation in our age. They're not going to go without a fight, either. And they've got big budgets to help them, too. Imagine all the security guards and other less saintly figures that they could muster.
vs 18
No matter how big the nations around the promised land are, they're nothing compared to Egypt. And God brought Egypt down to her knees. So what's to be afraid of?
vs 19
The same! Wipe out their armies, cause them fear and trembling, hit them with plagues and other kinds of menace and evil.
vs 20
One thing God did not do is completely wipe out Egypt. That was not his aim. But for these people, whom God has marked for death, he promises even to aid Israel in their demise by sending killer bees after them. Killer bees! Makes me imagine one guy hiding in a cave as the Israelites march past killing all and sundry. He thinks he's going to get out of this alive... then he hears the buzz...
vs 21
God is among them, and he is great and awesome. They should already know that, but even when you've got a nuclear bomb and all they have is sticks and stones, you still wonder if the button's going to work before you press it.
vs 22
What an interesting verse. I swear I've read Deuteronomy about three times in the last couple of years, but can I remember this verse? No way. What an interesting thought. God knew full well that this was going to be a long and drawn out project for them. A difficult route for them to go. He goes so far as to tell them that while they will have his help, but that it will not come to them in the way they will expect - that is, all at once to make things over quickly.
His reason is also novel. Wild animals. I assume it's literal, and it just means that human populations keep down populations of things like lions and bears.
vs 23
Even if it does take over a hundred and fifty years, or perhaps even longer.
vs 24
There is a final goal in mind. Even the kings, powerful men of these nations, can't stand up to this people. They know that, too - they've defeated a couple of kings already.
vs 25
God brooks no competition. He holds a holy monopoly. You can't even keep the gold and silver of their idols - that is too much of a link to them. The level of separateness God demands from his holy people is very high. Just to begin to think about applying this to modern day causes trouble.
vs 26
That copy of the Financial Review? A testimony to idolatry. Seriously, though, I imagine that the regular presence of an idol in the house could be a comforting thing for those who worship a God who is completely unseen and mostly reveals himself through chance encounters and abstract successes, or second hand through an old man like Moses.
That is a huge promise. None will be childless. Imagine Samuel's mother Hannah holding onto that promise when she couldn't bear a child for her husband. And as I have said so many times in the past, children (especially sons) mean a retirement fund. The more children, the more earning potential in your old age. The better you will be looked after.
The breeding capacity of livestock is an obvious benefit.
vs 15
Are these promises for real? Will people really not get sick, at all? This is almost a heaven on earth promise here. Of course, he doesn't promise any salvation from death, though. That is important.
Still, how easy for people to get sick and then look at this promise and lose faith - regardless of the fact that they are breaking God's laws.
vs 16
The snare is in their gods, but also their cultures and their lack of respect and love for God. It is interesting to see God's take on temptation. We would say that it is up to the Israelites to be strong enough to not be tempted by the other things going on around them - they live in a fallen world, after all. God says, "Not good enough. Get rid of all temptation, to the point of killing those who proffer it. Your holiness is worth more than their lives to me."
That's pretty potent. Of course, God has not sanctioned the systematic killing of those who sell chocolate and other tempting goods, so we'll just have to deal with it.
vs 17
A fair question. Just imagine, for a moment, we were going to wage war on every person who sold pornography, every drug dealer, every purveyor of temptation in our age. They're not going to go without a fight, either. And they've got big budgets to help them, too. Imagine all the security guards and other less saintly figures that they could muster.
vs 18
No matter how big the nations around the promised land are, they're nothing compared to Egypt. And God brought Egypt down to her knees. So what's to be afraid of?
vs 19
The same! Wipe out their armies, cause them fear and trembling, hit them with plagues and other kinds of menace and evil.
vs 20
One thing God did not do is completely wipe out Egypt. That was not his aim. But for these people, whom God has marked for death, he promises even to aid Israel in their demise by sending killer bees after them. Killer bees! Makes me imagine one guy hiding in a cave as the Israelites march past killing all and sundry. He thinks he's going to get out of this alive... then he hears the buzz...
vs 21
God is among them, and he is great and awesome. They should already know that, but even when you've got a nuclear bomb and all they have is sticks and stones, you still wonder if the button's going to work before you press it.
vs 22
What an interesting verse. I swear I've read Deuteronomy about three times in the last couple of years, but can I remember this verse? No way. What an interesting thought. God knew full well that this was going to be a long and drawn out project for them. A difficult route for them to go. He goes so far as to tell them that while they will have his help, but that it will not come to them in the way they will expect - that is, all at once to make things over quickly.
His reason is also novel. Wild animals. I assume it's literal, and it just means that human populations keep down populations of things like lions and bears.
vs 23
Even if it does take over a hundred and fifty years, or perhaps even longer.
vs 24
There is a final goal in mind. Even the kings, powerful men of these nations, can't stand up to this people. They know that, too - they've defeated a couple of kings already.
vs 25
God brooks no competition. He holds a holy monopoly. You can't even keep the gold and silver of their idols - that is too much of a link to them. The level of separateness God demands from his holy people is very high. Just to begin to think about applying this to modern day causes trouble.
vs 26
That copy of the Financial Review? A testimony to idolatry. Seriously, though, I imagine that the regular presence of an idol in the house could be a comforting thing for those who worship a God who is completely unseen and mostly reveals himself through chance encounters and abstract successes, or second hand through an old man like Moses.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 7
vs 1
Seven nations. All larger than Israel. All marked for death. That may not be entirely true - some of these nations might have had land borders that overlapped God's proposed borders for Israel. Nevertheless, seven nations are marked for destruction of some sort by God, and Israel is his weapon of choice. It would have been a scary, or at least terrible, prospect. Even to think it could be done in one generation so that your kids could live peacefully would have been generous.
vs 2
It sounds harsh. You can't read that, especially knowing that destroy them totally means "often with fire", and not think that this is harsh. And this is so rare an occurrence that to think God requires such an act is all the more unbearable. But it reveals a full picture of God. You cannot understand the willingness of God to allow people to spend eternity without him, if you do not see his willingness to judge the unrighteous in this world too. That doesn't make it a pretty picture, but it is expressive.
vs 3
If you can't make a pact with them, you certainly can't intermarry! But God knows what is coming, and therefore he makes every step clear, so that Israel knows full well when they have crossed the line, and they can see it in black and white.
vs 4
Because God knows full well that people will turn their backs on his decrees for a bit of tail. I know that's making light of it, and I know full well that it's not just a sexual thing, but a family pressure thing and an immediate devotion thing and so on. But the fact is that whether tail, family, whatever - they are easy distractions from God and his laws and obedience to them. The marriage connection is just that strong - it can pull someone away from God.
vs 5
In other words, don't just leave them there to remind you, "Oooh, so that's what they used to do. I wonder what that's like." Idolatry might be more subtle in the west, but thankfully we can look at Israel and see just how crazy stupid it is - I mean, why go worship at an Asherah pole or a foreign altar when you've seen God give you victory?
That is of course ignoring the whole practice that surrounded the religion too. You simply have to factor in the enjoyment of sacrifices and shrine prostitution, I think. Although it doesn't get mentioned often,
vs 6
This was God's plan - a people for himself. And as such, God takes a risk in allowing himself be represented by them. It is an important role. God wants them to understand it, value it, and do it.
vs 7
See, God as always has a perfect plan. He wants himself glorified, so in the very picking he chooses a people who can do that simply by something so mundane as their numbers.
vs 8
God's faithfulness is what brought them out of Egypt. Nothing else, certainly nothing to do with Israel as a nation. They did not, after all, pick their ancestors.
vs 9
I think a thousand generations is a fair way of saying "forever". God rewards faithfulness, possibly because it is a mirror of his own ideals and perfection.
vs 10
That this is recorded in a song or poem means it was either a common saying, or it was meant to be remembered and repeated.
Slowness, of course, is always relative. I think you could safely say that the nations that are scheduled for removal fit into this category, but 400 years at least have gone past with little action from God. And while you could say, "Well, when God has made a decision to do something, and when the mercy has run long, then his action is swift." But that seems a bit of a truism, doesn't it?
vs 11
But this reminds us that this isn't a warning to people far off. It is a warning to his own people, Israel! Whom he will have no less compassion for, but judge no less harshly for disobedience.
vs 12
Covenant of love! What a description! This is what keeps it so apart from the other covenants of its day.
vs 13
A good life all around. Today he would bless your shares, your petrol prices, and your market share or something similar. He does this out of love, though, not in a buyback scheme for obedience.
Seven nations. All larger than Israel. All marked for death. That may not be entirely true - some of these nations might have had land borders that overlapped God's proposed borders for Israel. Nevertheless, seven nations are marked for destruction of some sort by God, and Israel is his weapon of choice. It would have been a scary, or at least terrible, prospect. Even to think it could be done in one generation so that your kids could live peacefully would have been generous.
vs 2
It sounds harsh. You can't read that, especially knowing that destroy them totally means "often with fire", and not think that this is harsh. And this is so rare an occurrence that to think God requires such an act is all the more unbearable. But it reveals a full picture of God. You cannot understand the willingness of God to allow people to spend eternity without him, if you do not see his willingness to judge the unrighteous in this world too. That doesn't make it a pretty picture, but it is expressive.
vs 3
If you can't make a pact with them, you certainly can't intermarry! But God knows what is coming, and therefore he makes every step clear, so that Israel knows full well when they have crossed the line, and they can see it in black and white.
vs 4
Because God knows full well that people will turn their backs on his decrees for a bit of tail. I know that's making light of it, and I know full well that it's not just a sexual thing, but a family pressure thing and an immediate devotion thing and so on. But the fact is that whether tail, family, whatever - they are easy distractions from God and his laws and obedience to them. The marriage connection is just that strong - it can pull someone away from God.
vs 5
In other words, don't just leave them there to remind you, "Oooh, so that's what they used to do. I wonder what that's like." Idolatry might be more subtle in the west, but thankfully we can look at Israel and see just how crazy stupid it is - I mean, why go worship at an Asherah pole or a foreign altar when you've seen God give you victory?
That is of course ignoring the whole practice that surrounded the religion too. You simply have to factor in the enjoyment of sacrifices and shrine prostitution, I think. Although it doesn't get mentioned often,
vs 6
This was God's plan - a people for himself. And as such, God takes a risk in allowing himself be represented by them. It is an important role. God wants them to understand it, value it, and do it.
vs 7
See, God as always has a perfect plan. He wants himself glorified, so in the very picking he chooses a people who can do that simply by something so mundane as their numbers.
vs 8
God's faithfulness is what brought them out of Egypt. Nothing else, certainly nothing to do with Israel as a nation. They did not, after all, pick their ancestors.
vs 9
I think a thousand generations is a fair way of saying "forever". God rewards faithfulness, possibly because it is a mirror of his own ideals and perfection.
vs 10
That this is recorded in a song or poem means it was either a common saying, or it was meant to be remembered and repeated.
Slowness, of course, is always relative. I think you could safely say that the nations that are scheduled for removal fit into this category, but 400 years at least have gone past with little action from God. And while you could say, "Well, when God has made a decision to do something, and when the mercy has run long, then his action is swift." But that seems a bit of a truism, doesn't it?
vs 11
But this reminds us that this isn't a warning to people far off. It is a warning to his own people, Israel! Whom he will have no less compassion for, but judge no less harshly for disobedience.
vs 12
Covenant of love! What a description! This is what keeps it so apart from the other covenants of its day.
vs 13
A good life all around. Today he would bless your shares, your petrol prices, and your market share or something similar. He does this out of love, though, not in a buyback scheme for obedience.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 6
vs 13
Interesting that this gets cancelled by Jesus - oaths are no longer to be taken, not even sworn by God. I'm assuming that oaths are somewhat like divorces - allowed for by the law as a part of grace.
vs 14
I used to think that if Israel had done what they were told and driven out all the foreigners in their land, they wouldn't have fallen into idolatry. But the truth is that they were always going to have foreign neighbours, so at best it might have delayed the inevitable.
vs 15
And here is that inevitable I was talking about.
vs 16
Massah is the site of the first rock-striking, where water was given from the rock. The people tested God there by grumbling against Moses because they were thirsty.
vs 17
If you haven't gotten the general flavour of this book by now it's that you should follow God's laws.
vs 18
Once again, this is couched in the positive terms of wellness being their goal - a good life in the promised land.
vs 19
It is also interesting that this verse suggests that keeping God's commands will assist them in securing the land for themselves. We of course see the truth of this in Joshua with Aichan's sin. More generally, though, the people must be faithful to God to receive God's assistance in driving out the bad guys.
vs 20
Is this an admission that the laws aren't really as easy to understand as we might suppose? I think it's more a question "Why do we have these laws?" considering the answer.
vs 21
This salvation from slavery is the defining moment for Israel. This is what they are to remember - when God claimed his people from domination.
vs 22
Showing that God is above even the ruler of a mighty land, who is meant to even be a kind of deity.
vs 23
This explains both why the Israelites aren't still in Egypt, but also that God is faithful to the promises he made all that time ago to Abraham etc.
vs 24
"Kept alive" is an interesting term. I wonder if this means that all aspects of life are available to Israel, their daily regimen of life, is only available to them because God allows it. It's certainly true, but is this the truth they were passing to their kids? It sounds like it to me. But I guess it could also be a more specific "protection from enemies etc".
vs 25
It's hard to know what exactly is meant by this - so little time is spent by Israel obeying God's laws. But when you look at someone like Boaz, you see that not only is he a righteous man in doing everything that he does (following the laws), but also in attitude (mercy, kindness, respect) and a desire to serve God's purposes. So it is not a righteousness that comes from the actions of following the law only, but also from an attitude that the laws instil, as well as a desire to follow the laws stemming from a respect for God.
Interesting that this gets cancelled by Jesus - oaths are no longer to be taken, not even sworn by God. I'm assuming that oaths are somewhat like divorces - allowed for by the law as a part of grace.
vs 14
I used to think that if Israel had done what they were told and driven out all the foreigners in their land, they wouldn't have fallen into idolatry. But the truth is that they were always going to have foreign neighbours, so at best it might have delayed the inevitable.
vs 15
And here is that inevitable I was talking about.
vs 16
Massah is the site of the first rock-striking, where water was given from the rock. The people tested God there by grumbling against Moses because they were thirsty.
vs 17
If you haven't gotten the general flavour of this book by now it's that you should follow God's laws.
vs 18
Once again, this is couched in the positive terms of wellness being their goal - a good life in the promised land.
vs 19
It is also interesting that this verse suggests that keeping God's commands will assist them in securing the land for themselves. We of course see the truth of this in Joshua with Aichan's sin. More generally, though, the people must be faithful to God to receive God's assistance in driving out the bad guys.
vs 20
Is this an admission that the laws aren't really as easy to understand as we might suppose? I think it's more a question "Why do we have these laws?" considering the answer.
vs 21
This salvation from slavery is the defining moment for Israel. This is what they are to remember - when God claimed his people from domination.
vs 22
Showing that God is above even the ruler of a mighty land, who is meant to even be a kind of deity.
vs 23
This explains both why the Israelites aren't still in Egypt, but also that God is faithful to the promises he made all that time ago to Abraham etc.
vs 24
"Kept alive" is an interesting term. I wonder if this means that all aspects of life are available to Israel, their daily regimen of life, is only available to them because God allows it. It's certainly true, but is this the truth they were passing to their kids? It sounds like it to me. But I guess it could also be a more specific "protection from enemies etc".
vs 25
It's hard to know what exactly is meant by this - so little time is spent by Israel obeying God's laws. But when you look at someone like Boaz, you see that not only is he a righteous man in doing everything that he does (following the laws), but also in attitude (mercy, kindness, respect) and a desire to serve God's purposes. So it is not a righteousness that comes from the actions of following the law only, but also from an attitude that the laws instil, as well as a desire to follow the laws stemming from a respect for God.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 6
vs 1
A bit repetitive, but now you know for sure what these laws are.
vs 2
Loving God is done by keeping his decrees. The long life thing I've talked about before, but this is interesting, almost a little paradoxical. God has chosen a vassalage covenant model through which to give his laws, but he uses language of love and family to describe the adherence and relationship in this covenant. So love, then, is conveyed through obedience to commands. I'd be interested to find out if other suzerain covenants of the day spoke of love for one's leige?
vs 3
They should prosper, and the land under them should prosper, if they obey God.
vs 4
Well, apparently there's no easy translation of this verse, as you can see in the NIV. The point being, it would seem, that God is one, alone, singular, that there are none other like him. This is the beginning of the shema, a saying of remembrance for the Israelites, that they were to hear and obey. It also includes verse 5 I think. This was like the grand memory verse of Jewish history.
vs 5
This is a loyal love, a primary love, a serving love, a devoted love. It is also an active love, it is done, and things are used in its doing.
vs 6
It's not just a matter of it being remembered - it's a matter of it being imprinted on your heart so that it is forever a part of you.
vs 7
When you think about the things that we currently impress upon children, and the things that take up our conversation when we are sitting at home and walking along the road, the first thing we think of in the morning and the last thing at night, you suddenly realise just how far we are from this ideal. Well, I realise it, anyway. Perhaps you are totally devoted, in which case good for you!
I think this highlights the importance in the memorization thing that's happening at our church not to just get the verses into people's minds, but to instill in them a value for those words as something worth reflecting on. That is probably more valuable than the memorizing itself.
vs 8
Of course, the Jews did this literally (buh?) but we don't. We must also remember that religion has become a lot less structured in our times. Even the Anglican church we attend periodically breaks things up and makes them interesting. But religion back then, while possibly vital, was certainly formulaic and ritualised. So the idea of strapping some verses to your head as you repeated a prayer (and possibly added personal things to it) is totally normal for the time, and is really no less personal, although possibly less individual, if you know what I mean.
vs 9
Since homes are covered by the Law, having the law represented on your home is not inconceivable.
vs 10-11
Now that is provision - here, have an entire city you haven't had to build or toil for at all. Here are fields laid out and planted, stables built and ready. I wonder how many Israelites sat back and thought about whose home it had been before they moved in?
vs 12
Whether they thought of that or not, what they were meant to think of was the provision that God had provided them, and remember that it came from God, not their own labour. That could even be another reason God let another people settle in the land he promised to Israel - so that they would be constantly reminded that God gave it to Israel fully stocked.
A bit repetitive, but now you know for sure what these laws are.
vs 2
Loving God is done by keeping his decrees. The long life thing I've talked about before, but this is interesting, almost a little paradoxical. God has chosen a vassalage covenant model through which to give his laws, but he uses language of love and family to describe the adherence and relationship in this covenant. So love, then, is conveyed through obedience to commands. I'd be interested to find out if other suzerain covenants of the day spoke of love for one's leige?
vs 3
They should prosper, and the land under them should prosper, if they obey God.
vs 4
Well, apparently there's no easy translation of this verse, as you can see in the NIV. The point being, it would seem, that God is one, alone, singular, that there are none other like him. This is the beginning of the shema, a saying of remembrance for the Israelites, that they were to hear and obey. It also includes verse 5 I think. This was like the grand memory verse of Jewish history.
vs 5
This is a loyal love, a primary love, a serving love, a devoted love. It is also an active love, it is done, and things are used in its doing.
vs 6
It's not just a matter of it being remembered - it's a matter of it being imprinted on your heart so that it is forever a part of you.
vs 7
When you think about the things that we currently impress upon children, and the things that take up our conversation when we are sitting at home and walking along the road, the first thing we think of in the morning and the last thing at night, you suddenly realise just how far we are from this ideal. Well, I realise it, anyway. Perhaps you are totally devoted, in which case good for you!
I think this highlights the importance in the memorization thing that's happening at our church not to just get the verses into people's minds, but to instill in them a value for those words as something worth reflecting on. That is probably more valuable than the memorizing itself.
vs 8
Of course, the Jews did this literally (buh?) but we don't. We must also remember that religion has become a lot less structured in our times. Even the Anglican church we attend periodically breaks things up and makes them interesting. But religion back then, while possibly vital, was certainly formulaic and ritualised. So the idea of strapping some verses to your head as you repeated a prayer (and possibly added personal things to it) is totally normal for the time, and is really no less personal, although possibly less individual, if you know what I mean.
vs 9
Since homes are covered by the Law, having the law represented on your home is not inconceivable.
vs 10-11
Now that is provision - here, have an entire city you haven't had to build or toil for at all. Here are fields laid out and planted, stables built and ready. I wonder how many Israelites sat back and thought about whose home it had been before they moved in?
vs 12
Whether they thought of that or not, what they were meant to think of was the provision that God had provided them, and remember that it came from God, not their own labour. That could even be another reason God let another people settle in the land he promised to Israel - so that they would be constantly reminded that God gave it to Israel fully stocked.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 5
vs 23
My reaction would have been to hide under my bed. But hey, that's what leaders are for - sending to greet the voice in the dark!
vs 24
That seems like a really reasonable attitude to have to the whole thing. Wow, they've really been touched by this reaching out of God to their people.
vs 25
And then it all falls down. They are afraid. Now, fearing God is great. It's a good attitude to have. But if God has spoken to them already, why do they suddenly think the next word is going to be their downfall?
I might be being too hard on them. Someone could say that they are being humble and saying that they are not worthy to hear the voice of God anymore. But does that sound like it to you? To me, it sounds like they just don't want to die. I think perhaps they also don't want to hear the voice any longer. It pains them.
vs 26
Well, they all have. Presumably Abraham did. Doesn't that show them the prestigious status they have? The mercy of God in letting them live?
vs 27
Unfortunately, as you probably know as well as I do second-hand information never has the same punch as first-hand. You meet the PM, and you're like "Wow." You have someone tell you what he said, and it's suddenly "Eh." This promise to obey could have even been a matter of convenience just to take the responsibility off them.
vs 28
The thing is, of course, that this is exactly God's plan. He wants to have a mediator between himself and the people. That's why he selects Moses. That's why he separates the Levites. That's why he sends Jesus. Everything the Israelites say is in fact good. God isn't lying there. But are their motivations also good? Or is God holding them to what they said because it was a good sentiment, regardless of their motives?
As I said, I might be judging them too hard, but the OT writers generally didn't make editorial comment, and left it to us to get a feel for what was happening. Our feelings are of course often eisegetical, because we don't have the cultural background of 3500 years ago. So I don't think what I say is out and out rejectable. Of course, I never do.
vs 29
See, I would read this as God knowing their hearts, and seeing that it's not all flowers and sunshine. Of course, you could also read it as simply that their hearts are now in the right spot, but won't be soon.
vs 30
Which is really what they wanted. So either God is rewarding them for their faithfulness in being afraid, or he's just giving them what he wants anyway.
vs 31
Moses then is the one that will be the intercessor. And he takes that role seriously - many times from that point he interceded with God for his people. I guess I don't think about the giving and maintaining of the law as such an intercession, but obviously it is.
vs 32
Why? Because God commanded Moses to tell them these things. Like I've said, even one level of middle management can make the message weaker, but since they know the source is not bogus (their parents shook with fear at that mountain) they should treat what Moses says with respect.
vs 33
That is the promise - follow the laws, obey the commands, and live long in the land that is about to be given into their hands, a foretaste of which they've already had on this side of the Jordan. This is one reason we don't follow all the more crazy laws - because they are part of the land covenant, which we don't need to follow.
My reaction would have been to hide under my bed. But hey, that's what leaders are for - sending to greet the voice in the dark!
vs 24
That seems like a really reasonable attitude to have to the whole thing. Wow, they've really been touched by this reaching out of God to their people.
vs 25
And then it all falls down. They are afraid. Now, fearing God is great. It's a good attitude to have. But if God has spoken to them already, why do they suddenly think the next word is going to be their downfall?
I might be being too hard on them. Someone could say that they are being humble and saying that they are not worthy to hear the voice of God anymore. But does that sound like it to you? To me, it sounds like they just don't want to die. I think perhaps they also don't want to hear the voice any longer. It pains them.
vs 26
Well, they all have. Presumably Abraham did. Doesn't that show them the prestigious status they have? The mercy of God in letting them live?
vs 27
Unfortunately, as you probably know as well as I do second-hand information never has the same punch as first-hand. You meet the PM, and you're like "Wow." You have someone tell you what he said, and it's suddenly "Eh." This promise to obey could have even been a matter of convenience just to take the responsibility off them.
vs 28
The thing is, of course, that this is exactly God's plan. He wants to have a mediator between himself and the people. That's why he selects Moses. That's why he separates the Levites. That's why he sends Jesus. Everything the Israelites say is in fact good. God isn't lying there. But are their motivations also good? Or is God holding them to what they said because it was a good sentiment, regardless of their motives?
As I said, I might be judging them too hard, but the OT writers generally didn't make editorial comment, and left it to us to get a feel for what was happening. Our feelings are of course often eisegetical, because we don't have the cultural background of 3500 years ago. So I don't think what I say is out and out rejectable. Of course, I never do.
vs 29
See, I would read this as God knowing their hearts, and seeing that it's not all flowers and sunshine. Of course, you could also read it as simply that their hearts are now in the right spot, but won't be soon.
vs 30
Which is really what they wanted. So either God is rewarding them for their faithfulness in being afraid, or he's just giving them what he wants anyway.
vs 31
Moses then is the one that will be the intercessor. And he takes that role seriously - many times from that point he interceded with God for his people. I guess I don't think about the giving and maintaining of the law as such an intercession, but obviously it is.
vs 32
Why? Because God commanded Moses to tell them these things. Like I've said, even one level of middle management can make the message weaker, but since they know the source is not bogus (their parents shook with fear at that mountain) they should treat what Moses says with respect.
vs 33
That is the promise - follow the laws, obey the commands, and live long in the land that is about to be given into their hands, a foretaste of which they've already had on this side of the Jordan. This is one reason we don't follow all the more crazy laws - because they are part of the land covenant, which we don't need to follow.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 5
vs 12
This is an important law. You know, while there are a lot of religions with a lot of holidays, there aren't many that have a holy day every week on which you don't work. The idea of working every day is actually more common than we westerners, with a system based first on a sabbath and then a 40 hour work week really know. So this is a real distinctive between Israel and other nations.
Not to say that other nations had no holidays at all - some of them could last weeks - but the regular day every week is something different.
vs 13
Which is still more than our 40 hour week.
vs 14
Everyone gets that rest. Even animals get that rest. Yes, the sabbath is a time of worship to God, but it is also a time of rest for the sake of rest. Animals don't go to church. The foreigners might not even (couldn't really, unless they were proselytes). So the rest is important for its own sake, which is something I think we lose track of sometime. See my sermon on rest for more about that.
vs 15
I think the connection there is that since God did such a great thing for them, they should remember him officially every week. It could also be that God has given them rest from their slavery work. But I wonder... See, elsewhere we're told that the Sabbath is established because of the created order given in Genesis 1. Sure, it can be both. But it's always fun to ask what came first.
vs 16
Of course, honouring your parents probably goes along with listening to them about the traditions of God. It also, no doubt, shows God's respect for the family unit he created.
vs 17
Fairly obvious one, this. The reason behind it? Apart from the fact that it stops people from becoming dead, it shows God's respect for human life. Human life, that is. Eating chicken is not murder, you hippy.
vs 18
This one I always find problematic, dependent on the definition you give adultery. The law, in its more full stipulations, tends to put married people fooling around outside of marriage as far more serious than unmarried people fooling around. Love marriages were, of course, pretty rare. So most were arranged. But outside of marriage, the "punishment" if you like was marriage. It's a very different cultural context.
vs 19
A support for private property. We really were just being driven towards capitalism with a big bloody stick, weren't we? What does this mean for the Acts 2 community of common property, I wonder? Well, I suppose they still didn't steal from the people outside the community...
vs 20
An important law for the smooth workings of justice, and also showing that God values truth, but especially in a judicial sense. False testimony is not the same as lying about a surprise birthday party, or even lying about Jews in your closet.
vs 21
Belongs to you neighbour... like his wife... I guess this supports the private property too. But it's also a mark against greed and jealousy, so it's a mark against capitalism. Sufficiency and contentment are the order of the day, according to this law. The interesting thing about this law is that it measures attitude as much as action. Covetousness is a feeling, an attitude. If we legislated against that, not only would we undermine our precious capitalism, but we'd also be condemning people for thought crime.
vs 22
Of course, God really did add a bunch more. But these are the big 10. They are representative of a bunch of things, and 10 is really about as many as you want before people start forgetting them or trivialising them.
This is an important law. You know, while there are a lot of religions with a lot of holidays, there aren't many that have a holy day every week on which you don't work. The idea of working every day is actually more common than we westerners, with a system based first on a sabbath and then a 40 hour work week really know. So this is a real distinctive between Israel and other nations.
Not to say that other nations had no holidays at all - some of them could last weeks - but the regular day every week is something different.
vs 13
Which is still more than our 40 hour week.
vs 14
Everyone gets that rest. Even animals get that rest. Yes, the sabbath is a time of worship to God, but it is also a time of rest for the sake of rest. Animals don't go to church. The foreigners might not even (couldn't really, unless they were proselytes). So the rest is important for its own sake, which is something I think we lose track of sometime. See my sermon on rest for more about that.
vs 15
I think the connection there is that since God did such a great thing for them, they should remember him officially every week. It could also be that God has given them rest from their slavery work. But I wonder... See, elsewhere we're told that the Sabbath is established because of the created order given in Genesis 1. Sure, it can be both. But it's always fun to ask what came first.
vs 16
Of course, honouring your parents probably goes along with listening to them about the traditions of God. It also, no doubt, shows God's respect for the family unit he created.
vs 17
Fairly obvious one, this. The reason behind it? Apart from the fact that it stops people from becoming dead, it shows God's respect for human life. Human life, that is. Eating chicken is not murder, you hippy.
vs 18
This one I always find problematic, dependent on the definition you give adultery. The law, in its more full stipulations, tends to put married people fooling around outside of marriage as far more serious than unmarried people fooling around. Love marriages were, of course, pretty rare. So most were arranged. But outside of marriage, the "punishment" if you like was marriage. It's a very different cultural context.
vs 19
A support for private property. We really were just being driven towards capitalism with a big bloody stick, weren't we? What does this mean for the Acts 2 community of common property, I wonder? Well, I suppose they still didn't steal from the people outside the community...
vs 20
An important law for the smooth workings of justice, and also showing that God values truth, but especially in a judicial sense. False testimony is not the same as lying about a surprise birthday party, or even lying about Jews in your closet.
vs 21
Belongs to you neighbour... like his wife... I guess this supports the private property too. But it's also a mark against greed and jealousy, so it's a mark against capitalism. Sufficiency and contentment are the order of the day, according to this law. The interesting thing about this law is that it measures attitude as much as action. Covetousness is a feeling, an attitude. If we legislated against that, not only would we undermine our precious capitalism, but we'd also be condemning people for thought crime.
vs 22
Of course, God really did add a bunch more. But these are the big 10. They are representative of a bunch of things, and 10 is really about as many as you want before people start forgetting them or trivialising them.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 5
vs 1
So here we go. Moses is about to embark on the recounting of the law. It's not exactly the same as in Exodus. But this is a different time, and a different audience too. Their job is to learn and remember these laws, because these are the laws they are to follow in the land.
vs 2
Even if most of you weren't there to see it.
vs 3
Why does he say this? Well, you might be of the opinion that it was only fighting men that died, and so there's plenty of old women and kids etc from the last generation who are hearing this message. Fair enough. But I would say that the promise was made to all those living, because it is the living that are going to enter the land. God didn't give the law to Abraham or Joseph - they weren't living in the land. Not as a nation, anyway.
vs 4
Or at least face-to-fiery mountain. Or at least ancestors-to-fiery mountain.
vs 5
Or at least anscestors-to-Moses-to-fiery mountain. I don't actually blame them for being scared. It's a pretty scary thing. Not just the fiery mountain, but that God is sitting up there looking down on you, all righteous and perfect.
vs 6
God is judged not by a name, but by who he is and what he does. He brought them out of Egypt and slavery. He takes the credit for that, and it must be given him.
vs 7
I prefer 'besides', but really 'but' is what you want to hear in our age, I think. Or at least 'except'. The thing is, you work yourself into a bit of a grammatical bind because the word 'other' already suggests that there is at least one. So then 'but' or 'except' sound weird.
vs 8
This command lasted all of about 40 days. Or less. Hard to tell, really.
vs 9
So God does in fact punish the children for the sin of the parents. Makes being a parent that much more a responsibility, doesn't it? God wants to make it clear just how much he does not like idolatry.
vs 10
He certainly knows how to use hyperbole. Look at how much his love outbalances his punishment!
vs 11
The NIV and TNIV have done a sterling job here. What a great way to translate "take in vain." What does that even mean? But misusing someone's name, that makes more sense. Of course, misuse doesn't exactly mean don't use. The paranoia of Judaism in that respect is beaten only by its legalism. Perhaps at the beginning it was a noble intention, but it still legalistic and aescetic.
So here we go. Moses is about to embark on the recounting of the law. It's not exactly the same as in Exodus. But this is a different time, and a different audience too. Their job is to learn and remember these laws, because these are the laws they are to follow in the land.
vs 2
Even if most of you weren't there to see it.
vs 3
Why does he say this? Well, you might be of the opinion that it was only fighting men that died, and so there's plenty of old women and kids etc from the last generation who are hearing this message. Fair enough. But I would say that the promise was made to all those living, because it is the living that are going to enter the land. God didn't give the law to Abraham or Joseph - they weren't living in the land. Not as a nation, anyway.
vs 4
Or at least face-to-fiery mountain. Or at least ancestors-to-fiery mountain.
vs 5
Or at least anscestors-to-Moses-to-fiery mountain. I don't actually blame them for being scared. It's a pretty scary thing. Not just the fiery mountain, but that God is sitting up there looking down on you, all righteous and perfect.
vs 6
God is judged not by a name, but by who he is and what he does. He brought them out of Egypt and slavery. He takes the credit for that, and it must be given him.
vs 7
I prefer 'besides', but really 'but' is what you want to hear in our age, I think. Or at least 'except'. The thing is, you work yourself into a bit of a grammatical bind because the word 'other' already suggests that there is at least one. So then 'but' or 'except' sound weird.
vs 8
This command lasted all of about 40 days. Or less. Hard to tell, really.
vs 9
So God does in fact punish the children for the sin of the parents. Makes being a parent that much more a responsibility, doesn't it? God wants to make it clear just how much he does not like idolatry.
vs 10
He certainly knows how to use hyperbole. Look at how much his love outbalances his punishment!
vs 11
The NIV and TNIV have done a sterling job here. What a great way to translate "take in vain." What does that even mean? But misusing someone's name, that makes more sense. Of course, misuse doesn't exactly mean don't use. The paranoia of Judaism in that respect is beaten only by its legalism. Perhaps at the beginning it was a noble intention, but it still legalistic and aescetic.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 4
vs 41-42
These are the cities of refuge. I had to preach a sermon on these waaay back when I first started preaching. Interesting topic, kinda. Obviously he can't set up the others yet.
vs 43
Especially important information should you ever find yourself travelling back in time and accidently killing someone on the west side of the Jordan. And being able to pretend you're a Jew.
vs 44
Intro to the Law. Sounds like a first year university subject.
vs 45
What exactly is the difference in the Hebrew between a stipulation, a decree, and a law? This is where I really feel like I should get a good lexical commentary based in the NIV. Because the NASB one obviously translates the first word as "testimonies", and then describes it as "the testimony or witness of one or more people. Decree is translated "statute" in the NASB, and they say that is a prescribed task. Law is translated "ordinances" in NASB, and is actually the word "mishpat", which I know! Which is justice, so in this iteration I take it as laws pertaining to criminal offence and the like, to keep justice.
Overall, this could just be a dropping of multiple words to give a fullness of the transferrence - Moses is letting it all out, as it were.
vs 46
It seems pointless, but if it weren't for verses like this, we'd never have context. This book, then, is claiming to record what Moses said at this time in Israel's history. So it is making a historical claim. If you say that the book was written later, you are saying it against this claim.
vs 47
Just in case you'd missed that before. This is a big theme of the early part of the book, it seems, because it gets repeated a lot. For the new generation entering the land, this is their miracles for them to stake their faith in. That's how it seems to me, anyway.
vs 48-49
A less than exciting end to the chapter. But we can hope they've got landmarkings out of their system by the time we get back to it in chapter 5!
These are the cities of refuge. I had to preach a sermon on these waaay back when I first started preaching. Interesting topic, kinda. Obviously he can't set up the others yet.
vs 43
Especially important information should you ever find yourself travelling back in time and accidently killing someone on the west side of the Jordan. And being able to pretend you're a Jew.
vs 44
Intro to the Law. Sounds like a first year university subject.
vs 45
What exactly is the difference in the Hebrew between a stipulation, a decree, and a law? This is where I really feel like I should get a good lexical commentary based in the NIV. Because the NASB one obviously translates the first word as "testimonies", and then describes it as "the testimony or witness of one or more people. Decree is translated "statute" in the NASB, and they say that is a prescribed task. Law is translated "ordinances" in NASB, and is actually the word "mishpat", which I know! Which is justice, so in this iteration I take it as laws pertaining to criminal offence and the like, to keep justice.
Overall, this could just be a dropping of multiple words to give a fullness of the transferrence - Moses is letting it all out, as it were.
vs 46
It seems pointless, but if it weren't for verses like this, we'd never have context. This book, then, is claiming to record what Moses said at this time in Israel's history. So it is making a historical claim. If you say that the book was written later, you are saying it against this claim.
vs 47
Just in case you'd missed that before. This is a big theme of the early part of the book, it seems, because it gets repeated a lot. For the new generation entering the land, this is their miracles for them to stake their faith in. That's how it seems to me, anyway.
vs 48-49
A less than exciting end to the chapter. But we can hope they've got landmarkings out of their system by the time we get back to it in chapter 5!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 4
vs 31
As reasons for believing God go, this one is pretty good, because it is entirely outside of our effect. God is God, and is merciful, and we can't stop him being so, regardless of how crappy we are. However, he does expect from us an attitude of turning toward him.
vs 32
I take it this is in respect of God making a covenant with a people. The importance of this covenant is put up there with the creation itself, which I think we'd all agree was a fairly important step. Moreover, nothing like this has ever happened before. True, God has given land to people, as we have seen, but he did not form a relational bond with them, make promises to them. Now we begin to see the importance which the covenant holds.
vs 33
Does this mean some heard it and died? Perhaps. I guess they couldn't tell us about it afterwards.
vs 34
I bet some of the Israelites are now going, "You know, when you put it like that, all the absolutely incredible and awesome stuff that has happened to us is pretty... incredible and er... awesome, I guess. " It's funny how just stating the obvious is sometimes important. Israel is special. And of course so are Christians - we might not feel as special because the invitation is somewhat wider, but the incarnation is just so much more awesome than a burning bush. So I think we win on that score.
vs 35
Now, does this mean there isn't any other gods? (If it did, it would seem to go against the more prevalent attitudes of the other books of the Bible at this time.) Or is it just saying that no other gods can match God's level? It isn't hugely important, to be honest, because there's plenty of places where we're told God alone is God. It would be interesting if that statement were being made so early.
vs 36
It's an incredible reality even just to think of this happening, and the honour it does them to be a part of it.
vs 37
Just in case, you know, they thought they had something to do with the plagues. "Yep, that hail? That was me."
vs 38
Now, this is something they might have actually conceivably thought was their doing. After all, it was their swords, their manpower, and quite possibly a fair bit of their courage. But it was still God who gave them victory.
vs 39
OK, that is a straight out statement. There is no other Lord of Heaven and Earth. I think we're seeing a monotheist statement here. Which is kind of cool, because certainly before this it's a bit more "all other gods"-y.
vs 40
These commands are for the benefit of Israel. No, I don't mean that following them will protect you from cancer, get your theology out of the gutter. I mean that God has blessed them with this relationship, and set up blessings for them. In my opinion, anything positive that happens to someone while following of these rules, but without a belief and faith in God, is purely coincidental.
As reasons for believing God go, this one is pretty good, because it is entirely outside of our effect. God is God, and is merciful, and we can't stop him being so, regardless of how crappy we are. However, he does expect from us an attitude of turning toward him.
vs 32
I take it this is in respect of God making a covenant with a people. The importance of this covenant is put up there with the creation itself, which I think we'd all agree was a fairly important step. Moreover, nothing like this has ever happened before. True, God has given land to people, as we have seen, but he did not form a relational bond with them, make promises to them. Now we begin to see the importance which the covenant holds.
vs 33
Does this mean some heard it and died? Perhaps. I guess they couldn't tell us about it afterwards.
vs 34
I bet some of the Israelites are now going, "You know, when you put it like that, all the absolutely incredible and awesome stuff that has happened to us is pretty... incredible and er... awesome, I guess. " It's funny how just stating the obvious is sometimes important. Israel is special. And of course so are Christians - we might not feel as special because the invitation is somewhat wider, but the incarnation is just so much more awesome than a burning bush. So I think we win on that score.
vs 35
Now, does this mean there isn't any other gods? (If it did, it would seem to go against the more prevalent attitudes of the other books of the Bible at this time.) Or is it just saying that no other gods can match God's level? It isn't hugely important, to be honest, because there's plenty of places where we're told God alone is God. It would be interesting if that statement were being made so early.
vs 36
It's an incredible reality even just to think of this happening, and the honour it does them to be a part of it.
vs 37
Just in case, you know, they thought they had something to do with the plagues. "Yep, that hail? That was me."
vs 38
Now, this is something they might have actually conceivably thought was their doing. After all, it was their swords, their manpower, and quite possibly a fair bit of their courage. But it was still God who gave them victory.
vs 39
OK, that is a straight out statement. There is no other Lord of Heaven and Earth. I think we're seeing a monotheist statement here. Which is kind of cool, because certainly before this it's a bit more "all other gods"-y.
vs 40
These commands are for the benefit of Israel. No, I don't mean that following them will protect you from cancer, get your theology out of the gutter. I mean that God has blessed them with this relationship, and set up blessings for them. In my opinion, anything positive that happens to someone while following of these rules, but without a belief and faith in God, is purely coincidental.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 4
vs 21
They say that the more something is repeated in an ancient manuscript, the more important it is. This is at least the third time Moses has mentioned how he is not going into the promised land. This was obviously important, at least to him! But it also stresses that a new age is dawning for Israel. This will become clearer nearer the end of the book, but Israel is going to have to survive a period of time without a great prophet. Sure, Joshua is a fine leader, but not like Moses - not in touch with God quite like Moses. There will yet be prophets to come.
vs 22
Moses wants them to know that it is partly their fault he's not going into the land, but most importantly that they are not going to have him anymore once they enter the land. Israel will have the memory of Moses, and perhaps may be taking the written testimony of Moses, but they won't have Moses.
vs 23
We have been through the idol thing, but here's a little capping comment. Moses is reminding them that they have responsibilities to God regardless of whether Moses is with them or not.
vs 24
I read somewhere that someone didn't like the term 'jealous' and wanted to replace it with 'passionate', like a husband is passionate for his wife. All I can say is that I'm jealous for mine, so I have no problem with God being jealous for his people. He is a consuming fire - there should be nothing left of them to burn with another god, as it were.
vs 25
Moses is taking what we might call the long view. He wants to impress upon them that the laws of God are not just for them, but for the generations to come. God will be just as angry in 3 generations from now.
vs 26
In fact, Moses goes so far as to say the promises of the land are conditional upon the behaviour of God's people while in it. If this is not spoken loudly enough, the blood on their hands should prove it to them - they were a walking punishment for those who currently inhabited the land. It's not that these nations were disobeying God just by living in a particular spot of land. It is that God chose to judge them by wiping them off t he land, and replacing them with Israel.
vs 27
Some people say that this was added post exile, because they can't handle Moses being a prophet, or God even promising to do something before doing it. I'd say this would be a darn scary thing to read in about Jeremiah's time.
vs 28
In other words, they will become like the nations they live amongst, lose their spiritual distinctiveness, and of course make God even more unhappy.
vs 29
God doesn't even suggest that he will totally separate himself from his people. He will wait for them to turn back to him. And when they do, he will be ready for them and will be there for them to find.
vs 30
The sort of past tense situation and the definiteness that Moses puts on this statement is not encouraging. But at least it is a message for those to come - long after this has been forgotten by the people generally. Prophets of later times probably read these verses, and others like thme in Deuteronomy, and saw a great hope here, althoughthey knew that it only came after a great deal of suffering and distance from God. In a way, the work of the pre-exilic prophets, constantly dragging this message of repentance in front of the stone-cold Jews, was probably to make sure they didn't forget it while they were in exile. God has a cool way of setting things up like that.
They say that the more something is repeated in an ancient manuscript, the more important it is. This is at least the third time Moses has mentioned how he is not going into the promised land. This was obviously important, at least to him! But it also stresses that a new age is dawning for Israel. This will become clearer nearer the end of the book, but Israel is going to have to survive a period of time without a great prophet. Sure, Joshua is a fine leader, but not like Moses - not in touch with God quite like Moses. There will yet be prophets to come.
vs 22
Moses wants them to know that it is partly their fault he's not going into the land, but most importantly that they are not going to have him anymore once they enter the land. Israel will have the memory of Moses, and perhaps may be taking the written testimony of Moses, but they won't have Moses.
vs 23
We have been through the idol thing, but here's a little capping comment. Moses is reminding them that they have responsibilities to God regardless of whether Moses is with them or not.
vs 24
I read somewhere that someone didn't like the term 'jealous' and wanted to replace it with 'passionate', like a husband is passionate for his wife. All I can say is that I'm jealous for mine, so I have no problem with God being jealous for his people. He is a consuming fire - there should be nothing left of them to burn with another god, as it were.
vs 25
Moses is taking what we might call the long view. He wants to impress upon them that the laws of God are not just for them, but for the generations to come. God will be just as angry in 3 generations from now.
vs 26
In fact, Moses goes so far as to say the promises of the land are conditional upon the behaviour of God's people while in it. If this is not spoken loudly enough, the blood on their hands should prove it to them - they were a walking punishment for those who currently inhabited the land. It's not that these nations were disobeying God just by living in a particular spot of land. It is that God chose to judge them by wiping them off t he land, and replacing them with Israel.
vs 27
Some people say that this was added post exile, because they can't handle Moses being a prophet, or God even promising to do something before doing it. I'd say this would be a darn scary thing to read in about Jeremiah's time.
vs 28
In other words, they will become like the nations they live amongst, lose their spiritual distinctiveness, and of course make God even more unhappy.
vs 29
God doesn't even suggest that he will totally separate himself from his people. He will wait for them to turn back to him. And when they do, he will be ready for them and will be there for them to find.
vs 30
The sort of past tense situation and the definiteness that Moses puts on this statement is not encouraging. But at least it is a message for those to come - long after this has been forgotten by the people generally. Prophets of later times probably read these verses, and others like thme in Deuteronomy, and saw a great hope here, althoughthey knew that it only came after a great deal of suffering and distance from God. In a way, the work of the pre-exilic prophets, constantly dragging this message of repentance in front of the stone-cold Jews, was probably to make sure they didn't forget it while they were in exile. God has a cool way of setting things up like that.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 4
vs 11
Again, using a communal historical memory here. Although it could be, (though I've never heard it argued) that those who were already too old to fight didn't die in the desert. In any case, this is certainly a memory they should continue - the fiery mountain where God gave them the commandments.
vs 12
If you've ever wondered if they saw a form, there's your answer. Now we might be somewhat used to this, with loudspeakers and radios and such. But imagine being a copper aged culture, and seeing a mountain on fire and hearing a loud voice. There's no special effects back then.
vs 13
This actually happened to Moses if I recall. But hey, he passed on the memory to them. It's theirs now.
vs 14
Moses has a lot of responsibilities as a leader. Teach them the law and how to obey it, judge between the people, raise up a new leader for them for when he dies, continually remind them of these things. S'lonely at the top, especially since Aaron died, no doubt.
vs 15-18
Because God is formless, they are not to make idols. I don't know how much I could say on all these verses individually. Basically, don't make an idol of anything. Because if you do, it's obviously not God you're worshipping, because you never saw him! Now, what if they made idols of burning bushes or pillars of flame? It does say "any shape" at the beginning, I suppose. But it's interesting that the assumption is that an idol will be made to look like something alive.
vs 19
I find it interesting that reasonable statements are accompanying each of these warnings. Don't worship idols - why? Because you never saw God take a form. Don't worship the heavenly array - why? Because God shares them with everyone, they're not specifically yours.
vs 20
And while God isn't specifically theirs either, they are specifically God's. And that brings with it responsibility in worship.
Again, using a communal historical memory here. Although it could be, (though I've never heard it argued) that those who were already too old to fight didn't die in the desert. In any case, this is certainly a memory they should continue - the fiery mountain where God gave them the commandments.
vs 12
If you've ever wondered if they saw a form, there's your answer. Now we might be somewhat used to this, with loudspeakers and radios and such. But imagine being a copper aged culture, and seeing a mountain on fire and hearing a loud voice. There's no special effects back then.
vs 13
This actually happened to Moses if I recall. But hey, he passed on the memory to them. It's theirs now.
vs 14
Moses has a lot of responsibilities as a leader. Teach them the law and how to obey it, judge between the people, raise up a new leader for them for when he dies, continually remind them of these things. S'lonely at the top, especially since Aaron died, no doubt.
vs 15-18
Because God is formless, they are not to make idols. I don't know how much I could say on all these verses individually. Basically, don't make an idol of anything. Because if you do, it's obviously not God you're worshipping, because you never saw him! Now, what if they made idols of burning bushes or pillars of flame? It does say "any shape" at the beginning, I suppose. But it's interesting that the assumption is that an idol will be made to look like something alive.
vs 19
I find it interesting that reasonable statements are accompanying each of these warnings. Don't worship idols - why? Because you never saw God take a form. Don't worship the heavenly array - why? Because God shares them with everyone, they're not specifically yours.
vs 20
And while God isn't specifically theirs either, they are specifically God's. And that brings with it responsibility in worship.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 4
vs 1
Because that is the deal. Obedience has its reward, in this case. I guess you could make an argument that the wisdom of following God's commands will make your lives better... but I don't buy it.
vs 2
Do not subtract is an obvious rule - I mean, paring away rules because you think they're not worth keeping is not really in the spirit of a code of laws.
It's the "do not add" that is interesting. Usually, the idea of adding laws to a system for the sake of keeping up with the times and so on would be looked upon as a good thing. But these are God's laws. To add to them would be to indicate some sort of lacking in them.
Does that mean that no other system of rules could be built up? I don't know. But it would make sense if the rule was "Don't add laws to this set of laws, saying that they are also God's laws."
vs 3
If your memory of Numbers is a bit weak, Numbers 25 is what you're looking for here - It's the 23000 that Paul refers to, that Moses calls 24000.
vs 4
God doesn't have civilian casualties or collateral damage. If they ever invent a weapon that can do that, they should call it the God Bomb.
vs 5
Because the deal is that the land they are being given is part of their covenant. Of course, when they lose the land, the covenant relationship between them and God still stands - just as it stands before they enter the land.
vs 6
Part of the reason they were to follow these laws was as a testimony to the other countries around them. That outward focus is never lost by God. It also shows that God's bloodthirsty decree to kill a bunch of nations is not universal - those nations got what they deserved - the others are allowed to sit and watch Israel and learn from their wisdom - assuming they ever get any.
vs 7
That verse just doesn't say "Because their gods don't exist, that's why!" It doesn't go that far. It's a curious and interesting thing to look at - the development of Israel's understanding of other gods and their existence or non. The point being here, though, that even if there are other gods, they suck compared to God, because God is close to Israel and is awesome to them.
vs 8
Well, Babylon probably had Hammurabi's code of laws by now. But are they as righteous as these ones? Hell no. These ones are downright gracious and compassionate by comparison.
vs 9
That's not just the giving of laws, or the 10 plagues (which most of them wouldn't have seen - that generation died in the desert). It's the battles with the two nations which they defeated resoundingly, and the fact that they are now here where God promised they would be. God puts the onus on remembering these things and keeping them remembered on the people.
vs 10
Now, when we did Deuteronomy at bible study, I asked a question about this verse, because as I said, most of them weren't alive at that point, or probably wouldn't remember it. But we came to another verse which made it clear that it was talking about remembering as the people of God. They were there, because they are the people of God - not because they were necessarily actually there. This is the view of history in the eastern world. They see it as a living, happening thing. It's something we lost in the west, I have no idea when. But I saw it when I was attending a conference of middle eastern Christian leaders - that's how they talked about history. It was alive for them, real. Worth remembering.
Because that is the deal. Obedience has its reward, in this case. I guess you could make an argument that the wisdom of following God's commands will make your lives better... but I don't buy it.
vs 2
Do not subtract is an obvious rule - I mean, paring away rules because you think they're not worth keeping is not really in the spirit of a code of laws.
It's the "do not add" that is interesting. Usually, the idea of adding laws to a system for the sake of keeping up with the times and so on would be looked upon as a good thing. But these are God's laws. To add to them would be to indicate some sort of lacking in them.
Does that mean that no other system of rules could be built up? I don't know. But it would make sense if the rule was "Don't add laws to this set of laws, saying that they are also God's laws."
vs 3
If your memory of Numbers is a bit weak, Numbers 25 is what you're looking for here - It's the 23000 that Paul refers to, that Moses calls 24000.
vs 4
God doesn't have civilian casualties or collateral damage. If they ever invent a weapon that can do that, they should call it the God Bomb.
vs 5
Because the deal is that the land they are being given is part of their covenant. Of course, when they lose the land, the covenant relationship between them and God still stands - just as it stands before they enter the land.
vs 6
Part of the reason they were to follow these laws was as a testimony to the other countries around them. That outward focus is never lost by God. It also shows that God's bloodthirsty decree to kill a bunch of nations is not universal - those nations got what they deserved - the others are allowed to sit and watch Israel and learn from their wisdom - assuming they ever get any.
vs 7
That verse just doesn't say "Because their gods don't exist, that's why!" It doesn't go that far. It's a curious and interesting thing to look at - the development of Israel's understanding of other gods and their existence or non. The point being here, though, that even if there are other gods, they suck compared to God, because God is close to Israel and is awesome to them.
vs 8
Well, Babylon probably had Hammurabi's code of laws by now. But are they as righteous as these ones? Hell no. These ones are downright gracious and compassionate by comparison.
vs 9
That's not just the giving of laws, or the 10 plagues (which most of them wouldn't have seen - that generation died in the desert). It's the battles with the two nations which they defeated resoundingly, and the fact that they are now here where God promised they would be. God puts the onus on remembering these things and keeping them remembered on the people.
vs 10
Now, when we did Deuteronomy at bible study, I asked a question about this verse, because as I said, most of them weren't alive at that point, or probably wouldn't remember it. But we came to another verse which made it clear that it was talking about remembering as the people of God. They were there, because they are the people of God - not because they were necessarily actually there. This is the view of history in the eastern world. They see it as a living, happening thing. It's something we lost in the west, I have no idea when. But I saw it when I was attending a conference of middle eastern Christian leaders - that's how they talked about history. It was alive for them, real. Worth remembering.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 3
vs 21
Here Moses is reminding Joshua, who is one of the righteous fellows that came back from spying, to remember what God has just done to these two kings, the victories that God has given his people. Such things are worth remembering. All too easily we can forget the victories God gives us in our own lives. Like when I first got my job with AMT, or Dave just getting his job with CMS. These are things that get prayed for, and we acknowledge them as gifts from God at the time, but then we forget that, and fall back into doubt. Or even if we don't doubt, we tend to look forward for God to do something, and forget to look back on what he has already done with thankfulness.
vs 22
Looking back at God's track record is important. It is, in fact, quite possibly the main reason we have the Bible in the form it's in - because it shows God's faithfulness.
vs 23
Poor Moses. It's coming to brass tacks now. But even then, he's sharing this with the people. He could have kept it to himself (possibly) but he doesn't, because it is part of the history. We as preachers have to remember that sometimes we need to tell the bad stories as well as the good stories. People learn from our mistakes as much as from our successes.
This is yet another reason that I think sometimes God sets us up to 'fail' in a worldly sense. We learn from failure.
vs 24
Begun? So the plagues were a matinee? I guess it could be that he's lumping all the stuff God has done together, but context would suggest he's really referring to the recent combat successes.
vs 25
I do feel for Moses. He is the absolute picture of the life of most people of faith - who live their whole lives aiming towards a goal, and yet never see it fulfilled in their lifetime. Abraham never saw his people living in the promised land. Joseph left his people in Egypt. Moses marched his people to the river, and never got to cross.
But here's an interesting question: if Israel only had a land-based hope, for the Promised land, and Moses was told "You will never enter it," then why did he continue to obey God after that?
Don't fire your slings and arrows just yet. I know that God is worthy of glory and honour and worship and obedience merely for being God. But it's God who set up the covenant of obedience=reward (in the old and the new) so if you say there's something wrong with that, you can take it to him.
Possibly it is just a communal mindedness - sure, Moses won't get in, but his family will, his tribe will, his nation will, and so even though there's nothing in it for him, he still selflessly does the job that is his as leader of the people.
But possibly it's because he knew there was more to it than that, and that his relationship with God for him was not just an earthly thing - he knew that, though God might punish him on earth, there was something waiting for him afterward. If so, where did he learn this? Hard to say. I know people will point to Enoch, but come on, it's pretty vague. Building an entire eschatological theology on that one verse is somewhat rich.
vs 26
And so for Moses the door is forever shut. He never gets to set foot on the promised land. Moses still puts part of the blame at least on Israel.
vs 27
He gets to go to the tourist lookout on top of the mountain, and that's it. He was old, how much did he see? Regardless, that's it for him.
vs 28
God has already moved on to Joshua as leader. Perhaps It was Joshua that was recording all this, for all we know. Moses knows it, but he still has a fair bit to say to Israel. And he also has to encourage and strengthen Joshua - that's his new job.
You know the old saying, "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." I feel a bit like that. I must admit I am surprised that my path has taken me to study teaching. The idea of being a stepping stone in someone else's life is somewhat depressing sometimes. Which is why you can't look at education as a means to an end when you are an educator, I guess. You have to look at it as an end in itself.
vs 29
And then what happpened? Now, finally, we get to the interesting Deuteronomy stuff.
Here Moses is reminding Joshua, who is one of the righteous fellows that came back from spying, to remember what God has just done to these two kings, the victories that God has given his people. Such things are worth remembering. All too easily we can forget the victories God gives us in our own lives. Like when I first got my job with AMT, or Dave just getting his job with CMS. These are things that get prayed for, and we acknowledge them as gifts from God at the time, but then we forget that, and fall back into doubt. Or even if we don't doubt, we tend to look forward for God to do something, and forget to look back on what he has already done with thankfulness.
vs 22
Looking back at God's track record is important. It is, in fact, quite possibly the main reason we have the Bible in the form it's in - because it shows God's faithfulness.
vs 23
Poor Moses. It's coming to brass tacks now. But even then, he's sharing this with the people. He could have kept it to himself (possibly) but he doesn't, because it is part of the history. We as preachers have to remember that sometimes we need to tell the bad stories as well as the good stories. People learn from our mistakes as much as from our successes.
This is yet another reason that I think sometimes God sets us up to 'fail' in a worldly sense. We learn from failure.
vs 24
Begun? So the plagues were a matinee? I guess it could be that he's lumping all the stuff God has done together, but context would suggest he's really referring to the recent combat successes.
vs 25
I do feel for Moses. He is the absolute picture of the life of most people of faith - who live their whole lives aiming towards a goal, and yet never see it fulfilled in their lifetime. Abraham never saw his people living in the promised land. Joseph left his people in Egypt. Moses marched his people to the river, and never got to cross.
But here's an interesting question: if Israel only had a land-based hope, for the Promised land, and Moses was told "You will never enter it," then why did he continue to obey God after that?
Don't fire your slings and arrows just yet. I know that God is worthy of glory and honour and worship and obedience merely for being God. But it's God who set up the covenant of obedience=reward (in the old and the new) so if you say there's something wrong with that, you can take it to him.
Possibly it is just a communal mindedness - sure, Moses won't get in, but his family will, his tribe will, his nation will, and so even though there's nothing in it for him, he still selflessly does the job that is his as leader of the people.
But possibly it's because he knew there was more to it than that, and that his relationship with God for him was not just an earthly thing - he knew that, though God might punish him on earth, there was something waiting for him afterward. If so, where did he learn this? Hard to say. I know people will point to Enoch, but come on, it's pretty vague. Building an entire eschatological theology on that one verse is somewhat rich.
vs 26
And so for Moses the door is forever shut. He never gets to set foot on the promised land. Moses still puts part of the blame at least on Israel.
vs 27
He gets to go to the tourist lookout on top of the mountain, and that's it. He was old, how much did he see? Regardless, that's it for him.
vs 28
God has already moved on to Joshua as leader. Perhaps It was Joshua that was recording all this, for all we know. Moses knows it, but he still has a fair bit to say to Israel. And he also has to encourage and strengthen Joshua - that's his new job.
You know the old saying, "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." I feel a bit like that. I must admit I am surprised that my path has taken me to study teaching. The idea of being a stepping stone in someone else's life is somewhat depressing sometimes. Which is why you can't look at education as a means to an end when you are an educator, I guess. You have to look at it as an end in itself.
vs 29
And then what happpened? Now, finally, we get to the interesting Deuteronomy stuff.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 3
vs 11
Now that would have been a sight. What a shame we don't still have it. I bet the British Museum would invade Syria if they had this bed.
vs 12
Two tribes already had decided to settle down. They weren't wanting to get out of the fighting. They were just happy with this land. And God had given this land to Israel, apparently, so there's no problem with that. They were still prepared to go fight on the other side of the Jordan.
vs 13
We've been through this whole Rephaite thing. But the half tribe of Manasseh is also settling down on this side. So that's two and a half tribes - almost 25% of the Jews, if they're divided equally.
vs 14
This is probably as much an explanation for historic purposes for Israel, so they knew why a bit of the land was called Jair, and that it was a Hebrew name.
vs 15
Yay Makir! A whole verse to you!
vs 16
Hasn't he said as much just a verse or so ago?
vs 17
Ok, so it might seem like this section is somewhat of a writeoff. But what it does do is draw the borders up for people, not only as a historical record, but for those at the time. They could look at these borders and see "Ahh, yes, those are our borders. See, we've got it written down."
vs 18
As much as I'd be glad to help out my tribal buddies, being put at the front line in ancient warfare is not really my idea of a fun time. But it's the price they pay for their families getting to settle down first. And besides, who cares who's up the front of God is on your side, right? Right?
vs 19
And hey, when they come back from all their warmaking, they'll have homes and stuff set up already by their wives and children.
vs 20
They are taking it quite on faith, then - marching at the front, and leaving their wives and kids behind. And they'll be gone until everyone else has peace. Which, you know, doesn't happen until David. But I assume they go back before then.
Now that would have been a sight. What a shame we don't still have it. I bet the British Museum would invade Syria if they had this bed.
vs 12
Two tribes already had decided to settle down. They weren't wanting to get out of the fighting. They were just happy with this land. And God had given this land to Israel, apparently, so there's no problem with that. They were still prepared to go fight on the other side of the Jordan.
vs 13
We've been through this whole Rephaite thing. But the half tribe of Manasseh is also settling down on this side. So that's two and a half tribes - almost 25% of the Jews, if they're divided equally.
vs 14
This is probably as much an explanation for historic purposes for Israel, so they knew why a bit of the land was called Jair, and that it was a Hebrew name.
vs 15
Yay Makir! A whole verse to you!
vs 16
Hasn't he said as much just a verse or so ago?
vs 17
Ok, so it might seem like this section is somewhat of a writeoff. But what it does do is draw the borders up for people, not only as a historical record, but for those at the time. They could look at these borders and see "Ahh, yes, those are our borders. See, we've got it written down."
vs 18
As much as I'd be glad to help out my tribal buddies, being put at the front line in ancient warfare is not really my idea of a fun time. But it's the price they pay for their families getting to settle down first. And besides, who cares who's up the front of God is on your side, right? Right?
vs 19
And hey, when they come back from all their warmaking, they'll have homes and stuff set up already by their wives and children.
vs 20
They are taking it quite on faith, then - marching at the front, and leaving their wives and kids behind. And they'll be gone until everyone else has peace. Which, you know, doesn't happen until David. But I assume they go back before then.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 3
Argh! 1 hour to load up Mozilla. An hour! I want my computer back!
vs 1
Ok, so this is a little more understandable. I mean, Israel has just marched through Sihon's lands, killed everyone, taken their cattle, and now are headed towards Og's house. You don't wait to shake hands and see if they want to come over for dinner.
I aspire to one day be like Og. Not to be king, or to act as he acted. I just want to be able to pull off a two letter name like Og.
vs 2
God has lined up Og for the same smashing that Sihon just suffered. If only he knew.
It's like that parable Jesus tells of a man who realises an army is headed for his army. Sure, you might be able to defeat them, you might not - but why not send out an emissary and work out peace before they get there?
vs 3
Another nation turned to dust by Israel. And it won't be the last.
vs 4
Sixty cities. How many people to do you want to say live in a city, 100,000? 600,000 people killed - minus those who fled elsewhere, I suppose.
vs 5
Yes, we forget the villages. Of course, most people in a village would flee to the walled city if an army were coming.
vs 6
Often by fire. That's fine when you're talking about a grain offering. Hell, I can handle it when it's thousands of cattle. But hundreds of thousands of people... that is just a taste of what the end of the world is going to be like. Not just the death in swathes. I mean at the end, when there's judgment. Even if every single person alive today converted to Christianity and Jesus came back tomorrow, there would still be billions of billions of people who have lived who will get to that judgment seat and suffer a fate worse than having Israel invade your land.
vs 7
I guess this was the way God chose to resupply his people on their way to the promised land. I bet they liked it too - not the killing, per se, but the drying up of manna and quail.
vs 8
This represents the bit of Israel on the east side of the Jordan.
vs 9
Yes, of course. But we already knew that.
I wonder who exactly that is written for. I mean, not for me - I couldn't care less. For those Israelites who would read it in the times to come I suppose.
vs 10
Again, I just nod. I can go get the Bible atlas and see how much land it was in terms of square kilometres if I want, but it's not really speaking loud to me. I'm sure it means a lot to those tribe and half tribe of people who lived there afterwards though.
vs 1
Ok, so this is a little more understandable. I mean, Israel has just marched through Sihon's lands, killed everyone, taken their cattle, and now are headed towards Og's house. You don't wait to shake hands and see if they want to come over for dinner.
I aspire to one day be like Og. Not to be king, or to act as he acted. I just want to be able to pull off a two letter name like Og.
vs 2
God has lined up Og for the same smashing that Sihon just suffered. If only he knew.
It's like that parable Jesus tells of a man who realises an army is headed for his army. Sure, you might be able to defeat them, you might not - but why not send out an emissary and work out peace before they get there?
vs 3
Another nation turned to dust by Israel. And it won't be the last.
vs 4
Sixty cities. How many people to do you want to say live in a city, 100,000? 600,000 people killed - minus those who fled elsewhere, I suppose.
vs 5
Yes, we forget the villages. Of course, most people in a village would flee to the walled city if an army were coming.
vs 6
Often by fire. That's fine when you're talking about a grain offering. Hell, I can handle it when it's thousands of cattle. But hundreds of thousands of people... that is just a taste of what the end of the world is going to be like. Not just the death in swathes. I mean at the end, when there's judgment. Even if every single person alive today converted to Christianity and Jesus came back tomorrow, there would still be billions of billions of people who have lived who will get to that judgment seat and suffer a fate worse than having Israel invade your land.
vs 7
I guess this was the way God chose to resupply his people on their way to the promised land. I bet they liked it too - not the killing, per se, but the drying up of manna and quail.
vs 8
This represents the bit of Israel on the east side of the Jordan.
vs 9
Yes, of course. But we already knew that.
I wonder who exactly that is written for. I mean, not for me - I couldn't care less. For those Israelites who would read it in the times to come I suppose.
vs 10
Again, I just nod. I can go get the Bible atlas and see how much land it was in terms of square kilometres if I want, but it's not really speaking loud to me. I'm sure it means a lot to those tribe and half tribe of people who lived there afterwards though.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 2
vs 28
Hell, they could even make some money off of having Jews go through their country. How many countries can say that? (yes, I'm going to hell for that one)
vs 29
They even passed through two other countries already - what more glowing a CV do you want than that? Doesn't that speak for them, that they didn't loot the last countries?
vs 30
Just like a mini Pharaoh, Sihon was wicked, and God decided that Israel was going to be his judgment tool against him. Why else decide not to let them pass?
vs 31
Having an enemy king declare war on you doesn't exactly look like them being handed over into your hands. But it's God's first step. And if God is with you, what more do you want? Israel had its orders to march. Remember this is all past tense - stuff that's led them to where they are now.
vs 32
His whole army. Uh oh. Oh oh for him, anyway.
vs 33
He sure got learned. Whole army gone. Sons gone. Him gone.
vs 34
Even though you know that God was judging these towns, I still find them hard. I mean, every kid, every woman. That's a lot of death. And even if God had just struck them down himself, like the angel in Egypt, that's one thing. But sending your godly people to go and slaughter them, that seems harsh to me.
I'm not questioning God or anything like that. But I wouldn't be happy if God told me part of his covenantal promise to me was that I had to go invade New Zealand and kill a bunch of children.
vs 35
I think at this point that was allowed. I'm too lazy to check.
vs 36
That's a lot of towns. And a fair amount of area.
vs 37
And they kept to the rules. Three cheers for Israel. Huzzah!
Hell, they could even make some money off of having Jews go through their country. How many countries can say that? (yes, I'm going to hell for that one)
vs 29
They even passed through two other countries already - what more glowing a CV do you want than that? Doesn't that speak for them, that they didn't loot the last countries?
vs 30
Just like a mini Pharaoh, Sihon was wicked, and God decided that Israel was going to be his judgment tool against him. Why else decide not to let them pass?
vs 31
Having an enemy king declare war on you doesn't exactly look like them being handed over into your hands. But it's God's first step. And if God is with you, what more do you want? Israel had its orders to march. Remember this is all past tense - stuff that's led them to where they are now.
vs 32
His whole army. Uh oh. Oh oh for him, anyway.
vs 33
He sure got learned. Whole army gone. Sons gone. Him gone.
vs 34
Even though you know that God was judging these towns, I still find them hard. I mean, every kid, every woman. That's a lot of death. And even if God had just struck them down himself, like the angel in Egypt, that's one thing. But sending your godly people to go and slaughter them, that seems harsh to me.
I'm not questioning God or anything like that. But I wouldn't be happy if God told me part of his covenantal promise to me was that I had to go invade New Zealand and kill a bunch of children.
vs 35
I think at this point that was allowed. I'm too lazy to check.
vs 36
That's a lot of towns. And a fair amount of area.
vs 37
And they kept to the rules. Three cheers for Israel. Huzzah!
Friday, February 06, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 2
vs 19
The same message again. Don't be greedy for other people's land (that would be covetous), but instead look forward to the land God has specifically promised! That, though, requires faith that God has promised something good for you, that it will be at least as good as that he's given to others, and that it will be specifically what you need.
vs 20
Again, obviously a superior force had to be conquered to take this land. Also, they were called Zamzummites, which is an awesome name. It sounds made up :P
vs 21
These verses never really meant anything to me before. But God is obviously saying (without saying, merely by doing, and the doing is enough that Israel knew it had been done), "Look! I supplied a land for Esau. I supplied a land for Lot. Both of them had giant people in them that were scary and nasty. But I still gave the land to them. Yes, they probably had to fight for it, like you will for yours, but look now - they've got it!" So it was God working in the history of nations to show an example to Israel, who were about to go through the exact same process, and who had the exact same fears. I mean, exactly the same!
vs 22-23
Same thing again, and then the Caphtorites are mentioned - whoever they are. I won't even go into the irony of the mentioning of Gaza here.
vs 24
The first battle lines are being drawn (well, actually, all this has happened - but in Moses' quick recap of the Exodus and such, this is where we're up to). Sihon, king of Heshbon, is the first to fall to Israel. The battle will be fought and won before real possession can take place - and true possession of the land can't really be afforded until battles are being fought on the other side of the Jordan, because those who settle here are going to need to go and fight over there too.
vs 25
God does something that people just can't do. I mean, sure, we can try and cause fear, we can use shock and awe tactics and all the rest of it. But people's hearts are not ours to control (perhaps we could create a fear drug and use it in chemical warfare? I don't know). The point is that God can bring a whole nation to its knees just because he wants to. In fact, it's not just a whim - no doubt these people are getting what they deserve. But God just reaches out, and they're now toast. Note that Israel still needs to get the blood on their hands. God doesn't just make the people disappear in wisps of smoke. I think that's important.
vs 26
Now, this might seem like Moses isn't listening to God. God said, "go to war with them and wipe the suckers out." Moses sends them a greeting card. Is he disobeying God? I don't think so. It's like Moses' dealings with Pharoah. God told him at the start what was going to happen, but Moses still had to go through the motions of asking Pharoah to let his people go. God achieves as much in the acts leading up as in the final acts themsevles.
vs 27
And so Moses starts his letter - a very reasonable one, overall. They'll stay on the roads (that is, not in fields where production is taking place). You might wonder why they don't just go around the nation. Well, it's just not that simple. Humans spread out to take control of as much land as they can. Just imagine you arrived on the shore of Africa, and you needed to get to a landlocked country like CAR. You can't go around all the countries - you're going to have to walk through one of them. There's not big gaps between country borders that are free areas where people can do what they like.
So Moses offers the next best thing - he tries to allay fears, but in a way that still allows him to do God's will - get to the promised land.
The same message again. Don't be greedy for other people's land (that would be covetous), but instead look forward to the land God has specifically promised! That, though, requires faith that God has promised something good for you, that it will be at least as good as that he's given to others, and that it will be specifically what you need.
vs 20
Again, obviously a superior force had to be conquered to take this land. Also, they were called Zamzummites, which is an awesome name. It sounds made up :P
vs 21
These verses never really meant anything to me before. But God is obviously saying (without saying, merely by doing, and the doing is enough that Israel knew it had been done), "Look! I supplied a land for Esau. I supplied a land for Lot. Both of them had giant people in them that were scary and nasty. But I still gave the land to them. Yes, they probably had to fight for it, like you will for yours, but look now - they've got it!" So it was God working in the history of nations to show an example to Israel, who were about to go through the exact same process, and who had the exact same fears. I mean, exactly the same!
vs 22-23
Same thing again, and then the Caphtorites are mentioned - whoever they are. I won't even go into the irony of the mentioning of Gaza here.
vs 24
The first battle lines are being drawn (well, actually, all this has happened - but in Moses' quick recap of the Exodus and such, this is where we're up to). Sihon, king of Heshbon, is the first to fall to Israel. The battle will be fought and won before real possession can take place - and true possession of the land can't really be afforded until battles are being fought on the other side of the Jordan, because those who settle here are going to need to go and fight over there too.
vs 25
God does something that people just can't do. I mean, sure, we can try and cause fear, we can use shock and awe tactics and all the rest of it. But people's hearts are not ours to control (perhaps we could create a fear drug and use it in chemical warfare? I don't know). The point is that God can bring a whole nation to its knees just because he wants to. In fact, it's not just a whim - no doubt these people are getting what they deserve. But God just reaches out, and they're now toast. Note that Israel still needs to get the blood on their hands. God doesn't just make the people disappear in wisps of smoke. I think that's important.
vs 26
Now, this might seem like Moses isn't listening to God. God said, "go to war with them and wipe the suckers out." Moses sends them a greeting card. Is he disobeying God? I don't think so. It's like Moses' dealings with Pharoah. God told him at the start what was going to happen, but Moses still had to go through the motions of asking Pharoah to let his people go. God achieves as much in the acts leading up as in the final acts themsevles.
vs 27
And so Moses starts his letter - a very reasonable one, overall. They'll stay on the roads (that is, not in fields where production is taking place). You might wonder why they don't just go around the nation. Well, it's just not that simple. Humans spread out to take control of as much land as they can. Just imagine you arrived on the shore of Africa, and you needed to get to a landlocked country like CAR. You can't go around all the countries - you're going to have to walk through one of them. There's not big gaps between country borders that are free areas where people can do what they like.
So Moses offers the next best thing - he tries to allay fears, but in a way that still allows him to do God's will - get to the promised land.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 2
vs 10
That's important to know. I know it is. I just don't know why. The Anakites, if you forget, are a race of giant scary people.
vs 11
Uh.... yeah... the concept is simple enough. They called them something different, but considered them the same.
vs 12
And this is the point. The point is not about what the Horites, or the Anakites, or the Emites are like. The point is that Horites lived in Seir, and yet the descendents of Esau drove them out. Emites lived in Ar, but the Moabites drove them out. They both did this for the land that God gave them. Now, the mighty Anakite type people who live in the Promised Land need to be driven out. And they will be - because if God helped Esau and Moab to drive out the ones of their land, why wouldn't he help his special people, Israel?
vs 13
Hooray! God said something, and they did it!
vs 14
God killed them off with the plague of time. They made that decision - they could have died young in battle (or at least risked it), but they were too afraid. But now, in crossing the Zered, they were freeing themselves of that generation.
vs 15
I don't know exactly how he showed this - I mean, he still fed them, clothed them, and kept them safe in the desert (well, more or less - there were plagues and snakes and stuff). Perhaps that is all summarised in this verse?
vs 16
We have well and truly established this.
vs 17
So, whoever did the verse markings for Deuteronomy really thought that "The Lord said" was a verse all on its own. This is the second time.
vs 18
And yes, we've covered this. We've spent about nine verses now covering what was really a tangent. We're finally back to where we started.
That's important to know. I know it is. I just don't know why. The Anakites, if you forget, are a race of giant scary people.
vs 11
Uh.... yeah... the concept is simple enough. They called them something different, but considered them the same.
vs 12
And this is the point. The point is not about what the Horites, or the Anakites, or the Emites are like. The point is that Horites lived in Seir, and yet the descendents of Esau drove them out. Emites lived in Ar, but the Moabites drove them out. They both did this for the land that God gave them. Now, the mighty Anakite type people who live in the Promised Land need to be driven out. And they will be - because if God helped Esau and Moab to drive out the ones of their land, why wouldn't he help his special people, Israel?
vs 13
Hooray! God said something, and they did it!
vs 14
God killed them off with the plague of time. They made that decision - they could have died young in battle (or at least risked it), but they were too afraid. But now, in crossing the Zered, they were freeing themselves of that generation.
vs 15
I don't know exactly how he showed this - I mean, he still fed them, clothed them, and kept them safe in the desert (well, more or less - there were plagues and snakes and stuff). Perhaps that is all summarised in this verse?
vs 16
We have well and truly established this.
vs 17
So, whoever did the verse markings for Deuteronomy really thought that "The Lord said" was a verse all on its own. This is the second time.
vs 18
And yes, we've covered this. We've spent about nine verses now covering what was really a tangent. We're finally back to where we started.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 2
vs 1
It was a long time. A very long time.
vs 2
Was there no way to moderate these verse numberings a little?
vs 3
Finally! After many moons of wandering, the people can finally start the long (but nothing close to 40 years long) trip to the Promised Land. In fact, after 40 years of wandering, it probably seemed like a doddle.
vs 4
Unfortunately, it wasn't just a matter of a simple eleven day stroll. God has plans even before then. First of all, they are going to be marching through the land of their estranged brethren, the descendents of Esau. It is noted that these people will be afraid of them. That's a mark against them. See, what it means is that they think Israel might try and invade their land. Whilst that might sound like a reasonable sort of thing to think, it means they have no idea what God has planned for the Israelites. Which means they're out of touch with God. That's bad.
vs 5
It's bad because God gave them that land. They should be thankful to God for it, and if they fear God taking it from them, they should ask him about it. Instead, they've got this crazy idea that it's all just some human thing that's going on, a mass migration of sorts. But it's not. It's God's plan.
By the same token, the Israelites have been wandering in the desert for so long they can't remember, and now they're going to go and set foot on better land, and they might think, "This'll do! Why do we have to walk all the way to the Jordan?" But that would be bad for them - because they would also be ignoring God's plan for them.
vs 6
Now who can argue with that? I mean, yes, water is a fairly precious resource in the Middle East, but these people are on some sort of special pilgrimage. Imagine how fondly they would be remembered, "You, Esau, you helped us with food and water when we walked through your land on the way to the land God promised us." What a heartwarming tale.
vs 7
The intimation here is that since God has supplied all your needs, and you have seen that, it's now time to listen to him and to do as he says. Give it a go. It might even work!
vs 8
Sounds like a happy Sunday drive, just with over a million people in the back seat.
vs 9
Again, war is not to be waged here. This is the land of Lot's descendents. It's funny that Esau (Jacob's brother) got his land, and even Lot (Abraham's nephew) got a land of his own, but the promise of God that flowed down through Abraham to Jacob still has yet to be fulfilled!
It was a long time. A very long time.
vs 2
Was there no way to moderate these verse numberings a little?
vs 3
Finally! After many moons of wandering, the people can finally start the long (but nothing close to 40 years long) trip to the Promised Land. In fact, after 40 years of wandering, it probably seemed like a doddle.
vs 4
Unfortunately, it wasn't just a matter of a simple eleven day stroll. God has plans even before then. First of all, they are going to be marching through the land of their estranged brethren, the descendents of Esau. It is noted that these people will be afraid of them. That's a mark against them. See, what it means is that they think Israel might try and invade their land. Whilst that might sound like a reasonable sort of thing to think, it means they have no idea what God has planned for the Israelites. Which means they're out of touch with God. That's bad.
vs 5
It's bad because God gave them that land. They should be thankful to God for it, and if they fear God taking it from them, they should ask him about it. Instead, they've got this crazy idea that it's all just some human thing that's going on, a mass migration of sorts. But it's not. It's God's plan.
By the same token, the Israelites have been wandering in the desert for so long they can't remember, and now they're going to go and set foot on better land, and they might think, "This'll do! Why do we have to walk all the way to the Jordan?" But that would be bad for them - because they would also be ignoring God's plan for them.
vs 6
Now who can argue with that? I mean, yes, water is a fairly precious resource in the Middle East, but these people are on some sort of special pilgrimage. Imagine how fondly they would be remembered, "You, Esau, you helped us with food and water when we walked through your land on the way to the land God promised us." What a heartwarming tale.
vs 7
The intimation here is that since God has supplied all your needs, and you have seen that, it's now time to listen to him and to do as he says. Give it a go. It might even work!
vs 8
Sounds like a happy Sunday drive, just with over a million people in the back seat.
vs 9
Again, war is not to be waged here. This is the land of Lot's descendents. It's funny that Esau (Jacob's brother) got his land, and even Lot (Abraham's nephew) got a land of his own, but the promise of God that flowed down through Abraham to Jacob still has yet to be fulfilled!
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 1
vs 35
Uh oh. I guess you weren't really expecting God to crack open the can of whupass. After all, he has relented so many times when Israel has boned up (have I mentioned how early in their history this is?), perhaps they think he's a bit soft. But no, now he indiscriminately sets a death penalty on a whole generation of people - the very same generation that witnessed his miraculous dragging of them out of Egypt.
vs 36
I say indiscriminate. Of course, Caleb is left out of the mess. He goes on to become a right old mucker too. So God getting angry and swearing solemnly is great if you are an old codger.
vs 37
Well, is that entirely true, Moses? I mean, was it because of Israel that you disobeyed God? Perhaps. Still, that seems a bit of a stretch. This is one of those verses where my "inspired" sense tells me, "Ben, you have to work out a way that means this verse is gelled with the one that says it's Moses' fault he doesn't get into the Promised Land." But I'm not going to come up with a scheme. Sure, it could be that a portion of blame goes to Israel. I just think this is Moses' swansong, his speech on the edge of a land he'll never get to enter, and so he's probably just a little bit bitter.
vs 38
Again, with every stroke of bad news there's good news - for Joshua, anyway. And it seems only fair - Joshua was the other spy who came with good news and trusted God.
vs 39
Now of course every parent wants what is best for their kids. God just knows the taste of irony. It's a taste he likes. Never let anyone say that God doesn't have a sense of humour, even gallows style ironic humour.
I think people often complain about something affecting their children when they themselves don't like it. Who knows - the kids of the wandering might not have even complained about regular manna and quail. After all, they didn't know anything else. But oh no, the parents pull the classic Christian, "But what about the children? WILL SOMEONE PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!!!!" complete with a number of exclamation marks that is the mark of the truly insane. The kids, then, are fine. It's the parents that get the rough end of the stick.
vs 40
God was basically saying, "Garn, git. Go on ahead without me, if you think you're so smart." What were they going to do, turn around and go back to Egypt?
vs 41
This is the sort of 'repentance without waiting to be forgiven' type attitude that a lot of spiritual people have. They take God as a big fluffy santa that will just forgive you because God is love, like some sort of immense cloud-huggin' hippy. They think, "Even if I did do stuff wrong, God will forgive it because he's loving, so I can just say I'm sorry and get on with it."
vs 42
But you can't. God doesn't like cocksuredness. It just means you're still not listening to him. That's all God wants - is for people to listen to him when he talks and obey him. I mean, is it really that much of an ask? He doesn't want us to go win battles for him. He's perfectly capable of winning his battles. He just wants us to be sincere when we say things like "Sorry for condemning an entire generation to die in the desert."
vs 43
And in a record return to form, Israel ignores God. Again.
vs 44
And once again it doesn't go well for them. They get slapped, big time. People die, and it's just g general chaos and bedlam. Unfortunately, the only message Moses has is, "I told you so." Which might have at least made him feel better.
vs 45
But the experience at least had an impact on Israel. They are actually weeping now, and weeping before God - probably at least partly because their asses hurt so much after being handed to them by Ammorites, but also hopefully at least partly because they recognised what asshats they'd been to God, and they were really, genuinely sorry this time.
Sucks, but sometimes that's the only way we know we've done bad - when we get a caning.
But now it's worse. God won't even listen. He's finished with Israel.
vs 46
So now they're stuck. God isn't going to give them a victory. He's not even going to listen to their weeping. He's letting them stew. Get the full flavour of the idiot meal they've made for themselves. Will he ever come back to them? Find out tomorrow!
Uh oh. I guess you weren't really expecting God to crack open the can of whupass. After all, he has relented so many times when Israel has boned up (have I mentioned how early in their history this is?), perhaps they think he's a bit soft. But no, now he indiscriminately sets a death penalty on a whole generation of people - the very same generation that witnessed his miraculous dragging of them out of Egypt.
vs 36
I say indiscriminate. Of course, Caleb is left out of the mess. He goes on to become a right old mucker too. So God getting angry and swearing solemnly is great if you are an old codger.
vs 37
Well, is that entirely true, Moses? I mean, was it because of Israel that you disobeyed God? Perhaps. Still, that seems a bit of a stretch. This is one of those verses where my "inspired" sense tells me, "Ben, you have to work out a way that means this verse is gelled with the one that says it's Moses' fault he doesn't get into the Promised Land." But I'm not going to come up with a scheme. Sure, it could be that a portion of blame goes to Israel. I just think this is Moses' swansong, his speech on the edge of a land he'll never get to enter, and so he's probably just a little bit bitter.
vs 38
Again, with every stroke of bad news there's good news - for Joshua, anyway. And it seems only fair - Joshua was the other spy who came with good news and trusted God.
vs 39
Now of course every parent wants what is best for their kids. God just knows the taste of irony. It's a taste he likes. Never let anyone say that God doesn't have a sense of humour, even gallows style ironic humour.
I think people often complain about something affecting their children when they themselves don't like it. Who knows - the kids of the wandering might not have even complained about regular manna and quail. After all, they didn't know anything else. But oh no, the parents pull the classic Christian, "But what about the children? WILL SOMEONE PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!!!!" complete with a number of exclamation marks that is the mark of the truly insane. The kids, then, are fine. It's the parents that get the rough end of the stick.
vs 40
God was basically saying, "Garn, git. Go on ahead without me, if you think you're so smart." What were they going to do, turn around and go back to Egypt?
vs 41
This is the sort of 'repentance without waiting to be forgiven' type attitude that a lot of spiritual people have. They take God as a big fluffy santa that will just forgive you because God is love, like some sort of immense cloud-huggin' hippy. They think, "Even if I did do stuff wrong, God will forgive it because he's loving, so I can just say I'm sorry and get on with it."
vs 42
But you can't. God doesn't like cocksuredness. It just means you're still not listening to him. That's all God wants - is for people to listen to him when he talks and obey him. I mean, is it really that much of an ask? He doesn't want us to go win battles for him. He's perfectly capable of winning his battles. He just wants us to be sincere when we say things like "Sorry for condemning an entire generation to die in the desert."
vs 43
And in a record return to form, Israel ignores God. Again.
vs 44
And once again it doesn't go well for them. They get slapped, big time. People die, and it's just g general chaos and bedlam. Unfortunately, the only message Moses has is, "I told you so." Which might have at least made him feel better.
vs 45
But the experience at least had an impact on Israel. They are actually weeping now, and weeping before God - probably at least partly because their asses hurt so much after being handed to them by Ammorites, but also hopefully at least partly because they recognised what asshats they'd been to God, and they were really, genuinely sorry this time.
Sucks, but sometimes that's the only way we know we've done bad - when we get a caning.
But now it's worse. God won't even listen. He's finished with Israel.
vs 46
So now they're stuck. God isn't going to give them a victory. He's not even going to listen to their weeping. He's letting them stew. Get the full flavour of the idiot meal they've made for themselves. Will he ever come back to them? Find out tomorrow!
Monday, February 02, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 1
vs 23
See, there was nothing wrong with this idea - or at least Moses didn't see anything wrong with it. And it had the opportunity to be a great thing - the spies come back saying how great the land was, and everyone goes, "Ooooh, I want to live there," and, "Wow, God is giving us an awesome land."
vs 24
Good to know.
vs 25
See! Good report! That's what you want to hear. Moses is of course being light on with the rest of the report, and is preferring the words of Caleb and Joshua there.
vs 26
See, it wasn't Moses saying, "Right lads, I'm sick of sand in me underpants." God had said that this was to be the appointed time to go. So not going showed a distinct lack of faith in God. Not the happiest memory in the history of this young nation.
vs 27
Yes, of course he did. That's exactly what God's motivation was. I mean, that makes perfect sense.
The problem is, when we don't get what we want, and we start to grumble, we forget how to think about God properly. So we attribute things to God that aren't really fair or theologically accurate.
vs 28
Ahhh yes, those famous Anakites. I'd be shaking in my boots too.
And that's the thing - the report was a scary one. And in worldly circumstances, it would be well and good to be scared. But if God has specifically said, "Do it, and I'll make it go well," then you don't really have a choice.
Actually, that's the problem - you do. All that free will and such. You do have a choice, and by ignoring God you can easily make the wrong one.
vs 29
Moses is instructing them to get back into the right mindset. Fear of something other than God is actually saying that God isn't worth fearing. Of course, we don't see it that way because we're usually too scared to think about it.
vs 30
That's the thing - Israel had seen God do the awesome plagues, the parting of the sea, and the wiping out of Egypt's army. It hasn't been that long since that happened, but people have short memories.
vs 31
That's a nice picture. The thing is, like a child carried by its father, it still whinges about being tired even though it doesn't have to walk.
vs 32
We are not cold, calculating, mechanical, mathematical, logical beings. Even when the truth is pointed out, and we have something explained in reasonable terms, we can still fold our arms and pout. I know, I do it all the time.
vs 33
Even miraculous events aren't enough to break this attitude, because it's an attitude of sin, and it has to be repented of.
vs 34
When God gets angry and solemnly swears something, you know it's not going to be good. You thought there was something to be afraid of before? Well, now there certainly is.
See, there was nothing wrong with this idea - or at least Moses didn't see anything wrong with it. And it had the opportunity to be a great thing - the spies come back saying how great the land was, and everyone goes, "Ooooh, I want to live there," and, "Wow, God is giving us an awesome land."
vs 24
Good to know.
vs 25
See! Good report! That's what you want to hear. Moses is of course being light on with the rest of the report, and is preferring the words of Caleb and Joshua there.
vs 26
See, it wasn't Moses saying, "Right lads, I'm sick of sand in me underpants." God had said that this was to be the appointed time to go. So not going showed a distinct lack of faith in God. Not the happiest memory in the history of this young nation.
vs 27
Yes, of course he did. That's exactly what God's motivation was. I mean, that makes perfect sense.
The problem is, when we don't get what we want, and we start to grumble, we forget how to think about God properly. So we attribute things to God that aren't really fair or theologically accurate.
vs 28
Ahhh yes, those famous Anakites. I'd be shaking in my boots too.
And that's the thing - the report was a scary one. And in worldly circumstances, it would be well and good to be scared. But if God has specifically said, "Do it, and I'll make it go well," then you don't really have a choice.
Actually, that's the problem - you do. All that free will and such. You do have a choice, and by ignoring God you can easily make the wrong one.
vs 29
Moses is instructing them to get back into the right mindset. Fear of something other than God is actually saying that God isn't worth fearing. Of course, we don't see it that way because we're usually too scared to think about it.
vs 30
That's the thing - Israel had seen God do the awesome plagues, the parting of the sea, and the wiping out of Egypt's army. It hasn't been that long since that happened, but people have short memories.
vs 31
That's a nice picture. The thing is, like a child carried by its father, it still whinges about being tired even though it doesn't have to walk.
vs 32
We are not cold, calculating, mechanical, mathematical, logical beings. Even when the truth is pointed out, and we have something explained in reasonable terms, we can still fold our arms and pout. I know, I do it all the time.
vs 33
Even miraculous events aren't enough to break this attitude, because it's an attitude of sin, and it has to be repented of.
vs 34
When God gets angry and solemnly swears something, you know it's not going to be good. You thought there was something to be afraid of before? Well, now there certainly is.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Deuteronomy chapter 1
vs 12
As I said, Moses wasn't against God's blessing, but he did recognise that it was preventing him from being able to do his job.
vs 13
And so, Moses delegates responsibility - using a mix of democracy and ordination to choose those who will serve in the roles of leaders. It's funny, people always say that there's no democracy in the Bible. Here it is right here - Moses tells the people to choose leaders from amongst themselves, and he will invest power into them.
I'll remember that.
vs 14
And there you go - the democratic method obviously wasn't anathema to the culture, because the people say, "OK."
vs 15
So these were both military positions (the commanders of numbers are generally read that way) and also official administrative positions or representative positions - the other term is a little vague. Anyway, we know what the point of the exercise was - to reduce the workload of Moses as leader, most probably mainly as a judge.
vs 16
There, see, judges.
Now, while it sounds all fair and equitable, there's nothing saying that a foreigner has to be treated equally - fairly for a foreigner might mean less recompense than for an Israelite. But then, that they get any sort of consideration at all is probably better than what other nations did. The key in these things is to see a progression of rights to such people. Does it happen? Well, not by any initiative of Israel as far as I can see.
vs 17
So the judgments are to be just, and even over small things ("He kicked my dog!"). Interestingly, it would seem that Moses does have a wisdom greater than the average tribal official, because he is the final arbiter over difficult cases. Perhaps he's no more wise, but sometimes you just need a final outcome that people can't appeal. I don't think that's the vibe of the passage, but it's possible I guess.
vs 18
So Moses also trained these leaders in their positions. It's funny how we miss simple little things like that when it comes to thinking how to do our own things in places like church.
Anyway, I hope I'm not over-analysing all this. After all, this is just Moses' way of capping off all the stuff that has happened so far. We could return to the more in depth detailed versions if we wanted.
vs 19
It's easy to make big important decisions about the fate of a nation when God tells you what to do.
I don't want that to sound too flippant, but I think we all know that none of us hears voices from the sky. It doesn't mean we can't wait on God to reveal a truth or wisdom to us - and that requires patience and a real desire to hear from God on the subject. But sometimes God just does make his will really easily and openly known. Those times, it is easy, to know it at least.
vs 20
This is a pre-war speech. Reaching country they are to claim. Just imagine what it would have felt like for Israel to be standing there staring out at land that is previously occupied, that they will have to take from people who don't want to give it up. It makes my stomach queasy.
vs 21
So obviously fear and discouragement were natural feelings at this point. But it's either follow God's word or don't. And thankfully, for Israel, God had given them a leader they could follow, who would prod them and remind them of what God said and what their responsibilities were.
vs 22
It might be a delaying tactic, or it might be a show of fear. But it's also prudent, and there's no lack of faith in being wise and prudent and patient.
It's difficult for us to make easy value judgments on these actions - so much of the OT narrative is not editorialised, and is instead left there for us to read. We're meant to know what to feel when we read it. The problem is that over 3000 years of culture is dividing us from the norms of the time, so we have to work hard at it. Just making pat decisions and judgments is irresponsible.
As I said, Moses wasn't against God's blessing, but he did recognise that it was preventing him from being able to do his job.
vs 13
And so, Moses delegates responsibility - using a mix of democracy and ordination to choose those who will serve in the roles of leaders. It's funny, people always say that there's no democracy in the Bible. Here it is right here - Moses tells the people to choose leaders from amongst themselves, and he will invest power into them.
I'll remember that.
vs 14
And there you go - the democratic method obviously wasn't anathema to the culture, because the people say, "OK."
vs 15
So these were both military positions (the commanders of numbers are generally read that way) and also official administrative positions or representative positions - the other term is a little vague. Anyway, we know what the point of the exercise was - to reduce the workload of Moses as leader, most probably mainly as a judge.
vs 16
There, see, judges.
Now, while it sounds all fair and equitable, there's nothing saying that a foreigner has to be treated equally - fairly for a foreigner might mean less recompense than for an Israelite. But then, that they get any sort of consideration at all is probably better than what other nations did. The key in these things is to see a progression of rights to such people. Does it happen? Well, not by any initiative of Israel as far as I can see.
vs 17
So the judgments are to be just, and even over small things ("He kicked my dog!"). Interestingly, it would seem that Moses does have a wisdom greater than the average tribal official, because he is the final arbiter over difficult cases. Perhaps he's no more wise, but sometimes you just need a final outcome that people can't appeal. I don't think that's the vibe of the passage, but it's possible I guess.
vs 18
So Moses also trained these leaders in their positions. It's funny how we miss simple little things like that when it comes to thinking how to do our own things in places like church.
Anyway, I hope I'm not over-analysing all this. After all, this is just Moses' way of capping off all the stuff that has happened so far. We could return to the more in depth detailed versions if we wanted.
vs 19
It's easy to make big important decisions about the fate of a nation when God tells you what to do.
I don't want that to sound too flippant, but I think we all know that none of us hears voices from the sky. It doesn't mean we can't wait on God to reveal a truth or wisdom to us - and that requires patience and a real desire to hear from God on the subject. But sometimes God just does make his will really easily and openly known. Those times, it is easy, to know it at least.
vs 20
This is a pre-war speech. Reaching country they are to claim. Just imagine what it would have felt like for Israel to be standing there staring out at land that is previously occupied, that they will have to take from people who don't want to give it up. It makes my stomach queasy.
vs 21
So obviously fear and discouragement were natural feelings at this point. But it's either follow God's word or don't. And thankfully, for Israel, God had given them a leader they could follow, who would prod them and remind them of what God said and what their responsibilities were.
vs 22
It might be a delaying tactic, or it might be a show of fear. But it's also prudent, and there's no lack of faith in being wise and prudent and patient.
It's difficult for us to make easy value judgments on these actions - so much of the OT narrative is not editorialised, and is instead left there for us to read. We're meant to know what to feel when we read it. The problem is that over 3000 years of culture is dividing us from the norms of the time, so we have to work hard at it. Just making pat decisions and judgments is irresponsible.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)