Skip to main content

February 26 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 57

Today's Bible Project video centers on what the Bible means when it speaks of the heart.  



DAILY READINGS

Deuteronomy 13-14 & Psalm 57

DAILY NOTES

Deuteronomy 13
  • Any prophet or "dreamer of dreams" lead you away from God to other gods, he is to be put to death.  That person has, among other things, spoken "treason" or "falsehood" against God.
  • The same thing should happen to "anyone" who tempts you in secret to follow another God, even if that anyone is a family member.  
    • Notice that you're not even to show them "pity or compassion" or even try to protect them.  
  • The text (Verse 13) says to watch for scoundrels--literally, sons of decadence.  If they are found to be leading people away from God, they are to be put to do as well, and all those of their town that followed them.
Deuteronomy 14
  • The Isrealites were to remain a distinctive people.  They were not to follow the customs or practices of any of the nations around them.
Psalm 57
  • Notice that verse 5 is identical to verse 11.  What does that tell us?  The psalmist understands that even in his trouble, God is to be praised.  

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

I'm drawn to the idea of Deuteronomy 13:6--"If anyone secretly entices you..."

Think of how communal the Israelites were.  Their whole life is shaped by their ancestry, their family lines and a strong sense of being, collectively, God's people.  We have a lot to learn (relearn?) about the value and importance of our Christian community.  Much of what ails the church today, I'm convinced, is, in part, a result of our loss of community.  

And so to be "secretly enticed" must mean that someone has gone out of their way to entice another.  Another way to read that is that someone is secretly letting another person to continue to entice them in secret.  Either way, that takes a willingness not just to turn your back on your community, but also a commitment to keep it secret.  It's a double life.

No wonder Jesus said it's impossible to serve two masters.  Eventually, one of them is going to win out.  There is nothing hidden, Jesus also says, that will not be revealed.  Now we understand why the need "to make atonement" is necessary.  Our relationship with God needs renewal.

That's why the command to love God with everything we have is so significant.  It's a strange equation.  If you love anything else with everything you have, you'll find you won't have much time for God.  If you love God with everything you have, you'll find the rest of your life blessed in immeasurable ways.

Stay blessed...john
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

March 31 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 90 David's family situation continues to spiral.  In today's reading, David's family is torn apart by rape.  As a consequence, David's son sets his eyes on his father's throne. DAILY READINGS 2 Samuel 13-15 & Psalm 90 DAILY NOTES 1 Samuel 13:1-14 Amnon was David's first born son (3:2).  That may shed light as to why David seems to deal with him so easily (Verse 21).  Although he does kind of the same thing later with Absalom. Tamar is Absalom's full sister, half sister to Amnon.  Amnon is lovesick with her.  He devises a plan, with the help of a friend, to have her enter his chamber (bedroom).   Since she was a virgin, she didn't go out and about.  She remained in her house, perhaps protected.   Tamar knows what will become of her if Amnon goes through with his wishes; she will be left aside, unable to marry (see Verse 20).  She seems willing to have become married to Amnon, but his lust clouds h...
Post a Comment
Read more

January 27 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 27 We'll be reading about atonement today.  T oday's video helps make sense of that biblical theme. DAILY READINGS Exodus 30-31 & Psalm 27 DAILY NOTES Exodus 30:6 Everything has its place.   Exodus 30:10 Once a year would be Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). Exodus 12-15 The Lord's offering is required of everyone equally (of the appropriate age).  Strangely enough, there is a designation of rich and poor.  Everyone has just come from Egypt.  How has that distinction arisen?   Exodus 31:13 It's interesting to compare how the idea of sabbath here relates to previous mentions of it.   Exodus 31:18 Moses had written the words down.  Now, with merely his finger, God has provided the tablets for all to remember the covenant that has been made.   Psalm 27 Have you ever prayed and prayed and prayed for something?  The psalmist seems to know the feeling.  His final adm...
Post a Comment
Read more

June 19 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 170 DAILY READINGS Jeremiah 7-9 & Psalm 15 DAILY NOTES Jeremiah 7 Notice the emphasis of God's house having God's name.  It belongs to God, but the people, through their unrighteous actions, have made it theirs.  God's house has been turned into a "den of robbers" (vs. 11).  Remember when Jesus said that (Matthew 21:13)? According to Jesus, what was the Temple supposed to be called? Remember when the people tried to use the ark of the covenant as a weapon against the Philistines (1 Samuel 4)?  That was at Shiloh.  Jeremiah brings that event to our minds again as a sign (vs. 14).  God says that human sacrifice was not his command, nor did it come to his mind.  You'll have to do some wrestling with the story of Abraham almost sacrificing Isaac (Genesis 22). Jeremiah 8 Jeremiah (God) says to unearth the kings' bones and lay them before the sun and moon and all the other gods they served and worshiped.  Ouch. Even animals ...
Post a Comment
Read more