Joshua 22-24; Psalm 116:10-19; Luke 19
The story of building the altar on the east side of the Jordan presents several lessons.
- The importance of not rushing to judgments. Interpreting this step as a desire of the two-and-a-half tribes to worship God separately, the rest of Israel prepared for war against them. Only Phinehas and the elders prevented a tragedy (Joshua 22:12-30). It turned out that the altar was erected precisely with the opposite intention - not to violate God's commandments but to remember to fulfill them.
- The lesson that God taught through the defeat of Achan at the beginning of the book proved effective. The Israelites remembered that rebellion against God by one of them, without proper reaction, could result in punishment for all (Joshua 22:20).
- Monuments directing the consciousness of descendants to faithfulness to God play an important role (Joshua 22:34).
At the end of his life, Joshua reiterates God's covenant with Israel at Sinai. He retells Israel's history from Abraham, emphasizing God's grace poured out on the Jews (Joshua 24:2-13). He once again calls them to love God and to serve Him from the heart (Joshua 22:5; 23:11; 24:14), warning them of the inevitable punishment if they turn away from God (Joshua 23:15-16). In conclusion, Joshua calls on the people to decide whether they will serve the Lord Jehovah (Joshua 24:15). After the affirmative response, Joshua warns again that serving Jehovah is not easy because "He is a holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins" (Joshua 24:19). To which all Israel responded again, "We will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:21). And so it continued throughout the lifetime of Joshua and his contemporaries.
Psalm 116
It's a song of a broken heart. Amidst difficulties, the psalmist trusts not in people (every man is a liar) but the Lord.
The encounter with Zacchaeus is one example of Jesus Christ's ministry aimed at saving sinners - "...for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). The story of the nobleman who went away to receive a kingdom, leaving his servants with property in several minas each (Luke 19:11-27) - serves as a fitting introduction to Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem. He comes to His people as a king (Luke 19:28-38). Throughout the entire subsequent week, He will address Israel, which still does not accept Him.
- The importance of not rushing to judgments. Interpreting this step as a desire of the two-and-a-half tribes to worship God separately, the rest of Israel prepared for war against them. Only Phinehas and the elders prevented a tragedy (Joshua 22:12-30). It turned out that the altar was erected precisely with the opposite intention - not to violate God's commandments but to remember to fulfill them.
- The lesson that God taught through the defeat of Achan at the beginning of the book proved effective. The Israelites remembered that rebellion against God by one of them, without proper reaction, could result in punishment for all (Joshua 22:20).
- Monuments directing the consciousness of descendants to faithfulness to God play an important role (Joshua 22:34).
At the end of his life, Joshua reiterates God's covenant with Israel at Sinai. He retells Israel's history from Abraham, emphasizing God's grace poured out on the Jews (Joshua 24:2-13). He once again calls them to love God and to serve Him from the heart (Joshua 22:5; 23:11; 24:14), warning them of the inevitable punishment if they turn away from God (Joshua 23:15-16). In conclusion, Joshua calls on the people to decide whether they will serve the Lord Jehovah (Joshua 24:15). After the affirmative response, Joshua warns again that serving Jehovah is not easy because "He is a holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins" (Joshua 24:19). To which all Israel responded again, "We will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:21). And so it continued throughout the lifetime of Joshua and his contemporaries.
Psalm 116
It's a song of a broken heart. Amidst difficulties, the psalmist trusts not in people (every man is a liar) but the Lord.
The encounter with Zacchaeus is one example of Jesus Christ's ministry aimed at saving sinners - "...for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). The story of the nobleman who went away to receive a kingdom, leaving his servants with property in several minas each (Luke 19:11-27) - serves as a fitting introduction to Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem. He comes to His people as a king (Luke 19:28-38). Throughout the entire subsequent week, He will address Israel, which still does not accept Him.
Posted in Reading Bible Together