11 Pentecost - B - August 16 - 22, 2009
This is a Three-Year Lectionary based on the Lutheran Book of Worship 3-year Lectionary (for public worship), "Prayers of the Day..." (Propers), p. 13-41, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978. It is based, with only minor variations, on the Revised Common Lectionary, used by many denominations, including the Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches:
http://www.commontexts.org/
and:
http://www.commontexts.org/rcl/usage.html
The daily readings are the Propers (Lections) for the following Sunday, so that the daily devotions can prepare us for worship. Additional Lections are from Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, "Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers," United Lutheran Church of America, General Rubrics VIII. Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers, p. 299 - 304, Philadelphia, 1918.
The previous 2- year Bible Study based on the Lutheran Book of Worship, Daily Lectionary for personal devotions p.179-192, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978, is available at:
http://shepboy.snow.prohosting.com
Journalspace.com, my former 'blog host is being reorganized under new ownership. I no longer publish there. I have also lost mypodcast.com, my podcast host. This 'blog is mirrored at:
http://shepboy.multiply.com/
.mp3 Podcasts via Linux Festival Text-to-speech are available at:
Daily Walk 2 Year B Weekly Lectionary
Please Note: I will post weekly by Saturday, noon, (God willing), Pacific time (UTC-8:00) for the week of the Church Season which begins on Sunday. Please scroll down for the desired day, or save the week to your desktop/hard drive.
Podcast: Week of 11 Pentecost B
11 Pentecost - Sunday B
First Posted August 16, 2009
Podcast: 11 Pentecost Sunday B
Exodus 16:2-15 -- Manna in the Wilderness
Psalm 78:23-29 --The Bread of Heaven
Ephesians 4:17-24 -- New Life in Christ
John 6:24-35 -- The Bread of Life
After the Lord had delivered the Israelites from bondage to slavery and death in Egypt with great signs and wonders, and had brought them through the Red Sea on dry ground (Exodus 14:21-25), the Israelites began to long for the security they thought they’d had in Egypt, when they began to experience testing in the wilderness, and they complained about the leadership of Moses and Aaron. In the new situation in the wilderness they felt insecure about how they would find food. Although they had experienced the miracles the Lord had done to accomplish their release from Pharaoh, and the miraculous parting of the Red Sea which allowed them to escape from their enemies, they weren’t sure God would provide their food.
Moses reminded them that their complaint about Moses and Aaron was really a complaint against God. God assured the people, through Moses, that he would provide meat in the evening and bread in the morning. God’s condition was that his providence would be one day at a time, except for allowing them a day of rest on the Sabbath. The Israelites were to learn to trust God’s providence one day at a time.
What God promised was fulfilled. He brought them quail in the evening, and manna, bread from heaven, in the mornings. No matter how much or little manna they gathered it was always sufficient to meet their needs, but it would not keep overnight, except for the Sabbath. Psalm 78 commemorated the saving acts of the Lord for his people.
The Lord’s plan from the very beginning of Creation has been to create an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey him. Jesus has been God’s plan for the forgiveness of our sins (disobedience of God’s Word) and salvation (from God’s eternal condemnation) from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). The history of God’s dealing with Israel has been deliberately designed by God to accomplish that purpose, and to be a parable and metaphor for life in this world. God’s providence of manna in the wilderness was a foreshadowing of the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ.
During Jesus’ earthly ministry, he supernaturally fed large crowds (the five thousand, for example) with physical bread. The feedings took place away from populated areas (i.e., in the “wilderness”). His physical feeding miracles were intended to reveal that Jesus is the Lord who spiritually feeds his people in the wilderness of this present lifetime. The satisfying meal in the presence of the Lord is a preview of the fellowship we can have in his eternal kingdom.
The people of the crowd of five thousand wanted to forcibly make Jesus their “King of Bread” (John 6:15), so Jesus withdrew from them into the hills. When the people couldn’t find Jesus, they went looking for him and found him in Capernaum. Jesus told them that they had sought Jesus only because they were interested in what Jesus could do for them physically, and not because they had realized who Jesus was, or desired spiritual nurture which only Jesus can provide.
Jesus told them to labor for what was eternal, so they asked him what work they had to do for eternal, spiritual food, and Jesus told them that eternal salvation is not what mankind accomplishes in his own strength, but what God provides as a free gift through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10).
So the people asked Jesus what “work” (miracle) Jesus would do to persuade them to believe in Jesus. They suggested that Moses had provided manna in the wilderness, and so Jesus should provide more physical bread. They had already witnessed and literally tasted the “bread from heaven” which Jesus had provided and hadn’t believed. Furthermore, it was not Moses, a patriarch of Israel, who had provided manna, but God.
Jesus told them that it was not manna which is the true, spiritual, eternal bread of heaven, but Jesus Christ, himself. Jesus is the bread of eternal life, who came down from heaven to give eternal life to all those who will receive it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus.
Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus) is the prototype of the modern, “post-resurrection,” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christian disciple and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ (Acts 9:1-21). Paul had been radically transformed by the infilling of the gift (“anointing”) of the Holy Spirit. Paul was the chosen instrument of the Lord to take the Gospel to the Gentiles (non-Jews; Acts 9:15). The congregation at Ephesus was founded by Paul in fulfillment of the Lord’s call.
Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesian Christians, teaching them to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Paul had spent several years teaching in Ephesus, the capital of the Roman province of Asia, on his third missionary journey (Acts 19:1-10). Paul was fulfilling Jesus’ “Great Commission” to his “born-again” disciples to make “born-again” disciples, and teach them to obey all that Jesus taught (Matthew 28:19-20). It was in this context that the Letter to the Ephesians was written.
Paul warns that Christians must no longer live like pagans; worldly people; unbelievers. Christians are to learn Christ’s teachings; they are to be taught to trust and obey Jesus, until they have been filled with the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).
Christians are to be as radically transformed as Paul had been, but perhaps not as quickly. It took three years of constant fellowship with Jesus for his original Twelve to become Apostles, and then only after they had been filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). Remember that Paul had been formally educated in the Scriptures (Acts 22:3), so that in his case, once the Messiah was revealed to him, he was immediately ready to be “born-again” as he obeyed Jesus’ commands (Acts 9:5-9, 17-18, 20).
Jesus became the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God, once for all time and all people, for the forgiveness of sin, restoration of fellowship with God, and spiritual rebirth to eternal life in the kingdom of God in heaven (Hebrews 9:24-28), to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus’ flesh sacrificed on the Cross becomes the bread of the sacrificial meal which seals the New Covenant of Grace (unmerited favor) through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:26-29), the “Moses,” the mediator of that covenant. Jesus is the “bread of (eternal) life.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
11 Pentecost - Monday B
First Posted August 17, 2009
Podcast: 11 Pentecost Monday B
Psalm 34:1-8 -- Deliverance from Trouble
This Psalm is attributed to David, and the deliverance referred to is when David feigned madness in the presence of the Achish, King of Gath, to whom David had fled when Saul sought to kill David.
The Psalmist will praise the Lord at all times; his soul’s confidence is in the Lord, and all who are afflicted should be encouraged by the Psalmist’s testimony.
When the Psalmist sought the Lord, the Lord answered him and delivered him from all his fears. Those who look to the Lord will be radiant with joy, and will never be ashamed. When the Psalmist called upon the Lord, the Lord heard and saved him from all his troubles. The Lord protects those who fear the Lord and delivers them.
“O taste and see that the Lord is good! Happy is the [person] who takes refuge him” (Psalm 34:8).
This is the personal experience and testimony of the Psalmist and also mine, and all who make the Lord their refuge. When we call upon the Lord in faith (obedient trust) he will hear and answer us (see Conditions for Answered Prayer; sidebar top right). The Lord wants us to entrust ourselves to him, so that we can learn that he is able and faithful to protect and deliver us. The Lord invites us to call upon him so that he can answer us. The Lord invites us to trust and obey him so that he can show us that his will is good and our very best interest.
This Creation and our lifetime have been intentionally designed by God to give us the opportunity to seek and find him; to learn to trust and obey him, by trial and error (Acts 17:26-27). This lifetime is our opportunity to be spiritually “reborn” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. Jesus’ Resurrection demonstrated for the world to see that his word is absolutely true and trustworthy, and that there is existence beyond physical death. Jesus is the only way to come to know and experience God (John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).
The Lord is the only real security we can have in this world. People try to find security in material things or in worldly authorities, but that security is an illusion. When we turn to the Lord for security we can be sure nothing in this world can threaten our security (Romans 8:35-39). We personally experience the risen Jesus by the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit testifies to us that we are in Christ and have eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
11 Pentecost - Tuesday B
First Posted August 18, 2009
Podcast: 11 Pentecost Tuesday B
1 Kings 19:4-8 -- Strength for the Journey
During the period of the divided monarchy, Elijah, the prophet, had opposed Jezebel, the pagan wife of Ahab, king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. She swore to kill Elijah, and Elijah had fled south to Beer-sheba which was in the southern portion of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Elijah went south from Beer-sheba a day’s journey into the wilderness and camped under a broom tree. He asked the Lord to allow him to die. He fell asleep under the tree, and an angel of the Lord came and gave him bread and water. Elijah ate and then went back to sleep. Again the angel came and gave him bread and water, telling him to eat, to fortify Elijah for the journey; otherwise Elijah would not be able to endure it. Elijah ate and drank what the angel provided, and that food and water sustained him for forty days in the wilderness, until Elijah reached Mt Horeb (Mt. Sinai), the mountain of God.
Elijah had faithfully proclaimed God’s Word in a corrupt and idolatrous kingdom, and the Queen, Jezebel, who was the instigator of the corruption and idolatry, had sworn to kill him. Elijah had fled into the wilderness. The angel (manifestation of God’s presence) gave Elijah bread and water to sustain Elijah on his journey to the mountain of God.
Elijah felt alone in his ministry of God’s Word and opposed by powerful worldly rulers, but God was able to sustain him and help him to accomplish the work God intended Elijah to do. What seems humanly impossible becomes possible as we trust in the Lord, obey his instructions, and allow him to fortify and strengthen us.
We can have that close personal fellowship with the Lord through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit which he gives as we trust and obey Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the supernatural sustenance which gives us strength for our journey through the wilderness of this life. Otherwise the journey will be too great for us to accomplish.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
11 Pentecost - Wednesday B
First Posted August 19, 2009
Podcast: 11 Pentecost Wednesday B
Ephesians 4:30-5:2 -- Christian Living
Christians are to be careful not to grieve God’s Holy Spirit, in whom we’re sealed for the day of redemption. So let us put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice. Instead let us be kind, loving and tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God has forgiven us.
So let us be imitators of God’s nature, like beloved children emulate their father. Let us live according to love, following the example of Christ who gave himself up for us, becoming “a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2).
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9), the third person of the Trinity (Matthew 28:19). When we trust and obey Jesus, he “baptizes” (“anoints”) us with the indwelling Holy Spirit. Christians are individually and collectively the temple of God the Holy Spirit. We are to learn to do what pleases our Lord. We are to learn to be like God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Let our lives be a living sacrifice to God, completing the ministry of redemption Jesus began, and refraining from what would grieve the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment, and illustration of God’s Word lived out in physical, human life (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus gave up his physical life as an offering and sacrifice for us, so that we could have eternal life in God’s heavenly kingdom. Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
The author of the Letter to the Ephesians was the Apostle Paul (Saul of Tarsus). Paul had been a persecutor of the Church, but was converted on the road to Damascus by the risen Jesus (Acts 9:1-20). Paul was the first “modern,” “post-resurrection” “born-again” Christian disciple and Apostle (messenger; of the Gospel), and the example of what we can be. Paul’s life after his “rebirth” was an example of a disciple of Jesus living according to Jesus’ example and teaching. Paul was continuing Jesus’ mission of redemption, sacrificing his own life, so that others could be forgiven and experience the joy of being filled and made spiritually alive by the Holy Spirit through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.
There is a Day of Redemption coming for the “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples of Jesus Christ, but for those who have refused to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and have refused to trust and obey him it will be a Day of Judgment and a Day of Condemnation to eternal destruction (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
11 Pentecost - Thursday B
First Posted August 20, 2009
Podcast: 11 Pentecost Thursday B
John 6:41-51 -- Living Bread
After Jesus had fed the five thousand in the wilderness, the crowd sought him to make him their king for what Jesus could do for them physically. They had seen a great “sign,” a miracle, and yet they asked for another sign from Jesus in order to believe (trust and obey) Jesus. When Jesus told them he had come down from heaven, they “murmured” against Jesus among themselves. The people knew Jesus’ mother and father, so they couldn’t accept Jesus statement that he had come down from heaven.
Jesus told them not to “murmur” among themselves. Jesus told them that no one can come to faith in Jesus unless God the Father draws him, and Jesus will raise to eternal life, at the Day of Judgment, those who have come to Jesus in this lifetime (John 5:28-29). Jesus quoted Isaiah 54:13, saying that the people will be taught by God, and everyone who has heard and learned from God will come to Jesus. No one has ever seen God, except Jesus, who is from God and has seen God (John 1:1-5, 14).
Jesus declared that he who believes (trusts and obeys Jesus) has eternal life. Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life.” The people had challenged Jesus to demonstrate that he was as great as or greater than Moses (John 6:30-32). Jesus declared that manna, which God gave them in the wilderness, sustained them physically, but did not give them eternal life; they still died in the wilderness. Jesus is the true bread from heaven which gives eternal life to those who receive it. Jesus is the living bread from heaven which gives life to those who receive it, and the living bread is Jesus’ flesh, which he gave for the world.
Commentary
God has always intended to create an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey him. This creation has been designed as our opportunity to seek and find God (Acts 17:26-27), and to learn to trust and obey God, by trial-and-error. This Creation and mankind are temporal; God is not going to put up with sin (disobedience of God’s Word) forever. Jesus has been God’s plan, from the beginning of Creation (John 1:1-5, 14; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).
Those who have learned from God’s Word will recognize that Jesus is the promised Messiah (Christ; both words mean “anointed” in Hebrew and Greek, respectively). Jesus is the Savior whom God has promised. Jesus is the “lamb” of Passover, who was sacrificed for the forgiveness of our sins, so that the angel of (eternal) death would “pass over” us. Jesus’ connection with “Passover” is one example of many, showing that the record of God’s teaching and leading of Israel, recorded in the Bible, points to and has its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Jesus is God’s one and only provision for our forgiveness and eternal salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6).
In Jesus Christ, God is drawing all people to himself (John 12:32). Are we responding to his “drawing?” Salvation from eternal condemnation and eternal death is the gift of God to those who are willing to receive it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus promised that those who trust and obey him will receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). Jesus’ word is the Word of God; Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and demonstration of God’s Word in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14).
Jesus taught that one must be “born-again”(John 3:3, 5-8), by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, in order to see the kingdom of God, now in this world, and ultimately in eternal life. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
The people who had experienced the “sign” of the supernatural feeding in the “wilderness” couldn’t believe that Jesus was the Messiah whom God had sent from heaven because they thought they knew that Joseph was Jesus’ father, and therefore God could not have been Jesus’ father. They didn’t know that Jesus’ mother had been a virgin and that she conceived by the Holy Spirit.(Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38). The people put their confidence in worldly “knowledge,” rather than in the Word and power of God.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
11 Pentecost - Friday B
First Posted August 21, 2009
Podcast: 11 Pentecost Friday B
Luke 18:41-47a -- The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Jesus told a parable (a fictional story of common life experiences used to teach spiritual truth) of a Pharisee and the Tax Collector, as a warning to those “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others” (Luke 18:9b). Both went into the temple separately to pray. The Pharisee prayed “with himself” (Luke 18:11a), thanking God that he was not like other men; not like extortionists, adulterers, or tax collectors like the one praying nearby. The Pharisee was confident of his righteousness because he fasted twice a week, and tithed (gave 10% to the “Church”) of all he received. The tax collector felt unworthy even to turn his eyes upward toward heaven. He bowed his head and beat his breast (signifying repentance), confessed that he was a sinner, and asked God to be merciful to him. Both men left the temple, but it was the tax collector who had been justified (found righteous in God’s judgment), rather than the Pharisee. Jesus declared that the humble will be exalted and those who exalt themselves will be humbled.
Pharisees were a leading legalistic faction of Judaism. They practiced the outward observance of Jewish Law (the Law of Moses; the Scriptures), and by that were confident in themselves that they were blameless in God’s judgment. Tax collectors were hated by Jews as Jewish collaborators with the Roman government which occupied and dominated Israel at that time. The Pharisee’s prayer in the temple had the outward appearance of righteousness (doing what is right in God’s judgment), but all it accomplished was to add to the Pharisee’s self-confidence in his own righteousness; the Pharisee was praying with himself. The tax collector recognized his own sinfulness and confessed it to God, asking for mercy (undeserved forgiveness), and the tax collector’s prayer was heard and answered by the Lord.
According to God’s Word, we are all sinners (have disobeyed God’s Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), and the penalty for sin is (eternal) death (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God’s only provision for forgiveness for our sins, restoration to fellowship with God, and eternal life in God’s heavenly kingdom (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Salvation is an unmerited gift (“grace”) from God to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, not by works (“good deeds;” “keeping”) of the Law (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Church baptism won’t save us; church membership won’t save us; teaching Sunday School, or singing in the choir won’t save us. Religious ritual won’t save us. Only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit will save us from God’s eternal condemnation and give us eternal life. Only Jesus “baptizes” with the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). Saving faith is faith that trusts and obeys Jesus.
Jesus came, not to call the “righteous,” but to call sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). We’re all sinners, but Jesus can save only those who acknowledge and confess their sins and come to Jesus, in obedient trust, for forgiveness. There are lots of “Pharisees” in our world, our society and our churches today.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
11 Pentecost - Saturday B
First Posted August 22, 2009
Podcast: 11 Pentecost Saturday B
Daniel 9:15-19 -- Daniel’s Prayer of Confession
The Book of Daniel was written in the period of religious persecution by Antiochus Epiphanes (167-164 B.C.). It tells several stories of the earlier Babylonian exile (587-517 B.C.), meant to encourage the people of God to remain faithful to their God.*
Daniel, the example of a pious Jew living in Babylonian exile, recognized that Judah’s exile was the result of their disobedience of God’s Word and their idolatry. Since Judah didn’t heed the warnings of the prophets, the Lord had removed his providence and protection from them and allowed them to be conquered and exiled by their enemy. Daniel prayed a prayer of confession for himself and his people.
Daniel acknowledged that God had led Israel out of bondage in Egypt (in faith that God could again deliver Israel from captivity in Babylon). Daniel confessed that Israel had sinned. Daniel prayed that God would turn his anger away from Jerusalem and his people, not because his city and his people don’t deserve it, but because of God’s own righteousness. Daniel confessed that the sins of God’s holy city and his people had defamed God’s name among worldly people. Daniel prayed that instead of God’s anger, that God would again let his blessing and favor come upon God’s sanctuary, which was currently desolate. Daniel asked God to hear and see the desolation of his people and his city, to forgive and act to deliver his people from their desolation and restore them, not because of their righteousness, but because of God’s great mercy, because God’s city and his people are called by his name.
Commentary:
Throughout the history of God’s dealing with his people, recorded in the Bible, when God’s people turned from obedient trust in God’s Word and turned to idolatry, God removed his protection and blessing from them and allowed them to be oppressed by their enemies. When the people confessed their sin (disobedience of God’s Word) and turned to him for help, God heard, forgave their sins and delivered them from their oppressors.
God had delivered Israel from Egypt with great power, and he had promised to deliver Israel from Babylon (Jeremiah 25:12). God’s people could have entered the Promised Land directly if they had trusted and obeyed God. Because they did not, God allowed them to wander in the wilderness for forty years, to teach them to trust and obey God (Numbers Ch. 13 and 14, particularly note Numbers 14:33-35). When the spiritual leaders and God’s people confessed their sins and returned to obedient trust in God, God fulfilled his promise to deliver them from their enemy. God did deliver them from exile in Babylon after seventy years, as he had promised, and as he had delivered his people from wandering in the wilderness after forty years.
In the period of about four hundred years between the Old Testament and the New Testament, the people of God had been in a spiritual wilderness under the domination of their enemies, and were hoping for the promised Messiah (Christ) whom God had promised to deliver them. When Jesus came, Jesus did deliver, from the spiritual wilderness of this world and bondage to sin and death, all who trust and obey him. But many of the Jews and their leaders refused to trust and obey Jesus, and had him crucified.
Jesus is the new “Moses,” who frees his people from bondage to sin and death and leads them through the “wilderness” of this world and into the eternal Promised Land of God’s heavenly kingdom. Jesus is the Word of God, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is God’s only provision for the forgiveness of our sins and our restoration to eternal life in God’s kingdom (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).
The Bible records God’s dealing with his people for our instruction (1 Corinthians 10:1-12), and God’s Word should be a warning to us. In a sense, America is the new “Promised Land,” and the Church is the “New Jerusalem,” the “New People of God.” In many ways, America and the Church, particularly in America, are in a position very similar to that of Israel and Judaism in the period right before Jesus’ first advent (coming).
In the period preceding Jesus first coming, many of the Jews had become “Hellenized;” they had adopted the Greek culture, and had approved the incorporation of the God of Israel into Greek polytheism, which they considered a cultural “sophistication.” Antiochus Epiphanes rededicated the Jewish temple (which had been built by the returning Babylonian exiles) to Zeus Olympius in 167 B. C. This was the “desolating abomination” referred to in Daniel 8:13, 9:27c, 11:29-31, and by Jesus in Matthew 24:15-31, as a sign of his imminent Second Coming.
Today parts of the (nominal) “church” have become “Hellenized;” they’ve adopted secular culture and worldly “intellectualism.” Parts of the “church” have incorporated the “gods” of this world into their sanctuary. Parts of the “church” are allowing secular leaders to influence the “church’s” “ministry.” Parts of the “church” are teaching people that God no longer requires obedient trust in his Word. Parts of the “church” teach that Jesus is only one of many ways to come to God. We’re in great need of confession and repentance; a return to obedient trust in the Word of God in Jesus Christ.
Jesus has promised to return on the Day of Judgment to judge the living and the dead (in both the spiritual and physical senses). Are we any more ready for Jesus’ Second Coming than Israel and Judaism were for Jesus’ first advent (coming)?
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
* For historical detail, I’ve relied heavily on:
The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Introduction to Daniel, p. 1067, and Survey of … Bible Lands #5:15, p.1527, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962
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