Sunday Psalm: Triumphant Crossing Over Jordan

Psalm 114

1 When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language; 2 Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion. 3 The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs. 5 What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back? 6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs? 7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob; 8 Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.

Psalms 114:1-8 (KJV)

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Journal Through the Bible: Week 31 Saturday

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Joshua chapter 9

Joshua is tricked by "ambassadors from a far county." Ha! The nagging suspicion that bothered some of the men about these travelers was evidently not enough to make them begin a proper investigation, including - or especially - talking to God about the situation!

Does God issue any commands?

• No, God does not speak in this passage. If He had been consulted He surely would have said plenty!

Does God make any promises?

• No, God does not speak in this chapter.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Not that I identified.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Not that I identified.

Read Through the Bible in 2013: August 12-17

Take Ten

8/12/2013	Micah 1-3	Psalm 11
8/13/2013	Micah 4, 5	Psalms 12, 13
8/14/2013	Micah 6, 7	Psalm 14
8/15/2013	Nahum	Psalm 15
8/16/2013	II Kings 18-20	Psalm 16
8/17/2013	Isaiah 36-38	Psalm 17

For discussion concerning the books of Micah and Nahum click this link. (Scroll down.)

Journal Through the Bible: Week 31 Friday

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Joshua chapter 8

It was a hard lesson to learn, that humiliating lesson from the defeat at Ai, but one that all must take to heart! In order to succeed a person must do things God's way. If it isn't done God's way reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness are sure to follow and those can be painful. But it doesn't mean that there isn't forgiveness and restoration available. As long as God leaves the door of grace open there will be mercy available for the sinner. Then there is victory!

Does God issue any commands in this chapter?

• After the death of Achan God told Joshua to not be afraid or upset but to take the men of war to Ai once more and He would deliver the city. This time He would allow them to take of the spoil. (Does that seem arbitrary? It isn't! God had told them that the first things belonged to Him and they would be allowed to have what followed. These details were clearly spelled out in the covenant. God didn't have fine print in His contract!)
• Joshua reminded them that God had commanded that the city be set on fire. As a matter of fact, after the previous incident, the sin of Achan, Joshua stressed it very sternly, "according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do." (verse 8)
• The LORD told Joshua to stretch out his spear toward Ai.
• As a fulfillment of a command given by Moses in Deuteronomy 31 Joshua had an altar built on Mount Ebal of whole stones. There they offered sacrifices and wrote a copy of the law (the covenant) and read it to the people. Half stood on Mount Ebal and half on Mount Gerizim proclaiming the blessings and the curses.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised that they would defeat Ai.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• At the Word of God, His enemies were slain. In this chapter it was God telling Joshua to fight with a physical sword. In the future Jesus will fight with a sword that comes from His mouth (the Word of God that is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword) to defeat His enemies, the followers of Satan.
• The sacrifices and burnt offerings on Mount Ebal are pictures of Christ, the atonement for sins.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Not specifically, but it did remind me of details of the battles that Jesus will fight as described in the book of Revelation.