A Net in Time

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Bible Study

Period of the Judges

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I know, it’s been a while, but I’m finally picking up my Learning about the Old Testament book again.  Last time we met we talked about Worship in Ancient Israel.   Today we are going to talk about the Conquest and the period of the Judges. 

period of the judges

The history So Far

We know that the exodus happened, Mount Sinai happened, and now they sit on the southeast corner of Canaan.  How do they progress?

God has promised them this land.  12 spies, 10 say “It’s a great land but it’s filled with strong, mighty men, it’s a no go”. but two say “we can do this.”

Israel decided to listen to the 10 rather than the 2.  They rebelled against God when they did so. They did rebelled again going in without Moses or the Ark of the Covenant.  Defeat followed.  They then needed to wander through the desert. 

They after a fair few years in the desert ended up on the east side of Canaan. The conquest of the land begins.   Moses giving over leadership to Joshua. 

Period of the Judges

The Conquest

Harman tells us that there are two aspects to the conquest

  1. God’s promises regarding this land.   
  2. The Israelites conquered the land but left pockets of Canaanites. 

This is where the period of the Judges comes in.  Shaking out those pockets of Canaanites.  

Because of the Israelites disobedience, these pockets of Canaanites “were a snare to them” (p 66) as well as a testing ground.  Would the people of Israel call out to God for help?   How would they handle these remaining Canaanites?

The Judges show this result. 

  • The people call out to God in distress
  • God helps them. 
  • The people again become unfaithful.
  • Repeat this cycle.

Eventually the Israelite people settle the land.   They are sometimes slow in the doing so, but eventually the land is there.   They have two problems.

  • Threats from within: the Canaanite faith system threatens the faith of the Israelites to the Lord.  At this point the synagogue had not been built.  Regular instruction of the things of God were infrequent and not well-organized.  Some of the similarities in the Canaanite religion and Jewish religion would have confused some and attracted others. 
  • Threats from without: the surrounding nations attack frequently.  The surrounding nations had establish governing systems.

By the end of this period the people of Israel were becoming unsatisfied with how they were governed.  They wanted stable continuity, and they wanted to be more like the nations around them.  Israelis wanted a king.

The Exodus

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In the time leading up to the Exodus, God remembered his covenant with Noah, and he remembered his covenant with Abraham.  This led the way to the birth of Moses. A man, born into a people enslaved in Egypt.  Pulled out of that, pulled away from his Jewishness, and yet he intervened into the life of a Jewish slave and his life fell apart. 

The Exodus

Moses, a well-educated man, took off.  Afraid of the repercussions from his actions.  He met a gal and worked for his father-in-law. 40 years passed.

God came to him.

Moses learned three important details

  1. God was holy.
  2. God was a covenantal God.  God is the same God who made covenants with forefathers. 
  3. This covenantal God has the special name. Jehovah. YHWH. LORD. This name is indicative of a gracious, loving God who works to redeem his covenantal people. 
  4. Moses would be his messenger, the one through whom he would deliver his people from slavery. 
  5. God would display his power against the Egyptians.  This would be God’s work, not the work of Moses.  God’s alone. 

This information was pivotal to Moses as he was prepared to lead the exodus.

The Exodus

And so God acted.  Moses, his chosen instrument. The Exodus took place with God doing much in the lives of his people.  His grace was shown clearly to his people. The Passover meal became a part of their lives.  The Israelites saw miraculous signs and wonders accomplished by their God.  YHWH God worked in their lives. 

There is much more in this chapter, but this is what I picked out as easiest to share. 

Thinking on what I read

God’s grace was poured out on his people.  He remembered his agreements that he made with Noah and Abraham. So when they called out to him in their distress, he remembered and then acted.

He made it clear to Moses that he would use him as his chosen instrument that it was not Moses who would be saving the people, but God and God alone. 

I wonder how often we forget that.  It is not us who lead people to God.   It is not us who clearly presents God to people.  It is YHWH God himself.  The Lord God himself who works through us to present himself to the people around us.  Do we remember that?  I don’t know about you, but it something I often forget.  I’m to be a vessel for God.  Just like Moses needed to learn and act as God told him to.  

Others in this series

Peace & Security, Surprise News

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Today’s passage in Micah is 5:1-6.  Last time we met the discussion was about The daughter of Jerusalem being rescued. 

Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops;
    siege is laid against us;
with a rod they strike the judge of Israel
    on the cheek.
2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
    from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time
    when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
    to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
    to the ends of the earth.
5 And he shall be their peace.

When the Assyrian comes into our land
    and treads in our palaces,
then we will raise against him seven shepherds
    and eight princes of men;
6 they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,
    and the land of Nimrod at its entrances;
and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian
    when he comes into our land
    and treads within our border.

Looking at Scripture

We know that rescue is coming to Jerusalem, but in the meantime, the call is out.  Gather in your armies, trouble is coming!

Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops;
    siege is laid against us;
with a rod they strike the judge of Israel
    on the cheek.

But it’s different for Bethlehem.  The smallest of all.  Considered too little to be one of Israel’s clans.  A people too little to matter much of anything. 
2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

Something important is going to happen with this insignificant place.  

A ruler is going to come out. This ruler is going to be the ruler of Israel. This ruler is one talked about long ago, days from so long ago it’s ancient. He IS coming forth from Bethlehem.
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
    from ancient days.

This line “therefore he shall give them up until the time” I think is talking about God and how, for a while, he is giving Bethlehem up.  This small, insignificant place.  He is giving them up til the time this ruler shall come forth. 
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time
    when she who is in labor has given birth;

When that time comes, all of Israel shall be one family again. 
then the rest of his brothers shall return
    to the people of Israel.

This ruler will be a shepherd to Israel. Not only that, he will shepherd his people in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the Lord HIS God. That is the kind of shepherd that shall rise out of Bethlehem.
4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.

He will be the type of shepherd that makes his flock feel secure.  In fact their shepherd is great to the ends of the earth.  One who makes you that secure, is one who can be in charge.  A leader, protector, a shepherd.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
    to the ends of the earth.
5 And he shall be their peace.

BUT all is not at peace for the Assyrians are going to come.   I will freely admit I don’t understand everything about this passage beyond the fact that Israel shall defend herself.  She will be raising up shepherds and princes of men.  They will shepherd Israel.  In the end, the shepherd, who is coming, will deliver Israel from the Assyrians.  

When the Assyrian comes into our land
    and treads in our palaces,
then we will raise against him seven shepherds
    and eight princes of men;
6 they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,
    and the land of Nimrod at its entrances;
and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian
    when he comes into our land
    and treads within our border.

Pondering

Can you imagine it? Looking back at verse 4-5.  That feeling of security? That ability to rest secure.  Sheep like feeling secure.  We know from scripture that people are like sheep.  We like to being in groups, we like that whole feeling of security.  Now imagine being so secure that you have peace.  Oh the contentment that would bring. 

Hanging on to that thought, helps make everything alright. 

Challenges faced in life are not a worry when you have peace and security.  To know that in the end, it will be okay.  It’s huge!

I also have to look at how a place deemed insignificant really wasn’t. Out of  a small, unimportant place, the one who would save his people would be born.   Would rise up out of it. A shepherd who would save his people.

It’s amazing if you stop and think about it. 

Covenant with Abraham

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Last week we covered the covenant with Noah, today we move on to Abraham.  My study is based on the book Learning about the Old Testament by Allan Harman. 

covenant with Abraham

Abraham’s relationship with God was covenant lived out over time.

Starting off in Ur and leading all the way to Canaan. Abram at first and then later Abraham.

Having his faith tested as he needed to believe

  • God would make him into a great nation. This was hard. They were childless a long time, he made alternative arrangements, and then God blessed them with a child.
  • The land of Canaan would be his home. The home he and his family (which would be a great nation) would need to live in. Believing that God could turn this into reality.
  • Through him, through his family, all nations of the world would be blessed. Stop and think about that a moment. How does one even grasp that idea? Would it be your whole family or just a part? How does one believe in that idea? It seems too big to grasp, yet God put it as part of his covenant with Abraham.

God repeated these three aspects of the covenant with Abraham’s offspring Isaac and Jacob.

Part of the seal of that covenant was circumcision for the boy children in Abraham’s family.

Throughout their relationship God revealed himself to Abraham, sometimes physically, but always in relationship. Abraham’s faith in God was deep and solid. His trust in God’s care and provision was overall steady. It wasn’t perfect, he made errors, he sinned, but in the end his love for God was real.

This is a foundation laid isn’t it?

Daughter of Jerusalem Rescued

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I know it’s been a while, honestly my thoughts have been elsewhere.  Gardens, schooling, and more.  I’ve been busy and rather tired and falling asleep in the evening when I would normally be blogging.  Last time we might we discussed The Mountain of the Lord. 

In that day, declares the Lord,
    I will assemble the lame
and gather those who have been driven away
    and those whom I have afflicted;
7 and the lame I will make the remnant,
    and those who were cast off, a strong nation;
and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion
    from this time forth and forevermore.

8 And you, O tower of the flock,
    hill of the daughter of Zion,
to you shall it come,
    the former dominion shall come,
    kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.

9 Now why do you cry aloud?
    Is there no king in you?
Has your counselor perished,
    that pain seized you like a woman in labor?
10 Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion,
    like a woman in labor,
for now you shall go out from the city
    and dwell in the open country;
    you shall go to Babylon.
There you shall be rescued;
    there the Lord will redeem you
    from the hand of your enemies.

11 Now many nations
    are assembled against you,
saying, “Let her be defiled,
    and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.”
12 But they do not know
    the thoughts of the Lord;
they do not understand his plan,
    that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor.
13 Arise and thresh,
    O daughter of Zion,
for I will make your horn iron,
    and I will make your hoofs bronze;
you shall beat in pieces many peoples;
    and shall devote their gain to the Lord,
    their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.

Micah 4:6-13

Scripture Speaks

 

Look at the people The Lord God will gather together: the lame, the driven away, and the afflicted.    God will make the lame a remnant and the cast off into a strong nation. 

In that day, declares the Lord,
    I will assemble the lame
and gather those who have been driven away
    and those whom I have afflicted;
7 and the lame I will make the remnant,
    and those who were cast off, a strong nation;

Not only that, the Lord God will reign over in Zion for ever. 

and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion
    from this time forth and forevermore.

Tower of Flock

There is some discussion about what tower of flock means.  Some thinks it means Jerusalem, some think it’s an actual tower, and yet others think it’s a gateway that Christ will come through.  But whomever it is, whatever the tower of the flock is, kingship will come.  It doesn’t make sense that it is Jerusalem, but she can’t be her own daughter. Figurative language not withstanding. 🙂

8 And you, O tower of the flock,
    hill of the daughter of Zion,
to you shall it come,
    the former dominion shall come,
    kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.

The questions come:

9 Now why do you cry aloud?

    Is there no king in you?
Has your counselor perished,
    that pain seized you like a woman in labor?

With no answers given to the questions, the daughter of Zion that rescue is coming.  But rescue will come after struggle.  Struggle as if in labour pains, leave the city, dwell in the open, go down to Babylon and wait.  Rescue happens in Babylon.  Rescue by the Lord, the one who redeems her from the enemies. 
10 Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion,
    like a woman in labor,
for now you shall go out from the city
    and dwell in the open country;
    you shall go to Babylon.
There you shall be rescued;
    there the Lord will redeem you
    from the hand of your enemies.

Rescue will happen

In Babylon the daughter waits, the nations around mock. 

Now many nations
    are assembled against you,
saying, “Let her be defiled,
    and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.”

But you know what?  These nations don’t understand the thoughts of God.  They have no clue what he plan is. 
12 But they do not know
    the thoughts of the Lord;
they do not understand his plan,

These nations don’t know that they are about to be put to the threshing floor.  They will be beaten and the goods gathered from them, devoted to God. 
   
you shall beat in pieces many peoples;
    and shall devote their gain to the Lord,
    their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.

Micah 4:6-13

Thinking a bit

I think about those words “they do not know
    the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan”

Ruminating on those words one can find comfort.  Comfort that the enemy of the Lord doesn’t know God’s plans. He doesn’t know the end run.  He see the long term goals.  For all he knows, what he sees is the immediate and thinks a winning hand is there. 

I recall how they mocked the daughter of Jerusalem, showing no pity, but wanting her to be defiled.   They only saw her struggle, they didn’t see the end that God had in store.  

Isn’t it just like it is in our lives?   So easy to kick the person that is down, or helpless, or in a hard place.  The daughter of Jerusalem was in a hard place and had no one coming to her aid.   Imagine being alone in childbirth and how hard that would be.   So hard and alone eh?

But they don’t know.  They don’t.  Rescue is on the way and God told the daughter of Jerusalem that it would be so.  She knows better, but her nay-sayers don’t.  I do hope she listens!

 

Covenant with Noah

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We have talked about covenant of creation, and God’s covenants.  Today we talk about the covenant with Noah.  Sin had kept increasing in the world, to the point of murder.  People were still calling upon the name of the Lord, so the worship of God was still happening.   But more and more, as the generations passed, people were doing their own thing and boasting about their sinfulness. 

Then there is Noah.  We are told that he is a righteous man, in Genesis 6:9 “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.”  He had that kind of relationship with God, a close personal relationship where it can be said that he walked with God.

covenant with Noah

God comes to Noah, tells him his plan.  Gives Noah a commission.  Build me a boat, a big boat.   And Noah, being the man that he was, a faithful righteous man, accepted that commission and stood by it.  Nay-sayers, mockers and all, he kept his word to the Lord and built it. 

This commission was a covenant between Noah and God.  God made his promises…he would save the animals of the world and Noah and his whole family. Noah in response, would build the ark, working to complete it before it was needed. 

At the end of the flood, God remembered the people, opened up the ark and let them out.  Noah offered a sacrifice “And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.“

God promises not to do this again because… man’s heart is evil from his youth.   You know something, I KNOW the story of Noah but this verse is a revelation to me tonight.  God destroyed the people because of their evil hearts, but it didn’t work you know?  Man’s heart continues to be evil so God knows another way must be found to turn men’s hearts away from evil.   He knows it, so using a flood to enact judgement isn’t the answer. 

In Genesis 9 we learn the following from God

  • Man is made in God’s image and therefore is precious.
  • Mankind is to procreate, to fill the earth.
  • God won’t destroy mankind like this again. In fact he built in ways for them to be fed and sustained.

Then we get the rainbow, a highly recognizable promise from God.  We see it and remember God’s promise.  God sees it and remembers his covenant with us. 

covenant with Noah

The Mountain of the Lord

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The last time we met we discussed the whole chapter of Micah 3. There we read a specific warnings against those who go after evil. Today we are discussing Micah 4:1-5.

It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and it shall be lifted up above the hills;
and peoples shall flow to it,
2 and many nations shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
3 He shall judge between many peoples,
and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore;
4 but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,
and no one shall make them afraid,
for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.
5 For all the peoples walk
each in the name of its god,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God
forever and ever.

Micah 4:1-5

Scripture Speaks

I just love these verses, aren’t they wonderful?  

And it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord shalled be established. 

Isn’t that amazing?  The hope contained within those 18 words eh?

How will it be established? 

as the highest of the mountains,
    and it shall be lifted up above the hills;

What will happen as a result?
and peoples shall flow to it,
2     and many nations shall come,

What is the point of them coming?  And what will they say?

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
    and that we may walk in his paths.”

Why would they say that? 
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
    and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

The Lord God’s Action
3 He shall judge between many peoples,
    and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away;

The reaction of the people:
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
    and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
    neither shall they learn war anymore;
4 but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,
    and no one shall make them afraid,
    for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.

The difference between the people of God and people not of God.
5 For all the peoples walk
    each in the name of its god,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God
    forever and ever.

Micah 4:1-5

Thinking it Through

I love the logic of how these verses are laid out. The hope portrayed in the first verse… Oh.. it made my heart smile. 🙂 Isn’t it interesting how it says
 that the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
    and it shall be lifted up above the hills;

Lifted above the hills… Shows the prestige given to the house of God eh? The high places were the most important places. I love how it is emphasized here. The emphasis continues when we are told that many nations shall come. The house of the Lord is not just some fly by night place. It’s a mountain, high above the highest hills. Regarded well by the folks streaming towards it, wanting to know more about the Lord God.

Causes me to wonder, this is the vision from the last days. This hope shown to us. Should we not then work toward that? Work toward bringing people to the House of the Lord? Get rid of hindrances, and just finding ways to let people enter in? Working towards the tenable peace shown to us here?

What say you?