11 Pentecost - Sunday

first posted 08/14/04

Joshua 24:1-15    Choose whom you will serve
Acts 28:23-31    Paul preaches in Rome
Mark 2:23-28    Lord of the Sabbath

Joshua gathered the tribes together at Shechem to renew the covenant with the Lord. Joshua recounted the history of Israel, from the time God called Abraham from Haran (in present-day Syria) to go to a new land that God would show him and give to his descendants. The Lord gave Abraham a son, Isaac, and to Isaac he gave Jacob and Essau. Essau inherited the hill country of Seir (Edom), but Jacob and his descendants went to Egypt.

The Lord obtained the release of the Israelites from Egypt by bringing great plagues upon the Egyptians. The Lord parted the Red Sea while the Israelites crossed over, and then destroyed the Egyptians who were pursuing them through it. The Lord led the Israelites in the wilderness for forty years. Then the Lord gave them victory over the Amorites (east of the Jordan River) and led them through the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Balak, king of Moab, had hired Balaam, a Mesopotamian seer, to curse Israel, but the Lord made it impossible for Balaam to do anything but bless the Israelites.

The Lord parted the waters of the Jordan and brought Israel across on dry ground. The Lord gave them victory at Jericho, and drove out before Israel all the people who occupied the land of Canaan, so that Israel took possession of houses, fields, vineyards and oliveyards which they didn’t have to create for themselves. Joshua called the people to serve the Lord in faithfulness and sincerity, since the Lord had been so faithful to them. Joshua told each individual that one must choose for oneself whether to serve the Lord or not, but Joshua was committed to serving the Lord.

Paul had been arrested in the Temple in Jerusalem following an attack on him by Jews from Asia who had been persecuting him and wanted to kill him. Although Paul was innocent of any crime, the Jews plotted to kill Paul in prison, so in order for any hope of justice he was forced to appeal for trial before Caesar, since Paul was a Roman Citizen. In Rome, Paul was allowed to stay in his own quarters under house-arrest. Since Paul’s preaching of the Gospel had been the cause of his arrest and trials, Paul called the Jews of Rome together and proclaimed to them the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Jews came to Paul and he spent the day explaining the Gospel of Jesus Christ and trying to convince them that it was the fulfillment of the scriptures of Moses and the prophets. Some of the Jews were convinced but others did not believe, so they left, arguing among themselves.  Paul told them as they left that their unbelief had been prophesied in Isaiah 6:9-10. Paul told the Jews that the Gentiles would accept the Gospel and receive salvation although the Jews did not. Paul stayed there for two years at his own expense, and preached and taught about Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God to all who came to him.

On the Sabbath, Jesus and his disciples were passing through fields of grain and his disciples were criticized by Pharisees among the crowd which followed Jesus, because the disciples had picked some heads of grain and were eating them. The Pharisees declared that this activity constituted the work of harvesting and threshing, which was not legal on the Sabbath.

Jesus replied that David and his men, when they were fleeing from Saul’s attempts to murder him, had eaten the bread of the Presence from the sanctuary, which only the priests were allowed to eat, because they were hungry and it was their only readily available source of food. Jesus pointed out that God created the Sabbath for the benefit of mankind, not the other way around. Jesus declared that “the Son of man” (Jesus) is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:28).

The Lord is good and faithful in every way. It is not the Lord who causes our problems; it is mankind’s sinful human nature. The Lord didn’t enslave Israel; the Lord freed them from slavery. The Lord gave them victory over their enemies, led and provided for them in the wilderness, and gave them possession of the Promised Land just as he had promised.

The Israelites at Shechem had heard of the Lord’s saving power and faithfulness to their ancestors and had personally experienced the Lord’s saving power and faithfulness as they had followed the Lord in trust and obedience to his word. Joshua commanded them to make the commitment right then to serve the Lord, and then to fulfill that commitment.

Joshua publicly declared his commitment to serve the Lord, and challenged the others to follow his lead in committing to trust and obey the Lord. [I’d like to suggest a perhaps unorthodox proposition that “Balaam’s error” (Jude 11; Revelation 2:14; Numbers 25; 31:16;) was the notion on the part of God’s people that, as God’s favored people, they could not be cursed, regardless of their lack of obedience to God’s word. This is comparable to the concept of “cheap grace;”* the idea that salvation is by grace alone, without the requirement of obedience and discipleship].

Paul had learned the truth of the Gospel of Jesus and had committed to trusting and obeying Jesus as his Lord. He had personally experienced the power and faithfulness of the Lord. He had personally experienced great persecution because of his proclamation of the Gospel, but nothing was able to silence him. He fulfilled his commitment to serve the Lord. Those who rejected Jesus hated Paul for no reason except Paul’s proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul was definitely not “self-righteous;” he considered himself “the foremost of sinners” who solely by God’s unmerited favor was given mercy as an example for all who trust in Jesus (1 Timothy 1:15-16).  

The Lord’s teachings are given for our wellbeing. The Law regarding the keeping of the Sabbath was not given to oppress us but to benefit us by providing rest and opportunity for spiritual nurture. It isn’t the Lord who is trying to oppress us. It was the Pharisees who wanted to oppress Jesus’ followers because they hated Jesus. The Pharisees regarded themselves as righteous because they thought they kept the Law. They honored the Sabbath (when it was convenient for them to do so), while violating the commandments to love God and love others.

The Church is called to trust and obey Jesus as Lord. As we begin to trust and obey Jesus, we experience the power and faithfulness of Jesus through the indwelling Holy Spirit which he gives to those who trust and obey him (Isaiah 42:5e, John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9b), through whom we have personal fellowship with the Lord. We must choose to serve the Lord, and then fulfill that commitment by trusting and obeying him.

Are we serving the Lord or are we serving the gods of this world? Are we faithfully proclaiming the Gospel or are we trying to be “popular” in this world? Are we preaching discipleship and obedience to God’s word, or are we preaching “cheap grace” and pursuing Balaam’s error?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are You Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20 RSV)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

 *See: The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Collier Books, Macmillan Publishing Co., NY 1963 ISBN 0-02-083850-6

11 Pentecost - Monday

first posted 08/15/04

Joshua 24:16-33    The death of Joshua
Romans 16:1-16     Paul’s greetings
Matthew 27:24-31   Pilate delivers Jesus to be crucified

At Shechem Joshua renewed the covenant between God and the Israelites. The people promised to be faithful to the Lord and not to serve other gods. They acknowledged that it was the Lord who had delivered them from bondage in Egypt, had preserved them in the wilderness, and drove out the Canaanites from the Promised Land. Joshua warned them that the Lord is a holy and jealous God; that the Lord would punish unfaithfulness. If Israel forsook the Lord and turned to worship foreign gods, the Lord would punish and destroy them. But the Israelites promised that they would serve the Lord faithfully, so Joshua declared that they were witnesses against themselves that they had chosen to serve the Lord, to which they agreed.

Then Joshua told them to put away the foreign gods from among them and trust and obey the Lord from their hearts. The people promised to serve the Lord and obey his word. So Joshua made a covenant with the people at Shechem. “Joshua recorded these words in the book of the Law of God” (Joshua 24:26). Joshua set up a stone pillar, as a witness to the covenant, under the sacred oak at Shechem as a sanctuary to the Lord. Then Joshua dismissed the people to their territorial inheritances.

After this, Joshua died at one hundred and ten years old. In the distribution of the territorial inheritances, the people of Israel had given Joshua the city of Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim (Joshua 19:49-50) and there Joshua was buried. Israel served the Lord during the lifetimes of Joshua and the elders who outlived him who had witnessed the works of the Lord (in giving Israel possession of the land).

The bones of Joseph which the people had brought with them from Egypt were interred in Shechem on land which became part of the inheritance of the descendants of Joseph, bought from Hamor, the father of Shechem, by Jacob for a hundred coins. Eleazar, son of Aaron, died and was buried in Gibeah, the town Eleazar's son, Phinehas, inherited in Ephraim.

Paul concluded his letter to the Roman Church with personal greetings. (Christian travelers depended on the hospitality of fellow Christians for accommodations, since the inns of that period were frequented by prostitutes and robbers.) With the exception of Prisca and Aquila, there is no other information on these people except what Paul mentions here. These people loved and helped one another, worked together to accomplish the mission of the church, and risked their health and lives for one another.

Pilate found no reason to execute Jesus, but the crowd demanded it (Matthew 27:23), so Pilate washed his hands publicly as a sign that he was innocent of Jesus’ blood, and turned Jesus over to the people. The people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children! Pilate released Barabbas (a notorious prisoner; Matthew 27:16), and handed Jesus over to be crucified.

The soldiers of the Roman Governor took Jesus to the Praetorium (the Governor’s residence) and mocked and scourged (whipped) Jesus in front of the entire Roman battalion. They put a robe and a crown woven from thorns upon Jesus, put a reed in Jesus’ right hand, hailed him as King of the Jews, and struck him on the head with the reed. After they mocked him they stripped him of the robe and led him away to be crucified.  

When the people of Israel had entered the Promised Land they renewed their covenant with the Lord to faithfully serve him. They acknowledged that the Lord had been faithful and had kept his word to deliver them from Egypt and bring them through the wilderness and into the Promised Land. They acknowledged that the Lord would punish and destroy them if they forsook the Lord. Joshua told them to trust and obey the Lord and serve him with all their hearts and the people promised to do so. Joshua declared that they were witnesses against themselves that they had chosen to serve the Lord.

Paul’s closing greeting is a roll-call of faithful servants of the Lord of the first-century church who are mostly otherwise unknown heroes of the faith.

The people of Israel rejected their Messiah, the heir to the throne of David, and demanded Jesus’ crucifixion, pardoning and receiving a notorious criminal instead. They accepted the guilt for Jesus’ death upon themselves and their children. The result was that the Jewish religion effectively ended at the crucifixion (See entries for Holy Week, even year). The Temple was destroyed in 70 AD, and has never been rebuilt, the Jews were scattered to the farthest parts of the earth, and only since the end of World War II have they begun to return to their homeland.

It isn’t what we promise to do, but what we actually do that matters! Our deeds will be our witnesses. It is not those who say that Jesus is Lord who are Christians, but those who do what Jesus commands (see Matthew 7:21-24; Luke 6:46). It’s not membership in the people of God, the Church, but trust and obedience to Jesus Christ that counts. What kind of servants of the Lord will we be?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commanded (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

first posted 08/16/04

Judges 2:1-5, 11-23    Reason for Israel’s incomplete conquest
Romans 16:17-27    Final appeal and benediction
Matthew 27:32-44    The crucifixion

In his farewell address, Joshua had reminded the people of Israel that the Lord had given them the Promised Land, and had begun to drive out the inhabitants of the land before Israel. The Lord would continue to do so as long as the Israelites trusted and obeyed the Lord. Joshua warned that if the Israelites turned away from the Lord and joined into covenants with the inhabitants of Canaan, intermarried, or adopted the customs and idolatry of the land, that the Lord would no longer drive out the inhabitants and they would become a snare and a trap to the Israelites (Joshua 23:3-13).

The Israelites had been unfaithful in their covenant with the Lord, and therefore had failed to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan (Judges 2:1-5). The Israelites had done what was evil in God’s sight and had worshiped the idols of the native people. So the Lord allowed Israel to be plundered and dominated by their enemies, since they were no longer able to withstand them.

Then the Lord raised up judges (military heroes who governed the people) who saved the people from their enemies. The Lord had pity because of the oppression of his people and would raise up judges who would deliver the people from their enemies, but the people would not listen to their judges, but would soon turn from the Lord and his commands. They continued to serve other gods and did not turn from their evil ways, so the Lord did not remove the remaining inhabitants from the land.

In Paul’s closing words to the Roman Christians, he urged believers to note those who create dissensions, difficulties and opposition to the scriptural apostolic (as taught by the apostles and recorded in scripture) Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul warns believers to watch out for such people, who are serving their own personal desires, and who say things that sound good and flatter their hearers in order to deceive them.

Paul commends the Roman believers for their obedience, but wants them to be informed of sound doctrine so that they will know what is good and be blameless about what is evil, for then God will give them victory over Satan. Paul closes his letter with greetings and a benediction. God is able to strengthen those who hold onto the true scriptural Gospel of Jesus Christ, and will bring about the obedience of faith in those who trust and obey him.

After mocking and beating Jesus, the Roman soldiers marched Jesus from the residence of Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, to the place of crucifixion. On the way, they encountered Simon of Cyrene, who they forced to carry Jesus’ cross. When they came to a place called Golgotha (meaning, “place of a skull”) they offered Jesus wine mixed with gall (any bitter liquid; possibly myrrh, as a sedative; compare Mark 15:23. See Psalm 69:21). When Jesus tasted it he refused to drink it.

When they had crucified Jesus, the soldiers divided Jesus’ clothing between them by casting lots (determining by a game of chance; like throwing dice; Psalm 22:18) and sat down to wait for his death. Above his head they placed a sign declaring him to be Jesus, the King of the Jews. Two robbers were crucified, one on each side of Jesus.

Passersby mocked Jesus, “wagging their heads” (Matthew 27:39 RSV; compare Psalm 22:7) and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days (Matthew 26:60-61), save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross” (Matthew 27:39-40).

The chief priests, scribes and elders also mocked Jesus, suggesting that Jesus demonstrate his power to save others, and to prove that he was King of Israel, by coming down from the cross. They also said that Jesus trusted in God; therefore let God deliver him now, if God is pleased with Jesus (Matthew 27:43 RSV), since Jesus claimed to be the Son of God (compare Psalm 22:8).

The history of Israel demonstrates that when people (and nations) trust and obey the Lord, the Lord blesses and prospers them, but when they turn from the Lord and pursue their own interests, disaster follows. Israel never received the full extent of what God promised because she did not pursue it by obedient faith. The Lord gave the Israelites victory over their enemies as long as Israel was faithful and obedient to the Lord. When they turned from the Lord, they were no longer able to triumph over their enemies.

Paul warned believers to be on guard against those who create dissension, difficulties and opposition to the sound doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus as taught by the original apostles of Jesus Christ and recorded in the Bible. Believers are to be informed about what is sound doctrine, so that they will know what is right and do it, and avoid doing what is evil. In order to do that, believers must read the entire Bible and know what it says.

Paul restates the theme of Judges, and all the scriptures, which is that when God’s people trust and obey the Lord, the Lord gives them victory over their enemies, but when God’s people turn away from the Lord and ignore his word, disaster follows. Christians cannot expect God to bless them and give them victory over Satan while they pursue their own will and ignore God’s word. God strengthens believers who hold on to sound scriptural doctrine and helps to be obedient to his word those who trust the Lord.

God’s word is absolutely dependable. His promises are always fulfilled. Jesus’ crucifixion was the fulfillment of scriptural prophecy. Psalm 22 describes Jesus’ crucifixion, although at the time it was written, crucifixion was unknown to the Jews and execution was by stoning. Crucifixion was a Roman execution introduced much later, during the Roman occupation. Jesus never claimed to be King of the Jews, King of Israel or Son of God, but by his actions he demonstrated that those were his legitimate titles.

Each individual must decide for oneself who Jesus is. The charge that Jesus claimed he could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days was a false charge (Matthew 26:59-63) based on misunderstanding of what Jesus had said (John 2:18-22). Jesus did demonstrate his power to save others, by not coming down from the cross, but instead rising, on the third day, from the dead. God did deliver Jesus from death because he was pleased (Matthew 27:43 RSV) by Jesus’ obedience (Philippians 2:8).

This should be a warning to Christians and the Church today, and also to America and other nominally “Christian” nations. The Church is the New Israel (the religion), and Christians are the New Israelites (people of God); America (as well as other “Christian” nations) is a New Israel (nation). If we pursue the idols of the land, such as wealth, worldly power, or pleasure, if we allow ourselves to enter into agreements with the “Canaanites,” (worldly people), which compromise our obedience to God’s word, if we are unfaithful to the New Covenant in Jesus Christ by ignoring Jesus’ commands and instead, pursuing our own will and interest, we will not achieve the fullness of God’s promises, and we will not be able to stand against our enemies and achieve victory. I believe this is why parts of the Church and also America today seem to be loosing ground.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first 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

first posted 08/17/04

Judges 3:12-30   Ehud delivers Israel from Moab
Acts 1:1-14    Jesus’ ascension
Matthew 27:45-54   Jesus’ death on the cross

During the period of the Judges, Israel went through a series of cycles of apostasy, enslavement, repentance and deliverance (see entry for yesterday). After a period of deliverance, Israel fell away from obedience to the Lord and fell under the oppression of Eglon, king of Moab (east of the Dead Sea) who had allied with the Ammonites and the Amalekites. Israel was dominated by Moab for eighteen years.

When the Israelites prayed to the Lord for relief, the Lord raised up Ehud, a Benjaminite (of the tribe of Benjamin) who happened to be left-handed. Israel sent the tax demanded by Eglon, carried by Ehud, who had made a two-edged sword a cubit (approximately 21”) long and concealed it on his right (inner) thigh under his clothes. When Ehud had presented the tax he dismissed his porters and returned to Eglon, saying that he had a secret message for Eglon. Eglon happened to be in a cool chamber on the roof when Ehud came to him. Eglon dismissed his attendants.

When Eglon and Ehud were alone, Ehud drew his sword from his thigh with his left hand, and stabbed Eglon in the belly. Eglon was very fat, and the sword went in past the hilt, and the fat closed over the handle. “The dirt (i.e. feces) came out” (Judges 3:22c). Ehud left, locking the doors to the upper chamber behind him. Eglon’s attendants thought the king must be going to the bathroom, so they left him undisturbed until it became obvious that something was wrong. Meanwhile, Ehud was able to escape.

Ehud returned to Seirah (unknown location in Ephriam) and gathered an army to attack the Moabites while they were in disorganization because of Eglon’s assassination. Ehud’s army attacked and defeated the Moabites, killing ten thousand Moabite troops. So Israel had peace for the next eighty years.

Acts is the continuation of the Gospel of Luke, “the first book” (Acts 1:1), written by the same author, probably Luke, the Gentile Christian Physician and friend of the Apostle Paul. Theophilus (“lover of God;” Acts 1:1; compare Luke 1:3) may be the name of an actual person to whom both books were addressed, or it may address any reader who loves God. The Gospel of Luke ends with Jesus’ ascension (Luke 24:50-53, and Acts begins at that point (Acts 1:9).

After Jesus’ resurrection he appeared to his disciples many times (for examples, see Luke 24:13-53) during a period of forty days until his ascension. During this period Jesus told them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there until they had received the promise of the Father (i.e. the infilling by the Holy Spirit; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8; Acts 2:1-13) which they had heard from Jesus (John 14:15-16, 26). Jesus told his disciples that soon they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit ( John 1:31-34; compare Luke 3:16).

The disciples wanted to know if Jesus would immediately restore the kingdom to Israel (free Israel from Roman occupation). Jesus answer implies that the disciples should leave such things to God’s sovereign authority; the disciples’ role was to be empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit so that they could testify to the Gospel of Jesus beginning in Jerusalem and moving outward into Judea, then Samaria, and ultimately to the farthest corners of the world.

When Jesus had said this, while the disciples were watching, Jesus was lifted up into the air and out of their sight. While they stood there in amazement, two angels asked them why they were standing there staring into heaven. The angels told the disciples that Jesus would return in the same way they had seen him ascend.

At Jesus' crucifixion, from noon to three p.m. there was darkness over all the earth. Then Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabach-thani?” which means, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; quoting Psalm 22:1). Some of the bystanders though he was calling Elijah (whose return was to usher in the messianic age). One of them gave Jesus vinegar (old, sour wine) in a sponge to drink. But others wanted to wait to see if Elijah would come to save Jesus.

“Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit” (Matthew 27:50). The curtain of the temple (separating the Holy of Holies) was torn in two, from top to bottom, the earth shook, rocks were split, tombs were opened and many bodies of dead saints were raised, and appeared to many witnesses. When the soldiers guarding the crucifixion saw the earthquake and other manifestations, they were afraid, and said, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54).

Israel was repeatedly unfaithful to their covenant with God. But God was always faithful to them. When Israel, under the oppression of Moab, called out to God, God raised up a savior, Ehud, who delivered Israel from Eglon of Moab.  When Israel turned away from the Lord and obedience to his word, disaster followed, but when she returned to the Lord and became obedient to God’s word, the Lord saved her from her troubles. As long as Israel continued to trust and obey the Lord she continued to have peace.  

Jesus trusted and obeyed God the Father, even unto death on the cross. God hadn’t forsaken Jesus, although it may have looked and felt like he had. God saved Jesus from death and the grave by raising him up to eternal life. God has raised up a savior for us in Jesus Christ. All who are oppressed by sin and death can call on Jesus and God will raise us and give us eternal life with Jesus. Jesus ascended into Heaven, according to eyewitness testimony recorded in scripture, and Jesus has promised to return to judge everyone who has ever lived on Earth (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46).

The tearing of the curtain separating the main sanctuary from the Holy of Holies (God’s presence) symbolizes that Jesus has opened the way to eternal life and fellowship with God. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Jesus (John 14:6). No one has eternal life except through Jesus (1 John 5:11-12) Jesus is God’s only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12).

Jesus is the only one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:16; John 1:31-34). Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit to his disciples who trust and obey him (John 14:15-17). Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ (the Holy Spirit) does not belong to him (Romans 8:9b) It is possible for one to know with certainty whether one has received the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2). We can have a personal fellowship with the Lord through his indwelling Holy Spirit. The disciples’ mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ, teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20).

Those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will receive eternal life in Heaven with the Lord; those who have rejected Jesus and refused to obey him will receive eternal death in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46). Now is the time to turn to the Lord and obey him (Matthew 7:21-24). Who do you say that Jesus is?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ, and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commanded (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

first posted 08/18/04

Judges 4:4-23    Deborah
Acts 1:15-26    Appointing Matthias
Matthew 27:55-66     Burial of Jesus

During the period of the judges, Israel went through repeated cycles of apostasy, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. When the people cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up heroes who would save the people. Israel was under the oppression of Jabin, King of Hazor. Deborah, a prophetess, became a judge of the people. She sat under a palm tree between Ramah and Bethel, and the people of Israel would come to her for judgment.

Deborah summoned Barak from Kedesh in Naphtali and told him that the Lord had commanded Barak to gather ten thousand men from the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali to fight against Sisera, the general of King Jabin’s army. Barak agreed to do so only if Deborah went with them. Deborah agreed to go, but prophesied that Barak would not get the glory for defeating Sisera, because the Lord would deliver Sisera into the hand of a woman.

Heber the Kenite, a descendant of Hobab, the father-in-law of Moses had left the Kenites and was living in a tent near Kedesh (northwest of the Sea of Galilee). When Sisera heard that Barak was at Mt. Tabor, Sisera went out with nine hundred chariots to attack Barak. Deborah told Barak that the Lord would give Israel victory over Sisera that day. So Barak went to fight Sisera with ten thousand troops. All Sisera’s men were slain, and only Sisera escaped.

Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber. There was peace between Heber the Kenite, and Jabin king of Hazor. Jael offered refuge to Sisera. She hid him under a rug and gave him milk to drink. Sisera told her to stand watch at the tent door to deny Sisera’s presence if anyone came looking for him, and then when Sisera, who was exhausted, had fallen asleep, Jael came quietly and drove a tent peg through his temple and into the ground with a mallet, killing him.

Then Jael went out to meet Barak as he pursued Sisera and showed Barak Sisera lying dead in the tent with a tent peg through his temple. After the defeat of Sisera, King Jabin's power over the Israelites gradually declined until he was finally destroyed.

Before Jesus ascended into heaven he commanded his disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they had received the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5. 8). There were about one hundred and twenty followers of Jesus all together. The original twelve disciples were to be judges of the twelve tribes of Israel in the new Kingdom of God.

While they were waiting, they decided, based on their understanding of prophecies concerning Judas in Psalms, to select one of their members to take the place of Judas Iscariot, who had been one of the twelve, but had betrayed Jesus. (Here the account of Judas’ death differs from Matthew 27:5, and may have been an attempt to explain the name of the field which is “Field of Blood.”) They decided that the replacement must be a follower who had been an eyewitness to the Gospel from the time of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist, which they regarded as the very beginning of the Gospel. Two candidates were suggested: Joseph “Barsabbas” Justus, and Matthias. They prayed that the Lord would make his will known to them, and then they cast lots (made the selection by chance; like throwing dice), and the lot fell to Mathias.

At Jesus’ crucifixion, there were many women who were followers of Jesus watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the wife of Cleopas (Alphaeus), Jesus’ mother’s sister, and Salome, the mother of James and John, wife of Zebedee.

At evening a rich man, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus for burial, and Pilate ordered it given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and placed it in Joseph’s own new tomb, and rolled a great stone in front of the door to close the tomb. Mary Magalaene and the other Mary were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ burial.

The next day (i.e. the Sabbath) The chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate and told him that since Jesus had said that he would rise from the dead after three days, Pilate should secure the tomb until then, so that the disciples couldn’t steal the body and claim that Jesus had risen from the dead. Pilate gave them permission to post a guard (probably soldiers of the Temple police rather than Roman soldiers). The chief priests and Pharisees sealed the stone and set a guard at the tomb (probably that evening when the Sabbath had ended).

When Israel turned to the Lord in faith and trusted and obeyed his word, the Lord blessed them and no one could thwart God’s will and plan for his people. The mighty general Sisera tried to run away and hide (figuratively behind the skirts of a woman), but was killed by a woman.

Deborah, the only woman in the line of judges, had called for the attack against King Jabin’s forces, in obedience to the Lord’s command, and Jael is also a woman of faith, since the father-in-law of Moses (Jethro) is regarded by most Jewish and Christian scholarship as a convert to Yahwism (he worshiped Yahweh, the God of Israel). Jael became an instrument of God’s purpose. [Hobab may be the same individual as Jethro, or else he may be either Jethro’s father or son.]

Jesus had told his disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they had received the indwelling Holy Spirit, and that’s what they were doing. They were studying the scriptures in the light of the Resurrection, and they were seeking God’s will, but they didn’t yet have the Holy Spirit, “the counselor,” so they used “lots” to select Judas’ replacement. Matthias is never mentioned again.  Note also that Judas’ decision not to cooperate with God’s will didn’t prevent it from being accomplished; it just led to Judas’ destruction.

The disciples were waiting for the baptism of the Holy Spirit as Jesus had commanded, but they should have also waited for the gift of the Holy Spirit before choosing a replacement for Judas. I'm convinced that God's choice for Judas' replacement was Paul (Saul of Tarsus), the first modern, "post resurrection"  "born-again" disciple and apostle (Acts 9:1-21). From the time of his conversion Paul became the predominant apostle in the New Testament.

Because the disciples had not yet received the indwelling Holy Spirit they didn't really know what to expect. This should be a warning to the Church to make "born-again" disciples, and choose church leaders from them. Church leaders should have experienced the anointing of the indwelling Holy Spirit, so that they can guide their members to wait for the Holy Spirit and teach them to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Too often it seems that "Christians" aren't taught that the gift of the Holy Spirit is personally discernable, and, instead, they make decisions by prayng, and then making their best "guess."

Even though they didn’t believe Jesus would be raised from the dead,  the Jewish religious authorities tried to prevent Jesus’ resurrection by obtaining permission to post a guard at the tomb and by sealing the door, but they were powerless to prevent God’s will from being done. The women among the followers of Jesus became the principle witnesses to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

John is the only male disciple specifically mentioned as an eyewitness to the crucifixion (John 19:26; see also Luke 23:49), but the women were there, according to all four Gospel accounts. Joseph of Arimathea may have been one of the secret disciples, along with Nicodemus. By providing his own tomb, Joseph fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9 that the messiah would be executed with the wicked and buried in the grave of a rich man.

God’s word is absolutely dependable. What he promises is fulfilled. We have a choice of whether to seek God’s will and obey it, or to pursue our own will. God’s will will be done whether we cooperate with it or oppose it. If we seek to cooperate with God’s will, he will reveal his will to us and use us to accomplish his purpose. Our choice will determine our eternal destiny.

Jesus is God's only plan for our salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). When we choose to follow God’s plan and accept Jesus as our Lord we need to be discipled by spiritually mature disciples; we need to “stay in Jerusalem” (i.e. the Church) until we have received the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5; Luke 24:47-49), before we can be sent out to proclaim the Gospel and make other disciples of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first 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

first posted 08/19/04

Judges 5:1-18    The song of Deborah
Acts 2:1-21    The Day of Pentecost
Matthew 28:1-10    The first Easter

Let the Lord be glorified by leaders who lead and people who follow willingly, in obedience to the word of the Lord. In the days of Shamgar (a contemporary of Deborah’s who repelled an invasion of Philistines) and Jael (who killed Sisera, the enemy commander; see Judges 4:21), there was such anarchy that caravans ceased and travelers avoided the main thoroughfares, until Deborah led Israel to victory over Sisera. When Israel turned from the Lord to other gods, then war came upon her.

Israel owes gratitude to the leaders who gave themselves for the people. Those who enjoy good life in Israel as a result should remember the sacrifices of those who made it possible. The people of the Lord marched against the mighty enemy in the Lord’s name. The tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, Machir (possibly a part of the Manasseh tribe west of the Jordan), Zebulun, Issachar, and Naphtali (Judges 4:10; 5:18) took part in the battle. The tribes of Gilead (Reuben, Gad, and part of Manasseh) Dan and Asher did not participate. (Judah, Simeon and Levi are not mentioned). Zebulun and Naphtali are given credit for the greatest contribution.

On the day of Pentecost (originally the Jewish feast of firstfruits, 50 days after Passover) the followers of Jesus (about one hundred and twenty people; Acts 1:15) were all together in one place. Suddenly there was a sound like a great wind, which filled the house. Tongues like fire appeared on each one of them, they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages, by the Holy Spirit within them.

There were Jews from every nation on Earth living in Jerusalem at the time, and a great crowd gathered at the sound of this commotion, and each heard the Christians speaking in his own native language. The crowd was amazed, and asked how the Christians, who had all come from Galilee, were speaking all these foreign languages, each telling the mighty works of God in the hearer’s native language. The people were amazed and tried to understand what this meant, but some suggested that the Christians were drunk.

Peter stood up and began to explain what was happening. The Christians weren’t drunk since it was only about 9:00 AM. Instead, it was the fulfillment of the prophecy by Joel (Joel 2:28-32), that in the last days, God would pour out his Spirit upon his people, and that there would be supernatural manifestations heralding the Day of the Lord’s Second Coming to judge the Earth. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord (in faith; i.e. trust and obedience) will be saved.

Jesus had been crucified on Friday; the Jewish Sabbath was Saturday, and now it was the dawn of the first day of the week, Sunday, the third day since Jesus’ death. Mary Magdalene and Mary, the wife of Cleopas (Alphaeus; and probably mother of James “the Little”) came to complete the burial ritual. There was a great earthquake and an angel of the Lord had rolled back the stone covering the entrance to the tomb, and sat upon it. His appearance and clothing was dazzlingly white.

The guards which had been posted by the Jewish religious authorities were paralyzed with fear and “became like dead men: (Matthew 28:4). The angel told the women not to be afraid. The angel said that Jesus, who had been crucified, was no longer there; he had risen as he had said (Matthew 26:32; 28:16-17, John 21:1-23, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8). The angel showed the women the empty tomb and then told them to go and tell the other disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead, and that they would see him again in Galilee, as Jesus had said (Matthew 26:32).

The women hurried from the tomb in fear and great joy and ran to tell the other disciples. On the way Jesus met and greeted them. The women bowed down and worshiped Jesus, and he told them not to be afraid, but to tell the disciples to go to Galilee, and they would see Jesus there.

The Lord is glorified by leaders who lead according to God’s word, and by people who follow in obedience to God’s word. Turning away from the Lord to other gods brings disaster upon a nation. When the people marched against the enemy in trust and obedience to God’s word, the Lord gave them victory. People who are dwelling in peace, security, comfort, and abundance should be grateful to those who provided those blessings through their sacrifice in obedience to the Lord and his word.

This should be a warning to America, which was founded by Christians on Christian principles. The peace, security, comfort, and abundance which we have enjoyed has been provided by people obedient to God’s word who made great personal sacrifice to provide our freedom.

Pentecost was originally the festival of “firstfruits” of the early harvest. It was also, according to Jewish tradition, the day of the receiving of the Law. The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the “firstfruits” of eternal life in the kingdom of God (Romans 8:23). The Holy Spirit delivers us from bondage to the Law, so that we can live according to the leading of the Spirit (Romans 7:6 Romans 8:1-8). The indwelling of the Holy Spirit reverses the curse God placed on the language of mankind at the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). The manifestation of tongues of fire is the fulfillment of the prophecy of John the Baptist who said that Jesus would baptize his disciples with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11).

Through Jesus, we have victory over sin and death. Jesus is our savior whose suffering made it possible for us to begin living now in the peace, security, comfort and abundance of the kingdom of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus is our leader, whom we should follow in trust and obedience, joining in the spiritual battle in the name of the Lord to bring that salvation to others.

Jesus suffered crucifixion and death so that we might be saved and have eternal life in the Promised Land of God’s Kingdom in Heaven. Jesus won the victory over sin and death at the Cross, and proved it by rising from the dead. Jesus’ word is absolutely dependable. All that Jesus told his disciples beforehand happened as he had said. Jesus has promised to return on the Day of the Lord to judge all who have ever lived on earth (John 5:28-29). Those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will receive eternal life in Heaven with the Lord; those who have rejected Jesus and have refused to obey him will receive eternal death and destruction in Hell with all evil (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 believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commanded (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

first posted 08/20/04

Judges 5:19-31   Song of Deborah Continued
Acts 2:22-36    Peter’s sermon
Matthew 28:11-20    The Great Commission

The Song of Deborah records the victory of Barak and the army of Israel against Sisera and the army of King Jabin of Hazor (see entries for Thursday and Friday). The kings of Canaan fought against Israel. Taanach and Megiddo were strongholds guarding the passes at Mount Carmel. Heaven fought against Sisera (on behalf of Israel). The enemy was swept away as by the onrushing Kishon River.

Meroz (apparently an Israelite village near the battle) was cursed by an angel of the Lord for not assisting Israel in the battle against Sisera. Jael was blessed for her courage and initiative in killing Sisera by driving a tent peg through his temple with a mallet. (Jael killed him while he lay sleeping in her tent, but the poet portrays him figuratively as standing and falling, which is more dramatic). The poet visualizes Sisera’s mother anxiously awaiting his return and suggesting several possible reasons for his delay, but unable to imagine that he has been so utterly defeated and destroyed. The poet  concludes, “So perish all thine enemies, O Lord! But thy friends be like the sun as he rises in his might” (Judges 5:31).

On the day of Pentecost, a crowd had been attracted by the commotion among the Christians when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them. Peter had explained for the crowd what was happening. Peter continued, saying that Jesus had been attested to by God through many mighty works of God done through Jesus. Jesus had been sent by God to be delivered up and crucified according to God’s definite plan and foreknowledge.

God raised Jesus from the dead, having broken the bonds of death. Peter quoted the Psalms of David concerning the prophecy of the Messiah, showing that Jesus’ resurrection was the fulfillment of scripture. God had sworn that a descendant of David would reign over Israel (Psalm 132:11; Jesus was the “Son of David;” Matthew 21:9, 15, Luke 2:4). Peter testified that God had raised Jesus, and that the disciples were eyewitnesses.

Jesus had ascended into heaven, had received from God the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, and he had poured out this which the crowd had seen and heard. Peter quoted Psalm 110:1: “The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet.” God has made Jesus, whom Israel had crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Mary Magdalene and Mary the wife of Cleopas (Alphaeus) had gone to the tomb early on the first Easter Sunday morning. They had been told by the angel of the Lord that Jesus had risen and they had personally seen the risen Jesus (Matthew 28:9-10). They were on their way to tell the other disciples. Meanwhile some of the guards that the Jewish religious authorities had posted, to seal the tomb to prevent the claim of resurrection, went back to them and reported what had happened. The Council composed of the chief priests and elders decided to bribe the guards to tell the people that Jesus’ body had been stolen by his disciples to fake the resurrection.

The eleven disciples went to Galilee to a mountain, as Jesus had instructed them. Jesus came and told his disciples that he had been given all authority on heaven and earth. Jesus told his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (the Trinity), and teaching them to obey all that Jesus has commanded. Jesus promised to be with his disciples always, to the end of the age.  

Deborah had been obedient to the Lord’s command to call Barak to lead Israel’s army against Sisera (Judges 4:6). Barak had been obedient to the Lord’s call (Judges 4:8). Barak had sounded the battle call and recruited an army from the neighboring tribes (Judges 4:10; 5:14-15a, 18). The Lord fought for Israel and gave them complete victory over Israel's enemy.

Sisera, the great general, fled in panic, and hid in the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, figuratively behind the skirts of a woman. Jael lulled him into a sense of false security and killed him as he slept.  Notice the scorn against tribes which did not come to the aid of Barak (Judges 5:15b-17). These tribes were far from the battle and are thus excused, but Meroz, an Israelite village near to the battle is cursed for not assisting (Judges 5:23).

Jesus is the only one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). Jesus promised to send his Holy Spirit upon his disciples (John 14:15-17; 25-26), and that promise was fulfilled beginning on the day of Pentecost. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit which empowers believers to fight the spiritual battle. The Lord fights the battle for us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Notice the change in Peter, from the one who denied Jesus three times on the night of Jesus’ betrayal (Matthew 26:69-75), to the bold preacher on the day of Pentecost.

We are not to fight the battle in our own power or our own strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). The Lord has promised us that our enemies will be defeated. Jesus has already won the victory over sin and death at the cross, but the battle must still be fought. The battle call sounded on the Day of Pentecost and will continue until Jesus returns.

The Lord rose from the dead and revealed himself to his disciples. He told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they had received the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:48-49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), before they began to carry out his great commission to make disciples of all nations. New believers are to stay within the Church and be discipled by mature "born-again" (John 3:3. 5-8) disciples until they have received the Holy Spirit before they are sent out to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples.

Jesus is our "Barak!" He is the savior and leader that God has raised up to give us victory over our enemies: sin and death. The Son has risen in his might (compare Judges 5:31b). Will we be heroes of the battle, following in obedience to his command and allowing ourselves to be used by God to accomplish his purpose, like Zebulon and Naphtali (Judges 5:18); will we be scorned for shirking our responsibility, like Reuben and Gilead, Dan and Asher (Judges 5:15b-17)? Or will we be cursed by the Lord for our disobedience and refusal to follow him, like Meroz (Judges 5:23)? Are we like Sisera, thinking we can hide from the Lord's judgment, and lulled into a sense of false security by the material comforts of this world (Judges 4:18-21)? Are you an eyewitness to Jesus' resurrection or do you deny that his resurrection ever happened?

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)?