April 19th Bible in a Year Readings

Joshua 19:1-20:9 + Luke 19:28-48 + Psalm 88:1-18 + Proverbs 13:12-14
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Old Testament - Today we finish up reading about the Promised Land being divided among the tribes!  Below is a great NASA photo with an overlay of a map of the twelve tribes:

In Joshua chapter 20 we read about the Cities of Refuge.  I like that concept - a city of refuge.  A place of refuge.  This is what I think about Jesus today - He is our City of Refuge!  No matter what our past sins are, Jesus can be our City of Refuge if we will run to Him, believe, confess & repent.  Is Jesus your City of Refuge?

New Testament - In Luke chapter 19 today we read about Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem - and of course, this scene of people shouting "Hosanna!" will far too soon turn toward people spitting on and mocking Jesus on the road to Golgotha as he carries his cross.  Bible.org's commentary on our Luke chapter 19 readings today titled "The Untriumphal Entry" is at this link.

Verses 41 through 44 are so beautiful as Jesus looks upon Jerusalem and cries. It makes sense because he knows that the destruction of Jerusalem in coming in 70 A.D.  Per Tyndale's commentary today, "In 66 A.D. the Jews revolted against Roman control.  Three years later Titus, son of Emperor Vespasian, was sent to crush the rebellion.  Roman soldiers attacked Jerusalem and broke through the northern wall but still couldn't take the city.  Finally they laid siege to it, and in A.D. 70 they were able to enter the severely weakened city and burn it.  Six hundred thousand Jews were killed during Titus' onslaught."  And so, Jesus wept over Jerusalem...

Psalms - Psalm 88 is quite a Psalm!  Interestingly many churches read this Psalm during their Good Friday liturgies, interpreting this Psalm as a prayer of Jesus suffering on the road to Golgotha.  Take a read through this Psalm again with this perspective... 

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 13 verse 12 teaches us today: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there is life and joy."  Do you see the wisdom in this Psalm? I do hope that each of us realizes that faith in Jesus is not hope deferred.  It is a dream come true in the here and now.  Faith in Jesus brings life & joy now.  And yes, faith in Jesus also brings the hope of glory for eternity.  But, salvation is not all just hope deferred...  It is life & joy now too!

Worship Video: Today's readings in about Jesus' triumphal entry in Luke reminded me of Phil Wickam’s song “House of the Lord:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8uKldEUrPE

Are you in the house of the Lord? Click here to enter the House of the Lord!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: ""It is written," Jesus said to them, "'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" Luke 19:46 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that your church is a house of prayer. Pray that your house is a house of prayer. Pray that you are a person of prayer. Pray against any robbers ever appearing in your church, house, or heart.

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  Has faith brought life and joy into your life?  Do you believe faith in Jesus brings eternal life and joy as well?  Are you looking forward to eternal life and joy in heaven, our eternal "city of refuge"?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 - Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

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Comments

[Ramona]

Joshua 19:1-20:9

God knows man well enough that he knows we look for revenge when someone we love dearly is killed. We want someone to pay for a death, an accident even when the “victim” of the “crime,” accident participated in the very incident that led to his/her death. We are looking for “payback.” Since those who call out for the death of the “man slayer, themselves deserve death—For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 KJVR)—we are truly sinners crying out for the blood of those who have sinned.

The only one who can pay the price for all of us, the only refuge mankind has, the only place where I can go to satiate my need for revenge, and to keep me from becoming the object of others revenge is Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Dee]

Well last day of the spreading out of the tribes. So many names but I know those have significance because God doesn't have anything written that isn't meaningful later.

Luke..going into with the Triumphal Entry knowing that those same people will spit on and curse later. It's beautiful in the walk through but sad at the same time especially when you know all and see it

Psalm 88 being written supposedly with Jesus in mind..to know all he did for us in an awestruck thing and to love him more in these moments..wow

[Dd]

The story of Joshua made me think of Moses and him choosing him and him feeling unqualified. Wow. Luke , Jesus cried..that is so touching..sincere, sweet.

Psalm, penitentiary psalm.. one remembering the road to calvary..wow

Hope deferred makes the heart fond. Interesting be blessed

[Raenn]

Heaven is where all of the bad hurts of this world will melt away, we will be at peace and with the HOLY Trinity FOREVER. 46Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.

[Lily]

The old testament readings reminds me that God provides refuge to all those who have sinned. Earthly refuge is through the judgement of the land but heavenly refuge is through God's mercies.

The New Testament readings reminds me of how we have short memories. One day we praise God, the next day we forget God. Christ ransomed us from our sins.

We seem to forget that the house of God (the church) is a house of prayer and worship. We at times turn it to a commercial house.

Lily

[Teriann]

Today I was struck by how blind we can be to very real spiritual truth. Jesus said that even the rocks would cry out who He was but Jerusalem did not recognize Him. It made me wonder what I miss because I choose not to see. The other point I saw today was similar. The tribe of Dan was assigned a portion of land but found it too hard to conqueror so they went else where. This left a stronghold for the enemy in the middle of Israel and Dan settling for less than God intended for them all because they decided that God's way was too difficult. I want to be in the center of God's will for me even if it is difficult. I want spiritual eyes to see the truth and not miss out on God's best. I want Jesus to rejoice over me instead of weep when He sees how I missed His best.

[Kathy]

Hi Mike,
I've been reading the OYB blog all year now and I have to admit I'm having a very difficult time with the OT readings. I pray constantly for understanding but have not grown any further than I was 10 years ago. The OT scripture speaks mostly of genocide, slavery, and women as property.
The God that says 'Thou shall not kill' and never changes, commanded murder and did change His mind when Abraham & Moses asked Him to. You don't seem to touch on this subject too much with each commentary. I'm sure there are many resources to read, and I don't want to give up. But I am growing weary of trying to understand. I'm not sure faith has brought more joy into my life. I feel more disillusioned than ever.

[Lisa]

This verse has stirred my heart today and I can't let go of it. I feel that my God is walking in the cool of the day with me when I sup with Him in His Word daily (even when I do not understand it):

"...because all the people hung on every word he said." (Luke 19:48, NLT)

The Amplified Bible adds at the end of verse 48 ... "and stuck by Him."

Then I thought of this scripture: "At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared. Back and forth they talked. "Didn't we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?"" (Luke 24:31-32, The Message Bible)

The powerful majestic Word of God, our Father, is just that! It has a way of me wanting more and more, not getting enough, hanging on every Word when I allow the Word to rightly divide itself (not making it fit for me, but fit for what God has purposed His Word to accomplish through me). Glory to His name.

I encourage my family to stick by the Word and He will draw closer to you today!

Be blessed and be a blessing!

[Micah Girl]

Prov 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

All these allotment chapters in Joshua which tell us which tribes get which lands gives me a sense of longing, too, for my heavenly kingdom--for the place which will always be mine. And as Mike mentioned the longing for God is not really a hope deferred, so my heart is not sick, because I have the downpayment of the Holy Spirit in my life, guaranteeing what is to come. But I am reminded that I am a pilgrim and that this is not my home.

[Luch]

Psalm 88:18 "You have taken away my companions and loved ones; only darkness remains." What a sad picture of one who is disconnected from vital, life giving relationships. As the guy who champions the ministry of life groups in our community, verses like this stand out to me, and motivate me to keep on inspiring and helping people to get connected to people.
Without companions and loved ones in our lives there will only be darkness. Tricky thing here is that the psalmist implies that God has 'taken away his companions and loved ones.' No doubt this is all done under God's providential watchful eye, and who of us hasn't felt this way once in a while in our own journeys when it felt like the Lord removed our relational support world only to cause us to cling to Him. Just as Psalm 73:25, 26 that says, "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides youi. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
I read a study published by www.americanvalues.org called Hardwired to connect, that shows how deeply entrenched in our persons is the need to be in community. No doubt that's why the psalmist says it feels 'like darkness' when loved ones and companions feel far removed.

[Emberglow]

Cities of refuge bit always struck me as something marvellous (though not in the sense Mike suggests). We all know how in modern west all countries have extensive refugee protection quotas and policies. There are people in danger of death, torture, inhuman treatment, arbitrary imprisonment, grave harrassment and other abuses... who may be granted refugee status in the country they seek protection from.

Of course it is sad how illegal immigrants can abuse refugee policies of different countries. But still, the civilized world's refugee policies can be traced back to the Bible!!!

Even God understood how a government or administration of a country must be humane and extend protection to those-non citizens- in danger!

Compare also with Leviticus sections which instruct that ungleaned bits of crops should be left on ground for aliens and poor. There are commands to treat strangers/aliens with respect (Leviticus 19:34) God's concerns for non- Israelites has always been apparent. Though God hated Baal worshippers for their corruption but at the same time God loved ALLL humanity.

[Vance]

Cities of Refuge

God is very practical. I can always trust God to be objective, just, and fair even if a person is so angry because I may have accidentally harmed that person's friend or relative.

I CAN ALWAYS TRUST GOD. Yes, I agree that God alone is my Refuge.

However, (I need to be honest), in an age where the television was my second parent and where it is so easy to find comfort through electronic devices--do I really seek the Lord as my Refuge?

THIS IS THE CHALLENGE to myself and to other. God is the total Source of everything I need, and He should be preeminent in my life.

Regarding the boundaries of the promised land and cities of refuge, I really like the following note from this website, hebrew4christians.com:

The boundaries of the Promised Land are given.

Note that the borders of the land do not correspond with the reality of any historical settlement of Israel, so the actual possession of the land by Israel is yet to be fulfilled. Certain parts of present-day Lebanon and Syria (to the north) were never possessed nor annexed, even during the reign of Solomon.

This is significant, because it disproves the amillennial view that the Church has replaced Israel and that the promise of the land was fulfilled in ancient times.

“Cities of refuge” (arei miklat) are then designated as havens and places of exile for those involved in accidental manslaughter. Cities of refuge were places were the Levites dwelled, since they were apportioned no territories in the Promised Land.
Here the person who committed manslaughter would be safe from the tribal justice of the goel hadam, the closest relative to the person killed.

Interestingly, the refugee must remain in the city of refuge until the death of the Kohen Gadol, showing a connection between the death of the priest as atonement for the loss of life.

***
(Understanding the theology that the church has REPLACED Israel is very important. In a nutshell, this theology teaches that since the inception of the church, all of the promises that applied to Israel now only apply to the church.

MY NOTE: This is very important. Why? Because the theology that the church has replaced Israel was prominent in Germany when Adolph Hitler was Germany's leader. Since many of the German churches believed that Israel no longer had a place in God's plan, it gave them a "theological excuse" to ignore the Jewish people when Satan was using Hitler and his government to try to annihilate the Jews)

==> Of course, it is NEVER RIGHT TO have any excuse to
ignore those who are being oppressed, for all people are made in God's image. And the Jews still have a special place in God's plan
***

Luke 19 (NKJV)

Note that this is a quote from Psalm 118:26. See Psalm 118:26 in context below.

Psalm 118 (NKJV)
21
I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation.
22
The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This was the LORD’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25
Save now, I pray, O LORD;
O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.
26
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
27
God is the LORD, And He has given us light; Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28
You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You.

MY NOTE:
Note verse 27, which follows verse Psalm 118:26 --
27
God is the LORD, And He has given us light; Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.

OR... (my paraphrase)
"Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. He is the sacrifice that is to be bound with cords on the altar."

Unwittingly, the people in the fickleness and sinfulness of their hearts were used to fulfill this prophecy.

Psalm 88

The persistence of the Psalmist to seek God when He does not make sense in the middle of a very difficult situation makes me think of Job.

I respect Job, especially now as a married man. I mean, the courage and persistence of Job to keep on seeking the Lord in spite of a wife who told him to curse God and die is very courageous and nobe.

And, Job did this in the face of "friends" who, perhaps, really tried to help him-- but with their own wisdom instead of seeking the Lord's wisdom first.

Psalm 13 (NKJV)
14
The law of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.

HOW DO YOU AND I ENTER into the "substance" and "evidence" of life and joy that is in faith?

By meditating on God and His Word, and by giving His Word access to the deepest parts of our beings. Then, when we speak, we speak with a fountain of life flowing out of us through the Holy Spirit.

This life enables us to "reign in life through the One Man, the Lord Jesus Christ" no matter what is happening to us. (Romans 5:17).

Vance

[John]

Psalm 88

Sometimes referred to as "The Saddest Psalm", and I have seen it speculatively attributed to Job, Uzziah, Jeremiah, and Hezekiah. If the intent of reciting this psalm on Good Friday is to display the lowest point of sadness before the joy of Ressurection Sunday - I guess I can see it. However, if it is implied that this is a messianic psalm and hence a prayer on the way to Golgotha - I would have problems.

While some Psalms mention resurrection, this psalm seems to embrace the philosophy of Sheol as "soul sleep" or a shadowy existence. It is later (400+ yrs), in Daniel, that resurrection is expressed more explicitly.

"The Torah and Talmud alike focus on the purpose of earthly life, which is to fulfill one's duties to God and one's fellow man. Succeeding at this brings reward, failing at it brings punishment. Whether rewards and punishments continue after death, or whether anything at all happens after death, is not as important......"

"Taken together, these early biblical descriptions of death seem to indicate that the soul continues to exist in some way after death, but not consciously."
http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/beliefs/afterlife.htm

"Like all ancient peoples, the early Hebrews believed that the dead go down into the underworld and live there a colorless existence..."
http://bible.tmtm.com/wiki/Resurrection

I read somewhere that all the Psalms end in an upbeat manner, or in a plea for an upbeat scenario. I went back over the previous ten Psalms and randomly checked ten others - and this seems to be true. Not so with Psalm 88 - it ends with:

"You have taken my companions and loved ones from me;
the darkness is my closest friend."

The questions in Verses 10-12 are like as one who is (perhaps selfishly) saying I can better know you and serve you in praise and worship here (alive) than in death (sheol). Perhaps I would be more comfortable with a messianic interpretation if there were some answers to these questions in the affirmative, or an upbeat ending that indicates it is a temporary scenario. Or at least something alluding to more than is presented in the Psalm.

"If we wonder why it is in the Bible, we might listen to the testimony of J. N. Darby. He said that at one time this was the only Scripture that was any help to him because he saw that someone had been as low as that before him." - Believer's Bible Commentary

Perhaps I am missing something, and am certainly open to others giving a different view.

[NOTE: I looked up several sites on Sheol and Jewish beliefs in ressurection of the body, these two seemed consistent with others and perhaps a tad bit more readable.]

[Laura]

Two verses stood out. Joshua 20:6 reminds me that even unintentional evil is still an evil carrying consequences. Imagine, accidently killing someone and not being able to go home for years, maybe decades.

Joshua 20:6
And he shall remain in that city until he has stood before the congregation for judgment, until the death of him who is high priest at the time. Then the manslayer may return to his own town and his own home, to the town from which he fled.

Psalm 88:18 is a paradox. How is it that the psalmist can passionately cry out to a close God with a complaint about how alone he is? Faith has a lot of stuff that looks rather gray.

Psalm 88:18
You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me;
my companions have become darkness.

[Emberglow]

Laura,

We are not sure what sort of punishment or criminal laws aliens had. It must be very draconian and inhuman. In that case, the accused (could be falsely accused too) would surely be killed, stoned or tortured to death. Possibly his family would be mistreated too. In short, an unfair and inhuman punishment.

I believe cities of refuge were built to save the life and liberty of such misfortunate individuals, and their families too. I don't think cities of refuge were there so all the criminals and thugs from neighbouring countries may relax in God's land. :-)

[Anka]

Joshua 19

Perhaps of interest:

I wondered why Simeon's tribe got land inside of Judah's territory. Forgot about Simeon and Levi being integral in the massacre at Shechem. The tribe of Levi was also scattered as the tribe of priests they received no land.

"Jacob had declared with regard to Simeon and Levi, "I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel." (Genesis 49:7)...

...In regard to Simeon, the dispersion of which Jacob prophesied, manifestly took place when certain cities within the territory of Judah were assigned to his posterity for their inheritance. For although they were not sent off to great distances, yet they dwelt dispersed, and as strangers in a land properly belonging to another. Therefore, on account of the slaughter (my note: Shechem Gen 34:1-31) which they had perpetrated with no less perfidy than cruelty, they were placed separately in different abodes."

http://www.ccel.org/c/calvin/comment3/comm_vol07/htm/xxii.htm
======================================================

Tribe of Dan

The translations here lead to several impressions, but apparently the Tribe headed north for whatever reason. Nothing good came of that - the tribe resorted to idolatry, set up their own priesthood, and had serious problems as we will see later in the Bible.

I wonder if all above would have happened if they had just stayed put - trusted in God - and taken control of their territory?

Posted by: John | April 19, 2006 at 09:31 PM

April 19th 2006,A wounded soldier goes up to receive his reward from God.Zola Levitt passed away after a battle with cancer.There are churches who belive diseases affect believers with little faith.Quoting the verse that by His stripes we are healed...I look at psalm 88 and can't help wondering if this was a man after God's heart,he was supposed to always be victorious right?Well we see it is not the case,he still has moments of defeat...it didn't make him less spiritual or an unbelieving believer...I thank God for letting of see great men of faith in their dark moments so even while we go through the dark valley(even if we chose to walk there out of ignorance...or disobedience)we know others have been there and were not saying"praise the Lord"during that phase.....
God bless you all