Daily Truthbase: covenant

Showing posts with label covenant. Show all posts

2 Chronicles 8-12 Pleasing God or Ourselves

Psalm 61:1-8 Praying When Overwhelmed

Ps 61:1 “Hear my cry, God. Listen to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth, I will call to you, when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower from the enemy. 4 I will dwell in your tent forever. I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah. 5 For you, God, have heard my vows. You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. 6 You will prolong the king’s life; his years shall be for generations. 7 He shall be enthroned in God’s presence forever. Appoint your hesed/loyal love and faithfulness, that they may preserve him. 8 So I will sing praise to your name forever, that I may fulfil my vows daily.”

Observations: 61:1-4 When overwhelmed by difficulties, David prays, remembering God's track record with him, and seeking protection, deliverance and security/stability (the Rock that is higher than David's resources/abilities).

61:5-7 Because David fulfills his covenant responsibilities (fears and loyally trusts God), he knows that his prayers will be answered by the God who is faithful to His covenant responsibilities. Biblical Survey of Prayer

61:8 So David will continually sing God's praises, which he vows to do.

Groaning in the Garden gives a pattern for prayer when overwhelmed from Mark 14:

Pour Out your feelings honestly to God 1Pt 5:7 Phil 4:6-7Recognize that God is able to change anything Phil 4:13 Jn 15:7 2 Cor 9:8Align your Will (thinking and feeling) with the Father's 1Jn 5:14Yield yourself to do God's will to the point of death. Rm 14:4 2Cor 9:8

Application: Learn and use the pattern of Jesus' prayer in the Garden when overwhelmed. Learn it now, because when you need it, it will be too late to learn it.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thanks that I can call out to You at any time, in any circumstances and know that You will protect and prosper those who fear Your name. Amen.

Proverbs 16:8-9 Planning for Righteousness

Pr 16:8 “Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice. 9 A man’s heart plans his course, but/then Yahweh establishes his steps.”

Observations: 16:8 Another “better.” We need to value righteousness over injustice, even if we lose out on temporal stuff. God's blessing usually more than compensates for any “loss” we suffer, but even if it doesn't, the final tally doesn't happen until heaven.

16:9 It's our job to plan our path/direction according to God's revelation about what's best; it is God's job to establish our steps.

Grammatical and Lexical Light: The first verb “plan” is in the Piel (intentional) stem; the second “establish” is in the Hiphil (causative) stem. We intentionally plan or determine our course, then God causes our steps to be established. The root of the verb means to stand erect, and the Hiphil Imperfect yields the meaning “will cause to be established.” The “but” is a waw which has 19 possible meaning depending upon the context. "Then" is a preferable translation, indicating that God's establishment is the result of our taking the right steps. “Direct” in the illegitimate sense of override, is a poor, theologically biased and unwarranted translation, that leads to the incorrect thinking that we don't have to think, which non-thinking people embrace.
Similar incorrect thinking skews a proper interpretation of Proverbs 3:6 “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.” We have the obligation of acknowledging Him, and His instructions for our ways, then God smooths our path and prospers our way. Each of the three times the verb is translated “direct” is misleading and alien to the context. The Psalm above indicates the clear responsibility to set our hearts and steps in the right direction (Ps 78:9,10,18,37) so God can bless His people's way.

Application: Determine what action is in accord with God's will, then pursue it by faith that God will establish your steps and cause you to prosper.

Prayer: God, I plan on pleasing You, today and forever; please establish my steps and smooth my way, so I get to where we both want me to be. Amen.

2 Chronicles 8-12 In these chapters, Solomon starts living for his pleasure, and displeases God (even though he is careful to worship ritually). As a result, the kingdom splits and God offers Jeroboam his own "Davidic Covenant," which he turns down. The king of Egypt comes up and takes all the treasure of Jerusalem and makes them his servants. All in all not the happiest of times.

2 Chronicles 8 Pleasing Self or God

12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar of Yahweh, which he had built before the porch, 13 even as the duty of every day required...14 He appointed, according to the ordinance of David his father, the divisions of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their offices, to praise, and to minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required 15 They didn’t depart from the commandment of the king to the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures...

Observations: 8:1-11 After completing the temple, Solomon turned his attention to other building projects. The chronicler doesn't mention Solomon building temples for the gods of his wives (1Kg 11), nor that they turned his heart to worship other gods. However, we have a hint that something isn't right in Jerusalem, with the focus on Solomon's pleasure rather than God's. Solomon knew that it wasn't right for Pharaoh's daughter to be dwelling in a holy place, so he built her another house out of the city. Hmmmmm.

8:12-15 Solomon was an able administrator, performing all the ritual and external commands flawlessly.

2 Chronicles 9 Queen of Sheba Blesses Yahweh

9:1 When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great train, and camels that bore spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she had come to Solomon, she talked with him of all that was in her heart. 2 Solomon answered all her questions; and there was not anything hidden from Solomon which he didn’t tell her. 3 When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built, 4 and...there was no more spirit in her. 5 She said to the king, "It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts, and of your wisdom. 6 However I didn’t believe their words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it; and behold, the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me: you exceed the fame that I heard. 7 Happy are your men, and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you, and hear your wisdom. 8 Blessed be Yahweh your God, who delighted in you, to set you on his throne, to be king for Yahweh your God: because your God loved Israel, to establish them forever, therefore made he you king over them, to do justice and righteousness." 9 She gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, and spices in great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon. 12 King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, besides that which she had brought to the king. So she turned, and went to her own land, she and her servants.

13 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was...22 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. 23 All the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. 24 They brought every man his tribute...25 Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he stationed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. 26 He ruled over all the kings from the River even to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. 27 The king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones...28 They brought horses for Solomon out of Egypt, and out of all lands. 29 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, aren’t they written in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat? 30 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 31 Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.

Observations: 9:1-12 The Queen of Sheba is thoroughly impressed with how God has blessed Solomon, and she blesses Yahweh. That's how it should be. God blesses us so others can know him. Solomon is outwardly fulfilling the purpose for which God made him king, but the chronicler does record some disturbing data.

9:13-31 Solomon is multiplying gold and horses, even Egyptian ones, which God had expressly forbidden for kings in Dt 17. Though doing all the outward rituals correctly, inwardly, Solomon was decaying, not wholeheartedly knowing and serving God according to His pleasure.

1Kg 11:9 So Yahweh became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from Yahweh God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice,10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what Yahweh had commanded.11 Therefore Yahweh said to Solomon, "Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.12 Nevertheless I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son.13 However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen."

Application: Outward conformity to God's rituals is no substitute for a heart wholly devoted to Him.

Prayer: God, may I never confuse ritual with a real relationship with You; may my highest pleasure be Your pleasure and not my one. Amen.

2 Chronicles 10 Bad Counsel

10:1 Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2 It happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it, (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of king Solomon), that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. 3 They sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came, and they spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4 "Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you." 5 He said to them, "Come again to me after three days." The people departed. 6 King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father 7 They spoke to him, saying, "If you are kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever." 8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him 10 The young men spoke: "...thus you shall say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11 Now whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.’"

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam 13 The king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men, 14 and spoke to them after the counsel of the young men 15 So the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was brought about of God, that Yahweh might establish his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 16 When all Israel saw that the king didn’t listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, "What portion have we in David? Neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse! Every man to your tents, Israel! Now see to your own house, David." So all Israel departed to their tents. 17 But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day.

Observations: 10:1-11 Apparently life was not that easy under Solomon, because of all his building projects. The people ask for relief. Solomon's counselors, tell Rehoboam to listen to the people, serve them, and they will serve him. He listens to the counsel of the young men, who immaturely viewed a leadership position as a basis for worth and value, rather than service of the people as the correct basis.

10:12-19 Israel rebels because Rehoboam followed the unwise counsel. But God was using his unsanctified desires to split the kingdom because of Solomon's sin. 1Kg 11:26-

39 records the incredibly gracious offer God made to Jereboam, to bless him as He had David:

1Kg 11:37 "So I will take you, and you shall reign over all your heart desires, and you shall be king over Israel. 38 Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you”

Application: Listening to wise counsel is really helpful if you don't want to regret your decisions.

Prayer: Father, I want to do what is right in Your sight, pleasing You rather than myself. Guide me in the way with Your word, and wise counsel. Amen.

2 Chronicles 11 Migration to Judah

11:1 When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. 2 But the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 3 "Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, 4 ‘Thus says Yahweh, "You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers! Return every man to his house; for this thing is of me."’" So they listened to the words of Yahweh, and returned from going against Jeroboam. 5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah. 11 He fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, and oil and wine. 12 He put shields and spears in every city, and made them exceeding strong. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

13 The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their border. 14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest’s office to Yahweh; 15 and he appointed him priests for the high places, and for the male goats, and for the calves which he had made. 16 After them, out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the God of their fathers. 17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years; for they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon. 18 Rehoboam took him a wife, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse; 19 and she bore him sons: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham. 20 After her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. 21 Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.) 22 Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, the prince among his brothers; for he intended to make him king. 23 He dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city: and he gave them food in abundance. He sought for them many wives.

Observations: 11:1-12 After God sends a prophet to prevent brothers from spilling each other's blood, Rehoboam builds and fortifies cities, in the now Southern Kingdom of Judah.

11:13-17 Meanwhile Jereboam is building a pagan alternative worship center in the now Northern Kingdom of Israel, complete with male goats, and golden calves, to compete with the worship of the true God, Yahweh, in Jerusalem. He did not believe and trust the promise God made him, and violated God's word to get his heart's desire. Silly king.

1Kg 12:26 "And Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the kingdom may return to the house of David:27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah."

All the Levites get kicked out of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and come to Jerusalem, along with everyone of the ten northern tribes whose hearts were set on seeking God according to His word. His word said, Jerusalem is the place to worship, and you shall only worship Yahweh, not the image of a goat or calf.

11:18-22 Rehoboam prospers, adding wives, concubines, and kids, an indication of the blessing of fertility.

Application: It's foolish to trust in our thinking at the expense of the word of God, for He always fulfills His promises to bless those who follow Him, and curse those who don't.

Prayer: God, help me clearly see the folly of failing to follow You, and the benefits of walking in Your ways. Amen.

2 Chronicles 12 Forsake, Forgiven, Forfeit

12:1 It happened, when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established, and he was strong, that he forsook the law of Yahweh, and all Israel with him. 2 It happened in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against Yahweh, 3 with twelve hundred chariots, and sixty thousand horsemen. 4 He took the fortified cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem. 5 Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, who were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, "Thus says Yahweh, ‘You have forsaken me, therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.’" 6 Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, "Yahweh is righteous." 7 When Yahweh saw that they humbled themselves, the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah, saying, "They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them; but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. 8 Nevertheless they shall be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries." 9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king’s house. He took it all away. He also took away the shields of gold which Solomon had made. 10 King Rehoboam made in their place shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king’s house. 11 It was so, that as often as the king entered into the house of Yahweh, the guard came and bore them, and brought them back into the guard room. 12 When he humbled himself, the wrath of Yahweh turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether: and moreover in Judah there were good things found.

13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which Yahweh had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there: and his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess. 14 He did that which was evil, because he didn’t set his heart to seek Yahweh. 15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, aren’t they written in the histories of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, after the way of genealogies? There were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. 16 Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his place.

Observations: 12:1-12 So Rehoboam was doing well, even with a diminished kingdom (because of Solomon's sin). Incredibly, he follows in Solomon's footsteps in forsaking God, and God sends a prophet who tells him that He's sending Shishak, king of Egypt to destroy Jerusalem. The reason his kingdom was two tribes rather than ten, was because Solomon forsook God. Rehoboam and company humble themselves, and repent, acknowledging that Yahweh is righteous in sending judgment for their sin. They repent, God relents, but their sin costs them. They lose all the treasures, and have to serve Shishak as his vassals. It would have been far better to have served God. But sometimes folks are pretty dense.

12:13-16 The summary statement of Rehoboam's reign indicates that peace was no longer in the land.

Application: Even though God relents of wrath when we repent, there are still consequences to our sin. It would be far better if we didn't sin in the first place.

Prayer: God, impress upon me how stupid it is to depart from following You, so I won't ever even desire it. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God offers great blessings to those who will simply do what He says. He will punish those who don't, pouring out His wrath on them. God relents from great wrath when we repent, but still lets us reap the negative consequences of our disobedience, so we (and others) will fear Him.

Us in a nutshell: If we're busy seeking and serving God (as He told us to) we have lots of opportunities to be blessed and little time to get into trouble and be cursed. If we fail to obey God, or try to fulfill our desires by disobeying, or listen to unwise counsel, we will regret it. Daily dependence upon God, applying His word to our lives, not only keeps us out of trouble, but sets us up to live happily ever after. If we live to please God, we will ultimately please ourselves. If we live to please ourselves, we will wind up displeasing God.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

2Chronicles complete text

2 Chronicles 8

8:1 It happened at the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the house of Yahweh, and his own house, 2 that the cities which Huram had given to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there. 3 Solomon went to Hamath Zobah, and prevailed against it. 4 He built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the storage cities, which he built in Hamath. 5 Also he built Beth Horon the upper, and Beth Horon the lower, fortified cities, with walls, gates, and bars; 6 and Baalath, and all the storage cities that Solomon had, and all the cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. 7 As for all the people who were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel; 8 of their children who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel didn’t consume, of them Solomon conscripted forced labour to this day. 9 But of the children of Israel, Solomon made no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and rulers of his chariots and of his horsemen. 10 These were the chief officers of king Solomon, even two-hundred fifty, who ruled over the people. 11 Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David to the house that he had built for her; for he said, "My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places where the ark of Yahweh has come are holy."

12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar of Yahweh, which he had built before the porch, 13 even as the duty of every day required, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the set feasts, three times in the year, in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tents. 14 He appointed, according to the ordinance of David his father, the divisions of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their offices, to praise, and to minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required; the doorkeepers also by their divisions at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded. 15 They didn’t depart from the commandment of the king to the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures. 16 Now all the work of Solomon was prepared to the day of the foundation of the house of Yahweh, and until it was finished. So the house of Yahweh was completed. 17 Then went Solomon to Ezion Geber, and to Eloth, on the seashore in the land of Edom. 18 Huram sent him ships and servants who had knowledge of the sea by the hands of his servants; and they came with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and fetched from there four hundred fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.

2 Chronicles 9

9:1 When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great train, and camels that bore spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she had come to Solomon, she talked with him of all that was in her heart. 2 Solomon told her all her questions; and there was not anything hidden from Solomon which he didn’t tell her. 3 When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built, 4 and the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their clothing, his cup bearers also, and their clothing, and his ascent by which he went up to the house of Yahweh; there was no more spirit in her. 5 She said to the king, "It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts, and of your wisdom. 6 However I didn’t believe their words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it; and behold, the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me: you exceed the fame that I heard. 7 Happy are your men, and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you, and hear your wisdom. 8 Blessed be Yahweh your God, who delighted in you, to set you on his throne, to be king for Yahweh your God: because your God loved Israel, to establish them forever, therefore made he you king over them, to do justice and righteousness." 9 She gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, and spices in great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon. 10 The servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones. 11 The king made of the algum trees terraces for the house of Yahweh, and for the king’s house, and harps and stringed instruments for the singers: and there were none like these seen before in the land of Judah. 12 King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, besides that which she had brought to the king. So she turned, and went to her own land, she and her servants.

13 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, 14 besides that which the traders and merchants brought: and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. 15 King Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one buckler. 16 He made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. 17 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold. 18 And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the stays. 19 Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps: there was nothing like it made in any kingdom. 20 All king Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: silver was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon. 21 For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years came the ships of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. 22 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. 23 All the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. 24 They brought every man his tribute, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and clothing, armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. 25 Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he stationed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. 26 He ruled over all the kings from the River even to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. 27 The king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars to be as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland, for abundance. 28 They brought horses for Solomon out of Egypt, and out of all lands. 29 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, aren’t they written in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat? 30 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 31 Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 10

10:1 Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2 It happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it, (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of king Solomon), that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. 3 They sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came, and they spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4 "Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you." 5 He said to them, "Come again to me after three days." The people departed. 6 King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, "What counsel do you give me to return answer to this people?" 7 They spoke to him, saying, "If you are kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever." 8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. 9 He said to them, "What counsel do you give, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Make the yoke that your father put on us lighter?’" 10 The young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall tell the people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter on us’; thus you shall say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11 Now whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.’"

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king asked, saying, "Come to me again the third day." 13 The king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men, 14 and spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." 15 So the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was brought about of God, that Yahweh might establish his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 16 When all Israel saw that the king didn’t listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, "What portion have we in David? Neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse! Every man to your tents, Israel! Now see to your own house, David." So all Israel departed to their tents. 17 But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the men subject to forced labour; and the children of Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam made speed to get himself up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day.

2 Chronicles 11

11:1 When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. 2 But the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 3 "Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, 4 ‘Thus says Yahweh, "You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers! Return every man to his house; for this thing is of me."’" So they listened to the words of Yahweh, and returned from going against Jeroboam. 5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah. 6 He built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, 7 Beth Zur, and Soco, and Adullam, 8 and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, 9 and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah, 10 and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fortified cities. 11 He fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, and oil and wine. 12 He put shields and spears in every city, and made them exceeding strong. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

2 Chronicles 12

12:1 It happened, when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established, and he was strong, that he forsook the law of Yahweh, and all Israel with him. 2 It happened in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against Yahweh, 3 with twelve hundred chariots, and sixty thousand horsemen. The people were without number who came with him out of Egypt: the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians. 4 He took the fortified cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem. 5 Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, who were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, "Thus says Yahweh, ‘You have forsaken me, therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.’" 6 Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, "Yahweh is righteous." 7 When Yahweh saw that they humbled themselves, the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah, saying, "They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them; but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. 8 Nevertheless they shall be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries." 9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king’s house. He took it all away. He also took away the shields of gold which Solomon had made. 10 King Rehoboam made in their place shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king’s house. 11 It was so, that as often as the king entered into the house of Yahweh, the guard came and bore them, and brought them back into the guard room. 12 When he humbled himself, the wrath of Yahweh turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether: and moreover in Judah there were good things found.

Deuteronomy 1-3 Let's Make Another Deal

Deuteronomy 1-3 Let's Make Another Deal

Psalm 26:8-12 Clean Hands; Loud Voice; Firm Feet

Ps 26:8 ”(6 I will wash my hands in innocence, so I will go about your altar, Yahweh; 7 that I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heard, and tell of all your wondrous works.)

8 Yahweh, I love the habitation of your house, the place where your glory dwells. 9 Don’t gather my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men; 10 in whose hands is wickedness, their right hand is full of bribes. 11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity. Redeem me, and be merciful/favoring to me. 12 My foot stands in an even place. In the congregations I will bless Yahweh."

Observations: 26:1-7 See Post of Exodus 29 for vv 1-7, in which David asks God to vindicate him because he has walked in hesed/covenantal loyalty and integrity. As a result, David trusts God to respond and looks forward to praising Him in the tabernacle.

26:8 David loves the place where God's glory dwells, because that's where God is praised for answering prayer and delivering those who trust in Him. David asks God to not include him with the sinners when God judges, but to show him favor because of his integrity. He ends with an affirmation that he will stand firm in the congregation of the righteous and bless the Lord.

Application: Those who have integrity and trust God, have many things for which they can bless and praise Him.

Prayer: God, thanks that I can trust You to redeem me from my enemies, and show me favor; may I walk in integrity so that You can bless me, and I can bless You in the midst of those who love you. Amen.

Proverbs 7:13-15 A Prize Victim

Pr 7:13 “(12 Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner.) 13 So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him: 14 "Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. This day I have paid my vows. 15 Therefore I came out to meet you, to diligently seek your face, and I have found you.“

Observations: 7:13-15 The adulteress aggressively catches and subdues her prey by appealing to his desires and ego. The majority of a peace offering sacrifice was consumed by the worshiper in a feast. She implies she was specifically looking for him as her heart's desire.

(A virtuous Proverbs 31 woman could learn a few things from the competition.) He, of course, is interested and flattered, little realizing that he is really her victim being led to slaughter.

Application: Temptation is mobile and on the offensive. If we're not wisely doing God's will (7:5), it will seek us out and ensnare us.

Prayer: God, may I keep Your wisdom in view, and stay out of the range of temptation. Amen.

Deuteronomy 1-3 This book, whose title means “Second Law” tells the “new” Israelite generation how to get blessed in the Promised Land. (Hint: the answer has something to do with loyal faithful obedience.) It renews the covenant that God first made with the Exodus generation, and with the next generation, their children, on the brink of entering the Promised Land. The recipients just spent the last 39 years wandering in the wilderness burying their disobedient parents at the rate of one every six minutes of daylight, because of the parents' disobedience at Kadesh-Barnea (Numbers 14).

Deuteronomy takes the form of a standard Ancient Near East Document, which makes it easier to understand the purpose of each section. It advances the chronology about a month between Numbers and Joshua. See Digging Deeper for the structure.

Deuteronomy 1 Recap of the Forty Year Failure of Faith

1:1 These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness, 2 It is eleven days` journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea. 3 In the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, Moses spoke to the children of Israel, according to all that Yahweh had given him in commandment to them; 6 Yahweh our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying, You have stayed long enough in this mountain: 7 turn and take your journey, and go to the hill-country of the Amorites...8 I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to them and to their seed after them. 10 Yahweh your God has multiplied you, and you are this day as the stars of the sky for multitude. 11 Yahweh, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are, and bless you, as He has promised you! 18 I commanded you at that time all the things which you should do.

19 We journeyed from Horeb...as Yahweh our God commanded us, and we came to Kadesh-barnea. 20 I said to you, You are come to the hill-country of the Amorites, which Yahweh our God gives to us. 21 Behold, Yahweh your God has set the land before you: go up, take possession, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has spoken to you; don`t be afraid, neither be dismayed. 22 You came near to me and said, Let us send men before us, that they may search the land for us...25 They took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down to us, and brought us word again, and said, It is a good land which Yahweh our God gives to us. 26 Yet you wouldn`t go up, but rebelled against the commandment of Yahweh your God: 27 and you murmured in your tents, and said, Because Yahweh hated us, He has brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. 29 Then I said to you, Don`t dread, neither be afraid of them. 30 Yahweh your God who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all that He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 31 and in the wilderness, where you have seen how that Yahweh your God bore you, as a man does bear his son, in all the way that you went, until you came to this place. 32 Yet in this thing you didn`t believe Yahweh your God, 33 who went before you in the way, to seek you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to show you by what way you should go, and in the cloud by day. 34 Yahweh heard the voice of your words, and was angry, and swore, saying, 35 Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see the good land, which I swore to give to your fathers, 36 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh: he shall see it; and to him will I give the land that he has trodden on, and to his children, because he has wholly followed Yahweh. 37 Also Yahweh was angry with me for your sakes, saying, You also shall not go in there: 38 Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there: encourage you him; for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. 39 Moreover your little ones, whom you said should be a prey, and your children, who this day have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there, and to them will I give it, and they shall possess it. 40 But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea. 41 Then you said, We have sinned against Yahweh, we will go up and fight 42 Yahweh said, Don`t go up, neither fight; for I am not among you; 43 you didn`t listen; but you rebelled against the commandment of Yahweh, and were presumptuous, and went up into the hill-country. 44 The Amorites, who lived in that hill-country, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and beat you. 45 You returned and wept before Yahweh; but Yahweh didn`t listen to your voice, nor gave ear to you.

Observations: 1:10-11 God is fulfilling His promise to Abe from Genesis 15:1-6.

1:26-27 Rebellion is following in Satan's hoofprints, as is lying about the goodness of God; both fatal errors.

1:32 Focus on themselves and their problems led to fear and failure to believe God.

1:36-38 Caleb and Joshua fully and faithfully followed and reaped the promise the others forfeited for lack of faith in God's word.

1:43 The three stooges of sin, which result in God losing His hearing.

Application: Keep your focus on faithfully obeying God, and you'll reap the fruit of your faith.

Prayer: My Good God, may I never doubt, disbelieve, nor disobey You. Amen.

Deuteronomy 2 God Gives, We Contend (or we don't get)

2:1 Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as Yahweh spoke to me; and we circled Mount Seir many days. 2 Yahweh spoke to me, saying, 3 You have circled this mountain long enough: turn northward. 4 Command the people: You are to pass through the border of your brothers the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir; and they will be afraid of you: take good heed to yourselves therefore; 5 don`t fight with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on; because I have given Mount Seir to Esau for a possession. 6 You shall purchase food from them and buy water. 7 For Yahweh your God has blessed you...these forty years Yahweh your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing. 8 So we passed by our brothers the children of Esau... 9 Yahweh said to me, Don`t bother Moab, neither contend with them in battle; for I will not give you of his land for a possession; because I have given Ar to the children of Lot for a possession. 14 From Kadesh-barnea, until we came to the brook Zered, were thirty-eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were consumed from the midst of the camp, as Yahweh swore to them. 15 Moreover the hand of Yahweh was against them, to destroy them from the midst of the camp, until they were consumed. 16...when all the men of war were consumed and dead...24 Rise up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of the Arnon: I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land; begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle. 25 This day will I begin to put the dread of you and the fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole sky, who shall hear the report of you, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of you. 26 I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying, 27 Let me pass through your land: 30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him; for Yahweh your God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into your hand, as at this day. 31 Yahweh said to me, Behold, I have begun to deliver up Sihon and his land before you: begin to possess, that you may inherit his land. 32 Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Jahaz. 33 Yahweh our God delivered him up before us; and we struck him, and his sons, and all his people. 34 We took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones; we left none remaining: 35 only the cattle we took for booty to ourselves, with the spoil of the cities which we had taken. 36...there was not a city too high for us; Yahweh our God delivered up all before us: 37 only to the land of the children of Ammon you didn`t come near; all the side of the river Jabbok, and the cities of the hill-country, and wherever Yahweh our God forbade us.

Observations: 2:5 & 9 God gave Seir to Esau's descendents and Moab to Lot's by driving out giants (v=2:10 and 2:20 in full text below), just like He would do for Israel.

2:7 Even in disciplining the nation, God was gracious in providing for all the needs of the people.

2:24 Even though God had given them the land, they still had to obey and fight to possess it. He energized the sword and put fear into their enemies, but they had to use the sword. God had promised the land to Israel forever, but their occupation of it was contingent upon faithful obedience. If they disobeyed they'd be disciplined, if they repented and obeyed they'd be blessed (cf. Romans 11).

2:30 As with Pharaoh, God hardened or fixed the heart (in the position which Sihon had determined), so God could justly judge him.

Application: Believe that God will do what He promised if you do what He commands.

Prayer: God, thank You for promising good things to Your children, as well as the means of attaining and enjoying them. Amen.

Chapter 3 God Fights Our Battles but Doesn't Budge from Our Discipline

21 I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Your eyes have seen all that Yahweh your God has done to these two kings: so shall Yahweh do to all the kingdoms where you go over. 22 You shall not fear them; for Yahweh your God, He it is who fights for you. 23 I begged Yahweh at that time, saying, 24 Lord Yahweh, you have begun to show your servant your greatness, and your strong hand: for what god is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to your works, and according to your mighty acts? 25 Please let me go over and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. 26 But Yahweh was angry with me for your sakes, and didn`t listen to me; and Yahweh said to me, Speak no more to me of this matter. 27 Get up to the top of Pisgah, and lift up your eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and see with your eyes: for you shall not go over this Jordan. 28 But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you shall see. 29 So we abode in the valley over against Beth-peor.

Observations: 3:1 Og was a scary giant (v11), but God gave them complete victory.

3:22 Fear and faith have difficulty co-existing in the same mind. Ditch the fear.

3:23 Moses had successfully bargained with God a number of times in the past, from getting Aaron as a spokesman to sparing the Israelites (many times), but was unable to undo the consequence of his sin of striking rather than speaking to the rock (a failure to fully believe God).

Application: If the mighty and faithful Moses can't get God to budge on reducing his sentence, we'd be wise to never get into a position where we're reaping the consequences of not fully believing and obeying.

Prayer: My Mighty Warrior, thank You for fighting my battles so You can fulfill Your promises to bless me; may I never be on Your enemy list. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

Structure: Understanding the structure of a “covenant renewal document” helps you not get lost in the details. Generally speaking, Chapters 12-26 successively elaborate the Ten Commandments. There is some discourse interspersed as well.

I. Preamble: Covenant mediator 1:1-5

II. Historical prologue 1:6-4:49 : Identifying the parties to the covenant and the events necessitating the renewal of the covenant, ending with a plea/warning to not break it again.

III. Stipulations: Terms of the Covenant Ch 5-26

A. The General Stipulations: Ten Commandments Ch 5-11

Summary Principle: Be loyal to Yahweh Ch 6

Application of the Principle: Be holy and obey to get blessed Ch 7-11

Dt 10:12 "And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?

B. The Specific Stipulations: Elaborating upon the General Ten Ch 12-26

IV. Sanctions: Covenant ratification Ch 27-30

A. Covenant celebration and confirmation Ch 26-27

B. Blessings that follow obedience Ch 28-30

and Curses that follow disobedience

C. Witnesses

V. Moses' last words and deeds Ch 31-34

God in a nutshell: God keeps His promises to bless or curse His people depending on their faithful obedience to Him, or lack thereof. He takes care of them even while disciplining them, like a perfect parent. He provides all we need to do His will, fighting the battles He calls us to.

Us in a nutshell: We reap the consequences of our choices and actions. To deny that is to be demonically deluded. When we focus on God, we develop faith and obey. When we focus on our problems, we develop fear, and disobey, in the interests of self-preservation from our limited perspective. When we do what God wants, He fights our battles, energizing the sword as we swing it. If we fail to use it, we will fall on it.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Deuteronomy complete text

1. Deuteronomy

Chapter 1

1:1 These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah over against Suph, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Di-zahab. 2 It is eleven days` [journey] from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadeshbarnea. 3 It happened in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel, according to all that Yahweh had given him in commandment to them; 4 after he had struck Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth, at Edrei. 5 Beyond the Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying, 6 Yahweh our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying, You have lived long enough in this mountain: 7 turn you, and take your journey, and go to the hill-country of the Amorites, and to all [the places] near thereunto, in the Arabah, in the hill-country, and in the lowland, and in the South, and by the sea-shore, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates. 8 Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to them and to their seed after them. 9 I spoke to you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone: 10 Yahweh your God has multiplied you, and, behold, you are this day as the stars of the sky for multitude. 11 Yahweh, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are, and bless you, as he has promised you! 12 How can I myself alone bear your encumbrance, and your burden, and your strife? 13 Take wise men of understanding and well known according to your tribes, and I will make them heads over you. 14 You answered me, and said, The thing which you have spoken is good [for us] to do. 15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens, and officers, according to your tribes. 16 I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear [the causes] between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and the sojourner who is with him. 17 You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike; you shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God`s: and the cause that is too hard for you you shall bring to me, and I will hear it. 18 I commanded you at that time all the things which you should do. 19 We journeyed from Horeb, and went through all that great and terrible wilderness which you saw, by the way to the hill-country of the Amorites, as Yahweh our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea. 20 I said to you, You are come to the hill -country of the Amorites, which Yahweh our God gives to us. 21 Behold, Yahweh your God has set the land before you: go up, take possession, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has spoken to you; don`t be afraid, neither be dismayed. 22 You came near to me everyone of you, and said, Let us send men before us, that they may search the land for us, and bring us word again of the way by which we must go up, and the cities to which we shall come. 23 The thing pleased me well; and I took twelve men of you, one man for every tribe: 24 and they turned and went up into the hill-country, and came to the valley of Eshcol, and spied it out. 25 They took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down to us, and brought us word again, and said, It is a good land which Yahweh our God gives to us. 26 Yet you wouldn`t go up, but rebelled against the commandment of Yahweh your God: 27 and you murmured in your tents, and said, Because Yahweh hated us, he has brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. 28 Where are we going up? our brothers have made our heart to melt, saying, The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to the sky; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there. 29 Then I said to you, Don`t dread, neither be afraid of them. 30 Yahweh your God who goes before you, he will fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 31 and in the wilderness, where you have seen how that Yahweh your God bore you, as a man does bear his son, in all the way that you went, until you came to this place. 32 Yet in this thing you didn`t believe Yahweh your God, 33 who went before you in the way, to seek you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to show you by what way you should go, and in the cloud by day. 34 Yahweh heard the voice of your words, and was angry, and swore, saying, 35 Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see the good land, which I swore to give to your fathers, 36 save Caleb the son of Jephunneh: he shall see it; and to him will I give the land that he has trodden on, and to his children, because he has wholly followed Yahweh. 37 Also Yahweh was angry with me for your sakes, saying, You also shall not go in there: 38 Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there: encourage you him; for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. 39 Moreover your little ones, whom you said should be a prey, and your children, who this day have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there, and to them will I give it, and they shall possess it. 40 But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea. 41 Then you answered and said to me, We have sinned against Yahweh, we will go up and fight, according to all that Yahweh our God commanded us. You girded on every man his weapons of war, and were forward to go up into the hill-country. 42 Yahweh said to me, Tell them, Don`t go up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest you be struck before your enemies. 43 So I spoke to you, and you didn`t listen; but you rebelled against the commandment of Yahweh, and were presumptuous, and went up into the hill-country. 44 The Amorites, who lived in that hill-country, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and beat you down in Seir, even to Hormah. 45 You returned and wept before Yahweh; but Yahweh didn`t listen to your voice, nor gave ear to you. 46 So you abode in Kadesh many days, according to the days that you abode [there].

Chapter 2

2:1 Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as Yahweh spoke to me; and we compassed Mount Seir many days. 2 Yahweh spoke to me, saying, 3 You have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward. 4 Command you the people, saying, You are to pass through the border of your brothers the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir; and they will be afraid of you: take good heed to yourselves therefore; 5 don`t contend with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on; because I have given Mount Seir to Esau for a possession. 6 You shall purchase food of them for money, that you may eat; and you shall also buy water of them for money, that you may drink. 7 For Yahweh your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand; he has known your walking through this great wilderness: these forty years Yahweh your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing. 8 So we passed by from our brothers the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah from Elath and from Ezion-geber. We turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab. 9 Yahweh said to me, Don`t bother Moab, neither contend with them in battle; for I will not give you of his land for a possession; because I have given Ar to the children of Lot for a possession. 10 (The Emim lived therein before, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim: 11 these also are accounted Rephaim, as the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim. 12 The Horites also lived in Seir before, but the children of Esau succeeded them; and they destroyed them from before them, and lived in their place; as Israel did to the land of his possession, which Yahweh gave to them.) 13 Now rise up, and get you over the brook Zered. We went over the brook Zered. 14 The days in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, were thirty-eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were consumed from the midst of the camp, as Yahweh swore to them. 15 Moreover the hand of Yahweh was against them, to destroy them from the midst of the camp, until they were consumed. 16 So it happened, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people, 17 that Yahweh spoke to me, saying, 18 You are this day to pass over Ar, the border of Moab: 19 and when you come near over against the children of Ammon, don`t bother them, nor contend with them; for I will not give you of the land of the children of Ammon for a possession; because I have given it to the children of Lot for a possession. 20 (That also is accounted a land of Rephaim: Rephaim lived therein before; but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim, 21 a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim; but Yahweh destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and lived in their place; 22 as he did for the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites from before them; and they succeeded them, and lived in their place even to this day: 23 and the Avvim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorim, who came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and lived in their place.) 24 Rise you up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of the Arnon: behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land; begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle. 25 This day will I begin to put the dread of you and the fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole sky, who shall hear the report of you, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of you. 26 I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying, 27 Let me pass through your land: I will go along by the highway, I will turn neither to the right hand nor to the left. 28 You shall sell me food for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only let me pass through on my feet, 29 as the children of Esau who dwell in Seir, and the Moabites who dwell in Ar, did to me; until I shall pass over the Jordan into the land which Yahweh our God gives us. 30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him; for Yahweh your God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into your hand, as at this day. 31 Yahweh said to me, Behold, I have begun to deliver up Sihon and his land before you: begin to possess, that you may inherit his land. 32 Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Jahaz. 33 Yahweh our God delivered him up before us; and we struck him, and his sons, and all his people. 34 We took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones; we left none remaining: 35 only the cattle we took for a prey to ourselves, with the spoil of the cities which we had taken. 36 From Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and [from] the city that is in the valley, even to Gilead, there was not a city too high for us; Yahweh our God delivered up all before us: 37 only to the land of the children of Ammon you didn`t come near; all the side of the river Jabbok, and the cities of the hill-country, and wherever Yahweh our God forbade us.

Chapter 3

3:1 Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. 2 Yahweh said to me, Don`t fear him; for I have delivered him, and all his people, and his land, into your hand; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon. 3 So Yahweh our God delivered into our hand Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we struck him until none was left to him remaining. 4 We took all his cities at that time; there was not a city which we didn`t take from them; sixty cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 5 All these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars; besides the unwalled towns a great many. 6 We utterly destroyed them, as we did to Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones. 7 But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we took for a prey to ourselves. 8 We took the land at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon; 9 ([which] Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir;) 10 all the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, to Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 11 (For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; isn`t it in Rabbah of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length of it, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.) 12 This land we took in possession at that time: from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, and half the hill-country of Gilead, and the cities of it, gave I to the Reubenites and to the Gadites: 13 and the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, gave I to the half-tribe of Manasseh; all the region of Argob, even all Bashan. (The same is called the land of Rephaim. 14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called them, even Bashan, after his own name, Havvoth-jair, to this day.) 15 I gave Gilead to Machir. 16 To the Reubenites and to the Gadites I gave from Gilead even to the valley of the Arnon, the middle of the valley, and the border [of it], even to the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon; 17 the Arabah also, and the Jordan and the border [of it], from Chinnereth even to the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, under the slopes of Pisgah eastward. 18 I commanded you at that time, saying, Yahweh your God has given you this land to possess it: you shall pass over armed before your brothers the children of Israel, all the men of valor. 19 But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (I know that you have much cattle,) shall abide in your cities which I have given you, 20 until Yahweh give rest to your brothers, as to you, and they also possess the land which Yahweh your God gives them beyond the Jordan: then shall you return every man to his possession, which I have given you. 21 I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Your eyes have seen all that Yahweh your God has done to these two kings: so shall Yahweh do to all the kingdoms where you go over. 22 You shall not fear them; for Yahweh your God, he it is who fights for you. 23 I begged Yahweh at that time, saying, 24 Lord Yahweh, you have begun to show your servant your greatness, and your strong hand: for what god is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to your works, and according to your mighty acts? 25 Please let me go over and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. 26 But Yahweh was angry with me for your sakes, and didn`t listen to me; and Yahweh said to me, Let it suffice you; speak no more to me of this matter. 27 Get you up to the top of Pisgah, and lift up your eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and see with your eyes: for you shall not go over this Jordan. 28 But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you shall see. 29 So we abode in the valley over against Beth-peor.

Exodus 32-34 Golden Calf And Glory of God

Psalm 15:1-5 Abiding with the God of Truth

15:1 “Yahweh, who shall dwell in Your sanctuary? Who shall live on Your holy hill? 2 He who walks blamelessly, does what is right, and speaks truth in/from his heart; 3 He who doesn't slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor casts slurs against his fellow man; 4 In whose eyes a vile man is despised, but who honors those who fear Yahweh; he who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn't change; 5 he who doesn't lend out his money for usury, nor take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be shaken.”

Observation: 15:1-2 If you want to live in the Shadow of the Almighty, you need to not do wrong, proactively do right, and have Truth at the core of your being.

15:3-5 Make a list of some of those do's and don'ts.

15:4 To think well of vile men is to be better than God.

Application: Abiding in God starts with Truth, which overflows into our words and deeds.

Prayer: Lord, I want an abiding, intimate relationship with You; help me do what it takes. Amen.

Proverbs 4:20-23 Wellspring of the Word

4:20 “My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body. 23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.“

Observations: 4:20-23 The reader is exhorted to pay attention to wise words, keep them in front of them, and have them guide decisions (the heart was where decisions are made in Hebrew thought). Decisions are made in accord with our value system, which must be formed by God's word if we wish to experience the abundant life (rather than abundant or meager death). Keeping our heart set in the right direction is crucial for that is what waters the rest of our life.

Application: Focusing our mind, will, emotions and strength on God's Revelation results in life; develop the daily habit of storing up God's truth in Your heart.

Prayer: Lord, help me learn, understand, and value Your word, so I can make decisions that are pleasing to both You and me. Amen.

Exodus 32-34 The Covenant gets broken and renewed.

Exodus 32 False God's and Excuses, but True Forgiveness

32:1 "When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron, and said to him, "Come, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don`t know what has become of him." 2 Aaron said to them, "Take off the golden rings, which are in the ears...4 He received what they handed him, and fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it a molten calf; and they said, "These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt." 5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation, and said, "Tomorrow shall be a feast to Yahweh." 6 They rose up early on the next day, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace-offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

7 Yahweh spoke to Moses, "Go, get down; for your people, who you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves! 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed to land of Egypt.`" 9 Yahweh said to Moses, "I have seen these people, and, behold, they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now therefore leave me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them, and that I may consume them; and I will make of you a great nation." 11 Moses begged Yahweh his God, and said, "Yahweh, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, that you have brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, `He brought them forth for evil, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the surface of the earth?` Turn from your fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, `I will multiply your seed as the stars of the sky, and all this land that I have spoken of I will give to your seed, and they shall inherit it forever.`" 14 Yahweh repented of the evil which he said he would do to his people. 15 Moses turned, and went down from the mountain, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand...16 The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tables.

19 It happened, as soon as he came near to the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing: and Moses` anger grew hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mountain. 20 He took the calf which they had made, and burnt it with fire, ground it to powder, and scattered it on the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. 21 Moses said to Aaron, "What did this people to you, that you have brought a great sin on them?" 22 Aaron said, "Don`t let the anger of my lord grow hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. 24...I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf."

25 When Moses saw that the people had broken loose, (for Aaron had let them loose for a derision among their enemies,) 26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, "Whoever is on Yahweh`s side, come to me!" All the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him. 27 He said to them, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, `Every man put his sword on his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate throughout the camp, and every man kill his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor." 28 The sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. 29 Moses said, "Consecrate yourselves today to Yahweh, yes, every man against his son, and against his brother; that he may bestow on you a blessing this day." 30 It happened on the next day, that Moses said to the people, "You have sinned a great sin. Now I will go up to Yahweh. Perhaps I shall make atonement for your sin." 31 Moses returned to Yahweh, and said, "Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made themselves gods of gold. 32 Yet now, if you will, forgive their sin-- and if not, please blot me out of your book which you have written." 33 Yahweh said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. 34 Now go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless in the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin." 35 Yahweh struck the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made."

Observations: 32:1 How soon we forget.

32:6 Israel's “worship” matches Egypt's celebration of the feast of Apis the Bull, described by Heredotus. See Digging Deeper. God is very explicit about the kind of worship He accepts. Hint: "It's not pagan worship."

32:11 Moses turns down the opportunity to become as great as Abraham because he is concerned about God's glory and reputation.

32:24 Conflicts with 32:2, but see Digging Deeper.

32:26 The sons of Levi (Moses' and Aaron's kinsmen) reverse the curse of Jacob (Genesis 49) by demonstrating loyalty to Yahweh at the expense of the disobedient Israelites.

32:33 Apparently those more active in the rebellion suffered death, while God pardoned the “me-too” general population. Blotting out from God's book is probably not a good thing. We're not told what book, but appears to be that listing of the righteous who would participate in His rule. (Psalm 69:28; Isaiah 4:3; Ezekiel 13:9, Daniel 12:1)

Application: Loyalty to God and His promises results in blessings; disloyalty, in death. Choose your consequences.

Prayer: Lord, may I always live in such a way that I give You pleasure, rather than provoking You to anger, even if it costs me my life. Amen.

Exodus 33 Favor With God

33:1 "Yahweh spoke to Moses, "Depart, go up from here, you and the people that you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, `I will give it to your seed.` 2 I will send an angel before you; and I will drive out the Canaanite...3 to a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you in the way." 4 When the people heard this evil news, they mourned: and no one put on his jewelry. 5 Yahweh said to Moses, "Tell the children of Israel, `You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go up into your midst for one moment, I would consume you. 9 It happened, when Moses entered into the Tent, that the pillar of cloud descended, stood at the door of the Tent, and spoke with Moses. 10 All the people saw the pillar of cloud stand at the door of the Tent, and all the people rose up and worshipped, everyone at their tent door. 11 Yahweh spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. He turned again into the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, didn`t depart out of the Tent. 12 Moses said to Yahweh, "Behold, you tell me, `Bring up this people:` and you haven`t let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, `I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.` 13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you, so that I may find favor in your sight: and consider that this nation is your people." 14 He said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." 15 He said to him, "If your presence doesn`t go with me, don`t carry us up from here. 16 For how would people know that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Isn`t it in that you go with us, so that we are separated, I and your people, from all the people who are on the surface of the earth?" 17 Yahweh said to Moses, "I will do this thing also that you have spoken; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name." 18 He said, "Please show me your GLORY." 19 He said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of Yahweh before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy." 20 He said, "You cannot see my face, for man may not see me and live." 21 Yahweh also said, "Behold, there is a place by me, and you shall stand on the rock. 22 It will happen, while my glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; 23 then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back; but my face shall not be seen."

Observations: 33:2-3 God wants to send an angel to guide them since, if He were in their midst, He would consume them when confronted with their rebellious disobedience.

33:11 Want to know why Joshua was successful?

33:16-18 Moses pleads with God to go with them, appealing again to God's promises, and God relents. Moses asks to see God's glory as a reassurance or token, which leads us to conclude that he hadn't seen it on the mountain.

33:20 The Hebrew word for “face” is usually translated “before” or “in the presence of.” Previous reference 33:11 to seeing God's face must have occurred with God veiling His glory.

Application: Like Moses and Joshua, we should persist in seeking Him until we get as much of God as possible.

Prayer: Gracious and Merciful God, thank you for making it possible to find favor in your sight; may I do so. Amen.

Exodus 34 Glory and Guilty and Glistening

34:1 "Yahweh said to Moses, "Chisel two stone tablets like the first: and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. 5 Yahweh descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the NAME of Yahweh. 6 Yahweh passed by before him, and proclaimed, "Yahweh! Yahweh, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in hesed/loyal love and faithfulness/truth, 7 keeping hesed/loyal love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin; and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the children`s children, on the third and on the fourth generation." 8 Moses hurried and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped. 9 He said, "If now I have found favor in your sight, Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us; although this is a stiff-necked people; pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance." 10 He said, "Behold, I make a covenant: before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been worked in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among which you are shall see the work of Yahweh; for it is an awesome thing that I do with you. 11 Observe that which I command you this day. Behold, I drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite...12 Be careful, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be for a snare in the midst of you: 13 but you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and you shall cut down their Asherim; 14 for you shall worship no other god: for Yahweh, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. 15 Don`t make a covenant (or marriage) with the inhabitants of the land, lest they play the prostitute after their gods 17 no idols 18 keep the feast of unleavened 19 firstborn...mine. 20..No one shall appear before me empty. 21 seventh day you shall rest 22 feast of weeks the feast of harvest 23 Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord Yahweh, the God of Israel.

24 For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders 25 "You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the Passover be left to the morning. 26 You shall bring the first of the firstfruits of your ground to the house of Yahweh your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother`s milk." 27 Yahweh said to Moses, "Write you these words: for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel." 28 He was there with Yahweh forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread, nor drank water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. 29 Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in Moses` hand, when he came down from the mountain, that Moses didn`t know that the skin of his face shone by reason of his speaking with him. 32 Afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them all of the commandments that Yahweh had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses was done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. 34 But when Moses went in before Yahweh to speak with him, he took the veil off; and he came out, and spoke to the children of Israel that which he was commanded. 35 The children of Israel saw Moses' face, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him."

Observations: 34:1 Moses rechisels, God rewrites.

34:6-7 Coupled with 33:18-19 this is the most definitive statement of God's person and glory in the Scriptures. See "God in a Nutshell" below. God does not stop being just to be loving (Romans 3:25-26). To worship a God who is only loving or only just is to worship a false God.

34:9 Moses uses his favor in God's sight to intercede for Israel, asking God to pardon, accept and bless them.
34:14 God is allowed to be jealous, since He makes the rules. We can't. He next repeats, for the most part, previously mentioned commands dealing with the “religious” commandments.

34:26 Half of a verse, forbidding a pagan Canaanite cultic practice (mentioned in a Ugaritic text, is used to estabish the Kosher meat-dairy restriction.

34:29 If you want to know why Michelangelo and others depict Moses with “horns”, it's because Jerome, in the Latin Vulgate, mistranslated shone/radiant as “horned.” Poor Moses, as if didn't have enough problems with Israel and God...

Application: We need to take steps to insure that we don't repeat our sin.

Prayer: God who gives second chances, may I never take You for granted, but learn from my mistakes, so I can better obey You. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

32:24 Conflicts with 32:2, but Aaron's account might not be a complete fabrication. The Egyptians summoned from the dead (with music, sacrifice and rituals) the gods who had delivered them, in order to honor them. The calf of the Apis Bull was linked with the reincarnation of Ptah, the creator, who becomes Osiris, the lord of the dead. His sister Isis who brings him back to life, wears a headdress of a sun disk between the horns of a bull. One would expect demonic forces to be active against Israel so they wouldn't glorify the True God, but the text doesn't explicitly say so.

God in a nutshell: God exerts His rule and authority in being merciful and gracious, patient and abundant in loyalty and faithfulness, showing hesed to a 1000 generations (of those who love Him and keep His commands – added in Deuteronomy 5:10), yet exercising His justice in punishing the guilty. He is jealous for our loyalty and gets angry over our sins, pardons, yet punishes with consequences and separation. His ears are open to our pleas. He is very explicit about the kind of worship He wants.

Us in a nutshell: We tend not to be very faithful unless we work at it. We often need immediate gratification and assurances unless we've developed self-control to avoid short-cuts and wait for God to fulfill His promises. We will suffer punishment and consequences for our sins, which could include missing out on God's presence and promises, even though redeemed and forgiven/pardoned. We have the capacity to have an intimate relationship with God.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

2 Chronicles 8-12 Pleasing God or Ourselves

Deuteronomy 1-3 Let's Make Another Deal

Exodus 32-34 Golden Calf And Glory of God

Translate Daily Truthbase

Contact Us at Daily Truthbase