Deuteronomy 21-23

In Deuteronomy 23:3-4 the descendants of Moab were excluded from Israel for 10 generations. Some scholar see this phrasing as a reference to a perpetual prohibition. Yet when we look forward King David we see that only three generations separated him from Ruth the Moabite. How do we explain that exemption? Was it due to David's faith? Was it because Ruth was a woman? Was it her previous marriage to the son of Naomi? Was it because Ruth forsook her family heritage in favor of the God of Israel? Or maybe it is another demonstration of God's grace and providence superseding his nature's demand for justice. I don't this we should neglect God's grace from the picture.
Stuart

Deuteronomy 27-30

In Deut 29:29 Moses makes a very interesting statement about God's nature. "Secret things belong to the LORD" so it should never surprise us that there are mysteries which we will never witness and others that we see but never understand. We could quit at that point and live in marvel of God's fantastic nature. But Moses doesn't stop. He continues by pointing our that the King of mysteries has revealed some things to Israel. And those revelations were for a bigger purpose than the people might suspect. The greatness of God's mysteries were revealed so that all believers, ancient Israel in the context and modern believers who read the same words, would believe in God and obey him.
The idea Moses present seems to have been copied by the apostle John who closed his resurrection story with a similar explanation of Jesus' works of wonder (John 20:30-31).
Stuart

Psalm 46

In verse 10 of Psalm 46 the writer hears God commanding. He is commanding the armies to stop. The soldiers in his audience have been depending upon their strength, skill, and swords. God's instruction is for the warriors to recognize him as Lord of all. He is the almighty and the army's efforts are useless without him. My question is this: are his words intended for the army which he has called or to the troops aligned opposed to him?
Stuart

Dueteronomy 14-16

God made it very clear to the people of Israel how they were to celebrate their faith once they reached the promised land. He summarized his directives in Deut. 16:16-17. Three times a year all of the men of Israel were to travel to the location he would choose to make a sacrifice and make offerings to enable the priests and Levites to serve in the tabernacle. Three times a year the men were to abandon their land to travel to one place in Israel. Three times a year, on a predictable and set schedule, they were to abandon their flocks and herds and travel away from home. No man could remain behind to protect the property. The flocks, herds, vineyards, fields were vulnerable to the ravages of scavengers, predators, weather, and decay. In addition each festivals lasted eight days, and there were at least a couple days travel each way. The absence of each owner and caretaker would be close to two weeks. This was a primary expression of their covenant faith. In what ways does God call modern believers to the same abandonment as an expression of faith? What vulnerabilities does God expect me, as a Christian, to open in order that he can demonstrate his protection and provision?

 

Stuart

 

Psalm 39

What in life is really worth the pain caused by inner frustration and anxiety? There are a few things; salvation of sinners, honoring God, building up the body. But what are we to do when a sinner keeps rejecting God? Turn our frustration over to our Father. What about those members of the body who don't want us to build them up? Surrender our anxiety to our Lord. This life is too short to be hung up on the little things of this world. Are those turf wars really worth waging? Is there anything gained by rehashing insults? We need to seek God's presence and favor. Responding to his call at all times. That will be the grace that we need.
Stuart

Deuteronomy 1-4

The opening of Deuteronomy could be very funny if it were so true. Israel's disobedience turned an 11 day journey into a lifetime of aimless wandering for a generation (Duet 1:2-3). If God led Israel in that way I wonder if there are generations of Christians who spend their lives wandering aimlessly because of their stubborn rebellion? I wonder if I am one of those wanders? Have there be events in my life of faith where I rejected God's plan and he sent me wandering? The time of wander may be fruitful, and it may be a time of endless growth and wonder watching God work. But it may not be the inheritance that God had planned for an individual, family, congregation, or even nation. If I am wandering I have this good news to support me in the wilderness; God has not abandoned me nor has he revoke his covenant plan for me (or us whatever the case may be). Israel did go into the Promised Land. There were only a few of the rebels who reached the boarder of their children's goal, and only a couple were allowed to enter in with them. But the promise was kept. God never failed on his part.

 

Stuart

 

Numbers

In Numbers 22 Balaam was traveling to Moab. He had hired himself out to speak a word over Israel. On the way he desired a sword to kill his donkey for the way she wandered from the road. He didn't realize that God had a sword for him if he rebelled. That sword finally came down on Balaam, as recorded in Numbers 31:8. If he had really listened to God he wouldn't have hung around to receive God's sword. Instead he must have hired himself out as an advisor for the Midianites. That strategic venture cost him his life. We too need to be sure that we remain faithful to God only.
Stuart

Psalm 33

The psalms ends with two bold statements. .
Psalms 33:21:" for we trust in his holy name."
Psalms 33:22:" for we wait for you. "
I need to ask myself if can speak them honestly. How do I trust in his holy name? Do I faithfully wait on him? Or am I like Balaam, who waited impatiently on God to speak and then pestered the Almighty until he got his way?

Stuart

Numbers 22-24

Balaam was a diviner from the region of Babylon. Numbers 22 discusses his prayers to God about traveling to Moab. Balaam may not have been told the name of the nation that he was to curse but God knew it was Israel and initially forbid it. Eventually God relented and allowed Balaam to go to Moab with this warning: "you may only speak the word that I will speak to you."(Num 22:20) On the trip Balaam's donkey saved her master from God's wrath three times by diverting from the path Balaam intended. When questioned about beating the animal Balaam explained: "You have made me look stupid"(Num 22:29). I wonder if this was the same reason God sent his angel? Would Balaam's desire to gain from Balak make God look stupid? When the diviner saw the judgment from which he had been saved he heard again the same message from God: "you may only speak the word that I will speak to you."(Num 22:35) As a teacher this is a message that I need to always take to heart. It doesn't matter what I want. I need to be sure I don't make God look stupid. I must be careful to speak only what God has revealed in the Bible.
Stuart

Numbers 15

In Numbers 15:37-41 God give Moses fashion guidance for the people. Well it seems like a fashion statement. God said where blue tassels on your clothing. A bright decoration to be worn on the otherwise mundane everyday clothing. Why? What purpose could tassels have? Nothing to do with style but everything to do with a memory aid. The tassels are something different to serve as a reminder of what God has already done. The tassels are to be reminders that God has given his people the Ten Commandments. As they look down and see the tassels they are to remember God's instructions for his people.
Stuart

Numbers 7-9

In Numbers 9:16 the writer is looking back on a time before the
present. It is pointed out that after the tabernacle was first
assembled, under Moses' direction while Israel was still camped at Mt
Sinia, that there was a cloud always over the tabernacle. I wonder
when the cloud left? Assuming that Moses had written the words while
Israel was preparing to enter the Promised Land, when did the cloud
disapate? Something had happened that God saw the purpose for the
cloud had past. What took it's place? Was it the appointment of
Joshua? Was it the proxity to their inheritence? While did God take it
away?

Stuart

Psalm 29

Seven times in Psalm 29 the writer mentions what happens as a result of God's shout. All of nature respond to his shouts. The poet exalted the name of the LORD in response to his shout. But what can we say about his whisper?
Stuart

Hebrews 7-9

How many times had I read the Hebrew letter? Dozens. For years I have been intrigued by the references of the Hebrew to the tabernacle. But I had missed the description of the tabernacle in 9:1-5. The writer is describing the set up of inside of the tabernacle. The first tent, the holy place, is described in verse 2 as containing two articles; the lamptstand and the table for the consecrated bread. The Hebrew writer separates the altar of incense from the lampstand and table. The NT description places it in the inner tent with the ark and the veil. The description in Exodus 40:1-5 seems to be different; here the altar of incense, the lampstand, and the table are in one tent while the ark is alone in the other tent behind the inner veil. Why the difference? This calls for a new search.

 

Stuart