Today’s reading: 1 Chron 2:1–55, 1 Tim 3:1–7, Ps 75:1–76:12

Today’s theme: Qualified leadership

Today we read about the biblical qualifications for leaders in the church. We see the way God chooses and lifts up those He has elected to lead while cutting of the plans of the wicked.

1 Chronicles 2:1–55

Break the flow of evil

The sons of Judah: Er, Onan and Shelah; these three Bath-shua the Canaanite bore to him. Now Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death. 1 Chronicles 2:3 (ESV)

We had an amazing early morning prayer meeting (on this day in 2014). Pastor Dennis led us from today’s reading focusing on this verse, showing us that God’s plan is to break the flow of evil in our lives as He did in the line of Judah… it was awesome.

God’s providential choice

Ozem the sixth, David the seventh. 1 Chronicles 2:15 (ESV)

God chose David to be the line through which He would bring Jesus the Messiah, it is significant that He is the 7th son.

In one sense this makes Him the least likely as the honour would usually be given to the firstborn. In another sense the number 7 speaks of God’s perfect and complete choice.

God shows His providence and sovereignty even over the tribe of Judah and the line of David. God chooses and orchestrates lives from generation to generation to bring His great promise to pass. Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. See Revelation 5:5,

1 Timothy 3:1–7

Qualified leadership

Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 1 Timothy 3:2–5 (ESV)

Our post-modern culture pays no respect to experience, qualification, rules or structure. This mind set has infiltrated areas of the church and we must guard against it. Paul makes very clear the required qualifications for an overseer (other words for this include Pastor or Elder).

We should not try to throw any of these qualifications away in favour of modern philosophies and trends. We should hold to this very practical and faithful scripture for the sake of the church for whom Christ died.

We should thank God that we have leaders that meet the requirements. We should pray that churches where the leadership is lacking or just plain wrong would submit to this scripture which will lead to the flourishing of God’s people.

Psalm 75:1–76:12

God puts down and up

but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. Psalm 75:7 (ESV)

We saw this in our Old Testament reading today, (as Pastor Dennis showed us) in verse 3, God put down one and in verse 15 brought one up. Promotion comes from the Lord, He is our sovereign king and we should trust Him to exalt us in due time. Remember 1 Peter 5:6–7 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 1 Timothy 3

Today’s reading: 1 Chron 1:1–54, 1 Tim 2:1–15, Ps 74:1–23

Today’s theme: Salvation for All Nations

Today’s reading is filled with references to the historical Adam and his very real descendants in all humanity. It refers to Jesus Christ, the actual descendant of Adam who is the only mediator between the sons of Adam and God. He desires that people from every nation (people group), tribe and tongue (language) be saved.

We are encouraged to pray for those who rule so the Gospel can spread to all people freely.

1 Chronicles 1:1–54

The historical Adam

Adam, Seth, Enosh; 1 Chronicles 1:1 (ESV)

Modern scholars, in a cowardly attempt to shoe horn the scriptures to fit into the story presented by the unproven naturalistic theory of evolution, have discounted Adam and Eve as either mythical figures or as the first ape-men that God specially selected from all the other Neanderthals… seriously… I know it just sounds crazy but that is what some are teaching in order to find acceptance in the worlds academies.

The bible actually teaches that Adam and Eve were the first ever created humans and that we are all descended from them. They were actual historical people as demonstrated by this and other biblical genealogies.

The historical person of Adam is so vital to the gospel message in terms of our bondage under sin and salvation in Jesus that Paul refers to Adam often. See Romans 5:14-19 and 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 for example.

The cursed descendants of Ham

Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn and Heth, and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. 1 Chronicles 1:13–16 (ESV)

It is of note that the descendants of Canaan did not populate Africa as many are led to believe. They in fact populated the land of Canaan in the Middle East.

1 Timothy 2:1–15

Pray for leaders

for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 1 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)

God wants us to pray for all people, not just an elect few who meet a certain criteria. Specifically we should pray for leaders so that the church and the gospel can flourish in freedom and peace. The reason for this is so that the message can spread to all peoples because God desires all types of people to be saved. We need to have the freedom to preach the message everywhere to all people.

Salvation for all people’s

who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:4 (ESV)

God doesn’t just want to save the Jews or those with the “secret knowledge” as the false teachers were proposing (see previous chapter). No, God wants salvation to be made available to all peoples for all nations, tribes and tongues.

This does not discount the fact that God chooses those that are saved as taught elsewhere. God’s desired will, as displayed here, and God’s decreed will, as seen in election, are two different things. God’s desired will is not enforced whereas God’s decreed will is.

Jesus the only Mediator

there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 1 Timothy 2:5–6 (ESV)

Jesus, not Mary is our mediator. Universalists take this scripture and twist it to say all have been ransomed. As mentioned before, the all cannot be interpreted as everyone who ever lived but all in terms of type. Christ died for people from every nation and station in life.

Leadership is male

For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 1 Timothy 2:13–14 (ESV)

More evidence of the historical Adam as we mentioned in our note on the Old Testament reading today. This is also Paul’s rationale for male eldership and leadership in the church.

It is getting harder to affirm the truth that leadership is male in today’s society but we must hold firm to the truthful teaching of the bible in spite of cultural moods.

Psalm 74:1–23

Jesus is King

Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. Psalm 74:12 (ESV)

Our God is the true King, Jesus is the king of our salvation.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on 1 Timothy 2

Today’s reading: Ruth 3:1–4:22, 1 Tim 1:12–20, Ps 73:11–28

Today’s theme: God’s providence

Today we learn about the providence of God. The way God works through our work to accomplish His Holy plans and will.

Ruth 3:1–4:22

God works through our work

Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? Ruth 3:1 (ESV)

Naomi makes a plan, a great and ingenious plan, to provide a future for her faithful daughter Ruth. In this we see one way in which God’s actions and our’s work together. God acts in or through Naomi’s acts. In other words what she does executes God’s plan.

We should not sit passively saying “I’m just waiting for God’s will to be done”, no, we should sieze every God given opportunity. God opens doors and we need to walk through them.

So we need to open our eyes, see the open doors, make a plan and walk through the door. God works through us and in us. See Philippians 2:12.

Unquestioning obedience

And she replied, “All that you say I will do.” Ruth 3:5 (ESV)

Ruth’s obedience to Naomi is inspiring. She does not question Naomi but has faith in her wisdom and command. Ruth is not sceptical but moves in faith to fulfil the plan set out by Naomi and God rewards her with success.

In contradiction to our culture which seems to be perpetually poised in opposition to God and His law, our lives should be marked by unquestioning obedience to God and His word.

Jesus calls us to obedience in John 14:15 and 15:10. Paul mentions obedience in the saints throughout the world as one of the reasons for his ministry in Romans 1:5 and 6:17. The writer of Hebrews also reminds us that our eternal security is connected to our obedience in Hebrews 5:9.

Bold faith

He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” Ruth 3:9 (ESV)

Ruth takes a bold step of faith in asking Boaz to become her covering as a husband and redeemer. The lesson for us is simple, without faith it is impossible for us to please God. We must put our faith in our redeemer Jesus. See Hebrews 11:6.

God’s providence

So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. Ruth 4:13 (ESV)

God’s providence was at work in all of this. God’s great plan of redemption for all peoples was unfolding, through this son would come David and through him Christ would come.

When we speak of God’s providence we are referring to God’s support, care, and supervision of all creation, from it’s beginning to all eternity. Jesus Christ said, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working” (John 5:17).

We are also speaking of God’s activity through His unlimited power and knowledge to fulfil His purpose for the whole creation, including human beings.

The Westminster Confession of Faith states “God, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will, to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness and mercy”

1 Timothy 1:12–20

The mission of Jesus

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV)

Jesus’ great mission in coming to this world was to save sinners. Not one particular type of sinner but all types of sinner no matter how bad we have been or what sin we have committed, we can be saved by Jesus our kinsman redeemer.

God our King

To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17 (ESV)

God is our great king, He is sovereign and worthy of all our praise. Meditate on the fact that He is king today, if He is king, what does that mean for your life?

Keep a clear conscience

holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 1 Timothy 1:19 (ESV)

Holding to the faith, the truth of the gospel but having a bad conscience because of sin and compromise will lead to our faith being shipwrecked and us undergoing discipline from the Lord like Hymenaeus and Alexander. We need to keep our conscience clear by living in honesty and repentance by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 73:11–28

Worldview!

But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Psalm 73:16–17 (ESV)

It is only through God that we can understand the world around us. Our worldview should be informed by Him.

God, our greatest treasure

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. Psalm 73:25 (ESV)

God should be our greatest treasure. Ask yourself this question, if heaven with all its splendour, pleasure and beauty did not have God, if God was not there… would you still want to go?

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on 1 Timothy 1

Today’s reading: Ruth 1:1–2:23, 1 Tim 1:1–11, Ps 73:1–10

Today’s theme: Our Kingsman Redeemer

We learn many lessons from the life of Ruth today. Lessons such as being loyal, working hard and remaining humble. In Boaz we see a picture of Jesus, our own Kingsman (close relative) Redeemer through the incarnation. We also learn that it matters what we believe with a pure heart before God.

Ruth 1:1–2:23

Covenantal loyalty

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” Ruth 1:16–17 (ESV)

We can all learn so much from Ruth’s devotion, commitment and selfless faithfulness. Ruth is determined to stay with Naomi and will not abandon her, in doing so she goes as far as to change her nationality and faith for which God will greatly reward her.

Jesus calls us to show this sort of resolve and covenantal loyalty in following Him. Our spiritual nationality also changes as we become God’s people. We must be resolute, we must not turn back and we must continue to press forward. If we settle our hearts on single-minded commitment to the Lord and perseverance, we will be rewarded. See Mark 8:34 and Luke 9:62.

This attitude should also affect other areas of our lives, areas such as our marriages etc.

Honest and hard work

She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.” Ruth 2:7 (ESV)

Ruth shows us another great example, she is a hard worker. We are called to honest, hard, relentless work in the New Testament both spiritually and physically.

Paul echoes this call in his own account in 1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”

Be humble, grateful and gracious

Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” Ruth 2:10 (ESV)

Ruth knew where she was coming from and that she did not deserve and was not entitled to the grace Boaz has showed her.

Ruth shows us the kind of humble, grateful and gracious attitude we should have. We too were once in darkness and were not part of God’s people but by God’s unmerited love He elected and saved us by His grace.

We should remember where we are coming from, how God saved us and not become proud. We should be grateful.

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:12-13 “remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

Our Kingsman Redeemer

And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” Ruth 2:20 (ESV)

Jesus like Boaz became our kingsman redeemer. He became a relative of ours by becoming human to redeem us from the curse of sin and death. Here are just two verses that point to this as we praise His name for His grace to us:

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17 ESV)

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:6, 7 ESV)

1 Timothy 1:1–11

It matters what we believe

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 1 Timothy 1:3–4 (ESV)

Teaching and theology matter. It matters what we believe. We can not be certain what the bad teaching was but it was likely some form of Gnosticism.

Each of us is called to know the truth, hold to the truth in faith and defend the truth. We should not give way to relativism, naturalism or any other ism that contradicts or opposes the truth of God’s word and message.

Psalm 73:1–10

Have a pure heart

Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. Psalm 73:1 (ESV)

We must have the vital combination of pure teaching and pure hearts. One is not valid without the other.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 1 Timothy 1

Today’s reading: Judg 20:1–21:25, Phil 4:21–23, Ps 72:1–20

Today’s theme: Relativism leads to depravity

Today we read the very dark and sad ending to the book of Judges where sin, deception and moral relativism open the flood gates to death, rape and destruction. We should thank God for the grace He has extended to us and by it seek that the earth is filled with His glory rather than the depravity and darkness wrought by man’s own brand of righteousness (moral relativism).

Judges 20:1–21:25

Our responsibility to investigate

And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night. And the leaders of Gibeah rose against me and surrounded the house against me by night. They meant to kill me, and they violated my concubine, and she is dead. Judges 20:4–5 (ESV)

This wicked, self centred and callous Levite now lies, bringing a false witness before all Israel. He incites them to a frenzied state with a bloodlust to avenge the claimed wrong.

The Levite does not tell the full story of how he came to Gibeah. He claims the leaders wanted to kill him and then “took” his concubine to rape and kill her when in fact he had given her to the lowlife mob (not leaders) to save his own neck. The awful truth is that these men wanted to rape the Levite.

The people of Israel have forgotten the wisdom and spirit of the law which instructs us that it is in the mouth of two or three witnesses that every word should be established (Deuteronomy 19:15). Jesus reminds us of this when speaking of church discipline in Matthew 18:16.

We must not leave ourselves open to manipulation by men with their own agenda or bias. We must not neglect our responsibility to investigate the truth. See 2 Corinthians 13:1.

Respond to sin biblically

and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, to bring provisions for the people, that when they come they may repay Gibeah of Benjamin, for all the outrage that they have committed in Israel.” Judges 20:10 (ESV)

The children of Israel have an unbalanced response to this sin. It is hypocritical because they did nothing against Micah and the tribe of Dan for their evil actions which were grievous sins before God.

We have a tendency to treat some sins as far more serious than others and so react differently based on our own value system rather than God’s. We often react most aggressively to sins perpetrated on innocent human victims yet we treat crimes aimed directly at God as less important by our response. Heresy and bad doctrine is actually a terrible sin but we do not respond to it in the same way we do to sexual sins for example.

We need to ask for God’s help to respond to sin in a consistent way. We must apply the same weighting on sins that the world may see as non issues, sins such as blasphemy.

A new testament example of this is the woman caught in the act of adultery. The lopsided view of this sin is dealt with by Jesus in John 8:3-11.

Don’t take God’s name in vain

The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, “Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?” And the LORD said, “Judah shall go up first.” Judges 20:18 (ESV)

God’s name is used to legitimise what they have already decided to do. God sometimes answers in order to bring discipline and judgement. God shows His disapproval of the children of Israel’s methods for dealing with this outrage by allowing them to be defeated in the first two battles.

God cannot be manipulated to validate our human schemes. We must not take His name in vain, invoking the Lord’s name when we are living in hypocrisy can lead to our own undoing.

In the end the tribe of Benjamin who did not give up the men who committed the crime do receive their judgement as well.

A rash vow

Yet we cannot give them wives from our daughters.” For the people of Israel had sworn, “Cursed be he who gives a wife to Benjamin.” Judges 21:18 (ESV)

God made provision for a rash vow in Leviticus 5:4-6 so this rash oath was not the final word. If the Israelites had confessed their sin and sacrificed a sin offering, there would have been atonement made for the rash vow.

There was no need for them to consider their oath as unbreakable and resort to such extreme measures as to pronounce the herem (devotion to destruction) of some of their own people. They did this in order to violently take the virgins and in a wicked and underhanded way offer them as a sacrifice to the tribe of Benjamin.

They end up being guilty of the same crime as the wicked men of Gibeah by murdering all the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead except the virgins and the later sanctioned rape of the daughters of Shiloh.

Jesus warns us against the horrible trap of making rash vows in Matthew 5:33-37. We should speak simply and honestly knowing that the Lord forgives our foolish words if we humble ourselves and repent.

Ridiculous, parasitical legalism

and watch. If the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards and snatch each man his wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. Judges 21:21 (ESV)

Judges does not end in a positive way. We see the tragic narrative of ridiculous, parasitical legalism which sees the law interpreted in such an absurd way that the response to the rape and murder of one woman culminates in the rape of 400 virgins from Jabesh Gilead and 200 women dancers at a festival that was meant to be dedicated to the Lord.

Jesus taught us that we should avoid this sort of foolish and prideful interpretation of the law. Instead we should interpret and live the law in the spirit of the law not in the deadness of the actual words on the page. See Matthew 5:27-28 and 2 Corinthians 3:6.

Relativism leads to depravity

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25 (ESV)

This is a terrible ending to this book, relativism has prevailed. As God’s people, we can be our own worst enemy, the world around us with its temptations only amplifies the sin that is in our own souls. We need to submit to Jesus as our king and live according to his word or we will fall into the same moral darkness.

Philippians 4:21–23

Grace be with you

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Philippians 4:23 (ESV)

Thank God for His grace. We should desire for God’s grace to be with all our bothers and sisters in the Lord today.

Psalm 72:1–20

Filled with God’s glory

Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! Psalm 72:19 (ESV)

This is our great goal, the mission of the church. Let’s strive to see the whole earth filled with the Lord’s glory through His saints.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Philippians 4

Today’s reading: Judg 18:1–19:30, Phil 4:10–20, Ps 71:1–24

Today’s theme: We have a King

We see the utter darkness unleashed by the moral relativism that took hold in the days of the Judges. The people had no king and did not submit to God as their ultimate and true King. Thankfully we have a King and are a part of His kingdom, living under the order and blessing His kingdom rule so graciously provides. With contentment submit to the love and wisdom of God as King.

Judges 18:1–19:30

We have a King

In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them. Judges 18:1 (ESV)

God is silent and is not truly consulted or considered in either of today’s chapters from Judges. This points to the moral degradation of the people who have no central authority in a king which is a picture of the relativistic spiritual darkness the people had fallen into.

JRR Tolkien points to the spiritual darkness that will engulf any people when there is no leadership in his allegorical tale “The Hobbit”. In this book, the various kingdoms have no king which gave a foothold to the enemy.

In the West we are so used to democratic life that we assume it is correct when in fact it is not what God intended. Heaven’s government is not a democracy it is a Kingdom with God as the king. The right type of society before God is a godly kingdom not a “liberal” democracy or tyrannical dictatorship.

Jesus is our king. We have a king and ruler, He has laws which we gladly follow and a kingdom we are gratefully a part of. This keeps us from the darkness of moral relativism. See 1 Timothy 1:17.

God has already spoken

And they said to him, “Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed.” And the priest said to them, “Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the LORD.” Judges 18:5–6 (ESV)

Although God’s title is mentioned, God Himself is not a part of this. What the tribe of Dan is doing is wicked. God had already spoken, He had already allotted land to Dan but their cowardice and faithless hearts had caused them to lose their inheritance. Now they seek to take land that God has not allotted to them.

The priest is in a place of great apostasy and is not actually hearing from God at all. He has sold himself to work as a priest over the idols of Micah.

God has revealed His will to us in His word and from that revealed will, leads us in its application through the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit. Turn to the word of God to seek Gods will, He has already spoken. For example do not ask Gods will regarding living with a girlfriend/boyfriend or committing adultery, fornication, abortion, lying, forgiving someone or marrying an unbeliever. On all these things God has already spoken. See 2 Timothy 3:16.

Immorality leads to deception

And the priest’s heart was glad. He took the ephod and the household gods and the carved image and went along with the people. Judges 18:20 (ESV)

Moral bankruptcy leads to deception and darkness. The allurement of sin is that one leads to another and false confidence comes through apparent success. This apostate priest is glad to hear that he can be a priest to an entire tribe and so joins the tribe of Dan and is complicit in their theft and deception.

This apostate Levite was governed by a love for money and positions before men. See John 12:43.

Success!

And the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan the son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land. Judges 18:30 (ESV)

The wandering Levite was “successful” in becoming the priest of the cult the tribe of Dan had stolen from Micah and the tribe of Dan were “successful” in conquering the unsuspecting people of Laish.

Success as the world views it is not a sign of God blessing the things we have done or that we have done things in the right way. True success will be measured on the day of Judgement so we should seek to be successful in God’s eyes according to His word and not in the eyes of man.

We must guard against measuring ourselves as God’s people and as a church community based on human standards of success. Instead we should examine ourselves in the light of scripture. See Matthew 7:16-20.

There was no king

In those days, when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite was sojourning in the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, who took to himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. Judges 19:1 (ESV)

The fact that the Levite had a concubine (a woman who he would have sex with and who might bare him children but did not have the status of a wife) is cause for alarm. There is no king and all do what seems right in their own eyes. Relativistic philosophy always gives way to absurdity and wickedness.

Be hospitable

and they turned aside there, to go in and spend the night at Gibeah. And he went in and sat down in the open square of the city, for no one took them into his house to spend the night. Judges 19:15 (ESV)

The lack of hospitality in Gibeah points to the moral decay that had taken hold of Israel. We are called to be hospitable, it is our Christian duty and should be done with joy. See Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:2 and 1 Peter 4:9.

Help the helpless

But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine and made her go out to them. And they knew her and abused her all night until the morning. And as the dawn began to break, they let her go. Judges 19:25 (ESV)

These worthless men were homosexual, violent rapists. The host tries to reason with them using his own flawed morals saying it would be wrong to rape the man so rape his own daughter instead and even offers the Levite’s concubine. But these men are so driven by their homosexual lust that they refuse the old man’s offer, they want to rape the Levite.

The Levite is himself so morally warped that he sends the poor concubine out to be raped and violently assaulted all night to save his own skin. What a miserable, callous excuse for a man. This concubine is not named in scripture and serves as an “everyman” image for all who are weak and abused by those in power.

Homosexuality is a sin. Rape is a sin. Abuse is a sin. This was a great and terrible sin, no doubt the concubine cried out in distress and pain but no one in the city came to her aid, thus the entire city is complicit in her rape abuse and murder.

We are called to help the helpless and seek justice. See James 1:27

Philippians 4:10–20

Be content

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (ESV)

We must learn like Paul to be content in all circumstances, this is the secret to fulfilling God’s calling on our lives. When we say we can do all things, the “all things” are constrained by the context of the previous verse, we are saying outside circumstances will not dictate to us that Gods assignment for us can or can not be fulfilled. Our faith is in God and our reliance is on Him. If He has something for us to do He will supply the resources to get the mission accomplished.

We must avoid the worldly mentality that dictates that circumstances must be right before we do what God wants, No, we must trust in God and be content… not complacent but content trusting God for the strength and energy to work.

Psalm 71:1–24

Jesus our Rock

Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Psalm 71:3 (ESV)

Jesus is our rock, our refuge and saviour Matthew 16:18.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Philippians 4

Today’s reading: Judg 15:1–17:13, Phil 4:2–9, Ps 69:18–70:5

Today’s theme: The folly of Relativism

God’s truth is not up for a vote, it is absolute and complete by its very nature. Today we learn that Relativism is not a sustainable position and that instead, we are called to live by God’s standards in our conduct and relationships.

Judges 15:1–17:13

God’s plan for sex

Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her. Judges 16:1 (ESV)

Blatant sexual sin was a major problem in Samson’s life, his lust drove him to seek to marry a Pagan woman and now to take advantage of a prostitute.

Lust and selfishness in men’s hearts causes the abuse and exploitation of women. God’s word calls men to love and cherish women, showing them the respect they deserve, as both men and women are created in the image of God.

Sexual activity is sacred, God created it to be enjoyed in the covenant of marriage, between one man and one woman, for life. Anything that deviates from this is perverse, demeaning and exploitative.

Jesus taught us that acts of sexual sin find their roots in our thoughts and motives, in Matthew 5:28. We must flee lust. We must be pure in our thoughts and actions and honour our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit, and respect other people.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit and the renewing of the mind through God’s word, it is possible to overcome this sin. See Romans 12:1-2 and 2 Timothy 2:22

Don’t be self seeking

After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.” Judges 16:4–5 (ESV)

Delilah was willing to sell Samson out for money, she was self seeking and selfish. Like Samson, this self serving mentality will attract others to our lives with the same attitude as us, the inevitable result is that the self serving mentality of each person in these relationships, causes pain and destruction. A life driven by self serving is destined for self-destruction.

We must avoid the love of money and serving ourselves, instead we should serve others. See 1 Timothy 6:10

Don’t be manipulated

And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death. Judges 16:16 (ESV)

We must not be manipulative or allow ourselves to be manipulated, Jesus said that we should not allow ourselves to be deceived, in Matthew 24:4 and Mark 13:5. Paul also warns us against being deceived, in Ephesians 5:6 and John in 1 John 3:7

The folly of Relativism

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 17:6 (ESV)

Relativism is the doctrine that knowledge, truth, and morality exist in relation to culture, society, historical or personal context and is not absolute. This was the dominating way of thinking in Israel at this time.

It is with this type of thinking that a society reaches its lowest. All truth and law comes up for redefinition and reinterpretation, to meet the felt needs of individuals and groups who have self-centred interests.

This is popular today too. People choose to be relativist because they want to be in charge and do not want to submit. People will say “I have my truth and you have yours”. Relativism nullifies itself by its own affirmation. It says that all views and truth(s) are relative and no truth is absolute… the problem is, that itself is an absolute statement!

We must guard against relativistic thinking and arguments in the church. Instead we should submit to the truth of God’s word and the faithful leadership of our appointed Shepherds. See John 8:32

Relationship with God is not optional

Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, because I have a Levite as priest.” Judges 17:13 (ESV)

The prosperity gospel teaches that those who have no relationship with God but follow some religious principle, will be prosperous because they fulfil the principle. This is not true. Without relationship with God, in context to the truth of His word, we cannot demand anything from God. God is not an impersonal law or force, He is a very real being, three true persons with whom we must have a relationship, to be saved.

Jesus said we can ask the Father for whatever we want in His name, but this was said to disciples, those transformed by and committed to Jesus. See John 15:16

Religion without Jesus is deception.

Philippians 4:2–9

The guard of peace

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (ESV)

We should live realising that the Lord is with us, to watch over us and to help us when we cry out to Him. The peace of God guarding our hearts and minds is shared as a consequence or reward for God’s people, when they cry out to Him.

Psalm 69:18–70:5

Prophecy in the Psalms

They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink. Psalm 69:21 (ESV)

A prophecy pointing forward to Jesus suffering for us on the cross. See Matthew 27:48 and John 19:29

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Philippians 4

Today’s reading: Judg 13:1–14:20, Phil 3:12–4:1, Ps 69:1–17

Today’s theme:  Live in honour of your calling

Today we learn lessons from the life of Samson, he dishonoured his calling and the word of God. Instead, we should join Paul and all saints straining and pressing forward together to get the prize for which we have been called.

Judges 13:1–14:20

Be sensitive to God’s word

And Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what is to be the child’s manner of life, and what is his mission?” And the angel of the LORD said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful. Judges 13:12–13 (ESV)

The fact that Manoah and his wife have to be reminded that no unclean thing should be eaten, is an indicator of where Israel is as a people at this time. They have forgotten the law of God and seem apathetic towards God and their oppression, there is also no record at this point that the people repented or cried out to God.

Manoah here also seeks personal verification from God, not trusting the word already spoken, the truth already revealed. God just repeats what has already been said and denies Manaoah his desire for the secret knowledge of knowing a special name for God. Manoah is called to simply trust God’s word.

We must guard against this type of apathy in our lives also. Are we sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit? Do we demand additional personal verifications from God because we do not trust in His word? Are we in compromise with the world, which dulls our spiritual senses? We must not allow ourselves to become desensitised to God or His word. See Matthew 22:1–14

The Trinity in the OT

And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.” Judges 13:22 (ESV)

This is the second Theophanie (old testament appearance of Jesus Christ), concerning the birth of Samson.

This is further Old testament proof of the Trinity. Some say that the trinity is a new testament or even just a church concept, but this is not true. We see God the father (Yahweh), the Angel of the Lord who receives worship as God (the pre incarnated Christ, The Word) and the Spirit of God (The Holy Spirit), in the old testament testifying to God’ s nature as a triune being, one God in three distinct persons.

The old testament Theophanie records serve as a great tool to help those who do not believe in the trinity and the divinity of Jesus, especially our unsaved Jewish friends. See Acts 18:28

God WILL accomplish His purposes

His father and mother did not know that it was from the LORD, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel. Judges 14:4 (ESV)

God remained in sovereign control even through the self seeking desires of the lust driven Samson.

God is gracious, He has given Samson special gifts and set him apart, He has a purpose for his life, to begin to deliver the Children of Israel. Samson begins to squander this special calling from God, by following his own desires and disrespecting the authority of his parents.

Even if Samson will not live for God, God determines to use his sinful lifestyle to accomplish His purposes, in His grace. God has given us gifts, abilities, and a calling, He has a purpose for our lives as believers also. We should desire to be used positivity by God and not have the testimony that God used our sinfulness to accomplish His purposes.

Let us avoid a lethargic and selfish attitude toward God and His purposes, let us honour Him in all we do, as we fulfil our calling. See Ephesians 4:1

Samson’s Law

He scraped it out into his hands and went on, eating as he went. And he came to his father and mother and gave some to them, and they ate. But he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey from the carcass of the lion. Judges 14:9 (ESV)

Samson was breaking both the Nazzarite vow and the Law of Moses, by eating from this dead carcass. He defiles his parents by letting them eat of it too. This highlights Samson’s main problem; a disregard for the word of God, disobedience, doing what seems right in his own eyes and being driven by lust and revenge.

In today’s society we are persuaded to live by “Samson’s Law”. We are encouraged to do whatever we feel like doing, get whatever we want and to live for our own desires. As Christians we are called to humble service and self sacrifice, we should not live after the dictates of our own lusts and desires, but live as witnesses and servants of God. See James 4:1-3

Philippians 3:12–4:1

Pressing forward together

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, Philippians 3:12–13 (ESV)

We are not called to apathy or lethargy, we are called to constant straining and pressing forward, we are called not just to run but to run for the prize, running with the reward in mind.

Paul tells us that as we press on in this upward call, we will need each other, we will need to keep our eyes on those who are living in honour of their calling and follow their example. So the image is not of one man straining forward on his own, but an entire community of believers pressing forward together.

The Christian life takes conscious effort and perseverance. We are called to persevere knowing that one day our bodies will be transformed at the glorious resurrection. This is the great prize; to have Christ forever in fellowship in our resurrected eternal bodies.

Psalm 69:1–17

Live in honour of your calling

Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel. Psalm 69:6 (ESV)

As we read today’s passage regarding Samson, we must not live our lives in a way that dishonors God and brings shame to His people. We should live in honour and in light of our calling.

Zeal for God

For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. Psalm 69:9 (ESV)

This prophetically points forward to Jesus but we should also have zeal for God too.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Philippians 3

Today’s reading: Judg 11:1–12:15, Phil 3:1–11, Ps 68:15–35

Today’s theme: God cannot be manipulated

We learn many lessons from the troubled life of Jephthah, the most important lessons is that no man or process can manipulate God because God is not a machine, force, law or man, He is God and cannot be manipulated by anyone. Instead we must seek to do His will and enjoy His grace.

Judges 11:1–12:15

Hurt people, hurting people

Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob, and worthless fellows collected around Jephthah and went out with him. Judges 11:3 (ESV)

Jephthah came from a very dysfunctional background, his mother was a prostitute, he was rejected and disinherited by his family and then he became the leader of a gang.

He became someone who was hurt, angry, bitter, ambition driven, manipulative, ignorant of God’s Law, abusive of his daughter, lacking boundaries, contentious, reactionary, revengeful, and doing what seemed right in his own eyes, for his own gain.

God wants to help hurting people so that they stop hurting people. Only a knowledge of God’s Word can break the bonds of sin and oppression, and the cycle of hurt people hurting people.

Note the great contrast with the Lord Jesus, He too was despised and rejected. Even those in His only family thought He was mad. He had to contend with prideful Pharisees. He was betrayed, abandoned and crucified with common criminals. The Lord Jesus serves as a model for overcoming dysfunctionality. Luke 4:18

Seek God’s guidance

And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That is why we have turned to you now, that you may go with us and fight against the Ammonites and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.” Judges 11:8 (ESV)

The elders of Gilead did not seek the Lord in making Jephthah their leader, they were reacting to the situation with the Ammonites. They later pay God some lip service but they were driven by selfish motives and ambitions just like Jephthah, as we will see later.

The lesson for us here is that we need to seek God for His guidance, especially in the time of trouble. Thank God for the Spirit of Truth who guides and leads us into all truth. John 16:13

Think right about God

Will you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? And all that the LORD our God has dispossessed before us, we will possess. Judges 11:24 (ESV)

Theological accuracy is important. What we think about God is important. Wrong thinking about God can lead to much larger problems and is itself the root of heresy. Job’s friends are examples of those who argued like Jephthah, with great articulation, logic, and emotion, they were sincere, but in the end they were wrong about God.

Jephthah reveals his bad thinking about God by comparing God to the false god, as if they were equals or opposing forces. This is played out tragically in the next scene where Jephthah commits human sacrifice, something Yahweh never demands. Jephtah is mixing up the true God with the ways of the false gods.

In today’s world, theology matters. The worth of theological soundness has been depreciated in the church over the years, but we must hold firmly to the core truth and creeds of our faith and seek to know the truth of God’s word so that we might know God. See Jude 3

God cannot be manipulated

And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD and said, “If you will give the Ammonites into my hand, Judges 11:30 (ESV)

Jephthah is so arrogant that he attempts to manipulate God into giving him the victory, to fulfill his own selfish ambition of ruling over his brothers.

True faith in God understands that God is in sovereign control and rash vows portray a lack of faith in God and instead show a desire to control and manipulate God.

Our faith should on one hand, seize the initiative to act in reliance on God and on the other, be willing to wait on the Lord. However when we try to manipulate God (who will not allow himself to be manipulated by anyone because He is God), we and those around us will suffer for our single-minded, selfish ambition.

Jephthah so desperately wanted to rule over his clan that he fulfilled the horrific and unnecessary vow, showing how callous he really was to anyone or anything standing in the way of his goals.

Our lessons here are; to avoid selfish ambitions, have faith in God and do not attempt to manipulate God as though He were a machine for your convenience.

I deserve it, not

The men of Ephraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire.” Judges 12:1 (ESV)

The “I deserve it” mentality is everywhere in the west and we must guard against it. We see this in the people of Ephraim, so blinded by their felt needs and demands that they seek to go to war with their own people over it. Jephthah is no better than them, in fact he  sacrificed his own daughter because of a manipulative vow that also has its roots in the “I deserve it” mentality.

Jephthah shows his callous, self-orientated mentality again, by entering into civil war and killing his own countrymen rather than seeking reconciliation.

The lesson here is that we must avoid the “I deserve it” mentality and follow the example of the Lord Jesus, who showed us that we should pray that God’s will be done, not our own.

We will experience frustrations in our relationship with God until we realise that God is not obligated by our actions to do anything on our behalf. Whatever God does is on the basis of His grace, because we do not deserve it. James 3:14–18

Philippians 3:1–11

Knowing Jesus is everything

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:8 (ESV)

The one thing worth more than anything in the world is knowing Jesus. We should mediate on that today – what is our greatest treasure, our soul’s greatest desire? it should be this.

Psalm 68:15–35

Trust God for salvation

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death. Psalm 68:19–20 (ESV)

We can trust God for salvation, we do not need to manipulate Him, He desires to save us.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Philippians 3

Today’s reading: Judg 9:22–10:18, Phil 2:19–30, Ps 68:1–14

Today’s theme: God is Sovereign

Today we see that despite the schemes of man, God remains sovereign to the full extent of the word. In light of His full control over our lives and situations, we can boldly seek to humbly serve others like Epaphroditus, knowing that God will grant us ultimate victory in the battle.

Judges 9:22–10:18

God is Sovereign

Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers. And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal. Judges 9:56–57 (ESV)

The account of Gideon and his children ends with a clear lesson, God is Sovereign. God was in control brining to pass the prophecy of Jotham. It was not random chance or the scheming wills of man, it was God exercising His kingship over the people by directing events to His purpose.

Here are some useful things to consider as we think about God’s sovereignty:

The English term sovereignty points to a person or political entity exercising supreme power over the whole area of their jurisdiction, enjoying full autonomy with no rivals. When applied to God, we see His complete power over all creation so that He exercises His will absolutely, without any necessary conditioning by men.

The main metaphor used in the bible to speak of God’s sovereignty is that of “ruler (king) and subject.” The doxologies (praises to God) and prophetic exclamations show this best, examples include: 1 Timothy 1:17, Daniel 4:25, Jeremiah 10:10 and Romans 9:19–21*

*Silva, M., & Tenney, M. C. (2009). In The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, Q-Z (Revised, Full-Color Edition., Vol. 5). Grand Rapids, MI: The Zondervan Corporation.

Philippians 2:19–30

The example of Epaphroditus

So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. Philippians 2:29–30 (ESV)

Timothy and Epaphroditus are given as clear examples of the humble, service-centred lives that God is calling us to work out as believers, and this has been Paul’s point for this entire chapter. We do not hear much more about Epaphroditus but we can see elements in his service that we should seek to emulate.

One of these things was the willingness to risk his own life, he laid his life on the line for the sake of the Gospel. Usually risk is thought of as a bad thing, but as Christians we are called to live lives that are fully devoted to God and His kingdom. This means we need to be willing to take risks and risk our own comfort and the approval of society, as we serve God’s purpose in humility, using the energy God has given us to work to His glory.

We must avoid the trap of living safe lives as Christians, we are called to risk it all for the glory of God, knowing that the risk is from our own perspective, as God’s promises are sure. This is a call to exercise our faith as we serve God.

Psalm 68:1–14

Victorious in battle

God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him! Psalm 68:1 (ESV)

God the sovereign King is victorious in battle, we can use this verse when we pray.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Philippians 2