1 Samuel 22:3, “From there David went to Mizpah in Moab. He spoke to the king of Moab. He said, “Please let my father and mother come and stay with you. Let them stay until I learn what God is going to do for me.” Even David needed to wait to discover how the Creator would work things out in his life. Are you ready to discover what will He do in your life?
Thought for Today: Monday February 13:
The Command to forgive, as we have been forgiven, is difficult to obey. But we need to forgive people who have wronged us – even if we do not think they deserve it. If we don’t, the poison of anger and bitterness will eat away at our souls --- but with YHVH’s help we can deal with them in a way that honours Him. If we are at fault in any way, we need to face it honestly and seek Elohiym’s forgiveness. Then we need to ask the person to forgive us as well – even if they may refuse.
SERIES H --- THE JUDGES --- LESSON 01
INCOMPLETE OBEDIENCE
SEVENTY THUMBS AND SEVENTY TOES
From Judges 1:1-36
Which tribe should go to fight the Canaanites first? The people of Israel asked Adonai when Joshua had died. Judah will be first, Adonai answered. I have already arranged for them to win. The tribe of Judah made an agreement with the tribe of Simeon. Come and help us defeat the Canaanites in our territory, they said. Then we will help you capture the land given you. The tribe of Simeon agreed and went with the tribe of Judah. Adonai gave them victory over the Canaanites and the Perizzites; they killed about ten thousand of these people at Bezek. King Adoni-bezek ran away from them, but the people of Judah and Simeon captured him and cut off his thumbs and big toes. I have done the same to seventy kings, said King Adoni-bezek and made them eat scraps under my table; therefore, YHVH has given me what I deserved. King Adoni-bezek was then brought to Jerusalem, where he died. This battle against the Canaanites began after Judah had destroyed Jerusalem, killing its people and burning the city. The attack against the Canaanites followed in this order: first the attack against the Canaanites in the hill country, the Negev and the plains near the sea; then the battle went against the Canaanites at Hebron, known previously as Kiriath-arba, where Sheshai, Ahinian and Talmai were defeated. The battle against Debir, formerly Kiriath-sepher, was next. It was at this time that Caleb made his strange offer: The man who captures Kiriath-sepher may marry my daughter Achsah, he said. And Othniel, Caleb’s nephew, son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz, captured the city and married Achsah. After talking with her new husband about her father’s wedding gift, Achsah went to see Caleb. What would you like? Caleb asked as she got off her donkey. You have given me land in the wilderness of the Negev, Achsah said to her father. But we also need some springs of water to go with this land. Then Caleb gave his daughter both the upper and the lower springs of water. When some of the people of Judah had occupied the land south of Arad, in the wilderness country of the Negev, the Kenites, descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, left their homes in Jericho, The City of Palm Trees and went to live there with them. Later the people of Judah and Simeon joined in a campaign against the Canaanites in Zephath, killing all the people of the city. They renamed the city Hormah. The soldiers of Judah defeated the cities of Gaza, Ashkelon and Ekron along with the surrounding territory. Adonai was with the forces of Judah, helping them to conquer the people of the hill country. But because of the iron chariots of the enemy, Judah could not conquer the people in the plains. Caleb was able to drive out the three sons of Anak from Hebron, but the people of Benjamin could not drive the Jebusites from Jerusalem. Therefore, the Jebusites still live in Jerusalem with the people of Benjamin at the time it is written. Joseph’s descendants set out to conquer Bethel, which had previously been called Luz. When they approached the city, they sent spies, who captured a man from Bethel. Show us the way into the city and we will spare you, they said to their captive. To save his life, the man showed them the way into the city. They destroyed all of the people of Bethel, except for this man and his family. Later, the man moved his family into the land of the Hittites, which became Syria and founded a new city called Luz. The people of Manasseh never did drive out the Canaanites who lived in Beth-shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, Gezer and the territory around these cities. Years later however, Israel grew strong enough to force these Canaanites to work for them as slaves; but the Israelites and the Canaanites continued to live together in the land. The people of Zebulun never drove out the people of Kitron or Nahalol, but they too, later made them slaves. The people of Asher failed to drive out the people of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbab, Aplik and Rehob; but they lived in these cities with the Canaanites. Naphtali failed to drive out the people of Beth-shemesh or Beth-anath, but made them slaves instead. The Amorites forced the people of Dan to live in the hill country, refusing to let them live with them in the plains. But later, when the Amorites had occupied Har-heres, Aijalon and Shaalbim, the people of Joseph forced them to become their slaves. The Amorite border began at the ascent of Scorpion Pass, from Sela and upward.
COMMENTARY
THE CANAANITES
YHVH promised Israel the land of Canaan. So YHVH delivered the Hebrews from four hundred years of slavery in Egypt and led them to the Promised Land. Under Joshua, that land was conquered and divided among the twelve tribes. The coming generations would have to continue to drive out more of the old inhabitants as Israel grew and required more land. The new generation did not completely obey. They defeated the Canaanites in battle, but did not drive them out of the land. Canaan, a small land strip with the Mediterranean Sea on one side and a vast desert on the other, was the only path between Egypt and the lands to the north and east for thousands of years. Because of this, Canaan became a meeting place for people of many countries and cultures. When the Israelites migrated there, they found at least nine distinct groups. They called all of them {Canaanites.} Most were farmers who settled in Canaan because of its rich soil. Wealthy princes ruled small areas and constantly fought for control. These were the rulers the Israelites would face during their battles of conquest.
In the parable of the vineyard in Matthew 21:33-46, the tenants are the teachers and elders of Israel, the servants are the prophets and apostles, and the vineyard itself represents the people of Israel. When God's vineyard isn't bearing good fruit, he has two options: uproot the entire vineyard and replant at a later season (See Isaiah 5:1-7.) or evict the tenants and appoint someone else to tend the vineyard in their place.
https://rumble.com/v29akz8-bad....-tenants-and-bad-vin
Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem...
Mark 7:1
#Yeshua's ears must have been itching. These Pharisees and scribes had probably convened a formal hearing to discuss the upstart preacher from Galilee and decided they needed to do some in-person interrogation.
Referencing Sarah Sanders here on some current event commentary here on Super Bowl Sunday (did you know that allowing your country to be spied on is against scripture?)
https://firstcenturychristiani....ty.net/normal-versus
Referencing Sarah Sanders here on some current event commentary here on Super Bowl Sunday (did you know that allowing your country to be spied on is against scripture?)
https://firstcenturychristiani....ty.net/normal-versus
SERIES G --- THE PROMISED LAND --- LESSON 23
COVENANT RENEWED
JOSHUA’S FAREWELL
From Joshua 24
At a certain time, Joshua called together the people of Israel at Shechem. The leaders of the people were present too, including elders, officers and judges. They all came to present themselves before Adonai. Here is what Adonai says, Joshua told them. [Long ago your ancestors, including Terah and his sons, Abraham and Nahor, lived to the east of the Euphrates River. There they worshiped other gods. But I took your ancestor Abraham from that country and led him through the land of Canaan. I gave him many descendants, including his son Isaac. I gave Jacob and Esau to Isaac. To Esau I gave the hill country of Seir to possess, while Jacob and his children went down to live in Egypt. Then I sent Moses and Aaron to Egypt and with them I sent terrible plagues to cause the Egyptians to free my people from slavery. Then I brought your ancestors from that land to the Red Sea. The Egyptians came after them with chariots and horsemen. But when My people cried out to Me, I put darkness between them and the Egyptians and I brought the sea tumbling down upon the Egyptians so that they drowned. Your people saw what I did there and you lived for many years in the wilderness where you saw My miracles. At last, you reached the land of the Amorites east of the Jordan River. They fought you, but I helped you defeat them so you could possess their land. Before your very eyes, I destroyed them. Then Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab began to fight you, asking Balaam to come and curse you. But I would not pay attention to Balaam, so he blessed you and Israel was not defeated. You crossed the Jordan River and made your way to Jericho. The people of Jericho fought you, as did the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites and the Jebusites. I helped you defeat them all. I sent hornets before you to drive out the two Amorite kings and their people. You did not defeat them with your swords and bows. No, it was I Who gave you this land for which you did not work and cities which you did not build, the cities which you now call home. I even gave you vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.] Then Joshua continued; Worship and honour Adonai and serves Him with sincerity and truth. Put away the foreign gods and idols which your ancestors served when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt and serve only Adonai. Choose today whom you will serve! Will you serve the gods of the Amorites who lived here in this land? As for me and my household, we will serve Adonai! The people all answered, we will always serve Adonai and will never worship the other gods. It is Adonai Who freed our ancestors from the slavery of Egypt and Who did all those great miracles for us to see, keeping us safe as we made our way here through all those people among whom we passed. It is Adonai Who drove out these people before us including the Amorites who lived in this land. Therefore, we will serve Him, for He is our YHVH! Then Joshua answered the people, will you be able to serve Adonai? He is a Holy and Jealous Elohiym. If you turn away from Him and serve foreign gods, He will turn upon you and hurt you. He will destroy you, even though He has previously done many good things for you. We will serve Him, the people said. Then you must always remember what you have said here, Joshua replied. You have made a decision to serve Him. We will remember, the people said. We are our own witnesses to what we have said. You must destroy every idol that you may now have and turn your heart to Adonai completely, said Joshua. We will worship only Adonai, the people answered. We will obey His Voice alone. That day Joshua made a covenant with his people, a permanent agreement between them and Adonai. He wrote the words of this agreement in the Book of the Law of YHVH and then set up a great stone under the oak tree beside the tabernacle. This stone is a witness, said Joshua. It has heard all that you have said. It will speak against you if you break your promises to Adonai. Then Joshua sent the people away, each person to his own home. Later, Joshua died at the age of a hundred and ten. He was buried in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath-serah, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. While Joshua and those who were elders lived, Israel served Adonai, for these people knew what Adonai had done for them. At Shechem, they buried Joseph’s bones, which the people of Israel had carried from Egypt. The burial field was a parcel of ground which Jacob had bought for a hundred pieces of silver, about two hundred dollars, from the descendants of Hamor, the father of Shechem. It had become the inheritance of the descendants of Joseph. Eleazar the son of Aaron also died and he was buried on the hill that was given to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim.
COMMENTARY
THE TOMBS OF JOSEPH AND JOSHUA
Each new generation of Israelites faced a critical choice. Should they commit themselves to obey YHVH and His Law or should they turn to their own ways? As Joshua’s final act, he led the people to make their personal covenant commitment to YHVH: [We will worship only Adonai. We will obey His voice alone.] While alive, Joseph never left Egypt after his brothers sold him into slavery. He was re-united with his family when they came to Egypt for food during a great famine. Though they settled there, Joseph was sure that they would all eventually leave for the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and their own father, Jacob. In fact, Jacob had given Joseph a special blessing, promising him a mountain slope in the new land. Before Jacob died, he asked his sons to bury him there. Since Joseph was a high official in the Egyptian court, he was mummified when he died, which preserved his body. Hundreds of years later, when YHVH led them out of Egypt, the Israelites honoured Joseph’s request. They took his mummy with them, protecting it through all their years of wandering in the desert wilderness. When the tribes finally settled in Canaan, they buried Joseph in Shechem. The name itself probably comes from the word for {slope.} The traditional site of Joseph’s burial ground is there to be seen to this day. Like Joseph, Joshua lived to be a very old man. He was buried on his own land, at Timnath-serah in the hill region of Ephraim. At one time, the Canaanites had built a shrine to the sun at the place. They called it Timnath-heres, {Sacred Territory of the Sun.} Since the Israelites did not want to pay tribute to a false pagan god, they changed some letters and Timnath-heres became Timnath-serah or {City of Depravity}; an insult to the Canaanite deity. Today the area is called Joshua’s City. There are several tombs there that might be Joshua’s. Tradition has settled on one and it is often visited by travellers to Israel.
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