I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.
Today’s passage starts by telling us about David’s war against the Ammonites. We are told that when King Nahash of the Ammonites died, David sent messengers to his son expressing his condolences. King Nahash’s son, Hanun, became convinced that David’s messengers were spies sent by David to find out the best way to conquer his land. Hanun chooses to humiliate the men he believes are spies by shaving off half of their beards and cutting their robes short. Hanun then compounded his foolishness by hiring a mercenary army from the Arameans. When David hears of the large army that King Hanun has mustered, he responds by sending Joab out with the standing army. King Hanun divided his army, attempting to trap Joab between the two parts. However, this just allows Joab to contain one part of King Hanun’s army while he defeats the other part. After driving King Hanun’s army from the field, Joab returns to Jerusalem. King Hanun hires even more mercenaries from the Arameans. David musters the full military might of Israel and attacks. After David’s victory this time, the Arameans are no longer willing to hire out to King Hanun. The following year, David conquers the Ammonites. This passage illustrates the foolishness of insulting those more powerful than yourself.
After several battles with the Philistines, David decides to take a census of the fighting age men of Israel, against the advice of Joab. The passage tells us that this census was a sin against God. That rather than trusting in God to provide for the defense of the kingdom, David tried to determine how much military might he could muster so that he would know what he could do on his own. In judgement, God sends a plague on Israel. David built an altar and offered a sacrifice to God in order to stop the plague.
Paul wrote here that circumcision will not save you. That if you break some other element of the Law, being circumcised will in no way protect you from judgement for that infraction. Paul further said that uncircumcised Gentiles who keep the rest of the Law, will condemn circumcised Jews who do not. Paul sums up his point by saying that being born of Jewish parents or undergoing the ceremony of circumcision does not make you a true Jew. According to Paul, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. In this context, Paul appears to use the term Jew to mean “one of God’s chosen people”. Paul went on to say that true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the Law, but being changed by the Holy Spirit. Evidence of a changed heart is that we seek God’s praise, not that of people.
Paul began the next section by saying that even though circumcision does not save, it is of great value. Paul wrote that the first reason it is of value is that Jews received the whole revelation of God (not just the parts that could be deduced by observing nature). He never comes back and tells us what the other reasons are that circumcision is of value. Interestingly, I came across an atheist website that gives some insight into this, and into the early Church’s decision to not require Gentiles to become circumcised. It turns out that circumcision has some positive health effects, but those effects are mostly seen if the circumcision is done on an infant. Choosing to have a circumcision as an adult has less of an impact on health than choosing to alter other behaviors and the effect of circumcision on non-behavior related health issues is significantly less if the circumcision is performed on an adult.
Paul wrote that just because some of the Jews who were entrusted with God’s complete revelation were unfaithful that does not mean that God is unfaithful. Paul pointed out that our sinfulness highlights God’s righteousness. This does not however provide a justification for our sin. Paul wrote here that those who argue that it is ok to sin because it shows how wonderful God’s grace is are to be condemned.
The psalmist here says that he will not run and hide because he trusts in God for protection. The psalmist tells us that even if law and order has collapsed in our society, God still rules from heaven and is in control. God will protect the righteous and use them to bring glory to His name. We should echo the words of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego that we believe that God is able to save us, but even if He does not, we will serve Him.
Controlling your temper is evidence of wisdom. People respect those who do not fly off the handle at every little perceived slight. At my current job, one of our clients is constantly calling in angry, yelling and demanding action. He believes that by doing this he will get better service. But in fact, he gets poorer service because people avoid taking his calls as much as possible. Rather than rush to get finished with something else so that they can deal take his calls, they take longer hoping that he will grow impatient or have another call and hang up. He thinks that by yelling he pushes them to give him better service, but since he always yells, even when they are doing the best they can, there is no incentive to give him good service. My co-workers are conscientious and still strive to give him good service, but human nature being what it is, they do not always succeed.