I have been using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study for almost a year. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I started writing this blog because the only way I can get myself to read the Bible everyday is to pretend that I am teaching someone about what it says to me. 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. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.
Sheba, the man who led the revolt against King David, took his forces into a walled town. Joab led David’s army and besieged the town. Joab and his men built a siege ramp and began battering down the walls of the town. A wise woman in the town called Joab over and asked him why he wanted to destroy the town, which she credited with being an important town in Israel. Joab responded that he had no interest in destroying the town, all he wanted was one man, Sheba. He told the woman that if they handed Sheba over to him, he would leave the town alone. The woman replied that they would throw Sheba’s head over the wall to Joab. She went to the people of the town and they did as she said they would. When Joab received Sheba’s head, he called the troops back from the attack and sent them home.
At some point after this there was a famine in the land of Israel that lasted for three years. When David inquired of God for the reason for the famine, he was told that it was because Saul had murdered the Gibeonites (a group of Amorites whom the Israelites under Joshua had entered into a treaty with to allow them to live). When David consulted with the remaining Gibeonites as to what he could do to make amends, they asked him to give them seven sons of Saul to execute. David handed over to them Saul’s two remaining sons and five of his grandsons. The Gibeonites executed them all together at the beginning of the barley harvest season. The mother of the two sons of Saul executed by the Gibeonites stayed by the bodies for the entire harvest season and would not allow scavengers to tear at the bodies. When David heard what she had done, he sent to Jabesh-gilead and retrieved the bones of Saul and his three sons killed by the Philistines. He buried those and the seven executed by the Gibeonites in the tomb of Kish, Saul’s father.
The passage tells us that after this at some point, Israel was once more at war with the Philistines. David led his army into battle. In one of those battles, David became exhausted and became cornered by a man who was descended from a giant. The man was about to kill David when Abishai, Joab’s brother, came to David’s rescue. After this, David’s men asked him to no longer come with them into battle because they were afraid that he would be killed. The passage goes on that in three later battles against the Philistines, members of David’s army killed three more descendants of giants.
Luke began his account of the Acts of the Apostles by writing that Jesus remained with the disciples for 40 days after His resurrection. During this time, the disciples asked Him if the time had come for Him to free Israel from Roman rule and re-establish the kingdom of Israel. Jesus responded that the Father alone would set those dates and times and that they were not for the disciples to know. However, the Holy Spirit would come upon them and give them power. They would then be His witnesses to tell everyone about Him throughout the world, starting in Jerusalem. After He told them this, He was lifted up into heaven before their very eyes.
The apostles returned to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying. Luke lists the eleven apostles, those of Jesus’ disciples who were closest to Him during His ministry. These eleven met together regularly to pray, in addition Mary, the mother of Jesus, several other women and Jesus’ brothers joined with them. This group represented the core group but they were joined by other followers of Jesus as well. At one point when they were together with about 120 followers of Jesus, Peter stood up and said that they needed to choose someone to take the place of Judas Iscariot (who had betrayed Jesus). This happened after Judas had killed himself. The group nominated two men who had been with Jesus from the time He was baptized by John until He was taken up into heaven, Joseph, known as Justus, and Matthias. They then cast lots between the two and Matthias was chosen to join the eleven as an apostle.
There are a couple of points that I want to highlight out of this passage. The first is that this passage is yet another that warns us not to try and calculate the date when Jesus will return to overthrow the kingdoms of the world. The second is the method that the apostles used to choose a new leader of the group. They reviewed the qualifications for the position. Then they chose two men who not only met the qualifications but whom they believed would be good candidates to fill the role. Finally, they cast lots between the two men, asking God to pick which one was His choice to fill the role. I think that the Church should more often use a method similar to this to choose its leaders.
This psalm is yet another reminder of what a great God we server. We need not wonder where our help in time of need will come from. It will come from God. God watches over us and He neither slumbers nor does He sleep. During the day and during the night, He is watching, ready to reach out and support us when we lose our footing. I need fear nothing because God watches over my coming and my going, now and forevermore. But this promise is not just for me, it is for everyone. If anyone will put their trust in God and strive to serve Him, He will watch over them and care for them. They will need to fear nothing.
Today’s proverb contains a message to which I can add nothing. It makes a point that everyone would be wise to heed:
and haughtiness before a fall.