Today's Bible Readings

Hey, I'm on a roll! Shorter comments today - I only have the amount of time covered by Play School!

Deuteronomy 9

Moses reminds the Israelites that as the enter the land, they are not to assume that it is because of their own righteousness that they will possess it:

It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the LORD your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Deut 9:5)

God is achieving two things at once then with the possession of the land - the fulfillment of his promise to his people Israel and punishment for the surrounding nations and their wickedness.

It's quite a harsh chapter in many ways - Moses does not spare from telling Israel how disobedient to God they have consistently been, ever since he saved them from Egypt, in v24 he says "You have been rebellious against the LORD ever since I have known you." Not a shining endorsement!

However, even with the evidence of their ongoing sin (and we are no better!), Moses still pleaded for the people before God,

But they are your people, your inheritance that you brought out by your great power and your outstretched arm. (v29)

They are still the people of God, and still the ones he chose to be in relationship with. Of course, they will need to also have hearts that are changed to show that they want to be in relationship with God, but at the moment they are the people of God.


Psalm 92 & 93

Psalm 92 starts with:

It is good to praise the LORD
and make music to your name, O Most High,
2 to proclaim your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night (Ps 92:1-2)

Without reading too much into it, is this perhaps some guidance on how to approach the day? Praise God for his love for you as you wake and start the day, amazed that you have another day to serve him on this earth. And at night, thank God for his faithfulness in sustaining you through the day.

Psalm 93 is one of my favourites, because G wrote a song about it years ago (which did make it to a CD). It is a great picture of our God who reigns in power, and who in in control of all things for all time. God indeed is mighty.


Isaiah 37

The account continues of the Assyrians trying to invade Jerusalem under Sennacherib. Near the end, God speaks against Sennacherib, saying:

But I know where you stay
and when you come and go
and how you rage against me. (Isa 37:28)

A reminder for those that think they can avoid God, that he still knows everything! You can't hide.

And, even with the threat (and eventual) certainty of the invasion and destruction of Jerusalem and Judah, God still promises hope:

Once more a remnant of the house of Judah
will take root below and bear fruit above.
For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant,
and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this. (Isa 37:31-32)

Revelation 7

A glorious vision of heaven and the praise of God by all there. I will just include a few verses:

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb." (Rev 7:9-10) ....

Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them,
nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their
shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (Rev 7:16-17)

I know there are people who fear Revelation a little: it is confusing, challenging to get your head around and people interpret it so differently. But it does contain great passages of praise! And it certainly opens your mind to see how glorious our God is.

Hope you have a great day praising and thanking God.