Joshua 11:1-12:24
Core Claim
The LORD gives the enemy over to Israel, and they are to devote them to destruction.
Commentary
The passage describes a great coalition of kings from surrounding nations who join forces to fight against Israel.
The LORD encourages Joshua not to be afraid of the enemy, promising to give them over to Israel the next day.
Joshua and his warriors attack the enemy at the waters of Merom, hamstringing their horses and burning their chariots with fire.
The LORD gives the enemy into Israel's hand, and they chase them as far as Great Sidon and Misrephoth-maim.
Joshua captures and destroys the cities of the kings, devoting them to destruction.
The people of Israel defeat the kings of the land, including Sihon and Og, and give their land to the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh.
The land has rest from war.
The passage highlights the importance of obedience to the LORD's commands and the consequences of disobedience.
The LORD's promise to give the enemy over to Israel is fulfilled, and the people of Israel are victorious.
The passage also notes that the people of Israel take the spoil of the cities and the livestock as their plunder.
The LORD's command to devote the enemy to destruction is fulfilled, and the people of Israel are at peace.
Doctrinal Links
- The doctrine of the covenant: the passage highlights the importance of obedience to the LORD's commands and the consequences of disobedience.
- The doctrine of the atonement: the passage notes that the people of Israel are victorious over the enemy, but it also notes that the enemy is devoted to destruction.
- The doctrine of the image of God: the passage highlights the importance of human agency in the passage, but it also notes that the LORD is the one who gives the enemy over to Israel.
Common Objections
<objection>
Response: The LORD's command to devote the enemy to destruction seems harsh and unjust.
> This objection is based on a misunderstanding of the context and the nature of the enemy. The passage makes it clear that the enemy is a great horde that has been hardened by the LORD to come against Israel in battle. The devotion to destruction is a consequence of their refusal to submit to Israel's authority and their continued rebellion against the LORD.
Response:
<objection>
Response: Why does the LORD allow the people of Israel to take the spoil of the cities and the livestock as their plunder?
> This objection is based on a misunderstanding of the nature of war and the consequences of disobedience. The passage makes it clear that the people of Israel are to devote the enemy to destruction, but they are also to take the spoil of the cities and the livestock as their plunder. This is a consequence of their obedience to the LORD's commands and their victory over the enemy.
Response:
<objection>
Response: The passage seems to suggest that the people of Israel are responsible for the destruction of the enemy, but this seems to contradict the idea that the LORD is the one who gives the enemy over to Israel.
> This objection is based on a misunderstanding of the nature of the LORD's sovereignty and the role of human agency in the passage. The passage makes it clear that the LORD gives the enemy over to Israel, but it also notes that Joshua and his warriors attack the enemy at the waters of Merom. This is an example of the LORD's sovereignty working through human agency.
Response:
Tensions
The tension between the LORD's command to devote the enemy to destruction and the people of Israel's desire for mercy and compassion.
The tension between the LORD's sovereignty and human agency in the passage.
The tension between the idea that the people of Israel are responsible for the destruction of the enemy and the idea that the LORD is the one who gives the enemy over to Israel.
Application Questions
- How can we apply the principle of devotion to destruction in our own lives, recognizing that the LORD is the one who gives the enemy over to us?
- How can we balance the desire for mercy and compassion with the need to obey the LORD's commands and devote the enemy to destruction?
- How can we recognize and respond to the LORD's sovereignty in our lives, acknowledging that He is the one who gives the enemy over to us?
Luke 17:11-37
Core Claim
The kingdom of God is present in the midst of people, and its coming is not something that can be observed or pointed to.
Commentary
The passage begins with Jesus encountering ten lepers on the way to Jerusalem, highlighting the theme of the kingdom of God being present in the midst of people.
The lepers' request for mercy and Jesus' response to "go and show yourselves to the priests" demonstrates the importance of faith and obedience in receiving healing.
The story of the ten lepers serves as a contrast to the nine who do not return to thank Jesus, illustrating the importance of gratitude and faith.
Jesus' conversation with the Pharisees about the kingdom of God emphasizes that its coming is not something that can be observed or pointed to.
The parable of the days of the Son of Man, comparing it to the days of Noah and Lot, warns of the coming judgment and the importance of being prepared.
Jesus' use of the phrase "the kingdom of God is in the midst of you" emphasizes the present reality of the kingdom, rather than a future event.
The passage highlights the importance of faith, gratitude, and preparation for the coming judgment.
Doctrinal Links
- The kingdom of God (Luke 17:21)
- The Son of Man (Luke 17:22-37)
- Faith (Luke 17:19)
- Mercy (Luke 17:13)
- Judgment (Luke 17:26-30)
- The coming of the kingdom of God (Luke 17:20-21)
Common Objections
<objection> The passage seems to contradict the idea of a future, visible return of Christ.
Response: <response> This objection misunderstands the passage, which emphasizes the present reality of the kingdom of God and the importance of being prepared for the coming judgment, rather than a future, visible return.
Tensions
The tension between the present reality of the kingdom of God and the future, visible return of Christ.
The tension between the emphasis on faith and the seeming lack of faith among the nine lepers.
The tension between the warning of judgment and the promise of salvation.
Application Questions
- How can we cultivate a sense of gratitude and faith in our daily lives?
- What does it mean to have the kingdom of God present in our midst, and how can we live in light of this reality?
- How can we prepare for the coming judgment and be found faithful?
Psalm 84:1-12
Core Claim
The Psalmist expresses a deep longing to dwell in the presence of the living God, describing it as a place of joy and praise.
Commentary
The Psalm is addressed to the choirmaster, indicating its musical nature and intended for worship.
The LORD's dwelling is described as a place of joy and praise, emphasizing its beauty and desirability.
The birds' homes at the LORD's altars are seen as a model for human dwelling, highlighting the LORD's care and provision.
The Valley of Baca is transformed by those who dwell in Zion, illustrating the redemptive power of God's presence.
The LORD is described as a sun and shield, bestowing favor and honor, emphasizing His character as a loving and protective God.
Trust in the LORD is the key to receiving good things from Him, underscoring the importance of faith in the Psalmist's message.
The Psalmist's longing is not just for a physical location, but for a deep spiritual connection with God, highlighting the importance of intimacy with God.
The use of "Selah" and "Behold" emphasizes the Psalmist's desire to draw attention to the LORD's majesty and presence.
The Psalmist's comparison of the LORD's dwelling to a home for birds emphasizes the LORD's care and provision for all creatures.
The Psalmist's desire to be a doorkeeper in the LORD's house highlights the importance of serving and worshiping God.
Doctrinal Links
- The kingdom of God (Luke 17:21)
- The Son of Man (Luke 17:22-37)
- Faith (Luke 17:19)
- Mercy (Luke 17:13)
- Judgment (Luke 17:26-30)
- The coming of the kingdom of God (Luke 17:20-21)
Common Objections
The Psalmist's longing for the LORD's dwelling place seems excessive or even idolatrous."
Response: This objection misunderstands the Psalmist's intention, which is to express a deep longing for spiritual connection with God, not to idolize a physical location.
The comparison of the LORD's dwelling to a home for birds is anthropomorphic and inaccurate."
Response: This objection overlooks the poetic nature of the Psalm, which uses figurative language to convey spiritual truths.
The Psalmist's emphasis on trust in the LORD seems to downplay human effort and responsibility."
Response: This objection misinterprets the Psalmist's message, which emphasizes the importance of faith in receiving good things from God, not replacing human effort.
Tensions
The tension between the Psalmist's longing for the LORD's dwelling place and the reality of physical distance or separation from God.
The tension between the Psalmist's emphasis on trust in the LORD and the need for human effort and responsibility in spiritual growth.
The tension between the Psalmist's comparison of the LORD's dwelling to a home for birds and the need for a more nuanced understanding of God's character.
Application Questions
- How can we cultivate a deep longing for spiritual connection with God in our own lives?
- What are some ways we can express our trust in the LORD, even in difficult circumstances?
- How can we balance the importance of faith with the need for human effort and responsibility in spiritual growth?
- What are some ways we can apply the Psalmist's comparison of the LORD's dwelling to a home for birds in our own lives?
Proverbs 13:5-6
Core Claim
The righteous and wicked have fundamentally different outcomes due to their distinct behaviors.
Commentary
The passage emphasizes the contrast between the righteous and wicked, highlighting their opposing behaviors and outcomes.
The righteous are characterized by hatred of falsehood, while the wicked are marked by shame and disgrace.
Righteousness is a protective force that guards the blameless, while sin is a destructive force that overthrows the wicked.
The passage assumes a moral dichotomy between the righteous and wicked, with the righteous being blameless and the wicked being guilty.
The contrast between righteousness and sin is a recurring theme in Proverbs, emphasizing the importance of moral character.
The passage suggests that the righteous and wicked are not merely neutral or morally equivalent, but rather have distinct and opposing moral trajectories.
The use of "hates" in verse 5 emphasizes the strong moral revulsion of the righteous towards falsehood.
The phrase "brings shame and disgrace" in verse 5 highlights the consequences of the wicked's actions.
The passage assumes a connection between moral character and external consequences, suggesting that the righteous will experience positive outcomes and the wicked will experience negative outcomes.
Doctrinal Links
- The passage assumes a covenantal framework, where the righteous are blessed and the wicked are cursed.
- The passage emphasizes the importance of righteousness, which is a key concept in biblical theology.
- The passage assumes a connection between moral character and external consequences, which is a recurring theme in biblical theology.
- The passage highlights the destructive power of sin, which is a key concept in biblical theology.
Common Objections
The wicked may not always bring shame and disgrace
Response: The passage assumes a general principle that the wicked will bring shame and disgrace, but acknowledges that individual circumstances may vary.
The righteous may not always hate falsehood
Response: The passage emphasizes the general behavior of the righteous, but acknowledges that individual righteous people may struggle with hatred of falsehood.
The passage is too simplistic and does not account for complex moral situations
Response: The passage is intended to convey general principles and moral guidelines, rather than provide a comprehensive treatment of complex moral situations.
Tensions
The passage assumes a clear distinction between the righteous and wicked, which may not always be evident in real-life situations.
The passage emphasizes the importance of moral character, but may not provide sufficient guidance for individuals struggling with specific moral dilemmas.
The passage assumes a connection between moral character and external consequences, which may not always be the case.
Application Questions
- How can I cultivate a hatred of falsehood in my own life?
- What are the consequences of my own sin, and how can I avoid them?
- How can I prioritize righteousness in my daily life, and what are the benefits of doing so?