365 Reflections

1 Chronicles 1:1–4 (ESV) Adam, Seth, Enosh; 2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared; 3 Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech; 4 Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. I was tempted to skip over the long and seemingly ambiguous genealogical records of the first several chapters of 1 Chronicles. But I remember "all scripture is God-breathed and profitable." So here we are and in four verses I get an idea of what is happening in 1 Chronicles from the start.   Israel will produce the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles during their return from Exile in Babylon. The narrative of 1 & 2 Kings ends with the nation cast into exile and we aren't given the contextual details of 1 Chronicles on the first page because Israel had greater issues to deal with as they made their way back to the Promised Land after 70 years.  How do you live again where you once died?  To answer that question, Chronicles takes Isreal's exiles on a journey to where they come from. We must note the book does not open with Abraham but rather...

One of the questions we have to ask about the end of Absalom's rebellion concerns the actions of Joab toward the young rebel. He violently strikes him down and buries his body in a heap of rocks. Mind you, this is after Joab received clear instructions from David to deal gently with the boy for his sake. 2 Samuel 18:16–17 (ESV) Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained them. 17 And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled every one to his own home. When news of Absalom's death comes to David, he falls to pieces as any father would over a dead child. But Joab once again seems emotionally detached from the entire experience. He reprimands David for disrespecting his men and showing more love for the one who hated him than those devoted to him. 2 Samuel 19:5–6 (ESV)  Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “You have tod...

So I'm just going to take a stab at this next passage in Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy 25:11–16 (ESV) “When men fight with one another and the wife of the one draws near to rescue her husband from the hand of him who is beating him and puts out her hand and seizes him by the private parts, 12 then you shall cut off her hand. Your eye shall have no pity. 13 “You shall not have in your bag two kinds of weights, a large and a small. 14 You shall not have in your house two kinds of measures, a large and a small. 15 A full and fair weight you shall have, a full and fair measure you shall have, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. 16 For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are an abomination to the LORD your God. There is a connection in this law concerning the wife who harms the genitals of a man attacking her husband and the previous law concerning levirate marriage. The aim of the previous law was to prolong the name of the decease...

Deuteronomy 13:6–9 (ESV) “If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or your daughter or the wife you embrace or your friend who is as your own soul entices you secretly, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which neither you nor your fathers have known, 7 some of the gods of the peoples who are around you, whether near you or far off from you, from the one end of the earth to the other, 8 you shall not yield to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him, nor shall you conceal him. 9 But you shall kill him. Your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. This passage sounds a lot like the words of Jesus who said: Luke 14:26–27 (ESV) “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple....

Genesis 50:23 (ESV)   And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph’s own. We usually end our studies of Genesis by looking only at Joseph's words concerning the things his brothers meant for evil but God used for good. But the book doesn't end there. There is something more to be said. Before the end of the story, there is this curious mention of Joseph's life as it comes to a close. He sees his children's children's children's children.  What does Joseph get as a result of the work of God in his life? He gets a big family.  The Hebrew wording of Genesis 50:23 is unique. The english version above doesn't translate well. The idea is of intimate familial relationships. It is literally translated,  "the children of Machir (Joseph's grandson) were born on Joseph's knees." That is, as a great-great-grandfater, Joseph bounced those children on his kn...

Genesis 38:1 (ESV) It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. Genesis 38 is the chapter that appears to be out of place. We just started to get into the story of Joseph. He's on the way to Egypt and our minds are thinking about what may happen to him. Suddenly, we are encountered with this long narrative of sexual dalliance in Judah. Judah goes to the Canaanites and intermarries. He has children, two of which died, and after his wife passes, he ends up sleeping with his son's daughter because she thought she was a cult prostitute. The reality was she positioned herself perfectly to bait him into this action and then turned the tables on his hypocrisy when he found out she was pregnant. Meanwhile, as Judah is the slave of his own desires and deceit, Joseph's life will take the opposite track in the next chapter. Potiphar's wife will pursue Joseph and he will reject her citing such...

Genesis 36:1 (ESV) These are the generations of Esau (that is, Edom). Genesis 37:2 (ESV)   These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. What's the story in your family? Genesis 36 is all about Esau's family and descendants. It's an impressive list. It has many lineages and many kings. If you were Jacob's family reading this for the first time you may be intimidated by it all. Especially verse 26 mentioning the kings of Edom before there were any kings of Israel. Verse 40 tells us they had "dwelling places" and "Chiefs." It's a very succinct chapter in which all the history of Edom is outlined for us. There is listed in this chapter no record of family strife or conflict, no wars, no betrayals, no sad moments of death and passing. Just a reco...

Jacob gets a lot of notoriety for being the sneaking conniving swindler in the Patriarchal family. But the truth is, he was simply a reflection of his entire family. Genesis 27 is the account in which ALL FOUR members of Isaac's household distrust, misuse and take advantage of each other. Let's take them one at a time. Genesis 27:2–4 (ESV) Isaac said (to Esau), “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. 3 Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, 4 and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.” Isaac knew God had selected the younger son for the blessing of the father. It was already prophesied. But God's Word wasn't good with Isaac because rather than discussing things with Rebekah (probably because he knew her love for Jacob), he secretly planned to give the blessing to Esau after having feasted on a nice well...

Genesis 4:25–26 (ESV) And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord . Two very interesting things happen around the birth of Seth. First Adam finds his voice. Second, men begin to worship God. I think they go together. Adam speaking here contrasts Eve naming both Cain and Abel. Seth, however is named by the man who hasn't spoken much since sin entered the world (other than to call his wife "Eve."). It would seem that Adam is doing what he was meant to do - lead his family. He is curiously absent in the sibling rivalry, and of course before that, during the first temptation. When men step back from being Godly, watch the damage that is done. I know there are many who will disagree with me, but wherever you have men t...

Today I start in the book of Genesis. Having done the New Testament and Psalms, it seems logical. Only one verse to begin... appropriately: Genesis 1:1 (ESV)   In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Origins are significant. We ask people where they are "from." We want to know if someone is someone's father or mother. We like to find out people's "story." What brought you here? How did this family, business, industry, adventure start for you?  Companies love to put the year of their founding after the abbreviation: "est." Lawyers and Doctors talk about practicing since "x" year. We love the STORIES of others portrayed in movies, novels and plays. Consider the rise of the prequel in the movie industry. Star Wars spent millions of dollars producing 3 mediocre movies explaining where Anakin Skywalker came from. Someone's origins gives them meaning, purpose, dimension and depth that we previously didn't unde...

Psalm 128 is all about blessing. Psalm 128:1–6 (ESV) 1 Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord , who walks in his ways! 2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.        3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.        4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord .        5 The Lord bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! 6 May you see your children’s children! Peace be upon Israel! The man who fears the Lord is blessed. There's no doubt about it. The Psalms are songs sung by the congregation. Weekly reminders of the blessing of doing life God's way. Notice the outward thrust of blessing from the man to his legacy. Those who fear the Lord are blessed with their own efforts and labor. Life will be good for them ...

Psalm 127:1–5 (ESV)   Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.           3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord , the fruit of the womb a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. When I first read this Psalm I thought it was two different Psalms that have been forced into one. The first part is about building something - industry, work, labor. The second about family, children and rest (which often don't go together). But I was wrong. I learned that Jewish people see this Psalm as a unit because in their mind all areas of life flow togethe...

The most vilified word in the Bible for 21st century Americans? Here it is... black and white, plain english, Ephesians 5:21 (ESV) submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ . Oh how we hate to submit to anybody. Hey, our country was founded on sticking it to the authorities and tossing our tea into the sea. No one's going to tell us what to do. But herein lies the American Church's greatest opportunity to shine bright. Actually submitting to one another would do two things: 1. It would be obedience to God. 2. It would stick out like a sore thumb in a culture fixated on self-actualization, not self-humiliation. Funny thing is, Paul doesn't just say "Submit to one another." No! He adds, "out of reverence for Christ." he knows first hand that harm done to a Christian is harm done to Christ. What did Jesus ask him on the road to Damascus where he was going to persecute believers? "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute ME?" Jesus qu...

How are we going to stand in the midst of a society increasingly at odds with the ways of our God? Ephesians 3:14 (ESV) For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Can you see Paul on his face in a roman prison calling out to God? What a picture of faith and what an example for us all. The scripture records a lot of prayers. But the most heartfelt prayers are those uttered when one is bowed before God. It is utter desperation and hopelessness apart from God's i...