365 Reflections

The most helpful thing about reading the Bible is to learn about the many times God's people were almost done for and it turned out fine or even better than expected in the end. Isaiah 36 introduces us to a moment in Judah's history where it seems that their history is almost over.  Isaiah 36:1 (ESV) In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. Have you ever sensed the enemy standing at your door? And I'm not talking about your front door. I'm talking about your bedroom door. He's taken ground, he's encroached upon your life and you feel overwhelmed by a sense of seeming inevitable end. You will be there. It happens to some of God's best. In this case, it happens to Hezekiah. For the first time since the first verse of Isaiah's writing, Hezekiah's name shows up in the text. It is quite interesting that it happens to show up at the dark moment of Sennacherib'...

The story of Esther ends with a celebration. The feast of Purim is inaugurated in Jewish life and still remains to this day. So cool. But evidently, some people needed reassurance that the threat against them was indeed over and they had the king's authority to defend themselves AND that they should CELEBRATE.  Esther 9:29–32 (ESV) Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew gave full written authority, confirming this second letter about Purim. 30 Letters were sent to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth, 31 that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther obligated them, and as they had obligated themselves and their offspring, with regard to their fasts and their lamenting. 32 The command of Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing. A second letter is necessary for the Jews to hear the news of their victory and ...

David put a lot of men to death during his life. He killed Goliath, he raided the land of Israel constantly. He seemed to be surrounded by blood. But there's one death we kind of skim over in reading the Bible that we should pause to take notice of. At the end of 1 Samuel David has raided the Amalekites and won back his property and wives and those of his men. At the same time, the Philistines overcome Saul and he attempts suicide. Evidently, he failed. We pick up the report from the young man who was there: 2 Samuel 1:6–10 (ESV)  And the young man who told him (David) said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 8 And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still...

Judges 16:1–3 (ESV)   Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her. 2 The Gazites were told, “Samson has come here.” And they surrounded the place and set an ambush for him all night at the gate of the city. They kept quiet all night, saying, “Let us wait till the light of the morning; then we will kill him.” 3 But Samson lay till midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that is in front of Hebron. Samson's biggest problem was he never failed to get out of the terrible situations his own inhibitions got him into. The constant stream of successes he experienced as he played the fool with lust and women ultimately led him to a tragic false sense of security. It's not good to always win. Winning can mess with our pride and pride is never a good thing. Scripture says: Proverbs 16:1...

Judges 11:1–4 (ESV) Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah. 2 And Gilead’s wife also bore him sons. And when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You shall not have an inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.” 3 Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob, and worthless fellows collected around Jephthah and went out with him. 4 After a time the Ammonites made war against Israel. Jephthah is a flawed man. He is also infamous for a terrible decision in life that he really should not be defined by. But it happened and we'll get to it, but not today. For right now I want you to look at who Jephthah was from birth to adulthood. The definition of his reality during that phrase could be described as one thing: A raw deal in life.  Consider that he is the son of a prostitute. His father's one night stand before se...

So much of Christianity is often widdled down to platitudes. "Trust in the Lord," we say, without regard for action or steps to follow that mindset of trust. "Have faith" when we never consider that faith without works is dead according to scripture. "Believe God" is another one. We tell people to believe for God to do better things in our future. But sometimes, God is waiting for His people to act on what they've already received from Him. Gideon was called a "mighty warrior" while hiding in a cave with a winepress. Now we see that mighty warrior come out of him as he begins a plan of attack with an army far outnumbered. Judges 7:16–18 (ESV)   And he divided the 300 men into three companies and put trumpets into the hands of all of them and empty jars, with torches inside the jars. 17 And he said to them, “Look at me, and do likewise. When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do. 18 When I blow the trumpet, I and all who ar...

I sometimes think we treat the Bible as a "do not do" book. All the while I read a ton of "go do" in it. The Bible is God's Word to mankind who has "fallen short" of His glory. The implication of that expression is that we were not meant to fall short. We were intended to hit the mark, to attain the Glory of God! Because the scriptures make clear that we are not living as we should and must come to terms with it if we are to change and become what God intended we could be tempted to cast dispersions on this book as if it were against us. Nothing could be further from the truth. The scriptures are FOR US. Want proof? Romans 15:4 (ESV) For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope . So we see a theme running through the Bible of a certain few people who dared to believe that though their station was not as it should be (because of si...

After gaining a ton of momentum in the previous victory from Gibeon, Joshua proceeds to take out one army after another in Joshua 10. However, with every new success comes fresh new and more difficult challenges. This time the kings of the Northern country come out against Joshua in an alliance and with more difficult opposition - chariots. The good news is, God wants His people getting stronger and more victorious, the bad news is, it will require greater obstacles in their future. Joshua 11:4–5 (ESV) And they came out with all their troops, a great horde, in number like the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. 5 And all these kings joined their forces and came and encamped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel. Isn't this just like life? We start to really roll and think we've made it only to face another challenge we've never experienced before. This time, instead of God drowning chariots in the Red Sea, He's going ...

Joshua 7:6–9 (ESV) Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord GOD, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?” These are words you'd never think would come out of Joshua's mouth. He was one of two spies who believed God for the Promised Land. Now he's crying in regret that they have even come into the land. What happened? The nation suffered a defeat before their enemies at Ai. But the defeat was not without reason. God had given t...

Deuteronomy 23:9–13 (ESV) “When you are encamped against your enemies, then you shall keep yourself from every evil thing. 10 “If any man among you becomes unclean because of a nocturnal emission, then he shall go outside the camp. He shall not come inside the camp, 11 but when evening comes, he shall bathe himself in water, and as the sun sets, he may come inside the camp. 12 “You shall have a place outside the camp, and you shall go out to it. 13 And you shall have a trowel with your tools, and when you sit down outside, you shall dig a hole with it and turn back and cover up your excrement. These two laws are incredibly important to an ancient culture far removed from the obsessive sanitize-everything-you-can culture of our day. The Israelites were to keep their military camps clean in the midst of warfare. These stipulations concerning what to do with semen and feces would have enormous health benefits to the nation's fighting men. The bottom line, in this case, is cl...

Christians are people who live in the victory secured by the blood of Christ. This does not mean, however, that Christians are allowed to treat anyone however they please nor live however they please. Christians are still and always accountable to the plan of God for blessing the world He loves through the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached into men's hearts and transmitted into heavenly blessings to the nations. We learn this principle in a most surprising ancient warfare stipulation God gives to His people through Moses. The surface of this text seems out of bounds, but further investigation into the time and context reveal God's regulations upon the people He chose to bless the nations. Deuteronomy 21:10–14 (ESV) “When you go out to war against your enemies, and the LORD your God gives them into your hand and you take them captive, 11 and you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and you desire to take her to be your wife, 12 and you bring her home to your house, she sh...

Psalm 114 is weird. It's weird because the Psalmist has a conversation with a Sea, a river and mountains. The Psalm recounts Israel's deliverance from Egypt in a unique way and asks questions of the Earthly elements that made way for God's people now saved. Psalm 114:3–6 (NLT) The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the Jordan River turned away. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs! 5 What’s wrong, Red Sea, that made you hurry out of their way? What happened, Jordan River, that you turned away? 6 Why, mountains, did you skip like rams? Why, hills, like lambs? The Psalmist personifies these things to make a point: A sea hurries out of the way. The Jordan made a turn for them. What's the point? It's a reminder that when God does a work in someone's life, obstacles have to move! The opening verses give this away: Psalm 114:1–2 (NLT)   When the Israelites escaped from Egypt— when the family of Jacob l...

Psalm 108 is a warrior's morning prayer for victory. David who had a long fight with the Edomites has awoken up early to seek God's deliverance from them once and for all. Psalm 108:1–4 (ESV) 1 My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being! 2 Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! 3 I will give thanks to you, O Lord , among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. 4 For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. The state of David's heart is strong. He is steadfast. But why? Because God's love is steadfast. God is faithful to David in love. In fact, David's name means, "beloved." It is interesting that David is the only "David" in the Bible! No one else carries that name. Perhaps this was the reason behind John's reference to himself as "the disciple Jesus loved." People who know they are loved by God last a long...

Psalm 35 seems like David is only in a personal squabble with some unfaithful friends. But the Hebrew language throughout betrays that idea. It's King David imploring the Lord on his behalf against the enemies poised against him. This is a prayer made by a warrior on the eve of the battle. And David asks God flat out to fight for him... Psalm 35:1–3 (ESV) Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! 2 Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help! 3 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, “I am your salvation!” David asks God to fight for him. What a great idea. Sometimes in the middle of our hardest battles we forget to ask God for victory! Now of course, we don't wage war in military campaigns. But we do fight a spiritual enemy with demon hoards around us seeking to devour and destroy and devastate us. But we are not without hope and we are far from helpless. Our God will fight for us and ...

Is Psalm 20 was sung before the war, Psalm 21 is the song after the war. And the first section reminds us of the importance of thanking God for victory in the past! Psalm 21:1–2 (ESV) O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults! 2 You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah How quick and often we pray for things we need in the future or present. But we easily forget to reflect on the goodness of God in the past. If we stop and think, we can surely find plenty of blessings to thank the Lord for. His goodness and mercy are forever showered upon us.  The first 7 verses rejoice in the Lord. The Lord blesses the king, empowers the king, and rejoices the king. The presence of the Lord is the source of the king's joy.  Can you take a moment now to think and recount the wonderful things God has done for you? I know personally there are many for me. My Lord has given me health, fami...

Revelation 12:11 (ESV)   And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death . The persecution in the end times upon Christians will bring great difficulties for those who want to honor God. It will be a war! But Revelation holds a key to victory.  First, knowing that our Savior died for us. God is for us not against us. The blood of the Lamb remembered in communion is a covenant enacted by God on our behalf. When you are under the attack of Satan, the best thing you can remind him of is the fact that this transaction for your soul has been finalized in Jesus Christ. Second, the Word of their Testimony. There is no doubt when you share something you know it better even after you share it. Explaining to someone how to play the piano makes you more in tune with the rudiments necessary for playing the piano. So too, the more we share our faith, the more internal and real our fa...

John 12:15  (ESV)   “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” It is referred to as "The Triumphal Entry" in most Bibles, though not actual scripture, but in subheadings. And most Christians call it by the same name. Yet it was truly anything BUT triumphant. Jesus was not the conquering General of thousands returning from war to the city that would praise Him as hero. There was no ticker-tape parade. There was no glorious stirring of the influential and notable. It was a Jewish 'Rabbi'-carpenter from Galilee riding a donkey followed by masses of messy people, the sinners, the cast aways, the drop outs, and the have-nots. From Luke's account of this moment, the Lord is weeping over the city knowing the soon destruction that will come upon her for putting to death the Lord of Glory. Where's the triumph in that? If it seems now like nothing you may have imagined you're on the right track. Perhaps thi...

There are some who deny the existence of evil spirits and the devil.  They think its old fashioned and out of date.  Now everything is a pathological disorder of brain malfunction.  I'm not denying those at all.  But I refuse to deny the very real reality of evil spirits. Peter says something interesting in the last chapter of his first epistle: 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. He says "be sober-minded" - which can mean, "come to your senses". Peter uses this word three times in this letter alone.  First he uses it to call them to action in 1:13.  He then uses it of praying in light of the Lord's return in 4:7.  Now he uses the term "come to your senses" about something people think is non-sensical - the devil. I would suggest that any great victory militarily happened because cooler heads captained the winning army.  They didn't frea...

As we move into 1 John5, John continues to defend that only in Jesus do we experience all God has for us. 1 John 5:4–5 (NLT) For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is not just our salvation.  Jesus is our deliverance.  The world is not our home.  Do not be surprised, Christ follower, when you start feeling like an alien in the very world you used to see as your home.  I find that the more you know of God and Christ and the Word, the more uncomfortable you are living in this present world.   Not that we wish to escape the world for fear of harm, in that case we would be useless and purposeless in the world.  No, the discomfort comes from knowing this world is backwards.  Up is down, left is right, in is out.  And it seems like no one notices except those found in Chri...

1 John 2:13–14 (NLT)     I am writing to you who are mature in the faith        because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.      I am writing to you who are young in the faith        because you have won your battle with the evil one .      14 I have written to you who are God’s children        because you know the Father.      I have written to you who are mature in the faith        because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.      I have written to you who are young in the faith        because you are strong.      God’s word lives in your hearts,        and y ou have won your battle with the evil one . Twice in this passage John says he's writing to those who are young in the faith... who have WON their battle with the evil one.  What...