Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses — an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings. There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua copied on stones the law of Moses, which he had written. All Israel, aliens and citizens alike, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the Lord, facing those who carried it — the priests, who were Levites. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord had formerly commanded when he gave instructions to bless the people of Israel.
Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law — the blessings and the curses — just as it is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the aliens who lived among them.
Joshua 8:30-35
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
“Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: ‘Keep all these commands that I give you today. When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your fathers, promised you. And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster. Build there an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool upon them. Build the altar of the Lord your God with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God. Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the Lord your God. And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones you have set up.’ " Deuteronomy 27:1-8
This command from Moses didn’t get lost in the battles once Israel had crossed the Jordan. For we read that after the victory over Ai, “Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites”. And he did so within the specifications given by Moses before his death…”according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses”, constructing “an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used”.
Once built, scripture tells us that the Israelites “offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings” before “Joshua copied on stones the law of Moses”…”in the presence of the Israelites” who were “were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the Lord, facing those who carried it — the priests, who were Levites”. With “half of the people” standing in “front of Mount Gerizim” and the other half “in front of Mount Ebal”…”as Moses the servant of the Lord had formerly commanded”, Joshua “read all the words of the law — the blessings and the curses — just as it is written in the Book of the Law”. Our passage tells us that Joshua didn’t skip anything…for “there was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the aliens who lived among them”. There was no one absent…no one that wasn’t reminded of what God commanded and expected from His people…no one who didn’t understand that there were harsh consequences attached to disobedience and worshipping any other god than God Himself. Thus what happened on Mount Ebal amounted to a refresher course for Israel…a reminder of God’s requirements straight from His word.
So why did Israel need reminded?
First, it would be impossible to completely remember everything that God had commanded. So having the commands read regularly would keep God’s laws and expectations fresh on the minds of the people.
Maybe just as good a reason if not more so was Israel’s rate of failure. For despite being told not to do certain actions, Israel still did them, blatantly disobeying God and falling into His disfavor. The hope would be that if the words of God were kept fresh on the hearts and minds of His people, then they would hopefully fail and fall less…choosing righteousness over sinfulness and coming to fully understand the awesome power of the word of God.
Question: How about us today? How often do we keep ourselves refreshed by reading God’s word?
My feeling is that we don’t do it near enough. In fact, I’m afraid that most Christians fail to open their bibles up outside of Sunday morning worship. And that simply won’t cut it when we’re up against an enemy like Satan.
For failing to read the word of God every day is like stepping out onto a battlefield with no weapon. If you did, you won’t survive long against attack unarmed. The same applies when you walk out into the world on any one day without the word of God…which is referred to as the sword of the Spirit or weapon we are to carry when we don the full armor of God. (Ephesians 6:6) Our Savior Jesus showed us how to use the Word against Satan whenever He was tempted in Matthew, Chapter 4. He did so to show us 1) what to do if Satan tempts us (i.e. use the Word in defense) and 2) that it works because every time that Jesus used God’s word, Satan stopped that particular attack. After the third unsuccessful try, he fled.
So how well do we fend off Satan? Well…it depends on how well we know the Word. Jesus was able to quote all the right words at the right time. He could do so because He not only knew the Word…but He was the Word…the Word made flesh to walk among us. (John 1:14) And He is ready to equip us to be able to walk through each day and drive away Satan any time he decides to come upon us. We only need to draw near to Him each and every day…to commune with Him in prayer and Spirit…to learn more and more how He lived so we can live likewise…and to make sure not a day goes by that we fail to read and study God’s word.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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