READING FOR NOVEMBER 25, 2024: DEUTERONOMY 16, 1 JOHN 2, PSALM 119:73-80 DEUTERONOMY 16 In this chapter Moses reviews three major feasts: the Passover, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths. For these feasts, God requires that all males travel to His designated place of worship, which will eventually be Jerusalem. Also, they are to bring sacrifices and offerings that are prescribed for each occasion. Thus, their entire year is built around these required times of worship and national gathering. Consider how we build our lives around being obedient to this same Almighty God. Keeping these holy days is no longer part of our covenant relationship with God. Jesus tells us, though, to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness before considering other priorities. Consider ways mentioned in the Bible that operationalize making this Kingdom priority first in our lives: telling others about Jesus (Matt. 28:18-20), studying His word (2 Tim.2:15), praising and thanking God (Phil 3:6), meeting with other believers (Heb. 10:25), praying with and for others (James 5:18, meeting the needs of other Christians (Gal. 6:10). Do we address these opportunities first before our own necessary human concerns, such as food, shelter, and clothing (Matt. 6:33)?
As throughout the Bible, God emphasizes we are to practice justice in all our dealings. This includes not being partial to anyone and not accepting or offering a bribe that might influence right practice. Let’s pray that none of the millions of dollars given in campaign donations this past election cycle has an influence in the making or enforcing of laws. (Is that naive?) We read that God directed Israel to select individuals to interpret the laws He has given to them. God understands even before they enter the land, that there will be disputes among people that need to be adjudicated. Church and governmental leaders are needed for life together. The chapter ends with an admonition not to place an Asherah beside the altar of the Lord. What is an Asherah? According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, it is an object of worship to a Canaanite Goddess. The mixing of Christianity with other belief systems, known as synchronism, is a big problem today in many parts of the world. In America, Christianity is most usually mixed with a worldview that is self-centric and non-supernational, known as naturalism. Let’s not dilute the truth with any of non-Christian cultural practices or beliefs. 1 John 2 John’s goal for his readers is that they not sin. That should be our goal, as well. When and if do sin, though, we have the best possible advocate in our defense before God the Father: none other than Jesus, Himself. He bore God’s wrath against our sin in our place. He did this for us, for all our sins. Strict Calvinists believe in a concept called limited atonement, meaning God only did this for those elected for salvation. Verse two seems to counter this view. Wesleyans, such as our church, believe Jesus died for everyone, but that the gift of
READING FOR NOVEMBER 25 CONTINUED: 1 JOHN 2, PSALM 119:73-80 salvation still needs to be received by us. Jesus cannot be an advocate for those who reject His
advocacy. Verse three answers the question, “How do we know we are saved or are Christians?” John says we know by keeping Jesus’s commandments. If we don’t know His commandments because we don’t study His word, that’s a concern. Jesus made the following comment about the importance of the Bible: “He answered and said, ‘it is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God’” (Matt.4:4). John is a bit hard to understand in verses 7-8. At first, he says he is not giving them a new commandment. Then immediately he says he is giving a new commandment. What’s going on? Possibly he is suggesting that in one sense the commandment about loving others is not new, specifically loving our neighbor as ourselves. We find this way back in Leviticus 19:18. But we do find a commandment Jesus called “new” in John 13:34-35: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” This fits with the context of 1 John 2:3 about knowing we are Jesus followers and 1 John 2:6 about walking as Jesus walked.
John tells us not to love the world or the things of the world. The word for world is kosmon,which is the same word used in John 3:16 about God loving the world. This word is used differently depending on the context. Here it means the sinful fallen system that rejects God. John describes it as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. This is the world that is passing away, but the obedient believer will live forever. John mentioned that the great enemy of Christ, the antichrist, will come in these last days. Already there were many who opposed Jesus, including and especially those who once identified as Christians. This is certainly true today where we find former apparent believers now leading the opposition to Jesus. These individuals do not accept Jesus as God the Son who was anointed by the Holy Spirit and sent from God the Father. But Jesus is the one who promises eternal life through faith in Him. Those who teach otherwise are trying to deceive us. These deceivers have been successful with many in our day but need not be with us if we remain in Him.
PSALM 119:73-80 The Psalmist reasons that because God created us, He can certainly help us understand His commandments. Asking God for such understanding is so important when contemporary interpretations seem to stray from the original meaning. The Psalmist prays that other believers will be happy to know He is meditating on God’s word. Let’s rejoice when we hear another believer gaining good insight from the Bible and not be jealous or defensive. Verse 75 is shocking to us, but we cannot ignore it. If God afflicts us, He is right to do so and in fact is demonstrating His faithfulness to us. At the same time verse 76 says it right to turn to God for comfort. Can we hold both of these truths together? Verse 78 reminds us that arrogant people are out to destroy our faith, but meditating on the Bible protects us.
