tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537430539216528822024-02-08T16:04:07.689+00:00Reading TogetherGordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-51273341151828929112010-09-06T08:00:00.001+01:002010-09-06T08:00:05.382+01:00Revelation 1:12-20Revelation 1:12-20<br />
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Read these verses over again. Go on, once more.<br />
You can't read them often enough.<br />
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Seven is the perfect number, a complete number. So seven lampstands, which are the seven churches, represent the complete church. The glorious Lord Jesus Christ is with, in the midst of, his church.<br />
How can we be downcast? What shall we fear? The Lord is with us.<br />
[Seven here is not about the seven churches of Asia - the use of this phrase in 1:4 is probably the only 'real' number, i.e. non-symbolic number, in the whole book.]<br />
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Son of Man is a designation the Lord Jesus uses often of himself. I think its use comes from Daniel 7. In this context when we read 'one <em>like</em> a son of man', I think the emphasis falls on the likeness of the Lord Jesus to humans. If we had been alive and seen the Lord Jesus we would have seen arms and legs, a head, a body - a human. What John sees is the glorious Lord Jesus, but he is like a human, in human form. The incarnation doesn't end with the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. His body is raised from the tomb. There is a human in heaven.<br />
Yes, the Lord is with us.<br />
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The Lord Jesus is seen by John in purity and power. He is without sin or any kind of failure and he is the one who exercises justice with the sword of justice.<br />
It keeps getting better, he was dead and now is alive and will never die again. He holds authority over death and hell. He is the one who can be depended upon.<br />
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We will read later in Revelation of John falling before a heavenly messenger, but this is the only time such prostration is not corrected. It is entirely correct to fall on your face before the Lord Jesus.<br />
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The seven angels of the churches, a perfect number of messengers to the churches. It could be the teachers/preachers in the church, or could be a perfection of God's message to the church. The point in this passage is that the seven stars are in the hand of the Lord Jesus. The message of God to the church is in Christ's hand, and nowhere else!<br />
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It really is all about Jesus.<br />
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Go on, read it again, it will do you good.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-77680114672112786622010-09-04T08:00:00.001+01:002010-09-04T08:00:00.522+01:00Revelation 1:9-11Revelation 1:9-11<br />
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Having spoken in exalted terms of the Lord Jesus and his reign it may surprise us to read of 'tribulation' and the need for 'patient endurance'. v. 9.<br />
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The kingdoms of this earth, the enemies of God: the devil, death, sin, will not simply roll over and die. They continue to war against the Lord and his Christ, and his Kingdom now established.<br />
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We need to learn this again, patient endurance, not deliverance, is the sign of the Spirit at work amongst us. Our Lord and Saviour suffered and endured patiently, if we follow him, how can we expect not to follow him here?<br />
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John describes a vision for us, note that he writes 'Write what you see in a book ...' v. 11. Sometimes it is easy to put into words what we see, sometimes it is impossible. How do you use words to describe the range of colours in a sunset? Big clue here! John is going to have to put into words in a book indescribable visions of the glory of God. If we push the words John uses into their literal sense we end up with nonsense. Literalism is not a good way to read the Bible. This is not to say that what John is trying to describe is not real, objectively real. God is real, the Lord Jesus who was slain but now lives for ever is real, but sometimes the language John uses to describe these things pushes our words to the edge of their meaning.<br />
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Symbol and story, metaphor and analogy - the tools of the poet and prophet to convey that which no eye has seen, no ear has heard and the heart of no human can comprehend. Beward of readings of Revelation that try to nail all the words in this book down too tightly.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-33476240823217535492010-09-03T08:00:00.002+01:002010-09-03T08:00:06.560+01:00Revelation 1:4-8Revelation 1:4-8<br />
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John makes it clear that this letter is addressed to 'the seven churches that are in Asia', v. 4.<br />
John didn't make a mistake here, this address is as inspired as every other word in this text. The book of Revelation must have meaning for the seven churches that are in Asia, it cannot only be a text that has meaning for 20th century dispensationalists.<br />
We hear God speaking to us in Scripture by submitting our reading of the text to that shared with our sisters and brothers who first received the text. United in Christ as one people the distance between us is not as great as sometimes it is presented. There is one God, one Lord Jesus, one Spirit at work in the writing of Scripture, its first reception in the first century and its present reception in the 21st century.<br />
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The traditional Christian letter greeting, 'Grace to you' is extended in a wonderful celebration of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some points to note:<br />
'the seven spirits' - not seven (one more than six) but a perfect spirit, <em>the</em> Spirit.<br />
'the faithful witness' - in his life, death, resurrection and ascension Jesus Christ bears witness to the faithfulness of God to his covenant promises.<br />
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The kingdom language in v. 6 is important as this text will present Jesus not only as Christ, but also as Lord, the King of all Creation over all other challengers. Combined with the eternal language in these verses we see that the reign of the Lord Jesus has begun and will never end.<br />
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The work of Christ is freeing us from sins is introduced early in Revelation. This is not the whole of salvation, but remains a daily prayer that we would know the joy of sins forgiven and peace with God through the blood of the Lord Jesus shed on the cross.<br />
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Is this how we know Jesus? Is this the Jesus we try to share with others when we speak to them of him?Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-85839019945915136412010-09-02T08:00:00.000+01:002010-09-02T08:00:00.627+01:00Revelation 1:1-3Revelation 1:1-3<br />
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There is something that God wants to make known - a revelation from God.<br />
This revelation concerns things that must soon take place, as we will see in chapters 4+5, the fulfilment of the purposes of God.<br />
This revelationis given by God to Jesus Christ, God has chosen to make known the fulfilment of his purposes through Jesus Christ, and him alone.<br />
It is Jesus Christ who engages the service of the angel who is sent to John and discloses this revelation to John.<br />
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John is not properly the author of this text. The author is God, the revelation is his to make known. John then serves in the role of recorded, he writes down what he is shown and what he hears. The principal objection to this John being the author of the Fourth Gospel is the marked difference in the style of the Greek. However, given strong thematic links and the united testimony of the early church we should not hesitate to think of this John as the same John we know from other New Testament texts.<br />
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Seven times in this book a blessing is pronounced: see also 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14. Seven is the perfect number, the number of completion and so these seven blessings together describe the perfect blessing. One who is blessed knows the favour of God, and is one who reads this book so that others may hear and learn of this revelation. But also one who keeps what is written, obeys, submits to, allows the words to change them and their life. This is the blessed life.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-72602868267612555572010-09-01T08:00:00.001+01:002010-09-01T08:00:09.388+01:00Revelation - and ApocalypticSometimes this book is called 'The Apocalypse', see the title of Smalley's commentary, amongst many.<br />
In this context I think 'apocalypse' refers to the Greek work 'apokalupsis' which is rendered in English versions as 'revelation', e.g. 1:1 - 'The <u>revelation</u> of Jesus Christ'.<br />
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Another term, 'apocalyptic' can be used to describe the genre, or type of writing that is employed in this book. Here the term refers to a form of writing in which standard symbols are used to represent usually elements of a vision which has been granted by God. There are examples of apocalyptic writing in Daniel 7-12 and Zechariah 9-14. It seems a strange form of writing to us, however, if we were to read a number of second Temple Jewish texts it would quickly become familiar.<br />
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From this I would make the following points:<br />
1. John is trying to describe something which cannot be contained in human language. How can you describe the Lord Jesus as both one who has been slain and who is now reigning?<br />
2. The code to the symbolic language would have been widely known, certainly to the Christians in Asia who received this text. It is not a code designed to be hard to break, to keep things secret from agents of the Roman Empire.<br />
3. This is code, or picture, language we should not press the details into physical relality. The numbers are all symbolic and should not be treated as mathematical or arithmetical representations of quantity or value.<br />
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That this text is apocalyptic does not however change the nature of the text as a letter. It is from beginning to end a letter to the seven churches and intended to have meaning and be useful to them.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-12489774989005002312010-08-31T08:00:00.000+01:002010-08-31T08:00:05.720+01:00Revelation - an outlineI always find it helpful to have an overview of a book of Scripture before diving into the details. The challenge with Revelation is that I don't think you will work one out before you have worked through the text. I suppose at best you can make a starting point and as you go through amend your outline in the light of your new understanding of the text.<br />
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Here is my current attempt, this after preaching through the text twice.<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">1:1-20 - Introduction</span><br />
This chapter introduces the whole book, giving us the key theme that this book is a revelation 'of Jesus Christ' v. 1.<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">2:1-3:22 - The seven letters</span><br />
This text, like other New Testament books touches down in a particular time and place, it was in the first instance to these seven churches.<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">4:1-5:14 - A vision of God's purposes achieved</span><br />
These chapters give the assurance to churches under pressure, which is elaborated in the following chapters.<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">6:1-8:5 - The seven seals</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">8:6-11:19 - The seven trumpets</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">12:1-14:20 - Scenes of cosmic conflict over God's purposes</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">15:1-16:21 - The seven bowls</span><br />
I think the three sets of seven are repeating the same story. The first two sets have an interlude at the end, which reflects chapters 12 to 14. God's purposes will be achieved, not matter what opposition rises against them.<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">17:1-20:15 - Scenes of judgment and celebration at God's judgment</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">21:1-22:21 - In the presence of God, the hope of God's people</span><br />
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I know some of these are quite big portions, but we'll break them down as we go through. The main thing here is to note the deliberate parallels in the sets of seven (seals, trumpets and bowls). The text is not recording three successive stages of history or salvation, but the one event, the one salvation of our God. The three fold repetition gives us great assurance that the matter is certain and fixed by our God for his glory.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-81323671018479300322010-08-27T11:47:00.002+01:002010-08-30T13:25:55.749+01:00Revelation - booksIf it is true that of the writing of books there is no end, this seems especially true of Revelation.<br />
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I'm not going to mention all the books I have, just one or two ...<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">John Richardson 'Revelation Unwrapped: Revealing the blessing of John's Vision' MPA books, 1996</span>.<br />
This is a superb book, only 82 pages, but each one of them is solid gold. A brief book gives an overview, and with Revelation I think too many people get lost in the details. If you decide to buy only one book on Revelation, buy this one.<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Michael Wilcock 'The Message of Revelation' IVP The Bible Speaks Today series, 1975/1989</span>.<br />
Another very good book, longer than Richardson, but now comes with a study guide. Very helpful on the shape and structure of the book.<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Philip Edgcumbe Hughes 'The Book of Revelation: A Commentary' IVP 1990</span>.<br />
Hughes offers his own translation of Revelation aiming to make clear what he sees as the meaning of the text, this is very helpful. Hughes seeks to unpack the symbolism of Revelation that we might better see how such a text works.<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Eugene H Peterson 'Reversed Thunder' Harper Collins 1988</span>.<br />
This is not a commentary on the text and should not be approached in that way. However, this is a wonderful, rolling meditation on the themes arising from Revelation and may be a good guide as to how we are to respond to this text. I'm a great Peterson fan so this is another highly recommended book.<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Stephen S Smalley 'The Revelation to John: A Commentary on the Greek Text of teh Apocalypse' SPCK 2005</span>.<br />
I was amazed to pick this up very cheap in a sale in Dec 2007 and it would be my recommended commentary on the Greek text. The Greek of Revelation is challenging and if you are trying to use the Greek you will need a good text, this one is recommended.<br />
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I have Charles in the old ICC series from 1920, 2 volumes and I have two of the three volumes by Aune in the Word Biblical Commentary series. These are helpful on the Greek of the text, but I think loose there focus on the whole by following too many side roads. If you use the Greek books like these will be essential, but you really need something shorter to keep you on track.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-71465816017791372222010-08-26T11:47:00.000+01:002010-08-26T11:47:41.209+01:00RevelationOver the next fews weeks I though I would post on Revelation. I hope this doesn't see you all run for the hills!<br />
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No, I'm not claiming in any of my posts to have all the answers to all the questions arising from this wonderful book. However, the more often we read it together and share our thoughts the more clearly we may see some of the things God would say to us in these words.<br />
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So, stick with it and please join in - leave a comment and others may respond and our community of readers may grow.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-32098388046383836772010-07-21T08:00:00.002+01:002010-07-21T08:00:04.331+01:00Judges 21:1-25Judges 21:1-12<br />
The aftermath of this situation hardly improves for Israel.<br />
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The people worship the Lord, the ask ‘why’, but they do not appear to ask him, ‘what next?’<br />
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They find one town that has not taken the oath against Benjamin, kill all the men and married woman and steal 400 young girls, virgins, that they may be given to the 600 Benjamites.<br />
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We cannot imagine that our Lord would tell his people to do such a thing. It happened, but there is not one word of the Lord commanding it. There is no sign of the Lord approving of this wicked deed. The people have gone off script, not only in chapter 21 but way before this. The continual cycle of sin has lead the nation to this point. There is no other outcome for repeated sin.<br />
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Judges 21:13-25<br />
Their first scheme is only partly successful, they need another 200 wives. Why not steal them? Well since you murdered the fathers of the first 400 why not!<br />
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Verse 24 may sound as though all is well, each man is entering the promised inheritance. But how have they entered it? Not in the Lord’s way. What are the doing in it? Not living for the glory of God.<br />
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Verse 25 is the sad and sober conclusion to this book, ‘there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.’<br />
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God’s people need God’s leader, God’s King. The situation in the nation does improve (slightly and only for a short time) under David and some other godly kings. However, this verse points us to Jesus, God’s King for God’s Kingdom. Only when he is King and we do what is right in his eyes will we see God's Kingdom established, only then will we live in his promised land.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-57430824788143106192010-07-20T08:00:00.000+01:002010-07-20T08:00:00.486+01:00Judges 20:1-48Judges 20:1-17<br />
The nation responds, the tribes gather. 400,000 men prepared for battle. The Levite repeats his story once again in all its horror and the tribes are enraged.<br />
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To defend these worthless men Benjamin gathers 26,000 (that is one man for every 15 set against them).<br />
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There is no one seeking the Lord here or asking God what he wants them to do. It is more like two mobs preparing for a fight.<br />
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Judges 20:18-28 <br />
For two days the people of Israel go out against Benjamin, and for two days they are defeated. <br />
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Now they seek they Lord, now in their trouble and defeat they call out asking the Lord what they should do.<br />
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How gracious is the Lord’s word that the next day they will defeat the enemy (who is really a fellow tribe of Israel).<br />
We might wonder why the Lord continues to bother? Only because he is faithful to his covenant. Even if this people fall into sin and war against one another, he will remain faithful.<br />
Does this mean the Lord is pleased with the majority of Israel? I don't think so. They could have stopped this a long time ago if only someone had stood up against the idol worship growing in the land.<br />
No one comes out of this well.<br />
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Judges 20:29-48<br />
Is this a victory? 25,000 killed and 600 escaped to live by a rock in the wilderness. It sounds more like wanton destruction, killing for the sake of killing, without restraint or purpose.<br />
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Chaos is too small and tame a word for this, yet it fully describes what is going on in Israel.<br />
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The Spirit of the Lord worked order out of chaos, Gen 1, but here we are returning to a chaos of violence and idol worship that denies the creative purposes of our God. Too often the chaos we create is a denial of our God.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-73710129813856683852010-07-19T08:00:00.000+01:002010-07-19T08:00:00.202+01:00Judges 19:22-30Judges 19:22-30<br />
A tale of horror. The men of the town gather seeking to rape the strange man who has come among them. They are offered two women but refuse. When the concubine in thrown out of the house they rape her to her death.<br />
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No one comes out of this story well, the words of the master are harsh and uncaring as he steps over the concubine to leave the house and continue on his way home. His gruesome action in cutting up the concubine and send her pieces around the nation is callous and cruel.<br />
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So much for the hospitality of the people of Israel.<br />
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Yes, this is a text about the abuse of women. The concubine is treated like a piece of disposable property. So is the virgin daughter who is not raped. There is nothing in this text for us to copy. All we see here are examples of how we should not live.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-28620786182374132672010-07-18T08:00:00.000+01:002010-07-18T08:00:04.415+01:00Judges 19:1-21Judges 19:1-21<br />
Once again we are reminded, there is no king in Israel. No effective leadership for the people.<br />
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An unfaithful concubine is sought that she may be brought home. An extended ritual of hospitality is played out in the house of her father until we think he would be happy for the husband to remain with them in his home.<br />
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On the journey home the man and his concubine travel to an Israelite town, expecting some hospitality from the people there, as they found with they concubine’s father. But only one old man will show them kindness.<br />
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The scene is set.<br />
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The rest of this story may I think rightly be called a text of terror. We should be horrified at what happens in a city of the people of God, in a town within the promised land. This is not why the Lord promised the land to this people. This is not what the Lord intended from his chosen people and royal priesthood. <br />
It would be easy to skip over these chapters, and many do this. Why did the Lord include such chapters in Scripture? Not because he likes horror stories! As with all Scripture it's purpose is to teach, reprove, correct, train in righteousness, equipped God's people for all good work. <br />
This is what happens when God's people abandon God and remake gods of their own choosing. Don't turn your eyes away, because if it could happen to God's people in Israel it can happen to you and me wherever we are!Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-68985559630489092122010-07-17T08:00:00.002+01:002010-07-17T08:00:03.184+01:00Judges 18:21-31Judges 18:21-26<br />
Micah calls out his household and gives chase to the tribe who have stolen his idols. Notice how Micah speak about these things, ‘You have taken away my gods that I made’. How could he not notice, he a creature of the Living God is now upset because the gods he made have been stolen.<br />
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If I have made it, it isn’t God. God made me, I did not make God. Even to say such things betrays how far from truth and Godliness Micah has fallen.<br />
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How often our casual words, words spoken in haste or anger betray where our hearts lie.<br />
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Micah sees his gods stolen and fears that he is left with nothing. To be without God is indeed to be left with nothing, no hope, no peace, no future. But our God cannot be stolen from us because he is the one who keeps us in his powerful hands – not the other way round.<br />
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Judges 18:27-31 <br />
The people of Dan do gain an piece of the land for themselves. But it turns out not to be the promised land they gain. <br />
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It is a land polluted by idols of their own choosing. They worship gods that are not god, they worship in ways that are not the Lord’s ways, they set up priests not called to this task by the Lord.<br />
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They could hardly be further from the promised land if they had set up home in Hawaii.<br />
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How easy it is to think we are making a home for ourselves with the Lord, and forget that he is the one who makes a home for us and calls us to live in that home in ways that honour and please him.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-51765927838229888672010-07-16T08:00:00.000+01:002010-07-16T08:00:02.329+01:00Judges 18:1-20Judges 18:1-6<br />
The disaster of Micah’s idols spills out beyond one family and one Levite priest. Note the refrain of these chapters is repeated in v. 1.<br />
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The tribe of Dan has failed to gain its inheritance, they are searching though the land looking for somewhere to call home. The come across Micah’s house and the priest, the seek the Lord’s will from him and are given the kind of guidance they would be pleased to receive. However, contaminated by Micah’s idols nothing will work out well for them.<br />
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Judges 18:7-10 <br />
The five Danite spies find an unsuspecting group, poorly defended and return to the main body of the tribe reporting success. <br />
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The appearance of success can be deceitful, no doubt they think they are on the right road with God blessing them.<br />
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Is this not a failing that often falls upon us? We believe that success is the only measure of whether the Lord is pleased with us, whether the Lord is guiding our labours. We can be 'apparently' successful while living in great disobedience. This is not to advise against success, we rightly pray for the Lord to bless our labours in his service, but we need a wider perspective on his blessing than merely what is successful. <br />
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Judges 18:11-20 <br />
As the tribe of Dan go off to defeat this unsuspecting people they pass by the house of Micah. The five spies tell of the worship centre and idols they have seen. <br />
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The whole tribe turns aside to see this, and having seen they lay hold of these false idols to take them for their own. And the false priest, proving faithless towards Micah runs down the road after his useless idols. It started in stealing and comes to stealing again. What a mess!<br />
From one man and his idols we now have a whole tribe entrapped in false worship. Do we heed this warning?Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-41441452983498807202010-07-15T13:55:00.000+01:002010-07-15T13:55:03.180+01:00Judges 17:1-13Sorry for the long delay in following on from chapter 16. Honest, I never intended to dodge these final chapters. So, here goes ...<br />
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Judges 17:1-6<br />
I don’t like to say Scripture is difficult, but these final chapters of Judges are difficult, because they are so unpleasant.<br />
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The cycle of sin, defeat, calling to the Lord, raising of a Judge appears to vanish here, we are dropped right into the middle of some terrible situations.<br />
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We begin with Micah making idols and setting up one of his sons as priest in his own house. In this he is encouraged by his mother, who clearly doesn’t understand what it means to dedicate something to the Lord. And this sorry situation started with Micah stealing the money from his mother before returning it to her. A broken picture of broken lives in a nation about to be devastated by sin.<br />
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Verse 6, "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.", introduces the new refrain of these final chapters.<br />
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What do we mean by dedication to the Lord? Do we ever try, like Micah's mother to dedicate to the Lord something he doesn't want, or in a way that will not please him?<br />
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Judges 17:7-13<br />
It is not just one family that is falling into sin. A Levite, if anyone should know better in the nation then a Levite should. But no, coming across Micah and his false idols and false worship centre the Levite is persuaded to remain with Micah and become a priest to one family.<br />
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Is there no one to stand up for the Lord? No one to say that this behaviour is wrong? Is there no authority (no king) who will serve the Lord? No, at this time there is no one. What a dreadful state of affairs for a nation to fall into.<br />
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We know it is not always easy to stand up, but there is a time when we must. Even if we are the only one we cannot and must not deny and be ashamed of our Lord.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-89017554256585787902010-06-24T08:00:00.000+01:002010-06-24T08:00:00.579+01:00Judges 16:23-31Judges 16:23-31<br />
Samson's great strength was a gift from God - not a result of his long hair. God does not give Samson strength because of Samson's faithfulness, but because of God's choice and purpose.<br />
When we read of Samson's hair growing again, we know that Samson has nothing to do with this, he can't stop his hair growing and he is not able to have it cut, or styled! There is no magic in Samson's hair.<br />
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Judges 16:28 - is Samson renewing his faith? I don't think so, because I don't think, if we could ask Samson, he would say he ever lost his faith. Samson's foolishness with these women is not Samson abandoning God, or back sliding from his faith, it is Samson getting it wrong. Often we think we are serving God, we are continuing in faith and hope, but we are getting it wrong. We can be believers and get it wrong.<br />
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Samson's death gives an appearance of victory over the Philistines, although there is not verse telling us that the people had peace for so many years as with other judges. Samson's death is the death of the judges. God has permitted this pattern of leadership, with its cycle of sin, calling to God, raising up a judge, deliverance, sin to continue as long as it has, to fully demonstrate that this is not the answer. God's people are not learning how to live holy lives. The nation is not reflecting God's glory to the world. Samson is the final demonstration that no judge will be the promised deliverer, Genesis 3:15.<br />
Judges 17 to 21 are not pleasant chapters, but they demonstrate for us what happens when God's people reject God and his ways.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-35435776483313661692010-06-23T09:51:00.000+01:002010-06-23T09:51:50.436+01:00Judges 16:1-22Judges 16:1-22<br />
The ultimate foolishness. You would think any sane person would have worked it out. Once you could have let her away with, but three times she nagged an answer out of Samson, three times she passed it to the Philistines, three times they hid in her back room waiting to capture Samson.<br />
But then we don't work out sin or temptation any better. Time after time, returning to old sins, falling once more at old temptations - the same one we fell before yesterday.<br />
Samson didn't learn, the sad stories of chapters 14 and 15 should have taught him, even if Delilah's triple betrayal didn't.<br />
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All we can do is marvel at God's amazing grace. He has a purpose to achieve in Samson and Samson's foolishness will not defeat God's purposes. We do not abuse God's amazing grace, we depend upon it that when we get it wrong, God will remain faithful. The story of Samson is not about a great hero of the faith, but about a great God who is worthy of our faith, our trust, our hope.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-66523422645919509102010-06-21T08:00:00.001+01:002010-06-21T08:00:07.633+01:00Judges 15:9-20Judges 15:9-20<br />
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Samson's behaviour results now in an invasion of Judah by the Philistines. One man bringing trouble and suffering upon the whole nation.<br />
To prevent their suffering the people of Judah agree to hand Samson over to the Philistines. But Samson breaks free from the bonds that hold him and wins a great victory over the Philistines. A thousand men with the jaw-bone of an ass.<br />
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The story ends with Samson exhausted and dying of thirst. It can only be by grace that the Lord listens to his prayer and opens a spring of water to save Samson's life.<br />
How wonderful is amazing grace which in Samson's life as in ours is never deserved or earned.<br />
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That Samson can make such a hash of serving the Lord and cause such suffering all around, but still be used by the Lord is a miracle of grace. Not an excuse for us to give up and not try to do things for the Lord in a way that will honour him. We depend upon grace, we do not take advantage of grace - or perhaps we should not take advantage of grace.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-84278596183541766322010-06-19T08:00:00.001+01:002010-06-19T08:00:01.718+01:00Judges 15:1-8Judges 15:1-8<br />
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Samson, a fool for women who never learns, tries to patch things up with his Philistine wife who has betrayed him at their wedding feast.<br />
When told she has been given to another, Samson goes off on one again. This time he thinks he has the right. He burns their fields in a cruel way involving the suffering of animals.<br />
The result of this act is the burning of his wife and her family by the Philistines.<br />
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There are consequences to our acts. There are unforseen consequences, this makes life difficult because we are not God and we don't know everything that can or will happen.<br />
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Samson's foolishness with women, his uncontrolled anger are causing havoc all around. Is there not a lesson here about Christian character and the importance of seeing the fruit of the Spirit grow in our lives, especially if we are called into service for the Lord?Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-81195431265739149822010-06-18T08:00:00.001+01:002010-06-18T08:00:07.127+01:00Judges 14:1-20Judges 14:1-20<br />
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The trouble begins. Like a golden thread, except not so golden, running through the story of Samson, this man is a fool around women. Especially foreign women who will only get him and his nation into trouble.<br />
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We can see this is wrong, and yet, on route to make arrangements for the wedding the Lord strengthens Samson to defeat a lion with his bare hands. The carcass of this lion and its swarm of bees become the source of Samson's riddle, which the Philistine wedding guests cannot unravel.<br />
Samson is nagged/encouraged by his wife to tell her the riddle which she repeats to her people. This woman has made a choice, she will stick with her people rather than her new husband. Samson will not be able to lift her out of her family aliegences into a full union within the people of God.<br />
Enraged, and it does read as though Samson goes off in a terrible rage, he kills 30 Philistines to pay off his debt and storms off home.<br />
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Is this serving the Lord? I really don't think so. Some might try to argue that the Philistines, all Philistines were enemies of the Lord and his people and however they are killed it is all one and is all well done. But that doesn't work for me. If the Lord is to exercise justice against all people then it must be just. And I don't think justice is served in anger.<br />
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Samson has a work to do for the Lord. He has been chosen and prepared for this from conception. His foolishness around women and his anger may go a long way to blunting the effectiveness of the Lord's purposes in Samson. Not that the Lord's purposes will fail, but they will and can be blunted by foolish living on the part of God's people.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-9476545589317669832010-06-17T08:00:00.001+01:002010-06-17T08:00:04.650+01:00Judges 13:15-25Judges 13:15-25<br />
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There is often a confusion we can notice in the Bible when people meet an angel. Very often they think they are meeting the Lord and seek to honour the angel in ways that are appropriate only for the Lord.<br />
In this story Manoah would offer the angel some sacrificed food. The angel replies that he will not accept this offering from Manoah, because it should only be offered to the Lord.<br />
It is right and good that we honour those who serve the Lord among us and for us. However, we must be careful not to take the honour and glory and praise which belong to the Lord and transfer them to others.<br />
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When the angel disappears in the smoke of the offering Manoah and his wife realise they have seen an angel of the Lord. This realisation leads them to think they will die, for who can see the Lord and live? This fear of seeing the Lord is common in the OT. How great is our joy to know that in Jesus God is with us, not some of the time but all the time. Thank God for Manoah's wife who helps him understand the purposes of God. And thank God for all who help us learn how to live in the presence of God day by day without this fear.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-18798490077863213822010-06-16T08:00:00.001+01:002010-06-16T08:00:04.297+01:00Judges 13:1-14Judges 13:1-14<br />
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Samson is the final judge whose story is recorded in this book. His story begins with the cycle we've observed so often in this book repeated once again for us. The people do evil and are handed over to their enemies.<br />
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By grace the Lord works, he promises a child to a childless couple. This is not a conception without a human father, but it is a miracle. The Lord works in the lives of these two for their blessing and the blessing of the nation.<br />
By grace the Lord sends the angel a second time, this time so that Manoah might see and hear the angels words. The Lord didn't need to do this, and could have told Manoah that he should believe the word of the Lord delivered through his wife. But, grace is grace, undeserved and free, and the Lord sends his angel a second time.<br />
By grace the Lord will be at work in Samson's life and in the nation through Samson. By grace, not by hair style of diet choices. The Lord does not work because Samson has long hair or a strict diet. Our obedience does not earn anything from God, does not deserve anything from God. Obedience is good because it is obedience, not for any reward. Whatever the Lord does in us or through is is freely done, by grace.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-49450313944618842052010-06-15T09:39:00.000+01:002010-06-15T09:39:02.983+01:00Judges 12:1-15Judges 12:1-15<br />
The end of the Jephthah narrative and three more minor judges.<br />
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The Ephraimites seem to be a right lot of complainers. They never make the battle and also manage to whinge about it.<br />
Jepthah is weary of all this, and sometimes we get weary of the constant drip of complaining. But this is not good.<br />
The people of the Lord are divided, over how you pronounce a word! And the difference is between an 's' sound and an 'sh' sound!! 42,000 are slaughtered over a fight that started because of a victory!<br />
If I didn't already believe that sin was in built, or hard wired, into humans before reading this story, I would by the end of it.<br />
When we daily pray, 'Lead us not into temptation' do we consciously include the temptation to un just complaining? The temptation to aggressive responses to opposition? The temptation to divide and weaken the body of Christ?<br />
What a dreadful story. How patient is the Lord that he would remain faithful to his people and his promises. Far more faithful than we will ever be or than we could ever deserve.<br />
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The brief account of the three judges that conclude this chapter are further examples of the goodness of the Lord.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-89905518452607485922010-06-12T08:00:00.000+01:002010-06-12T08:00:04.382+01:00Judges 11:18-40Judges 11:18-40<br />
Jephthah once again tries to talk the king out of this war, verses 18 to 28, but with no success.<br />
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Then disaster.<br />
What is Jephthah doing? Why does he take such a foolish vow which the Lord has not asked of him and does not seek from him?<br />
I think Jephthah is trying to impress both God and his men with such an extravagant vow. That there is a victory in the battle has nothing to do with Jephthah's vow. The Lord had already decided to give the victory, vows don't change God's mind.<br />
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A vow is good when taken in the Lord's service in areas that honour the Lord. A vow can strengthen a weakened spirit and encourage faithfulness in service.<br />
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This vow should have been broken. No vow justifies murder, and that's what this is. If a vow brings you into conflict with the Lord's word then confess the foolishness of your vow and seek the Lord's forgiveness as you break it.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-453743053921652882.post-27374282681257586962010-06-11T08:00:00.002+01:002010-06-11T08:00:04.137+01:00Judges 11:1-17Judges 11:1-3<br />
Jephthah is despised and rejected because he is the son of a prostitute. Is this any worse than being the son of a gossip, or the daughter of a drunk? In fact, why do we so often judge others not by who or what they are in themselves, but by association with others?<br />
Why do we have a league table of sins in which the ones we don't commit are always worse than the ones we do commit?<br />
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How many have been driven from our fellowships, our congregations, from the gospel, because of our unwelcoming and severe attitudes towards their sin?<br />
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Judges 11:4-17<br />
When trouble arises Jephthah and his band of worthless rogues are sought out. How would we have answered the elders of Gilead? Would we not have told them to get lost! Jephthah, perhaps longing for inclusion, answers gently and undertakes to deliver the people.<br />
His gentle words work well on the people of Gilead, but not so well on the king of the Ammonites. Jephthah tries to resolve this dispute by talking. What a wonderful idea, if only we would try resolving disputes by talking first we might aviod much conflict in our lives.<br />
That Jephthah's talking fails does not mean it was a bad idea or that it should not be tried again. By all means talk, and talk again. Anything to avoid the destruction of warfare.Gordon Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884163644967048966noreply@blogger.com0