| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| @July 8, 2024 | ESV (2016) | M’Cheyne Plan 2024 |
Joshua 10
Joshua 10:1 (ESV) 10 As soon as Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard how Joshua had captured Ai and had devoted it to destruction, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them,
Admittedly, I had a double-take when I read this verse, wondering why there was a king in Jerusalem when Israel was a theocracy at the time of Joshua. However, it is a timeline issue, because this is actually the first mention of the city of Jerusalem in the Old Testament. It was a city in a nation originally occupied by the Amorites whose king was Adoni-zedek, one of the five kings that formed a coalition against Israel but were executed by Joshua (Josh. 10:16-27). It is fascinating how the city was not renamed following the Israelite conquering, but was instead taken over. It follows what was written in Deut. 6:9-11 where God said that the promise land would have great cities that they did not fill, cisterns they did not dig and vineyards they did not plant.
Psalms 142–143
Psalm 143:8 (ESV) 8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
This is such a timely verse as I have been battling the sin of fear a great deal lately. How much I need to do as the psalmist and plead this morning that I may hear of His steadfast love and declare my trust in Him. Heavenly Father, calm my heart and help me to trust in you fully, to rest in your goodness and grace, to be still and know that you are LORD.
Jeremiah 4
Jeremiah 4:1–2 (ESV) 1 “If you return, O Israel, declares the LORD, to me you should return. If you remove your detestable things from my presence, and do not waver, 2 and if you swear, ‘As the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.”
If the people returned to the LORD and swore complete allegiance to the Most High God, the nations would be blessed and glory in Him. As the CSB Notes states, “The promises made to Israel were never meant to bless them alone, but through them all nations (Gn 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14).” The people were carriers of the message that they worshipped the one, true God. By their faithful obedience, they would bear witness to the LORD’s ultimate reign in truth, justice and righteousness. This continues for His people today; that by speaking and living the truth of the gospel, the Spirit works through the saints to bring saving knowledge of heart transformation to every tribe, tongue and nation.
Matthew 18
Matthew 18:32–35 (ESV) 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
The unforgiving servant is such a powerful parable in Scripture on which to frequently meditate. Our complete, heart-level forgiveness of others is to be driven by the crushing realization of our own sin and the grace of our Lord to be granted forgiveness in Him. Only when we grasp our comprehensive lostness, corrupt state and debt paid by the blood of Christ will we rightly and wholeheartedly extend forgiveness toward others.