| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| @July 12, 2024 | ESV (2016) | M’Cheyne Plan 2024 |
Joshua 16–17
Joshua 17:17–18 (ESV) 17 Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, “You are a numerous people and have great power. You shall not have one allotment only, 18 but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.”
These chapters largely deal with the tribal allotments of the promised land. The people of Joseph approached Joshua, questioning why they had been given but one portion despite being a numerous people. Their complaint was that they were “hemmed in by fortresses on the north (v. 16). [But] Joshua turned all their arguments against them. When they said they needed more land because they were a numerous people (v. 14), he told them to use their manpower to clear out the forest in their territory and settle there (v. 15). When they complained that there were Canaanites within their borders who had chariots of iron (v. 16), he assured them that they had superior power to drive out the Canaanites (v. 18).” (CSB Notes). In this episode, we see how Joshua demonstrated strong leadership, discernment and resolute trust in the Lord that He would be with them in taking full possession of the land.
Psalm 148
Psalm 148:1–2 (ESV) 148 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights! 2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts!
In this psalm of praise, the psalmist urges all of creation to praise the name of the LORD because His name alone is exalted. There are a couple Hebrew words here (הַלְלוּ־יָהּ and הלל) that are translated to “praise”, both of which can also be translated to “be boastful”. The concept of boasting is addressed numerous times throughout Scripture, often condemning prideful boasting but also modeling and expressing a worshipful boasting in the Lord. Perhaps some of the best and most convicting verses on boasting are contained in Jer. 9:23-24: “Thus says the LORD: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.’”
Jeremiah 8
Jeremiah 8:12 (ESV) 12 Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they shall be overthrown, says the LORD.
With a rhetorical question, God through Jeremiah illuminates a lack of shame among the people when they committed abomination. There was no heartfelt remorse for their deceit and covetous conduct and thus they would share in the coming punishment. It is convicting to read these verses, to ask for the Spirit to grip my heart of anything in need of repentance, praying David’s prayer in Ps. 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
Matthew 22
Matthew 22:37–40 (ESV) 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
A lawyer among the Pharisees sought to test Jesus and asked which is the great commandment of the Law. Jesus responded with the summarized obligation of man to love God with all your heart, soul and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. The concept of loving God and loving neighbor has been on my heart a lot recent in light of certain events. Our greatest adoration should be for God and this love for Him should pour forth into every encounter we have with a neighbor. It matters not the spacial or relational closeness nor the length of time we spend with them. With every interaction, we should be intentional in representing our Lord Jesus and His gospel, pointing others to the hope of salvation found only in Him, confronting sin with loving rebuke and encouraging every soul toward a new depth of faith and relationship with Him.