Justin Houtz

Judges 1, Acts 5, Jeremiah 14, Matthew 28

DateVersionReading Plan
@July 18, 2024ESV (2016)M’Cheyne Plan 2024

Judges 1

Judges 1:22–26 (ESV) 22 The house of Joseph also went up against Bethel, and the LORD was with them. 23 And the house of Joseph scouted out Bethel. (Now the name of the city was formerly Luz.) 24 And the spies saw a man coming out of the city, and they said to him, “Please show us the way into the city, and we will deal kindly with you.” 25 And he showed them the way into the city. And they struck the city with the edge of the sword, but they let the man and all his family go. 26 And the man went to the land of the Hittites and built a city and called its name Luz. That is its name to this day.

The chapter is largely dedicated to the continued takeover of the promised land by the Israelites and here is described the capturing of Bethel by the house of Joseph. The episode with the man of Bethel that helped the spies is intriguing. There is no mention of hesitation or resistance on the part of the man, but only that he showed them into the city. It seems that his immediate compliance indicated no particular regard for his fellow countrymen, but again, we are not given enough to claim this with certainty. The CSB Notes suggests that he helped the spies “in return for the lives of himself and his family.” which would suggest that the man knew that Bethel would be successfully destroyed and was thinking about the survival of himself and family.

Acts 5

Acts 5:33–34 (ESV) 33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while.

According to the CSB Notes, this is the same Gamaliel who was the teacher of the apostle Paul (Acts 22:3). It is fascinating that Gamaliel interceded on behalf of Peter and the apostles given what we later discover of Paul and his persecution of Christians. Using multiple examples of individuals who rose up unsuccessfully, Gamaliel was able to convince the people to keep away from these men and leave them alone. As a Pharisee, he knew that if the plan of Peter and the apostles was of God, it could not be overthrown and that the people might even be found opposing God. The CSB Notes point out that “Gamaliel felt it was prudent for the Sanhedrin to step back and see what God would do with the Christian movement.”

Jeremiah 14

Jeremiah 14:11–12 (ESV) 11 The LORD said to me: “Do not pray for the welfare of this people. 12 Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.”

The people were so far gone that the LORD told Jeremiah not to pray for their welfare. What terrifying words these would be to hear that God would no longer hear their cry or accept their burnt offerings. To have God’s countenance turned away or His presence apart from us is the worst situation in which we could find ourselves. We must be properly crushed with and know that this is our default, eternal end if we do not repent and place our full faith and trust in Jesus. May this harrowing reality drive us to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; in great need for His salvation, grateful that it has been provided in full, abiding in Him and pursuing Him in fervent love, our God of all mercy and grace.

Matthew 28

Matthew 28:1–2 (ESV) 28 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.

The events of the earthquake, descension of the angel of the Lord and the rolling back of the stone are amazing in themselves, but then the Gospel writer says that the angel sat on the stone. The NAC says, “The angel’s sitting (v. 2) perhaps indicates a note of completion or triumph.” This seems a remarkable detail to include because of the level of power and dominion it indicates.

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