| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| @August 5, 2024 | ESV (2016) | M’Cheyne Plan 2024 |
Judges 19
Judges 19:28–30 (ESV) 28 He said to her, “Get up, let us be going.” But there was no answer. Then he put her on the donkey, and the man rose up and went away to his home. 29 And when he entered his house, he took a knife, and taking hold of his concubine he divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel. 30 And all who saw it said, “Such a thing has never happened or been seen from the day that the people of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt until this day; consider it, take counsel, and speak.”
In this gruesome account that echoes the events of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19), an old man brought in a visiting Levite and his concubine and was approached by “worthless fellows” to have sex with the visiting man. The old man offers his daughter and the Levite’s concubine to be abused instead. The Levite made his concubine go out to the men and, following a night of abuse, the Levite took his concubine home, divided her limb by limb and sent her throughout the territory of Israel. The intent of the Levite was to stir a reaction and ask when the violence would end but did so while himself employing an utterly heinous gesture. Between the abusers and the Levite, we see the depths of depravity to which the Israelites had reached. This grotesque episode provides a salient, stomach-turning example of the kind of comprehensive moral corruption that unrestrained sinful man is capable.
Acts 23
Acts 23:3–5 (ESV) 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” 4 Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” 5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ”
Paul sharply confronted Ananias, the high priest, for his hypocrisy and told him that God would strike him down for his order to strike Paul that was contrary to the law. However, when Paul was informed of whom he was speaking, Paul admitted that he was unaware that Ananias was high priest, citing Exod. 22:28 that one shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people. By this, Paul displays restraint and adherence to the law as it was given. While Paul was adamant in his mission to share the message of Christ crucified and call out unlawful behavior, he would do so with respect to the boundaries that had been set forth. This is important for us to see exemplified by Paul because we also have cultural and governmental parameters by which we are to operate in our modern, ambassadorial context.
Jeremiah 33
Jeremiah 33:7–9 (ESV) 7 I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. 8 I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. 9 And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it.
God through Jeremiah promised restoration of fortunes for Judah and Israel that He would rebuild them as they were at first. It is message filled with hope for the future that the Lord, as the CSB Notes says, “gave further glowing promises of restoration to Israel and Judah—the land will be repopulated with joyful people; the mountains will be enriched with flocks; and, best of all, the Messiah, “A Branch of righteousness” descended from David, will come. Jerusalem … will be called THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jehovah gives His name to restored Israel, just as a man does to his bride and just as Christ does to the church (1 Cor. 12:12).”
Psalms 3–4
Psalm 3:3–4 (ESV) 3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 4 I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
The warmth and comfort that these verses shower upon us in meditation is beyond measure. The Lord is our shield, glory and lifter of our head. By the overflow of His grace, He brings our hearts and faces in fixed orientation to Him in joyful adoration. He dwells on His holy hill—a far distance from us—and yet is faithful to incline His ear to listen. How great is our God to deluge us with such love, sacrificing His only Son that in Him we may have new life.