Justin Houtz

Hi. I’m Justin. I write code and things but enough about that…

Let’s talk about Jesus.

  • Daily Bible Study

    Judges 1, Hebrews 8

    DateVersionReading Plan
    July 31, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

    Judges 1

    Observation & Interpretation

    Judges 1:1 – The people asked who shall go up first for them against the Canaanites

    • There was no successor to Joshua’s leadership as there was from Moses to Joshua
    • Joshua’s death has left a vacuum of leadership. The people nevertheless assume the necessity of finishing the conquest as directed by Joshua in his farewell address (Josh. 23:4-5) (FSB)

    Judges 1:6 – After the Canaanites and Perizzites were given to Judah by the LORD, Judah fought against Adoni-bezek, who fled but was caught and Judah cut off his thumbs and big toes

    • Maiming the king in this way ensured that he would never again be able to take up arms in battle or effectively fight as a foot soldier (FSB)

    Judges 1:12-14 – Depicts Caleb and his offer of his daughter, Achsah, to the one who attacks Kiriath-sepher

    • Also described in Josh. 15:16-19

    Judges 1:24-26 – The spies of Joseph → a man coming out of the city to show them the way into the city. If he did so, they would deal kindly with him

    • The spies propositioned the man to betray his city
    • [This is similar to Jericho], but unlike Rahab, the man did not find Israel attractive so he wanted to become a member of the covenant community. Instead, he left to recreate his pagan lifestyle in another country. (CSB Notes)

    Judges 1:21, 27-35 – Multiple, repeated accounts of how the inhabitants were not fully driven from the land

    Judges 1:24-26 – [Contrasting Rahab with the man who helped the spies in Judges 1:24-26] It is not always what one is “saved from” that matters most. It is also what one is “saved to” that will have lasting consequences (ESVEC – Comment)

    Application

    Judges 1:1-2:5 – When it comes to interpretation one must resist the temptation to import additional details into the narrative or to assign motives to the characters when the text is silent regarding these matters. But as faithful interpreters of the OT, we must ask how these narratives point to the person and work of Christ (John 5:39; Luke 24:27, 44) (ESVEC – Response)

    Hebrews 8

    Observation & Interpretation

    Heb. 8:3 – The author describes how every priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices, making necessary something for the priest to offer

    • Since one of the principal functions of a high priest is to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it follows that our High Priest must do this also (BBC)

    Heb. 8:5 – The priests served as a copy and shadow of the heavenly things

    • The tabernacle on earth was a replica of the heavenly sanctuary…[It] was never intended to be the ultimate sanctuary. It was only a copy and shadow…[The author enforces this to] impress on the minds of any who might be tempted to go back to Jerusalem that they were leaving the substance for the shadows when they should be going on from shadow to substance (BBC)

    Heb. 8:7 – Contrast is made between the first and second covenant, that if the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second

    • The first covenant was not perfect, that is, it was not successful in achieving an ideal relationship to be the final covenant, but was preparatory to the coming of Christ. The fact that a second covenant is mentioned later shows that the first was not the ideal (BBC)

    Heb. 8:13 – In speaking of a new covenant, he (God) makes the first one obsolete

    • The fact that God introduces a New Covenant means that the first is obsolete…The author warns them that the legal covenant is outmoded; a better covenant has been introduced (BBC)

    Application

    Heb. 8:7-13 – Rivers of blood from countless animal victims and daunting restrictions circumscribing approach to God were designed to impress on Israel both the gravity of their sinful pollution and the magnificence of God’s reconciling mercy. Pause to savor those promises—deep cleansing, open access, complete forgiveness—and give thanks to the Lord who made them and kept them through Jesus, his Son and our priest forever (ESVEC – Response)

    Resources

    Reading
    Listening