A variety of different thoughts today. Let’s call it a hodgepodge…that’s a fun word.
Allow me to muse aloud for a moment. Can you muse aloud in print…? Hmmm.
We know that the sacrificial system was completed with Jesus. There isn’t any more need for animal sacrifice. But the people being “purged” here are not dying as a sacrifice, it’s a punishment for disobedience. They have violated the Law that says “worship no other gods before me”. Has that requirement gone away? Of course we are to forgive those who sin against us, but should we also allow false worship to continue? The laws of our land now allow, and even promote false worship. It’s a serious state of affairs.
The people who bring charges against false worshipers aren’t anonymous or protected, they are visible. And, they are the first ones to throw stones at the guilty parties. I wonder if that rule was made by God to ensure that we didn’t make false accusations?
The discussion about kings and horses, wives and the accumulation of gold may seem unimportant at the moment, and I’m sure that the people were fully in agreement as this command was given. The time would eventually come when Israel would have a king, and this instruction was to be written by him for daily reading as a reminder. Apparently king Solomon didn’t pay attention to that. He purchased many horses from Egypt and acquired great wealth. If you
read 1 Kings 10:14-28, it seems like a compliment is being paid to Solomon…but in reality it’s a sad statement about how he drifted away from the Lord. had many wives, horses from Egypt and great wealth. For further incrimination, note that he took many wives in 1 Kings 11:21 and how it got him into trouble in Nehemiah 13:26.
The point of all this is that you cannot disobey God and avoid the consequences. Even the wisest man to ever live made errors in judgment, and he doomed the kingdom to ruin. Moses, as wise and humble as he was made an error and didn’t make it into the promised land. Sin has consequences and there isn’t any avoiding it.
So what’s the hope of the the believer? Simply this: Jesus Christ takes upon himself the responsibility to pay the consequences of our sins. It’s as simple as that. Jesus pays the price so that you and I don’t have to end up in hell. But it only is accredited to our account if we enter into a relationship with Him. A relationship where He is the one in charge and we are servants.
In Chapter 19, thinking of justice and cities of refuge: The distinction being made is between intentional and unintentional action. An unintentional act that causes harm is still a transgression, and would be punished by the law, were it not for the sanctuary city. These cities exist to protect those who accidentally break the law. In the same way, there are intentional and unintentional sins today. Those that are done without regard for the consequences break the relationship with the Father. Those transgressions that are unintentional still require forgiveness, but they don’t break our communion with God.
In closing:
I was initially amazed by the number of people who are being dismissed from military service, and for crazy reasons like planting a vineyard. Then I realized that the size of the army isn’t the important piece of information. It’s the obedience of the people to God that’s going to allow God to fight on their behalf. It doesn’t matter if there are 5 people in your army if God is on your side. With God on your side, you win…many times without ever drawing a sword to going to battle! The number of soldiers breaking away from the front lines would only increase the faith of those who were left, and the nation as a whole….when they returned victorious. You must have the Lord on your side in order to win!
It reminds me of a verse from Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city,
guarding it with sentries will do no good.”
guarding it with sentries will do no good.”
Written by King Solomon….. go figure.
Faithfully,
PR