Chapter 12: verse 1... obviously they are looking for a fight?... sounds very similar to Chapter 8, verse 1-3 verse 2-3... interesting how each side viewed the event differently verse 4... makes me think about how we can 'fight' against our brothers in Christ because of insignificant things (maybe even things that are our own faults)... denomination splits, congregation struggles, even friend verses friend... why do we focus on differences that have no eternal value instead of uniting as we should into the purposeful body of Christ? (see Ephesians 4) verse 5-6... 'you have to have the password to get in'... the word appears to mean 'a slogan or jargon' or 'favorite saying', although there are a multitude of meanings when I googled it... regardless, the lesson can be gleaned for us today, when we contemplate what kinds of 'shibboleth' we require of people to let them in to God's family? is this fair? is it right? most importantly, is it Biblical?... what is the eternal result for the people we shut out? is our 'shibboleth' more important than the price Jesus paid to grant them His stamp of approval or access? why do we sometimes act as though it is? verse 8-10... sounds like even the judges, who were supposed to guide Isreal did whatever they 'saw fit' (see Judges 21:25, Deuteronomy 7:1-4)... direct violation of the law... can we rightfully blame our leaders for our bad choices or sinful actions, though? of course not, although we like to try (Galatians 6:5 NLT says it clearest, I think). verse 13-15... I wonder if these leaders were really old when they took to leading (they seemed to have a lot of children and even grandchildren)... or were they just that bad that God did not want them messing things up any more? ???
Chapter 13: verse 1... according to the Study Notes, this is the 7th time this cycle has happened thus far... and we're only on Chapter 13... interesting change though, in that this time the people do not cry out... hmmmm... do we ever get so content in our sin that we 'forget' our need for God's deliverance? does God ever reach out to us when we are too deep in sin to know to reach out for Him? (see Romans 5:6-8) verse 3... the Study Notes make a point that there are similarities between Samson's birth/conception, and that of Isaac, Samuel, John the Baptist, and Jesus... something to contemplate, huh verse 4... is this why we are told nowadays to not drink wine when we are pregnant? just curious because there are so many differing opinons of it (even medical ones), so it must have some reason for the idea to have taken shape verse 5... here is a real plug for the humanity of an unborn infant and for the importance (both to God and to man) for life from the time of conception... God doesn't want this person to have any alcohol in him ever, from the time he was created (which is why God tells her this before she even conceives... see verse 3)... unborn babies are not just masses of cells... fetuses are not worthless... abortion IS killing a human life that is valued and placed in that mother's womb specifically by God, specifically for His purpose (Psalm 139:13-16)... who are we to say we know more than God? who are we to wipe out a human life, even that of an unborn one!... also, as a side note here, there are three vows that are to be taken by Nazarites (see Numbers 6:1-21)... according to the Study Notes, Samson breaks all three... interesting that it is the head shaving that does him in and makes him lose his strength from God... maybe it a 3 strikes your out kind of thing... God is very merciful thankfully, and so should we be... anyway, way off the reading for today, so... verse 6-7... I love her immediate recognition of and faith in God, and her innocent and sweet, yet reverent description of Him. verse 8, 12-14... ok, at first, I was like 'wow! yeah, and tell me how to raise my kids... the complete ins and outs of it all!'... but then, the man is a complete idiot, and wastes the angel's time by not even asking Him what he had told God he wanted to know... he just asks a question that his wife has already given him an answer to... did he not trust his wife? did he want a specail encounter, too? did he just get so awestruck that he forgot what he was wanting to really ask? what a waste of time with God!... how often do we do this? do we ever waste God's time? do we ever waste our precious time with Him?
vesre 16... Manoah is a little slow on the uptake... what a contrast he is to his wife! verse 17... he doesn't realize he is God, yet he believes his words will come true?! is Manoah just trying to mess with the angel? is he trying to be tricky? is he just that crazy? I don't get this part... maybe I'm the slow one :) verse 18... still not getting it?... maybe he just thought the man's name was pronounced in some tribal tongue where the click and stuff to talk... I guess I should not jest, though, as there are many times in my life when God is at work and I don't see it... hindsight is 20/20 right? verse 19-20... maybe neither of them realized it was God until that point? verse 21... so, seeing is believing... it wasn't just Thomas who required it (John 20:27-29)... there has been a long line of people who needed sight to give them faith... remember Gideon and the fleece, Moses/Pharoah and the plagues, and even in the New Testament, Jesus told the people that if they didn't believe in His words, then believe in His miracles (John 10:37-38)... verse 22-23... the complete opposite reactions that this couple has is so amusing, yet so true in our own individual lives, too, I think... I can so act like the husband one minute, and then act like his wife the next... or vice verse... our only true stability and foundation is in knowing and applying God's truths in our lives, and this comes with maturity in Christ, otherwise we will be tossed back and forth by the waves of the world (see Ephesians 4:7,11-16) verse 25... I wonder how old Samson was when he was 'stirred' by the Spirit?... just curious
The IDEA: Romans 1:12-That we may be mutually strengthened, encouraged, and comforted by each others faith. Have you ever read the whole Bible before? We have never done it. We want to share God’s Word, but how can we if we do not know it.
The PLAN: Ecclesiastes 4:12-One person is easily overcome, but two can stand together and conquer. Three is even better, though, as a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. With each others help we can succeed-So, let us team up and read the Bible in a year.
The DATE: We will start Dec 26, 2009 - Dec 26, 2010.
The FYI: We will read 3-4 chapters each day, starting in Genesis, and post thoughts daily. If you do not have a Bible, you can access many translations at www.biblegateway.com. You can also download an audio for each chapter at: http://www.audiotreasure.com/webindex.htm
Read it. Will comment later.
ReplyDeletesandJ
Chapter 12: verse 1... obviously they are looking for a fight?... sounds very similar to Chapter 8, verse 1-3
ReplyDeleteverse 2-3... interesting how each side viewed the event differently
verse 4... makes me think about how we can 'fight' against our brothers in Christ because of insignificant things (maybe even things that are our own faults)... denomination splits, congregation struggles, even friend verses friend... why do we focus on differences that have no eternal value instead of uniting as we should into the purposeful body of Christ? (see Ephesians 4)
verse 5-6... 'you have to have the password to get in'... the word appears to mean 'a slogan or jargon' or 'favorite saying', although there are a multitude of meanings when I googled it... regardless, the lesson can be gleaned for us today, when we contemplate what kinds of 'shibboleth' we require of people to let them in to God's family? is this fair? is it right? most importantly, is it Biblical?... what is the eternal result for the people we shut out? is our 'shibboleth' more important than the price Jesus paid to grant them His stamp of approval or access? why do we sometimes act as though it is?
verse 8-10... sounds like even the judges, who were supposed to guide Isreal did whatever they 'saw fit' (see Judges 21:25, Deuteronomy 7:1-4)... direct violation of the law... can we rightfully blame our leaders for our bad choices or sinful actions, though? of course not, although we like to try (Galatians 6:5 NLT says it clearest, I think).
verse 13-15... I wonder if these leaders were really old when they took to leading (they seemed to have a lot of children and even grandchildren)... or were they just that bad that God did not want them messing things up any more? ???
Chapter 13: verse 1... according to the Study Notes, this is the 7th time this cycle has happened thus far... and we're only on Chapter 13... interesting change though, in that this time the people do not cry out... hmmmm... do we ever get so content in our sin that we 'forget' our need for God's deliverance? does God ever reach out to us when we are too deep in sin to know to reach out for Him? (see Romans 5:6-8)
ReplyDeleteverse 3... the Study Notes make a point that there are similarities between Samson's birth/conception, and that of Isaac, Samuel, John the Baptist, and Jesus... something to contemplate, huh
verse 4... is this why we are told nowadays to not drink wine when we are pregnant? just curious because there are so many differing opinons of it (even medical ones), so it must have some reason for the idea to have taken shape
verse 5... here is a real plug for the humanity of an unborn infant and for the importance (both to God and to man) for life from the time of conception... God doesn't want this person to have any alcohol in him ever, from the time he was created (which is why God tells her this before she even conceives... see verse 3)... unborn babies are not just masses of cells... fetuses are not worthless... abortion IS killing a human life that is valued and placed in that mother's womb specifically by God, specifically for His purpose (Psalm 139:13-16)... who are we to say we know more than God? who are we to wipe out a human life, even that of an unborn one!...
also, as a side note here, there are three vows that are to be taken by Nazarites (see Numbers 6:1-21)... according to the Study Notes, Samson breaks all three... interesting that it is the head shaving that does him in and makes him lose his strength from God... maybe it a 3 strikes your out kind of thing... God is very merciful thankfully, and so should we be... anyway, way off the reading for today, so...
verse 6-7... I love her immediate recognition of and faith in God, and her innocent and sweet, yet reverent description of Him.
verse 8, 12-14... ok, at first, I was like 'wow! yeah, and tell me how to raise my kids... the complete ins and outs of it all!'... but then, the man is a complete idiot, and wastes the angel's time by not even asking Him what he had told God he wanted to know... he just asks a question that his wife has already given him an answer to... did he not trust his wife? did he want a specail encounter, too? did he just get so awestruck that he forgot what he was wanting to really ask? what a waste of time with God!... how often do we do this? do we ever waste God's time? do we ever waste our precious time with Him?
vesre 16... Manoah is a little slow on the uptake... what a contrast he is to his wife!
ReplyDeleteverse 17... he doesn't realize he is God, yet he believes his words will come true?! is Manoah just trying to mess with the angel? is he trying to be tricky? is he just that crazy? I don't get this part... maybe I'm the slow one :)
verse 18... still not getting it?... maybe he just thought the man's name was pronounced in some tribal tongue where the click and stuff to talk... I guess I should not jest, though, as there are many times in my life when God is at work and I don't see it... hindsight is 20/20 right?
verse 19-20... maybe neither of them realized it was God until that point?
verse 21... so, seeing is believing... it wasn't just Thomas who required it (John 20:27-29)... there has been a long line of people who needed sight to give them faith... remember Gideon and the fleece, Moses/Pharoah and the plagues, and even in the New Testament, Jesus told the people that if they didn't believe in His words, then believe in His miracles (John 10:37-38)...
verse 22-23... the complete opposite reactions that this couple has is so amusing, yet so true in our own individual lives, too, I think... I can so act like the husband one minute, and then act like his wife the next... or vice verse... our only true stability and foundation is in knowing and applying God's truths in our lives, and this comes with maturity in Christ, otherwise we will be tossed back and forth by the waves of the world (see Ephesians 4:7,11-16)
verse 25... I wonder how old Samson was when he was 'stirred' by the Spirit?... just curious
sandJ