Acts 13:22

Dewey at Manila, Vermont Capitol.

Monday, 2 January 2023

“And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ Acts 13:22

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The previous verse referred to the reign of Saul. With that remembered, it now says, “And when He had removed him.” It refers to Saul who had disobeyed the Lord in two critical matters. The final one cost him the kingship. The account is found in 1 Samuel 15, and it is summed up with these words –

“And as Samuel turned around to go away, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. 28 So Samuel said to him, ‘The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. 29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.’” 1 Samuel 15:27-29

From there, Paul continues with, “He raised up for them David as king.” Israel had asked for a king, rejecting the Lord as king over them. Therefore, He gave them what they asked for. In Saul’s disobedience, but still in agreement with the will of the people, the Lord continued a kingship over Israel. But this time, it would be in accord with the prophecy of Jacob that the scepter (the rule of a king) would not depart from Judah until Shiloh came.

Shiloh is an anticipatory appellation for the coming Messiah. In raising up David, this prophecy would come about. The name David means Beloved. Of David, Paul next says, “to whom also He gave testimony,”

The meaning is “about David also the Lord gave testimony.” In other words, the Lord spoke words concerning David that defined his character and the Lord’s attitude toward it. The Lord spoke, “and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse.’”

The words mean that the Lord searched out David, knowing all that his life was and would be. The sum of what could be found in David is what the Lord “found” concerning him. He was the proper choice by which to continue the redemptive narrative. Despite David’s many faults, he was a man of great character in his dealings with the Lord and with those around him.

The name Jesse means My Husband. But it also means Yehovah Exists. As such the name Jesse contains the weighty notion that human marriage reflects divine revelation. In considering these names in the surrounding Old Testament accounts, great hints of God’s workings in relation to the coming Messiah become evident. As for David, the Lord says he is “a man after My own heart.”

Paul takes two Old Testament verses and combines them to give a full description of the character of David. The first concerns what God was looking for in a king when addressing Saul –

“But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” 1 Samuel 13:14

The second is a reference to David from the psalms –

I have found My servant David;
With My holy oil I have anointed him.” Psalm 89:20

Taken together, the two thoughts show that David is what the Lord searched for after first giving what Israel asked for. Because of whom David was, and because that included being a man after the Lord’s own heart, the Lord knew that he was one, as it next says, “who will do all My will.” The sentiment is found in the continued words of Psalm 89. In verse 21, it says, “With whom My hand shall be established.”

In other words, the Lord’s will, His hand, would be realized in the person of David, who would establish that will in all his doings. Unlike Saul who rejected the word of the Lord, when the Lord spoke, David complied. In the times he did not, such as in his adultery with Bathsheba, his heart was convicted, and he returned fully to the Lord. Thus, the will of the Lord was wholly established through David.

Life application: The Lord “found” David in a certain condition, a certain state, before Him. As noted, this means that the Lord looked upon David, from beginning to end, and knew that he was a man whose very character defined what was good and right in his overall attitude and conduct.

The Lord has also “found” you out. He already knows everything about who you are, from beginning to end. However, you do not. This sentiment is expressed by David –

“O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.” Psalm 139:1-6

David understood that the Lord knew everything about him from beginning to end. As he knew this, he directed his life toward the Lord’s ways. Now that you know this is true about you, you can also demonstrate the wisdom of David and direct your ways to the ways of the Lord. What God has “found” in you does not have to simply be who you have been in the past, but who you can be in the future.

In turning to the Lord and living for Him now, what the Lord has “found” already about you is that you are a person who is willing to turn wholly to Him and follow in His ways. If you don’t do this, then that is what the Lord has “found” about you. Contemplate this and understand that you can be “found” by the Lord in a manner that pleases Him from this point on. He already knows what you will do. Do what is right, and in your doing, you will be found a person after His own heart.

Lord God, You already know everything about us. We can only direct the future by our conduct as we express it from moment to moment. May what You know about us be something that shows we are people who live after Your heart from this moment forward and for all our lives. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joshua 12:1-6 (An Inheritance Toward the Rising of the Sun)

Artwork by Doug Kallerson

Joshua 12:1-6
An Inheritance Toward the Rising of the Sun

The thing about going through the Bible verse by verse as we have been doing is that you learn as you go. In Numbers 32, I assumed that the tribes mentioned in our verses today pictured unsaved people because their inheritance was outside of Canaan.

After going through all of the verses in Numbers 32 through Joshua 11, I cannot agree with that conclusion now. Even then, I was unsure and mentioned my uncertainty in the introduction to the second Numbers 32 sermon. I just couldn’t put my finger on what was being presented.

Now, it is more apparent that there was a logical order of events in Numbers 21 that more accurately describes what the people of these tribes typologically anticipate. As a result, the typology concerning the meaning of these tribes when elsewhere mentioned would not have been correct as well.

These people have an inheritance. Just because it is not in Canaan does not mean that they have not been saved. The crossing of the Jordan in Joshua 3 and 4 clearly pointed to Israel’s national salvation. But there are those of Israel who are already saved. They have already received the inheritance offered by God in Christ.

As I say, we learn as we go, and we will not stop learning until we get to the end.

Text Verse: “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-13

I would rather be wrong and correct the errors as I go than to never figure out the typology of what is being said. This is often a very difficult trek. But God communicates with purpose and intent in His word.

As such, we need to contemplate His meaning and figure out what He is saying. God is working through history, typology, prophecy, and moral lessons in order to get us to understand what He is doing in the world through Christ.

If we keep that in mind, as we continue through the word, we will be able to self-correct our previously incorrect thoughts. It bothers me that I may have drawn some incorrect conclusions in that Numbers sermon, but if the thoughts are corrected now, then we are on the right path. In the end, the Lord knows. We just need to keep on thinking and praying for discernment to determine what He is telling us.

For now, we have six verses to look over. An inheritance is noted east of the Jordan. What is this telling us? We will endeavor to sort out the many names of people and locations as we go. Great things are to be found in His superior word. And so, let us turn to that precious word once again, and… May God speak to us through His word today, and may His glorious name ever be praised.

I. Sihon King of the Amorites (verses 1-3)

Joshua 12 contains two main sections that comprise the sum total of the victories in the wars for the land possessed by Israel: verses 1-6 detail the victories east of the Jordan; verses 7-24 detail the victories west of the Jordan.

These are notably divided further. The first set of conquests says, “whom the children of Israel defeated” for those victories east of the Jordan (verse 1). This is further explained as “These Moses the servant of the Lord and the children of Israel had conquered” in verse 6. The second set of conquests says, “which Joshua and the children of Israel conquered” (verse 7).

Recording these, at this point in the narrative serves at least two main purposes. The first provides a conclusion of the wars waged. The second provides a basis for the next main section of the book, where the land is divided among the tribes. That will commence in Joshua 13:8. With that noted, the verses begin with…

These are the kings of the land whom the children of Israel defeated,

The words begin with a conjunction to connect it directly to the preceding section – “And these, kings the land who struck sons Israel.” As such, we can more naturally see the flow between the ending of chapter 11 and the words here –

So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had said to Moses; and Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. Then the land rested from war. … “And these, kings the land who struck sons Israel…”

Seeing this, the narrative continues with…

1 (con’t) and whose land they possessed on the other side of the Jordan toward the rising of the sun,

More literally, it reads, “and possessed (pl.) their land in side the Jordan rising (eastward) the sun.” It is detailing the land won in battle prior to entry into Canaan. The battles are more fully detailed in Numbers 21. They are then recounted by Moses in Deuteronomy 2 & 3.

Also, the division of those lands is carefully detailed in Numbers 32, and it is recounted in Deuteronomy 3. As the Jordan is a picture of Christ, the Descender, the designation “in side the Jordan” is telling us that this land pictures events prior to Israel’s national salvation that were detailed earlier in Joshua. This is based on it being “toward the rising of the sun,” as will be explained later. This land is…

1 (con’t) from the River Arnon to Mount Hermon,

mi’nakhal arnon ad har khermon – “from Wadi Arnon to Mount Hermon.” The nakhal is a torrent or wadi. It is derived from the verb nakhal signifying “to take possession.” The name Arnon comes from ranan, signifying to give a jubilant, ringing cry, and thus rejoicing. Therefore, this is the Roaring Stream. Also…

1 (con’t) and all the eastern Jordan plain:

v’kal ha’aravah mizrakhah – “and all the Aravah, eastward.” The word translated as “eastward” is the same word just translated as rising in an earlier clause. It comes from zarakh, signifying to rise or come forth as in the dawning of the day. As such, it is eastward.

The Aravah is the plain that extends about one hundred miles, south from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba, forming a border between Israel and Jordan. The word comes from arav, to grow dark or become evening. This is because of the darkness of the terrain. However, that is identical to arav, meaning to take or given in pledge. This is the land east of the Jordan…

One king was Sihon king of the Amorites,

The Hebrew reads more simply, and it is singular: sikhon melekh ha’emori – “Sihon king the Amorite.” The name Sihon comes from a root that signifies “to sweep away,” or “to strike down.” Thus, his name may signify anything from “Tempestuous” to “Warrior.”

He is defined further as melekh ha’emori, or “king the Amorite.” Amorite comes from amar, meaning to utter or say.  Therefore, the name signifies being spoken of, and thus “Renowned.” It is he…

2 (con’t) who dwelt in Heshbon and ruled half of Gilead, from Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, from the middle of that river, even as far as the River Jabbok, which is the border of the Ammonites,

From here, the clauses in the translation are laid out much differently from the Hebrew. The rest of the verse reads, “the dweller in Heshbon, ruling from Aroer which upon lip Wadi Arnon and midst the wadi, and half the Gilead, and to Jabbok – the wadi – border sons Ammon.”

It is defining the extent of his rule. First, it notes that he is the dweller in Heshbon. Heshbon comes from khashav. It signifies to consider, calculate, or devise. Therefore, it signifies an explanation of things, or “Intelligence.”

Aroer means “Stripped,” “Bare,” or “Naked.” It is on the “lip” or edge of the Wadi Arnon and its border extended to the middle of the wadi as is normally the case where a river is divided between two kingdoms. But more specifically, the city itself extended into the wadi. This is seen in Joshua 13:9 –

“from Aroer which is on the bank of the River Arnon, and the town that is in the midst of the ravine, and all the plain of Medeba as far as Dibon.”

This city is also called Ar of Moab, such as in Numbers 21:28. It belonged to Moab, but Sihon’s rule extended as far as that location. The careful designation of this city is given because there are two other locations known as Aroer. One is found in Joshua 13:25 and the other is found in 1 Samuel 30:28. Along with this city, the rule of Sihon included half of the Gilead.

Gilead means Perpetual Fountain. When Gilead is referred to, it is more of a great area that extends to both the north and south of the Jabbok River. Here it is identified with the area south of the Jabbok and extending to Wadi Aroer. Jabbok, or yaboq, means, “Pouring out.”

That is on the border of the sons of Ammon. Ammon comes from the word am, or “people.” The sense is that they are the people called “A People,” and thus inbred, having their source in the union of Lot and his younger daughter. The area Sihon possessed continues to be described next, saying…

and the eastern Jordan plain from the Sea of Chinneroth as far as the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea),

The clauses are a bit jumbled. It reads, “and the Aravah to Sea Kinereth eastward and to Sea the Aravah (Sea of Salt) eastward.” It is describing the western border of the land. It is the plain known as the Aravah that extends along the Jordan River on its east bank, and which goes from the Sea of Galilee all the way south to the Dead Sea.

The name Kinereth comes from kinor, meaning a type of harp. The reason for the name is the shape of the sea, which looks like a harp when viewed from above.  The harp is an instrument used for praising, prophesying, and making a joyful noise.

As for the explanatory words “Sea of Salt,” salt is a sign of incorruptibility. In the case of a covenant, it is a sign of the incorruptible nature of a covenant. This western border that goes to the south continues to…

3 (con’t) the road to Beth Jeshimoth, and southward below the slopes of Pisgah.

derek beith hay’shimoth u-mi’teman takhat ashdoth ha’pisgah – “way House the Yeshimoth and from south under slopes the Pisgah.” The word beith means “house,” ha is the definite article and yeshimoth means, “Desolations.” Thus, it is “House of the Desolations.”

Pisgah, or ha’pisgah, meaning “the Pisgah,” signifies a cleft. It is a high area where there is a cleft in the mountain. As such, it reads “Slopes of the Cleft.”

The land is before us, but it is possessed by a foe
He must be removed before we can enter in
How will it be done? How can we make it so?
It is a great battle we face. How will we win?

The foe stands against us
We cannot defeat him on our own
What we need is the strength of the Lord Jesus
This is what the word has shown

Through His deeds we can this foe defeat
And through what He has done, the battle we can win
Through Jesus this great foe we can unseat
And in this, we can then enter in

II. Og King of Bashan (verses 4-6)

The other king was Og king of Bashan and his territory,

u-gebul og melekh ha’bashan – “And territory Og, king the Bashan.” As noted, the battle against Og is also recorded in Numbers 21. His name comes from uggah, which is a round baked cake. That comes from ug, to bake.

The location, Bashan, is prefixed by an article. It signifies something like “The place of fertile soil.” He is next described…

4 (con’t) who was of the remnant of the giants,

The word “giants” is an explanation of their size, not a meaning of their name: mi’yeter ha’rephaim – “from remnant the Rephaim.” The name Rephaim is a hard one to pin down. It comes from a word meaning to sink down or relax. This is similar to the Nephilim. That comes from naphal, meaning to fall.

However, Rephaim could also come from a word meaning “to heal.” If so, then it indicates that their size came from being invigorated in some way, probably through special inbreeding.

The root, rapha, also means ghosts or departed spirits, but that isn’t the intent here. They are a group of exceptionally large people who lived in the area at the time. It is he…

4 (con’t) who dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,

ha’yoshev b’ashtaroth u’b’edrei – “the dweller in Ashtaroth and in Edrei.” The name Ashtaroth, was seen in Deuteronomy 1 and again in Joshua 9. It is believed to signify Union of Instructions, and thus One Law. Edrei means something like “Mighty.” The meaning is that he dwelt in and ruled from both cities, probably having a palace in each of them. The narrative continues by next noting…

and reigned over Mount Hermon,

The Hebrew says, “in Mount Hermon.” However, the meaning is “over,” not that he reigned from there. Hermon means Sacred.

5 (con’t) over Salcah,

Again, it says, “and in Salcah.” Salcah means Walking.

5 (con’t) over all Bashan,

And again, it reads, “and in all the Bashan.” That is then next further explained…

5 (con’t) as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites,

The names are singular: “to border the Geshurite and the Maachathite.” The name Geshur comes from an unused root meaning to join. Thus, it may mean “Bridge.” They may have been located at a spot that forded, or bridged, the Jordan. Maakah comes from a verb that means to press or squeeze. Thus the name signifies “Oppression.”

Geshur was a small area in the northeast corner of Bashan. It was adjoined to the area of Argob (Deuteronomy 3:14), and to the kingdom of Aram (Syria) as is seen in 2 Samuel 15:8. It is where Absalom fled after murdering his brother Amnon (2 Samuel 13:37).

The Maachthite dwelt on the southwest area of Mount Hermon where the Jordan finds its source. This can be inferred from Deuteronomy 3:14. Next, his kingdom continues with…

5 (con’t) and over half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

This would be the northern half of the Gilead with his southern border being the northern border of Sihon. The two kingdoms together form a large swath of land that comprises parts of Jordan and Syria today. It extends from the area of the Dead Sea all the way up to the area of Mount Hermon.

With that noted, the first major section of Chapter 12 ends with the words of verse 6, saying…

These Moses the servant of the Lord and the children of Israel had conquered;

More literally, it reads: “Moses, servant Yehovah, and sons Israel struck them.” The battles are carefully recorded in Numbers 21. There, it notes that these kings were the aggressors. They came out against Israel for battle even though Israel had only asked permission to go through Sihon’s land.

After Sihon was defeated, Og then came out against them. His land, therefore, became a possession of Israel. Once it was subdued, certain tribes wanted it because it is a fertile land, well suited to pasturing flocks. As such…

*6 (fin) and Moses the servant of the Lord had given it as a possession to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh.

More literally: “and gave it, Moses, servant Yehovah, inheritance to the Reubenite and to the Gadite, and to the half-tribe the Manasseh.” This is the land east of the Jordan that is allotted as an inheritance to these tribes. Reuben means See a Son. Gad means Fortune. Manasseh has a dual meaning of to Forget and From a debt. It is the kings of these areas that have been disinherited so that those of Israel can receive their inheritance.

Another foe stands against us
Together they are united as one
But they cannot prevail against the Lord Jesus
Through Him, this battle is already won

There is an inheritance waiting for us
And it is for sure that we will possess it
Because we have on our side the Lord Jesus
Never to the enemy shall we submit

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
Because through faith in His work, the battle is won
Our hearts are filled with joy and our voices raised
We are victors in Christ because of what He has done

III. Pictures of Christ

There are many names in this short passage, both of locations and of people. It is to be remembered that these things occurred before the death of Moses. Hence, despite picturing the Lord, it is still at a time when Israel has not yet collectively come to Jesus.

Despite this, salvation for individuals is available as is clearly revealed in the verses that immediately preceded the accounts in Numbers 21 which began with a few verses concerning trusting in the Lord rather than self for the victory (Numbers 21:1-3).

It then detailed the account of Israel complaining against the Lord and speaking against God and against Moses. Because of that, the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and many died. However, when they acknowledged their sin, the Lord told Moses to fashion a fiery serpent and set it on a pole. Anyone bitten could look at the bronze serpent and live.

It is a clear picture of those of Israel being saved by looking to the cross of Christ (verses 4-9). The chapter then contained poetic lines indicating how the Spirit is received (verses 10-20). Finally, we saw the battle where the two foes were defeated, Sihon and Og (verses 21-35).

After their defeat, chapter 34 gave the details of how this land was granted to the Reubenite, the Gadite, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

It is necessary to detail their inheritance again in Joshua to fully settle the matter of why they received the inheritance and also exactly what land each tribe will receive.

Because this happened while Moses was the leader of Israel, I couldn’t see what these people were picturing while still in Numbers. I gave an opinion and am now sure it was incorrect.

These Israelites describe either those saved in Israel prior to Israel’s national salvation or those saved prior to the coming of Christ by faith in the Messiah.

An argument can be made for both options, but it is certainly the first. This is referring to those who have received an inheritance in Israel. This will be seen more clearly in Joshua 13.

These two- and one-half tribes received their possession first, and it is on the side of the Jordan (the Descender – Jesus) eastward. East in the Bible signifies before; west is after. Although the word qedem, or east, is not used, it is implied with the word mizrakh, or eastward.

The root of that word, zarakh, to arise, is used in Malachi 4 to describe those who look to the rising of Christ and His effect on them –

“’For behold, the day is coming,
Burning like an oven,
And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.
And the day which is coming shall burn them up,’
Says the Lord of hosts,
‘That will leave them neither root nor branch.
But to you who fear My name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise [zarakh]
With healing in His wings;
And you shall go out
And grow fat like stall-fed calves.
You shall trample the wicked,
For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet
On the day that I do this,
Says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 4:1-3

With this understood, I should note that many of these locations are in a variety of passages from Numbers, Deuteronomy, and even Joshua. In order to be consistent, I went back to the sermons where the names were mentioned to obtain the same meaning for the typology as was used before.

By doing this, we have a consistent analysis of the words that are all lumped together into one short passage. Their land is first described as “from Wadi Arnon to Mount Hermon.” Using the root meaning of the words, this can be paraphrased as “from the inheritance of rejoicing to the Sacred Mountain.” It is surely a picture of salvation and inheritance of the heavenly promise –

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, … In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:3 & 11, 12

In Ephesians, Paul is writing to Gentiles, but his words include any who are saved in this dispensation, Jews or Gentiles. Hence, it is before the salvation of national Israel, even if it includes some from Israel.

Next, it says, “and all the Aravah, eastward.” This is paraphrased as “and all the pledge, eastward.” Hence, it is speaking of the pledge of the Spirit (Ephesians 1:14) prior to national Israel’s salvation.

After that, it named the first foe, “Sihon king the Amorite.” In type, this would read “Warrior king of the Renowned.” In Numbers 21, I suggested that he anticipates the Antichrist.” There is no reason to amend that, and yet, it is true that there are already antichrists in the world –

“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.” 1 John 2:18

Those who come to Christ prevail over this spirit of antichrist that exists in the world. He was next described as “the dweller in Heshbon, ruling from Aroer which upon lip Wadi Arnon and midst the wadi, and half the Gilead, and to Jabbok – the wadi – border sons Ammon.”

Taking the meaning of the words, it says, “the dweller in Intelligence, ruling from Stripped upon the edge of inheritance Rejoicing and midst inheritance, and half the Perpetual Fountain, and to Pouring Out – the inheritance – border sons A People.”

When one inherits the kingdom, he inherits the whole kingdom. In this case, this is one of two foes to be defeated and thus it speaks of the first half of the battle. Hence, half of the Perpetual Fountain. The words, though confusing, speak of the various aspects of what Christ offers. For example, Paul says of intelligence in 1 Corinthians 1 –

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 1 Corinthians 1:18, 19 (NIV)

Of being stripped, Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 14, using the term “laid bare” –

“But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, ‘God is really among you!’” 1 Corinthians 14:24, 25 (NIV)

The point is that this foe, described by these terms, will be defeated in order to provide the inheritance of the pledge of the Spirit, the reception of the Spirit, the pouring out of the Spirit, and so on. That description continues with, “and the Aravah to Sea Kinereth eastward and to Sea the Aravah (Sea of Salt) eastward.”

Once again, translating the words reads: “and the pledge to Sea of the Harp eastward and to Sea the Pledge (Sea of Covenant) eastward.” Again, it points to the work of Jesus. The pledge is the Spirit. The harp anticipates Him as the source of prophecy. Harps, at times, accompany prophesying. And the salt anticipates His incorruptible nature (Acts 2:27) and thus the incorruptible nature of His covenant.

The direction eastward indicates that this is east of the Jordan, the Descender, and thus it is an inheritance granted before the nation itself receives its inheritance.

The final clause of the verses concerning Sihon say, “way House the Yeshimoth and from south under slopes the Pisgah.” Translated, it would say “way House the Desolations and from south under the slopes of the Cleft.”

As it is on the way to the House of Desolations (another word for death), it means that the house is outside of the inheritance. Under the Cleft anticipates passing through Christ into the inheritance. With that, the verses turn to the land of Og.

In the Numbers 21 sermon, I noted him as a type of the False Prophet of Revelation. Having said that, and just like the antichrist, John says –

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1

Therefore, even if there is one final False Prophet, there is the spirit of the false prophet that has existed all along. Those who come to Christ overcome this.

Like in Numbers 21, Og is said to be king of the Bashan, or Place of fertile soil. His name comes from uggah, which is a round baked cake. That comes from ug, to bake. The picture we see is one set in opposition to Israel. The uggah, or baked cake, is seen seven times in the Bible. It is that which nourishes and sustains life.

Thus Og, who is king over the fertile place of soil, anticipates this spirit of false prophecy that denies the people of God the truth and nourishment of the word. He is noted here as “from the remnant of the Rephaim.” Rephaim signifies to sink down or relax.

Charlie’s best guess as to why he is called Rephaim here is that he anticipates those who find the ease of lies of the false prophets appealing. Peter alludes to this type of simple appeal –

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.” 2 Peter 2:1, 2

Here he is called “the dweller in Ashtaroth and in Edrei,” or Unity of Instructions and Mighty. The unity of instruction is against the gospel, and it is a powerful foe. His reign, until it is taken from him is said to be “in Mount Hermon and in Salcah and in all the Bashan.” Translated, it would say “In Sacred Mount, and in Walking, and in all the Place of fertile soil.”

Until he is eliminated, access to the Lord is restricted, one’s walk is opposed to the Lord, and the truth and nourishment of the word is unavailable. In his defeat through coming to Jesus, the inheritance is granted to everyone who believes.

It then notes that Og’s domain went “to border the Geshurite and the Maachathite.” The names mean To Join (as in a bridge) and Oppression. As they are outside of the inheritance, I would assume it signifies those who are not joined to the inheritance and who are under the oppression of the law.

Next, Og’s rule was “half the Gilead border Sihon king Heshbon,” or half the Perpetual Fountain border Intelligence. As this is the other half of the Perpetual Fountain, and as he was defeated, the inheritance encompasses the entire Perpetual Fountain – the giving of the Spirit through Christ.

The final verse referred to Moses the servant of the Lord and it noted the land the children of Israel conquered. However, the typology of Moses is clear. The typological meaning refers to Jesus’ fulfillment of the law (Moses) and those of Israel who accept His work.

With that, the final words of the section say that Moses gave it as a possession to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Their possession, though not in Canaan, is clearly a picture of a possession in Christ.

It’s not that these people are types of those who aren’t saved, as I once thought, but rather, it is that they picture those who are saved prior to the national salvation of Israel. The second set of twelve stones set up in Joshua 4 are a clear representation of those who form the church, both Jew and Gentile.

In the end, the point of it all is Christ Jesus. His work extends out to all, both Jew and Gentile, and to both Israel and the church. It is the same saving message to both. God has done it all through Him. All we need to do as individuals is to accept this, and all Israel needs to do as a nation is to accept it as well.

Time is marching on, and we have choices to make. I hope and pray that each person who hears this word will consider that and make the right choice, by faith, in calling out to God through Jesus. He is the only hope in this fallen and quickly failing world. Receive God’s goodness as it is offered through Him and be sure to do so today.

Closing Verse: “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:11, 12

Next Week: Joshua 12:7-24 This is the nation’s legacy and its reward… (An Inheritance Seaward) (26th Joshua Sermon)

The Lord has you exactly where He wants you. He has a good plan and purpose for you. It is He who has defeated the enemy and who now offers His people rest. So, follow Him and trust Him and He will do marvelous things for you and through you.

An Inheritance Toward the Rising of the Sun

These are the kings of the land
Whom the children of Israel defeated; over whom they won
And whose land they possessed on the other side of the Jordan
Toward the rising of the sun

From the River Arnon to Mount Hermon
And all the eastern Jordan plain as it is known:

One king was Sihon king of the Amorites
Who dwelt in Heshbon and ruled half of Gilead
From Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon
From the middle of that river, not north or south even a tad

Even as far as the River Jabbok
Which is the border of the Ammonites, so they agree
And the eastern Jordan plain from the Sea of Chinneroth
As far as the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea)

The road to Beth Jeshimoth as the map denotes
And southward below the Pisgah slopes

The other king was Og king of Bashan and his territory
Who was of the remnant of the giants, yes it’s true
Who dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei
And reigned over Mount Hermon, over Salcah, over all Bashan too

As far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites
———-so it is known
And over half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

These Moses the servant of the LORD
And the children of Israel had conquered on that day
And Moses the servant of the LORD had given it as a possession
To the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh

Lord God, turn our hearts to be obedient to Your word
Give us wisdom to be ever faithful to You
May we carefully heed each thing we have heard
Yes, Lord God may our hearts be faithful and true

And we shall be content and satisfied in You alone
We will follow You as we sing our songs of praise
Hallelujah to You; to us Your path You have shown
Hallelujah we shall sing to You for all of our days

Hallelujah and Amen…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the kings of the land whom the children of Israel defeated, and whose land they possessed on the other side of the Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the River Arnon to Mount Hermon, and all the eastern Jordan plain: One king was Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon and ruled half of Gilead, from Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, from the middle of that river, even as far as the River Jabbok, which is the border of the Ammonites, and the eastern Jordan plain from the Sea of Chinneroth as far as the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), the road to Beth Jeshimoth, and southward below the slopes of Pisgah. The other king was Og king of Bashan and his territory, who was of the remnant of the giants, who dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei, and reigned over Mount Hermon, over Salcah, over all Bashan, as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and over half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

These Moses the servant of the Lord and the children of Israel had conquered; and Moses the servant of the Lord had given it as a possession to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh.

 

 

 

Acts 13:21

Chester Alan Arthur, Vermont Capitol.

Sunday, 1 January 2023

“And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. Acts 13:21

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

In the previous verse, Paul mentioned the giving of judges to Israel for about four hundred and fifty years. With the time of the judges ending, the time of the kings began. Paul explains that beginning with the words, “And afterward.”

Samuel was the final judge of Israel. Israel was a theocracy with the Lord as their King at this time. The judge was appointed to lead the people under the authority of the Lord. However, Israel desired a change in this arrangement, and so after this time of judges, “they asked for a king.”

To anyone who knew the recorded account of this act, it would be a reminder of the people’s rejection of the Lord. For Paul to bring this up is not a lesson in the right attitude of the people. Rather, it is a reminder of exactly the opposite –

“Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, ‘Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.’
But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.’” 1 Samuel 8:4-9

After this, Samuel instructed the people on the additional burdens they would face with a king over them, warning them. And yet, the record says –

“Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, ‘No, but we will have a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.’
21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the Lord. 22 So the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Heed their voice, and make them a king.’” 1 Samuel 8:19-22

With that remembered, Paul next says, “so God gave them Saul the son of Kish.” The name Saul means “Asked for.” It is thus a biblical pun. The people asked for a king and the Lord gave them a king as they had asked for. His father was Kish. The name comes from qosh, a snare. Hence, his name means Snaring. This very well may be a pun as well. Israel had ensnared itself in asking for a king.

After Saul’s initial conquests, Samuel called to renew the kingship (1 Samuel 11:14), and so the people were called together at Gilgal. During this coronation, Samuel reminded them of their wickedness in asking for a king. This was acknowledged by the people –

“Now therefore, stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes: 17 Is today not the wheat harvest? I will call to the Lord, and He will send thunder and rain, that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking a king for yourselves.”
18 So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.
19 And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves.” 1 Samuel 12:16-19

This is what Paul is implicitly reminding those gathered in the synagogue. Though not apparent yet, he will tie all of this in with the people’s rejection of Jesus. For now, he continues this verse with, “a man of the tribe of Benjamin.”

This is to be implicitly understood as a mark of the Lord’s disfavor if for no other reason than that the Messiah was promised to come through Judah, not Benjamin (Genesis 49:10). Benjamin’s blessing by Jacob was that he was a ravenous wolf that devours the prey and divides the spoil. It is not at all unlike the reign of Saul. But more, Benjamin was the smallest tribe, having been almost utterly wiped out by the other tribes for its defense of the horrifying actions of the people of Gibeah as is recorded in Judges 19 and 20. With that, Paul finishes the verse with “for forty years.”

This is not recorded in the Old Testament, although Paul’s stating it means that it was understood to be so. Various chronologies have been provided and explanations have been made to justify Paul’s words. One explanation is that the times of Samuel and Saul have been combined. Hence the words of the previous verse “until Samuel the prophet” mean that the reigns of Samuel and Saul are combined into forty years. Others have developed timelines showing how Saul could have reigned forty years. In the end, Paul has stated a literal time that was accepted within the synagogue as factual.

Life application: The Bible records actual events from Israel’s past to reveal God’s purposes and intent for the time of the New Covenant. The time of the judges was one of constant apostasy and then turning back to the Lord. The people’s asking for a king that would rule over them was to be taken as a rejection of the Lord as well.

And yet, some judges and kings directed the people to the Lord, exalting Him above their own reigns. Others turned from the Lord in varying degrees. Each of these stories is given as a lesson for us to see something about Israel’s need for the Messiah to come and rule. Without knowing what is recorded in the Old Testament, we have a void in our understanding of why we need the Lord as our Head. The proclivities of man necessitate it and the biblical stories of the Old Testament highlight this fact.

Be sure to read the Old Testament as well as the New. In it, you will find the state of man in need of God’s Messiah. In His coming, we see how Jesus fulfills each and every need.

Lord God, thank You for the giving of Your Son so that we can have an eternal Leader who can reveal to us the extent of Your greatness for all ages to come. In Him, we have all of who You are in a form that we can see and understand. Yes, thank You for the sending of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

 

 

Acts 13:20

Calvin Coolidge, Vermont State Capitol.

Saturday, 31 December 2022

“After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. Acts 13:20

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The previous verse referred to the subduing of the land where the seven nations were destroyed and then the division of the land by allotment. Paul’s next words say, “After that.” There is a rather large difficulty in reckoning the number four hundred and fifty found in this verse. For now, an evaluation will be made based on the text of the NKJV.

As for the meaning of the words “After that,” it would have to mean, “After the time of warfare to remove the inhabitants and division of the land.” It is after that time that “He gave them judges.”

Although Joshua is not called a judge, his role certainly fits that position. Regardless of that, the period of the judges is carefully recorded in the book of Judges, beginning with Othniel and ending in the book of 1 Samuel with Samuel the prophet being the final judge of Israel before the time of the kings. From there, Paul’s words continue with, “for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.”

This counting causes difficulty because of what it says in 1 Kings 6:1 –

“And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord.”

The two numbers, that of Paul and that of the record in 1 Kings 6:1, do not seem to match. From the exodus until entry into Canaan was forty years. It took about another seven years to subdue the land. It was at this time the divisions of the land were made.

If it was four hundred and fifty years from the land division to the time of Samuel, and then you add on the forty years in the wilderness, the seven years until the land division, the time of Saul’s reign (forty years – Acts 13:21) and the time of David’s reign (forty years – 1 Kings 2:11), and then the building of the temple commencing in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, it is about five hundred and ninety years from the exodus until the time of the building of the temple.

Because of the difficulty, some translations make the period inclusive of what Paul has said since verse 17 where it spoke of Abraham. As such, the translations read –

“All this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.” BSB

In other words, the period is not speaking of the time from the division of the land until the time of Samuel, but of the time from Abraham to the time of the judges, which then went from Othniel to Samuel. The problem with that is that Paul does not mention the making of the covenant, just that the fathers were chosen. Also, the time interval would have to begin with Isaac, not Abraham. However, Isaac was never even mentioned by Paul.

A seemingly reasonable explanation, which includes the extrabiblical note of the time of Joshua’s rule, comes from Jamieson-Faucet-Brown –

“But taking the sense to be as in our version, that it was the period of the judges itself which lasted about four hundred fifty years, this statement also will appear historically correct, if we include in it the interval of subjection to foreign powers which occurred during the period of the judges, and understand it to describe the whole period from the settlement of the tribes in Canaan to the establishment of royalty. Thus, from the Exodus to the building of the temple were five hundred ninety-two years [Josephus, Antiquities, 8.3.1]; deduct forty years in the wilderness; twenty-five years of Joshua’s rule [Josephus, Antiquities, 5.1.29]; forty years of Saul’s reign (Ac 13:2); forty of David’s and the first four years of Solomon’s reign (1Ki 6:1), and there remain, just four hundred forty-three years; or, in round numbers, ‘about four hundred fifty years.’”

This would align with Paul’s statement, made in a general manner to his audience. However, it still bears a conflict with the dating of 1 Kings 6:1, unless that date is only speaking of the time when Israel was not under foreign rule. And more, it should be unnecessary to include the writings of Josephus to conclude what Paul is referring to because his words are now included in the Bible.

The resolution to the problem comes by taking the timeframe in relation to the expressly stated years of servitude and peace as is recorded in the book of Judges. When this is done, the period is exacting. Those timeframes are listed in verses such as that found in Judges 3:14, which says, “So the children of Israel served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years.”

In a paper published by Floyd Nolen Jones in 2007, he adds up all such periods and they come out to four hundred and fifty years.

Life application: Study the Bible enough and you can bet a resolution to difficulties in the Bible will eventually be realized.

This is the paper as submitted by Dr. Jones:

—————————–

450 or 480 years – Acts 13:20 and 1 Kings 6:1

The most bothersome “contradiction” in Scripture is that of the presumed conflict between the 450 years of Acts 13:20 with the 480 years of 1 Kings 6:1. However, such is a mirage – the two actually have nothing to do with one another. Acts 13:20 concerning the length of the period from the judges until Samuel the prophet is no more than Paul’s affirming of the Hebrew Scriptures. He is merely giving a summary total, without any regard to overlap, of all the years of servitude and peace as recorded in the Book of Judges (as well as Eli’s judgeship, for it says “until Samuel the prophet”), thus:

8+40+18+80+20+40+7+40+3+23+22+18+6+7+10+8+40+20 + 40 for Eli in 1 Sam. 4:18 = exactly 450

As already explained (Chronology, pp. 72-76), each period of oppression was overlapped by the time of peace that followed Israel’s deliverance by a judge. The relevant passages in Acts 13 reads:

Acts 13:17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.
18 And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.
19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he divided their land to them by lot.
20 And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred & fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.
21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.
22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

Although these verses are given in the historic chronological order, verse 19 gives neither the length for the span of the war with the Canaanites nor the time required for the distribution of the land among the 12 tribes. Thus, when taken alone, it is of no actual chronological value. Even verse 21, which gives the span of Saul’s reign as 40 years, does not tell us the length of time covering from when Samuel actually became established as a prophet until the people desired a king. Indeed, verse 22 does not give the number of years for the reign of David.

From these observations, as well as the context of Acts 13:14-43, it becomes obvious that the main purpose of Acts 13:17-22 is not that of furnishing chronological data. Moreover, the giving of Saul’s reign as being 40 years is probably because it is not recorded in the Old Testament (although it can be determined: see footnote 2, page xiii in my Chronology).

This straightforward solution to the conundrum reveals that the 450 years have no chronological significance and has no bearing whatsoever on 1 Kings 6:1. The problem between the two passages never actually existed and was always only a matter of perception – or the lack thereof.

Floyd Nolen Jones, Th.D., Ph.D. – 2007

—————————–

This information was obtained from:

https://www.floydnolenjonesministries.com/files/130648941.pdf

When facing difficulties in the Bible, study the Bible more. It is a self-validating treasure of marvel and wonder.

Lord God, we can know Your word is true through a careful study of it. Although there are things we may not understand, we can still have faith that those things that are difficult do have a suitable resolution, even if we have not yet found it. Thank You for Your precious word. Help us to contemplate it all our days and to grow in our knowledge of You through it. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acts 13:19

This one looks like a horseshoe. Interesting blemish in tile at Vermont capitol.

Friday, 30 December 2022 

“And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment. Acts 13:19

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The previous verse said that God put up with Israel for about forty years in the wilderness. With that, it next says, “And when He had destroyed seven nations.”

Israel was given the land by God. And more, they were instructed to go in and subdue it, eradicating every breathing soul. The reason for this was clearly stated several times and in several ways. And detailed instructions concerning this task were provided. As for the number of nations in the land, the number and naming of the listed nations vary several times in the biblical record. Paul is making a note of the list as it is recorded in Deuteronomy 7. There, along with the charge to destroy them is given –

“When the Lord your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you, and when the Lord your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them.  Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the Lord will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly. But thus you shall deal with them: you shall destroy their altars, and break down their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images, and burn their carved images with fire.” Deuteronomy 7:1-5

Those seven nations were, as Paul next says, “in the land of Canaan.” This is the promised inheritance. It is a promise made at the time of Abraham, and it was repeated to Isaac and then again to Jacob –

To Abraham: “Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I will give this land.’” Genesis 13:7

To Isaac: “Then the Lord appeared to him and said: ‘Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.’” Genesis 26:2, 3

To Jacob: “And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: ‘I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants.’” Genesis 28:13

It is this land that was subsequently destroyed, meaning its inhabitants, at the time of Joshua –

“So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had said to Moses; and Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. Then the land rested from war.” Joshua 11:23

After that time, Paul notes that “He distributed their land to them.”

Great detail is provided in the book of Joshua concerning the division of the land. It includes notes about the borders, the names of the cities within those borders, etc. At the end of this land division, it then says –

“These were the inheritances which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel divided as an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. So they made an end of dividing the country.” Joshua 19:51

Finally, Paul notes that this process was “by allotment.” This is a word found only this one time in Scripture, katakléronomeó. It is derived from words signifying “according to” and “assign by lot.” HELPS Word Studies says, “to arrive at (get down to) God’s will, through the prayerful use of lots.”

Some manuscripts have a single letter change in this word which would then signify “he gave as an inheritance.” And it is true that the Lord gave the land as an inheritance to Israel, but this was accomplished through the use of lots. Either way, the land was promised to the fathers, it was again promised to the nation, and they entered and possessed the land. The actual division by lots is noted in Joshua 18:10 –

“Then Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord, and there Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel according to their divisions.”

Life application: In Numbers 14, the people rebelled against the word of the Lord and set their hearts back on the land of Egypt. In this, the Lord sent them into exile in the wilderness. He could have simply destroyed them and gone in a new direction, but He had covenanted with them, and He is not like man. He remained faithful while they were faithless.

Eventually, their set time of punishment ended, and they entered the land. That entire process, from Numbers 14 until Joshua 3 was a typological picture of Israel’s rejection of Jesus (the Lord) when He came. The Lord could have destroyed them and gone in a new direction (replacement theology), but He had covenanted with them, and He is not like a man. Again, He remained faithful while they were faithless.

The church is not a new direction. It is the acceptable continuance of God’s direction, based upon the cutting of a New Covenant. That covenant was promised in Jeremiah 31, and it was promised to Israel and Judah. The Gentiles are grafted in by faith, but the covenant parameters were set. As such, replacement theology isn’t just wrong, it is a woefully inept doctrine that fails to understand the nature of God and of His interactions with humanity.

We may not be happy with the Jews for whatever reason is floating around in our minds, and the Lord is certainly not happy with them as they continue to reject His offer of Jesus. But this does not negate His faithfulness to the covenant made with them. Having that set and understood in our minds will keep us on the proper path of what He is doing in this beautifully laid out redemptive plan.

O God, thank You for Your faithfulness to us, even when we are unfaithful to You. If we have come to You through the New Covenant, we are saved. It is “deal done” because You are the One who set forth the parameters. How blessed we are to know that You do not change, and by this, we know that we are saved forever! Amen.