Saturday, December 21, 2013

All or Nothing. Joshua 7-8; John 2

May the mumbling commence!

We wait in this Advent time for the coming of the Lord.  We journey as we wait, and sometimes we wander from the path that Jesus has blazed before us.  We have a need for revival, for renewal.

As Israel first took the Promised Land, they too wandered.  It only took one from their immense number to stumble to affect everyone.  The sin of Achan was then cleansed, so that the Lord would fight for Israel once more.  After the successful battle with the people of Ai, Joshua led Israel in a renewal of their covenant with the Lord.  Read from the end of Joshua chapter eight:

Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, on Mount EbalHe followed the instructions that Moses the Lord's servant had written in the Book of the Law: "Make me an altar from stones that are uncut and have not been shaped with iron tools." Then on the altar they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord.  And as the Israelites watched, Joshua copied the law of Moses onto the stones of the altar. 
Then all the Israelites – foreigners and citizens alike – along with the leaders, officers, and judges, were divided into two groups. One group stood at the foot of Mount Gerizim, the other at the foot of Mount Ebal. Each group faced the other, and between them stood the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Lord's covenant. This was all done according to the instructions Moses, the servant of the Lord, had given for blessing the people of Israel. 
Joshua then read to them all the blessings and curses Moses had written in the Book of the Law.  Every command Moses had ever given was read to the entire assembly, including the women and children and the foreigners who lived among the Israelites. (Verses 30-35)

How did Israel find their way back to God?  They returned to the place where they last knew that they were faithful to the Lord… where they first pronounced the blessings and curses, from Mount Ebal and from Mount Gerizim.  There they built an altar as specified by the Law.  There they sacrificed burnt and peace offerings to the Lord.  They did these things to remember.

Joshua copied the Law of Moses on the stones of the altar.  Joshua led them in this renewal of covenant.  It is all or nothing.  Everyone was gathered who lived among them.  Achan had taught them that one person slipping up would sink the entire ship.  To all these people, all the Law of Moses was read.  They did these things to remember.

They did these things to remember and relight the fire of passion that they had for the Lord God Almighty.  Help us to remember that faith is an all or nothing proposition.  Remember the passion and zeal of Jesus for the House of the Lord.  Read from John chapter two:

It was time for the annual Passover celebration, and Jesus went to Jerusalem.  In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; and he saw money changers behind their counters.  Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and oxen, scattered the money changers' coins over the floor, and turned over their tables.  Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, "Get these things out of here. Don't turn my Father's house into a marketplace!" 
Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: "Passion for God's house burns within me."  (Verses 13-17)

Help us to protect holy ground.  May everything that we do on holy ground bring praise and honor and worship to the Lord.  May everything else be driven from our souls that prevent this praise and honor and worship of the Lord.

Enough mumbling for now…


Peace Out

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