​Key Verse
28 And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The Lord is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’” 
 
Meditation
What we believe about God determines the direction of our life, leading either to ruin or restoration. Today’s reading reminds us that God rules everything and, because He is good, we must trust the direction of His word to move from ruin to restoration.
 
Ben-Hadad and the Syrians were Israel’s enemies who did not believe the Lord ruled over all the earth (28) but that their gods could turn Israel into dust. (11) This false belief led to multiple defeats. Turns out, the Lord rules the whole earth. (Isaiah 54:5)
 
Ahab believed God was a good luck charm, turning to Him during international crisis for victory. Commanded to devote the king of Syria to destruction, (42) Ahab left Ben-Hadad alive and covenanted with him. (34) Ahab forfeited the joy of victory because he treated God’s word as a suggestion, leaving him “vexed” and “sullen.” (43)
 
Notice God’s desire to “draw near” to give direction through His word. (vv. 13, 22, 28) The ruler of the earth longings to guide His people! But when we do not believe God rules everything, we use God, fight Him for control, and treat His revelation as a suggestion.
 
Ultimately God draws near through the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. (John 1:14)  The ruler of everything is the true King who was ruined to the point of death so those of us who have fought God for control can surrender and be forgiven. God’s mercy renews our minds so we can know God, trusting His revelation so through obedience we can move from ruin to restoration. 
 
Today’s Reading
Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and closed in on Samaria and fought against it. 2 And he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad: 3 ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your best wives and children also are mine.’” 4 And the king of Israel answered, “As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have.” 5 The messengers came again and said, “Thus says Ben-hadad: ‘I sent to you, saying, “Deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children.” 6 Nevertheless I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants and lay hands on whatever pleases you and take it away.’”

7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, “Mark, now, and see how this man is seeking trouble, for he sent to me for my wives and my children, and for my silver and my gold, and I did not refuse him.” 8 And all the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent.” 9 So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you first demanded of your servant I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” And the messengers departed and brought him word again.10 Ben-hadad sent to him and said, “The gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.” 11 And the king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off.’” 12 When Ben-hadad heard this message as he was drinking with the kings in the booths, he said to his men, “Take your positions.” And they took their positions against the city.

Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad
13 And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the Lord, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” 14 And Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Thus says the Lord, By the servants of the governors of the districts.” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.” 15 Then he mustered the servants of the governors of the districts, and they were 232. And after them he mustered all the people of Israel, seven thousand.

16 And they went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings who helped him. 17 The servants of the governors of the districts went out first. And Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, “Men are coming out from Samaria.” 18 He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive. Or if they have come out for war, take them alive.”

19 So these went out of the city, the servants of the governors of the districts and the army that followed them. 20 And each struck down his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, but Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen. 21 And the king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and struck the Syrians with a great blow.

22 Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Come, strengthen yourself, and consider well what you have to do, for in the spring the king of Syria will come up against you.”

23 And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills, and so they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.24 And do this: remove the kings, each from his post, and put commanders in their places, 25 and muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.” And he listened to their voice and did so.

Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad Again
26 In the spring, Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. 27 And the people of Israel were mustered and were provisioned and went against them. The people of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Syrians filled the country. 28 And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The Lord is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’” 29 And they encamped opposite one another seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle was joined. And the people of Israel struck down of the Syrians 100,000 foot soldiers in one day. 30 And the rest fled into the city of Aphek, and the wall fell upon 27,000 men who were left.

Ben-hadad also fled and entered an inner chamber in the city. 31 And his servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.” 32 So they tied sackcloth around their waists and put ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please, let me live.’” And he said, “Does he still live? He is my brother.” 33 Now the men were watching for a sign, and they quickly took it up from him and said, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go and bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he caused him to come up into the chariot. 34 And Ben-hadad said to him, “The cities that my father took from your father I will restore, and you may establish bazaars for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” And Ahab said, “I will let you go on these terms.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.

A Prophet Condemns Ben-hadad's Release
35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow at the command of the Lord, “Strike me, please.” But the man refused to strike him. 36 Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, behold, as soon as you have gone from me, a lion shall strike you down.” And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion met him and struck him down. 37 Then he found another man and said, “Strike me, please.” And the man struck him—struck him and wounded him.38 So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes. 39 And as the king passed, he cried to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the midst of the battle, and behold, a soldier turned and brought a man to me and said, ‘Guard this man; if by any means he is missing, your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’ 40 And as your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” The king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it.” 41 Then he hurried to take the bandage away from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. 42 And he said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.’” 43 And the king of Israel went to his house vexed and sullen and came to Samaria.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the unfortunate commonality between the enemies of God and the king of Israel, false beliefs about God that lead to ruin?
 
-Do you believe God is good, ruler of the earth? Or do you fight God for control, God’s word as a suggestion? How does that play out in your life? Do you see God’s grace drawing near again and again and again?
 
-What does it look like for you to surrender to the sovereign grace of God and, responding to His grace, obey the revelation of His word? Where, specifically, do you need to apply this opportunity?
 
Key Verse
28 And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The Lord is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’” 

Key Verse
17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.
 
Meditation
“Why do the good guys always lose?” my friend asked after missing a bid for a business contract.  At the heart of the question is the interrogation of God’s goodness. Is God good if we do the right thing and miss invitations to parties, promotions at work, positions we run for, or contracts we compete for?
 
Today’s reading invites brutal honesty in questioning God. Asaph saw “the prosperity of the wicked” and was “envious.” (3) They appeared pain free, always at ease, increasing in wealth, good looking, and resourced to avoid consequences. Pride leads them to autonomy, even to “set their mouths against the heavens.” Is God good if the wicked prosper? 

Corporate worship changes everything.

The Psalmist “went into the sanctuary of God” and discerned the truth. Through worship we encounter an eternal God, experience the power of His promises in Jesus, and are drawn into His purposes. Worldly popularity and prosperity are worthless “compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus Christ as Lord.” (Philippians 3:7-8)
 
Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8) This is the key to knowing God’s goodness when it seems like bad guys always win. Look closely at verse 1: “God is good… to those who are pure in heart.”
 
Worship is where we rediscover God’s sufficiency as the strength of our hearts. (26) God alone gives the satisfaction we seek, security we need, and significance for which our hearts long. Worship of God promotes an eternal perspective, (24) needed re-orientation as we navigate a world where the wicked prosper.
 
Today’s reading
Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. 5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.

6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. 7 Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. 8 They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. 9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth. 10 Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them. 11 And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
 
12 Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. 13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. 14 For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. 15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, 17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. 
 
18 Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. 19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! 20 Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.

21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, 22 I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. 23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you?  And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. 28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially how “entering into the sanctuary of God” acts as a fulcrum to strengthen out hearts?
 
-Do you prioritize corporate worship? This is to ask, are you re-focusing your heart in corporate worship weekly, personal worship daily, and regular accountable fellowship with believers? How is this affecting what you see and how you see the world?
 
-Jesus says, “The pure in heart see God.” How can you intentionally trust in the Lord with all your heart, purifying your perspective on what you see?

Key Verse
17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.

​Key Verse
2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.”
 
Meditation
God wants you to know and show His mercy.
 
In today’s reading we discover Jonah “displeased” with God’s mercy, angry that God relented from judgment because the Ninevites repented from sin. (1) Jonah knew God was merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. (2) Jonah hoped God would not relent. Jonah was angry enough to die. (3) God contrasts Jonah’s anger with His mercy through a question- Do you do well to be angry? (4)
 
After an ecological engagement that exposed the shallow nature of Jonah’s self-justification, the prophet reinforced his position- he was angry enough to die. (5-10) Jonah cared about a plant but not the people and place of Nineveh. (11) Jonah knew God’s mercy in chapter 2. Yet Jonah refused to celebrate God’s mercy given to enemies of Israel. Deeper than ethnic arrogance or prejudice, the root of Jonah’s anger with God was spiritual pride.
 
Jesus tells a parable to diagnose the depth of our understanding of mercy. (Matthew 18:23-35) The climax is a question, “I forgave you… should you not have had mercy on your fellow servant as I had mercy on you?” This question is for both Jonah and for you. Do you know God’s mercy? If so, shouldn’t you show God’s mercy?
 
God is “rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4) and desires for His people to share the wealth of His mercy with those who need mercy, regardless of their ethnic identity, gender, or socio-economic status. Koning God’s mercy personally is an invitation to show God’s mercy relationally, even to our enemies. 
 
Today’s Reading
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”

5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city.6 Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort.  So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. 7 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” 10 And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially Jonah’s anger at God and His pleasure to show mercy?
 
-How does God’s mercy revealed in the person and work of Jesus motivate you to show mercy to others?
 
-To whom do you need to show mercy? Who do you need to forgive? Who do you need to show love to or serve? What will this look like? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.
 

When change and decay is all you see as true, may God’s unchanging nature comfort you.
 
Seasons change- God is unchanging.
Weather varies- God remains the same.
Technology innovates- God is immutable.
People mature- God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Landscapes alter- Nothing erodes or enhances our Creator's character,  who Himself proclaims:
 
“For I the Lord do not change…” Malachi 3:6
 
Key Verse: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17
 
A.W. Pink described God’s unchanging nature saying, “This is one of the divine perfections which is not sufficiently pondered. It is one of the excellencies of the Creator which distinguishes Him from all His creatures. God is perpetually the same: subject to no change in His being, attributes, or determinations.” (Gleanings in the Godhead- PDF here) Because God is eternally Himself, God can know no change. God “gives to all, and is enriched by none” because God is the unchangeable Rock, our stable sanctuary in the stormy seas of an ever-changing world.  
 
“An infinite and eternal fountain of love”
In his classic work Charity and it’s Fruits (PDF here), Jonathan Edwards anchors Christian security in God’s steadfast love, a reality ensured through God’s unchanging nature.  Edward’s logic is simple to follow: Because God is infinite and eternal, He must also be all-sufficient, “an infinite and eternal fountain of love.” God loves Himself eternally (as we saw last week in John 17) and by implication of His forever nature of love, God’s people can be sure that “God’s steadfast love endures forever!” (By the way, this refrain is repeated 41 times in the OT, twenty-six of which are in Psalm 136) God never changes. God is love. God’s steadfast love is forever!

God never changes because God is perfect in His being- eternally. God does not need to increase or grow, nor diminish or decrease. More than God’s love, “every good and perfect give is from above…” because God is perfectly Himself- The great “I AM.” (Exodus 3:14) God is forever the fullness of His attributes: Goodness, love, wisdom, justice, mercy, truth, faithfulness, holiness… because “God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Not only can God not change, “there is no variation or shadow of change” in Him. (James 1:17) God is love. God never changes. God’s steadfast love is forever!
 
“God is good- All the time. All the time- God is good.”
To know God is to know the fullness of love manifest from above through the person and work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. What is true of love is also true for each of God’s communicable attributes. God is forever faithful because God is faithful- And this will never change. God is forever good, because God is good- forever. In a world where everything fluctuations, our security is in a faithful, unchanging, Savior.
 
God relates to us personally, yet God does not change eternally. Scripture discloses the divine in anthropomorphic ways, revealing to us what is true about God. These divine accommodations are never negations of core of divine revelation: “For I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:6) This truth gives us safety. The heavens and earth will pass away, but God will not change- so believers live assured of God’s steadfast love and goodness! (Psalm 102:25-28) 
 
Take a moment to imagine a god that changes, leaving  people wondering if he is fully good when life is horrible. Or fully wise when there are more questions than answers. Or fully love when life in this fallen world leaves us with more fear than faith. What kind of god is inconsistent, unreliable, and undependable? A god that changes. It turns out, a changing god is no god at all!
 
From the darkest pits of life, the person who knows God must call to mind the unchanging nature of God: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases (it is forever!) and His mercy never comes to an end (because God never changes!) …Great is Your faithfulness, oh God!” (Lamentations 3:21-24). 
 
God, and God alone, is what we need. God is our portion. God is sufficient. God is forever His being, never becoming, so those who know Him through Jesus can become more like Him in our being as our hearts rest securely in His unchanging nature.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you live as if this revelation is true, that God is forever unchanging? This is to ask, do you believe God is good, loving… all the time? Is this how you relate to Him?
 
-People rob God of His immutability by defining God through his anthropomorphisms. The truth is, God desires to engage us personally so we can know Him as He is eternally. Take a moment to meditate on the forever reality of God’s love, goodness, wisdom, truth… and His desire to reveal Himself in these ways, to you.
 
-Jesus is the fullness of God, the “I AM” of God’s forever faithfulness. How can you, specifically, take steps to know Jesus more fully in who He reveals Himself to be eternally?
 
Key Verses
“For I the Lord do not change…” Malachi 3:6
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17

​Key Verse
29 … “We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will do good to you, for the Lord has promised good to Israel.” 
 
Meditation
Eugene Peterson described pilgrims as, “people who spend our lives going someplace, going to God, and whose path for getting there is the way, Jesus Christ. We realize that “this world is not my home” and set out for the “Father’s house.” (A Long Obedience in the Same Direction) Christians are pilgrims walking by faith through the wilderness of a fallen world, trusting God for a better place.
 
After more than a year (11) the Israelites left Sinai to “set out for the place the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you’… The Lord promised good.” (29) The trumpets called God’s people (1-10) and the cloud marked God’s presence. Walking as pilgrims means obeying God’s word by setting out to experience the fullness of God’s promises.
 
Trumpets and a cloud launched God’s people from Sinai towards the Promise Land. Trumpets and clouds will characterize the consummation of Jesus’ kingdom, His return and eternal reign. Angels promised Jesus’ return on clouds (Acts 1:9). Jesus does, too (Matthew 26:64). John describe trumpets dotting the apocalyptic revelation of how God will make all things new throughout the book of Revelation (even describing the voice of Jesus Revelation 1:10). Trumpets and clouds together describe the consummation of God’s covenant promises (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) and  the image should fill us with hope!
 
Jesus is our pathfinder, so pilgrims focus faith on Jesus as the way to the fullness of God’s promises. (Hebrews 12:1) Pilgrims know God’s Spirit will lead us by God’s Word, one day welcoming our king with trumpets and clouds as we enter the house of our loving Father. 
 
Today’s Reading
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. 3 And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 4 But if they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you.5 When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. 6 And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. 7 But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not sound an alarm. 8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations. 9 And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the Lord your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. 10 On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the Lord your God.”

Israel Leaves Sinai
11 In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony, 12 and the people of Israel set out by stages from the wilderness of Sinai. And the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran. 13 They set out for the first time at the command of the Lord by Moses. 14 The standard of the camp of the people of Judah set out first by their companies, and over their company was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 15 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar. 16 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.

17 And when the tabernacle was taken down, the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who carried the tabernacle, set out. 18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben set out by their companies, and over their company was Elizur the son of Shedeur. 19 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 20 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

21 Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things, and the tabernacle was set up before their arrival. 22 And the standard of the camp of the people of Ephraim set out by their companies, and over their company was Elishama the son of Ammihud. 23 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 24 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.

25 Then the standard of the camp of the people of Dan, acting as the rear guard of all the camps, set out by their companies, and over their company was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ochran. 27 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. 28 This was the order of march of the people of Israel by their companies, when they set out.

29 And Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will do good to you, for the Lord has promised good to Israel.” 30 But he said to him, “I will not go. I will depart to my own land and to my kindred.”31 And he said, “Please do not leave us, for you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you will serve as eyes for us. 32 And if you do go with us, whatever good the Lord will do to us, the same will we do to you.”

33 So they set out from the mount of the Lord three days' journey. And the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them three days' journey, to seek out a resting place for them.34 And the cloud of the Lord was over them by day, whenever they set out from the camp.

35 And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.” 36 And when it rested, he said, “Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.”
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you see the pilgrim nature of this passage as Israel sets out for the promised land? How does it help you understand your own path towards the fullness of God’s promises in Jesus?
 
-Are you empowered in your steps to know you are going to “a better country”?
 
-Jesus is the pathfinder (Hebrews 12:1) and to know the Father’s love and enter into His house we focus on Him as the way. Where do you need to focus your faith on Christ to fuel your steps in the wilderness? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
29 … “We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will do good to you, for the Lord has promised good to Israel.” 

​Key Verse
1  When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death… 62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate
 
Meditation
God’s eternal council is the covenant of redemption, the intra-Trinitarian agreement where,  since before the foundation of the world, God set forth His plan of salvation to redeem His people (see Ephesians 1:3-14; John 17). God’s eternal council included using the corruption and crooked counsel we see in today’s reading, His sovereignty “working all things according to the counsel of His will.” (Ephesians 1:11) 
 
Corrupt counsel seasons the narrative of Jesus’ suffering. The chief priests and elders took council to kill Jesus (1) as the chief priests and Pharisees took council with Pilate to continue their false narrative. (66) Judas conspired to betray Jesus and afterward the religious leaders met to consider what to do with the blood money. (7) To fulfill God’s ancient prophecy (Isaiah 53), Jesus remained silent and did not defend Himself.
 
The corrupt counsel cultivated mocking from guards, criminals, and bystanders (31, 38-44) as well as confusion from crowds who called for the release of a notorious criminal as people spat on Jesus, the innocent man who was sent to die a criminal’s death. Through these harsh realities, God’s covenant faithfulness emerges: The life of Jesus substituted for a criminal, a gentile centurion recognized Jesus as the Son of God, a faithful gentile woman advocated for Jesus’ release, and Joseph of Arimathea stewarded wealth to care for Christ’s dead body.
 
God’s plan includes using the foolish counsel and corruption of this world to bring about His covenant purposes. The finished work of Jesus reveals God’s faithfulness to ransom His people and redeem all He allows. 
 
Today’s Reading
When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.

Judas Hangs Himself
3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers.8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me.”

Jesus Before Pilate
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

Jesus Is Mocked
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

The Crucifixion
32 As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying,42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

The Death of Jesus
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.  46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

55 There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Jesus Is Buried
57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb
62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard[j] of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stans out to you from today’s reading, especially the corruption and foolish counsel?
 
-Do you see the significance of God’s sovereignty over the corruption of religious and political leaders of Jesus’ day, using what they intended for evil, to execute His covenant faithfulness? How does this give you hope in a corrupt world today!?
 
- God’s eternal council was fulfilled so you can know Him and His love. How does this focus your faith and fuel a desire to serve Him?
 
Key Verse
1  When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death… 62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate