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39 And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after… 41 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the Lord your God.” Meditation God delivers on His promises because He is faithful, not because of our performance. God’s steadfast love provides a way, even for a rebellious people who have rejected Him. Embedded in today’s reading is repetition of redemptive promises: “When you come into the land I am giving you…” (2, 17) God gives grace even after wilderness grumbling! God will deliver on His promises because God is faithful. Sacrifice is how rebellious people can rejoice in God’s blessing. (3-36) Grace provides a plan of atonement for all sin, from unintentional (22-31) to sacramental sin (32-38). God’s provision of sacrifice gives grace upon grace for His people to rest in Him, trusting He will deliver on all He has promised. Love leads to the covenant promise available through sacrifice, a mercy that moves believers to obedience. God gives reminders of what response to His redemption looks like, following His law rather than the desires of our hearts. (37-41) Redemption awakens God’s people to His love, transforming the duty of obedience into delight of discipleship. Love, law, and lavish blessing all go together in our relationship with the Lord. Ultimately, God’s promised blessings come to rebels through relationship made possible through the cross of Jesus. The work of Jesus is how God can be faithful to deliver on His promises to an unfaithful people. Jesus took the curse of our sin so through Him we can embrace the covenant blessings of God’s steadfast love. (Galatians 3:13-14) God delivers on His promises because He is faithful! Not because of our performance. Today’s Reading The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land you are to inhabit, which I am giving you, 3 and you offer to the Lord from the herd or from the flock a food offering or a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering or at your appointed feasts, to make a pleasing aroma to the Lord, 4 then he who brings his offering shall offer to the Lord a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour, mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil; 5 and you shall offer with the burnt offering, or for the sacrifice, a quarter of a hin of wine for the drink offering for each lamb. 6 Or for a ram, you shall offer for a grain offering two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a third of a hin of oil. 7 And for the drink offering you shall offer a third of a hin of wine, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 8 And when you offer a bull as a burnt offering or sacrifice, to fulfill a vow or for peace offerings to the Lord, 9 then one shall offer with the bull a grain offering of three tenths of an ephah of fine flour, mixed with half a hin of oil. 10 And you shall offer for the drink offering half a hin of wine, as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 11 “Thus it shall be done for each bull or ram, or for each lamb or young goat. 12 As many as you offer, so shall you do with each one, as many as there are. 13 Every native Israelite shall do these things in this way, in offering a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 14 And if a stranger is sojourning with you, or anyone is living permanently among you, and he wishes to offer a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord, he shall do as you do. 15 For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the Lord. 16 One law and one rule shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you.” 17 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 18 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land to which I bring you 19 and when you eat of the bread of the land, you shall present a contribution to the Lord.20 Of the first of your dough you shall present a loaf as a contribution; like a contribution from the threshing floor, so shall you present it. 21 Some of the first of your dough you shall give to the Lord as a contribution throughout your generations. Laws About Unintentional Sins22 “But if you sin unintentionally,[d] and do not observe all these commandments that the Lord has spoken to Moses,23 all that the Lord has commanded you by Moses, from the day that the Lord gave commandment, and onward throughout your generations, 24 then if it was done unintentionally without the knowledge of the congregation, all the congregation shall offer one bull from the herd for a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord, with its grain offering and its drink offering, according to the rule, and one male goat for a sin offering. 25 And the priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the people of Israel, and they shall be forgiven, because it was a mistake, and they have brought their offering, a food offering to the Lord, and their sin offering before the Lord for their mistake.26 And all the congregation of the people of Israel shall be forgiven, and the stranger who sojourns among them, because the whole population was involved in the mistake. 27 “If one person sins unintentionally, he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering. 28 And the priest shall make atonement before the Lord for the person who makes a mistake, when he sins unintentionally, to make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven. 29 You shall have one law for him who does anything unintentionally, for him who is native among the people of Israel and for the stranger who sojourns among them. 30 But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he has despised the word of the Lordand has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him.” A Sabbath breaker Executed 32 While the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33 And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation. 34 They put him in custody, because it had not been made clear what should be done to him. 35 And the Lord said to Moses, “The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.” 36 And all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, as the Lord commanded Moses. Tassels on Garments 37 The Lord said to Moses, 38 “Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. 39 And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after.40 So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. 41 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the Lord your God.” Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially God’s commitment to continue leading Israel through the wilderness and His provision of sacrifice to a rebellious people? -Where do you identify with Israel, rebelling against the Lord in the wilderness wandering of your life? -Jesus took our curse to offer us the blessings of God’s covenant faithfulness. How does God’s grace in Christ lead you to love Him and obey Him? Where does your heart need transformation in how it views obedience to God? Key Verse 39 And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after… 41 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the Lord your God.”
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 Key Verse
8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Meditation Love leads to listening, and listening necessitates believing, receiving, and abiding. God pleads with His people to listen, that we may be satisfied with His love. (Isaiah 55:2-3) Jesus diagnoses people who see Him, hear Him, but do not listen to His word saying there is no belief that, from love, the Father sent Him. (John 5:37-38) Love leads to listening, and listening necessitates believing, receiving, and abiding. Jesus repeatedly emphasized His main point in today’s reading: The Kingdom comes to those who listen. (vv. 3, 9, 13, 23, 24) He who has ears, let Him hear! (v 8, echoing Jeremiah 5:21 and Ezekiel 12:2) The ground where the King’s word abides is soft, easily penetrated to receive God’s word. Listening means we let down our defenses, taking in the Word of Jesus as the ground takes in a seed. Good soil bears a bountiful harvest, hearts that hear God’s word and believe will bear fruit. (20) The seed grows in unseen and unimpressive ways. (vv. 26-29) The smallest seeds can become the greatest plant (vv. 30-32) when the word is planted in the soil of our soul. (James 1:20) Internally, the Word must abide, taking root. Externally the King’s word is powerful enough to calm storms, stopping wind and the waves! (vv. 35-41) Truly listening to God’s word means God’s authority works in and through disciples. The love of King Jesus prepares the soil of our soul by softening our hearts to receive and believe the King’s word, that it may abide in us and bear fruit through us. Today’s Reading Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” The Purpose of the Parables 10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that “‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’” 13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.[a] 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” A Lamp Under a Basket 21 And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? 22 For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. 25 For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” The Parable of the Seed Growing 26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” The Parable of the Mustard Seed 30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34 He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything. Jesus Calms a Storm 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? Richly Dwelling -From the farming imagery Jesus uses in His teaching, what from today’s reading stands out to you about listening, receiving, and believing God’s Word? -What are things in your life and your heart that compete for nutrients, weeds or thorns you allow to grow (busy-ness, striving for approval/recognition, addictions, constant media consumption…)? -The grace of Jesus prepares the soil of our soul to receive the King’s Word. Take time to repent and receive His grace, confessing sins and being cleansed by His word, so that your heart posture will be nourished. Ask Jesus to help you truly listen to His word. Key Verse 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”  Key Verses
21 Then he went to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, “Thus says the Lord, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.” 22 So the water has been healed to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke. Meditation God’s covenant blessings await people who respond to His love through trusting His word. God’s grace invites you and your community to return to Him and His word for individual and social renewal. In today’s reading, Elijah’s ministry is transferred to Elisha- and geography is important. Elijah left Bethel, went through Jericho, and crossed over the Jordan. Once Elisha received the prophet’s mantel he returned by the same route, duplicating Elijha’s power in each location, authenticating his call as the mouthpiece of God through signs of God’s power. Elisha’s first sign was the transformation of a community. Jericho had bad water leading to sick people, fruitless wombs, and death. By the word of the Lord Elisha healed the water, promised fruitfulness for wombs, and life to be restored. The reception and trust in God’s word leads to life! Likewise the rejection of God’s word leads to death. Bethel was home of the bull altars of Jeroboam. (1 Kings 12:25-33) There the youth mocked and abused Elisha, thus rejecting God’s divinely ordained prophet and God’s word. Wild bears mauled the boys. Welcoming God’s word leads to a renewal of God’s design. Rejecting God’s word leads to ruin. Jesus Christ is the ultimate prophet, the Word made flesh. Jesus was ruined to death so you and I can repent and return to God and His word for renewal. Jesus experienced the judgement we deserve so believers can experience God’s covenant blessings through faith. God desires to heal, bring fruitfulness, and restore life. Let’s respond to God’s grace through trusting God’s word! Today’s Reading Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.” 4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.” 6 Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. 7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” 11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over. Elisha Succeeds Elijah 15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 16 And they said to him, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Please let them go and seek your master. It may be that the Spirit of the Lord has caught him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send.” 17 But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, “Send.” They sent therefore fifty men. And for three days they sought him but did not find him. 18 And they came back to him while he was staying at Jericho, and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?” 19 Now the men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful.” 20 He said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, “Thus says the Lord, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.” 22 So the water has been healed to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke. 23 He went up from there to Bethel, and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” 24 And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys. 25 From there he went on to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the renewal or ruin that came from Elisha’s signs? -Where do you need to respond to God’s grace and return to God and HIs word personally? Where do you need to trust and apply God’s word in your community? -How does the gospel, the finished work of Jesus through which we received the covenant promise of the Holy Spirit, empower you to walk in the authority of God’s word? Where, specifically, do you need apply the authority of God’s word? Key Verse 21 Then he went to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, “Thus says the Lord, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.” 22 So the water has been healed to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.  Key Verse
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. Meditation Today’s reading reveals how the unchanging natured of God is both present comfort and future hope for disciples in an ever-changing world. God has worked in the past, evidenced by His mighty acts in redemptive history and His work in our lives personally. But experience does not always match the evidence. The temptation is to elevate accusations against God, that He has somehow changed. The invitation is for us to remember, ponder, and meditate on God and His wonderful work. Asaph begins from a place of despondency, during “a day of trouble” he sought the Lord. (1) Asaph’s affliction led him to accuse God of changing, His steadfast love ceasing and grace forgotten. (7-9) Asaph was wounded because, from his vantage point, God has changed. (10, literal translation) Asaph’s pain turned to praise when he “remembers the deeds of the Lord… (His) wonders of old.” (11) The psalm’s key words teach us how to pull out of the tail spin of despondency, specifically “remember,” “ponder,” and “meditate.” Asaph realized that God had not changed but, in fact, Asaph had changed. Asaph’s realization did not lead his circumstances to change, but meditating on God and His redemptive work made him a changed man. (12-20) This psalm was written centuries ago, and God is still the same! Now we have a better redemption than the exodus, the victory of God through the work of Jesus. But the simple truth remains: No matter how difficult our circumstances, God’s unchanging love invites us to meditate on His unchanging character through remembering, pondering, and meditating on His wonderful, redeeming, work. Today’s Reading I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. 2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. 3 When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah 4 You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I consider the days of old, the years long ago. 6 I said, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.” Then my spirit made a diligent search: 7 “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? 8 Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah 10 Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” 11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. 12 I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? 14 You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. 15 You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah 16 When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled. 17 The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side. 18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook. 19 Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen. 20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the transformation from meditating on God’s redemptive work? -Where do you identity with Asaph, elevating accusations against God that His love has ceased, faithfulness ended, grace forgotten…? -Take time to meditate, ponder, remember the work of Jesus on the cross, allowing your heart to be filled with God’s unchanging love, unchanging faithfulness, unending mercy. As you do, surrender areas of life that can lead you to despondency. Key Verse 11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.  Key Verse
6 In that day, declares the Lord, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away and those whom I have afflicted; 7 and the lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forevermore. Meditation Martin Luther is quoted as saying, “God created the world out of nothing. As long as you are not yet nothing God cannot create something out of you.” The God who brings life from graves, welcomes sinners, and redeems tragedy, invites us to realize our nothingness to know the sufficiency of His grace. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) Micah’s salvation oracle begins today’s reading by celebrating God’s future glory. “In the latter days…” there will be resurrection and redeemed relationship with the King. God’s majestic mountain will be a magnet for all nations, restoring shalom and security for people from every nation to walk in the name of the Lord- forever. (vv. 1-5) God will assemble “the lame,” the “afflicted,” “those driven off,” and “those cast out.” (vv. 6-7) God’s sovereign grace will renew the world, making a kingdom of a people who the world says is nothing! Why does God “choose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, the weak to shame the strong, the low and despised, even the things that are not, to bring to nothing the things that are”? So no human might boast in the presence of God. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29) God alone is our great Savior. God alone gets all the glory. God Himself became nothing, taking the form of a servant, so those who think we are something can repent and embrace our nothingness. Because Jesus was “afflicted” and “cast out,” those who are afflicted and cast out by the world can come to Jesus with nothing but faith for healing and a home. Today’s Reading It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, 2 and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 3 He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; 4 but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. 5 For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever. The Lord Shall Rescue Zion 6 In that day, declares the Lord, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away and those whom I have afflicted; 7 and the lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forevermore. 8 And you, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, the former dominion shall come, kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem. 9 Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished, that pain seized you like a woman in labor? 10 Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you shall go out from the city and dwell in the open country; you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued; there the Lord will redeem you from the hand of your enemies. 11 Now many nations are assembled against you, saying, “Let her be defiled, and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.” 12 But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor. 13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs bronze; you shall beat in pieces many peoples; and shall devote their gain to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the salvation oracle in the first half? -Why is it surprising that God remakes the world and creates His Kingdom on earth from nothing and through folks the world would describe as nobodies? How does this point to the person and work of Jesus? -How does the work of Jesus free you to repent of your effort to be something to embrace God’s invitation to be nothing, finding everything in Him and His work? Where, specifically, do you need to apply this to your life? Key Verse 6 In that day, declares the Lord, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away and those whom I have afflicted; 7 and the lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forevermore.  On Wednesdays we celebrate “walking in the Word” through study & application of Biblical doctrine. Rightly understanding Biblical doctrine fuels doxology, delight in Jesus, & gospel centered discipleship. Today we begin a survey of the Doctrine of Scripture (Bibliology), embracing God’s invitation to delight in His word. The Doctrine of Scripture traditionally focuses on (at least) the Bible’s claim to be God’s word, the formation of the cannon of Scripture, perceived inconsistencies, and the “four I’s”: inspiration, inerrancy, infallibility, and interpretation. Our five-week survey will incorporate much of these topics by elevating God’s invitation to delight in His word and exploring Scripture's sufficiency, necessity, authority, and clarity. The simple premise in today’s meditation is this: The elevation of the value of God’s word will vault disciples into personally enjoying and engaging God’s Word. Psalm 119, a creative acrostic poem, will direct us to delight in God and His word by helping us understand value, vision, and vector.   Value: What value does God’s word claim internally? Psalm 119 was the vehicle to introduce me to axiology, the philosophical study of value, including the consideration of what gives things value and how we can know value claims are true. Axiology was used in application from Psalm 119 through someone asking two questions intending to interrogate Christian value of God's Word:
Psalm 119 declares God’s word is more valuable than gold and silver (v. 72), yet Christians do not elevate the value of God’s word to this level because we do not believe this value claim is valid. The unfortunate consequence is the devastation of Christian discipleship because we delight in things other than God and His word. Psalm 119 celebrates the value of God’s word with substantial imagery: God’s word is sure- forever fixed (v. 89), an exceedingly broad path to life (v. 96). God’s word is sweet to the taste, sweeter than honey (v. 103), and the joy of our hearts (v. 111). God’s word is right and wonderful (v. 129), a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (v. 105). God’s word is our heritage forever, more valuable than gold (vv. 72, 111). Do you care more about a heritage of gold, riches for your family? Or a heritage of godliness, delighting in God and His word? Vision: What does it look like to delight in God’s word? Delight in God’s word is one theme driving Psalm 119. The Psalmist demonstrates delight in God’s word by elevating God's revelation above all worldly riches (v. 14). Endurance results from delight because disciples will not forget God’s word (v. 16) and we will embrace God’s word as our council (v. 24). Delight in God’s word leads the believer to follow God’s commandments (v. 35) and to love mercy for life (v. 77). When we delight in God’s word, we will long for God’s salvation (v. 174), hungering for His redemptive restoration of all life. Outside of Psalm 119, Scripture helps us see delight in God’s word is a doorway to blessing, (Psalm 1:2) a joy that will become the delight of our hearts (Jeremiah 15:16). When we delight in God's Word we abide in Jesus, and He in us (John 15:1-11), and discover God's word as sufficient, clear, authoritative, and necessary (2 Timothy 3:16). Vector: What is the direction of delighting in God’s word? Delight in God’s word leads to doxology, praise to the God of the word. God's Word satisfies our souls, enlightens our eyes, and joy-fills our hearts because the value claims are valid. It is true! God’s word is more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey (Psalm 19:7-11). But what do we do if we do not see the value of God’s word in this way, or delight in God’s word in any way? Here are some suggested steps to shape the direction of our delight in Scripture:
Ultimately, loving God and His word is a response to God’s love for us. God delights in you, and when your faith chooses to embrace this reality, delight in His word will increase. Knowing Jesus and His delight for you, and enjoying Jesus through relationship, transforms studying God and His word from duty into delight. The gospel is true: God values you enough to die for you, counting you more precious than life! God’s delight in you will drive your delight of Him and His word. Richly Dwelling -Do you embrace the Biblical claims of the value of God’s word? Why or why not? How is your response evidenced in your habits? -What stands out to you from the vision of delighting in God’s word, what it looks like in the life of the disciple? Which would you like to grow in?> -Where does the vector direct you personally, specific steps to meditate on, pray, and trust God’s word more? Be specific.  |
AuthorMitchell celebrates twenty-six years of marriage with Lisa & together they have four fantastic children. Archives
February 2026
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