DQ#2

2. Why is the word “judge” an inaccurate label for the leaders of pre-monarchial Israel?

The Book of Judges a book of the Bible originally written in Hebrew. It appears in the Tanakh and in the Christian Old testament. Its title refers to its contents; it contains the history of Biblical judges, who helped rule and guide the ancient Israelites, and of their times.

As Judges stands today, the last judge it mentions is Samson, and although there are two further stories, the traditional view is that Samson’s exploits probably synchronise with the period immediately preceding Eli, who was both high priest and judge. Both academic views and traditional thought hence view the narrative of the judges as ending at Samson, picking up again at 1 Samuel 1:1 to consider Eli, and continuing through to 1 Samuel 7:2. As for the stories at the end of the Book, which are set in the same time period as the judges, but discuss people other than the judges, there is much affinity between these and the Book of Ruth, and many people believe Ruth originally belonged amongst them.

Judges in the Old Testmanent era are the one called by God to save or deliver the Israelites from danger or from the enemy. As I understood with the questions and my readings. The word “judge” is an inaccurate label for the leaders of pre-monarchial  Israel because the judges during that time is also disobeyed some regulations or some commands of God. Supposed to be, as a leader of the Israelites, and as a leader commanded by God, they must follow all God’s instruction, but some of the leader are disobeyed God in some area. So I think that is the reason why the word judge is an inaccurate for the leader of the pre-monarchial Israel.

 

 

DEV 2

SERVE WITH FAITHFULNESS 

Joshua 24:14-15 (New International Version)

 14 “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the    River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

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The Word of the Lord said to Joshua that all the people must serve the Lord only, that fear Him
and serve Him with faithfulness. That they must not worship the idols that their father’s made. It is only the Lord God whom we worship and not the things that we created by our forefathers. As the passage said that the people of Israel must forsaken or must throw any graven image that they created to worship, we as a believer of Christ today must not worship any idols or any created images like the pagans do. We must set aside any idols sorrounding us. If we still have some any graven images sorrounds us, we must do our best to remove all those and focus only with God.

As I remember, and also today, my family serving the imgaes of Mother Mary. I thought before that it is okey, because they said that they are also worshiping and praying to Jesus Christ. But as I go on and observe, I notice that something like Mary is the mediator, or the way in which our prayers can be heard by God. I told them that Jesus Christ is the only one mediator, that God said that if we pray to Jesus Christ all our prayers will be heard, but why is it that they considered Mary as their mediator? And that time they didn’t answer me anything, some of them also doesn’t know why they are worshipping like that.

As I notice, they are doing this because their ancestors do and told them so. God said fear and serve Him only and not any other gods and idols. As I read this passage from Joshua, I remembered when the Lord called me out from the darkness. That I must worship Him alone and not the gods of my forefathes or my ancestors. Especially now that some of my families are still doing it. I cannot serve two masters, wether I forsake the other one and serve the other. So I must focus alone on God and serve Him. I will be happy then if my whole family will serve our God alone, because they are not still focusing on God, they are still doing their tradional way like the pagans do. How glad and happy I am, if I will be like Joshua who said that, “as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”. I can be able to shout also to the others and to be a effective Christian Leader s

DQ#1

1.          Why is the complete destruction of Canaanites (and others) ordered by Yahweh? Isn’t he a God of Mercy and Love?

God is really a God of mercy and love! The destruction of the Canaanites and others shows that God is powerful and just. He destroyed the land of Canaanites and the others for a purpose. One reason why God has destroyed those lands are because the people living there are not recognizing God as their God. They are worshiping and praising other gods. Yes its true that God is the God of mercy and love, but it is written also in his Word and it shows that God is a jealous God. He said that the people must worship Him only, because He is the God of truth. But because of the sinfulness of the people they worship their own created gods.

God shows here that he is powerful, that no one can compare Him, that He can do everything, that all things are possible to Him. God shows to the Israelites people and Canaanites people and others that they must praise him only. But because of the hardheaded of the people, God ordered to destroy them. We say that God is the God of mercy and love, and that’s true. He shows his unceasing mercy and amazing love to those people who are following and obeying His commands. Everything is under God’s control.

God destroys those people who will not praise Him but worshiping other gods. He continues to show his mercy and love to the people whom He called to serve Him and continue to follow Him alone.

 

 

 

 

ot152 DEV.#1

GOD IS WITH THEE! 

Joshua 1:8-9

8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” New International Version

  

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The Word of the Lord is faithful and true! The Lord said that we must read and meditate His Words everyday, wherever we are and whatever we do. We must not forget to meditate on God’s Word, because it is the very important and precious thing in our life.

We may eat our food everyday, but still we feel hungry. So also with the Word’s of God, we must read our bible everyday, because it is our spiritual food. We may have strength when we eat our physical food, but we will be stronger and wise if we will eat our spiritual food in life, that is to meditate on God’s Word.

I will meditate on the Word of God always, because the Word of God gives me wisdom. It is my guide in every activity that I am going to do, especially during my bible studies and if some needs some counsel I may know what to advice to them through the Words of God. As a minister called by God, I must always read His Word and always meditate on it. So that if just in case I can face some cult members or some people who don’t believe on God, I can know how to deal with them.

As my experience before, when someone came to me and they share something about God, I always believe them and sometimes agree with them. But as I go on my personal relationship with God, I know and learned that they are the members of what they called cult. They are using the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, but they don’t really believe on the Christ.

According to the Word of God, all things in heaven and on earth will pass away, but His Words will never pass away. So as long as we live, we must focus on God alone. Let’s serve Him with all our hearts, with all our strength, with all our might and with all of our everything. No one can compare to the Word of God, it is the greatest and strongest weapon of every Christian. Let’s grab that armor so that no one can deceive us.

Let’s be strong in the Lord, we must not afraid of any circumstances, because we know and we sure that God will always help us in times of need. He promised that in His Word, that He will never leave us nor forsake us. He will there always right beside us, ready to help us in times of our troubles in life.

Quiz No. 8

1.         What mountain is probably the “Mount Sinai” mentioned in Exodus?
Why is this the most preferred?

2.         Trace the route of the Exodus and give brief description of what happened at a particular place.

The mountain in the Exodus and probably the Mount Sinai is Jebel Musa. Jebel Musa seems to be the preferred site because of the imposing granite formalities of the massif and the presence of the extensive plain at its base.

In the middle of the sixth century, when the Justinian had the monastery and the basilica of St. Catherine erected at the foot of Jebel Musa, they formalize a tradition to trace back the mountain of Moses at least around in the fourth century. 

The route of the Exodus took place in the Red Sea and for approximately 100 miles and then diagonally inland about 50 miles toward modern Jebel Musa. There the Israelites remained for nearly one year. From that point, their journey led to north of Kadesh-barnea at the south part of Canaan. 

As they departed form the eastern shore of the red Sea they stop for a while to give praise to God. Then as they go on with their traveling, they first stop at Ain Musa, or the “Spring of Moses”, it is the source of sweet water and about sixteen to eighteen hours journey from the north of the site of Marah. The journey from Ain Musa to Marah is about 40 miles. Marah is a site known for its salty and brackish water, its taste is unpleasant, and somewhat bitter. But  because of God’s command to Moses, the water became sweet and drinkable.

Then the  Israelites journeyed on to Elim, this is located in the large and beatiful valley of Gruhundel. During the rainy season, there is a constant torrent of water running down to the Red Sea. This site had at least 12 wells to supply the people and their herds.  

The next place is the Desert od Sin or they called it the Dophkah, meaning smeltery. The people rested at Dophkah and Alush before they came to Rephidim. And when they arrived at Rephidim, they found that their water was depleted, and even also that the region that contained a few springs were also depleted and insufficient for all their needs. During their stay at Rephidim when they were attacked by the Amelikites. And it was at Rephidim that Moses was visited by his father-in-law. 

And the next destination of the Israelites is at Mount Sinai. The people were remained there for almost eleven months and five days. And during their time at Mount Sinai, the Covenant of the law and the orders of the services on how to worship God was given to them through Moses.