Thoughts on the Bible Readings Judges 19, Isaiah 41, 1 John 3, 4- for June 17th

The tell tale words "In those days when there was no king in Israel" start the sorry saga of the final appendix of the book. They set the scene for the sad state of Benjamin from which tribe came the nation's first earthly king. An unfaithful concubine from Bethlehem-Judah in the allotment of Judah returned to her home having her Levite husband. This unnamed Levite would not, ironically, stay in Jebusite territory lest evil befall them. Instead unspeakable crimes were perpetrated upon his concubine by fellow Jewish reprobates of Jerusalem from the tribe of Benjamin. The Levite heartless husband took the carcass of the pitiful victim, who had been abused all night long by the perverted Benjaminites. The Levite dissected her into 12 parts which were sent to each tribe to invoke retribution. His actions later were copied by king Saul to arouse Israel to unite and take vengeance upon the Benjaminites. How ironic it is that Saul's own tribe: Benjamin  - was almost brought to extinction in response to the Levites actions; and that Saul cuts an ox into 12 parts in the same fashion as the Levite did with his concubine.

Isaiah 41 is a prophecy about the Persian king Cyrus who overthrew king Belshazzar's Babylon in BC 538. The chapter tells us of the useless futility of idols and the stupidity of those who insanely give them credence in worship. In Isaiah 41 the faithful are reminded that, despite seemingly unstoppable calamity, their trust in the Almighty will see those He deems to be His faithful servants delivered. So the prophet urges a calmness that will come from heeding their Sovereign's Word. Verses 2-4 describe what the LORD has done for His people and tell them Yahweh alone is their Saviour and God. Verses 5-6 tell of the coastlands response. However verse 7 speaks of a futile persistence of some in idolatry. Verses 8-10 appeal to Israel to trust in their Sovereign. Verses 11-16 encourage Israel that the LORD will protect His people and destroy their foes. Verses 17-20 speak of grand promises of the Almighty to prosper and bless His people. We see some of these in Israel today, but they tell of the refreshing that comes in Messiah's kingdom. Verses 21-24 describe the total uselessness of idols. Verses 25-29 contrasts Yahweh with the stupid and dumb idols. Yahweh is infallible and reveals His will to His children.

Verses 1-10 of 1 John 3 elaborates on God's love. The beloved Apostle invites his readers to behold the extent and greatness of the Father's love. Our Sovereign has chosen to condescend and to adopt us as His children. We have entered His family at the immense cost of the sacrifice of His beloved Son. John tells his hearers that they have barely begun conceiving the depth of that love; which will be further understood when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. An appreciation of that love has a purifying effect on the disciple's life. But a failure to understand the moral imperative of Christ's laying down his life has upon the believer could lead to loose living (and then finally to a lost life). It is not the sin of weakness due to the frailty of our nature, but rather the of abandonment to sin (ie living habitually for sin), that concerns the Apostle. John has addressed the weakness of human nature in his first two chapters. To continue practicing sin is to deny the grace of the Father and the great price that was paid for our redemption. Are we the children of the world (ie the devil), or are the children of God? The fruit of our life is the evidence. From verses 11-24 we are shown that how we behave towards our brethren demonstrates our parentage. Do we live a live congruent with our claims? An excursion through the gospel of John will reveal how the case is developed from the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. The motive for the first murder in the Bible was envy progressing into hate. We must always attribute the best motives to our brethren. Slandering, or belittling, others incurs the displeasure of our Father. Cain was banished from God's presence and separated from the hope of a life with the Father. Yahweh sent His Son to lay down his own precious life to bring us into fellowship. Though we may have many a doubt (because we are weak humans) the LORD knows our motives, better than we can understand them ourselves (1 Corinthians 4:1-5). Our Father is ready, willing and able to lovingly respond to our needs and requests (see Romans 8 verses 28-39). Chapter 4 commences with the need to test whether the teachings are true ("try the spirits"), and from God. John in chapter 2 has already told his readers that the errors of the antichrist were active among the community of the disciples. One of the prime identifying features would be the belief in the Trinity, which originated in catechism 312 AD (having been debated by believers for decades prior to endorsing that view. The acceptance that the Lord Jesus Christ was part of a triune God is completely counter to the entire teaching of the Scriptures (even the Encyclopaedia Britannica admits this in its article on the Trinity). Jesus was completely a man, even though he was the Son of God. John 1 verses 1-18 tell us his beginnings were when he was born (compare Acts 10verses 38-43). Jesus came in the flesh (Hebrews 2 verses 8-18) and this was the only understanding of the first century community of faithful believers (read "The Apostles' Creed"). Believers need to listen to God and His Word, not human speculations from false teachers. From verses 7-21 we are further told how "God is love". When we love each other with a true heart and fervently it is a witness that we are God's children. The Father's love in redeeming an erring race has been seen from the time of Creation. Its pinnacle was reached in the sending of His Son to provide a ransom for us. Our Lord was able to comply with His Father's will because of their unity of love and purpose in providing a place for our acceptance on the basis of Truth believed and sins forgiven. An understanding of this and a life lived sacrificially in love and service is the only life a disciple can live. Anything else is nothing but a hypocritical lie.