Year in the Bible Week 31

Jeremiah by Donatello (around 1427)

This week brought the end of Hezekiah’s benevolent reign, and now the Bible turns abruptly and speaks very poorly of his son Manasseh, who became king after Hezekiah died. We will hear Manasseh’s name mentioned a little more later, but despite his 55-year reign, God’s Word does not record any military campaigns, political alliances, or social interaction. We covered his entire 55 years in one day of reading!

When Manasseh’s grandson Josiah takes the throne he does his best to return the nation to worship the Lord, especially after the book of the law is discovered during temple renovations. We also get to start the amazing book of Jeremiah, which is eloquently described in the Bible Project video below. Jeremiah 1:4-10 have been a source of comfort and confidence for countless generations of believers!

One might guess that during Josiah’s reign, when the Lord was being lifted high and the idols and pagan altars were being destroyed, that God would smile on these good deeds and restore Israel to good fortune. No doubt many false prophets spoke during this time, reassuring the people and telling them that God wasn’t angry anymore, but Jeremiah was telling a much scarier story, and his visions would be the ones that came to pass.

Next week brings Nebuchadnezzar’s siege and victory over Jerusalem, and selected captives get taken back to Babylon.  The book of Daniel begins there, in Nebuchadnezzar’s court, so now the Greatest Story Ever Told will be told in two places; the waning Jerusalem and the ascending Babylon. Keep reading!

Year in the Bible Week 30

The Prophet Isaiah by Lorenzo Monaco, (tempera and gold, c.1405-1410)

Isaiah’s final prophesies were truly amazing. As Judah was descending to the point where God would “turn away for a while,” Isaiah gave truth after truth about things nobody could have imagined, let alone predicted! I encourage you to read this great synopsis from Dr. Ken Rathbun at Faith Baptist Seminary. He really gets the surrealness of the words God gave us through Isaiah to give insight into events that wouldn’t happen for more than a century:

Isaiah also told us that God would gather all nations, not just Israel, to be his, and gave us our anchoring prophesy about Christ’s sacrifice during this time. He also continued to double down on God’s judgment against the idolatry and wickedness of the ruling class in Jerusalem, and that wouldn’t end well for him.

Next week we will se the end of Hezekiah’s reign, and Menasseh will be the next king, and he proves to be one of the most wicked and idolatrous ever. This would mean the end of Isaiah, who consistently spoke truth to the powerful until the end.

Tradition holds that Isaiah was sawn in half by Menassah, and although that story is not in the Bible, it is present in both the Talmud and the extrabiblical Ascension of the Isaiah, so we presume it to be accurate. I believe that it is not included in Kings or Chronicles because God wanted us to focus on the amazing prophesies instead of the drama of Isaiah’s life with evil men.

Next week we read of the evilness of Menassah. God’s story, told in real time, shows Judah turning completely away from God after a brief period of success under a devout Hezekiah. This is the beginning of the end.

Year in the Bible Week 29

The Prophet Isaiah by Raphael, (1512) from the Basilica di Sant'Agostino in Rome. For a video of the fresco on site, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ySkoh4SZvU&t=10s

This week we’ve finished up Psalms, and are now back into Isaiah. The last few Psalms are a triumphant close to the book, and helps us be thankful for all of them. So what do we do with this collection to edify and encourage us in our walk with the Lord? It seems cliche to say that memorizing your favorite Psalms is “good for the soul,” but it really is! In my life, memorizing things has always been just a chore, and I never found joy in it, but memory exercises with God’s word fill me with joy. To memorize, I read words aloud into my phone, and then I listen passively as I walk or drive. After that, I start to say the words along with the recording. Before long I do it all on my own. Clearly I am an auditory learner, but whatever method works best for you, I encourage you to find joy in it!

Here’s a top ten list from the internet:

Psalm 23: “He makes me lie down in green pastures”

Psalm 121: “My help comes from the Lord”

Psalm 46: "Be still, and know that I am God"

Psalm 27: “Whom shall I fear?”

Psalm 51: “Create in me a pure heart”

Psalm 34: “I sought the Lord and he answered me”

Psalm 139: “Where can I go from your Spirit?”

Psalm 103: “Bless the Lord, O my soul”

Psalm 1: “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season”

Psalm 100: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise”

Here is part 2 of the Isaiah video. A great help!

This week we will be in Isaiah and Micah, and we will read about Hezekiah leading with faith in a very troubled time. We are almost to the prophesy of the suffering servant, and a reminder that the old entire testament points the way to Christ. Thank you Lord!

Year in the Bible Week 28

A Portrait of Composer of Sicut cervis, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestina (1526-1594), whose treatment of Psalm 42 is legendary.

This week we read only from the Psalms, so let’s dig a little deeper into Psalm 42, which is a favorite of many.

There is much said in the bible about skilled musicians with their trumpets, lyres, harps, and other instruments, but it’s the human voice that makes the biggest musical impressions in God’s Word. The book of Psalms, essentially the nation of Israel’s songbook, is the largest book in the bible, and even though none of the original melodies have survived, now every modern generation gets an opportunity to bring new harmonic perspective to his unchanging word.

Lately in pop culture we have had a lot of modern worship artists offer treatments of Psalm 42, which offers rich words and images, deep emotion, and unshakable faith. Check out these:

“As the Deer” by Shane and Shane

Tori Kelly - Psalm 42

City Alight - Psalm 42 (I Will Praise Him Again)

Keith and Kristyn Getty - Lord From Sorrows Deep I Call (Psalm 42)

When God inspires such a diverse group of people to tackle a similar scripture, I believe that the Holy Spirit is guiding us to rely on these passages, and use them to help us in the world.

Psalm 42 really brings the faithful together in these difficult days, but now let’s go back 450 years to a very different situation, and listen to one of the benchmark tone poems of the high renaissance, a motet by the Italian composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina that has truly withstood the test of time. The composer wrote six books of motets and dozens of madrigals during his lifetime, and his genius version of Psalm 42:1-3 was published posthumously in 1604. Sicut Cervis (Latin for “as the deer”) is still often used in Catholic liturgy, either as an Easter vigil or to celebrate at baptisms. Below is a video of the Choir of the Basilica doing it at a rehearsal in the National Shrine. I am a big fan of this medium-large choir with its 24 superb voices,. This size group adds weight to the beautiful controlled tonal dissonances in the piece, while bringing both sensitivity and momentum to every independent line. Special kudos to the sopranos in this chorus, who control phrasing very well in their upper registers, and do not distract from the tone poetry.

If you’d rather hear a more intimate version of this piece, I would suggest one of the 8-12 voice versions listed below:

The Marian Consort

Voices8

Stile Antico

Thanks for following me down this rabbit hole (or should I say, “deer trail”).

In this coming week we will read more amazing Psalms filled with faith, victory, and praise that has been reflected in worship for over 2500 years, with written melodies going back 1000 years, and sund recordings during the last 100 years or so.. At the end of next week we return to the book of Isaiah, and hopefully the songs we’ve sung here in midyear have given us the spiritual fortitude to endure what happens next in God’s beautiful love story to his people. Keep reading!

Year in the Bible Week 27

The Ancestors of Christ: Hezekiah by Michelango, in the Sistine Chapel c. 1509

This week we saw northern Israel’s defeat by the brutal Assyrians catrasted against the cleansing of the temple in Jerusalem by Judah’s king, Hezekiah, who gets hope and strength from the Lord. Just last week we were reading about Hezekiah’s own father, Ahaz, dismantling the temple and appeasing foreign people and their gods, and now his son is rededicating the temple to the Lord. Hezekiah did what was pleasing in God’s sight, and there would be success under his leadership, even as things deteriorate in the north. The bible makes it clear that the success came because God was with this king.

Of course, after this comes 55 years of Manasseh, and then this part of the story gets hard to read.

Through it all, Isaiah speaks God’s truth as one of the bible’s greatest prophets. He was set apart by God early in his life, and he unapologetically delivered God’s truth to Ahaz, Hezekiah, and Manasseh, who were all very different kings. Before we go much further in the story of Hezekiah, let’s look closer at the book of Isaiah. Check out the video below.

Look for part two of the Isaiah video next week. After this wonderful week of Psalms collected under Hezekiah, we will spend the rest of July reading about Judah’s tragic sin and decline, with Isaiah delivering eternal truth from God through it all.

Year in the Bible Week 26

The Ancestors of Christ: Jotham, Ahaz by Michelango, in the Sistine Chapel c. 1512

This is week 26 of our Year in the Bible, so we are officially half done. Congratulations!

As we read about Ahaz dismantling the temple, he seems so far removed from God that we can forget how God is using him for divine purposes. As a descendant of David, he is an ancestor of Christ! We hope for more from him, but it doesn’t happen.

In Israel it is far worse, as they are turning further away from God, even denying him to other nations to gain favor. The prophets decry this abandonment and warn of coming disaster. In Hosea we read a terrific allegory, which is carefully and completely explained so that there is no question about meaning. Contrast this with Jesus and the woman at the well, where he, too, recounted the sins of Israel, but shrouded without full explanation. I wonder how many times God shows us allegorical imags today to guide us, and we miss them!

The book of Hosea has more to it than just the story and the warnings. There’s actually a lot of hope in it. The video below lays it out nicely, I think.

This coming week we get the contrast of Hezekiah leading in Jerusalem successfully, totally relying on God, while Samaria falls to Assyria with no help from above. Keep Reading!

Year in the Bible Week 25

Jereboam Sacrificing to the Idols by Jean-Honoré Fragonard c. 1752

Jereboam sacrificed to idols so that they would help him. Then he would credit himself with victory, and say thank you to the idols he made. Meanwhile, the real God was simply letting Jereboam be a puppet, setting up all the pieces. Disaster would soon come, and there would be no question that God held sovereign power the whole time. That’s how you turn a nation back to you, and discipline those whom you love.

Sharing a personal story this week, so I hope you’ll indulge me.

Last weekend I was in the hospital to do a medication change, and my favorite nurse was a young lady with tattoos and piercings, with indomitable spirit and energy. I’ll call her “Lauren,” because her name is actually Lauren… When my blood pressure came up as 111/68 on one of the six daily checks, she smiled broadly and said, “oooh, angel numbers!” Clearly, numerology was part of her lifetsyle. Instantly, she looked at me and she got shy. She had remembered everything I had been saying about God and miracles for the past day and a half, and she recognized that her numerology was not part of my belief system, and I couldn’t possibly share whatever it was she was experiencing. All of this happened in half of a second.

Lauren glanced over, embarrassed, and said, “I know you don’t believe in this stuff.” She looked to me for a response.

In those moments a choice happens. You can choose the relationship over your profession of faith, or you can choose your faith over the development of relationship. However, in these (post)modern times there is a third option that many of us are choosing. Basically you say “let’s have a truce, where neither of us presents their beliefs as a weapon.” That’s basically what I did.

“Well, whatever makes you happy.” was my response. I didn’t call out the lie in that moment. It just didn’t seem like the right thing to do. In my thinking, she already had acknowledged that I was a strong believer, and that she was doing things that denied my faith. Instead of “going in for the kill,” pushing the truth into the moment, I tried to show compassion, respect, and care. If you’ve known me a while, you know this is something I’m not used to doing. I have never been afraid to speak truth into tough situations, and I have suffered steep relational consequences over the years. Recently, God has given me the opportunity to share my faith with lot’s of people who do not believe, and in this case Lauren understood who I was, and what I believed, and it made her question her own idolatry. Mission accomplished.

My gratitude for my salvation has changed the way I talk to people. instead of pushing hard facts and debating people’s perceptions, I show them a changed life and let them start asking questions. They say that’s the best kind of evangelism, and I hope they’re right.

I’ll leave the video up for Kings for another week because things are getting really intense, and it’s good to have a program to keep track of the big picture. In this coming week we will hear a lot from prophets, especially Amos, and God’s harsh plans will be revealed.

Remember, the timeline is going very slowly now, so be patient, and settle into this moment. Israel is about to fall to the Assyrians, and it’s important to get the full picture. Above all, keep reading!

Year in the Bible Week 24

Elijah Fed By Ravens by Giovanni Girolamo Savolda c. 1510

Sorry, this week’s post, a lovely treatise about Ahab, Jezebel, and how hard it is to be a prophet, was accidentally deleted.

Year in the Bible Week 23

Solomon Wirshipping Idols by Luca Giordano (1634-1705)

This week’s readings turn the story of Israel completely upside down. First we get the words of Solomon the wise in Proverbs, then we watch as Solomon violates commandment number one, and then suddenly we read about the meaninglessness of it all. Without repentance and submission, without the will of God reigning supreme over our own plans and desires, life is tragic indeed, and such is the aim of Ecclesiastes.

Very often I am guilty of reading God’s word in the Old Testament as God’s instructions and interactions with the entirety of His chosen people, but Ecclesiastes brings me back to the truth of God’’s living word, that all of it is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). God’s righteousness is always the same. Only our distance from it changes. It is good to enjoy the simple pleasures given to us if we are in his will, but if we aren’t in his will it is all meaningless.

Next week we will see the passing of Solomon, and the beginning of Israel’s terrible troubles. We will begin a series of unfit kings and usurpers who do evil in the Lord’s sight, and reduce the nation incrementally. God could turn it around, but with only a few exceptions they do not turn to Him. Without God’s blessing, the nation will not prosper. It will barely endure.

Year in the Bible Week 22

The Queen of Sheba Before King Solomon by Willem de Poorter (c. 1630)

King Solomon has always been associated with great wealth and wisdom, so we might incorrectly assume that his story is all milk and honey. Sure, he built magnificent monuments, but even though he was rich, wise and well-regarded, he faced a struggle that may have been even harder than that of his father, King David.

Solomon’s father was (perhaps embarrassingly) humble before the Lord, whether he sinned or not. He definitely sinned, but then repented early and honestly. In Solomon we see someone who was nearly immediately lifted high on a pedestal, with everyone following him. He had wise counselors, but none would be able to influence Solomon’s choices the way Nathan could influence David’s. Proverbs shows how he must have felt not only the responsibility to lead and guide, but also the power to do it himself, becoming prophet and teacher to the nation. Surely God spoke truth through Solomon in Proverbs, but it’s hard to read these truths without a grim foreshadowing of the pain of Ecclesiastes. Proverbs is written from an empowered perspective that is utterly absent in Ecclesiastes, and that had to be really hard on Solomon. Thankfully he knew where his strength could come from.

BibleProject has a terrific overview video for Proverbs, annd I’d like to share it now instead of waiting until next week. This has great insight and perspective!

This week we will continue the book of Proverbs, and I’d love to know which ones apply to your life now, or any that have helped and guided you. We will also see the beautiful Song of Solomon this week. If you’re falling behind, I’ll remind you that it can be easy to catch up using the audio version. Just let me know if you need any help!

Year in the Bible Week 21

Solomon’s Wisdom in a Dream by Luca Giordano (1693-1695)

This week we finished psalms of David, Asaph, and others in the time of David’s reign, and then we moved on to the beginning of Solomon’s time on the throne. The early days of Solomon included a consolidation of power, the death of Solomon’s brother, and the killing of Joab in a very holy place. I had to look up how it was possible forJoab to be killed in tabernacle, and the answer was in Exodus 24:14 and Numbers 35:31-33. Unrepentant murderers are not given sanctuary, and they can be dragged from the altar and killed. Brutal, but legal.

Solomon made treaties with other nations, and the Israel was at the height of prosperity and influence during this time.

The temple and palace, as described in the Bible, were almost too fabulous to be true. You might have noticed that the capacity of the Sea was different in the Kings account versus the Chronicles. Looking it up, we see a few possible explanations: The most popular explanation is that one indicates total volume, and one indicates usable volume.

• 1 Kings 7:26: Notes it "held" (contained) 2,000 baths.

• 2 Chronicles 4:5: Uses language indicating it "received and held" (could contain) 3,000 baths

There are a few other possible explanations for the difference, so make sure you ask about it when you get to heaven! Also, it looks like one “bath” measurement is five gallons of water. That would be a pretty small bathtub!

This coming week we will get the glorious story of the ark brought to the temple and its dedication, and we will finish the week in Proverbs. Proverbs is a treaure trove of memory verses and tidbits of wisdom for living. Text me or email me your favorite proverbs and I’ll try to include them next week!

Year in the Bible Week 20

10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman

This is our second week of psalms written by David, and by those who led music under his reign. Next week we will start to read about Solomon, the temple, and the wealthy and wise king. We will also read more about the dangers of choosing our own will versus God’s will, and we will gain wisdom, both by Solomon’s instruction, and by his example, good and bad.

This week, let’s look one more time at how one of the psalms of David inspired a classic worship song. These songs go back to Martin Luther and further, but I respectfully submit that in all generations, God’s creative servants have strived to present his timeless word to his people in a relevant and compelling way. The classic, enduring songs that fit not only the times they were written in, but the timeless truth they are written from. I believe “10,000 Reasons” is one of those songs.

It’s easy to imagine Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin reading the psalm, uncovering “Bless the Lord, O My Soul” as the anchor, and then praying for connection and guidance as they crafted this song. There have been many renditions of Psalm 103 throughout history, but a few have been blessed to endure, and some even work by God’s grace to reach a wide audience condidtenly, and encourageGod’s people generation to generation. Remember this when we dive deeper into Psalms in a few weeks. For anyone who listens, the Holy Spirit will bring the right word, the right music, and the right platform.

No matter what you do, pray for inspiration from the Bible. His word will never fail. (that’s another song).

Year in the Bible Week 19

The Lord is my Shepherd by Keith and Kristyn Getty

While we read David’s words in the Book of Psalms I’ll be posting some music inspired by the psalms. If you have a favorite, please text me! We will get back to the masters of renaissance art shortly.

While we explore the David’s lyrics, let’s take a moment to reflect on the volumes of music it has inspired through the ages. There were sung prayers and chants 1500 years ago, church music through the middle ages, and classic compositions that have become standard hymns. The church today sings protestant hymns based on psalms all the time, and even now we see a constant stream of new music from this timeless well of musical praise and prayer.

David’s psalms in particular express his relationship with God better than any altar, temple, or sacrifice can. All are very important, and are prescribed by God as appropriate ways to worship, but only music brings the individual love and longings of people together into one multidimensional tapestry for God’s ears to hear, and that’s a pleasing aroma to him!

When we sing together, even at our best, we would be barely tolerable compared to the perfection of heaven. Thankfully, God hears more than out-of-tune people who sometimes for get the words. He hears every heart focusing on him, in the same moment, multiplying the factors of everyone’s individual experience with all the ways he has been present to us. God is the only one who hears our worship music in that way, and in his word he says how much he loves it!

Year in the Bible Week 18

David by Michelangelo. Begun in 1501, first showing 1504

How does a humble shepherd, overlooked by his family, become so large in the world that entire nations tremble in fear, and people who’ve never met him vow to serve him? David was not perfect, but God is, and God was with him, so the victories and successes were superhuman. It’s only natural that people of the time would regard David as superhuman, but David knows the real answer, and he articulates it clearly in the Psalms. For David, giving glory to God isn’t an act of gratitude, it’s a foundational fact in everything he does and sees, and every choice he makes. And when he doesn’t do things God’s way, he repents early and begs forgiveness. He knows the protection of God, and asks for God’s help to protect and nurture the people. This coming week brings David’s death, and then there will be lots of new intrigue caused by those who would submit to their own visions and desires, and not God’s.

Then we get into Psalms!

Reading the book of Psalms in its entirety is uplifting, but often it’s exhausting for me, because i don’t see clearly to a story line or any main characters to follow, and the raw emotion gets overwhelming. This can lead to fatigue. As we read together, I pray that the Psalms are an easy read for you, and that you breeze through these weeks. We have now crossed the 1/3 mark in our Year in the Bible, folks! Keep going, you can do it!

Year in the Bible Week 17

David bearing the ark of testament into Jerusalem by Domenico Gargiulo (1640’s)

When we read about David dancing in front of the ark, we often focus on that lack of royal decorum. Then we judge Michal for being “filled with contempt for him,“ since we know the Lord was pleased with David. I’ve read the passage a few times now, but this time when I read it I was drawn to the description of Michal as “Daughter of Saul” and the whole story flipped. I felt a lot of compassion for her. Her father had just died. She had been forced to end a marriage with a man she knew, and was given to a man who returned from being hunted like a criminal. Perhaps her grief for her life and the loss of her father made her blind to the anointing on David. We need to leave room for that. It’s true that joy is infectious, but Michal was immune to David’s joy. We will never know why, but I’ll never judge her again.

David is at the top of the mountain, embracing the Lord for every step. Ths week, we see David sinning with Bathsheeba, getting thrown from the highest heights to the lowest lows, and hiding in the wilderness again. Everybody wants the throne, but who wins in the end?

God wins. Every time.

Year in the Bible Week 16

Saul and David by Rembrandt (ca. 1651-1658)

This past week has been one of the most exciting weeks to date. God’s heart for his people, and David in particular, are laid out over and over as we hear stories of slain giants, of mighty military victories and help for David from priests and common people. We also read about an angry, bitter, insane Saul, and God consistently intervening with just enough help, at just the right time.

We will start to see more repetition as the bible recounts these major events in more than one book. We’ve also had the pleasure of reading a few of the Psalms that were penned by David, recounting this challenging season. Sometimes a song is the only way to give the right perspective. I’m so glad that we are reading every word of God’s love story to his people!

Year in the Bible Week 15

Samuel Annointing Saul by François de Nomé (ca. 1625-1650)

Hello gentle readers. With the release of my new record, things have gotten a little too stressful this week. I’m barely keepingup with the reading, so I won’t be able to dig too deep into the book of Samuel like I’d hoped, but the bible has just taken a major turn. Instead of the lawlessness and self-reliance we see in the book of judges, the nation is ready to submit to a king, who will submit to the Lord. This king needs will be annointed, and Samuel is just the one to do it. This week we learned why.

We all know that Saul’s story doesn’t end well, but as Israel’s first king we wouldn’t expect things to go perfectly.. Next week we will discuss Saul and David, and of course more Samuel. For now, please enjoy the Samuel overview. Keep reading!

Year in the Bible Week 14

Gideon Overcoming the Midianites by Peter Paul Rubens (ca. 1650)

Wow! it’s week 14! So much, happening so fast. The book of Judges is a wild time. Let’s go to the Bible Project video to help break it down. This will help us for the next couple weeks.

This era of the chosen people’s history might look like a time when they were doing things in spite of the God they worshipped., but this isn’t just a disobedient nation. It is a nation that has forgotten who their God is. It is likely that these ways to worship God were only practiced locally and sporadically, since nothing is written about about festivals or sacrifices, or even the Sabbath. I know it’s hard to be in this spot in the Easter season, but allow me to give you a preview of what’s coming! In a few short days Ruth and Boaz will begin the line of David, and ultimately Jesus. As Boaz rescued Ruth, so would Jesus rescue all of us. Praise God for his mercy, and for the wisdom of his plan!

Year in the Bible Week 13

Joshua Commanding the Sun to Stand Still upon Gibeon by John Martin (1816)

Hello everybody, welcome to week 13! This week we read about the Israelite victories over king after king as God cleared away the people who worshipped false Gods in the promised land. Christy found a particularly cool video online about the victory at Ai that you might want to check out:

After so many kings were defeated there was a lot of land to conquer and divide, and God’s wisdom regarding the division of land becomes even more poignant. Because the Levites had no allottment of land for themselves, they were going to be spread throughout the land. Throughout the promised land there would always be a clan nearby who served God full-time. This would keep a single spiritual and legal perspective that would unite the nation in a way that had probably never been tried in all of history.

As Joshua nears the end of his life we get some detail about the work that is left to be done. We will soon see that the next generations of his people will have trouble accomplishing the task. This week we come into the book of Judges, and we will read of Gideon, the Levite concubine, and more violence and drama. This was a very scary time.

Year in the Bible Week 12

Moses’ Testament and Death by Luca Signorelli (1481-82), on a wall of the Sistine Chapel. The ceiling was painted 30 years later by Michelangelo.

This week we read God’s instructions to the people at the end of Moses’ life, and Moses blesses the tribes of Israel. Moses was God’s intermediary and had the enormous responsibility of being the hands and feet of God many times, from the court of Pharoah, to the Red Sea, to the wilderness. When God used Moses as his hands and feet, Moses had to be totally in God’s will to even survive, doing only and exactly what God commanded. Even Moses could not do it every single day, and for this he never entered the promised land.

As Christians, we like to call ourselves the “hands and feet of Jesus” when we walk the world in kindness, follow the scriptures, and work to grow the kingdom. Forgive me for sounding a bit preachy today, but I think as we serve him and do his will in the world, we very often do a couple things that miss the mark. First, we tend to convince ourselves that we are his hands and feet just because we walk in obedience to his words and try to do what it says. Does this really make us his hands and feet? We have vowed to do our best to grow the kingdom and keep God’s commandments, yet we desperately need his grace just to cover our weakness and disobedience as we try! The apostle Paul would instead call himself a slave for Christ, and as humbling as it is to characterize our lives that way, it seems to fit better. A slave is an imperfect creature, obeying his master and executing his will. He serves his master. Perhaps occasionally a slave will feel the honor and importance of executing the will of the master directly, and once in a while the slave can celebrate acting as his master’s hands and feet. That’s where our second folly often lies. When we talk of being his hands and feet, does it come with a fearful sense of celebration? Or do we frame it as a burden? Moses understood that being the hands and feet of God meant being in a place that was far above his station. He was fearful and thankful.

As we read the next few chapters Moses dies, Joshua takes command, and the Israelites cross the Jordan. As the hands and feet of God they sweep away everything in their path. For this brief time the entire nation gets to feel the unique combination of lowliness, exhilaration and triumph that comes from knowing that you are actually doing God’s work.

I pray that we can feel the honor and blessing of being God’s hands and feet, even if only briefly.