Psalm 35

“Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!” (v1). The psalmist shows us that we can call on God, trusting that He “has our back”, no matter what. We often feel that life is a battle we cannot win, and we aren’t sure who is trustworthy. Even when we try to do right, we are “repaid” with trouble (v12). But amidst threats, doubts, and even self-accusation, we hear the Lord’s unchanging assurance: “I am your salvation!” (v3).

Go

Joshua 19

“When the territory of the people of Dan was lost to them, the people of Dan went up and fought against Leshem” (v47). Instead of possessing their promised allotment, the tribe of Dan decided to move far away to the north and take a city on their own (see Judges 18). Joshua, though, was given “the city that he asked, Timnath-serah... he rebuilt the city and settled in it” (v50).

The Dan clan failed to trust God and moved far away from the tent of meeting, eventually becomi

Joshua 18

“The whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there” (v1). God had helped them “subdue” the land, and the tent of meeting was immediately set up for worship (v1). Yet some tribes hesitated to make their homes in their own allotment. Joshua urged them to “go up and down the land”, describe it, and take possession (v4-5). God had opened the door; they had to go in.

God has won the victory for us in Christ, and he calls us

Joshua 17

“The hill country is not enough for us. Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron” (17:16). The tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim (Joseph’s sons) wanted more land, but they were afraid of the militarized Canaanites who had “chariots of iron”. Joshua encouraged their expansion (v15) and reminded them that they had plenty of men and resources (v17). Joshua did not make light of the Canaanites’ power – they had chariots, and they were “strong” (v18) –

Joshua 15-16

“Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water” (15:19). Caleb’s bold daughter Achsah followed in her father’s footsteps of faith. Caleb, along with Joshua, had been one of the only men in his generation to believe the Lord could help them occupy the Promised Land. Caleb had defeated three fierce, huge “sons of Anak” in the region, and Othniel had conquered nearby land and ‘won’ Achsah in marriage. The couple wanted sprin

Luke 5

“Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them” (v29). Jewish tax collectors like Levi (Matthew) were hated because they collected taxes on behalf of the Roman Empire and often overcharged people. Yet Jesus invited Levi to be his disciple, and Levi accepted (v27-28). Levi then celebrated Jesus and introduced him to others. But religious leaders protested Jesus’ friendship with a “sinner,” just a

Luke 4

“If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread” (v3). Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit" (v1), yet he did not immediately begin his ministry. First, he faced the demonic temptation to achieve counterfeit glory through ungodly means: shortcuts, compromising with the devil, and self-promoting displays of power (v3-13). Jesus resisted so that true divine glory could shine through him as he took up his work: to “proclaim good news to the poor” (v18). 

Jesus rejec

Psalm 34

“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all” (v19). As David the psalmist-king knew from experience, troubles may come from our own choices, or simply because of our harsh world. Regardless, “righteous” people “cry out” to the God who has compassion on us (v15,17). God’s people call out to him in times of distress because we believe he is “close to the brokenhearted” (v18), and he is our refuge, provider, and deliverer (v7-10). 

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Joshua 14

“These are the inheritances that the people of Israel received in the land of Canaan” (v1). The list of allotments of land to the tribes continued from chapter 13. Caleb requested the land promised to him and embraced the challenge: “Give me the hill country!” (v12). He was rewarded with the special allotment because he “wholly followed the Lord my God” (v8,14). He had boundless confidence in the God of Israel.

“The LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as

Joshua 13

“Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the LORD said to him, ‘You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to possess’” (v1). God had provided miraculous and quick victories in the Promised Land, but there were still battles ahead. God promised to “drive them [enemies] out from before the people of Israel” (v6). 

God promises to help us face our battles. Some may be won by his quick, miraculous intervention, while others may require perse

Joshua 11-12

Joshua 11, and the following chapters, summarize the military campaigns of Moses and Joshua, that led to full possession of the land God had promised Abraham. Among the most difficult enemies were groups led by giants (Deut. 3:11). When the whole land had been conquered, three cities on the west side of the Jordan continued to be in the hands of the enemy – Gaza, Gath and Ashdod (11:21-23), strongholds of giants.

Incomplete victories, including spiritual struggles, mean fu

Joshua 10

Joshua had foolishly, against God’s direction, entered a defense treaty with the Gibeonites (Joshua 9).   When the Gibeonites former allies learned of it, they attacked Gibeon, who demanded Joshua defend them. He marched his army through the night to keep his word.  But God reassured Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands,” (10:8). 

God’s promise in Romans 8:28 begins with “We know all things work together … .” That includes our mistakes. Sometime

Luke 3:21-38

“When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too” (v21). Jesus’ baptism demonstrated two important aspects of his identity. First, the Spirit descended, and the Father spoke from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love” (v22). Jesus was the divine Son come in the flesh. Yet he was Mary’s child, raised by Joseph; he was a “son of Adam” who shared the troubles of his brothers and sisters (v38). 

“With you I am well-pleased” (v22). Jesus was baptized like us and

Luke 3:1-20

“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (v8). John told those responding to his message that the Messiah’s kingdom was about radical life transformation. Being Abraham’s children was not enough (v8). The Messiah was not coming to affirm traditional structures or to offer a mystical spiritual experience. He was coming with “the Holy Spirit and fire” to change hearts completely (v16). John urged those listening to demonstrate their repentance by making the first steps to

Psalm 33

“Sing to him a new song; play skillfully and shout for joy” (v3). We are commanded to continually create “new songs” of praise in every generation. God is faithful; his Word is always true, and he is right in all he does (v4). We praise him for making the universe, from “starry host” to ocean deeps (v6-9), and we praise him for not allowing humanity to self-destruct (v10-11). We praise him because of mercy: God “looks down” and sees our frail natures, and he saves us beca