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Thoughts on the Bible Readings… Judges 17.18, Isaiah 40,1 John 1,2 for June 16th
Episode 935
The sad and disgraceful record of our two chapters is one of the 2 appendices to the time of the judges and occurred in Judges. The events described happened quite early in that 450 year period, at the epoch when the elders who had outlived Joshua were all dead. It is the prequel to the Samson record described in chapters 13-16. These chapters explain both the apostasy commenced by the tribe of Dan and the reasons why many of the faithful Danites did not move to the territory that was conquered by the ambitious and ruthless leaders of the tribe, against the laid back Zidonians. The story begins at the time of Moses’ grandson, whose name was changed by a scribe in the AV, to protect the reputation and esteem in which Moses was held. However the ESV tells us in 18 verse 30 that it was Jonathan the son of Gershom the son of Moses, rather than an unnamed Levite mentioned in Judges 17verse 7. Micah’s mother is a dishonest idolater who congratulates her son for confessing his theft and then his mother changes the terms of her vow. Such was the morality of those days when everyone did what was right in their own eyes ie each person was the arbiter of what was right to him, or her. Chapter 18 describes the morality of the majority of the tribe of Dan who are prepared to kidnap Jonathan the Levite. They were prepared to slaughter the enraged men of Micah’s centre of idol worship. Then they slaughtered the peaceful people of a city, 17 kilometres to the east of the Zidonian coast, rather than obey the commandment of the LORD to destroy the Canaanites and take their allotted inheritance. In that place the Danites commence the apostacy that resulted in the calf worship in Dan many centuries later in the days of Jeroboam 1 of Israel.
Isaiah 40 is the commencement of the section of the prophecy through to chapter 66 often called the ‘gospel in the Old Testament’. It begins with ‘the comfort’ of God being revealed to His people. As we read this chapter the echoes of Handel’s Messiah resonate in our ears. The mission of John the Baptist and the unveiling of God’s glory that would be seen in Jesus the Messiah is next spoken about. Humanity’s true state and redemptive need are shown, together with the only solution to this problem, to be enlivened and transformed by the Word of God, and thus be fitted for perpetuating in the coming Kingdom. That Word has the power to spiritually transform us during our time of sojourning that we may be fitted for God physically changing us at Christ’s coming: Philippians 3 verse 20-21. The good news would begin in Jerusalem with the gospel being taught by a loving and caring tender shepherd: the Lord Jesus Christ. The Messiah would be supported by the prevailing and Omnipotent power of the Almighty Father, who would similarly empower all His children to be with Messiah when he comes on earth to rule. The chapter concludes with an empowering vision of what immortality will feel like . Carefully read verses 28-31 and see yourself as the recipient of divine mercy and being there when Messiah rules.
The first of John’s 3 letters was written between 85-98 AD by the aged and much beloved Apostle. He was one of the Lord’s special 3 – Peter, James and John – who were selected by Jesus from among the 12 to witness select events and miracles. Together with his brother James, they were both fishermen and partners of Peter and Andrew in the fishing business. Their father Zebedee and his wife Salome appear to have owned the Galilean business. Salome seems to have been Mary’s sister; making the two Apostles first cousins of our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter and John were paired by the Lord Jesus for various tasks including preaching. Peter may well have been the oldest of the Apostles and John the youngest. Peter died first as was prophesied by the Lord Jesus Christ around 67 AD; while John died up to 40, or more years after that time (see John 21verses 20-24). There are many internal evidences to the fact that t
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