To The Praise of His Glory

This week we begin our study of the book of Ephesians with a hard gallop through the entire first chapter.  Hopefully the truths in this precious chapter will be written large enough to read as we pass by.  There are deep wells of doctrine and encouragement to be found here, and we will pause for refreshment as we come to them.  So, giddy-up and hang on!

Covenant Renewal

We have come, at last, to the final chapter of the book of Joshua.  What a journey it has been!  We have walked alongside Joshua as he has followed the Lord in leading the people of Israel into their promised inheritance.  There have been many battles along the way, most with the inhabitants of the land who needed to be driven out; some with their own disobedience and the idolatry which so often lurked just beneath the surface of their obedience.  Yet through it all we have seen the faithfulness of the Lord to fulfill his promises and settle the people in the land that he promised to their forefathers.

Joshua Exhorts the Israelites

Joshua chapter 23 is Joshua’s “farewell address” to Israel.  By some estimates there has been a twenty to twenty-three-year interval between the end of the previous chapter and this speech by Joshua.  The conquest is long over and the people of Israel have settled into their new homes and lands.  By now there are young adults living in Israel who were not alive, or at least old enough to participate, during the conquest.  Joshua led them from before they crossed the Jordan river, throughout the battles of the conquest, and into the first years of peacetime occupation of the land of their inheritance.  As he approaches the end of his life we see what is uppermost in his heart: exhorting the people of the Lord to continue to walk in obedience to their God.

Going Home

Chapter 22 of Joshua opens with an air of solemnity.  The conquest is won, the allotment of lands is complete, and now the time is come for the warriors from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh to return to their families and possessions on the East side of the Jordan River.  The first four verses of the chapter parallel and show the fulfillment of a passage from the first chapter of Joshua, where Joshua addresses these warriors before entering the land.

Every Promise Fulfilled

This week’s lesson explores Joshua chapter 21 and the allotment of the Levitical cities.  Choosing cities for the Levites was the final allotment, and it involved cities and land that had already been apportioned to the various tribes.  Before we consider the allotment, we must first go back to see why they are only given cities rather than lands of inheritance as the other tribes were given.

Division of the Rest of the Land

 

In last week’s study, we followed along as Joshua and the Israelites began dividing the promised land between the tribes of Israel.  This week we will see them finish the process.  As we re-join them in chapter 18, it seems that the seven remaining tribes have lost their momentum and need some encouragement to finish the task ahead.  Before we consider why they have stalled, we are asked why it is that they are commanded to divide the land before it is entirely conquered; how are they able to “count their chickens before they hatch,” and what does this say about God?  For help, we are referred to God’s promise to Abraham, as expounded by Paul in Romans 4:17:

“as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he (Abraham) believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”

Receiving The Inheritance

We are now zooming through the chapters of Joshua, taking three whole chapters in lesson 12, as much in them is concerned with real estate boundaries, and we will be focusing more on the people involved.  We begin by reviewing the subject of the book of Joshua and how chapters 15 through 17 contribute to the theme.  The theme can be summed up in two verses.

The Promised Inheritance, Joshua 13 and 14

Alrighty now.  The holidays are behind us and we have returned for our first week of Bible study, and so it’s time for the weekly summary of our study lesson.  Let’s see if I can remember how to do this!

Learning Obedience

In chapter 8 of Joshua the Israelites return to the field of battle against the town of Ai, but this time they are following the command and lead of the LORD.  Right off the bat, verse 1 opens with the LORD saying to Joshua, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed.  Take all the fighting men with you and arise, go up to Ai.  See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land.”  (Joshua 8:1) God then proceeds to give Joshua a rather detailed battle plan. 

Sin In The Camp

Last week we learned about the fall of Jericho, God's gracious gift of a mighty victory to his people, who watched in faith and obedience as the Lord carried out his covenant promise before them and the unbelieving world.  Chapter six ends with, "So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land."  How glorious.

And then we read the very next verse:

"But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel."  (Joshua 7:1)

The Fall of Jericho

This week's study covers Joshua 5:13-6:27.  We began by looking at Joshua's encounter with the commander of the army of the LORD.  Our first question was, who is this?   As James Montgomery Boice points out without equivocation, this is:

"...none the less than Jehovah speaking here in a preincarnate manifestation of the second Person of the Trinity, the Lord Jesus Christ."

Consecration and Covenant

In Bible study this week we looked at Joshua 5: 1-12.  After briefly reiterating the point that the Canaanites were quaking in fear at the miraculous crossing of the Jordan by the Israelites, we considered God's command to circumcise the sons of Israel.  We looked first at his wording of the command in verse 2, to "circumcise the people again."  

Crossing the Jordan

This week, in our third lesson studying the book of Joshua, we covered chapters 3 and 4, in which Joshua and the Israelites cross the Jordan River into the Promised land.

We dipped our toes into this subject by considering the conditions in which this crossing was made.  According to Joshua 3:15 the river was overflowing its banks, which, for an army, might not be a reason to cancel the expedition, but for approximately two million people wishing to cross with women, children, baggage, flocks and herds, it was an overwhelming proposition.  Furthermore, they were within sight of the enemy's walled city.  Their enemy was, as we found out in our last lesson, quaking in fear, but still, an army preparing to attack its enemy gives away no battle plans or movements.

Rahab, a God-Fearing Woman

Lesson 2 of our Bible study, which covers Joshua chapter 2, opens with a question concerning the relationship between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility.  Why, if God had already told Joshua that he would be victorious in his conquest of Canaan, would Joshua send spies into the land?  The commentaries I am drawing from all agree that this presents no problem at all.  In fact, as C. F. Keil points out, Joshua was required to do his part in securing the work committed to him as, “the help of God does not preclude human action, but rather presupposes it.”  Indeed, the life of faith is a call to action for all believers, and we will see this theme play out through the rest of Joshua chapter two.

Be Strong and Courageous

This week marks a new chapter in my life.  I am, once again, leading a Bible study at church.  This is the first study I will lead since we moved from Pennsylvania and I am excited to dive into the Word with this group of ladies, some of whom I have already come to know, some of whom I have not.  Nothing fuels a relationship like spending time together in Scripture.

To Live is Christ

I am a tad bit late on this post- but then, that's the story of the past few months, isn't it?  Our Women's Bible Study kicked off in September and we have been meeting every week.  Taking a hard look at my own schedule of homeschooling I decided that I did not have the capacity to responsibly lead both the daytime and evening studies this year.  Another couple of ladies graciously accepted the leadership of the daytime study so that I can focus on five days of homeschooling with only one evening a week of study with the ladies.

The Book of Hebrews

"... the Book of Hebrews offers a singular and matchless presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Showing forth Jesus' supremacy to the angels, to Moses, to Joshua, and to Aaron, the author of Hebrews brings out features of Jesus' portrait that are found nowhere else in the New Testament. Especially in his detailed description of Jesus as our perfect high priest-- the most pointed presentation of this office found in all of sacred Scripture-- we learn how and why Jesus "is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him" (Heb. 7:25). - (Richard D. Phillips, in the Preface to the Reformed Expository Commentary on Hebrews.)

This year I will be, with fear and trembling, leading a Bible study on the book of Hebrews for the women of our church. The study that I will be using was written by my mentor and dearly loved "mother in the faith", Toni Barnhill. I was not able to participate in the study with her in Florida, so this will be a first for me- explaining, in part, the fear and trembling. Our pastor in Florida, Rick Phillips, preached through Hebrews while we were there and I have many notes from his sermons jotted in the margins of my Bible. I also have many wonderful and thorough commentaries to which I may turn.

My chief help, though, must be the Holy Spirit guiding and teaching me through the Word. As I tackle this year's study it is my prayer that the women joining me will be blessed by the way that Toni has written her study, but mostly that the Lord will use the Scriptures to grow us all in the knowledge of Himself, transforming our hearts and minds as we learn to follow Him more closely.

So, from September to May I will be blessedly neck-deep in the study of the Book of Hebrews. I mean it most sincerely when I say, "Lord, help me."

First Bible Study

This morning was the first day of the Bible Study that I, with fear and trembling, will be leading at our church. Leading a study written by a Southern Baptist back in the 60's for a group of Northern Presbyterian women in the year 2008 means there will be some translation of terms involved, but it will be worth it. Our aim is to deepen and enrich our prayer lives; and who doesn't need that?

Unfortunately, in His Providence, God saw fit to have only two of the ten women come this morning, the rest being down with illness or sidetracked by other commitments. Feeling awkward speaking to women in a group until I know them better, I think the email that I sent to our absentees was probably a better explanation of what to expect from the weeks ahead than what I stuttered through this morning! I am more comfortable at my keyboard than looking into the eyes of people I don't know well- yet- and explaining things. In fact, I think that I may be the youngest person at the study,... gulp. (Did I mention fear and trembling?)

Yet, it is ultimately not I who teach this study, but the Holy Spirit who will illumine the texts and work in our hearts as we continue in the study of the Word.

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of the darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. -2 Corinthians 4:6

Survivors

We have survived our personal plague while hearing reports that others are battling the same illness. This is the time of year when we fill conversational gaps by saying, "sure seems to be going around!" Ain't that the truth.

So, since we are back on our feet much has happened. Isaac and Jim spent a bracing several hours with the Webelos at the Daniel Boone Homestead doing outdoorsy winter stuff- so sorry to have missed that myself ;-). Between the outdoor cooking, team activities and shivering, Isaac ended up being the only Scout- of any age- to have his thrown tomahawk actually stay in the target! How cool is that?!



In one week Jim will be in Haiti with our Pastor Wendell and another member of the Missions Committee from church, Dave Lucas. They will be visiting a Missionary family there for a week in an attempt to determine how our church can partner with and help them in the future. Instead of merely throwing money at them, we want to truly become involved in their ministry, by sending people to help and possibly in other ways that we haven't yet seen. It ought to be nice and warm for the guys, but certainly not exotic. The travel warnings issued by the CDC and the State Department are enough to make one think very carefully before packing to leave!

Meanwhile, Kate had her telephone interview with MTW and knows that she will be going abroad for an internship, but not to Berlin. Her interviewer gave her a couple of possibilities, but we are as yet uncertain which will work. Where she goes depends upon the needs of the Missionaries already in the field, so, once again, she is waiting to hear back from MTW. Evidently the agency headquarters in Atlanta has also been hit with the flu, so we wait, with empathy and understanding...

Last night we enjoyed the rare treat of watching the Lunar Eclipse. Friends were over for dinner and we were finishing up when someone mentioned the eclipse. It had been overcast and snowing for the entire afternoon and into the evening, so I figured we had missed our chance to see it, but when we checked the clouds were gone and the stars clear! We could see the moon from our back porch, so we bundled up and stood in the cold to watch the moon turn red! Are the stars really brighter when it is that cold out, or was that my imagination? Couldn't help but think of my Grandmommy, and wish that I'd paid closer attention to her lessons about the night sky...

Okay, this is not our shot of the event- our camera isn't quite sophisticated enough to capture such a shot.

Things are in motion at church now for the Ladies' Bible Study that I will be leading beginning Tuesday, March 4th. I'm very excited, and very nervous. Having been a student, then a facilitator in Bible studies for years, I have never led one myself and am feeling, oh, ... inadequate to the task? That's far better than feeling invincible, I suppose. Humbled, I am driven to Scripture and prayer in a whole new way. This could only be good for me in that respect. My prayer is that this will be a blessing to others, and when questions arise I would have the wisdom to know when to answer and when to realize that I don't have an answer. May God be glorified through our time spent in His Word.

Wonderfully Busy Weekend, Relaxing Week

What a whirlwind! So many things were happening this weekend, but they were all wonderful. I was blessed to go with several ladies from church to Westminster Theological Seminary for a "Women in the Word" Seminar, in which we learned to better read and study Scripture for the purpose of leading Bible studies for others. We were each in a different group, meeting women from all over who are lovers of the Word of God and hungry to learn more.

Here I am with my friends from church, Sharon, Sharon, Annie, (me), and June.

And here's my group, representing NYC, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and other areas nearby.

I left the seminar early, (sniff) in order to get home in time to see Bekah to a friend's home to dress for the homecoming dance. She and her friends primped and giggled as they got ready. Once they were photo-prepared I took a couple of shots and left for the next activity...

Tha annual Covenant Church Fall Fest! Not nearly as cold as last year, but the square dancing was just as fun!

Knowing those with whom we are dancing helps some too!

The past couple of days I've gone exploring with my "walking buddy", Heidi, to better familiarize myself with the area. I'm doing intensive research so that we can be better hosts for friends who come to visit. There is so much to see around here! First, and probably most memorable, stop- the Amish pretzel factory! I was privileged to go into the back where the girls were twisting pretzels and learned that it's not as easy as it looks! They were all so sweet.

Heidi and I took my empty pots to Wayside Produce for Esther, another Amish friend of Heidi's, to fill with gorgeous mums. Esther does all of Heidi's potting for her and she does it right. I also picked up some produce to add to dinner.

The weather is finally cool enough to leave the windows open for the lovely breeze. Milo, formerly a wild-in-the-woods boy, loves to sit and enjoy the sounds and smells.

Day two of our exploration- apple trees in harvest!

This market stand had all the makings for harvest-time decor.

tiny pumpkins!

Honor system cider sales. The Amish farmer who sets his cider out for passers-by to purchase doesn't have a direct line of sight from his house to this spot on the road. He's sold his cider this way for years.

What a splendid view!

That's all for now. This weekend we'll get the kids out for some pretzels and pumpkins.
Golly, I love fall!