52.g. Wilderness – 16.m. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

 

 

Deu 26:11  And you shall rejoice in all the good that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you. “When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year, which is the year of tithing, giving it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your towns and be filled, then you shall say before the LORD your God, ‘I have removed the sacred portion out of my house, and moreover, I have given it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all your commandment that you have commanded me. I have not transgressed any of your commandments, nor have I forgotten them.  I have not eaten of the tithe while I was mourning, or removed any of it while I was unclean, or offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the voice of the LORD my God. I have done according to all that you have commanded me. Look down from your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless your people Israel and the ground that you have given us, as you swore to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.

 Deuteronomy 12:7   And there you shall eat before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the LORD your God has blessed you.

 Deuteronomy 12:12     And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male servants and your female servants, and the Levite that is within your town

 Deuteronomy 16:11    And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your towns, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, at the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name dwell there.

 Deuteronomy 28:47     Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things,

 Psalms 63:3-5    Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.  So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.  My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips

 Psalms 100:1-2    Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!  Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

 Acts 2:46-47   And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,  praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

 Philippians 4:4    Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

 1 Timothy 6:17-18     As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

When God has made good his promises to us, he expects we should own it to the honour of his faithfulness. And our creature comforts are doubly sweet, when we see them flowing from the fountain of the promise. The comfort we have in our own enjoyments, should lead us to be thankful for our share in public peace and plenty; and with present mercies we should bless the Lord for the former mercies we remember, and the further mercies we expect and hope for. (Henry)

When we receive from the LORD, and give back to Him, it makes us rejoice. It is the proper response of a creature to his Creator, who has supplied him with all good things. The prayer described here shows that the giving was done with the right kind of heart. God not only wants us to give, but to give with the right heart. Right giving is done according to God’s Word  Right giving is done within the context of a whole life of obedience. Right giving genuinely sets aside what is to be given unto the LORD. Right giving is not done superstitiously, Right giving is done with the expectation of blessing. (Guzik)

How can we not rejoice? When saved our sins were washed away, we were forgiven, redeemed, born again, and transformed. We were promised eternal life in heaven with God. We were given the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, teach, encourage, convict us of sin, and yield the fruits of joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, love, grace, mercy, generosity, hospitality, humbleness, and patience. Beyond this God blesses us with great and precious promises, godly wisdom, fruits of our labors, and material, financial, and relational blessings. How can we not rejoice? 

Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.

Pathway to Victory Devotion

 

 

 

This mystery . . . is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

–Colossians 1:27

As Christians, we have been charged with sharing the gospel, which is a message of hope—a message Paul described as a “mystery” (Colossians 1:26). In verse 27, Paul revealed this mystery: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” I have to admit, this seems a little anticlimactic. This is the message we’re going to suffer for? Where’s the teaching about sin, salvation, the second coming, judgment, and heaven? Other passages in the Bible talk about those things, but the result of the gospel is this: Christ living in you is the hope of glory. That is the sum total of the gospel.

I want to focus on two words in this verse. First, the word “hope.” In the Bible, hope is not wishful thinking; it’s an assurance, a conviction, that something is going to happen. Second, the word “glory.” This is translated from the Greek word doxa, and it refers to the radiance, splendor, and everlastingness of God.

Here is our message: Jesus Christ living in you gives you the assurance that one day you will share in the splendor, radiance, and everlastingness of God.

To understand what a great message of hope that is, we need to contrast the everlastingness of God with the finiteness of man. No passage in the Bible does so better than Psalm 90, which was written by Moses. He began, “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (vv. 1–2). God is eternal. But Moses continued, “You turn man back into dust and say, ‘Return, O children of men’” (v. 3). Compared to the eternality of God, you and I are nothing but dust.

Some years ago, one of my relatives died and was cremated. As we scattered the ashes, I thought, Eighty-five years of happiness, sorrow, trials, hard work, relationships—and it’s all reduced to a bag of dust. That’s a sobering thought, isn’t it?

But here is the result of the gospel: if you know Christ as your Savior, then the same splendor, radiance, and everlasting quality of Almighty God is now part of your life as well. That’s the message we are to share. This life has meaning and purpose—and, more importantly, there is hope beyond the grave. Christ living in us is our assurance that we will share in God’s everlastingness.

 

Learn from Scripture

 

 

Romans 14:1-23.

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
    every tongue will acknowledge God.’”[b]

12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.[c]

Truth for Life Devotion

 

Therefore do not be like [the unbelievers]. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Matthew 6:8

You observe your child working diligently to put together a wooden puzzle—with growing frustration. But you don’t say anything. Finally, she turns to you and asks for help. You take the opportunity to remind her of your love for her and your willingness to help her with anything she might need. Then, together, you both complete her puzzle.

People often ask, “If God already knows what we need, why do we have to pray and ask Him?” First, Jesus revealed the truth about God’s knowledge of our needs to warn His followers about going on and on in prayer—thinking we have to impress God with our many words (Matthew 6:7). Instead, He gave them a short prayer to pray as an illustration (Matthew 6:9-13). As that prayer indicates, Jesus wants us to come to God as “Our Father”—like a child who asks her father for help. God knows our needs but wants to enjoy our relationship of trust in Him, trust that is built through the conversation we call prayer.

Right now, God knows your every need. He is waiting for you to come and talk to Him.

Pray as you can; God knows what you mean.

Enduring Word Devotion

 

These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood. (Genesis 10:32)

Genesis 10 gathers together the names of the descendants of Noah, from whom came all the nations of the earth. It’s a remarkable chapter, and some scholars call it “The Table of Nations” – that’s “table” like a chart, not something you sit at. The great archaeologist William F. Albright often did not take the Bible literally, but of Genesis 10 he wrote: “The tenth chapter of Genesis…stands absolutely alone in ancient literature, without a remote parallel, even among the Greeks, where we find the closest approach to a distribution of peoples in genealogical framework.… The Table of Nations remains an astonishing accurate document.”

There is value in looking at each name and working to understand which people group came forth from that ancestor, but there is also value in simply drawing out three significant ideas from Genesis 1.

The Unity of the Human Race. Genesis 10 tells us that all humanity came from Noah and his family, and the book of Genesis also explains we have a common origin in Adam and Eve. As the apostle Paul explained to the philosophers on Mars Hill, God has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth (Acts 17:26). We truly are collectively of “one blood,” and while there are some differences between generations and races and ethnic groups, what they have in common is far greater than their differences. We are all made in the image of God.

The Generosity of God. Genesis 10 makes us consider just how wide all creation is, and how there are billions of people on the earth today, even more in the past, and should Jesus tarry, there will be many more in the future. Yet the love of God is broad enough to include all humanity. Remember that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16), and that in some way God shows His love to all humanity, and the blessings of sun and rain are just one example of this (Matthew 5:45). Since God is this generous with all humanity, we can rest with even greater confidence in His generous love to His people, those who trust in, rely on, and cling to the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The Reason for a Missionary Heart. God divided and spread-out humanity, but not for the purpose of taking people away from His good news and salvation in Jesus Christ, who is the Savior of the World (John 4:42). Rather, Jesus gave His disciples specific instructions before He ascended to heaven: go and make disciples of all the nations, teaching them to observe all that Jesus has commanded His disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). We must have the missionary heart to reach the world as Jesus commanded.

Pathway to Victory Devotion

 

 

Of this church I was made a minister . . . so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints.

–Colossians 1:25–26

Somebody has said that a person can live forty days without food, four days without water, and four minutes without air, but he can last only a few seconds without hope.

We all need hope. And when you boil down the gospel to its very essence, it is a message of hope—the hope that there’s meaning and purpose to this life and that something awaits us beyond the grave. You and I have been charged with sharing this message of hope with a hopeless world.

In Colossians 1, we read that every Christian has been called by God for ministry. The reason God left us here on this earth is not to build our kingdom but to build His kingdom. Our ministry is to share God’s message of hope. In verse 26, Paul described this message as “the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints.”

When we use the term mystery, we think about something eerie and spooky. But in the Bible, a mystery is a truth hidden in the heart of God that He chooses to reveal in His time. Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God.” Some of those secret things, or mysteries, will not be revealed until we get to heaven. When somebody asks you, “Why does God do this?” or “Why did God allow that?” it is perfectly acceptable to say, “I don’t know. You’ll have to ask Him about it.” Some things are above our pay grade!

“People are without excuse”

 

Romans 1:20  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

 John 1:18    No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

 Colossians 1:15   He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

 1 Timothy 1:17   To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

 1 Timothy 6:16    who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

 Hebrews 11:27   By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

 Romans 1:19    For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

 Deuteronomy 4:19    And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.

 Psalms 8:3    When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

 Psalms 33:6-9    By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.  He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.  Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!  For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

 Psalms 104:5     He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.

 Psalms 104:31   May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works,

 Psalms 119:90    Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.

 Psalms 139:13    For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

Rom 16:25-27  Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Rom 1:21-23  For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools,and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

 Psalms 90:2  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

 Isaiah 9:6     For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 Isaiah 26:4    Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

 Isaiah 40:26    Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing.

 Acts 17:29    Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.

 Colossians 2:9   For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

 Romans 2:1   Therefore you have no excuse

 Romans 2:15    They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

 John 15:22    If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.

I was born in a time when God was believed by most, sin against God was understood as being very bad, Teachers spoke of God, prayer was cherished, only the fringes of science tried to say there was no God, Creation by God was fact, though, understanding how was a mystery apart from God, Going to church Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, and having one or two bible studies throughout the week was common, people living apart from God honoring lives was very easy to understand and see, the Ten Commandments were known, pornography was understood to be bad, abortion was bad, homosexual lifestyle was bad, transgenderism was from being mentally unstable, lying, cheating, and being cruel was not only bad but considered that of a deviant mind, parents spanked children for bad behavior or disrespect, teachers demanded respect or you were kicked out of class, a person’s handshake to a deal did not need a document signed for their word was their bond, there were no participation trophies, learning to lose was part of growing up, there were no mass shootings, homes were seldom locked while away or at night, most mothers were stay at home, there was no swearing or cursing on TV or in the news, it was considered bad to be a person who swore in public, people could have differing opinions and be able to debate their thoughts, the Pledge of Allegiance was said while standing every day at school, children were given chores to do, children played outside all day, working in the trades (mechanic, plumber, electrician, carpenter, factory worker was considered good jobs, parents set standards for their children, going out to eat was only on special occasions, cars were never locked, graffiti was breaking the law, very few people would fly for a vacation, growing and canning fruits and vegetables was common, people in need were helped by the church, neighbors, or family members, living off of the government was considered being lazy and bad for society, pregnancy out of marriage was considered bad, people very seldom had credit cards (everything was cash) and people lived within their means, people wrote letters, neighbors helped neighbors, children got into fights, divorce was sad, drunkenness was bad, people loved their town, state, and country, it was not uncommon to have a full time job and another part time job, people saved money to buy something in the future, there were no golf carts on the golf course (people walked), sex trafficking was not talked about or understood because it was so deviant, as children you were expected to respect adults, talking back and disrespecting parents or adults or teachers or elders was stopped immediately, (Usually with a spanking, backhand, or a bar of soap), reading books was common, understanding math was expected, english was the only language, foreign languages were required from Jr High through graduation, graduation was only celebrated upon completion of high school and college, teachers spanked disrespectful children, parents were not afraid of their children playing outside, obesity was not common,  mowing yards, shoveling snow, and having a paper route was common among youth, Doctors made house calls, etc….

There are many things that have been added through research, science, physics, chemistry, engineering, and medicine that have had a positive impact on the quality of life. Vaccines, electronics, computers, phones, safety, and the education around them have continued to grow as we understand more and more through research, science, and application. Somewhere along the way, God was discounted in most if not all public education and teaching. It was removed from course books, classrooms, and federal public buildings. Living godly lives was replaced with doing what is good in your own eyes. Being active outside has been replaced with computer games, tv, and youth sports year-round.  Saving money to buy something in the future has been replaced by easily obtained debt. Who do you think was behind the whole “What’s your credit score”? Credit card companies have made it easy to “Buy Now”, and “Pay Later”. Businesses like this. Our whole thought process has changed. We have become a nation and people of debt. Life of leisure has become the way of life. Our prosperity is as thin as a credit card. 

People know more about sports teams than the Word of God. Obviously, more time is invested in watching “Your Team”. Think about how foolish it is to pay an adult playing a game hundreds of millions of dollars. Not only that, but the celebrities in show biz and sports not only think their opinions about political, social, and cultural issues matter but they should be listened to and followed. Removing God and living in prosperity, and ease of life have led to this. 

 Removing God and living in line with His Word for His glory has led to so much depravity. The homosexual, gay, and transgender foolishness has become prideful and proclaimed as having its rightful place in society. Pornography has become “adult entertainment” and though it is still somewhat considered deviant it has infiltrated the private lives of adults and children alike. Physical, mental, and sexual child abuse continues to rise. Divorce is common and affects many families. The church and its gatherings on Sunday and throughout the week have been replaced by busyness.  Abortion (the killing of live babies) has become a right and choice. The confusion around this is more than foolishness. It is murder. To wrap it up any other way is like putting lipstick on a pig to make it beautiful.

The nightly news has become a 24-hour-per-day propaganda machine. Facts have been replaced by opinions. Not only do they give these opinions they also tell you what to think, fear, and hate. They use words like, this will result in, unbelievable, mysterious, reveals, impressive, untold history, this will happen next, we now know, confirms, could explain why, the true danger, increasing fear, one key takeaway, what to know, the secret, incredible, hopeless, slammed, alleged, hints of, warns, classified, rising fear, could happen, sure signs, people agree, experts agree, most people, jaw-dropping, disturbing, massive, absolutely, you will find, uncovered, unveiled, the problem with, developing story, has the potential to, if this holds true, etc… All of these were taken from headlines in less than 15 minutes of just reading them. Diving into these news stories had more to do with opinion than fact. They were written in ways to convince the reader how to think, what to think, and how to react. They cause nothing more than division among people. I don’t care what side of the political or social line you are on, this happens across the whole lot of them. The problem with this is people no longer think for themselves. Listen to how people speak about issues and their thoughts about them. It would take you 2 minutes to find these ideas in print. If you wanted to spread propaganda fast, what better way is there? 

Politicians caught in a lie, which would have resulted in them being considered untrustworthy persons, are now tolerated and they walk back statements (LIES). 

Scripture says that in the last days people will be arrogant, lovers of self, unholy, ungodly, boastful, greedy,  prideful, and haters of God. Without God there is no foundation for truth, it is turned into doing and saying what is right and tolerated in the eye of the person or society. Without God, there is no heaven or hell, no coming judgment or anger and wrath of God. There is no sin or ability to recognize it. Without God what is the purpose of life other than we live and then we die? Without God science will come up with the most foolish answers about the mysteries of His creation. Without God, children are affected and generations are at a loss for the purpose of life. Without God and the indwelling Holy Spirit, where do forgiveness, gentleness, kindness, grace, mercy, love, joy, patience, and peace find their way into lives? 

It appears God is giving our country the benefits of removing Him from being worshiped, honored, glorified, believed in, trusted, and relied upon. He is allowing this way of living to have its day and results. What would it take to turn the thoughts and beliefs of the people back? Could it be disasters, famines, earthquakes, or wars? Scripture says that these are signs of the coming of the end when Jesus will return and gather His bride (believers) and then the wrath of God will come in all His anger. Just because belief in God is gone does not make it so. All of creation shouts of His existence. He has placed within each soul a longing for a relationship with Him. Denying this will result in His wrath, judgment, torment, and separation in Hell for eternity. People choose to believe lies over the truth of God. 

 Jhn 3:16-21  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Romans 1:20  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

52.f. Wilderness – 16.l. “And you shall make response before the LORD your God”

 

Deu 26:1-10  “When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance and have taken possession of it and live in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there. And you shall go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him, ‘I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come into the land that the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.’ Then the priest shall take the basket from your hand and set it down before the altar of the LORD your God. “And you shall make response before the LORD your God, ‘A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. And the Egyptians treated us harshly and humiliated us and laid on us hard labor. Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders. And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O LORD, have given me.’ And you shall set it down before the LORD your God and worship before the LORD your God.

This wonderful confession of thanks remembered the history of Israel from the time of Jacob and his family in the land of Canaan, to the family’s going down into Egypt, and to the eventual deliverance and Exodus into the Promised Land. Israel spent some 400 years in Egypt. Yet in the course of God’s eternal plan, it was nothing more than a sojourn. We can often focus so much on our own time of trial or misery that we think that it defines our whole life; God saw Israel’s experience in Egypt as a sojourn.

Firstfruit giving obviously honored the LORD, because it gave the LORD His portion off the top before any was used for one’s self. This initial giving of firstfruits when Israel came into the Promised Land was an appropriate way to say “thank you” to the LORD. This giving, and all giving done with the right heart, is a proper way to worship before the LORD your God.

When we receive from the LORD, and give back to Him, it makes us rejoice. It is the proper response of a creature to his Creator, who has supplied him with all good things. (Guzik)

When God has made good his promises to us, he expects we should own it to the honour of his faithfulness. And our creature comforts are doubly sweet, when we see them flowing from the fountain of the promise. The person who offered his first-fruits, must remember and own the mean origin of that nation, of which he was a member. Their nation in its infancy sojourned in Egypt as strangers, they served there as slaves. They were a poor, despised, oppressed people in Egypt; and though become rich and great, had no reason to be proud, secure, or forgetful of God. He must thankfully acknowledge God’s great goodness to Israel. The comfort we have in our own enjoyments, should lead us to be thankful for our share in public peace and plenty; and with present mercies we should bless the Lord for the former mercies we remember, and the further mercies we expect and hope for. He must offer his basket of first-fruits. Whatever good thing God gives us, it is his will that we make the most comfortable use we can of it, tracing the streams to the Fountain of all consolation. (Henry)

The words, “I have to-day made known to the Lord thy God,” refer to the practical confession which was made by the presentation of the first-fruits. The fruit was the tangible proof that they were in possession of the land, and the presentation of the first of this fruit the practical confession that they were indebted to the Lord for the land. This confession the offerer was also to embody in a prayer of thanksgiving, after the basket had been received by the priest, in which he confessed that he and his people owed their existence and welfare to the grace of God, manifested in the miraculous redemption of Israel out of the oppression of Egypt and their guidance into Canaan. (Keil)

52.e. Wilderness – 16.k. “But its end is utter destruction.”

 

 

Deu 25:17-19  “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt,  how he attacked you on the way when you were faint and weary, and cut off your tail, those who were lagging behind you, and he did not fear God. Therefore when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget.

Exodus 17:14.   Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”

Numbers 24:20   Then he looked on Amalek and took up his discourse and said, “Amalek was the first among the nations, but its end is utter destruction.”

 Proverbs 16:6    By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.

Because of God’s strong command to battle against Amalek until they were completely conquered, many see the Amalekites as a picture of our flesh – which constantly battles against the spirit and must be struggled against until completely conquered. (Guzik)

Let every persecutor and injurer of God’s people take warning from the case of the Amalekites. The longer it is before judgement comes, the more dreadful will it be at last. Amalek may remind us of the foes of our souls. May we be enabled to slay all our lusts, all the corruptions both within and without, all the powers of darkness and of the world, which oppose our way to the blessed Saviour. (Henry)

Remember what Amalek did—This cold-blooded and dastardly atrocity is not narrated in the previous history (Ex 17:14). It was an unprovoked outrage on the laws of nature and humanity, as well as a daring defiance of that God who had so signally shown His favor towards Israel. (Brown)

The Amalekites, how they came out against them, and fought with them at Rephidim, Exodus 17:8, by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; which was an aggravation of their cruel and inhuman action, that they not only came out against them unprovoked, were the aggressors, and fell upon them as they were travelling on the road, but when they were just come out of Egypt, where they had been in hard bondage, and their spirits broken, and they not used to war; and so took them at all these disadvantages, a people that had not in the least injured them. (Gill)

But whilst the Israelites were to make love the guiding principle of their conduct in their dealings with a neighbour, and even with strangers and foes, this love was not to degenerate into weakness or indifference towards open ungodliness. To impress this truth upon the people, Moses concludes the discourse on the law by reminding them of the crafty enmity manifested towards them by Amalek on their march out of Egypt, and with the command to root out the Amalekites (cf. Exodus 17:9-16). This heathen nation had come against Israel on its journey, viz., at Rephidim in Horeb, and had attacked its rear. (Keil)

I do not understand at all the hate that is prominent in the US for Israel. I do not know what is driving this and how people support it. I can only imagine that Satan is behind this and leading people to thoughts that are not God-honoring. When you look at what Hamas did on Oct 7, 2023, and attacked the people of Israel it is hard not to think of them as “Amalekites”. Surely, the unprovoked attack on the perimeter of the Israeli people is similar. Surely, attacking God’s chosen people will result in punishment. Israel may or may not be the hand of God in this punishment, but certainly, His punishment is coming. How it comes, when it comes, and to what extent it comes is in His hands according to His purposes.

All who go against God’s chosen will one day bow before Jesus and know their sin in full. There is time to repent of it now, but there will not be time after death.