What do I know of Holy?

Judges 20: 17-28 The Message

17 The men of Israel, excluding Benjamin, mobilized four hundred divisions of sword-wielding fighting men.
18 They set out and went to Bethel to inquire of God. The People of Israel said, "Who of us shall be first to go into battle with the Benjaminites?" God said, "Judah goes first."
19 -21 The People of Israel got up the next morning and camped before Gibeah. The army of Israel marched out against Benjamin and took up their positions, ready to attack Gibeah. But the Benjaminites poured out of Gibeah and devastated twenty-two Israelite divisions on the ground.
22 -23 The Israelites went back to the sanctuary and wept before God until evening. They again inquired of God, "Shall we again go into battle against the Benjaminites, our brothers?" God said, "Yes. Attack."
24 -25 The army took heart. The men of Israel took up the positions they had deployed on the first day. On the second day, the Israelites again advanced against Benjamin. This time as the Benjaminites came out of the city, on this second day, they devastated another eighteen Israelite divisions, all swordsmen.
26 All the People of Israel, the whole army, were back at Bethel, weeping, sitting there in the presence of God. That day they fasted until evening. They sacrificed Whole-Burnt-Offerings and Peace-Offerings before God.
27 -28 And they again inquired of God. The Chest of God's Covenant was there at that time with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, as the ministering priest. They asked, "Shall we again march into battle against the Benjaminites, our brothers? Or should we call it quits?"

And God said, "Attack. Tomorrow I'll give you victory."

As I read through God's word from the perspective as God's personal love letter to me, I am having to "work out my faith." As the Israelites desired the "good life," I realize that I too desire the good life. God desires obedience and holiness. What does that mean for me?

In my present struggles, I have questioned God. My counselor recently asked me difficult questions about what if I am exactly where God wants me to be. It is hard to comprehend but if the Lord is using it to bring me to Him, then let it be. I realize my desperate need for Him. I see that my desire for the good life is greater than my desire to know Him. Lord, bring about holiness in me.

In the passage above, the first two battles had many casualties and the battle was not won. In the third battle, the Israelites were given the victory.

Lord, I think of You and Your holiness. I'm in the midst of the battle. What do I know of holy?

By faith . . .

Joshua son of Nun secretly sent out from Shittim two men as spies: "Go. Look over the land. Check out Jericho." They left and arrived at the house of a harlot named Rahab and stayed there. The king of Jericho was told, "We've just learned that men arrived tonight to spy out the land. They're from the People of Israel." The king of Jericho sent word to Rahab: "Bring out the men who came to you to stay the night in your house. They're spies; they've come to spy out the whole country." The woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, "Yes, two men did come to me, but I didn't know where they'd come from. At dark, when the gate was about to be shut, the men left. But I have no idea where they went. Hurry up! Chase them — you can still catch them!" (She had actually taken them up on the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax that were spread out for her on the roof.) So the men set chase down the Jordan road toward the fords. As soon as they were gone, the gate was shut. Before the spies were down for the night, the woman came up to them on the roof and said, "I know that GOD has given you the land. We're all afraid. Everyone in the country feels hopeless. We heard how GOD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt, and what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you put under a holy curse and destroyed. We heard it and our hearts sank. We all had the wind knocked out of us. And all because of you, you and GOD, your God, God of the heavens above and God of the earth below. "Now promise me by GOD. I showed you mercy; now show my family mercy. And give me some tangible proof, a guarantee of life for my father and mother, my brothers and sisters — everyone connected with my family. Save our souls from death!" "Our lives for yours!" said the men. "But don't tell anyone our business. When GOD turns this land over to us, we'll do right by you in loyal mercy." She lowered them down out a window with a rope because her house was on the city wall to the outside. She told them, "Run for the hills so your pursuers won't find you. Hide out for three days and give your pursuers time to return. Then get on your way." The men told her, "In order to keep this oath you made us swear, here is what you must do: Hang this red rope out the window through which you let us down and gather your entire family with you in your house — father, mother, brothers, and sisters. Anyone who goes out the doors of your house into the street and is killed, it's his own fault — we aren't responsible. But for everyone within the house we take full responsibility. If anyone lays a hand on one of them, it's our fault. But if you tell anyone of our business here, the oath you made us swear is canceled — we're no longer responsible." She said, "If that's what you say, that's the way it is," and sent them off. They left and she hung the red rope out the window. Joshua 2:1-21 THE MESSAGE

I am thankful the Lord left this story for us. God sees and knows our hearts and one woman knew in her heart that this was The God. It was by her faith that she and her family were saved. How history was changed because of her faith!

Also, God left us another historical marker as I had mentioned in a previous post:
http://strongbloomer.blogspot.com/2010/01/genesis-8-11.html These historical markers of the Bible and those in our own lives are important for our children and those who come behind us. Joshua erected a monument at The Gilgal, using the twelve stones that they had taken from the Jordan. And then he told the People of Israel, "In the days to come, when your children ask their fathers, 'What are these stones doing here?' tell your children this: 'Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry ground.' Joshua 4: 20-22

Make a New Start Deuteronomy 30 - 31

Come back to GOD, your God, and obey him with your whole heart and soul according to everything that I command you today, GOD, your God, will restore everything you lost; he'll have compassion on you; he'll come back and pick up the pieces from all the places where you were scattered. No matter how far away you end up, GOD, your God, will get you out of there and bring you back to the land your ancestors once possessed. It will be yours again. He will give you a good life and make you more numerous than your ancestors. Deuteronomy 30:2-5 THE MESSAGE

And you will make a new start, listening obediently to GOD, keeping all his commandments that I'm commanding you today. GOD, your God, will outdo himself in making things go well for you: you'll have babies, get calves, grow crops, and enjoy an all-around good life. Yes, GOD will start enjoying you again, making things go well for you just as he enjoyed doing it for your ancestors.

But only if you listen obediently to GOD, your God, and keep the commandments and regulations written in this Book of Revelation. Nothing halfhearted here; you must return to GOD, your God, totally, heart and soul, holding nothing back. Deuteronomy 30:8-10 THE MESSAGE



Lord, thank you for new starts. Your compassions are new every morning. You want nothing less than all of me. Your Word is full of promises but we have to do our part. Help me to listen and be obedient to You with my whole heart, soul and mind.


"And you shall love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." Mark 12:30

--michele

GOD, our God! GOD the one and only! Deuteronomy 5 - 7

As it turned out, when you heard the Voice out of that dark cloud and saw the mountain on fire, you approached me, all the heads of your tribes and your leaders, and said, "Our GOD has revealed to us his glory and greatness. We've heard him speak from the fire today! We've seen that God can speak to humans and they can still live. But why risk it further? This huge fire will devour us if we stay around any longer. If we hear GOD's voice anymore, we'll die for sure. Has anyone ever known of anyone who has heard the Voice of GOD the way we have and lived to tell the story?" "From now on, you go and listen to what GOD, our God, says and then tell us what GOD tells you. We'll listen and we'll do it." GOD heard what you said to me and told me, "I've heard what the people said to you. They're right — good and true words. What I wouldn't give if they'd always feel this way, continuing to revere me and always keep all my commands; they'd have a good life forever, they and their children! Deuteronomy 5:23-29 THE MESSAGE

Why didn't the Israelites want to come and hear God's voice? God said because they revered Him. As I read God's word, it lights up the ugliness and sin is exposed. I'm sure it is an uncomfortable place to be. As we approach God and His holiness, it is sure to expose what is within our hearts.

So be very careful to act exactly as GOD commands you. Don't veer off to the right or the left. Walk straight down the road GOD commands so that you'll have a good life and live a long time in the land that you're about to possess. Deuteronomy 5:32-33 THE MESSAGE

I love the promises of God's word! His word gives clear direction that "if" we do as He commands, "then" He will do what He says He will do. Sometimes we want to make following His will difficult when He gives very specific directions.

Attention, Israel!

GOD, our God! GOD the one and only!

Love GOD, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got!

Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 THE MESSAGE

Lord, continue to give me the desire to know Your word and to get it inside me so I may honestly reflect You to my children and those around me.

--michele