11So be very careful to love ...

11So be very careful to love the Lord your God.

12"But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them,

13then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the Lord your God has given you.

- P142

16If you violate the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you." - P143

Joshua warns Israel to be careful to love the Lord. If they turn away and allythemselves with other nations, the Lord will no longer drive these out, andthey will become snares and traps for Israel. Joshua reminds them of God‘sfulfilled promises but warns that just as blessings came, so will destruction ifthey break God‘s covenant and serve other gods. - P143

Joshua exhorts the Israelites to stay faithful to their God so that they willcontinue to enjoy His benefits. He reveals a secret to loving their God: Theymust "be careful to love the LORD" (v. 11); devotion will not be automatic.
Joshua foresees that Israel will become fascinated by the cultures of thenations they will dispossess and warns them that if they give their heartsto whatever seems fascinating and new, they will inevitably abandon their love for their God. - P144

 We live in an era where the word "love" has becomesynonymous with strong passions and feelings. But we also know that ourfeelings often sway with the trends of our fast-changing culture; they caneven change depending on the time of day. If we on our feelingsto sustain our love for God, we will see it shift like thedeweather. Love is noteffortless; to love is to make every effort in staying faithful. - P144

Dear Jesus, please fill us with Your Holy Spirit so we may love God more thanthe things of this world. Help us to joyfully obey His good commands. InYour name, amen. - P145

억압 위에 세워진 예루살렘 성전은 출애굽기에 동일한 ...

억압 위에 세워진 예루살렘 성전은 출애굽기에 동일한 수
"준으로 상세하게 기록된 광야 성막의 모습과 완전히 대조된다. 그때에는 남녀 누구나 지혜로운 마음과 손으로 자발적으로 재료를 가져왔다. 35:5. 10. 21. 22. 25.26. 29 성서에서 가장 일관되게 지혜로운 자로 묘사되는 인물은 솔로몬이 아니라 브살렐이라는 점은 주목할 만하다.
그는 "하나님의 영"과 "지혜와 총명과 지식과 여러 가지 재주로 충만한 사람이었다. 31:3:35:31 "하나님의 영" 부분을 빼면 동일한 묘사가솔로몬의 건축 책임자인 히람에게 적용된다.7:13-14 여기에는 모세와솔로몬이 각각 관리한 사업의 차이를 강조하는 반향이 느껴진다.
전체적으로 솔로몬의 통치는 이스라엘 왕의 올바른 행동에 대한 신명기의 핵심 가르침신 17:15-20을 거부한 것으로 볼 수 있다.  - P323

마찬가지로 뉴턴의 "생명샘"은 예수를 떠올리게 한다. 예수는목마름을 영원히 쫓아낼 생수의 근원이며, 요4:14 그분의 창에 찔린 열구리에서는 물줄기가 흘러나온다.요 19:34 그리스도인들에게 에스겔서와 시편으로부터 요한복음서와 뉴턴의 찬송가에 이르기까지 이어지는 이 긴 신학적 성찰은, 마태가 "성전보다 더 큰 이마 12:6 라고 부른예수 자신이 하늘과 땅이 ‘만나는 장소‘이며 그 안에서 하나님과 인류가 온전하게 영원히 결합됨을 의미할 것이다. 따라서 시온 신학은성육신 신학이 된다. - P328

전기 예언서와 후기 예언서 공통의 핵심 문제는 왕권을 행사하는 이들이 예언자들이 전하는 야훼의 말씀에 과연 귀를 기울일 것인가이다. 이는 출애굽기에서 파라오와 모세 사이에 처음 등장한 것과동일한 신학적, 정치적 문제다. ‘야훼의 뜻이 알려질 때 인간 왕이 그분의 주권을 인정하고 굴복할 것인가? 파라오가 그러했듯 대다수의이스라엘 왕들도 그렇게 하지 못했기 때문에, 신명기 역사의 전체 궤적은 다윗 왕국이 해체되고 이스라엘과 유다가 차례로 포로기를 향해 점점 미끄러져 가는 이야기가 된다. - P330

3You yourselves have seen eve...

3You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the Lord your God who fought for you.

4Remember how I have allotted as an inheritance for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain—the nations I conquered—between the Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea in the west.

- P136

5The Lord your God himself will push them out for your sake. He will drive them out before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the Lord your God promised you. - P136

7Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them.

8But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now.

9"The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you.

10One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised.

- P137

Joshua, now very old, calls Israel‘s leaders and reminds them that the Lord hasfought for them and given them the land of many nations as their inheritance.
He urges them to be strong, to obey the Book of the Law, and not to associatewith the remaining nations or their gods. Joshua assures them that one Isra-elite can rout a thousand because the Lord fights for them. - P137

As Joshua gathers Israel to give them one of his last messages, he reminds them that the Lord has done what He said He would do. This is important for the nation to remember as Joshua nears his departure. What Joshua is saying is essentially, "I did not deliver you because I had great leadership skills; Your Lord delivered you because that was His promise to you." We, too, share in this declaration. - P138

Our status as children of God was not earned through our goodness; it was won for us by the work of our God. Because of Christ’s victory, we are counted as victors, and our future victories will happen because our God continues to fight for us. - P138

Father, You have always been my help, and I know that You are the only One who will come through for my future needs. Now, help me know that Your presence is the source of my help. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P138

21Then Reuben, Gad and the ha...

21Then Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh replied to the heads of the clans of Israel:

22"The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the Lord, do not spare us this day.

23If we have built our own altar to turn away from the Lord and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the Lord himself call us to account.

- P132

30When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community—the heads of the clans of the Israelites—heard what Reuben, Gad and Manasseh had to say, they were pleased.

31And Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, said to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, "Today we know that the Lord is with us, because you have not been unfaithful to the Lord in this matter. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the Lord’s hand."

- P133

32Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders returned to Canaan from their meeting with the Reubenites and Gadites in Gilead and reported to the Israelites.

33They were glad to hear the report and praised God. And they talked no more about going to war against them to devastate the country where the Reubenites and the Gadites lived

- P133

The two and a half tribes respond to the rest of the nation’s accusation by calmly stating the truth. They reveal the true reason for the altar they built, which is to serve as a witness to future generations that they belong to the Lord, since they live beyond the Jordan, apart from the rest of the congregation. Notice the common thread among these two parties: They both deeply fear the Lord. Phinehas and his people investigate because they despise idolatry, while Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh respond, "Far be it from us to rebel against the Lord!" When we are motivated by the fear of the Lord, we are able to act and react with both firmness and gentleness. - P134

After hearing the tribes‘ clear and God-glorifying response, Phinehas andthe leaders react with relief and gladness. The fever of war turns into mutualunderstanding and communal rejoicing in the Lord. Notice how even inan emotionally charged situation, both parties took time to face each otherInstead of sim-so that they could listen well and communicate effective aply believing rumors, Phinehas looks to confirm before acting.  - P134

In this ru-mor-filled world, let us not be quick to believe the worst of others and point *fingers, but rather act deliberately, asking for the help of God‘s heavenlywisdom. And may we ever seek to promote peace and unity in the body ofChrist, remembering what Jesus taught: "Blessed are the peacemakers, forthey will be called children of God" (Matt. 5:9) - P134

Dear God, fill my heart with the fear of the Lord so that I may speak and act in wisdom in all that I do. And since Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker, use me to be an agent of Your peace, especially in the midst of conflict. In His name, amen. - P135

And let us beslow to anger and quick to forgive, living out the words of Proverbs 17:9,
"Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoevermatter separates close friends."
repeatsthe - P135

25Now there was a man in Jeru...

25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.

- P128

29"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

30For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel."

- P129

33The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

- P129

In Jerusalem, Simeon, a righteous and devout man, waits for Israel‘s consola-tion. The Holy Spirit has revealed to him that he would not die without havingseen the Lord‘s Messiah. When Mary and Joseph bring Jesus, Simeon takesHim in His arms and praises God. He then prophesies that the child is destined-to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel. - P129

For Simeon, an obedient Jew full of expectancy to meet the Messiah, the wait is over. Led by the Spirit, he enters the temple courts and sees Jesus, who is undergoing purification rites in accordance with the Mosaic Law. Simeon exclaims that he can die in peace now that salvation has come. And it has come, not by keeping rules or through self-improvement, but through a person. When we come to fully understand this, our hearts can be at rest on earth while looking forward to our home in heaven. Simply because of what Jesus has done, we discover peace and joy unspeakable. Therefore, let us ever fix our eyes on Jesus and the salvation He offers. - P130

Simeon was rightfully anticipating a Messiah who wouldsatisfy his biggest need: the forgiveness of sins. On Christmas, we celebratethis truth that never gets old: Jesus was born so that He could die on thecross in order that we might be free from punishment and forgiven fromall sins, for all time. - P130

Dear Lord, I praise You! For on this day over two thousand years ago, salvation arrived in human form. Thank you that I can enjoy perfect peace now, regardless of how I feel about myself—for I know that I am forgiven because of the cross. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P131