'Your will be done'

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching the blog archives for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog. As you read, I encourage you to record any reflections or comments you may have, for the entries here serve best as the first remarks in a conversation.

Blessings and best wishes,
Dr. Will

Monday, July 19, 2010
Devotions: Ps 41, 44, 52; Josh 7:1-13; Rom 13:8-14; Mt 26:36-46

Blessed are they who consider the poor; YHWH in turn delivers them in the day of trouble. God protects and keeps them alive; He sustains them in illness, and heals their infirmities. Lord, I have sinned; please forgive and heal me. My enemies keep expecting me to falter and perish; I am an object of malicious gossip and speculation. But I will trust in God alone, and I know that You will sustain me. Blessed is YHWH, God of Israel; Lord, set me in Your presence for ever. I have studied Your history and Your word, Lord: and our fathers in the faith have told us what You did in days past. Victory comes by God’s grace, not by human prowess. You are my King and my God, and I boast in God alone. Shall I then accept only riches from my God? No, I will affirm You whatever my circumstances. Let God arise and scatter my enemies and deliver me in His steadfast love!

The people almost immediately broke faith with YHWH; Achan, son of Carmi, of the tribe of Judah took some of the devoted things from Jericho, and YHWH’s anger burned against all the people. Joshua sent scouts to reconnoiter before attacking Ai, east of Bethel. The spies reported that three thousand troops would be enough to destroy the city. But in the attack, the defenders from Ai routed the Israelites and killed about 36 in the first assault, then chased the invaders, killing more, until the hearts of the people melted, weak as water. Joshua tore his clothes and feel to earth before the ark until evening, with the elders of Israel. Joshua inquired of the Lord: ‘Alas, YHWH Elohim, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all, if only to give us into the Amorites’ hands and destroy us? We shouldn’t have crossed the Jordan. What can I do—the Israelites have run away from their enemies. When the other Canaanites hear about this, they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth—then what will happen to Your great name?’ But YHWH said to Joshua, ‘Get up off your face! Israel has sinned; they have broken My covenant and command; they have stolen some of the things devoted to Me; they have lied; and have put them among their own stuff. It is for this that Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they have made themselves an object of wrath and destruction. I will be with you no more unless you destroy the devoted things among you. Get up! Sanctify the people; tell them “Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow! YHWH, God of Israel, says there are devoted things among you, and you cannot stand before your enemies unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.’

Owe no one anything, except the reciprocal obligation to love one another. Whoever loves his neighbor has fulfilled the entire Torah. All the commandments are summed up in the sentence, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love never wrongs a neighbor, so love fulfills the law. You know what time it is: wake from your slumber! Our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is far gone and the day is at hand. Let us cast off the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us conduct ourselves becomingly, as in the public view, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not quarreling and jealousy. Put on the Lord Jesus the Messiah, and make no provision to gratify the flesh.

Jesus led His disciples to the Mount of Olives, to a garden called Gethsemane. He told His disciples to sit and wait, while Jesus went a bit further, to pray. He took Peter, James and John with Him; and Jesus began to be sorrowful and troubled. He said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, up to the point of death! Stay here; watch with Me.’ Going a little farther, Jesus fell on His face and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’ He came to His disciples and found them sleeping; He addressed Peter, ‘Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ And He went away a second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, Your will be done.’ Again Jesus returned and found the three sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. Leaving them again, He prayed alone a third time, with the same words. He came to the disciples and said, ‘Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us be going; look: my betrayer is at hand.’