TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 25:1-26:19
Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. - Psalm 119:34
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the mid-eighteenth century, Sir William Blackstone became the first man to explain English common law in a way understandable to a layperson. His lectures, first given at Oxford University, were expanded to four volumes and published as Commentaries on the Laws of England. These books sold very well, and the concepts they expounded later served as a cornerstone of the American Constitution. Due to this groundbreaking work, Blackstone achieved lasting fame.

The Law God had given at Sinai wasn’t nearly as obscure as English common law, but the Israelites still needed many points explained. Even more, they needed to be encouraged and exhorted to obey what they knew. This was the motivation behind Moses’ sermons in the book of Deuteronomy. As he wrapped up his second address in today’s reading, his final comments urged the people toward righteous living.

Although this section contains many miscellaneous regulations, one ongoing theme was to remember history in dealings with other peoples. They should be kind to strangers, since they’d been aliens in Egypt. As former slaves, they shouldn’t oppress the poor. They shouldn’t hate the Edomites, for the descendants of Esau were their brothers. The Amalekites, on the other hand, should be wiped out as punishment for their irreverent attacks on God’s people. And the Ammonites and Moabites were forbidden to enter the assembly because of their treatment of Israel during the Exodus.

The people were also to remember history in their dealings with God. Individuals were instructed to bring the firstfruits of their first harvest in the Promised Land before the Lord, and in their worship to recite a creedal summary of how God had worked nationally and individually (26:1–11). For leading them from slavery to a land “flowing with milk and honey,” God deserved all the glory!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Deuteronomy 26:5–10 is an inspiring summary of Jewish identity. Since we also have been chosen by God, our identity as His children and as followers of Christ should be equally exciting!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 27:1-26
Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land. - Leviticus 25:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
The world’s largest collection of hearing aids and “ear trumpets” is housed at Kent State University in Ohio. An “ear trumpet” was a device used to amplify sound for the hearing-impaired, but it was only somewhat successful. When the electrical hearing aid was patented in 1880 and made available to the general public by about 1900, it was a major improvement. Electrical hearing aids offered not only amplified sounds, but they also increased the range of sounds. Nowadays, modern hearing aids can even be fine-tuned to meet the needs of particular individuals.

Hearing God’s Law was important for Israel. But even the best “hearing aid” wasn’t all that was needed--obedience had to follow.

This is the start of Moses’ third sermon. Yesterday we saw a formal renewal of the covenant at the end of his second address; in this new sermon he wanted to impress upon the Israelites the seriousness of their commitment--the big-picture benefits, responsibilities, and consequences of their covenant relationship with God. Moses drove the point home dramatically! Half the tribes were to stand on Mt. Gerizim to read the blessings, and half on Mt. Ebal to read the curses. These mountains, both about 3,000 feet high, are located in the central hill country of Israel. One end of the valley is narrow enough to envision such readings, which no doubt would have felt formal or serious and may even have increased accountability.

Also, at the base of Mt. Ebal is Shechem, where the Lord first appeared to Abram and where the patriarch built his first altar (Gen. 12:6–7). So the site would also have served as a reminder of God’s promises and faithfulness. That reminder was to be reinforced with memorial stones inscribed with the Law and a special altar on Mt. Ebal. The people would make fellowship offerings there, and hold worship feasts to rejoice in their special relationship with God (cf. Josh. 8:30–35).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Why not volunteer to read Scripture at a worship service at your church? If the schedule is already full, see if it’s possible to read Scripture in another setting, such as a prayer breakfast or a Sunday School class.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 28:1-14
All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God. - Deuteronomy 28:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
Medical research suggests that natural substances found in tea help stop blood clotting, balance the damaging effects of oxygen (such as fatty deposits in the arteries), and boost the production of disease-fighting enzymes.

According to one study, a daily cup of black tea reduces the chance of a heart attack by 44 percent. Another study found that drinking tea can protect against or slow down the growth of some forms of cancer. Yet another study discovered that people drinking one or two cups of tea per day lowered their chances of artherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) by 46 percent.

Moses prescribed a more powerful health tip to the Israelites: obeying God. The precise sequence of public reading is unclear in Deuteronomy 27–28, but these blessings and curses were definitely meant to be read on public occasions. Yesterday, the Israelites agreed that there were consequences to the covenant; today, they recited the good consequences of obedience. Lists of blessings and curses for keeping or breaking a covenant were part of the form of the suzerain-vassal treaty (see July 1 study).

If the people obeyed the Lord, staying on His straight and narrow path, they would be blessed everywhere they went and in everything they did: in their homes, in their fields, in battle, and in any endeavor they undertook. “The Lord will make you the head, not the tail . . . you will always be at the top, never at the bottom” (v. 13).

Does this mean good people never suffer? No, but it does mean that God unfailingly works for our good, and that obedience is always the best choice (Rom. 8:28).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
To dig deeper into the idea of blessings and curses surrounding obedience and disobedience, we urge you to do a follow-up study in the New Testament. Using a Bible handbook or concordance, search out and make a list of at least ten New Testament statements about the significance and consequences of obedience and disobedience to God (for example, Heb. 2:2 and Acts 5:29). How do these verses compare to Deuteronomy? What key truths do both reveal? Share what you learn with a friend or family member.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 28:15-29:1
All these curses . . . will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the Lord. - Deuteronomy 28:45
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the worst natural disasters in history demolished the ancient Greek coastal city of Helike in 373 B.C. An earthquake followed by a giant tidal wave pulverized the city and swept it into the sea. For centuries, the ruins could be seen just offshore, but eventually the city’s location was extinguished.

Until now. Greek and American researchers believe they’ve located Helike, at a once-submerged site that’s now about half a mile inland. They have uncovered a road that they hope will lead them to the city center, and are digging for more. It took only one night for Helike to fall victim to natural disaster. Similarly, warned Moses, Israel could speedily succumb to spiritual disaster. How? By disobeying the terms of God’s covenant.

The curses found in today’s reading form a mirror image to yesterday’s blessings. This section is longer, in part because it seems that this was normal in such covenants, and perhaps as a foreshadowing of Israel’s failure to keep the covenant. Deuteronomy 28:49 and following could very well be a prophecy regarding the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities. The description here matches well with later history, even including the horrible detail of cannibalism (28:53; cf. 2 Kings 6:24–30).

The images in these verses are startling and graphic, and the rhetorical style--pounding and relentless. Disobey, warned Moses, and they’d suffer disease, drought, oppression, and madness. There would be no one to rescue them, as the Lord did in Egypt. In a cruel irony, the Israelites would suffer the diseases of Egypt (including boils, one of the plagues). There would be suffering, misery, desperation, and degradation. Instead of being a witness to the nations, they’d become a “thing of horror” and an “object of scorn and ridicule” (28:37). Scattered in a worldwide diaspora, they’d be always anxious, weary, and unsure of their lives.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Whether or not you listed it in the Bible study recommended in yesterday’s “Today Along the Way,” we know that the ultimate consequence of disobedience is hell. Those who persist in unbelief will receive the wages of sin: death.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 29:2-29
Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do. - Deuteronomy 29:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the former Soviet Union, the government frequently published maps that were deliberately falsified or erroneous. Towns, rivers, and roads were misplaced or mislabeled. Places were left out. Street maps were inaccurate.

Why? National security. The reasoning was that the less people knew about these things, the more trouble foreign spies and soldiers would have in undermining or invading the country. It was part of a concept called “maskirovka,” meaning misdirection, camouflage, misinformation, or diversion. Such a strategy mostly led to confusion and inefficiency. To get where they’re going, people need accurate maps. For God’s people, the covenant recounted in Deuteronomy was a roadmap for living, one that was wholly accurate and truthful.

Deuteronomy 29–30 is the climax of Israel’s renewal of the covenant. Moses charged the nation, formally standing in the presence of God, the initiator of the covenant, to fulfill carefully their duties and obligations under the terms of the covenant (vv. 9–15).

In Moses’ sermons, the people had heard reminders from their own history, summaries of the Law’s regulations and requirements, and the consequences for obedience and disobedience, interwoven with exhortations to obey and to praise God’s greatness. Interestingly, Moses noted that the nation hadn’t been given the spiritual faculty to comprehend or respond rightly to their experiences (v. 4; cf. Rom. 11:7–8). As his life drew to a close, he took one last shot at persuading them that their future was wrapped up in their covenant relationship and identity.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Throughout Deuteronomy, Moses exhorted the Israelites to remember the Lord their God, to be mindful of His commands, and to be dedicated to living out their covenant relationship with Him. With this in mind, ask the Holy Spirit to probe your heart today. How’s your commitment? Has it grown a little cool toward the things of God? Have you lost your “first love” (Rev. 2:4–5)? Do you treat salvation as some sort of “fire insurance” and do what you please? Are you living out your holy calling?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 30:1-20
Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. - Deuteronomy 30:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
Following the terrorist attacks last September 11, Americans were looking for some security, some peace of mind. Many bought survival self-help books, ordered gas masks, and stockpiled first aid equipment and medicine.

Some exotic products were also rushed to market. By hiding under a “bomb blanket,” for example, a person can be shielded from the shrapnel and fragments of an exploding bomb. For those trapped at the top of a skyscraper, there’s the “Executivechute,” an emergency parachute designed to be used from tall buildings.

How about us? Where do we find security? In what do we put our trust? When life is on the line, what do we do? That’s the question Moses put before the nation in today’s reading.

In addition, he predicted their faithlessness. Despite the consequences of life and death, he basically assumed Israel would disobey and suffer what was described in the curses. At that time, the people should recall to mind the covenant and take it to heart, returning to the Lord with renewed vows of obedience. For His part, God would be merciful and would hear them when they call; He would return them to the land and to a state of blessing and prosperity. He’d delight again in His people, and circumcise their hearts (v. 6). On their own, they’re unable to love God wholeheartedly, so He’ll do for them what they’re unable to do for themselves.

This “forgiveness clause” isn’t found in other Near Eastern covenants or treaties. But with God, a broken covenant can be restored. There’s hope. God’s mercy never runs out. No matter how far away His people have been exiled, He can bring them home (v. 4). His Word is in their hearts--He Himself has given them the power to obey (v. 14).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As it had been for the Israelites, life is also at stake for people today in their relationship with God. Are you rightly related to Him?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 31:1-29
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. - Deuteronomy 31:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
At many churches, job descriptions for volunteer positions often include a line something like this one: “In consultation with church leaders, find, mentor, and train an appropriate replacement for this ministry.” In other words, part of answering a call and accepting the responsibilities of a ministry, whether large or small, is to make sure the work continues after you’ve moved on.

Moses understood this principle well. In these last four days of our study, we’ll see him finish his 120-year pilgrimage and wind up his affairs. Naturally, the issue of succession was key. Though it was God who’d done the real work, and though Moses knew that and had given Him all the glory, when a leader leaves, there is a vacuum. That was certainly true with Moses, the only human leader the recently liberated nation had ever known.

Joshua would be the one to take his place. Chosen by God, appointed by Moses, and publicly commissioned in today’s reading, he was already known as a skilled military leader. It might have been tempting for the people to put their faith in his abilities, so Moses reminded them to trust in God alone for victory in the Promised Land. To Joshua, stepping into some very big shoes, Moses said, “Be strong and courageous,” a theme that carries into the book of Joshua (vv. 7–8, 23; cf. Josh. 1:6–9).

Another important matter was writing down the Law. God had entrusted His words to Moses, and Moses in turn entrusted them to the Levites. The covenant was the foundation of Israel’s existence and their guide to a right relationship with the Lord. A copy of a suzerain-vassal treaty was customarily placed at the nation’s religious center; in Israel’s case, a copy of the Law was placed before the Ark of the Covenant. But the Word wasn’t a museum exhibit! Every seventh year, it was to be read publicly to the entire nation.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We hope that during this month’s study of Deuteronomy you’ve also gained greater insight into and respect for the life and character of Moses. He was a dynamic leader and a powerful intercessor; he had an all-consuming love for God and His people.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 31:30-32:52
He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. - Deuteronomy 32:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Many Asian cultures value and nurture filial piety, which, in part, means honoring and obeying one’s parents and grandparents and putting family duty above personal desires. Many Asian proverbs capture the idea that children can never repay their parents, especially their mothers, for giving them life. Even today, a Chinese college student on her birthday might telephone her parents to thank them. In such cultures, a child’s ingratitude is especially heinous. Few worse forms of selfishness and wickedness can be imagined.

Something like this is behind the father-child relationship described in Moses’ psalm (cf. Rev. 15:3-4). Though this passage is often called the “song of Moses,” perhaps it should be called the “song of God,” since it seems to be the song referred to in Deuteronomy 31:19-22. In those verses, God had spoken about a song that would be a reminder or a witness against the people’s future rebellion. And indeed, this song acknowledges the nation’s covenant responsibilities and the justice of God’s judgment upon them for disobedience.

The psalm starkly contrasts God and Israel. He is worthy of praise, the Rock, just, perfect, faithful, upright, and holy. He’d sovereignly chosen Israel from among the nations, and nurtured it as the “apple of His eye.” He’d taken care of the nation like a mother bird cares for her chicks, and richly provided for all their needs (vv. 10–11). But blessing and comfort brought forgetfulness, and Israel abandoned God. They failed to honor and worship Him, and betrayed their identity as His children (vv. 5–6, 18).

Though the nation acted senselessly, after God’s just anger and judgment of its apostasy, the Lord would have compassion on His people and vanquish their enemies. “He will avenge the blood of His servants . . . and make atonement for His land and people” (v. 43).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you wish, respond creatively to today’s devotion by writing a song of your own. You could imitate Moses by including praise of God; spiritual summaries of personal, family, and national history; and rhetorical questions about how following God is the only option that makes sense. Be sure that your psalm or song puts God and His glory at the center. God is pleased when we make new songs (Ps. 40:3)!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 33:1-29
Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? - Deuteronomy 33:29
TODAY IN THE WORD
What are you afraid of? What causes your palms to sweat and your heart to beat faster? A Gallup poll taken last spring says the most popular answer is snakes. More Americans (51 percent) fear snakes than anything else on a list of thirteen items read to them in random order. Runners-up included public speaking, heights, being confined in a small space, spiders and insects, and needles and getting shots.

“Be strong and courageous,” Moses exhorted. “Do not be afraid or terrified because of [the Canaanites], for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deut. 31:6). As believers, we do not live in response to our fears, but on the foundation of our faith.

That’s the message Moses left with the Israelites before he died. In today’s reading, we find his last recorded words--not the bitter prophecy in chapter 31, nor the exhortation in chapter 32, but these words of blessing. The best blessing Moses could give Israel was the Lord who loved them and kept them safe in His hand (v. 2). He came to them at Sinai and revealed His Word. He was their true King (v. 5).

This formal blessing has an almost patriarchal feel to it, and resembles Jacob’s blessing in Genesis 49. Like Jacob, Moses went tribe by tribe, though not all were mentioned. Judah was associated with military success, and Moses prayed that God would “be his help” (v. 7). Levi was commended for faith and zeal and given the privilege of ministry. Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) was blessed with the “fruitfulness of the everlasting hills” and the “favor of Him who dwelt in the burning bush” (vv. 15–16; cf. Gen. 49:25–26).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Psalm 90 was written by Moses, at the end of Israel’s wanderings in the wilderness. We suggest today that you read it. Though it acknowledges the difficulty of the wanderings and the justice of God in punishing the nation this way, it also shows great faith and love: “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. . . . Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Ps. 90:1, 14).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. - Deuteronomy 32:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
What legacy do you hope to leave behind? In Starting Well: Building a Strong Foundation for a Lifetime of Ministry, author Richard Clinton gives this answer:

“I want to be a Christian leader who has a personal, vibrant relationship with God. A leader who continues to learn throughout my whole life. A leader who has Christlike character and lives according to biblical convictions and promises from God. A leader who accomplishes God’s destiny and purposes for my life, which will involve leaving behind a lasting legacy that testifies to the goodness of God. I want to be a leader who finishes well!”

Amen! On that well-struck note, we arrive today at the death of Moses and the conclusion of our month’s study of Deuteronomy.

Why couldn’t Moses enter the Promised Land? Because his sin of disobedience at Meribah dishonored the Lord (cf. Ps. 106:32–33). As a result, when Israel was about to enter the land promised to their forefathers, Moses wasn’t allowed to go with them. Instead, at God’s direction, he climbed Mt. Nebo, and from there God graciously showed him the land.

Moses died in Moab in good health at the age of 120. His last moments were spent privately with God, surveying the Promised Land and no doubt meditating on the greatness and faithfulness of the Lord. God Himself buried His friend and servant, and to this day the location of the grave remains unknown. Back in the Israelite camp, Joshua picked up the torch of leadership, “filled with the spirit of wisdom” from God (v. 9).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Imagine that you have somehow been given the honor of designing a tombstone for Moses. What would it look like? What would the epitaph read? How would you summarize the life of this great man of God?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 5:1-6:16
I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it? - Luke 6:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
The opening line of the Charles Dickens classic, A Tale of Two Cities, paints a picture of extremes. The people of the day insisted that it was either the best of times or the worst of times, but nowhere in the middle. He wrote, “Some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.”

Jesus was received in similar all-or-nothing fashion. Today, we're introduced to His closest disciples who were willing to leave everything to follow Him. And in contrast, we also witness the religious establishment as their impatience boils over into rage, leading them to plot against Him. His miracles and teachings divided people drastically.

The miraculous catch of fish resulted in an even stronger allegiance from Peter, James, and John. This was not their first experience with Christ, but it marked a turning point in the nature of their roles with Him. The abundant catch would have equaled several weeks of hard work for those men, but they didn't even stop to cash in on their newly caught wealth. They came ashore and “left everything” (5:11).

The more well-known Jesus became, the more people were drawn to Him. Some came to be healed, going to great lengths to see the one they knew had not only the power to heal them, but also the authority to forgive them (5:24). Some people were amazed, but others weren't happy about this at all.

The Pharisees and teachers of the law were watching the dismantling of their own religious empire. Compassion was being valued higher than Sabbath restrictions. Sinners were suddenly treasured dinner guests. Tax collectors, zealots, and traitors were becoming elite followers of the most popular teacher in the land. The Greek word translated furious in the niv (6:11) indicates rage bordering on insanity. For them, it was the worst of times.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Before Jesus selected His twelve apostles, leaders who would receive an elevated level of responsibility and education from Christ, He spent an entire night in prayer. When you have an important decision to make, don't simply ask God to give you wisdom as you strategize in meetings or brainstorming sessions. Devote a major block of time to prayer and prayer alone—no good decision will ever come from ignoring God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Judges 10:1-16
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts . . .” declares the Lord. - Isaiah 55:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
When most people think of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, they think of Tutankhamun, better known as King Tut. Despite his fame in the twenty-first century, however, King Tut was not a particularly impressive monarch by Egyptian standards. Akhenaton, for instance, was far more powerful and wealthy.

Our passage introduces two judges who might remind us of powerful pharaohs, now largely forgotten. After the disastrous reign of Abimelech, Tola “rose to save Israel” (v. 1). The nature of his judgeship and how he accomplished this deliverance is not given to us in Scripture; from the few clues about his family and origin, about the only thing we can deduce about Tola is that he was likely from a well-known, influential family.

Next we encounter Jair. We aren't told anything about his past, but we do see that he had thirty sons (and certainly multiple wives) who along with him controlled a sizeable portion of territory. Beyond this the Bible doesn't tell us what sort of a judge he was, whom he defeated in exciting battles, or even his encounters with God.

The most interesting information about Tola and Jair is that they are listed right before our introduction to Jephthah in the next chapter. As we will see, Jephthah had a disreputable family background and produced no sons. Yet he is the one who merits a mention in the “Hall of Faith” (Heb. 11:32).

This chapter emphasizes the gravity of the Israelites' sin and resulting judgment. Note the idolatry of Israel is repeated to drive home the point: they served the Baals, Ashtoreths, gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammonites, Philistines . . . on and on the list of wickedness continues.

Verses 7 to 16 recount God's punishment on His people for their faithlessness. They are shattered, crushed, and oppressed. When they call out to Him—acknowledging their sin but not turning from it—God challenges them to rely on the false gods they have chosen. Finally, our merciful God could bear their misery no more.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The pivot point in this story (which we'll look at more tomorrow) is verse 16. That means that the hinge—the turning point—is the compassion of the Lord. Those who say that the Old Testament in general, and Judges in particular, depicts an angry god of judgment miss this critical point. God is holy and does allow His people to experience the consequences of their sin. But the critical moments are those derived from His mercy, His overwhelming love for His people. Thank Him for being a God who saves!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joel 1:1-7
Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your forefathers? - Joel 1:2b
TODAY IN THE WORD
Some counselors utilize a concept called “tough love”--a love that is strong enough to be tough when needed. Parents show tough love to a child when they refuse to give in to a temper tantrum. Tough love is strong enough to reprove one who needs correction, and it is willing to allow others to suffer the consequences of their foolish actions in the hope that they will learn from their experiences.

God often expresses tough love in the form of divine discipline. Jesus told the church of Laodicea, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent” (Rev. 3:19). This was also God’s message to His people through the prophet Joel.

We do not know when the book of Joel was written. The lack of any reference to Judah’s king has prompted some scholars to suggest that it was written during the time when Joash, the boy king, ruled Judah (835-739 B.C., see 2 Kings 11–12). Other scholars think that the book was written some time after the Babylonian exile. All that is known of the book’s author is that his name was Joel and that he was the son of Pethuel (v. 1).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Can you think of the events in your life that God has used to get your attention? Perhaps He has used the consequences of your own actions to help you see the folly of making sinful choices. Or He may have used circumstances that are beyond your control to show you your need for His power and grace. Such experiences are not for your benefit alone. Like the tough love experienced by those in Joel’s day, these lessons can benefit others. Ask some trusted friends to share some things God has used to get their attention and the lessons they learned as a result. Share your story and thank God together for His tough love.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joel 1:8-12
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret. - 2 Corinthians 7:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, the British painter and poet, was so desolate when his wife committed suicide after only two years of marriage that he vowed to bury the poems he had written for her. He placed the book in the coffin, wrapped in the tresses of her long hair. But after a few years Rossetti regretted his decision. He believed that the poems were some of the best he had ever written. It seemed senseless to leave them buried. After a lengthy court battle Rossetti won the legal right to open the grave and recover the book.

Rossetti’s change of heart is similar to the way some people approach repentance. They may resolve to make changes or take action. But when the initial discomfort of their guilt dies down, they may have second thoughts and regret their decision. Others would prefer to avoid the discomfort of repentance altogether. They prefer a painless faith without the anguish of repentance. God, however, values repentance. One reason He allowed the people of Joel’s day to experience the devastation of the locust plagues was to bring them to a point of genuine grief over their sins (v. . The resulting cessation of grain and drink offerings served as a painful reminder of the way their sins had hindered their fellowship with God (cf. Num. 29:39). These were hard measures designed to shatter their complacency. God intended for His people to feel remorse for their sin. The Hebrew term that is translated “despair” in verse 11 might also be translated “be ashamed.” But this was not His only purpose. He did not merely hope that these experiences would make people feel badly about their sins. He also wanted them to “wail” or lament (v. 11). True repentance expresses sorrow for sin.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Can you think of a time when you felt sorrow for sin? How did you respond to the sense of guilt and shame that you experienced? Not all sorrow for sin is true repentance. Genuine repentance may be painful, but it will enable you to see your need for the forgiveness that only Christ can offer. It is not too late to express your repentance for sin and to ask for God’s help in making the necessary changes in your life. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joel 1:13-15
Just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ. - Romans 5:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
When Arthur Andersen auditing firm was indicted for destroying documents related to a Federal investigation of one of its clients, some of the firm’s employees staged a public protest. One employee even wrote to the President of the United States, complaining that the indictment was unfair because of what it implied about the thousands of honest employees who worked for the company. “They are casting doubt on our honesty and our integrity,” he wrote. Some of the people of Joel’s day would identify with this complaint. They too may have wondered whether it was fair for many to suffer for the sins of a few.

The plague of locusts that had so devastated Israel’s crops carried an important lesson. Sin is not just an individual matter--it is a corporate one as well. The proper response was for God’s people to take responsibility for the sins of their nation and seek God’s forgiveness. Speaking through the prophet, the Lord called for Israel’s national and religious leaders to publicly express their grief for their sin in a “holy fast” and a “sacred assembly” (v. 14). The priests were instructed to take the lead and summon both the elders and the people to the sanctuary in order to fast and cry out to God for deliverance.

The Bible supports the idea of corporate guilt. Israel’s defeat at Ai is a good example (see Josh. 7). Only one man violated God’s command not to take any of the plunder from the defeat of Jericho, yet the Lord spoke in plural terms when He apportioned the blame (Josh. 7:1). Only one man had sinned, yet both the guilt and its consequences were shared.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Just as in Joel’s day, one way that God’s people can express their grief over sin is through fasting. Fasting does not remove guilt--only God’s grace could do that for them. But it is a way to express repentance. If your physical health permits, why not skip a meal and spend that time confessing sin to the Father? Pray for yourself, your church, and your nation--God is pleased by our recognition of our corporate responsibility and our heartfelt repentance. When you are finished, thank God for His grace and mercy.