Notes from my Bible Study for April 16, 2010

Today's Reading: Psalm 106, Leviticus 13, Isaiah 13‐14, 2 Cor 10:1‐12

Psalm 106 - 6 Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness.

I appreciate the fact that the writer of Psalm 106 confesses the sin of his people, not just the sins of the ancestors of his people. Psalm 106 is a historical look at the grievous sins of the Children of Israel. Throughout the history of the great nation, there had been sin. Over and over again the Israelites turned from the God of Israel to pagan gods. And, over and over again God forgave them. When we have sinned, we need to confess it. We need to own up to the fact that we have sinned. And, we need to turn from that sin and to God. Don't blame others for the sin in your life. Humanity has been doing that from the beginning (see Adam blaming Eve for his sin in Genesis 3) and it's not very original.

20 They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass.

In the long litany of sins that the psalmist writes regarding the Israelites relationship to God, this one stuck out to me. It seems crazy to me that a group of people would exchange the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. How stupid can you be? And yet, so many of us do the same thing today. We trade the glory of God for our own pleasures that cannot now, or ever, compare to God's glory. Don't be like the Children of Israel! Worship God, and God only. Nothing else is worth it.

Leviticus 13 - This chapter concerns itself with the laws about leprosy. Leprosy was a terrible and all too common disease in the ancient near east world. It's sad to read how difficult life was for those who struggled with the disease.

Isaiah 13-14 - 11 I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.

The proud Babylonian people had ignored God. They tried to make a mockery of the Jewish religion. But, God warns Babylon that judgment is coming.

In Is. 14:12-20 there is a major parallel shown between the fall of the King of Babylon and the fall from heaven of Lucifer. It's fascinating reading, and some of the most important teaching on Satan in all of the Bible.

2 Corinthians 10:1-12 - 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

There is something so beautiful about Paul's defense of his ministry in this section of Scripture. I love that Paul and his partners in ministry were taking every thought captive, so that they might obey Christ. This is never easy but always worth it.