Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19, Luke 10:13-37, Psalms 75:1-10, Proverbs
12:12-14
Today is the 3rd day of April, welcome to the Daily
Audio Bible I’m Brian it’s great to be here with you as…as we move into this
month, settle into the month of April and continue our journey through this
year together day by day, step-by-step. And it is a supreme honor to be here
with you today to see where this next step in the story of the Bible leads us.
So, we’re working our way through Deuteronomy and we have several days left working
through Deuteronomy. And I’ve kind of reminded us along the way, these are the
last things that Moses has to say. And some of the things that he has to say
are review of things that we lived through in the Scriptures, and he’s
reminding the people primarily of a few things - who they are, where they came
from, where they’re going, who God is. And we all need these reminders every
day. So, let’s take that next step…step forward in the Old Testament.
Deuteronomy chapters 23, 24, and 25 today.
Commentary:
Okay. So, in the book of Luke today Jesus tells a very, very
famous parable, a very famous story, the story of the good Samaritan, so it’s unlikely
that none of us know this story. In fact, all of us should know this story, we
just read even if was your first high, but it’s a very famous parable that
gives us a sense of who is my neighbor, that is the question that Jesus is
answering. “If you’re to love your neighbor as yourself, then define for me,
which is…this a very rabbinical Hebrew thing to do…then define for me who is my
neighbor because if that can be explicitly defined, then it can be explicitly
known whether I’m obeying tat command or not.” So, by way of giving an explicit
definition Jesus tells the story, which reveals that it’s not going to be as
tidy as everybody wanted it to be. And Jesus wanders in some…into some
territory here. The back story of this story is so compelling. Even though the
story stands on its own, the back story makes it riveting because Jesus walked
into some interesting territory, like a long-running simmering battle over who
has the true faith, who is worshiping the true God is baked in here. So, a man
was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, Jesus said, and he got attacked by
robbers on that way. So the road down from Jerusalem to Jericho is an 18 mile
walk through the Kedron Valley that is very very steep and very dangerous in
certain areas and was notorious for bandits, especially once you got out into
the desert, especially once it was opening up in Jerusalem. This was the valley
of the shadow of death that David wrote Psalm 23 about. So, a man getting
jumped and beaten up and robbed, not a good thing but not an unusual thing on
this road leads. And these robbers, they strip off the guys clothes, they beat
him. He’s beaten up. He’s half dead and then Jesus starts commenting and
defining this neighbor concept. A priest is going down the road, sees the man
beaten up, gets to the other side of the road, keeps going right on by him. A Levite,
right? So, these are the top people leading God’s people, the religious people.
A Levite sees the guy, passes on the other side as well. Then a Samaritan comes
by and cares for him. And we can deduce just at the surface level of the story
that this is a big deal, that this Samaritan would be the one to care for him.
So, basically this goes back into the Old Testament and we get to the tine…when
we get to the time of the kings, we will read of all of this, when there does
come a point when the kingdoms divide. Like in the Old Testament there isn’t
even a kingdom yet. We haven’t crossed the Jordan River, but we will cross the
Jordan River when we get to the next book, the book of Joshua. Eventually there
is a kingdom. Eventually there are kings. Eventually, the kingdoms split into
two different kingdoms, the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom
of Judah. The northern kingdom falls into idolatry, into a highly modified way
of doing worship and eventually this northern kingdom sets its capital in a new
city named Samaria. And eventually the Assyrian Empire attacks, Samaria, and
the kingdom of Israel, destroying it. And one of the ways of Empire building at
the time was to displace the people that were conquered, like to move them into
exile into some other conquered territory while taking that other conquered
people and moving them in so that the concept of a like a homeland gets
obliterated over generations. So, the kingdom of Israel was already doing some
wacky stuff, then they were taken into exile, then all of these new people come
in and mix in and they don’t know how to worship the God of the land. And, so,
a priest is appointed to show them and its…it’s different than what’s going on
in Jerusalem. Those 10 tribes in the north, they kind of disappear, they are
assimilated. They disappear. And there’s all this mixture in the north.
Eventually the kingdom of Judah also falls and is taken into exile after the
same fashion only by the Babylonian Empire. And then later, not to make this
all completely confusing, but later the Persian Empire defeats the Babylonian
empire and allows this remnant of Hebrew people to go back to this land that
used to be their…their homeland. Meanwhile, the people of Samaria, they've…they’re
their mixed up, but they’ve been there all along, and they’ve been trying to
worship and even worship Yahweh, but they do it completely different. And, so,
they are looked down upon. They don’t mingle with each other. A long-running
family rift that ended up in a divided kingdom. All kinds of different worship
styles and understandings separated these people groups. So, for Jesus to make
a Samaritan, the hero of this story while trying to answer the question, “who
is my neighbor”, this is kind of a big deal, especially when He places a priest
and a Levite in the story and they pass this wounded person by who was likely a
fellow Hebrew. He’s critiquing the Hebrew religion in the process. To make a
Samaritan the hero of the story is to make someone who shouldn’t be trusted,
who shouldn’t be interacted with, who you definitely shouldn’t be friendly
toward, who you should be suspicious of, that’s who He’s making the hero of the
story. So, on the one hand, Jesus is unpacking “anybody can be a neighbor no
matter what they think, no matter what you think of them. No matter what they
believe anybody can be a neighbor.” But He’s also commenting on the religious
establishment here because in this story they weren’t the neighbor. But I don’t
think we really need to unpack this anymore to know how it overlays with our
own lives. I mean to get ourselves in the story all we have to do is think
about the people that we are suspicious of, the people that we don’t trust. Maybe
they don’t look like us, maybe they do, but for whatever reason, they are
marginalized in our mind as less than in some way. And we just lead ourselves
into the story like Jesus led his hearers. Suppose we are the one that gets
jumped and robbed and it doesn’t happen by the people that we’re suspicious of.
And then the ones that we would expect that would come to our rescue don’t. And
then it is the one that we’ve marginalized, that we’ve considered less than, the
one that we’re suspicious of that comes and actually cares for our needs. Then
we enter into the disruption that Jesus story is intended to bring about. You
don’t have to be a Christian to be a good neighbor, but if you are a believer
and act like the religious people in this story, then you are not a good
neighbor. And if we’ll take that and stir it into our coffee and drink it down
and observe ourselves this day, we will find ourselves in this story because
the ultimate question is, “who are we in this story?”
Prayer:
Father, we invite You into that. Who are we in this story?
What are our responses and prejudices and stereotypes and suspicions? Where are
they leading us? And do they give us eyes to see and ears to hear at all? Are
they helping us in that regard? This parable that You told today Jesus, it’s
ancient now, couple thousand years since it’s been spoken and yet it is every
bit as poignant as it ever was. It’s timeless because it is speaking to our
hearts and the posture of heart that we carry toward others. And, so, we invite
You into that. Give us eyes to see Your kingdom and how we might see everyone
as our neighbor. Come Holy Spirit we pray into this we ask in Jesus name. Amen.
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Also, what’s going on around here is the next installment, the
next chapter of Sneezing Jesus. We’ve been releasing a chapter a day through
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Jesus. But now the book is turned into Jesus final moments. And, so, this is
poignant because…because we’re coming into holy week. And, so, this wasn’t timed
for this, but it’s a beautiful thing because…because the chapters of the book
are gonna put us in that posture of mind and heart as we reflect on what holy
week means and move toward Good Friday and move toward Easter. And, so, today’s
chapter is called Eucharist. And we will be in that chapter exploring the
arrest, the trial, the execution of Jesus. And, so, don’t miss that. And in a way
I’m kind of sad it’s going to come to…to a close tomorrow that it will be ending
tomorrow but I am so grateful that we have been able to have this opportunity.
But we’re not there yet. We’ve got today. We’ve got tomorrow. And…and when that
ends, we still have every day, every day to continue our journey through the
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Community Prayer and Praise:
Hi this is Victoria Soldier just calling tonight to pray for
some of the DABbers. I was listening at Gavin and I heard about his brother who
lost his wife at 27 years old. Oh my Lord and what the poor man is going
through. I’m doping…I’m praying for you and your family. I want to pray for
them right now Gavin. I also want to pray for Asia and all the Asian people and
what they’re going through because of the confusion of people going to blame
them. Don’t they know that…that any kind of disease is come from sin, it doesn’t
come from people. Lord they…we ask you to touch them Lord and open up their
eyes and help them to look towards Jesus for healing instead of a finger to
blame. I understand what you’re going through Asia. I’m…I’…I’ve been a black
American. We…we…we know…we…we’ve faced those situations before, but God is
faithful and He’s able. He brought us from a mighty long way and He still haven’t
stopped. He said he that is started a good work in you shall perform until the of
Jesus Christ. Lord, I’m not only praying for this nation but I’m praying for
the people who are going through because of it even the medical people. I’m
praying that God will heal this nation and will open up our eyes and help us to
love one another and come together as what we call ourselves, a United States
not of divided states. Gracious Father we praise You, we lift You up, we
magnify Your name. Lord I pray for that Father that lost his life and he has
those children to raise. Lord You have Your way. Lord You have Your way, You
touch him, You strengthen him like never before. Lord things it’s so…some things
Lord we just don’t know the answer. All we need to do is trust in You because You’re
a God, You’re a great God, You’re a mighty God, You’re a holy God through the
good time as well as the bad and that …
This is Free Indeed in Western Maryland calling in today for
a couple reasons. First of all, I was prompted the other day to call for one of
my coworkers for prayer from. The reason that I’m calling for prayer for him is,
I guess it’s also partially for me. I know I’m probably not the only one that
has those coworkers that are just hard to get along with. He is the kind of guy
who periodically comes in late and by late, I mean once or twice a week, 15
minutes here a half hour there. Somebody else has to cover the work for him.
And he’s just the kind of guy that makes it hard for me to love. I try really
hard to love everybody and he just makes it hard for me. But also, he brings
these books to work that I’ll see him reading and it’s like __ on the book of
the dead, 777 by Alister Crowley, the satanic bible. So, he has these other
things that I know I should be praying for and I was prompted on Wednesday to
call and pray for him and I didn’t and as a result my brother ended up in an
argument with him. And…and I was thinking then, I wasn’t being obedient to God.
That’s my fault. I should’ve called. And then I thought, “okay I need to call
tomorrow morning”, which would’ve been Thursday morning. I didn’t call again.
Thursday morning, he and I ended up in an argument. So, the whole purpose I
guess is to pray for Steve that God will lead him where he needs to lead him,
that God will open his heart and that…and he’ll forgive me for not being
obedient. So, guys when you’re prompted by the Holy Spirit to pray for
somebody, please, please follow my example and…
[singing starts] Dear father you’re too high in the lowest
valley. Yes, I will bless your name. Oh yes, I will sing for joy when my heart
is heavy all my days yes, I will for all my days yes, I will [singing ends].
Good day Daily Audio Bible family this is Sherry calling from British Columbia
Canada. Feel free to not play this message if you don’t want to but I just got a
prayer chain from my grandmother who actually was the reason I came to know
Jesus. And it’s a call to just say the Lord’s prayer, not just, but to say the
Lord’s prayer in a hope of putting a stop to the latest coronavirus. So, I’m gonna
do the prayer with you because it said eight people but you’re way more than
eight so please join me. Our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy
kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our
daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for yours
is the kingdom the power and the glory forever and ever amen. Lord, we just ask
that you would put a stop to this coronavirus and that you would receive all
the praise, all the honor, and all the glory. Please share with your friends
and family. Have a good evening. I love you DAB. This is Sherry from British
Columbia Canada. Bye-bye.
Good morning, I live in New York City and as everyone is
aware, we are sort of at the heart of the coronavirus issue and…and I really
just want to ask for prayer for our government leaders and specifically leaders
of government agencies. God has placed a lot of us in those…in those places and
some in places of leadership and I’m just acutely aware that our city is in
need and our leaders are indeed of God’s wisdom. And there are a lot of us who
know Him and not just by name. And we know Him, God as being holy and powerful
and sovereign. And we are humbling ourselves and just asking for His wisdom.
So, if you would just agree with me and so many others across the city that God
would just pour out His wisdom in the same way that He did with Joseph to help
preserve and sustain the lives of those who are dependent on the city and the
economy for their livelihood. So, thank you so much for agreeing with me in
prayer. And thank you…thank you for believing that God is able. And He is. Amen.
This is Candace from Oregon praying for you, each one. I’m
reading to you from the Voice version of the Bible, the last verse of John 16 and
the first versus of James 1. In this world Jesus said you will be plagued with
times of trouble, but you need not fear, I have triumphed over this corrupt
world order. Don’t run from toughened hardships James tells us. Don’t run from
toughened hardships brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are you will
ultimately find joy in them. If you embrace them your faith will blossom under
pressure and teach you true patients as you endure. And true patients brought
on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the
finish line mature, complete, wanting nothing. If you don’t have all the wisdom
needed for this journey, then all you have to do is ask God for it and God will
grant all that you need. He gives lavishly and never scolds you for asking.
Jesus said, in this world you will be plagued with times of trouble, but you
need not fear. I have overcome the world…
Hello this is Rachel from Pennsylvania. Dear God,
I want to thank You for everything You have done for us and given us. I just
praise You and I want to thank You for the hard times and the trials that You’re
sending our way that is helping us to grow and become closer to You. I…I just
pray that You strengthen us in our thoughts in our minds in our hearts so that
we can put our faith in You and move every day step-by-step in faith with You.
Help us to just give all of our worries and our problems over to You and…and
know and be confident that You’re going to take care of us, that You’re going
to provide for us, that You’re going to give us our next meal that…that we need
to survive and that You’re going to come through financially if we need it, You
know, for shelter and, You know, that You will always fulfill our needs if we…if
we put our faith in You. So, I just pray for strength and guidance and wisdom
for us who are struggling. And I just pray that You protect our minds and
protect our families. Help us to be able to get along with…with each other and…and
help each other out go out of our way just please help us to come together and
support each other through these hard times that…