Joshua 7:16-9:2, Luke 16:1-18, Psalms 82:1-8, Proverbs 13:2-3
Today is the 13th day of April welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I am Brian it is wonderful to be here with you today as we gather once again around the Global Campfire and find our places and get cozy and take the next step forward together. And our next step leads us back to where we left off. And that leads us back into the book of Joshua. We’re just getting going. We’ve crossed the Jordan River. We’re in the promised land. The walls of Jericho have fallen. They’ve gone to the nearby city of Ai to conquer it and were routed and fled. And this caused great mourning, until the Lord said the reason that this is happening is because you’ve already…you’ve already broken covenant with me you’ve already disobeyed. Someone has taken what has been forbidden and is made everyone guilty and that is where we pick up the story today Joshua chapter 7 verse 16 through 9 verse 2 today.
Commentary:
Okay. So, we can kind go back…back and forth between what we read in Judges today and what we read in the gospel of Luke today because there are parallels there. So, the children of Israel were defeated at Ai, right? Remember that? They ran away and everybody was freaking out and looking for answers that they that they found. There was a person. His name was Aiken and he had stolen plunder from Jericho, even though he knew that was to break covenant and disobey God not only upon himself but also upon the entire community of Israel. Aiken lusted after…after things and took those things and it did not end well. And we could just stop right there and understand when we lust for things that are forbidden, and we take those things and hide them it is not going to end well. Like, this is one of the moments we see the pathways. We see what happened. We see where the road led. We apply it to our lives. Anything that we will lust for and exalt in our lives to a place above God, or that interferes with our union and relationship with God is probably an idol. And we know enough about this already, but it will be abundantly and crystal clear that nothing good comes from idolatry. It leads us into a false reality further and further from God. In Aiken’s case, it was plunder.
In the gospel of Luke today Jesus said, “nobody can serve two masters. You’ll hate one and love the other. You will be devoted to one and despise the other.” Aiken chose his master, defying the covenant that the people had entered into to to obey and be faithful to their God, to God. So, we need to not underestimate this because we see that the road leads to destruction. We go to God. We ask for what we want. We ask for what we need but so often we’re doing this asking while continually being disobedient and unfaithful. We want God show up and give us what we need, and we don’t want to have to obey or be faithful. But that’s not how it seems to work. God isn’t going to bestow upon us things that will ultimately be poison to us. He’s not going to give us things that will ultimately gain control over us because of our lusts and passions, things that will replace his sovereignty in our lives, things that we will put our hope and trust in, things that we will worship hoping that it will give us life. What parent would do that? What father would do that? He won’t do it because He’s insecure. He won’t do it because it will destroy us. Everything that we lust after, or desire is something that is actually best for us or even good for us. And, so, we kind of have to do a self-check. Are we being faithful? Are we being true? Are we being loyal? Are we being obedient? Is what we’re asking of the Father something we can…we can even handle? Let’s go back to Luke for a second. I’m quoting Jesus. “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?” And, so, the lesson for us to really consider today is what is it that has or is gaining control over us? What are we willingly giving power to that is not God and are we simply asking God to make that thing that we have put our hope and trust in to work for us as if it could be a false God? Aiken gives us a picture of disobedience and breaking faith and covenant due to lust and passion for other things. Let’s take an examination of the terrain of our own hearts and see what path we are walking.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, come into that. We don’t want or desire to walk anywhere near the path that leads to destruction. We don’t want any of that. But so often we allow things to take over and blur…blur our vision and confuse us. We allow things to twist us backward so that we’re suspicious of You when its our suspicious behavior that we need to be examining. Forgive us Lord. The only way that this can work is if You give us eyes to see and ears to hear, the ability to slow down and seek You and find the piece that You bring. Come Holy Spirit as we consider this today we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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Community Prayer and Praise:
Hello, my Daily Audio Bible this is Lori it’s April 7th I’ve just been listening to the community prayer for April 1st, and I heard Victoria from Ohio’s prayer request and her whole situation with her husband and how she’s being alone and her rest and how she wants out of her marriage. O, Victoria I just know that you’re not alone, that there are people out here praying for you. And I just…I’m praying for a breakthrough in your situation. I’m praying that the Lord God puts the right words whenever you are communicating with your husband, that no matter what happens that you know that this is a season and that he’s with you each and every step of the way through this season. I pray Lord that You just surround her with love with Your presence Lord, that even the darkest times when she just feels like there’s no one Lord that she’s reminded there are people out here that love her who are praying for her and her husband Lord. I pray Lord for breakthrough and this marriage lord and I pray lord that You…that You give her the answers that she seeks Lord or the relief that she seeks Lord. I pray this in Your name. Amen.
Hi Daily Audio Bible family this is Thankful and Still and today’s April 7th. I just finished listening to today and at the end the song Were You There played, and it just really struck a nerve. And before the weekend gets rolling with activities and services and family and friends just…I want to take time to just thank the Lord. So, heavenly Father, I just thank You. I thank You for having compassion on us, Your children. I thank You Jesus for dying on the cross for us. I thank You for the path that led You to the cross, coming down in the form of a human child and being raised and…and learning a trade, and interacting with those around You, and Your ministry here on earth with the disciples and feeling alone at times. And I thank You that when I feel alone, I can be reminded that…that You’re always with me. You’re always with us and I’m so grateful Lord. Thank You that You are You, and that You rose again, and that You’re so marvelous, so amazing, and…and even when I was not worthy You did it anyway. Thank You so much. I love You Lord.
hey guys, good afternoon this is Be Filled Bridget from New York City currently I’m in Puerto Rico on a vacation and today’s Good Friday and I wanted to share two things. One is a praise report. My daughter as you all know was a witness to the murder of her fiancé five…almost five years ago in June and I just wanted to thank you all for your prayers because she shared today with me that she for the first time since he’s been murdered was able to sleep without a nightmare since last night. Last night she slept through the night and did not have a nightmare for the first time in four years. This is after she saw these two young men in court and shared her testimony of what she witnessed. You know, I truly believe that when we speak and share the hurt and the pain and the things that we experience that God does what He says in our word…in His word…sorry…and He heals us. And I believe that she has the…she has finally faced the giant that was tormenting her. I just ask you all to continue to pray because they’re taking it to trial, and she will have to testify again. And just keep this in prayer, you know, pray for everyone involved, our families. I do pray for their souls and for them to be saved and just that God’s mercies and justice will unfold. I thank you all for your prayers. I love you guys. God bless you and I pray that those of you hurting would take time to confess to the Lord.
Good morning Daily Audio Bible family this is Karen calling from Florida. I’m just listening. Today it’s Saturday and hearing a young man call about his friend Chico who was in a terrible car accident and we just want to pray for him today. So, today Lord we just come before you and we lift up Chico to you. Thank You, Lord that You are good, and You are gracious, and You are mighty, and You are wholly and powerful and awesome indeed. And we’re asking for Your mercy on this Young man’s life today Father God. We just pray that You’d heal his body and that this would be a great and mighty testimony to who You are Lord God, that…that going forward from this time, this terrible terrible time, what the enemy meant for evil You will use this for good and You will just use this Young man Father God to share Your truth into this world and many will come to know the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ through this terrible trauma. Again, Lord I just…I just ask for a healing of his body, every molecule, every atom, every ligament in his body would be restored into normal and I pray for strength for his friend. I know he says he’s not calling for him and I thank You that he is such a humble Young man, but I do pray for Your strength for him God, that You just protect his heart and help him through this terrible time Lord God. Thank You that You hear our cries and hear our prayers and You’re there with us Lord. Give him strength to go through what he needs to be going through right now Father God. Thank You that You’re always with us and we can put all our faith and trust in You in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Hey DAB fam I just kind of wanted to give a praise report. And I’m just really humbled by the way God works in our lives. And you guys probably remember my 12-year-old got diagnosed with __ depressive disorder and this is also the daughter who had asked Braden As the Doves Send to be praying for when she was going through a really hard time. She kind of has like hording tendencies. Her room gets disgusting. You can’t see the floor. It’s a good representation of probably how she how she feels on the inside. And I was talking to two friends at work and telling them that, you know, I've…I’ve really gotta get her and I’ve really gotta get that room cleaned out because I’ve bought her new furniture and we’re gonna paint her room and we’re going to kind of make it someplace that she can…her…her safe space, someplace she can be proud of and maybe that’ll help her keep it clean. Those two friends came over yesterday in their pajamas, brought coffee and breakfast, took a look over that bedroom that smells like rotten cheese and they didn’t judge me. They rolled up their sleeves and said alright let’s take care of this. And I’m just so blessed and so grateful that God put those two women in my life, that there was absolutely no judgment, just love. And I just wanted publicly to thank God for that blessing. Thanks DAB fam.