by donfinto | Jul 13, 2016 | The Good Report
Strange, but there are scriptures I dread reading!
I read one of them again this morning – the story of David and Bathsheba. What horrendous consequences followed the lustful godless decision of one night!
Yes, I know God later describes David as a “man after God’s own heart.” That’s the good news, and, I might add, very comforting and encouraging good news.
But it should not have happened. And so many people suffered as a result of one man’s sin.
Sin always has consequences – maybe not as dramatic as in the life of David, but sin always has consequences.
The story is recorded so that we will learn!
Surrender! Be on guard! Make no compromises!
May God grant each of us to guard our hearts against the big three – lust, greed, pride – in all their expressions, and stay full of His Holy Spirit Who will guard our hearts and minds! That’s good news and will bring a Good Report!
by donfinto | Jun 8, 2016 | The Good Report
“Selah.” Strange word. Appears in Scripture over 70 times. Primarily in the Psalms,but also three times in Habakkuk.
When I’ve read Scripture in times past and come across the word with its uncertain meaning, I would almost be annoyed with its interruption to my perhaps too rapid reading.
“Probably a musical term, its meaning is uncertain,” a comment to the recent NIV translation (that keeps changing), notes. “Since it may interrupt reading and distract the reader, this word has not been kept in the English text, but every occurrence has been signaled by a footnote.”
Wait a minute! I thought. What right do they have to take this word out of Scripture and relegate it to a footnote? I’ve begun to like the word! Yes, it interrupts my reading, but it makes me remember to slow down, to pause, to ponder, to meditate. Maybe that’s the intention!
Rather than take this word out of Scripture, I’ve rather made it a part of my entire Bible reading plan: Slow down! Think about that! Drink this in! Receive! Let’s not take Selah out. Let’s put more “Selahs” into our relationship with Jesus, with the Father, with Holy Spirit!
by donfinto | May 25, 2016 | The Good Report
I’ve told you there are scriptures that I dread reading. I’ve read them before, I know what’s going to happen, and I hate to read it again.
One of those scriptures is Joshua 9:14.
Joshua, a mighty man of God, the man who would stay at the “Tent of Meeting” with the Lord even after his mentor, Moses, would leave the tent (see Exodus 33:11), God’s chosen successor to Moses, and the man who had led Israel in possessing the land of the giants in fulfillment of God’s promise – this Joshua made a dreadful decision one day, a decision that caused great anguish in the whole of Israel.
A tribe of Hivites “resorted to a ruse” (Joshua 9:3) when they heard how Israel was conquering their land. The Gibeonites with their stale bread, ragged clothing, and cracked wineskins, told Joshua they had come from a distant land and had heard of the fame of Joshua and his God. “Make a treaty with us,” they begged.
Our biblical scribe says, “The men of Israel sampled their provisions, but did not inquire of the Lord. Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath (vv. 14-16).”
Three days later, they learned the truth, but it was too late. Joshua and the leaders kept their oath, but “the whole assembly grumbled against the leaders” (v. 18).
Ah, yes, Lord! Please alert us! Let us remember that human wisdom is never enough! You have sent Your Spirit to guide us! We must continually inquire of You! Only You can save us from disaster!
