Day 76: War Against Midian

Today's readings: Numbers 31, Deuteronomy 30, and Psalm 116.

I. In Numbers 31, revenge upon Midian was brought as Israel crushed them in battle. Given the grave sin against God that they had led Israel into at Peor, it's understandable why Moses was a bit bloodthirsty. Balaam also gets his due in this chapter, which, like five kings of the Midianites, is death. No Israelites are reportedly lost in the battle, but the Midianites took heavy losses. The way this is written definitely is like something from the ancient world, a very brutal time when the sanctity of life wasn't respected, and much of what we know today had barely begun to develop. Forget Just War Theory or even the Geneva Convention. War crime? What's that? The slaughter of male children and the females who are not virgins would be a horrific war crime today, but was normal business in warfare back then. I must admit to struggling with this one, which I know many have for centuries.

II. In Deuteronomy 30, we see that even if Israel sins, which Moses clearly knew they would, as they had previously, restoration with God is possible through repentance. Moses is firm in upholding God's Law, but almost compassionate to the Israelites in giving hope even in the face of grave sin, giving them a choice in this moving verse:

I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live (30:19)

Before this is the hope that Moses gives for those who repent and return to the Lord:

And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (30:6)

In this chapter, Moses is acting like a father figure to the Israelites, stern when needed yet compassionate as well. 

III. Psalm 116 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A thanksgiving psalm. The Psalmist remembers when the Lord saved him from the brink of death. In distress he called upon the Lord and vowed to offer a thanksgiving service in return for deliverance. The setting of this psalm is the fulfillment of this vow, where the Psalmist, rescued from his plight, gives testimony to God's help before the congregation in the Temple. The Greek LXX and Latin Vulgate divide Ps 116 into two psalms numbered Ps 114 (= 116:1-9) and Ps 115 (= 116:10-19). Psalm 116 is one of the Hallel psalms. (p. 932)

That's it for today! 

Day 75: The Keeping of Vows

Today's readings: Numbers 29-30, Deuteronomy 29, and Psalm 113.

I. Numbers 29 continues the listing of offerings and sacrifices the Israelites were commanded to present during important holy days, which is similar to the previous chapter, but focuses on major festivals.

The next chapter deals with the seriousness of vows and oaths made to God, especially concerning how vows functioned within Israelite family structure and authority. There is a reflection of the times in the fact that women's vows could be annulled by their father or husband.

II. Deuteronomy 29 continues Moses’ final speeches before Israel enters the Promised Land. The focus here is the renewal of the covenant between God and Israel in the land of Moab. Israel is to remember the great things that He has done on their behalf, but miracles alone don't guarantee faithfulness. Idolatry, especially, is a sign of unfaithfulness, which Israel is warned about as well as presuming upon God’s mercy while persisting in sin.

III. Psalm 113 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A psalm of praise, celebrating the Lord's glorious name (113:1-3). It issues a call to worship in view of two truths: God is enthroned in heaven, far above creation (113:4-6), and yet God is active on earth, working in the lives of the afflicted (113:7-9). The Psalmist thus affirms God's transcendence as well as God's immanence. Psalm 113 is one of the Hallel Psalms. (p. 930-31)

That's it for today!

Day 74: Joshua Appointed

Today's readings: Numbers 27-28, Deuteronomy 28, and Psalm 112.

I. Numbers 27 begins with an ordinance that God gave through Moses, allowing the daughters of men who died to inherit when there are no brothers, rather than have the land pass out of the family line. This shows God’s concern for justice and family inheritance, and is actually quite a surprise to me for the times. Moses is then told by God to go up Mt. Abarim, reminded of his upcoming death, why he will not enter the Promised Land, and instructed to appoint Joshua as his successor. The last part makes perfect sense as Joshua is the military leader needed for the impending campaign in Canaan. 

The next chapter shifts the focus from Israel’s journey and leadership to the regular worship Israel must maintain in the Promised Land. God tells Moses to instruct the Israelites on offerings they must give daily, on Sabbaths, monthly, and on festival days.

II. Deuteronomy 28 reflects upon the covenantal between God and Israel, in that the latter's faithfulness to the Former brings blessing, while rebellion brings judgment. As the Ignatius Bible notes:

The sanctions of the Deuteronomic covenant, i.e., the blessings that come as rewards for obedience (28:1-14) and the curses that come as punishments on disobedience (28:15-68). Both possibilities are conditional, as indicated by the "if" in 28:1 and 28:15. Blessings and curses likewise appear in ancient Near Eastern treaties and law codes from the second millennium B.C. (Hittite vassal treaties, the Code of Hammurabi, the Laws of Lipit-Ishtar). A few of the curses in Deut 28 find parallels in first-millennium texts from Assyria (Vassal Treaties of Esarhaddon). (p. 316)

The curses here are quite lengthy and sobering! 

I like how the BIY Companion, Vol 1, comments on this:

The Lord promises blessing even if we do not experience immediate blessings as a consequence of doing good. In the end, we get what we choose - good or evil, blessing or curse. (p. 158) 

III. Psalm 112 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A wisdom psalm that begins like a psalm of praise. It teaches that obedience to God's commands leads to peace and security in this life, even for future generations. Paradoxically, it is the man who lends to people in need (112:5) and gives alms to the poor (112:9) who has riches in his house (112:3). HIs generosity is inspired by his trust in the Lord, who bestows generous blessings (112:7). Psalm 112 is an acrostic psalm in which each poetic line begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. (p. 930) 

That's all for today!

Day 73: Inheritance of Land

 Today's readings: Numbers 26, Deuteronomy 27, and Psalm 111.

I. Numbers 26 records a new census of Israel after the wilderness generation had largely died because of their rebellion. So basically, this census mirrors the one at the beginning of Numbers, but now it is a new generation standing on the edge of Canaan. Though an entire generation fell in the wilderness due to their sins, Israel itself survived. God remained faithful to His covenant with Abraham.

As the BIY Companion, Vol 1, notes:

The Israelites are getting ready for war, so they need to know the number of fighting men in each tribe. Overall, there is little change in the numbering - about two thousand fewer men. (p. 156)

II. In Deuteronomy 27, Israel is commanded to renew the covenant after entering Canaan by writing the Law publicly, building an altar, proclaiming blessings and curses, and affirming obedience before God. This chapter emphasizes that covenant life requires holiness, faithfulness, and wholehearted obedience to the Lord. 

III. Psalm 111 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A psalm of praise. It celebrates how God's power and righteousness are made known through his mighty works and enduring covenant. The implied background of the psalm is Israel's deliverance from Egypt, the reception of the Torah at Mt. Sinai, and its conquest of the Promised Land. Psalm 111 is an acrostic psalm in which each poetic line begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. (p. 929) 

That's it for today!

Day 72: The Plains of Moab

 Today's readings: Numbers 24-25, Deuteronomy 26, and Psalm 107.

I. Numbers 24 mostly concludes the story of Balaam as a main character, though not entirely.  He had been hired by Balak of Moab to curse Israel, but instead again delivers blessings under God’s direction. Interestingly, Balaam stopped seeking omens, and instead, the Spirit of God came upon him directly.

In the next chapter, Israel falls into apostasy as bad as that of the golden calf at Mt. Sinai. The children of the Exodus generation fell into grave sin as their parents had done. As the BIY Companion, Vol 1, notes:

The Bible says that the people of Israel "play the harlot" with the daughters of Moab. They invite the Israelites to the sacrifice of their gods. While the Lord prevents Balaam from cursing his people, they are unfaithful to him. This speaks of the goodness of God and the weakness of the human heart. Phinehas is praised for rising up against the idolatry and infidelity of the Israelites. (p. 154)

 II. Deuteronomy 26 focuses on thanksgiving, covenant faithfulness, and remembering God’s saving acts after Israel enters the Promised Land. The Israelites are to bring the firstfruits of their harvest to the sanctuary, while recounting their humble origins and God's favor in saving them miraculously. In this, real gratitude is key to true worship of the Lord.

III. Psalm 107 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A thanksgiving psalm that praises God for rescuing his people from distress. Four examples are proposed as lessons for the "wise" (107:43), all of them perilous situations faced in the ancient world: wandering in a desert (107:4-9), languishing in prison (107:10-16), battling a serious illness (107:17-22), and braving the dangers of the sea (107:23-32). In each scenario, those who "cried to the Lord" (107:6, ...) were delivered from their plight and encouraged to "thank the Lord" in return (107:8, ...). Psalm 107 may have been part of a thanksgiving liturgy in the Temple. (p. 924)

That's all for today!

Day 71: The Source of the Law

 Today's readings: Numbers 23, Deuteronomy 24-25, and Psalm 106.

I. Numbers 23 continues the story of Balaam, hired by Balak of Moab to curse Israel, but instead, he ends up blessing them twice under God's direction.

The BIY Companion, Vol 1, highlights the unfavorable view of the Church Fathers about the character of Balaam:

Balak continues in his attempt to convince Balaam to curse the people of Israel, but this does not go well. In their commentaries on the passage, the Church Fathers do not consider Balaam to be an honorable man. It appears that Balaam, in the end, seems to do what God wants, but he is a man for hire. He is out for himself. He is not necessarily interested in doing God's will. God initially uses a donkey to speak to Balaam, and then he will use a greater "donkey" - Balaam - to speak his words and bless his people. (p. 152)

Balaam's story basically concludes in the next chapter, so it'll be interesting to see if there is anything further that may explain why these Fathers had such a negative view of the man. 

II. Deuteronomy 24 contains laws about marriage, justice, mercy, family life, and care for the poor. The most interesting point to see is that the chapter's major theme is that Israel was to build a society marked not merely by legality but by compassion and human dignity.

In the next chapter, there are more laws dealing with justice, family responsibility, fairness, and covenant faithfulness. This collection seems to be a disconnected hodge-podge, but the chapter emphasizes maintaining righteousness and dignity within the community.

The BIY Companion, Vol 1, comments on these chapters:

[These chapters] cover various laws, but the connection between them is their source - the Lord. The laws here can seem arbitrary or unnecessary, but they will be needed at some point in the various situations the people of Israel will encounter... As we continue to read Scripture, we will discover that many of its passages may not be what we expect but what we need. (p. 152)

III. Psalm 106 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes: 

A psalm of praise combined with a national confession of sin. It shows how the real history of Israel is marked by repeated "forgetfulness" of the Lord and his works... God's response to this includes painful justice (punishments for sin...) as well as undeserved mercy (leniency and salvation in spite of sin...). Israel's rebellions are grouped together according to location (Egypt...; the wilderness...; Canaan...), but the Psalmist departs at points from the sequence of events given in the Pentateuch. (p. 922)

That's it for today!

Day 70: The Offense of Balaam

Today's readings: Numbers 22, Deuteronomy 23, and Psalm 105.

I. Numbers 22 has the story of Balaam and the Ass. As the BIY Companion, Vol 1, notes:

Balaam, a soothsayer, is hired by Balak, the son of the king of Moab, to curse God's people, but instead he will speak blessings upon the people of Israel. Though God commands him not to curse his people, Balaam is impressed by the powerful people sent to him and the money offered to him by Balak. Then, a donkey speaks to him, which ultimately saves his life. This is a miracle. St. Ambrose says that Balaam's offense is that "he said one thing and plotted another... For God seeks out a pure vessel, one not corrupted by impurity and squalor. Balaam was tested, therefore, but he was not found acceptable: 'For he was full of lies and guile.'" (p. 150)

II. Deuteronomy 23 contains a series of laws concerning exclusion from the assembly of Israel, ritual cleanliness, compassion toward vulnerable people, sexual morality, vows, and respect for holiness within the camp of God’s people.

III. Psalm 105 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A psalm of historical remembrance, praising the Lord's "wondrous works" ... After invitations to seek the presence of God..., the Psalmist rehearses the canonical story of the Pentateuch into the Book of Joshua, focusing on the Patriarchs in Canaan..., Joseph in Egypt..., Israel in Egypt..., Israel's flight from Egypt into the wilderness..., and Israel's possession of Canaan... The psalm accents the Lord's faithfulness to Israel: all the miracles, provisions, and acts of deliverance displayed in early biblical history show that God went to great lengths to fulfill his covenant oath to give Abraham's offspring "the land of Canaan... for an inheritance" ... According to 1 Chron 16:8-22, the first 15 verses of Ps 105 were sung when David transferred the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. (p. 920)

That's all for today!