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!