Day 77: God is Faithful

 Today's readings: Numbers 32, Deuteronomy 31, and Psalm 117.

I. Numbers 32 is focused on the tribes of Reuben and Gad, who asked to settle east of the Jordan River (modern Jordan) instead of entering Canaan (modern Israel and the Palestinian territories), which was west of the Jordan with the rest of the Israelites. Moses initially refuses, but then consents once they agree to help the rest of the Israelites conquer Canaan.

II. In Deuteronomy 31, Moses is told by God that he will shortly die, and Joshua becomes his successor. Moses tells Joshua that the Law is to be read out every seven years, during the Feast of Booths. Then the Lord foretells the future rebellions of the Israelites from the covenant and the resulting calamities that shall befall them. He commands Moses to write a song to remind future generations of God’s faithfulness and Israel’s repeated rebellion. 

III. Psalm 117 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A psalm of praise and the shortest of the 150 psalms. It invites Gentiles to worship the God of Israel in view of the great things he has done for his chosen people (67:3-5; 126:2). The Lord's blessings on Israel are a sign of his desire to bless all the nations of the earth (Gen 22:16-18). Psalm 117 is one of the Hallel Psalms. (p. 933)

It's no exaggeration to say that this is the shortest of the 150 psalms. It only has two brief verses, or just 17 words in Hebrew!

That's all for today!