August 1 ▪ Day 213

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 20:18
Deuteronomy 13–14
Romans 7–8
Psalms 29

Verse Focus (Proverbs 20:18)

Plans are established by seeking advice;
     so if you wage war, obtain guidance.

Meditation

Proverbs 20:18 says, in the CSB, “Finalize plans with counsel, and wage war with sound guidance.” Even though I like the NIV, it’s being a little sneaky with this verse. They’ve added the word “if” to the second phrase. If you wage war, obtain guidance. But with the Hebrew, there’s no “if” about it. It simply says “by wise counsel wage war.”

It’s interesting that the NIV wants to raise the subject as to whether or not war is necessary. Most of us are not world leaders. So it wouldn’t have even occurred to me to interpret this war in terms of war between nations if it hadn’t have been for the NIV sticking in the word “if.” I would have thought of war as metaphorical — a battle you might need to have over fair compensation, or perhaps a battle over school district policy. Even apart from actual war, or metaphorical war, we are all in the midst of spiritual battles. And that war is going on whether we like it or not.

So, from my perspective, war is a given. You will need to fight at one time or another. So when you have to battle, get wise guidance beforehand.

In the same way, Proverbs has told us before that you should seek counselors for making any types of plans. On April 16th (Day 106) we looked at Proverbs 15:22, which says, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Today’s proverb looks at this principle from a slightly different perspective — it is the advice that establishes the plans. The Hebrew word being used here means to set up, to confirm, to make firm, to fix, or to be ready (to establish). So, are you about to start something new? Finalize your plans with counsel.

Father God, thank you for reminding us again that counsel is necessary and useful when we are making plans. Help us to obtain wise guidance when we must go into battle. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

In Deuteronomy 13, Moses speaks of several situations that God may use to test you and your faith. In the first, a prophet or dreamer rises up. The prophet gives a sign or wonder, and the things prophesied come to pass. But then if that prophet suggests worshiping another God, this is the test to see if you will worship the LORD God only. The Israelites are not to listen to this prophet even though he predicted true things; instead, they are to put him to death.

In the second situation, it is your spouse, your close relative, or even your friend “who is as your own soul (v. 6)” who secretly entices you to worship another God. But Moses cautions the Israelites not to yield. This person, too, should be put to death — and you will be the one to throw the first stone. It is a somewhat shocking to think that — not only has your close family member or friend strayed from God, but you must be the one to execute them. It seems that there was enough anguish in this situation already without adding in the need to personally punish the offender. But perhaps that is part of the deterrent — knowing that your loved one may be forced to kill you might keep one from wandering after another god.

In the third situation, a city’s inhabitants have started worshiping idols. If, after an investigation, the charges against the city’s inhabitants are true, then the entire city must be put to the sword. All who live there — men, women, children, and animals — are to be devoted to destruction. The entire city will become a burnt offering to the LORD, and the city will never be rebuilt.

Deuteronomy 14 details clean and unclean foods for the Israelites. Of mammals, they may eat any animal that has a split hoof that chews the cud — such as oxen, sheep, goats, deer, and antelope. But animals with a parted hoof that do not chew the cud, such as pigs, are unclean. Animals that chew the cud but do not have a split hoof are also unclean — such as camels, hares, and rock badgers. Of lake, river, and sea creatures, they may eat any that have “fins and scales (v. 9).” Some birds are clean; some are unclean. Winged insects are unclean. Anything that has died naturally is unclean (although the Israelites may give it to the sojourner or sell it to the foreigner).

Moses tells the Israelites that they must tithe from the produce of their fields. They are to eat from the tithe in the place that God puts His name. If that place is distant, they may convert the tithe into money. Then, when they arrive at the place where God puts His name, they will use the money to buy whatever they would like to feast before the LORD.

Every third year, instead of eating of their tithe in Jerusalem, the Israelites were instead to store the tithe locally. That food was for the Levites, for sojourners, widows, and orphans. So in years 1, 2, 4, and 5, the tithe would be eaten in Jerusalem. In years 3 and 6, the tithe would be stored locally for the Levites and the poor. And in the seventh year, the Sabbatical year, there would be no tithes collected or given.

Romans 7 teaches us that we have been released from the law so that “we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code (v. 6).” The law is good, but its very goodness reveals our sinfulness — and this leads to death when we are bound to the law. But Jesus frees us from this. We understand our sinfulness, and we now desire to do what is right. But, as Paul writes in verse 18, “I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” He concludes the chapter in verse 25, saying, “So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.”

In Romans 8, Paul tells us that God has done what the law was unable to do. He has sent Jesus “in the likeness of sinful flesh” to condemn sin in the flesh; thus the righteous requirements of the law are fulfilled in us when we walk, not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (v. 3-4). As the chapter continues, Paul writes about what it means to live by the Spirit. Those who are led by the Spirit are heirs with Christ. Future glory awaits us, and God’s love makes us more than conquerors. Nothing will separate us from the love that God has for us.

Verse 18 strikes me. Paul writes, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed in us.” Do you think about the glory that awaits us? We struggle in this life. We struggle against the flesh. God allows circumstances that test us and help us grow; we learn more and more to put Him first and to crucify the flesh. But it’s hard. Yet Paul tells us that we will consider this difficulty insignificant once we see how God has transformed us for the next life. I think the reason this verse impacts me is because I focus too much on the struggle and don’t consider the reason behind the struggle. One day we’ll live with God in glory. Our bodies will be redeemed. There will be no more struggle, or crying, or pain. We will experience wholeness — peace, joy, purpose, and thanksgiving.

The view that we get of God in these two chapters is simply amazing. The depths of God’s love for us! He gives us everything that we need. The law wasn’t able to save us, so He sent Jesus to die for us. He gives us the Spirit so that we can walk and live by the Spirit. The Spirit even prays for us. God is for us. He is on our side. And nothing — nothing! — can separate us from His love. Hallelujah!

Psalm 29 speaks of God’s glory and strength. We and all the heavenly beings are exhorted to give to the LORD the glory due His name. We are to worship Him in the “splendor of holiness (v. 2).” So what does it really mean to give glory to someone? And how do we give glory to God? According to Merriam-Webster, to give glory to someone is to make glorious by bestowing honor, praise, or admiration; it can also be a form of worship. So one of the ways we give glory to God is by praising His name, praising His character, and praising His deeds.

The psalmist focuses on God’s voice. The few places in Scripture where people have described hearing God’s voice — in Exodus at Mount Sinai, in various prophecies, in the gospel narratives when Jesus was baptized and transfigured — His voice has been described as thunder, or as the sound of many waters. Indeed, the first thing the psalmist says about God’s voice is that it is “over the waters;” He thunders “over many waters (v. 3).” This should remind us of Creation. God created the heavens and the earth by speaking, by separating water from water. God’s voice thundering over many waters brings to mind the God who acts, who creates, who makes new things. It is as if He is on the verge of something new and unimaginably great.

God’s voice is so powerful it can split mighty trees and cause the mountains to buckle and dance. When God speaks, He shakes the world. The psalm should remind us of Revelation, and how God intends to shake the heavens and the earth once more before He establishes His new heaven and new earth.

As the psalmist tells us in verse 9, just hearing God’s voice is enough for us to worship — to cry glory, to recognize His majesty and power. Indeed, the LORD is enthroned forever. He rules over all. Amen!

Father God, you are great and glorious. Your power and might are more than we can fully comprehend. Thank you for creating the heavens and the earth. Thank you for the depths of your love for us. Thank you that nothing can separate us from your love. Help us to always love and serve you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.