August 29 ▪ Day 241

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 22:8
Joshua 23–24
I Corinthians 9–10
Psalms 57

Verse Focus (Proverbs 22:8)

Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,
     and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.

Meditation

Our verse focus today is an interesting one. Proverbs 22:8 says, in the NIV, “Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.” The KJV has a slightly different take on the proverb. It reads, “He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: And the rod of his anger shall fail.”

To my mind, injustice is a very different thing than iniquity. Likewise, calamity also seems quite different from vanity. But when I looked at the interlinear text to see what the Hebrew words are and what they mean, I found that both interpretations are valid for the Hebrew words. The Hebrew word being translated as injustice or iniquity is avlah (also transliterated as evel, avel, or olah). It does mean both injustice — even violent deeds of injustice — as well as iniquity. The Strong’s exhaustive concordance lists iniquity, perverseness, unjustly, unrighteousness, or wickedness as options for the English translation. If anything, iniquity is the word most commonly used in English translations; the NASB uses iniquity in more than half of the occurrences of this word, but also uses injustice a quarter of the time.

It’s kind of a similar story for the word that is translated as either calamity or vanity. The Hebrew word is aven, which means nothingness, vanity, trouble, affliction, sorrow, or wickedness. So a few English translations of this proverb will say that he who sows iniquity will reap sorrow.

Of course, in reading this proverb we cannot help but think of Paul’s comment in Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Today’s proverb tells us that those who sow wickedness and injustice will reap the consequences — they will have trouble and sorrow, and end up with nothing. By this means God will break the power of the one who sows to iniquity.

Father God, help us to remember your principles of reaping and sowing. It is a comfort to know that those who sow violence will reap calamity. Thank you that you will see justice prevail. Help us to be careful how we sow. May we be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sowing in righteousness for your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today we read the final two chapters of Joshua. In chapter 23, Joshua gives a final address to the Israelites. He is quite elderly and knows that soon he will “go the way of all the earth (v. 14).” Before he dies, however, Joshua reminds the Israelites to cling to “the LORD your God (v. 8).” He speaks of God’s faithfulness to them. As he says in verses 14 and 15, “You know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.”

However, Joshua also warns the Israelites. There are still remnants of the Canaanites living among them and the people should not mix with the Canaanites or serve any of their gods. If they cling to the Canaanite people instead of the LORD, God will no longer drive these other nations out of the land. Instead, He will leave them to become snares, whips, and thorns to trouble the Israelites. Joshua reminds them that — just as God has fulfilled all his promises of good — so too He will bring upon them curses and evil things should the Israelites transgress the LORD’s covenant and serve other gods.

In chapter 24, the people of Israel gather together at Shechem to renew the covenant with the LORD their God. Joshua speaks a message from the LORD God. In this message, God reminds them of their history as a people — how God called Abraham “from beyond the River (v. 3)” and brought him to the land of Canaan. Abraham had Isaac, who then had Jacob and Esau. Esau was given the hill country of Seir, but Jacob’s descendants went down to Egypt. Then the LORD sent them Moses and Aaron, and delivered the people out of Egypt with signs and wonders. They lived in the wilderness for a long time. The LORD delivered them from enemies, delivered them in battle, and drove out the Canaanites before them. God’s message ends with the reminder in verse 13, “I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.”

After God’s message to the Israelites, Joshua issues his famous call in verse 15, “Choose this day whom you will serve … But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” The Israelites choose to serve God. Oddly, instead of just accepting their word, in verse 19 Joshua warns them and almost seems to be trying to dissuade them from choosing to serve the LORD. He tells them that they are not able to serve the LORD God, for He is holy and also jealous. God will not forgive their transgressions and their sins. When the Israelites forsake the LORD, He will end up consuming them.

Nevertheless, the people insist they want to serve the LORD. And so the covenant is renewed that day at Shechem.

The Scripture tells us that Joshua dies at the age of 110. Verse 31 says, “Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the LORD had done for Israel.” Although the Scripture does not say it here, the “but” is implied. The Israelites served God while Joshua and the elders were alive — but, as the book of Joshua ends, Joshua son of Nun and Eleazar the priest are both now dead. Clearly, the next history will be a very different type of story.

As I re-read 1 Corinthians 9 today, I am struck by Paul’s question in verse 1. “Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?” he asks. Since the ESV translation uses the word “workmanship,” my mind starts making other connections. And I think of what Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

I think and pray about Ephesians 2:10 a lot. I desire to do the good works that God has prepared for me to do. But today, a lightbulb went off. I’ve been thinking about the good works in terms of the actions that I take. For example, writing these meditations may be one of the good works that God is calling me to do. But Paul’s question to the Corinthians (“Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?”) suggests that our good works may actually be people. It is the relationships we develop and form, and the ways we support one another that are the foundation of our good works. Not actions. Not things. But people.

In some ways I feel a bit stupid. Well, duh! Of course our good works must be for the benefit of people. Jesus calls us to love one another — it is one of our highest commands. But somehow I’ve managed to isolate this command to walk in the good works that God has prepared for me away from all the other commands God gives us. And I cannot forget that the reason God wants me to do good works is to bring Him glory as I love other people, drawing them to Him. Basically, I need to revolutionize the way I think about the good works God wants me to do. Perhaps these meditations are good works for me — but my workmanship is not the meditations in and of themselves, but the people who will be touched by what I write.

I’m also mulling Paul’s comment in verse 27. He has been encouraging the Corinthians to run to win the prize. And in order to win the prize, we must exercise self-control. Therefore, Paul says in verse 27, “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

Self-control is another topic that I think about a lot. Fortunately, it is a fruit of the Spirit. But self-control is also something that I battle with nearly every day. Today, for example, it was a real struggle to write. I had to make myself sit down, ignore the voice that was complaining about being tired, and just keep plugging away at it. (I promised myself that if I still wanted to give up after giving it a good hour, then I could do so. But I’m still here. 🙂 )

But something about Paul’s phrasing in verse 27 today made me wonder if there isn’t more to self-control that really relates to our physical bodies. I almost always think of it as a struggle with willpower, rather than as a physical discipline. I also think about the struggle I have with various spiritual disciplines. But — even though I know Paul’s comment comes in the context of his athletic metaphor — I wonder if self-control would be a bit easier if I really did “discipline my body and keep it under control (v. 27).” Physical exercise — not one of my strong points — is a form of self-control. And exercising self-control in any arena will make you more able to exercise self-control the next time it is required. So, perhaps if I spent a bit more time with physical discipline, I might find my battles over writing easier to win. Hmmmm. Definitely something to think about, at least.

In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul talks about how the Israelites — their forefathers — walked closely with God. They were baptized; they ate the same spiritual food and drink. Paul says in verse 4, “They drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.” Nevertheless, despite guidance from the LORD, Moses their intercessor, and the presence of Jesus Christ, God was not pleased with most of them and “their bodies were scattered in the wilderness (v. 5).”

In other words, Christ’s presence does not make us immune from displeasing God. Paul tells us that many of the things in the Israelites’ history happened as examples for us. The Scripture is meant to instruct us. Even though much of the Old Testament can seem hard to understand and interpret, it is essential that we understand the lessons the Spirit would have us learn. The Israelites were constantly turning away from God. Perhaps one of the lessons we should learn today from Joshua 24 is that we must constantly choose to serve God. Not just once, but “this day” and every day.

Despite the prevalence of sin, and the temptations that beset all of us, Paul reminds us that God is faithful. Therefore, in light of this, we should flee from idolatry.

In Paul’s time, idolatry was expressed in ordinary things — such as the food on the table. And while our meat today isn’t sacrificed to demons, there are many ordinary things in our lives that may be forms of idolatry. In excess, many of these ordinary things are most certainly idols. In moderation, they may be fine. Entertainment comes to mind, as do cell phones and social media.

This makes the one of closing verses of chapter 10 — verse 31 — all the more important. Whatever we do, we should do it all to the glory of God. If we watch TV, it should be to the glory of God — in how much we watch and in what we watch. If we meet meet with friends, it should be to the glory of God. When we work, it should be to the glory of God. If we do all to the glory of God, then we will not have trouble with modern-day idols (nor will we have to worry about displeasing the LORD).

As I mentioned six months ago, Psalm 57 is one of my very favorite psalms. I love, love, love, love this psalm! I love how David turns to God in trouble. David’s cries for mercy resonate with me; they remind me of times when I have been the one who needed God’s mercy. I also love how the second half of the psalm focuses on praising God.

Today I was looking closely at verse 2. David says, “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” That’s comforting, isn’t it? That God fulfills His purposes for you and me? He has plans for us, plans for good. And nothing can stop Him from fulfilling those purposes. Not wicked men. Not circumstances. Not even our own bumbling.

Father God, I’m so grateful that you are the one who controls the circumstances of my life. You have plans for what will happen to me. You even have plans for me to do good things for other people, plans that will impact your kingdom. Thank you that I can trust both your sovereignty and your steadfast love.

Help us to be people like Joshua — those who are steadfast in choosing you, following you, and serving you. Let us be individuals who can influence others to also do the right thing. Help us to have true understanding from your Word. Let us learn from the examples of what happened in the Israelites’ history. Keep us from temptation, and enable us to flee from idolatry and to bring glory to you in all that we do. We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.