Thoughts on the Bible Readings… Judges 17.18, Isaiah 40,1 John 1,2 for June 16th

The sad and disgraceful record of our two chapters is one of the 2 appendices to the time of the judges and occurred in Judges. The events described happened quite early in that 450 year period, at the epoch when the elders who had outlived Joshua were all dead. It is the prequel to the Samson record described in chapters 13-16. These chapters explain both the apostasy commenced by the tribe of Dan and the reasons why many of the faithful Danites did not move to the territory that was conquered by the ambitious and ruthless leaders of the tribe, against the laid back Zidonians. The story begins at the time of Moses’ grandson, whose name was changed by a scribe in the AV, to protect the reputation and esteem in which Moses was held. However the ESV tells us in 18 verse 30 that it was Jonathan the son of Gershom the son of Moses, rather than an unnamed Levite mentioned in Judges 17verse 7. Micah’s mother is a dishonest idolater who congratulates her son for confessing his theft and then his mother changes the terms of her vow. Such was the morality of those days when everyone did what was right in their own eyes ie each person was the arbiter of what was right to him, or her. Chapter 18 describes the morality of the majority of the tribe of Dan who are prepared to kidnap Jonathan the Levite. They were prepared to slaughter the enraged men of Micah’s centre of idol worship. Then they slaughtered the peaceful people of a city, 17 kilometres to the east of the Zidonian coast, rather than obey the commandment of the LORD to destroy the Canaanites and take their allotted inheritance. In that place the Danites commence the apostacy that resulted in the calf worship in Dan many centuries later in the days of Jeroboam 1 of Israel.

Isaiah 40 is the commencement of the section of the prophecy through to chapter 66 often called the ‘gospel in the Old Testament’. It begins with ‘the comfort’ of God being revealed to His people. As we read this chapter the echoes of Handel’s Messiah resonate in our ears. The mission of John the Baptist and the unveiling of God’s glory that would be seen in Jesus the Messiah is next spoken about. Humanity’s true state and redemptive need are shown, together with the only solution to this problem, to be enlivened and transformed by the Word of God, and thus be fitted for perpetuating in the coming Kingdom. That Word has the power to spiritually transform us during our time of sojourning that we may be fitted for God physically changing us at Christ’s coming: Philippians 3 verse 20-21. The good news would begin in Jerusalem with the gospel being taught by a loving and caring tender shepherd: the Lord Jesus Christ. The Messiah would be supported by the prevailing and Omnipotent power of the Almighty Father, who would similarly empower all His children to be with Messiah when he comes on earth to rule. The chapter concludes with an empowering vision of what immortality will feel like . Carefully read verses 28-31 and see yourself as the recipient of divine mercy and being there when Messiah rules.

The first of John’s 3 letters was written between 85-98 AD by the aged and much beloved Apostle. He was one of the Lord’s special 3 – Peter, James and John – who were selected by Jesus from among the 12 to witness select events and miracles. Together with his brother James, they were both fishermen and partners of Peter and Andrew in the fishing business. Their father Zebedee and his wife Salome appear to have owned the Galilean business. Salome seems to have been Mary’s sister; making the two Apostles first cousins of our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter and John were paired by the Lord Jesus for various tasks including preaching. Peter may well have been the oldest of the Apostles and John the youngest. Peter died first as was prophesied by the Lord Jesus Christ around 67 AD; while John died up to 40, or more years after that time (see John 21verses 20-24). There are many internal evidences to the fact that the epistles of John and the book of Revelation were written towards the end of the first century AD (Revelation being the last writing of the New Testament; written after John’s exile to the island of Patmos in 96 AD under the Emperor Trajan). John describes himself in each of the three letters as, “the Elder”.

The vitally important themes of chapter 1 describe God’s terms for forgiving us:
1. Confession and repentance
2. Being in Christ by baptism – the blood of Christ cleanses us
3. + Propitiation – Rom 3 : Grk hilasterion, Translated mercy seat in Hebrews. = chair, THRONE; MEETING PLACE- ROM 3 God is enthroned in Jesus Christ and “he* is the ONLY place wher God will meet with men. Verses 1-4 of chapter 1 speaks of what we heard from the beginning. Which beginning, we ask? The gospel of John tells us, 1:1 “In the beginning”. This was the birth of the Son of God – see verses 9-18 which speaks of the time when our Lord came into being (compare Acts 10 verses 35-43). They knew the Lord, ate with him, walked and talked with him. And to know our Lord was to understand His Father; and in that knowing was eternal life (John 17 verses 1-3). And the understanding of this good news (gospel) would lead to everlasting life in the kingdom of God, which will be set up at our Lord’s coming (2 Timothy 4 verse 1). The sharing of this understanding brings fellowship in joining together in partaking of the bread and wine (communion means sharing together); and also joy unspeakable. Verses 5-10 deal with, “Walking in the light”. Again a comparison with chapter 1 of John’s gospel record, shows the significance of light to the walk of the disciple – here Jesus is described as a light imparting source (phos – such as the light of the sun), contrasted to the light (luchnos – portable lamp) of the disciple John the Baptist. The three great themes of John’s first letter are: 1) God is light; 2) God is life; and, 3) God is love. The theme that “God is light flows from the first letter 1:5-2:6. The Apostle speaks in absolutes, black and white; and so he says, that there is no hint of any shadow (cp James 1:17). Wrong behaviour, says John, is evidence of not understanding the relationship believers have with the Father and His Son. Of course believers sin through weakness, but it is not in character with them to wilfully choose a life of sin. But as long as we are endeavouring to follow in Christ’s footsteps we will be forgiven upon confession of our sins. Verse 8 tells us that if we deny that our nature is biased to sin; or that we are not sinning; we are self deceived. However forgiveness is available to those in Christ who confess and forsake their sins. But, chapter 2 commences, “we have an advocate in the heavens in our Lord Jesus Christ. The word “advocate”, is a kindred word to the “comforter” (used in the gospel record in John; which the Lord was himself – and when he departed for heaven to be our priestly mediator; the Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus as another “comforter”). The word used here speaks of a defender in a court of law. The Greek word means, “I call and he runs to my side to aid me”. Our heartfelt confession and repentance means we need not fear rejection since the Lord Jesus Christ has provided a “place of introduction for us to God’s mercy – the word “propitiation” (see Romans 3 verses 21-26, 8 verses 27-39; compare with Ephesians 2 verses1-22). The basis for our acceptance before God is “Jesus Christ the righteous”. The righteous forgiveness provided by the LORD induces a moral imperative to walk in the way of the Almighty (Psalm 130). Chapter 2 verses 5-2 and 29 is the connection between God being light (phos illumination as opposed to reflection); and God being love. In fact, because He is love it is essential that He be an Illuminating source to His children through the Word of God (cp 1 Timothy 2 verses 1-5; 2 Peter 3 verses 8-13). In verses 7-14 the aged Apostle restates the “new commandment” of Jesus Christ, which was new to the extent that agape love had never been demonstrated to that extent before in any man other than our Lord cp John 15 verses 9-17). The loving life of the disciple flows from an understanding mind that has been illuminated by the Word of the Father (Proverbs 4 verses 18-19). The confidence of the forgiven saint impels one upon the path of loving and self sacrificing service to others. John writes to fathers, children and young men with the confidence that he will see the fruit of the word in their lives. He tells us from verses 15-17 that the perishing and transient world consists of no more than passions dominated by “the lust of the flesh” (these are the carnal appetites which tend to control what we do); “the lust of the eyes” (principally covetousness and our insatiable desire for more); and, “the pride of life” (the importance of being someone that is always greater than another). Christ conquered all of these through the heritage of his divine Sonship; and the Word of God impelling his every thought and action (Isaiah 11 verses 1-5). Verses 18 to 27 speak of the time of the development of the Antichrist among the believers (Greek “antechristos” from “ante” meaning the substitute, or usurper; and “christos” that is the Christ, Yahweh’s Anointed). False teaching is evidence of this; and was even apparent towards the end of the first century AD. In its fully blown development it turned into the apostasy of the Church described in the books of – Revelation; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; and 2 Thessalonians 2 verses 1-12 and others. The true believers would resist corruption of teaching and practice through their immersion (anointing in/by the Word of God (1 Peter 1 verses 21-25, Titus 2 verses 11-15; 3 verses 1-11). Verses 28-29 express John’s assurance that such believers will continue in the true course until the Lord Jesus Christ comes.