Thoughts on the readings for April 25th (Deuteronomy 10, 11, Ecclesiastes 4, Acts 1)

Deuteronomy 10 tells of Moses need to cut two stone tables to replace those that Moses smashed at the foot of Mount Sinai when he saw what Israel was doing before the golden calf which the nation had made. Moses relates the details of that incident and the blessings that came upon the tribe of Levi because of that tribe’s faithfulness to the ways of the Almighty. They earned the position of the priests of the LORD taking the place of the firstborn son of each family. Moses speaks of his intercession for his nation in the Mountain over 40 nights. Verses 12-22 tell of Moses asking the people to circumcise their hearts. Read verses 12-16 and meditate on its relevance to us.
Verses 17-22 outline the greatness of Israel’s Sovereign and His mighty acts in delivering His people – Israel. Chapter 11 follows as a logical consequence to Yahweh’s redeeming power exercised on behalf of His people. They MUST serve Him with a grateful and loving heart. Verses 3-6 tell of some of these prominent miracles witnessed by Israel. In taking possession of this land Israel was told that it was was a land blessed by the Lord their God. Verses 13-17 says that the nation needs to heed the warning for the need to be faithful to the laws of the Almighty. Idolatry was to be hated by the Israelites.
Verses 18-22 tell of the responsibility to teach the statutes of the LORD diligently to their children in order to ensure their continued occupation of the Promised Land. Verses 23-25 describe the extent and territories of the land. Verses 26-32 is an appeal to the nation to choose the pathway to receiving the blessings of their God as they stood ready to enter the land.

Ecclesiastes 4 speaks of the problems of oppression and of solitude. There seems to be no solution to the suffering brought upon the innocents by powerful tyrants, who have no regard for any other human being. For those who suffer endless suffering it would seem that it would have been better for them if they had never been born. What a vexatious problem that is the lot of all too many people in this world. Verses 5-6 counsels contentment as the foil to greed and oppression. Verses 7-8 speak of the person who has no companion and is in an every way in a pitiful situation. A solitary individual without a companion has no offspring. He toils endlessly to what point. So verses 9-12 tell of the benefits of a companion. Two are better than one in just about every imaginable circumstance. The threefold cord speaks of when the support comes not only from a friend, but also from the Almighty. We must avoid living as an isolated individual. No person is an island. Seek true and faithful friends; but above all make the LORD our lifelong companion. Verses 13-16 tell of an example of a foolish king who fails to apply divine wisdom to living. What a futile existence is that.

Acts is Luke’s second account – compare Acts 1 verse 1-3 with Luke 1 verse 1-4. Luke 24 closes with Jesus’ ascension compare that to account the Acts 1 account which commences with the same event. Luke’s first record closes with Jesus praying as he is taken to heaven as does Acts 1. For 40 days Jesus spoke with his disciples of the kingdom of God on earth, as the reconstituted kingdom of Israel. The only question the Apostles had was “Is the time for the kingdom now?” The time, as verse 7 indicates, is known only by Jesus’ Father. By AD 96 when the book of Revelation is written Jesus then knew this time. But based on Jesus’ commission for them to preach to the entire world it would obviously be some time distant. And following the words of the angels in recorded in verses 9-11 that kingdom would not come until our Lord’s return to earth. From verses 12 to 26 a replacement is appointed for Judas, whose behaviour was the subject of prophecy – Psalm 109 verse 8 (in fact it is instructive to read the entire Psalm as it will provide us with an insight as to what motivated Judas). That successor is named as Matthias.