6/6/2009 10:03 AM
SPIRITUAL DIARY
My Worship Time Focus: The officers’ encouragement
Bible Reading &
Mediation Reference: Deut. 20:5-9
Message of the verses: “5
"The officers also shall speak to the people, saying, ‘Who is the
man that has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him depart and
return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would
dedicate it. 6 ‘Who is the man that has
planted a vineyard and has not begun to use its fruit? Let him depart and return
to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would begin
to use its fruit. 7 ‘And who is the man
that is engaged to a woman and has not married her? Let him depart and return
to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would marry
her.’ 8 "Then the officers shall
speak further to the people and say, ‘Who is the man that is afraid and
fainthearted? Let him depart and return to his house, so that he might not make
his brothers’ hearts melt like his heart.’ 9
"When the officers have finished speaking to the people, they shall
appoint commanders of armies at the head of the people.”
These
verses have a deeper meaning than what they may seem on the surface, for there
is a reason why each of these deferments was given to these soldiers. Warren Wiersbe writes of the reasons of these
deferments as follows: “Thee three
exceptions suggest to us that God is more interested in our enjoying the common
blessings of life—homes, harvest, and honeymoons—than devotion ourselves only
to the battles of life. He didn’t want
any of the Jewish men to use their military responsibilities as an excuse to
neglect their families, their vineyards, and their fiancée’s. Certainly military service was important, but
the Lord was more concerned that the men have the right priorities in
life. What good was accomplished for the
Jewish people if their army defeated the enemy on the field but things were
falling apart back home?”
As far as
sending a man home who was fearful, that was done because his fear may infect
others and cause a great problem. One
only has to look back at the ten spies who gave a bad report because of fear
and walking around in the wilderness for the next thirty-eight years was what
happened because of ten men’s fear.
“Fear and faith can’t coexist successfully in the same heart.”
Spiritual meaning for my life today: “10 ¶
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I
will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right
hand of my righteousness.”
My Steps of Faith for
Today:
- Fear the Lord and trust Him in all things and in all ways.
Memory verses for the week: Ephesians
3:14-16
14. For
this reason I bow my knee before the Father,
15. from
whom every family in heaven and on the earth derives its name,
16. that
He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened
with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
6/6/2009 10:22 AM
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