The Harlot Rahab and Two Spies
The Harlot Rahab and Two Spies, James Tissot, Wikipedia CCL
Meditation
Friday, Ordinary 31, Proper 26 showed discernment for truth and falsehoods. The Old Testament lesson in Joshua reveled in the exciting story of spies being sent into Jericho, encountering Rahab and hiding out on her roof, while having her lie to the authorities about their ‘not’ being there.
The New Testament lesson zeroed in on the truth versus the false prophets. Peter wanted the church to be on guard against people who would teach false teachings and lead believers astray by encouraging them to do things that were contrary to God’s law.
It’s easy to identify the Jonestown types as being false prophets, but the fact that Peter was writing his letter to believers—not crazy type prophets. He was warning about those who would be subtle in their teaching. The false prophets would convince people of the rightness of what they said was true so that people would give them money.
Years ago I read a book by Grace Livingston Hill called, Least of All Saints. A wealthy young man complained about the poor preaching at the holiday service and was coaxed into accepting a bet that he could do a better job of it, even though he did not believe in Christ as a personal Savior. He graduated from seminary and accepted a call to a prominent church. He was popular because he was a great orator. Only one young woman didn’t fawn over him. She felt his messages lacked conviction. Her own faithfulness to the Word gave her the insight that he was a false prophet. He was doing it for the money.
The air waves are filled with preachers, all claiming the power of God. Some will claim new visions of the Christian faith. They will add new Scriptures, despite the Word of God stating that nothing should be added. Others will declare some interpretation of the Word to be the only way. The common thread through these false prophets is that they ask for money to fund their projects. Their words are inconsistent with the Whole Word of Go.
These months of study have stated how love summed up the Law and the prophets. So when we see religious leaders that make claims of ‘special knowledge’ but they don’t show love like Jesus did; they don’t show love like God did for the children of Israel then we have reason to be suspicious of their teaching. Who profits from their teaching? Does God? Do the people of God benefit, or is the wealth of money lining the pockets of the prophets? We must be cautious in testing the words so that we can recognize truth from falsehoods.
In addition, we must know when there are times to misdirect those who would undermine the Word of God, as the spies did in Jericho. Rahab recognized the truth and told the spies to protect her if she helped them. They promised to honor her if she helped them. We must be as diligent as Rahab and recognize the truth from the prophets that speak truth; while discerning those that would lead us astray. If in doubt, ask God for wisdom who gives it to those who ask.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Click on the Scriptures for links to biblegateway.com, where many translations of the same text enhance the understanding the readings, which come from the (RCL) Revised Common Lectionary – Daily Lectionary
Readings. I add a Daily Prayer to bless you with God’s Favor.
Enjoy the Daily Encouragement and Bible Study and may you be inspired to be your best self for Ordinary 31, Proper 26.
Ordinary 31, Proper 26
King of Glory King of Peace –All Thy Works Praise Thee — St. Peter’s Choir
St. Peter
Window in the church at St. Nectaire, France, depicting St. Peter. Glass by Adrien Baratte of Clermont Ferrand. Steve Day, flickr CCL
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Ordinary 31, Proper 26
Jesus Lover of My Soul – The Hymn Club
Ordinary 31, Proper 26
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20107:1-7,%2033-37;Joshua%202:1-14;2%20Peter%202:1-3&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;NIV
(multiple versions)
Friday, Ordinary 31, Proper 26
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
King James Version (KJV)
107 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Ordinary 31, Proper 26
Jesus, Savior Pilot Me – Andy Griffith
Single Bible Study chapter to study
King James Version (KJV)
2 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.
3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
Rahab, Hans (Jan) Collaert (Antwerp, 1566-1628), Rahab (Hol. 13-32). Engraving after Marten de Vos, c. 1581. Wikipedia CCL
4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
Rahab hid the spies on the roof, dev freebibleimages CCL
6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
Rahab hides two spies, Frederick Richard Pickersgill Wikipedia CCL public domain.
7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
9 And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
Rahab strikes a deal with the spies, dev freebibleimages. CCL
11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token:
13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
14 And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the Lord hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, we give you thanks and praise for the way you have led us through the challenges like you led Israel to the Promised Land. Give us discernment that we can recognize truth from falsehood, and bring glory to you. In Jesus name, Amen
Ordinary 31, Proper 26 Music
Count Your Blessings – Traditional Hymns
Ordinary 31, Proper 26 Humor
Rahab
©Jeff Larson, Used by permission
Lead us Lord – Brian Doerksen
I hope you found a chance to encounter your Creator and experience the Love of God and the joy of Christ in Ordinary 31, Proper 26.
Conclusion
Friday, Ordinary 31, Proper 26 showed how truth can be discerned by those who didn’t grow up with the Scriptures. Rahab, a prostitute in Canaan, who was: not a Jew, not a man, and didn’t have a reputable job, was able to see the truth of who God was. She read the successes that followed the Israelites and credited them to God’s work. Her simple clarity was marvelous, considering the arguments that had existed in the 40 plus years of the Exodus.
Truth can be discerned by those who are seeking. When anyone closes themselves off to the possibility of seeing things from a different perspective, s/he loses the ability to see the truth. Boxing God into a small manageable container has been the work of religious false prophets over the centuries.
The truth may not always be told, but being a true seeker means that God will give the insight to recognize the truth when it confronts.
A dear friend shared a story about my mother when Mother changed her opinion on something she had believed for a very long time. My friend said, “She never gave up seeking.” Because my mother’s heart was open to God’s leading, she saw things in a different way—a truer way. The way of love. May we all be seekers and see God’s true through the eyes of love.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
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*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
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