Judges 2

 (Judges 2:1)
 Then the Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: "I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, 'I will never break My covenant with you.

From the beginning of Judges chapter 2, God’s messenger came to Poking to remind the Israelis. God leaded the Israelis to get out of Egypt to go to the promise land and not abolish the covenant made with the Israelites. Regrettably, the Israelites deserted God, and the repeated belief cycle model was staged in the era of the judges. When the Judge were alive the Israelites will serve God but once Judge died Gentiles arose, and the Israelites abandoned the Lord who brought them out of Egypt and did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord. Instead, they served the Baals, worshiped other gods, and aroused God's anger. In the end, the angry God handed them to the enemy, and the extremely painful Israelites cried out to God because of being oppressed. God raised up judges to save them from the enemy's hand. And after they were comfortable, they abandon God again.

The Israelites experienced seven rises and falls during the time of the judges. "Stubborn and rebellious" should be enough to describe the Israelis at that time. In contrast, today, in such apocalyptic generations, has there ever been such a vicious circle in your daily life? There are too many temptations and temptations to induce us to sin. This reminds me of the prayer at the end of the meeting. Sometimes preacher led the congregation to recite the Lord’s Prayer together. It turns out that in the Lord’s Prayer, it is so important to pray to God, "Do not let us meet temptations, and save us from evil."

The words in the Bible let us understand God's commandments and let us remember the lessons of the past. As a believer, you must not follow the example of the Israelites: other generations that arise, do not know the Lord, and do what is evil in the eyes of the Lord to serve the Baals. We have the responsibility of educating the next generation to know God, love God, and obey God. It is only after becoming a mother that I understand the difficulties of parents. I hope that what I can leave to my children is the beautiful faith that can accompany them in their long lives, and I also hope that they can hold on to the hand of God.

 (Deuteronomy 28:1-8) 1 "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: 3 Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. 5 Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 6 Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. 7 "The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. 8 The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

How can such a beautiful and good promise and agreement not be left to the next generation!

Translated by 余姿瑩

Judges 1

(Judges 1:1) 1 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, "Who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?"

After Joshua’s death, Israel people still ask for God and God replied to those people’s question. In the end of Joshua, it talked about that the Israel people made an agreement to serve God only. When Joshua and elders who know God were still alive, the Israel serve God (Joshua 24:31). Israel people are ready to receive the promise of land’s grace. However, after they live in the Cannan. Their sprit life disappears and were no longer devoted to faith. After Joshua and elders died, the Israel leadership was in a vacuum and plunged into anarchy. Israel people cannot enjoy a free and prosperous life, but enter the dark age of national history.

(Judges 1:21) But the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; so the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.

(Judges 1:27) However, Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.

(Judges 1:29) Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; so the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.

(Judges 1:30) Nor did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron or the inhabitants of Nahalol; so the Canaanites dwelt among them, and were put under tribute.

(Judges 1:31) Nor did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Acco or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob.

(Judges 1:33) Nor did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh or the inhabitants of Beth Anath; but they dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath were put under tribute to them.

In the next few short verses, the conversation began to change, describing that most of the tribes did not implement Joshua’s will which is to drive out the residents of that place (Joshua 23:5). Incomplete removal of evil often leads to tragic endings. We must be careful not to compromise with evil.  Judges talked about the crimes committed by the people of Israel, and the consequences of their crimes. No matter how light the crime is, it will affect everyone. Starting from Achan’s love for fine clothes and gold and silver and now they have not driven out the local residents. All fell into sin; simply put, the reason for the rapid decline in the spirituality of the Israelites was sin---the sin of the individual, the sin of the nation. Unwilling to completely obey God, unwilling to annihilate the local enemies, and later even intermarried with the locals and worshipped idols, each did whatever they wanted.

Soon after, the people of Israel oppressed by enemy. They seek God in pain. Because of compassion and love for the people, judges were raised to save them, and the Israelites enjoyed peace. But they healed their scars and forgot to hurt them, disobeyed God, and started another cycle. Reading the Judges, in addition to understanding the heroic deeds of the judges, we should also pay attention to their process of relying on God and their obedience to God's commands.

(Joshua 3:6) Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, "Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people." So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.

Translated by 余姿瑩

 

As for Me and My Family, We will Serve God (Joshua 24)

 (Joshua 24:15) And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Religion can be said as something that will become a lifestyle for you after you believe in God. Everyone starts seeking the real God at different times. Some people start to find God when their lives become desperate. Some people know God because their parents tell them about this true God, and pass this faith to them. This is to tell us that God's divinity and eternal power are knowable. Everyone should take the chance to know this true God in heaven.

God chosen Joshua to be a spiritual leader, when his life came to the last part, he told God's chosen people” I am going the way of all the earth (Joshua 23:14). Joshua encouraged people that they must follow true God. Look back at how God led them out of the Gentile land from the Pola River, help them to get away from not believing the one true God. Now they enter Canaan, this is God's grace. Joshua not only encouraged the people but lead as an example telling people that he and his family will believe in Jesus the true God. Telling his whole life's religion and show that his expectation on his descendant, that they only believe in this true God.

(Acts 16:29-30)
29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

There was a jailer who was mentioned in the Bible. He was once desperate because there was an earthquake which cause all the jail doors opened. All the prisoner's chains were opened. The jailer woke up and saw all the doors were opened. He thought that all prisoners escaped. He was about to kill himself but God's grace appeared to him. Those prisoners did not escape. God arranged two of his workers Paul and Silas to sing in jail. They did not escape. Seeing them like that makes him realize that this is grace from God. He humbly asked how to be saved. This grace also appeared to his family. His whole family accepted the baptism of forgiveness and became very joyful.

This precious faith cannot be only for oneself. We need to pass it from generation to generation. We need to use "home" as the unit. The whole family believes in God. People who are reading this article. We sincerely invite you, grasp the time to accept the baptism of the blood of the Lord Jesus, serve and worship the only true God. To our church members. The whole family belief in the Lord is our goal. The whole family believing God, worshiping God is our life benchmark. The book Joshua is a chapter talking about the passing of religion. Now we have finished this book, hoping that all of our readers will keep this precious faith, follow God's way. Hope that all of our readers can be like Joshua: As for me and my family, we will serve God.

(Psalm 71:17-18) 17 O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works. 18 Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.

Translated by 余姿瑩

Joshua 23

(Joshua 23:6-8)

6 Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left,

7 and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them,

8 but you shall hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.

 

According to God’s promise, God will let the new generation go into Canaan. They experienced the dry land of the Jordan River (Joshua 3) defeated the Canaanite nations (Joshua 6-12). Looking back, we can know that these all are miracles made by God. If God didn’t be the marshal of the Israel people. People were slaves to Egyptians. Who has the faith to pass through the terrible weather wilderness? Who have the confidence to beat those Anakim, who was much taller than them and protected the cities of Canaan? Who can take the responsibility to take care of Israelites and lead them to the land of Canaan?

(Joshua 23:14) "Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed

                                                           

God is justice and loves people. He will protect his sheep but only if his sheep follow him.

When Moses and Joshua were leaders, when they inheritance positions from other people they have been told repeatedly, "You should be careful and follow God’s words".

When the people were in Egypt, God already commands Moses that they cannot worship idols as Canalise did. They need to follow God’s words and God will help them to beat the enemy. (Exodus 23:22-33)

Before Moses died, he told Joshua that he needs to be alerted and follow the decrees and laws. Because this is related to the life you will live longer by God’s guidance. (Deuteronomy 32:44-47)

 

Finally, before Joshua died, he told the people that they shouldn’t worship other gods, don’t be associate with Canalise and follow God and love God with all their heart and not walk sideways. (Joshua 23:6-8)

God will only protect the sheep who follow His command. Smart sheep will listen to the shepherd, it wouldn’t walk sideways. Listen to the shepherd’s instruction can never go wrong. If a sheep follows its shepherd, they will always be food and water although they might be some difficulty if it listens to the shepherd’s voice, it will finally find a restful waterside.

Joshua was once timid, so God once told him confidently: Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua:1 6-9) So at this moment, Joshua decided to stand up! Because he experiences God’s love and learns from his teacher Moses how God lead the people to get out of the wilderness. Follow God forever and not walk sideways. The only way to save your life is to be baptized and enter the sheepfold. Learn from Moses and Joshua that you need to listen to a shepherd, follow God’s instruction, and love God with all your heart.

(Psalm 91:14-16) 14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation."

 Translated by 余姿瑩

The Unity in The Witness Altar(Joshua 22)

27 but that it may be a witness between you and us and our generations after us, that we may perform the service of the Lord before Him with our burnt offerings, with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your descendants may not say to our descendants in time to come, "You have no part in the Lord." '28 Therefore we said that it will be, when they say this to us or our generations in time to come, that we may say, 'Here is the replica of the altar of the Lord which our fathers made, though not for burnt offerings nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between you and us.'(Joshua 22:27-28)

When God's people finish seven years of war, the two-and-a-half-tribe people went back to the East of Jordan River. Because they already have inherent there. An altar was erected, which looked tall. (Joshua,22:10) After the other people at the west of Jordan river hear this, they gather at Shiloh ready to attack. During this tense moment, nine-and-a-half tribes sent a delegation headed by the priest Phineha. They first went to the east side of the Jordan river to persuade and understand what they want to do. After knowing their purpose, understanding that they aren't going to abandon the True God and worship another God. The alter is proof to their descendant that all the people who live on either west or east side of the Jordan river are a family as they are all Abraham's descendants. The delegation thinks this is a beautiful thing to do and told the other tribes. This resolves the crisis of the brothers. The people named this alter the Altar, Ed.

(Deuteronomy 12:13-14)

13 Take heed to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see;

14 but in the place which the Lord chooses, in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you.

God once commanded the elect in Deuteronomy, that they need to sacrifice at God's chosen place. Why is it so troublesome? This is because whenever there's a God's festival, the people need to come from where they live to listen to God's command and maintain the same model of worship. This is to avoid the people to worship the other God. God has only chosen one place to teach the Truth which is to help their descendant to use worship God the same way. This is also why when the people who live on the west side of the Jordan river became angry when they hear the people who live on the east side of the Jordan river wants to build an altar for themselves. This is to keep the same way of worship.

(2 Corinthians 11:4) For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received or a different gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it!

(2 Corinthians 12:18) I urged Titus and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

During the apostle era, they were only one church. A lot of apostles went to another place to establish this True Jesus Church. They will use this area's name to call the church. The church at Ephesus was called Ephesus church, the church at Galatians region was called Galatians church. As they all are True Jesus Church, they need to follow the same instruction. By receiving the promised Holy Spirt baptism this became God's church. During that era, churches in the Corinth region hear someone preached another Jesus to them which from their point of view that is called another Jesus and another gospel. From this, we can know that Jesus preached by the apostle's gospel was the only Truth. From the Bible’s perspective, we can see that all True Jesus church is preaching one Truth. We cannot build an altar in another place and worship God in our way. This is the unity that God has shown on the altar of witness.

Friends, do you believe in God? We should preach the same truth as the apostles.  God's church is indivisible, there is only one. Just like the place chosen by God to worship God, they are only one way. The world gives us the reason that we need to be diverse, worship God as we please. Just like the altar's event. People who believe in God must see the truth inside the altar. Let’s preaching together, believe in the truth that apostles are preaching. We need to come back to this only place that we can preach to God, receive one Truth, one flock, and one shepherd.

(John 10:16) And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Translated by Nicole

 

Levite's Inheritance(Joshua 21)

All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities with their common-lands (Joshua 21:41)

    God blessed Levites, Although Levities were separate around tribes, they received the cities and common lands as commanded by the Lord, they received forty-eight cities, Only the tribe of Judah (Joshua 20-62) and the tribe of Manasheh receive more cities than Levites (Joshua 29-30), Levites should be grateful as they did not deserve such grace from the Lord.

    "Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting. (Numbers 18:21)

    How can Levities receive this much inheritance? This is because Israelites dedicate tithes to Levites. If the people appreciate holy workers, then the Levites will work harder for God. Which will create a positive cycle and will help the people to have more faith in God. God chosen Levites instead of first-born Israelites. Although they were separated between tribes. God will rewarded people who work for Him. They seem to have no inheritance but behind this is countless grace and rich inheritance.

    (Mark 10:29-30) So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life.

    Due to the gospel, we have to leave things behind that we want to do on Earth, this seems to be a sacrifice but it is a blessing. This is a test from God on our faith. We don't need to broke our relationship with our family because we need to preach the gospel. But if we are willing to put the gospel on our priority list, knowing that nothing is more important than God. God's grace will bless us from our current life to eternal life.

    Sometimes we have to make a decision in our religion. There is a man in the bible called Peter. Before he met God, he was a fisher. One night when he couldn’t catch fish all night, he listened to God's instructions. He moved the boat to a deeper place, put down the net, and fishing. As he believed Jesus, he dropped down the net and fish, what he got was two boats of fish. Knowing that he is like a sinner, if there’s no God then there is no meaning in our life. Jesus call Peter and promised him that he will be a fisher of men so Peter left all things and followed God.

    From a person’s perspective, if they aren't life how could they have time to follow religion? But from God's perspective if they are not religious then they are no life because religion is life. Maybe we can't foreseen eternal life now but if we don't seize the time to know God then we will lose more grace. If we are willing to sacrifice our life and follow God then God will bless us. This is because God is our inheritance.

    (Joshua 13:33) But to the tribe of Levi Moses had given no inheritance; the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance, as He had said to them.

Translated by Nicole

 

 

 

Set Apart the Cities of Refugee (Joshua20)

The Lord also spoke to Joshua, saying, "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,  (Joshua 20:1-2) 

    For the establishment of the city of refuge, please refer to Numbers 35:9-28 and Deuteronomy 19:1- 13. 

    Joshua led a new generation of Israelites into the promised land. God told Joshua to follow "what Moses told you". This is the inheritance and succession of faith. 

    He wants to live in that city and stand in front of the congregation to hear the judgment. When the high priest is dead, the murderer can return to his home in the city, which is the city from which he escaped. (Joshua 20:6) 

    The city of refuge is a sanctuary, a place that can be accepted, in the arms of Jesus, and the true church of Jesus. If you have the opportunity to enter the city of refuge, you must leave the city and live a new life. For those who want to enter the city of refuge (church, fellowship), we should accept them, just like the Lord Jesus accepts us. 

    The murderer will flee to one of these cities, stand at the gate, and tell his story to the elders in the city. They took him into the city and gave him a place to live among them. (Joshua 20:4) The description of the city of refuge is different from those recorded in the Book of Numbers and Deuteronomy. It records what "the murderer" has to do-"Tell his affairs to the elders in the city "Listen" and telling our mistakes of "unintentionally killing people" is like kneeling before the mercy seat and acknowledging our weakness. Weakness can also be said to be a turning point in grace and the key to obtaining blessings. When we are weak when we can be strong（2 Corinthians12：10）.  Accept the weakness in life and let God’s grace appear perfect in our weakness（2 Corinthians12：9）. 

    We who have entered the city of refuge may also have a fellowship that makes us feel safe. In such a refuge, have we "told our weakness to the elders in the city" and properly exposed and shared our weaknesses, Let the members of the fellowship "receive us into the city", accept us as members of each other, and face the weakness and inherit the grace of life together. 

    I have heard of brothers and sisters who don’t often participate in fellowship meetings. They flashed after the meeting, and occasionally they had the opportunity to care for a few words at the door of the church, and in private, I heard them say that "the church has no love". Participation and a little more interaction allow us to walk into each other’s lives. Apart from gathering and listening to the sermons, we can have more sharing and reflection. To grow up, learn together the lessons of "being accompanied by faith", "accepting each other", and "life affects life". What a wonderful, joyous and satisfying church life like this! 

    (Philippians 2:5) Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 
    (Philippians 2:1-2) 1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Translated by Nicole