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![Sunrise on Temple Mount in Jerusalem; Back to Previous Devotion](../images/sunrise-previous.jpg)
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February 1 - Morning
"“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery,
“You shall have no other gods before me.' "
- Exodus 20:2-3 |
![Sunset on the Sea of Galilee; Click to go to next devotion](../images/sunset-previous.jpg) |
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There Are No Other Gods in the Presence of the Lord |
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Exodus 20 begins the pronouncement of the covenant that God will make with the Abraham’s people, the Israelites. The covenant form that God uses is typical of contracts or international treaties in the ancient Near East. Yahweh’s covenant with Israel is similar, but, yet, not identical, to the Suzerainty Treaty that we find preserved in the Hittite documents from Anatolia (Asia Minor, or Turkey today) and Assyrian documents. In these treaties a superior nation or king would offer his protection to a lesser state or tribe based on what that superior king had done to earn him the right to be taken serious. The vassal, or lesser party, would be required to provide some provision and meet some stipulations in order to secure the protection and relationship with the greater king or nation. The basic format would be something like this:
- The Title of the King
- Statement of historical event justifying the great king’s claim
- Requirements and duties of the lesser vassal
- A list of witnesses who would enforce punishment if covenant was broken
- A list of curses for failing and blessings for fulfilling the covenant requirements
The Lord follows a similar format that was typical for 1440 BC. First, he states his title, “I am the Yahweh your God.” Second, historical proof of his greatness from the perspective of the vassals, “who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”
Then, follows the list of requirements and duties Israel is to meet if they want the benefit of a national covenant with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (It should be noted that this covenant from Mount Sinai does not replace the covenant with Abraham, see Paul’s teaching in Galatians 3:16-17, “…The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.”)
The Lord says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” The phrase “before me,” could be translated “before my face” which would be in reference to the presence or sanctuary of the Lord. In other words, Yahweh continues to state his superiority since there are “no other gods in my presence” and proclaim his ultimate victory in Egypt for Israel to know and trust. Since all the gods were clearly destroyed, Israel can hear and believe the opening statement of this covenant. Israel does not so much need to obey this statement as a command, as they need to be convinced that it is true! Yahweh is not saying, “Don’t have any other gods,” but is saying, “You will find that there are no other gods in my presence.” This is a statement of victory for Israel to embrace and believe,…or, it can be a law they struggle to obey if they do not believe…
Psalm 82 reiterates the same point:
God presides in the great assembly;
he renders judgment among the ‘gods’:
How long will you defend the unjust
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
Defend the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.
They walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
I said, ‘You are “gods”;
you are all sons of the Most High.’ (Note: meaning they are created spiritual beings)
But you will die like mere mortals;
you will fall like every other ruler.
Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
for all the nations are your inheritance.
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![Christian Quote from Church History](../images/quote-box.jpg) |
“The child asks of the Father whom he knows. Thus, the essence of Christian prayer is not general adoration, but definite, concrete petition. The right way to approach God is to stretch out our hands and ask of One who we know has the heart of a Father.”
– Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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![Something to Ponder??](../images/ponder-box.jpg) |
Frank Tipler is professor of mathematical physics who converted to Christianity according to his book “The Physics of Christianity.” In this 1994 book Tipler wrote:
"When I began my career as a cosmologist some twenty years ago, I was a convinced atheist. I never in my wildest dreams imagined that one day I would be writing a book purporting to show that the central claims of Judeo-Christian theology are in fact true, that these claims are straightforward deductions of the laws of physics as we now understand them. I have been forced into these conclusions by the inexorable logic of my own special branch of physics."
(See critics here and here.) |
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![Hebrew and Greek Word Study](../images/word-study-box-long.jpg) |
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![Facts and Information](../images/fact-box.jpg) |
Rib (Hb) – Complaint (Eng) – rib is the Hebrew word that means “charge,” “accusation,” “complaint” and refers to arguing a legal case. In Exodus 17:2 rib is translated "guarreled" when the people brought a case against Moses and the Lord for not providing water. In Micah 6 the Lord brings charges, or rib, against Israel and tells them to prepare their defense. |
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The conquest of the land of Canaan by Joshua was not a scorched-earth decree from God. In fact, Israel was told they’d be living in “flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant.” (Deuteronomy 6:10-12). And, after they had taken the land the Lord told the Israelites:
“I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’ (Joshua 24:13)
The Canaanite people were destroyed, but not their cities. Only Jericho, Ai and Hazor were to be destroyed. Today it is hard to prove Joshua conquered the land and the cities, because Israel did not destroy the cities and the land. But, at Jericho and Hazor the destruction and burning of these two cities around 1400 BC is visible. The destruction and heat from the flames was great at Jericho and Hazor, yet the rest of the land was spared. Israel moved into the cities and the houses, and took over the vineyards and the fields leaving very little archaeological evidence of the conquest. |
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![Confession to Action](../images/confession-box-long588.jpg) |
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![Facts and Information](../images/proverb-box.jpg) |
Do I realize that faith and understanding will produce corresponding actions of holiness?
If I realize that no other gods can even stand before the Lord since they are like
nothing to him,
then I will find it easier to honor, obey and serve the Great God. |
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"Out in the open wisdom
calls aloud,
she raises her voice in the public square;
on top of the wall she
cries out,
at the city gate she makes her speech."
- Proverbs 1:20-21 |
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![Personal Prayer](../images/personal-prayer-box.jpg) |
![Church Prayer Item](../images/church-prayer-box.jpg) |
![National Prayer Concerns](../images/nation-prayer-box.jpg) |
![World Prayer Concerns](../images/world-prayer-box.jpg) |
Concern for those that need help |
Attitude of encouragement |
Censorship |
Human Trafficking |
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Reps & Sets is a daily Bible devotional for Christians from Generation Word Bible Teaching used each morning and evening. |
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