Old Testament reading: Judges 19
This is one of the most bizarre and unsettling of all the Old Testament accounts. There is really too much material for comment, so permit me to speak generally about my reaction to the text. What really disturbs me is my general misconception of God’s people in the Old Testament. These were harsh, brutal people who showed little regard for women or human life and limb. In many ways they differed little from the pagans round about. Reading Joshua and Judges makes me more thankful to be a Christian. Even though men were still quite brutal in the days of the New Testament, Christians are certainly called to something much higher. One fact of absolute importance should here be noted. Just because the Bible records the account of an action is not to say the action in any way enjoys Divine approval. The actions of both the old man and the Levite are undeniably reprehensible. This account is given to set the stage and help us to understand the events to follow in Judges 20.
New Testament reading: Matthew 16-18
The Mount of Transfiguration teaches us a number of lessons concerning death and our lives thereafter. First and foremost, there IS life after death! We continue to possess a conscious existence following our earthly death. Second, we maintain our personal identities in eternity. Moses was still Moses and Elijah was still Elijah. Jesus necessarily implied both of these truths when, in Matthew 22:32, he quoted Exodus 3:6, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,” concluding, “God is nto the God of the dead, but of the living.” Moreover, Peter also somehow recognized the two great patriarchs, even though he had never seen them (or perhaps their Facebook accounts were still active J). Third, we remember our previous lives and the things said and done. Luke’s account of this event says Jesus was talking with these men about His decease (exodus or journey) that would soon be accomplished in Jerusalem. Such tells us that Moses and Elijah knew of this long before Jesus was ever made manifest in the flesh. Finally, we learn that Jesus is far greater than Moses, the great law giver, and he is greater than Elijah, the great law restorer. Peter did not recognize this at first, but God quickly made it clear.
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