July 5th

Joshua 7     Jeremiah 1     Psalms 137-138     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Tears of weeping:
Do you, like me, remember Boney M’s hit in 1978, by the rivers of Babylon? A top selling single based on the words of Psalm 137.By the rivers of Babylon, where we sat down, there we wept, when we remembered Zion. The psalmist wept whilst in exile remembering the past, the destruction of Jerusalem.
We weep in Joshua 7:5 at the senseless loss of 36 lives as the assault on Ai fails. Joshua weeps, tears his clothes and falls face down all day long.
We weep at Achan and his family suffering for his sin of disobeying God’s clear instructions, (Josh 6:18) as he sneaks devoted things into his tent (The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them). They poison and corrupt his whole household who pay the terrible price of his sin.
In Jeremiah 1 there is a prophecy of judgment coming from the North on Israel as God declares his judgment for those forsaking him. The word weep or weeping comes 12 times in the book of Jeremiah.
Do we take our sin seriously? Achan’s sin had huge effects, not just on him, but his family and livestock. Disobeying God’s clear commands is wrong and will bring judgment. Sin is seriously not good for your health.
We must weep over our sin and the sins of our world. So we can leave the valley of Achor or trouble behind. Reflect on your sins and weep.
I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

(crèche helper)

July 4th

Joshua 6     Isaiah 66     Psalms 135-136     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Our God is greater, our God is stronger. Even thick stone walls can crumble!
Round and round they marched, look out your window, and imagine a large group marching round and round your house, solemnly, silently day after day. Imagine hearing the trumpets sound and seeing the Ark of the Covenant carried around. Finally on the seventh day, they encircled seven times, blew the trumpets and SHOUTED – and the thick strong stone walls crumbled instantly –amazing!
God is in charge. God is the commander. Israel simply followed his clear commands. Everything inside is destroyed except Rahab, the prostitute, of Josh 2:1, and her family. God keeps his promise to her, made by the two spies, to protect her. Jericho is still in ruins today, it has never been rebuilt, (Joshua 6: 26).

In Psalm 135:5 we sing, I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods.
Remember the chorus we sing at church, why not sing it out loud?
Our God is greater
Our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is healer
Awesome in power our God our God

Yet this great strong powerful God , who can destroy Jericho’s walls is the same one in Isaiah 66:12 who dandles or bounces us like children on their mother’s knees and comforts us like a mother cuddles her child. Praise God!
Why not memorise this verse today?
Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.  His love endures for ever.

(crèche helper)
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