For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Matt. 7
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matt. 7:6). I did some searching as to the meaning of this verse and came up with several different explanations. Most looked at the verse in the context of the preceding five. But what if that verse doesn’t belong with the first five? What if it belongs with the verses that follow? One explanation I ran across suggested that very thing.
The perspective was attributed to Glen Stassen in a journal writing titled, “The Fourteen Triads of the Sermon on the Mount”. The basis of that writing is that the Sermon on the Mount, as written in Matthew, is structured in a very specific and meaningful way. Given the meaningful and no doubt intentional structure of the book of Matthew to this point, I’d say that is a very reasonable thought. The general pattern of the structure is to transform an old, self-serving way of doing things into a new, God-serving way of living. This is actually a pattern that I have been noticing and commenting on for the past couple of days. So it also stands to reason that the comment starting with “do not”, as in verse 6, would be the start of one of these patterned sections.
When you look at this verse in that light, it is not about judging or discerning, as people generally suggest. Instead, it is about trusting and seeking provision. In Glen Stassen’s words, “Do not give your trust and loyalty to [gentile powers, especially Rome] instead of to God.” (p. 290). I can actually see some merit in that explanation.
Num. 31-32
Why do you think God commanded vengeance on the Midianites? I finally get it! The sin of Balaam – I never fully understood what he did wrong until now. A couple of days ago we read in Numbers 25 that the Moabites were enticing the Israelites into sexual immorality and worship of their no-gods. I mentioned at that time that Balak, the leader of Moab, knew that God’s people would not be under His blessing if they were drawn away from Him. We then saw a Midianite woman doing the same thing as the Moabites.
The key to all of this is in Numbers 31:15-16. “’Have you allowed all the women to live?’ he asked them. ‘They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the LORD in the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the LORD’s people.’” Though Balaam was not able to utter a curse against God’s people, it was he who understood that they could be drawn out from under God’s blessing. It appears Balaam may have received that reward from Balak after all. Perhaps he received a reward from the Midianites as well, when he offered the same advice to them.
For me, it is a powerful thought that the Enemy knows that, though he cannot stop God from blessing His people, those people can be drawn out from under God’s blessing. I can look around and see that the Enemy will stop at nothing to implement this strategy. There are so many ways that he does this, and I must be on constant guard to not fall prey to his crafty, flesh-appealing tactics.
Ps. 32
Read this psalm aloud, then take a few moments to confess your sins and thank God for the blessing of forgiveness. We recently read through Romans, where Paul wrote a lot about being free from the law. That freedom, however, does not excuse us from living obediently to God. God’s grace is not a free pass for sin. I see that same thought expressed in this Psalm in an interesting way.
“Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him.” (Ps. 32:9-10). Think of the bit and bridle as the Law, which was given because people’s hearts did not understand God’s ways. Horses and mules are not prone to trusting their leaders in a way that they will follow their lead without such controls in place. Sheep, on the other hand, know their shepherd’s voice. They trust their shepherd and will run to him simply at the sound of his voice.
When, by God’s grace through Christ, God’s Holy Spirit fills us, we no longer need the controls of the Law – our bit and bridle – to know and follow His ways. Instead, God gives us intimate understanding so we are free to live by trust. And those who trust in God have every reason to rejoice as He surrounds us with His unfailing love.