March 8, 2019
Joshua 9:22                             
Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way from you,’ while actually you live near us?

Psalm 67:1-2
May God be gracious to us and bless us
    and make his face shine on us—
so that your ways may be known on earth,
    your salvation among all nations.
New International Version (NIV)
              “A lie makes it all the way around the world before truth even puts its shoes on.”  Have you heard this expression?  Lying has become an art form in our day.  It is not unique to any people or political party.  In a book called, The Day America Told the Truth, surveys of Americans reveal that we lie to each other constantly.  When we hear someone accusing someone of lying, we may safely believe that it is true. 

                The Gibeonites lied to the Israelites.  In order to avoid conflict with the armies of Israel, these locals concocted an elaborate lie to deceive the Israelites into believing they were from a distant land.  The truth came out, as it always eventually does.  Joshua asked them why.  They lied to save their lives.  Israel would have destroyed them.  The Gibeonites chose to lie in order to live.  Would you tell a lie in order to live?  If you tell me that you never lie, I may wonder whether you are telling the truth!

                The bellicose nature of Israel’s relationship with its neighbors at least makes sense of the story.  But when we read our Psalm 67 for today, we hear the heart cry of God’s people.  We want God to be gracious to us, bless us and cause his face to shine on us.  But to what end does God bless us?  So that we may be a blessing to others bringing his good news of salvation to the ends of the earth.  God’s great goal today is not to destroy people.  He is not willing that any should perish but that all would come to eternal life.  We want all the people and nations to praise God.  God blesses us so that the ends of the earth will praise him.  

Pray with me:    
Father, make us truth-tellers in a world of lies.  We pray that we will know Jesus, the Truth who sets us free.  Thank you for blessing us so that we may bless others.  Help us to bring your salvation to all people.    In Jesus’ name.  Amen.
This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan.  Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download 
the app at readscripture.org.  Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully, 
Duane 

About Duane Archives
Subscribe to our email list.