Wed.’s Devo - God’s Justice

Read: Joshua 19:1-20:9; Luke 19:28-48; Psalm 88:1-28; Proverbs 13:12-14 If you were to look at a map of the tribes of Israel you would see that Simeon’s land is right in the middle of Judah because Judah’s land was too large for them. Their territory is south of Jerusalem. *** The next allotments went to Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and Dan. They were all north of Jerusalem. Joshua chose to live in Temnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. *** Once they had their territories mapped out they were told to set up cities of refuge where the innocent without alibi’s could go and receive divine justice. Justice is a foundational stone of God’s kingdom. Six of the cities were set up strategically where they were accessible to everyone. The cities were Hebron, Kedesh, Bezer, Ramoth, Shechem and Golan. *** God prepared the way for Jesus all the way to the cross. The donkey was just where Jesus told them it would be and once they told the one in charge of it why they wanted it, they weren’t stopped. The people who praised Jesus were on their way to Jerusalem also for the Passover. Jesus began his journey on the donkey the same time the Passover lamb was making its way to Jerusalem. There would be one lamb that was called the Pascal lamb that would be sacrificed last on Passover. He would die for the whole nation. He would be strapped to the altar at the same time Jesus would be nailed to the cross. He would lay on the altar while all the other lambs were being sacrificed. At the end of the day, he would be sacrificed and then the priest would say, “It is finished,” and Passover would be over. This was the exact time Jesus would say those same three words on the cross and die for the whole world. *** The praises that they gave to Jesus as they lay their palm branches before him were the Hallel that they would sing on the way to Jerusalem. It is found in Psalm 113-118. *** Jesus went first to the Temple to cleanse it once again of the money changers and the people selling animals for sacrifice. He declared that God’s temple was to be a house of prayer, not a den of theives. Then Jesus taught the people the law of God. The people hung on every word but the teachers of the religious law met to plan how to kill him. *** Lord, thank you that you always have the last word. You always bring justice. You did for Jesus and you will for us. Help us to see that your kingdom is perfect and if we live in it, we will be justified. Your justice declares us righteous because of the blood of Jesus.