Anchor My Faith

God’s Sovereign Justice, Faithful Judgment, and the Call to Humble Obedience

Old Testament Reading

Joshua 9:3–10:43 — Deception, Covenant, and Divine Victory

Overview:
The Gibeonites deceive Israel into making a covenant by pretending to come from a distant land, and Israel fails to seek the Lord’s counsel. Though the deception is discovered, Joshua honors the covenant. When surrounding kings attack Gibeon, Israel defends them, and God intervenes with miraculous signs, including hailstones and the prolonging of the day. The passage highlights God’s faithfulness to His promises and His sovereign power in granting victory over Israel’s enemies.

Theological Themes:
• The importance of seeking God’s counsel
• Covenant faithfulness and integrity
• God’s sovereign power in judgment and deliverance

Key Verse:
Joshua 9:14 – “So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD.”

Discussion Questions with Answers:

1. What mistake did Israel make with the Gibeonites?
   Answer: Israel relied on outward appearances and human judgment rather than seeking the Lord’s guidance, which led them into a binding covenant based on deception.
2. Why did Joshua honor the covenant despite the deception?
   Answer: Joshua upheld the covenant to maintain integrity before God, recognizing that breaking it would dishonor the Lord and violate the sacredness of an oath.
3. What does God’s intervention in battle reveal about Him?
   Answer: God demonstrates His absolute sovereignty over nature and nations, showing that victory belongs to Him and that He fights for His people.

New Testament Reading

Luke 16:19–17:10 — Eternal Realities and Humble Service

Overview:
Jesus teaches through the account of the rich man and Lazarus, revealing the reality of eternal judgment and the reversal of earthly fortunes. He emphasizes the sufficiency of Scripture for repentance and warns against hardness of heart. Jesus then instructs His disciples on forgiveness, faith, and humble service, teaching that obedience is expected and does not earn special merit before God.

Theological Themes:
• Eternal judgment and accountability
• The sufficiency of God’s Word
• Humility and faithful obedience

Key Verse:
Luke 16:31 – “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.”

Discussion Questions with Answers:

1. What does the account of the rich man and Lazarus teach about eternity?
   Answer: It reveals that earthly status does not determine eternal destiny and that there is a fixed separation after death based on one’s response to God.
2. Why does Abraham say Scripture is sufficient?
   Answer: Because God’s revealed Word already provides all that is necessary for repentance and faith; rejecting it reflects a hardened heart that even miracles may not change.
3. What does Jesus teach about service in Luke 17:7–10?
   Answer: He teaches that obedience is our duty, not a means of earning reward, and that believers should serve with humility, recognizing they are unworthy servants.

Psalms Reading

Psalm 83:1–18 — A Cry for God’s Righteous Judgment

Overview:
The psalmist calls on God to act against a coalition of nations conspiring against Israel. He recalls past victories where God defeated His enemies and asks Him to do so again. The ultimate goal is not only deliverance but that the nations would recognize the Lord as the Most High over all the earth.

Theological Themes:
• God as defender of His people
• Divine justice against wicked nations
• God’s glory among the nations

Key Verse:
Psalm 83:18 – “That they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.”

Discussion Questions with Answers:

1. What is the primary request of the psalmist?
   Answer: The psalmist asks God to rise up and judge the nations that oppose His people, demonstrating His power and justice.
2. Why does the psalmist recall past victories?
   Answer: Remembering God’s past deliverance strengthens faith and confidence that He will act again in the present.
3. What is the ultimate purpose of God’s judgment in this psalm?
   Answer: That all nations would recognize God’s supremacy and acknowledge Him as the Most High.

Proverbs Reading

Proverbs 13:4 — The Reward of Diligence

Overview:
This proverb contrasts the desires of the sluggard with the diligence of the hardworking. While the lazy person craves much yet achieves nothing, the diligent person experiences fulfillment. It emphasizes the principle that effort and discipline lead to satisfaction and provision.

Theological Themes:
• The value of diligence
• Consequences of laziness
• God’s design for work and reward

Key Verse:
Proverbs 13:4 – “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”

Discussion Questions with Answers:

1. What contrast is presented in this proverb?
   Answer: The contrast is between the sluggard, who desires but does not act, and the diligent, who works and is satisfied.
2. Why does the sluggard receive nothing?
   Answer: Because desire without effort leads to no results; laziness prevents the fulfillment of goals.
3. What principle does this proverb teach about life?
   Answer: It teaches that consistent diligence leads to provision and satisfaction, reflecting God’s design for responsible living.