Judges 3:12-30 - Ehud and Eglon

Judges 3:12-30

So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land was undisturbed for eighty years. 

Message: Ehud and Eglon

Time: Judges covers about 250 years from death of Joshua to birth of Samuel (1360-1110 BC). The people of Israel largely divided with different local triable judges. It was a period of stirring interventions by the Lord and also great disobedience on the part of the Israelites. Without a king, everyone did right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). 

What the Lord is Saying: In the previous lesson, something I saw and began to understand was that God used the poor choices of the Israelites for an opportunity to determine if they will rely on Him. I saw in that lesson that my life is really meant to glorify God, not so that I would get a reward but so that God would simply be glorified and receive the praise. The primary focus of our lives is on Him, not ourselves. And in this situation with the Israelites in Canaan, they are going to be challenged and tested with the hope that their lives will be lived in praise and honor of God. 

The Tabletalk lesson for today states, "God still used them (the subsequent judges after Othniel), but the judges tend to receive a greater focus than the Lord Himself." See, too often, I am thinking life is about me and what I want and what I need and my happiness and my joy - but life is about God and His glory. I am living in His World. I am created because of Him and for Him. This book - the Bible - is meant to be a story about God and who He is and what He is doing. And people in this story serve His purposes. I serve His purposes. It is more important for God to get the glory than for man. 

After Othniel dies, following 40 years of the land resting (v. 11), "the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord." In other words, the sons of Israel entered a time of apostasy. Apostasy is turning away from one's faith after declaring or making a profession of faith. In seeing this evil - "The Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel." Eglon's purpose is to discipline them. This is what God can do during a time of apostasy - turn people back to Him. Here, he is doing that through discipline. After this "the sons of Israel served Eglon...18 years." -- Eglon is not a Godly representative; He is not a righteous judge. He is a worldly ruler. Joseph Benson states, "As God raised up deliverers to Israel, when they became penitent, so he spirited up enemies against them, and gave them power to oppress them, whenever they revolted from his service."

Then "the sons of Israel cried to the Lord" and "the Lord raised up a deliverer. (v. 15)" Ehud is the next judge and the next deliverer to the people of Israel. Ehud will kill Eglon in a rather gruesome way, surprising him with a sword and thrusting it into his belly and then scurrying away. This is a story of what God did, but that doesn't mean this is a story that is to be emulated or repeated, but is describing what God has done. God steps in when His people are falling away from him, exchanging other gods for the God of Abraham. God sees this and uses a non-Godly man to turn people back to Him, but He does it through discipline. Then, at a point, that God determines, after the people cry to Him, He raises up a deliverer. 

After the death of Eglon, 10,000 Moabites are struck down. Moab is subdued. "And the land was undisturbed for eighty years." There were 18 years that the people were disciplined, but then this is followed by 80 years of living undisturbed or had rest (not the entire land, but the eastern part which had shaken off Moab).

Summary: For 18 years, God disciplines Israel under the hand of Eglon. After crying to the Lord, the Lord delivers Israel through Ehud and they have peace for 80 years. 

Promise: "Through every storm, through every fight, Your hand has held me, guiding my life." - Belle Ballesteros, "I am Chosen." 

Prayer: God, you are good. You are holy. You created me for your purpose. But even more than me, you have a purpose in people, to keep them with You. Yet, we as your people can get off track. We can turn from You and seek our own desires, our own ways. We erect gods that we seek and make a big part of our lives. We are impatient and in the process we start taking control of our own lives or we think we do. But you God still have your purpose, to be with You. O God - keep your people close to You. You will draw them back to You. I see this. Maybe I discover it greater than I have ever seen before. You are a God that brings your people home to You. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Proverbs 10:7 - Remember the Righteous

Proverbs 10:7

The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot. 

Message: Remember the righteous

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God. 

What the Lord is Saying: Common words - righteousness (v. 2), righteous (v.3), righteous (v.6), and now righteous (v. 7). To be righteous continues to be encouraged or extolled.  

Matthew Henry said of this verse - "Both the just and the wicked must die; but between their souls there is a vast difference." The deeds of those that are righteous are remembered well. They have honor and are acceptable. John Gill says, "the memory of them is sweet and precious; their name is famous and valuable, and always spoken of with honour and commendation." 

But the wicked rot or they are useless, worm-eaten, stink above ground. They might be mentioned but there is a wish that they would not have been around at all. 

Once again, Solomon speaks to his son and tries I think to reiterate once again that to live in a righteous manner is of the higest goal and achievement of a person. There remains many benefits. 

I am nearing the end of my career with the City as I have been there 25 years. It seems everyone that works or invests in something wants to be remembered. I think the memory I want is that I tried to do a good job. And hopefully that is seen by others. But, I also want to be seen as a faithful person and one who followed God and was true to Him. 

We don't want to hear, "You stink." 

Prayer: O God, may I be this type of person - one that lives in a righteous way. Continue to shape this in my life. The other day someone with a contrary person told me I was being cordial in our differences. I appreciated those words. And I pray that this would be who I am. Others I know are different than this and that is fine for them and probably needed but this is who you have made me to be. And I pray that I am true to that. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Judges 3:1-11 - The Model Judge

Judges 3:1-11
And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother (v.9)."

Message: The Model Judge

Time: Judges covers about 250 years from death of Joshua to birth of Samuel (1360-1110 BC). The people of Israel largely divided with different local triable judges. It was a period of stirring interventions by the Lord and also great disobedience on the part of the Israelites. Without a king, everyone did right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). 

What the Lord is Saying: Judges is an interesting title for this book because in a way what God seems to be doing here in this book is challenging the Israelites, but in a rather natural way based upon their choices to not completely trust God after allowing non-Israelites to continue to inhabit the lands that they were promised by God in Canaan. Rather than wiping those people out, they allow them to stay. We do the same thing in our lives. We dance with danger. We try to have our cake and eat it too. We say we are surrendering to God and yet we let in those things that potentially could bring our faith down and make us ineffective. And then as we do this, we still go to God and ask Him to bless us. People marry people of different faiths or of no faith. We saturate ourselves in so many different types of entertainment and music. We make alcohol too much a part of our life and we spend much of our time with people that do not share our beliefs. And yet there are challenges even in me saying this as we are called to be in the world, but not of it. It is the world where people that are not of our faith reside and we need to go to them to bring them into the fold. 

But the Lord God in His providence and sovereignty does something else - though the Canaanites remain because of the disobedience of the people in not conquering them when they had the chance, God also will now use this remnant to teach the Israelites that are now there about war - fighting and "God's extraordinary power and providence manifested therein (Joseph Benson)." A generation had fought previously under Joshua, but now a new generation is present and God needs to teach this new generation fighting and also dependence and reliance on Him. David Guzik writes, "These nations would remain because God wanted to prove the faithfulness of Israel to Himself, and to improve their reliance on Him." My obedience is for God's glory and something He wants not simply so my life will be better but because He wants my faithfulness. "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)"

This is powerful and maybe something I haven't really noticed or realized before. That these words in Scripture are describing God and His ways and purposes. God is wanting to do something in me - for Him -- for His Glory. That it isn't first and foremost about my spiritual growth. It is about me being in Christ, in God. Because He wants a people that is dependent on Him. This isn't all about me and making me better, but it is about Him and making Him great. 

In verse 1 of chapter 3, it says, "these are the nations which the Lord left, to test Israel by them." In verse 4, "to find out if they would obey the commandments of the Lord." In verse 5, "They took their daughters for themselves, and gave their own daughters for their sons." In verse 7, "The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord." Evil must be defined by God, not man. All too often I think the danger we have as people is defining what is wrong by what we think is wrong. But, God wants us to uphold His word and look to it as our plumb line. The standard is His. Thus, the mark of a Christian or Jesus follower or one who really wants to obey the Lord is to constantly measure ourselves against what His word says is right and wrong. 

Verse 9, "When the sons of Israel cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the sons of Israel to deliver them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother." Verse 10 - "And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and He judged Israel." Verse 11, "then the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died." Not much is written here about Othniel. It says the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and that seems to be all that is needed to describe him. 

Thus, the first judge. The Lord provided. He judged them. He delivered them. 

Summary: God tests Israel to prove they are a people relying and depending on Him. They serve other Gods and Othniel delivers and judges them and the land has rest for 40 years. 

Promise: God delights to use people to accomplish His purposes, but we should take care to give Him the credit. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for teaching me these lessons and truths - that life is always and only about You and my obedience is what You are supposed to receive. I need to follow You all of my days. This life is Yours. Help me to keep that the focus and not on my own learning or focus. You are to be glorified. 

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Proverbs 10:6 - Out of God, out of man

Proverbs 10:6

Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 

Message: Out of God, out of man

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God. 

What the Lord is Saying: At first glance, this proverb seems obvious — the righteous are blessed while the wicked has problems. Six verses into Chapter 10 and also into the 375 Proverbs (10:1 to 22:16) to study -- 'righteous' or 'righteousness' is mentioned three times. This is a very common word in scripture and denotes the person that not only lives above board or above reproach, but it also conveys the idea of the person that God accepts. I quickly think of the verse, "The righteous shall live by faith" (Habakkuk 2:4) and also "For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God" (Romans 1:17). 

Now in this verse the virtue highlights the "head" of the righteous. Head seems to denote the highest part of a person and so these blessings are coming from above or from God. John Gill (1697 – 1771), an English Baptist pastor, biblical scholar, and theologian stated that these blessings could be "pardon of sin, peace of soul, every sanctifying grace, the blessing of adoption, and a right to eternal life." As such these are blessings conferred by God by His mercy. In each of these we have received a blessing from God. It is nothing we earn. It is all His mercy. These blessings are a crown which sit on the head. They set us apart from others, but not because of something we have done, but because of what we have received. 

The vice in this verse is the mouth of the wicked. The mouth is where the wicked wages their war. The mouth or the words that are said are the issue here. The mouth is active and is an outpouring of the man. The head rests on man as grace or mercy rests on man, but the mouth is active, coming forth out of a person. Righteousness is conferred upon us. We commit acts of violence through our words. We are responsible for our words. 

James 3:16 says, "The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." I always need to be careful about my choice of words and what I say. 

This verse will be somewhat repeated in verse 11 - "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence." The same vice will be contrasted with a mouth that speaks forth righteousness, but the contrast in verse 6 seems to be more what man earns versus what God gifts. In this way, the actions of God versus man are opposites. One gives blessing, the other violence. 

Thus, my title for this verse, is "out of God, out of man." This seems to be the contrast here and what is to be emphasized. 

Prayer: O Lord, I thank you for the mercy you have shown me - continually. You granted me life, creating this world and all that is in it. You give me great gifts of creation - the food I eat, the surroundings I live in, the beauty of your creation. You give me great people to be with each day - people that encourage me and that I enjoy being with and living alongside. Family is a gift from you. There is joy in being with one another. And then you bestow abundant life to me, both now on this earth as I live and walk and breath and see each day this hand of providence in my life. You bestow on me pardon for my sin, peace of soul, grace, adoption into you - the trinity, and the blessing of eternal life. You take care of my hope for the future. My responsibility is through my words that need to honor you and yet I know left to myself, I am a person of wickedness and violence. All that comes from you is a gift of grace and riches of kindness. I praise you. I thank you. I trust in you. I pray always and forever. Help me to be a person of grace and being the person you have called me to be. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Judges 2 - A Tragic Cycle

Judges 2

18 When the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed and afflicted them. 19 But it came about when the judge died, that they would turn back and act more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them and bow down to them; they did not abandon their practices or their stubborn ways.

Message: A Tragic Cycle

Time: Judges covers about 250 years from death of Joshua to birth of Samuel (1360-1110 BC). The people of Israel largely divided with different local triable judges. It was a period of stirring interventions by the Lord and also great disobedience on the part of the Israelites. Without a king, everyone did right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). 

What the Lord is Saying: Verse 1 begins with a word from the angel of the Lord, "I will never break my covenant with you." Conversely in verse 2, "You shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land." God has chosen us. He has chosen me. And I am to be about Him and His purposes and not about those that take me off track of that; they will. 

Then an interesting word in verse 3, "I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you." Evidently, they will remain among us - those that might bring us down. If that's what that means, then that is a very interesting statement. Verse 4 says, "the people wept" upon hearing this. 

Verse 7 and 8 repeat Joshua 24 but mention Joshua age at death being 110. It states that the generation after Joshua "did not know the Lord" and "did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. (v. 10-11)" and "forsook the Lord" and "followed other gods" (v. 12). "And the anger of the Lord... (v.14)." 

Their evil continued and God's anger toward them continued. And the Lord said that he would use these other people in the land "to test Israel" and "whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk in it as their fathers did, or not" (v. 22). 

Deuteronomy 20:16-18 mention warnings to Israel as they enter the land. Verses 16 and 17 state that they are to "save nothing that breathes." As verse 18 states that letting them leave they will turn them away from the Lord. Strong words. And yet truth. God's people are to be about Him. But, after Joshua, the Judges record that the people allowed the inhabitants of the land to live. By letting them stay, though, God would leave them to be tested and then it will be seen who they will serve. 

There is mention of other gods they are worshipping. Verse 13 says they "served Baal and Ashtaroth." Tabletalk states, "Baal was the Canaanite storm god and Astarte was his female consort, and these pagan deities were thought to provide fertility to the land of the ancient Near East. Here the plural forms “Baals” and “Ashtaroth” are used because Baal and Astarte were worshiped under various names across Canaan and the surrounding lands. The worship of these deities frequently included child sacrifice and cult prostitution to get the gods to pour out rain and make the land fertile." 

People are desperate at times for divine intervention when things are hard and don't go as planned. I almost feel like in America, the pursuit of riches and then also the rescue from sickness results in serving alternate gods or finding any means necessary for achieving outcomes wanted. These temptations are real. We dance with danger rather than simply pushing it away. I do this. I keep giving air time to things that I need to rid in my life. 

Summary: The Lord's plan was the destruction of the Canaanites, but the people after Joshua let them remain and God agreed and kept them around, challenging the people to serve the Lord and not alternate gods or desires. 

Promise: Our land is filled with false gods and false worship practices, and if we are not careful, they can lead us astray. 

Prayer: God, I confess I often ignore your warnings like Israel did in times past. You have given me all I need and my hearts desire and yet I trade it often for something else. And in the process I suffer consequences and perhaps my children as well. I need to rather stay close to You and your ways. Get me right and give me the courage to stand firm in my faith, always. Get behind me Satan. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Proverbs 10:5 - Seize the day

Proverbs 10:5 - He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who sets shamefully. 

Message: Seize the day

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God. 

What the Lord is Saying: At first glance, work vs not working or even sleeping is the virtue/vice comparison with this Proverb. I did a quick look at different translations and everyone seems to agree with the phrase of gathering; only the New Living Translation is "harvests." The Amplified is always interesting for it often expands on the verse. It states, "He who gathers during summer and takes advantage of his opportunities is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps during harvest and ignores the moment of opportunity is a son who acts shamefully." Here there is the result of each action - one who takes advantage of opportunities versus one who ignores the opportunity. This is the interesting thing about sleep. When one is asleep there are out of it. They are not coherent nor able to see what is going on. It is not that they are simply ignorant or avoiding the situation, but rather there is complete abandonment of the opportunity. 

Here are thoughts from various commentaries I enjoy: 

Joseph Benson (1748-1821) - a prominent Methodist preacher in England: a wise son acts wisely for his parents; he gains reputation to himself, his family, and education. But he that sleepeth in harvest causeth shame — Both to himself for his folly, and to his parents, and will bear the shame of it when he is old: will afterward lament his negligence and folly. -- Observations: There is an idea here of regret. The person will look back realizing he could have done better. Also, the impact of one's actions has an impact on not only the person's reputation, but a person's family. 

Matthew Henry (1662-1714) - nonconformist minister in England: Here is just blame of those who trifle away opportunities, both for here and for hereafter. Observations: As the amplified Bible mentions opportunities so here Henry does as well. There is something before a person to take. There is an opportunity and yet it is ignored. 

Albert Barnes (1798-1870) - American Presbyterian minister and abolitionist: The son is called upon to enter upon the labors of others, and reap where they have sown. To sleep when the plenteous harvest lies ready for the sickle is the most extreme laziness. Observations: As I think about opportunities, I realize the abundant of opportunities that are present in this country. In comparison, as I converse with those in India and Africa and those 3rd world or developmental countries, they lack opportunities. While there is plenty of good and solid education, there are few outcomes of actual good work. As such, one thing important about this verse is whether there are opportunities even to take advantage of with a person. 

John Gill (1697-1771) - English Baptist pastor, biblical scholar, and theologian: In the time of health and youth, persons should be active and industrious in their several callings and stations, and provide against a time of sickness and old age; and that they should lose no opportunities, neither in a natural nor spiritual way, of doing or receiving good. Observations: The proverbs extolls or calls attention to a son. Gill makes mention that the son is living at a time in their life when they can be active and industrious in comparison to older age which often is chronicled by sickness. Again, don't lose out on any opportunities. 

In the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges published from 1878-1918 who had a primary editor in John Perowne (1823-1904), an Anglican bishop: we render literally, a son that doeth wisely … that doeth shamefully. Observations: The mention of the word shamefully is called to my attention. Shame is a painful emotion that infers that a person is bad, not that they have simply done bad things. In shame, we often hide rather than confront before us what is done. The sleeping son not only laments and has regret but in this regret is that feeling of shame, that he blew it and he only has himself to blame. 

In this verse is a stark contrast - one who gathers versus one who sleeps. This is a black and white comparison. One is either actively doing good and seizing the day or one is simply asleep. I remember in 1989, when I was 21, there was a film "Dead Poets Society," where the English teacher John Keating, played by Robin Williams, famously says: "Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary." Later, this line was voted as the 95th greatest movie quote by the American Film Institute. In that movie, I sensed this calling to go beyond the rote and normal education and expand on all that is before us and available to us. In the movie, one of the characters was pigeon-holed by his father or expected to achieve in a certain way - to be a doctor. While there was nothing wrong with that, the son had a desire for the arts and yet for the father, this type of career did not hold the same worth. I think often of a dental hygienist I had who was Muslim and for their 3 kids, they had 2 options - go into the medical field or be an engineer. One son started engaging in a sports activity and was getting into it and his family pulled him out of it for the concern that it was detract from one of those two primary goals. But I digress a little as this verse simply talks about making the most of the opportunities before us, generally speaking versus not, even though at times children are often limited by their parents to take advantage of only certain or specific opportunities.  

Prayer: God, you are good and holy and the wisdom that comes through these verses is wisdom I need and need to be reminded of in my life. Specifically here in these verses I contemplate the opportunities that are before me every day and seizing those opportunities and making the most of them - help me O God to put away my slumber, my life of ease that I gravitate towards so often, and instead embrace those opportunities. There are people in my path to be with, spend time with, conversations to be had. There is work to be done that has been assigned to me, that I have an opportunity each day to do to the fullest. There is so much. I know I have been given so much. And I still pray for those that are struggling with opportunities and don't have the same availability and those that find it hard to achieve even the basic necessities of life. Expand their understanding and their opportunities. Thank you for their hard work and that great example. Be our strength O God. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Judges 1 - Trouble In Canaan

Judges 1

And it came about when Israel became strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out completely (verse 28). 

Message: Trouble in Canaan

Time: Judges covers about 250 years from death of Joshua to birth of Samuel (1360-1110 BC). The people of Israel largely divided with different local triable judges. It was a period of stirring interventions by the Lord and also great disobedience on the part of the Israelites. Without a king, everyone did right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). 

What the Lord is Saying: After Joshua has died, the question comes up in verse 1 of Judges about who will now fight the Canaanites and in verse 2 it is mentioned Judah (a fulfillment of prophecy from Genesis 49:8-12; about 400 years prior). It seems they are still going to the areas that are allotted them.  Verse 4 - "The Lord gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hands and they defeated ten thousand men at Bezek." 

Verse 8 mention how the sons of Judah then fought against Jerusalem, capturing it and then setting it on fire. And Judah continued to fight against other Canaanites in other cities. Caleb then offers up his daughter as wife to the one who attacks Kiriath-sepher (verse 12). Caleb's younger brother, Othniel, is that one. The daughter received a gift of the upper and lower springs of the Negev at her request. 

Other cities are captured, like those living in Zephath (v 17), Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron (v. 18). The Jebusites did not leave Jerusalem and stayed with the sons of Benjamin (v.21). 

In Bethel, family requests to be treated kindly and they are allowed to go free. Manasseh lived alongside people in Beth-shean as those people did not leave (v. 27-28), nor Ephraim in Gezer (v. 29), Zebulun in Kitron and Nahaloi (v. 30) or Asher in Acco or Sidon (v. 31-32) or Naphtali in Beth-shemesh (v.33) and sons of Dan with Amorites in the hill country, though they became forced labor (v. 34-36). 

And that's the chapter. So a 2nd leader is provided in Judah. Jerusalem is seized. And many other lands as well, some with their captors remaining and some being killed. Perhaps it seems kind that people did not die, but another way to look at this is probably the antithesis of what we will continue to see in this chapter and that is the people in these lands were supposed to be driven out. And they were not. perhaps because the people became frightened and let the people remain. They did not trust the words and promises given in Joshua earlier that people would be driven out if there were obstacles. But instead, they gave into the obstacles. 

Summary: Judah takes over now after the death of Joshua and lands continue to be inhabited. The goal was taking over these lands but often people remained as Israel let obstacles stay rather than trusting in God for their conquest. 

Promise: Outward success occurs, but often at the expense of spiritual failure. Our success comes only from the Lord. 

Prayer: O God, let my world be defined by You and only You. You give me the power and strength, but I must trust in You. Show me each day the ways in which I need to trust in You and not give in to the things around me. I pray for your power in my life. 

 

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