Judges 9 - Danger from Within

Judges 9
56 Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers. 57 Also God returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came upon them.

Message: Danger from Within

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: Gideon has died and now his son Abimelech is coming into power, but appears to be starting off on the wrong foot - focusing on himself instead of God as he becomes king (verse 7) at the expense of others who fall dead. 

I have seen this cycle in Judges with the people - Evil, Discipline, Prayer/Revival, Restoration. It now seems that the restoration period, as mentioned for example in Judges 8:28 as being 40 years was also marked by a period of people falling away. So it wasn't all good. It was simply that it wasn't a period of discipline. The Lord gave the people grace, but in that time was a gradual falling away. For instance, 8:30 mentions that Gideon had many wives (70 descendants) for soon after his death, without him around the people dove head first into idolatry (8:33). And so that descent is the precursor of this chapter. 

Abimelech decides that he should be king. He convinces the people around him that with all of the descendants Gideon has had, it makes the most sense to let himself be the ruling heir. He receives jewels from a worship house of Baal that allows him to hire fellows that will come with him to his father's house and kill his siblings, all 70 of them, though it is actually 69, as Jotham was spared (v. 4-5) because he hid himself. Jotham has still an allegiance with God. He tries to speak of this to the men of Shechem (v.7-21) a warning that God will judge these people for going their own way. 

After 3 years of Abimelech ruling (v. 22), an evil spirit is sent to create discord between Abimelech and the men of Shechem. This discord continues when the men of Shechem switch their trust from Abimelech now to a new leader - Gaal the son of Ebed. One of Abimelech's rulers hears of this and sets up an ambush (v. 32 "lie in wait in the field") and eventually overtook these other people creating the discord (v. 41) and eventually slaying all of these other companies of people (v. 45). But victory did not last long for Abimelech. A woman would end up throwing a stone on Abimelech, crushing his skull (53). He lived and rather than it being said a woman killed him, he has another man kill his with a sword (54). 

The discord had been set and God had used these evil men and their choices to eventually take away the opposition and presence of evil. 

Summary: After the death of Gideon, his son Abimelech basically erects himself as king, slaying the his siblings, though one son Jotham remains, but discord erupts and Abimelech and the people of Shechem eventually period because of their sin. 

Promise: We must be careful of the sin we tolerate, it creates a discord among people, among us, that can be damaging. 

Prayer: O Lord, my allegiance to You needs to be one of my whole heart. It is not simply one of duty in order to receive blessings and yet blessings come when our lives are lived before you of heartfelt obedience. My trust in You needs to be one of trust in You not duty so that I will receive a blessing. It is hard to hear of discord that occurs. It is hard to be around it. Thank you for these lessons and the reminder to me of not letting sin be tolerated but also to remain consistent in my faith and trust of you. Teach me the meaning of this and help me to be guarded against the world and their ways. 

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

Judges 8 - Gideon's Short-Lived Revival

Judges 8
Gideon made it into an ephod, and placed it in his city, Ophrah, and all Israel played the harlot with it there, so that it became a snare to Gideon and his household. - verse 27

Message: Gideon's Short-Lived Revival

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: Well, I ended up teaching in my Sunday School class on Sunday, June 22, and I chose to teach through these lessons I have slowly been going through since October - Joshua and Judges. It was a good time to do that teaching and I learned a lot but I had already been sort of struggling through these lessons, going at them slow, but at the same maybe that was a good thing, to slowly get through these lessons. 

The focus of my lesson was really to highlight our mission today, to go and make disciples. But in that is big words of comfort - God is with us and He says to us, "I am with you." He has said those words to His people throughout the ages. I showed how he voiced these words to Joshua and later to Gideon. He gives us a task to do, but he is also ahead of us in doing that task. I mentioned the ark of the covenant being sent ahead of us in Joshua and him calling Gideon a valiant warrior before he was that person. But I also stressed the importance of us not making covenants with people in the World or anything in the world. Instead, whenever we have trouble, we need to simply ask God for help. Sometimes that is proof when he has asked us to do things. But we need to ask him and He will show us the way. This is our time right now. And we have a great opportunity to continue to be ambassadors for Him. 

Now I move on to Judges 8. This book starts in verse 1 with the men of Ephraim being bothered with Gideon. Despite the fact that God took the large number of warriors from 32,000 down to 300 in conquering the Midianites, the men of Ephraim are bothered that they weren't able to be a part of the large army. But in verse 3, Gideon does what is recorded in Proverbs 15:1, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." He tells the men of Ephraim the great work God has done in their lives. So it isn't that God has done nothing. He has. 

Another lesson here is that when the people of God see God doing something great, they want to jump on board. But often God is already doing something great in those people's lives. Gideon here reminds them of that, and he even tells them that what they were able to accomplish was greater than what God had done through Gideon. 

With the 300 men that conquered the Midianites in Judges 7, Gideon is still leading them now to conquer Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian. Along the way, he is looking for help with the people of the land - the leaders of Succoth, but he doesn't get help from. He asked for loaves of bread, but they gave nothing. Also the men of Penuel gave them nothing. Gideon, it seems possibly out of anger tells these leaders of Succoth and Penuel that if he has victor he will come back and do harsh things to them: verse 7, "I will thrash your bodies with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers." In verse 9, "I will tear down this tower." A little perplexing it seems that Gideon speaks words of retribution for not helping his people. Not thinking this is something to emulate and perhaps expresses the great need Gideon felt for his men at the time. 

Verse 10 mentions 135,000 Midianite men - 120,000 of which have already fallen and 15,000 that remain. Sobering numbers. I was speaking to a guy online yesterday and he was appalled thinking that God favors one people over another. God chooses people to be His. He does not choose others. But those individuals in not being chosen are still responsible for not turning to God in their behavior. These are hard lessons for us to see and listen to and read. These Midian people were not part of His chosen. 

Then Gideon goes back to Succoth and Penuel and "disciplined the men of Succoth...He tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city." Ouch. Harsh. 

After Zebah and Zalmunna are killed, in verse 22, the men of Israel ask Gideon to rule over them, but Gideon responds, "I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.” Good answer. The Lord must do the work. The temptation to be an idol was presented here to Gideon but he refuses. Then in verses 24-27, Gideon asks that each person produce an earning from his spoil, almost like a tithe it would seem. It was an ornament that came together as an ephod - an ornament generally worn by the priesthood. That was his attention, to signify this as a piece worn and attributed to God. But the people turned it into an idol. It seems there was potential for this. Whether it was honorable in his intent to create it or not is not known, but it did result in some sort of idolatry. 

Idolatry is the most common sin it seems among Israel and others in the Old Testament times. God seems to always show that he is not to be shared. Yet, people so clearly and easily go down this path. I am not sure today even if we understand the intent of the way we live, as we often covet things in our lives and place them on equal footing or above God (entertainment such as movies, music, eating, drinking; obsessed with knowledge such as reading the newspaper or watching the news in the name of being informed; our electronic devices (phones, computers, TV, games); remaining healthy both by going to the gym, fitness and pursuing any remedy possible to preserve our health with the goal to escape from any trial; expanding wealth by adding to what we already have making our homes bigger, acquiring expensive cars, going to far away places for travel, even pursuing opportunities for our children). I wonder about all of these and their tendency to be idols in our lives. They most often take much time and besides simply being a form of rest in our lives, they often move to something greater - replacing time that we could be spending with God or sharing His good news with others. But I notice, all too often they are not talked about much and yet, as I speak to people in places in which people have so little, all of these things are not as possible. And so they can by synonymous with wealth. 

In the remaining verses, it mentions that period of restoration now for Israel - 40 years. 6:1 mentioned the time of discipline being 6 years. I notice that these times of restoration are always longer than discipline. Gideon, through his concubine, has a son - Abimelech, and then Gideon dies (verse 32). 

Then the people forget. With Gideon alive, they did well, but once he has died and they no longer have their leader, they fall away:

33 Then it came about, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the sons of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-berith their god. 34 Thus the sons of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side; 35 nor did they show kindness to the household of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in accord with all the good that he had done to Israel.

Unfortunate, but I suppose expected. The cycle continues - evil, discipline, prayer, restoration - in this book, this time period. 

Summary: Gideon continues through Midian and takes down two more kings, and yet their are signs of idolatry. The people have restoration for 40 years, then Gideon dies, and the people go back to worshipping idols. 

Promise: There is danger in life to compromise. We must stay faithful all the days of our lives. Let us do this and encourage one another to do the same. 

Prayer: O God, you are rich in mercy. You are the anchor of our lives, the cornerstone. You are all that life is about and all of life is meant to be lived to glorify You. You are to be praised. It is all about You. Forgive me and even raising a family whereby we often replace times with you with other times of not living for you. In the name of opportunity and broadening horizons, I can see myself doing things that are beyond what you intended my life to be about. Our wealth very often has clouded our way. There is such a dichotomy in our world between the have's and have not's. I see the tendency in me. O God, wake me up. Get me focused more on what You are doing and coming alongside You in that work. May I seek to reach those that you have called me to and placed in my path with the truth of who You are. Help me to always encourage people in this. Thank you for Gideon and his great example, to keep pursuing You God even if that means questions and wanting confirmations. You are there and you will provide. 

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

Judges 7 - Gideon Defeats Midian

Judges 7

Then the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many; bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there. Therefore it shall be that he of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go with you; but everyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” - verse 4

Message: Gideon Defeats Midian

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: I continue to be amazed at the simple themes I find in these passages of scripture. Gideon is an unlikely candidate for a deliverer, and yet he is someone real and authentic with challenges and it seems this unlikely person is the type of person God uses. God will use whoever to accomplish his purposes. 

In Judges 7:2, "The Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’ - This is a very telling verse on man and the temptation that arises in man and God sees the danger. There are 3 lessons I see in this verse. (1) God's will is when He does a work it is clear that He is working. God wants to work in our lives, but He wants to be our provider. He wants to get the glory and we need to always be ready to give it to him. (2) Our tendency in life is to think that we are the one's in life that achieve good things. Ephesians 2:8-9 is a favorite verse and the focus on that verse is God's grace "lest anyone should boast." Only God is good. We sing songs of the goodness of God. This is assaulting to our pride. 

I read a book one time that spoke of the 7 deadly sins. It seems this was a classification that Tertullian first coined. These are 7 major vices of Christianity: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, Pride. C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity - " It was through Pride that Lucifer became wicked: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind." To me, I feel that the idea of recognizing our sin and seeing our sin is one of the biggest areas that has been assaulted in our lives over the last 60 years. And every day I believe it is growing to be more and more of a problem in our lives. I notice it in my life as I grow older that it is not talked about as much. Instead, most church lessons and messages that you read focus on good behavior. Obviously, we want to live our lives in the best way possible, but our position in Christ needs to be focused supremely on the fact that we are sinners. 

I mention this because we have a real problem making it clear that we are sinners. And the idea that certain sins such as boasting is one that God really makes a focus on for us today. 

I think one of Satan’s biggest agenda items in recent years is to give everyone the idea they are going to heaven. Universalism - the belief that all human beings will ultimately be saved and reconciled with God, regardless of their faith or actions during their lifetime. And I think this idea has led people to not take church seriously and even now resulted in it not being relevant to our lives. 

2 things to me stand out in this universalism push

1) Redefining sin as acceptable behavior. 

2) In the church, confusion about what salvation is. 

I also think that out of fear of the world and being a light to the world, our sermons have shifted more and more to good behavior sermons rather than gospel centered sermons. Our world needs Jesus first and foremost. Like my son and his relationship with a girl. All the problems they have could be taken care of if both of them agreed on who they are in Christ. Having that basis is so key. It is one of the things we saw in our Art of Marriage class - how important it is for both partners to be committed to the Lord. 

God though a process of having Gideon take the remaining people for battle down to a pool to drink water. The one's that lap the water like a dog would drink versus the one's that put their hands to their mouth. He one's that lap came to 300 and that was the number that will now fight. Kind of a funny story and yet a method was determined.  Judges 7:7 says, "The Lord said to Gideon, “I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands; so let all the other people go, each man to his home.” We must be in an intimate relationship with God in order to hear hi may these types of things. God wants to work in our lives. 

After this, a dream is head about a loaf of barley bread that rolls down to the camp and tumbled down and struck tents and the people. This dream, albeit again a little crazy, confirmed to Gideon that the Midianites would be destroyed. Gideon again receives a confirmation from God. Gideon needs this. And God provided it. Verse 18, "When I and all who are with me blow the trumpet, then you also blow the trumpets all around the camp and say, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’" 

This is it. This is the way the 300 will conquer all of these men. They will blow a trumpet. They will use the sound of a trumpet. It is fascinating to me to see the way God uses trumpets in the Bible. It is the means to announce. The trumpet can amplify and has no need of any technology to increase the sound. They had the trumpets they blew and then they also broke pitchers. Again, creating a sound, creating confusion. And then also torches in their hands. Sounds and fire. And the people fled. Eventually they ended up taking a hold of the two leaders of the Midian army - Oreb and Zeeb (verse 25). 

It is done. They are captured. God did it. The people won't be boasting. Something was done that only God can do. I love verse 18 - For the Lord and for Gideon. It was okay to thank Gideon, but the Lord is thanked first. It is okay to thank people, leaders, men, women for their great work, but God gets praised first. 

Summary: God defeats Midian through Gideon by reducing the army to 300 men so there will be no temptation to boast and God will get the victory and praise for the defeat. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, "We cannot rest in our own strength or our own works to enjoy the salvation of the Lord. He alone can defeat the enemy, and He delights to use the most unlikely means to do so." 

Prayer: God, you are to be praise. Above all. You are to be praised. Thank you for showing your great work in people's lives. You continue to do great things in people. It is your power and your glory. And you will use any sort of person. yes, we are to be obedient. Help the people of God to stay clear of the temptations of this world and the people and ideas that pull them away from Him. Lord, I see this too much in our country and yet we are still blessed, and yet that blessing is not often about giving you praise but praise in ourselves. Yet, Lord, I am struggling as I think about my Christian brothers in these 3rd world areas like Africa and India. I am not sure what they lack, but it seems they lack the leadership and resources to provide for their people. It is painful in a way. Yes, I love the privileges I have, but I hurt for them that have so little and struggle to even get to the next meal. I want to implore the people at my church to help them, to take their extra and give it to them. But how Lord? How do we help them properly. Thank you for these texts and their readings. Keep me consistent. Repair the damages I have done to my kids. Help them to be better people. They need your help O God. 

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

Judges 6:33-40 - Gideon and the Fleece

Proverbs 10:11 - A fountain of life

Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Message: A fountain of life

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: Contrasts. Vice and virtue. The contrast here is specifically the two kinds of people in our world - righteous and wicked. We live in a world of differences. I am God’s righteous. At least I think I am. My life should look like a righteous person as I read these Proverbs.

Previously in verse 3, verse 6 and verse 7 the righteous and the wicked is contrasted. I recognize once again that there are righteous and wicked people in our world today and this is a contrast that appears and is also a way of life. I think there are clearly instances in our Bible that God calls people wicked. Prior to the Flood God mentioned that everyone was wicked on the earth. Wickedness has corrupted everyone. Thus, each person has the potential to be wicked. This is clear. 

But what I've been noticing lately is the wicked person is the one that is far from God. There are non-chosen people in the Bible. There are people that are not part of God's people. And thus I wonder if this is a person Solomon in these verses is highlighting. If God chose Israel, then that would seem to be mean other people groups are not chosen. 

Now in addition, the mouth of a person is highlighted in verse 6 ("the mouth"), verse 8 and verse 10 (both state "babbling fool").  This verse 11 is the first time the positive outcome is presented of the mouth of the righteous. With that in mind, it seems that our mouth has quite the potential of getting us into trouble or representing wickedness. And yet I don't know if I would say it is bad to talk. In the previous verse I spoke of the effect even non-verbal words have on us, both good and bad. But here the write does want to mention the importance of speaking well. 

I know I tend to at times speak less than more in surroundings. That my word are more thoughtful. And yet when I am angry or disappointed, I notice my words are not thoughtful and can be rash as I speak out words of anger. I have people in my life that speak a lot. They are simply that way. Sometimes my patience for this is not great, but more often when I am working. But it is often present when I want to hear other people speak rather than only one person. Again, these are simply things I notice in my life about words. 

But just as words can hurt, words can also help and this is mentioned now here - words can be a fountain of life to those that hear them. A fountain is water that is bubbling over. It is springing up and then falling over on its side. I've noticed many times the marvel of water. Psalm 23 speaks of being led beside still waters. Water is often mentioned it would seem in the Bible as something that is pleasing and this is no exception. In John 4:10 Jesus is mentioned as living water.  Right at this moment, I am out of town, in the mountains, staying at a townhome in which a stream or river is running outside my window. Water runs. It is relaxing. The sound of nature is present. It is a comfort. It is a sound produced by nature, much like wind or rain produces that sound. It is life. And our words can at times speak of this comfort and refreshment it provides to our life. It is a mouth speaking words that are good and beneficial, refreshing and useful. 

One of the people in my life is my friend's wife and she often is speaking words of affirmation of people. If something good happens, they are the reason for the good. She highlights their good. She does not focus on her own doing, but rather always has a good word to say about others. I notice in me I like this at times, but at other times I struggle with placing the focus on me and I desire it to be on her. She is also a happy and joyful person. I have known her for 40+ years and she has always been this sort of delightful person. In her speaking of these words, I do see it helping others but it also produces in herself positive energy. Thus, the positive words we express help others but also bring a comfort and expression of life to ourselves. So the benefits are far reaching. 

My mom was this sort of person. My wife is this sort of person. Maybe the words are not as plentiful, but they are positive to me and others and they were encouraging. And people want this and come back to this. 

But the wicked man once again is the opposite of all of this. I have mentioned this already in other verses. And for now I will simply end with that. 

Prayer: Thank you God for the great people in my life that you have in my life to show my the positive words and the positive well-being of words. It is a great reminder to me of the importance of my words and what comes out of my mouth. May you guide me to be positive to others and speak well of others always. Help me to be this type of person. 

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

Judges 6:1-32 - The Lord Calls Gideon

Judges 6:1-32

Then Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the Lord had spoken to him; and because he was too afraid of his father’s household and the men of the city to do it by day, he did it by night (verse 27). 

Message: The Lord Calls Gideon

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: Chapter 6 begins with familiar footing - verse 1 - "Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord." This seems to be the theme of this book. Back and forth. Evil. Discipline. Prayer. Restoration. When we sin or abandon the Lord, we receive punishment. The evil that is done is defined by the Lord. Verse 1 - "and the Lord gave them into the hands of Midian seven years." 

But it seems like there is this cycle of life - we live and trust God and then we go wayward - falling in line with the way of the world. Our hearts and our minds become far from God. And perhaps bad times come to our lives. Though we often don’t characterize these times as God judging us. Life does seem to be hard because that’s the way it is and then also hard though because of us doing evil. 

Verse 2 begins to describe what this discipline looked like to Israel. Israel had to hide in the mountains and caves because Midian was so cruel to them. Israel planted crops and Midian attacked them, destroying the crops and leaving them with nothing to eat. Eventually, the land was stripped bear. Israel was starving. Verse 6, "and the sons of Israel cried to the Lord." The Midianite people in stealing produce and taking livestock is partly the result of the oppression of Israel. 

We are like this. We get into the consequences of our actions, get disciplined and it begins to hurt us so much and at this low point we cry out to the Lord. "Please God - take this away." 

A nameless prophet is sent to Israel to speak to them on behalf of the Lord, telling them or reminding them of the works of God and how God had rescued them - "I who brought you up from Egypt and brought you out from the house of slavery." God did these things for us. God was faithful and delivered them (us). God directed them and told them what to do but they did not listen. It is important to God that his people underhand their wayward ways. We need to be convicted. God wants to get personal with us. 

The angel of the Lord visits Gideon and says in verse 12, "The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior." Gideon though doesn't understand for if God is with them then why have all of these bad things been happening to them. The hard times we experience could be God looking at all of us as a body rather than simple as individuals. In verse 14 the Lord says to Gideon, "deliver Israel from the hand of Midian." This will be the role of Gideon - to deliver the people. Again Gideon wonders and again the Lord says to him (verse 16), "Surely I will be with you." And Gideon asks for a sign of confirmation. 

I took a moment to study this idea of God speaking to the prophet and saying that He was with him. The prophet Isaiah foresaw the virgin birth of Messiah - stating Immanuel which means "God with us." Jesus is God with us. God had been with His people always—in the pillar of cloud above the tabernacle, in the voice of the prophets, in the ark of the covenant. Yes, prophets have been needed and they are a part of our history. But once Jesus came on the scene - God with us. God is with us. You and I have direct access to God. The writer of Hebrews said it, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son." Jesus is all we need now, but then we needed prophets to help us. 

Gideon asks for a sign from the angel of the Lord. He prepares a young goat, flour, and unleavened bread and brings it out to the angel of the Lord in a pot. He is told to lay them out on a rock, pouring broth over them. The angel put a staff out and fire sprung up and consumed the bread and meat. Gideon had received his confirmation. Yet even in this story we see the weakness of Gideon in not simply trusting the Lord. 

Verse 25 records direction from the Lord for Gideon to pull down the altar of Baal (sun god) and the nature goddess Asherah as these were important to his father and the entire community. Baal's altar must be overthrown before God's altar can be built. He does this by taking his father's bull and then another bull that is 7 years old and throwing it down upon the altar. He seemed to be exercising the sin of his father and the people. Following taking these down he built an altar to the Lord. But Gideon does it at night rather than be seen by all during the day. He is obedient but he will define how he will be obedient. The next day thought the men of the city arose and saw what had been done and upon inquiry discovered it was Gideon. The men want Gideon's father Joash to deliver Gideon over to them, but Joash somewhat refuses and saved his sons life in the process. Rather than the men killing him, the father states that Baal has the power to do it.  And his father names Gideon, "Jerubbaal" which means that he will contend with Baal. 

Judges is recording the trust that people place in other gods. Again, there is a difference among people - those that are saved and those that are not saved. There is clearly an opposition in the world of the things of God. We should not be surprised. What we can find comfort in is that God will care for us and always rescue us and always provide a way out of these non-Godly situations. 

Summary: The people are recorded once again as doing evil in the sight of God. God disciplines then and then provides Gideon to correct them though Gideon is stubborn in His trust of God. 

Promise. Let us continually guard against being feared by man. 

Prayer. God you are God and Lord. You are holy and my creator. You are faithful and my provider. You are persistent in caring for me and you continue to correct me so that I will fear you. I am a sinner. Thank you for these lessons and helping me see the condition of man that does not change despite different environments. Thank you for providing all that you have to help me be obedient but still I must act. Still I must trust You Lord. Thank you for giving me rest continually. And providing so many good opportunities for that. But help me to live in a manner that honors You continually. 

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

Proverbs 10:10 - Non-verbal and verbal wounds

Proverbs 10:10

He who winks the eye causes trouble, and a babbling fool will be ruined.

Message: Non-verbal and verbal wounds

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: I think my brain is overloaded. I am not getting to these lessons like I have in the past. I am over 3 months into one issue of Tabletalk. I simply have too many logs in the fire, but I still believe I am doing a lot of good things. I had this ambition to study through Proverbs. That was back on April 2. At this rate, it will take me the rest of my life to get through all of these Proverbs, but I suppose that is okay. I am learning, meditating and discovering God's word and truth. 

Once again in these texts is a virtue and a vice. A desire and a danger. And yet in this verse there seems to be two notes of caution spoken possibly. Two vices are presented with no countering virtue. This is a first in my readings. 

One who winks does not speak and this is compared to one that babbles. The one not speaking does cause trouble. The one who babbles causes ruin. 

Joseph Benson (1748-1821) said winks "secretly and cunningly designs mischiefs against others." The non-verbal is saying one thing, but doing another. The work that is contrary to the speech causes trouble. People are always watching the Christian, hoping to catch the person in a lie. The wink draws a person in, in a subtle manner albeit, but still draws that person to go along. It is a wink or a head nod. The issue is a desire to deceive, to lead astray, to engage in mischief. I notice a book in the Apocrypha, Sirach 27:22 says, "He that winketh with the eyes worketh evil." The trouble that comes involves both the speaker and the hearer. 

But what is more severe is the babbling fool. Rather than only a wink, this one utters extreme words of confusion. There is an extreme in speech. The wink is often singular in its role to deceive, focusing on one individual, but the babbling fool impacts many. Often when speaking of ruin it is more far reaching that trouble. Ruin covers a city or the fall of many people. 

There is such a danger in opening one's mouth. 

I look at some of the parallel passages or different translations and actually saw in some of them a virtue. 

New Living Translation -- "People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace." 

I notice the proverb says babbling does not necessarily result in ruin to many, though I know it has a potential to do that, but the ruin is earmarked to the fool. The "fool will be ruined." The wink produces trouble, but the one with many words will be ruined. 

The Christian Bible says, "foolish lips will be destroyed." 

I still think the intent is to show the mouth has a much clearer outcome. Words are so quickly spread today - through social media we are in greater communication than ever before. Words are plastered on screens and at times permanently etched for all to see. 

Prayer: O how I must be careful in my words. Yes, careful in my head nods and winks and eye movements, but my words hold the real power and I pray they are conforming to God's will. 

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

Philippians 3:1-3 - Spiritual Defense Wins Championships

Philippians 3:1-3

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; 3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.

Message: Spiritual Defense Wins Championships

What the Lord is Saying:

From the sermon yesterday at church (Mother's Day), Lamar Morin spoke: 

Defense wins championships is something often credited to Bear Bryant, former legendary football coach of Alabama Crimson Tide. Physical defense of any sort is very important, like for military. But spiritual defense or protection is also key. 

Verse 1 begins with the word, "Finally." Finally does not signal the end of this book as there is still several chapters to go. Paul has more to say.

1. Having the right defense

We need to rejoice in the Lord. Lord, help me to rejoice in You always. Joy transcends momentary times of happiness. I look to You Lord as my reservoir of joy. I am rejoicing in Jesus all You have done. 

John 15:11 says that Jesus' joy in us makes us complete. -- These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

Psalm 32:11 -- Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.

We need these continual reminders. Protect us Lord. Thank you for not wanting me to fail. Rejoice always, not complaining. O Spirit of God you protect me from sinning. 

2. Avoid the wrong audibles. There are those attempt to change some of the details or play calling by our Master. 

a. Dogs - avoid the dogs by watching out continually. Lord, I have to be on the lookout for these dogs in my life or false teachers. Beware of those hard people. Spiritually direct me away from those who mislead.

b. There are evil workers. Galatians 3:24-25. Beware of movements that are dividing up the Bible. The Law is our guardian until Christ comes. Faith has come. We have faith in Jesus Christ. Our focus should always be on Christ. 

c. Watch out for legalism. Legalist refers to the belief that salvation or acceptance with God is achieved through strict adherence to rules, laws, or rituals, rather than through faith in Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, circumcision marked the cutting away of the old person. Now that is the Holy Spirit. He cuts away what is bad in our life. [I've heard baptism is counter to circumcision - both being outward displays.] 

3. Serve in the Spirit

For example, we need worship not just Sunday, but throughout the week. Lord, redirect me to boast in You Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 says, "But he who boasts is to boast in the Lord. For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends." Help me to not put confidence in the flesh. Nothing good lives in me. I don't want to only win a battle but the war. 

End with a hymn. Written in 1891. 

My faith has found a resting place. I need no other argument. It is enough that Jesus died and that died for me. 

Prayer: O God, you are great in mercy and love. I need to rejoice in You and keep rejoicing in You each day. Direct me away from what is false. Keep showing me the truth and thank you for instilling this in my life. I walk by your strength each day. I walk in your Spirit. You are my guide and I want to stay confident in You. Forgive me for my sins. They are many. They continue. Help me. You give me signals each day and I need to follow through on your leading. 

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

Judges 4:17-24, 5:6-31 - The Glory of Jael

Judges 4:17-24, 5:6-31

“Most blessed of women is Jael,

The wife of Heber the Kenite;

Most blessed is she of women in the tent." (Judges 5:24)

Message: The Glory of Jael

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: Once again, the previous lesson started with the House of Israel falling away from the Lord. God uses an earthly king to discipline His people and then rises up Deborah who gets with Barak to pull these people back to the Lord, first killing off that earthly king. His work is done. Now he must die. Harsh. In addition to King Jabin, Sisera is mentioned, the commander of Jabin's army (v. 7). After Barak routed Sisera and his arm, Sisera flees away on foot (v. 16) and ends up at Jael's tent. Women had separate tents at this time from men. Perhaps Sisera thought this a safe place to retreat. Jael was the wife of Heber who at that time had peace with Jabin (v. 17-18). Jael agrees to keep him safe; he requests water and she gave him milk. He asks her to not let anyone know he is there. Verse 21 though is alarming - as Jael takes a tent peg and drove it into his temple and it went all the way through to the ground. Jael shows this to Barak. So it seems that Jael had a confidence in God, ready to betray Jabin and Sisera. This ends chapter 4. 

I saw the previous lesson the beginning of a prayer by Deborah and Barak. Chapter seems to be a summary of what has transpired by the Lord through Deborah and Barak. Verses 24-31 mention the work of Jael, with the idea she was moved by the Lord in carrying this out. Verse 31 says, "Thus let all Thine enemies perish, O Lord; but let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might." I see here two ideas - 1) The Lord takes care of His people and will take care of perishing enemies. 2) There are enemies that parish. 

Summary: God worked through Jael to destroy an enemy of the Lord. 

Promise: God can use ordinary, common skills to accomplish incredible victories. 

Prayer: Sometimes these lessons are hard to read and understand, but thank you for the hard and challenging to understand passages like these Lord and helping me to understand them. The message is simple - God protects those He calls and enemies will perish. Thank you for calling Your people to yourself. I pray more to be called. 

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

Proverbs 10:9 - Walk equals Talk

Proverbs 10:9 

He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out. 

Message: Walk equals Talk

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: It is always interesting to see the characteristics of vice and virtue that Solomon contrasts. In this Proverbs he extols integrity, walking in it and that walking produces a security or sureness. It is well grounded. In contrast the one that does not walk with integrity is the one who perverts their ways and that one will be found out or exposed. 

Integrity is a characteristic I hear much about. It is a trait that is commonly spoken of in the circles of men as well. But I suppose it is common for both sexes, but for some reason it feels like it stands out for men, but that could be because I am a man. The King James refers to this as "walking uprightly." 

A quick definition of integrity - "the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles." Being honest seems to be given as a virtue in life. It seems everyone agrees about the importance of this. In college, people often said, "let your walk equal your talk." What you say you are going to do, you need to do it. And in our speech it is important to always be truthful. As workers, I think this encompasses being dependable and a person that someone can count on. 

Beyond honest, it is having strong moral principles. I think this means a clear understanding of right and wrong. Morality is huge in our world as well. And yet it is defined in many different ways among people. How we are determining what is right and wrong in our world is changing, but mostly in the area of sexual relations and marriage. Whatever society deems as acceptable becomes morality it seems for people. Purity I think has been a big issue that has been assaulted, not highly as honored as people of faith honor it. A greater premium is placed now on experience and if that experience validates or makes a person feels good, then the standard is no longer a standard. And yet faithfulness is still extolled. So I think the issue of morality as it relates to integrity can be a challenge as we look at person to person. 

Charles Ellicott (1819-1905) in his commentary says that walking uprightly or security means, "He has no cause to fear lest anything to his discredit should come out." I like this. A person who walks with integrity has no fear of anything come to surface. In essence his life will be lived above reproach. The life is lived in a manner where the person really has no concern of being exposed later in life. I think of elections and it seems media or opponents are always trying to dig some dirt up on someone to discredit that person. Well, this is a proverb that says it won't happen because the life has been lived in such a way as there is no fear of that happening. 

But the vice or contrast in this verse says the opposite - "he who perverts his ways will be found out."  To walk in a perverse way is to walk in a crooked manner or a sinful path. This is a person that society hates in religious people - one that is a hypocrite. People not part of the church look at the hypocrite where a person's actions do not line up with their words. And the world hates this. The reality that the world does not understand is our works do no save us. We all are sinners and yet there is an expectation that the Christian, after conversion, will not live in any type of sin. High standards, yes. But I think we need to be more sensitive to this. When we have error, we need to admit and confess it before others. When we sin and we will, we need to confess it before God but also before man. This hurts the pride but our pride it not of importance. God receiving glory is that which is most important and we don't our actions to effect God receiving glory. 

Hence the antithesis of this verse is clear. Live your life with honesty and high moral standards of making right choices over wrong one's so that your life is an open book and there will be no fear of being exposed of any secret sins in the closet. Because this is the fear of the crooked person. The life they live that includes dishonesty and confusion over moral principles and practices other sins has a life that could be exposed. And that person through their actions lives in constant fear. 

Prayer: O God, I want to be this man of integrity - of honesty. Last night in a class I was involved in at church on marriage, we spoke about leaving a legacy. I pray and want my life of legacy to include being honest and right now, there is so much deception that my life is actually known for and I have that constant fear of being found out. Help me to clear out the dishonesty. And give me compassion to those that struggle in their lives to live in a manner that is holy and true. Help me to be a person of forgiveness and patience toward others, but I do thank for the high standard you ask us to hold to and I pray for your strength to live in this manner. Help my children as well. Right now, my oldest son is dealing with this and give him the strength to rise up from the exposure he has had of a sin. Help him to live his best life going forward. 

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

Judges 4:1-16; 5:1-5, 21 - Deborah and Barak

Judges 4:1-16; 5:1-5, 21

4 “Lord, when You went out from Seir,

When You marched from the field of Edom,

The earth quaked, the heavens also dripped,

Even the clouds dripped water.

5 “The mountains quaked at the presence of the Lord,

This Sinai, at the presence of the Lord, the God of Israel.

Message: Deborah and Barak

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: I am noticing a common phrase now in these passages of Judges, "Then the Sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord." I see this in 2:11, 3:7, 3:12, and now here in 4:1. This seems to be the purpose of this book - Israel enters a period of falling away from the Lord. They profess a faith in Him. God chooses them. They are to follow Him, but they have these periods of not doing that. It seems they lack a leader. God judges them in some way and will raise up a judge to lead them. That judge will pull them back to the life they are to live before the Lord. Left to their own ways and devices, they lose their ways. There is something needed - a leader for the people. 

It seems today we often look for this leader. It seems to be our pastor or Sunday School teacher or another leader we believe God has placed in our lives to lead us. I wonder if this was part of the reason of having the Pope for Roman Catholics. 

After 4:1 and the evil they did, "The Lord sold them in the hand of Jabin king of Canaan." Here it is again. The people do evil and before raising up a judge to deliver them that generally is preceded by they crying out to the Lord. Maybe the word that is said is that while they are doing evil in the sight of the Lord, they are fine with that and God sends them a wake up call hopefully, leading them through some sort of discipline through a man-made king that God orchestrates for his purposes. At this time, this lasted 20 years. 

Deborah is on the scene (v. 4), judging Israel, and the son of Israel come to her for judgment (v. 5). She summoned Barak (v. 6). She speaks to Barak stating that she give over to them the commander of Jabin's army (v. 7) - Sisera. Deborah and Barak go together, committed to one another. "And all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not even one was left. (v. 16)"

Chapter 5, verse 1 mentions now a song Deborah and Barak sing. It is a praise song in response to what God has done for them, in response of who God is to them. "I will sing praise to the Lord, the God of Israel (verse 3)." Plus we learn more about the judgement that begat Sisera. It included a storm sent to flood the Kishon River to help the advantage to Israel (v. 4-5). 

God uses Deborah to guide Barak. Barak doesn't seem to be a huge man of faith. Instead of waiting on God, he is waiting on Deborah's direction (4:8). Deborah is not a military leader but she is somewhat the guide in this whole judgment. She is a prophetess. 

Overall, God continues to work through people to carry out His purposes. Sometimes through discipline and judgment and sometimes through rescue. We need both. We need to turn to Him and direct our trust in Him. God wants a people that will follow Him and trust in Him. Not everyone will. Not everyone is on the Lord's side. For those that are, He has a deep care and concern for and as they get of course, he will judge them and use others that are not of His kingdom as well to act as judges. 

Summary: Once again, Israel does evil in the sight of the Lord. After being sold over to the king of Canaan, Deborah and Barak team up to deliver Israel from that king. 

Promise: God uses different people to address evil in His less than perfect people. 

Prayer: God, you are holy and true and you are a jealous God. You have a purpose with us, as your people and that is for us to follow You and trust You all of our days. As we do not, you sometimes will do things in our lives to get our attention. You judge those who continue to ignore you. You are pulling us back to You. And yet there are many in this world that are completely against You. That is not a popular message I know, but it seems to be a true one. What is important is for me to be one that stays close to You and honors You and seeks to glorify You in all I do. Help me to be the best person you have called me to be. Forgive me for my error. I am not a perfect man, nor even a good man. I am only good because of You. I need your help and I thank You for the people that you place in my life, friends to spur me onto love and good deeds and leaders that you place in my path. You are worthy of my praise. I praise your name. 

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

Proverbs 10:8 - Don't make excuses, receive your orders

Proverbs 10:8

The wise of heart will receive commands, but a babbling fool will be thrown down. 

Message: Don't make excuses, receive your orders

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: In this verse is a new idea. Thus far in these verses of chapter 10, the primary focus has been on righteousness alone. All proverbs I think will in some way though deal with that subject because overall that is the point of a proverb - to compare righteous behavior with unrighteous. But the proverbs have thus far have been more about how we earn our possessions and how wisdom is to be our focus. This verse presents the idea of the heart. In addition, it speaks to the idea of receiving. Everything else that has been thus far is generally an action that the wise person has done (e.g. "a wise son makes" in verse 1, "the hand" in verse 4, "he who gathers" in verse 5) or what that wise person's life now looks like after all of those actions (e.g. "memory" in verse 7 and "blessings" in verse 6). 

For the wise person, it is not only what they do, but also how they receive. To me, this verse is saying that the wise person will accept commands. The wise person can be told what to do. The wise person accepts direction, instruction, correction. 

I had a situation at work happen last week in which I told an employee something about their work life and what they need to do differently. It was in regards to their work hours and reminding them they are on salary and with being on salary they can be at times asked to do things on their day off. They were thinking that if asked to do something on their day off, then they should be able to make up that time with personal time off. They offered a solution and I told them that solution was not acceptable and they would need to work without getting anything in return. I was instructing them about something that was different from what they were expecting. And I was asking for their obedience. She received it, but she was not happy. And so things were initially stressful with her, but fortunately things have improved and she is going to adapt. 

Very often in our world, we often do not see things the way we should or need correction. We need commands to show us the right way and therefore to avoid the wrong way. But I notice more and more that we are driven by emotions and what we want and what we are comfortable with and many are not willing to accept those commands. Instead they babble. They give all the reasons why the command won't, how it is out of line. There needs to be trust. 

Trust I think is often just this. Trust is not knowing the entire story but going forward with it anyway. It is going beyond understanding. It is taking a leap. 

In my conversations with people online, I have a man I have been speaking with that wants everything in life to check his box. He wants it all to line up perfectly. He says he believes Jesus lived, died, rose again and he believes he is a sinner, but he is not willing to accept that his sin resulted in Jesus dying. He does not believe the reason for Jesus' death was necessary. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints says that Jesus' death and resurrection begins their new life but man is still accountable for carrying out his sanctification. In essence, Jesus only covers a persons sins if the person lives their life in an acceptable manner. But that doesn't actually require any real trust. Jesus is not a stepping stone. Jesus is everything that we need to get us to God. The good life that we live following His death and payment for our sins is a response to what He did. It is not being lived to pay off what he did or ensure that we get it. We live holy lives because God is holy and we should be a people that are like Him. But Jesus' death on the cross needs to mean something. And this is where I think the CJCLDS gets it wrong. They are not really trusting in what Jesus has done. They are trusting that they are carrying it out well. There is a distinction. There is a difference. 

Romans 8:13 - "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." It is the Spirit in person who has trusted in Christ that will provide the means for them to be a new creature. A falling away can occur in a person's life, and this can be short period of time or long periods of time, but the goal in those times is to bring that person back to the live they lived before. It is to correct and teach them. But the Spirit continues to live in that person. And that is evident throughout our history. 

I titled this lesson - "Don't make excuses, receive your orders." We need to receive the orders that God gives us and follow those commands. We are not to start babbling that we do not need them. We trust in God. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your direction. Thank you for showing me that in my life I need to trust You. I need to learn things that are true outside of what I think I know. I am to be obedient to Your commands, your orders on my life. Forgive me for making excuses, for thinking of ways to avoid that command. Forgive me for finding ways to justify my own behavior rather than simply believing You. Forgive me for thinking that I know the right way to live. I do this Lord. I do not accept willingly the message that even my boss wants to convey to people. Right now that message is to be positive where I think one needs to be pragmatic and real. Correct me Lord. 

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

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. 

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

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. 

 

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