Today’s Reading: Judges 19; Judges 20; Judges 21; 2 Corinthians 4
Scripture: Judges 21:25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.
Observation: The story in today's reading from Judges 19-21 is probably my least favorite in the whole Bible (yes, there are things in the Bible I don't like). What is obvious is this: moral confusion reigns. The closing verse, Judges 21:25 (above) gives the underlying cause. The situation was without leadership and had degenerated into a "anything goes" situation. However, it is clear that though there was a great deal of moral confusion, some semblance of a sense of right and wrong prevailed. The men of Israel were outraged by the actions of those who brutalized the woman. And the ghastly demonstration by the Levite surely stunned them.
Application: But the problem is not that Israel needed a king to rule over the nation -- at least not a human one. They needed a King, that is, God, over their hearts. God had led them through Moses and had imparted a code of morality but the people had apparently long-forgotten it. Though Moses has explicitly warned them and instructed them to write it down and to rehearse it to one and another and to their children and grandchildren, it had fallen from their awareness. "Everyone did as he saw fit." There were no standards. This brings me back to this truth: it is vital that each person instill God's truth into their own heart. A leader, whether a king or an pastor or a parent, cannot keep others on the right path. We each need God as our mentor and, thankfully, that is easy to do. We only need to spend time in reading and study of his word. It is readily available to us and within its pages we find the keys to life as God intended it to be lived. So the only question is, "Will we make it happen?"
Prayer: Lord, you did not leave us without guidance, to guess or feel our way forward. You gave us a clear code of principles on which to live. Thank you. Help me to regularly study it, to imbed it into my awareness, and to follow it carefully. And help me to lead others in this right and righteous path.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Title: Wise Example Rejected / Topic: Singular Weakness
Today’s Reading: Judges 13; Judges 14; Judges 15; Judges 16; 2 Corinthians 2
Scripture: Judges 13:8-12, 14:6
Judges 13:8 Then Manoah prayed to the LORD : "O LORD, I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born." 9 God heard Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman while she was out in the field; but her husband Manoah was not with her. 10 The woman hurried to tell her husband, "He's here! The man who appeared to me the other day!" 11 Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he said, "Are you the one who talked to my wife?" "I am," he said. 12 So Manoah asked him, "When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule for the boy's life and work?"
Judges 14:6 The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done.
Observation: I am so impressed with Manoah and his wife. Manoah has real faith and humility -- in verses 8 and 12 we see it clearly. His prayer to the Lord and his question of the angel reveal that he did not doubt the promise of God to his wife and his desire to seek and follow God's instruction regarding the fulfillment of this promise. Look at these expressions of faith (italicized) and humility (bold): "O LORD, I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born."... "When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule for the boy's life and work?"
I am also impressed that even though Samson's parents have a true faith and humility, Samson did not pick it up. Though he has this amazing encounter with: 1) God (being filled with spiritual power and physical strength); 2) a lion (which attacked him); and 3) satan (who empowered the lion to kill him -- though Samson did not discern this), he doesn't mention it to his parents! This inclination not to open up to them -- to deal with his life privately and on his own -- persists throughout his life and is one of his downfalls. What might have happened, had he shared the lion encounter with them? Who knows? One thing is for certain -- had he shared his other private struggles with them, the horrible consequences of his life could have been avoided.
Application: For me the bottom line is that I must have people with whom I can share my private battles. This is something that I must intentionally make happen: finding others who know what I am going through and dealing with. I must have these comrades because this can help me from making truly disastrous choices in isolation.
Prayer: Lord, keep me connected to others that will speak your wisdom in my life. May never rely only on what I think and believe. And like Manoah, give me faith and humility that trusts in you without question and is open and teachable.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Judges 13:8-12, 14:6
Judges 13:8 Then Manoah prayed to the LORD : "O LORD, I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born." 9 God heard Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman while she was out in the field; but her husband Manoah was not with her. 10 The woman hurried to tell her husband, "He's here! The man who appeared to me the other day!" 11 Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he said, "Are you the one who talked to my wife?" "I am," he said. 12 So Manoah asked him, "When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule for the boy's life and work?"
Judges 14:6 The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done.
Observation: I am so impressed with Manoah and his wife. Manoah has real faith and humility -- in verses 8 and 12 we see it clearly. His prayer to the Lord and his question of the angel reveal that he did not doubt the promise of God to his wife and his desire to seek and follow God's instruction regarding the fulfillment of this promise. Look at these expressions of faith (italicized) and humility (bold): "O LORD, I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born."... "When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule for the boy's life and work?"
I am also impressed that even though Samson's parents have a true faith and humility, Samson did not pick it up. Though he has this amazing encounter with: 1) God (being filled with spiritual power and physical strength); 2) a lion (which attacked him); and 3) satan (who empowered the lion to kill him -- though Samson did not discern this), he doesn't mention it to his parents! This inclination not to open up to them -- to deal with his life privately and on his own -- persists throughout his life and is one of his downfalls. What might have happened, had he shared the lion encounter with them? Who knows? One thing is for certain -- had he shared his other private struggles with them, the horrible consequences of his life could have been avoided.
Application: For me the bottom line is that I must have people with whom I can share my private battles. This is something that I must intentionally make happen: finding others who know what I am going through and dealing with. I must have these comrades because this can help me from making truly disastrous choices in isolation.
Prayer: Lord, keep me connected to others that will speak your wisdom in my life. May never rely only on what I think and believe. And like Manoah, give me faith and humility that trusts in you without question and is open and teachable.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Title: The Leader's Thankless Lot / Topic: Leadership
Today’s Reading: Judges 11; Judges 12; Psalm 50; 2 Corinthians 1
Scripture: Judges 12:1-3
1 The men of Ephraim called out their forces, crossed over to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, "Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We're going to burn down your house over your head."
2 Jephthah answered, "I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn't save me out of their hands. 3 When I saw that you wouldn't help, I took my life in my hands and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave me the victory over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?"
Observation: Jephthah has been sought out to fight against Israel's enemies and he has won a great victory. Sadly, he made a rash vow which brought him great sorrow. (Read about this in the previous chapter.) Now, on top of that heartache he is threatened with death by his fellow Israelites from the tribe of Ephraim. Why? Because he didn't get their help in the battle. I can't quite figure out this logic: "Congratulations on defeating our enemies. We wanted to help you fight. But we didn't get to. So now we are going to kill you!" With friends like these who needs enemies.
Application: Leadership is tough. Those brave souls who stepped forward to lead Israel as judges had a difficult job. Not only did they have to fight against Israel's enemies, but, more often than not, they had to defend themselves from attacks by their own countrymen. And being a church leader today has similar situations. The key is to remember who it is that I am serving. I am serving the Lord. If I please him, that is all that matters. If I displease him, nothing matters.
Prayer: Lord, thank you that you have called me to your service. Give me strength, determination, and stamina to stay strong and stay sweet as I serve by leading your people. And I thank you for those faithful ones who stand by me in love and loyalty, no matter what. Give them a special blessing for their service.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Judges 12:1-3
1 The men of Ephraim called out their forces, crossed over to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, "Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We're going to burn down your house over your head."
2 Jephthah answered, "I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn't save me out of their hands. 3 When I saw that you wouldn't help, I took my life in my hands and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave me the victory over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?"
Observation: Jephthah has been sought out to fight against Israel's enemies and he has won a great victory. Sadly, he made a rash vow which brought him great sorrow. (Read about this in the previous chapter.) Now, on top of that heartache he is threatened with death by his fellow Israelites from the tribe of Ephraim. Why? Because he didn't get their help in the battle. I can't quite figure out this logic: "Congratulations on defeating our enemies. We wanted to help you fight. But we didn't get to. So now we are going to kill you!" With friends like these who needs enemies.
Application: Leadership is tough. Those brave souls who stepped forward to lead Israel as judges had a difficult job. Not only did they have to fight against Israel's enemies, but, more often than not, they had to defend themselves from attacks by their own countrymen. And being a church leader today has similar situations. The key is to remember who it is that I am serving. I am serving the Lord. If I please him, that is all that matters. If I displease him, nothing matters.
Prayer: Lord, thank you that you have called me to your service. Give me strength, determination, and stamina to stay strong and stay sweet as I serve by leading your people. And I thank you for those faithful ones who stand by me in love and loyalty, no matter what. Give them a special blessing for their service.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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