Israel taken into captivity (2 Kings 17:6, 13-14, 22)

In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria (capital of Israel) and carried Israel away into exile to Assyria, and settled them in Haalah and Habor, on the river Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and every seer saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments, my statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through my servants and prophets. The sons of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they did not depart from them until the LORD removed Israel from his sight as he spoke through all his servants the prophets. It is important to grasp that Israel (the northern kingdom) and Judah (the southern kingdom) are different countries even though they are both Jews. Israel's capital city is Samaria and Judah's is Jerusalem. These kingdoms existed alongside one another for hundreds of years. Previously we learned that Jeroboam, Israel's first king, is the man who caused Israel to sin by making competing gods outside of Jerusalem to compete with Father God who delivered them from captivity in Egypt. The kings of Israel all followed after the first bad shepherd until they were punished by the most extreme penalty which is removal from the land under the covenant. Daily Prayer: Father, I am not a covenant person as was the relationship between you and the Jews, but I am included into your kingdom by the sacrifice of your son who is Jesus Christ. I need to be able to learn lessons from those who came before me. As such, let me now repent of my own sins and trust in Jesus Christ for the times that I miss the mark. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

God's faithfulness is shown through the Shunammite widow (2 Kings 4: 1-7)

One day the widow of one of the LORD's prophets said to Elisha, "You know that before my husband died, he was a follower of yours, but he owed a man money and now that man is on his way to take my two sons as his slaves.." Elisha said, "What do you have in your house?" "Sir, I have nothing but a small bottle of olive oil." Elisha said, "Ask your neighbors for empty jars. And after you've borrowed as many as you can, go home and shut the door and begin filling the jars with oil and set each one aside as you fill it." At last, she said to one of her sons, "Bring me another jar." "We don't have any more," he answered, and the oil stopped flowing from the small bottle. After she told Elisha what had happened, he said, "Sell the oil and use part of the money to pay what you owe and you and your sons can live on what is left." Elisha was a prophet who worked with Elijah before he was taken by God into heaven. He was granted a "double portion" of Elijah's faith. In this story, we have one of the needy widows in Israel who was facing a problem that God alone could solve. She decides to call on the man of God and plead for his mercy. Elijah wanted to do more than solve her problem. He wanted to solve her problem and build her faith in the Living God and show this woman and her household that she can trust in God and He by no way will fall short of her provision. Daily Prayer: Father, all too often when my needs are met in advance and we have savings, I think in my heart, "Look what I have done!" This is the flesh in me that wars with my spirit. And I know that all things work together for good for those who love you and trust in you. So I choose to trust you and not in myself. In your holy name I pray Amen.

Jeroboam, the man who caused Israel to sin (1 Kings 12: 27-30)

One day, Jeroboam (the king of Israel who split from the tribes of Judah & Benjamin) started thinking, "Everyone in Israel still goes to the temple in Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the LORD. What if they become loyal to David's family again? They will kill me and accept Rehoboam (Solomon's son) as their king." Jeroboam asked for advice and then made two gold statues of calves. He showed them to the people and said, "Listen everyone! You won't have to go to Jerusalem to worship anymore. Here are your gods who rescued you from Egypt." Then he put one of them in the town of Bethel. He put the other in the town of Dan, and the crowd walked out in front as the calf was taken there. What Jeroboam did was a terrible sin. The northern kingdom of Israel split with Judah for hundreds of years. What Jeroboam did here was no small thing. In the New Testament Jesus says whoever causes one of these to sin would be better off if they had a millstone around their neck and thrown into the sea. The narrator to the Bible refers to Jeroboam as the one who caused Israel to sin. This worshiping in high places lasted throughout the tenure of Israel's existence. One may think that nobody could be so foolish. But then we underestimate the simple sheep without a shepherd. They don't know how to protect themself when trouble comes. Daily Prayer: Father, I too am foolish if it were not for the Good Shepherd in the person of Jesus Christ. All men are sinners in need of a savior. Nobody can save themself from the demons of this world but those who are received in the protection of Christ will be forgiven and protected. This is the Good News found in the gospel of grace. Amen.

Solomon divides his heart & God divides his kingdom (1Kings 11: 3-4, 11-13)

Solomon had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away. For when he was old, his heart was not whooly devoted to the LORD his God as the heart of David his father had been. So the LORD said to Solomon, "Because you have done this, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and give it to your servant. Nevertheless I will not do it in your days for the sake of your father David, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. I will not tear away all the kingdom, but will give one tribe to your son for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen." It is hard to imagine how Solomon who prayed for wisdom could end up in such serious violation of the covenant God made with Israel. Now the Kingdom of Israel will be divided between Judah & Benjamin who will be the southern Kingdom of Judah and the ten tribes to the north who will be known as the Kingdom of Israel. It is a division which will endure for hundreds of years. Jesus said that a house divided against itself cannot stand. So the future of God's elect who are the descendants of Jacob will be a divided house. The problem is one only God can solve. It will take the sending of his Greater Son who is Jesus Christ to redeem his people and place them in the hands of their rightful ruler. Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, you came unto your own and your own received you not. This is how brittle the hearts of men have become. But in your first coming you brougt with you the New Covenant where no longer are man's laws written on tablets of stone, but rather they are written on the hearts of those who believe you are both the Son of Man and the Son of God. Amen.

The nations visit Zion (1 Kings 10:1, 13)

Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with difficult questions. King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire which she requested, besides what he gave her according to his royal bounty. Then she turned and went to her own land together with her servants. This visit from the queen is a type of what is supposed to happen to the seed of Abraham. God promised that blessing will be bestowed upon the nations from Zion and through Abraham, and all the families of the world will be blessed. Saint Matthew suggests this is also the reason for the coming of the Magi in the birth narrative of Jesus. They came bearing gifts for the new born Christ child. This instant text speaks of the generous wealth of Solomon, a wealth that is from God. It also lends itself to a contrast for how the elect will deal with the nations. In the Old Testament, the elect of the Jews in effect says to the nations, "Come and see." In the church age, the elect of the ones who are saved by the blood of Jesus are sent out and told to go and tell the gospel to the nations. This became a stumbling block to the Israelites. Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am happy to go and tell what you have done for me and to all who come to you with the kind of faith that Abraham had. Abraham didn't do anything to merit your favor. Instead he believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness. Lord, it is indeed possible to live righteously in my life, not by my power, but by the power you have given to me through the gospel of grace and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Let me walk by faith now that my sins have been forgiven. In your name I pray Amen.

Solomon dedicates the temple (1 Kings 6:1, 8:30, 8:41)

Solomon's workers started building the temple during Ziv, the second month of the year. It had been four years since Solomon became king of Israel, and four hundred eighty years since the people of Israel left Egypt. Solomon stood facing the altar with everyone standing behind him. Then he lifted his arms toward heaven and prayed: LORD God of Israel, no other god in heaven or on earth is like you! You never forget the agreement you made with your people, and you are loyal to anyone who faithfully obeys your teachings. I am you servant, and the people of Israel belong to you. So whenever any of us look toward this temple and pray, answer from your home in heaven and forgive our sins. Foreigners will hear about you and your mighty power, and some of them will come to live among your people Israel. If any of them pray toward this temple, listen to them and hear their prayers.

The temple was the central place of worship for the Israelites. It was built on Mt. Moriah which is the place where Abraham offered Isaac (his only son) to God demonstrating a godly faith. Here Solomon speaks of the forgiveness of sins first to the Israelites and also to the gentiles who join them at this place. This is part of the Abrahamic Covenant where the Jews will be a blessing to the nations. Solomon also speaks of the covenant by which Israel is blessed. It is the Law of Moses whereby blessing comes from obedience to the law and curses from disobedience to the covenant. Ultimately it will be learned the hard way that men and women cannot obey and forgiveness will require grace apart from works in order to be saved.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, how many times have I tried to earn forgiveness for my sins? It comes from the school of hard knocks to discover that I cannot, but you can. I have learned nobody is holy like you are holy and thank God allows you to stand in my place for judgment!
Now it is not if I have obeyed the law, but have I received you as savior and I have. Thank you for counting me worthy to die for. Amen.

King Solomon will receive wisdom from God (1Kings 3: 7-13)

LORD God, I'm your servant, and you've made me king in my father's place. But I'm very young and know so little about being a leader. And I now must rule your chosen people, even though there as too many of them to count. Please make me wise and teach me the difference between right and wrong. Then I will know how to rule your people. If you don't, there is no way I could rule this great nation of yours. God said: Solomon, I'm pleased that you asked for this. You could have asked to live a long time or to be rich. Or you could have asked for your enemies to be destroyed. Instead, you asked for wisdom to make right decisions. So I'll make you wiser than anyone who has ever lived or ever will live. I'll also give you what you didn't ask for. You'll be rich and respected as long as you live, and you'll be greater than any other king.

These verses are troublesome when you know the end from the beginning. Indeed God placed him on the throne and gave him the wisdom he sought. What he didn't get was the heart of David. David was a sinner who loved his savior and was a man after God's own heart. God made a covenant with him promising the Greater than David Jesus would rule from his throne.
Solomon on the other hand had fame, power, and wisdom, but will defy the living God in his own lifetime.

Daily Prayer: Father, create in me the love of you. Let me love you as I ought to. Too many times I drift into behavior that is from the world and not from you. If my love were as it should be, I would fight for my God and reject the world. This is my prayer for today. In Jesus name Amen.

Solomon succeeds David as king over all of Israel (1 Kings 1:17, 32-34)

She said to him, "My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by the LORD your God: 'Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.' King David said, "Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada." When they came before the king, he said to them: "Take your lord's servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon. There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, "Long live King Solomon!'

It is interesting to note that the first two kings over Israel were selections of God. He chose Saul, and then selected David to replace him. In this passage, it seems to be reverting to the sons of the king. David's oldest son Adonijah tried to place himself on the throne and acted precipitously and with arrogance. David had vowed to Bathsheba that their son will be his successor. In the final analysis, it is God who will control the factors of destiny and make his choice. Solomon it the third king to rule over all of Israel, but will be the last king over the whole nation as the nation will indeed divide after his reign.

Daily Prayer: Father, I make plans for myself forgetting that my plans cannot be made apart from you. Any plan that I have will surely fail unless you are with me.. Grant me courage and wisdom to do your will for my life, even if it isn't what I desire for myself. This is because you always do what is best for me and know the beginning from the end. Amen.

David's faith is shaken & the Lord reproves his king (2 Samuel 24:1-3, 10, 13-14)

The LORD was angry at Israel again, and he made David think it would be a good idea to count the people in Israel & Judah. So David told Joab (his commander)and the army officers, "Go to every tribe in Israel and count everyone who can serve in the army. Joab answered, "I hope the LORD your God will give you a hundred times more soldiers than you already have. I hope you will live to see that day! But why do you want to do a thing like this? After David had everyone counted, he felt guilty and told the LORD, "What I did was stupid and terribly wrong. LORD, please forgive me. Gad (a prophet of God) told David, "You must choose one of three ways for the LORD to punish you: Will there be seven years when the land won't grow enough food for your people? Or will your enemies chase you and make you run from them for three months? Or will there be three days of horrible disease in your land?" David was really frightened and said, "It's a terrible choice to make! But the LORD is kind, and I'd rather have him punish us than for anyone else to do it."

David's great sin was doubting God's strength and provision for him and his people. Joab understood immediately that what he was asking was foolish but the nugget of wisdom that can be taken from the text comes in David's response. He would rather fall into the hands of a compassionate God than into the hands of wicked men. David had indeed failed his faith test, but he was not so far away that he could repent and see that God is good and there is none other.

Daily Prayer: God you are indeed good to me in every way. Some consider blessing an extraordinary act of grace, but they are wrong. You are good to me on the least of my days to the greatest of them. Not only do you give me everything I need to sustain life but you also give me opportunity to join you in your labor. Your grace is foolishness to the world, but to me it is the power of God. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

King David's greatest sin (2 Samuel 11: 2 -5)

Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uraiah the Hittite?"David sent messengers and took her and when she came to him, he lay with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house. The woman conceived; and she sent and told David , and said, "I am pregnant."

The biggest problem with David's adultery is that after without suspecting to see this beautiful woman bathing he took action and used the power God gave him to shepherd his people to assert his willl over God's. He doesn't stop here. Later he will take action to try to cover it up, so much so, that he brings the death of this woman's husband so that he will not have to confess it. Whether or not her husband knows, God knows and God will bring judgment against his king. It was from this sin that the 52nd psalm arose that pleads, "Create in me a clean heart O God. And renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your holy spirit from me." You see, David realized his sin was primarily against a holy God and then against man.

Daily Prayer: As hard as it can be, whenever I sin I must confess my sin to you father. Intentional sin is particularly difficult, because I know very well at the time of my sin that I stand in opposition to you. I cannot sit at the table of demons and the table of the Lord. It is comforting to know that even in my sin, I am still a son. This is because of Jesus and for his sake Amen.

God's covenant with David (11b - 16)

Now I promise (God speaking) that you and your descendants will be kings. I'll choose one of your sons to be king when you reach the end of your life and are buried in the tomb of your ancestors. I'll make him a strong ruler, and no one will be able to take his kingdom away from him. He will be the one to build a temple for me. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I'll see that he is corrected, just as children are corrected by their parents. But I will never put an end to my agreement with him, as I put an end to my agreement with Saul, who was king before you. I will make sure that one of your descendants will always be king.

A covenant is a promise or an agreement that God is making with David which is unconditional, because it only depends on the actions of God to fulfill. God's promises David that his kingship will be an everlasting one, so much so that David's greater son who is Jesus Christ will proceed to David's throne in the latter days. We know that God withdrew the Holy Spirit from Saul, but God says my spirit will not depart from this king's administration. David desired to build God a temple because they had worshiped in a tent since the time of the exodus. God grant's David that his son will build his house and he will be a father to his son when his days are complete. God's promises to a David can only be measured by his promises to Abraham.

Daily Prayer: Father it is good to know that at the end of the day, all of your promises come true. I have learned that your measure of me is not on what I do, but who I am. This is because you are sufficient in yourself, but desire my heart to be where you are. This I pray Amen.

God choses David as his king (1 Samuel 16:7,13-15)

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his height or his stature, because I have rejected him (David's older brother); for God sees not as a man sees, for a man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him (David) in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD terrorized him.

Here we have a contrast between Israel's first two kings. The first who is Saul is described as standing a head taller than other men. David on the other hand was a youth who was ruddy and handsome in appearance who one would have never considered to be a valiant warrior. God on the other hand knows that this boy is a shepherd and one who can shepherd his people in the same way that he tends to his sheep. Neither God or Jesus Christ put value on "blind guides," but instead want someone who will be the Good Shepherd which is another name for Jesus Christ. In these days, the Spirit of God would come upon someone so that they would have divine power to enable them to accomplish a kingdom task. In this case, God removed his Spirit from Saul and gave it to David who he says is a man after my own heart. In the fullness of times, with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, believers are now indwelt by the Holy Spirit and he does not depart from the one who has been saved by the blood of Christ.

Daily Prayer: Father, thank you for sending the Son to do for me what I cannot do for myself. He is truly the Good Shepherd. Let this gift of salvation and eternal life be motivation enough to tell others and draw them to you. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

King Saul is anointed by Samuel (1 Samuel 10:1, 23-25)

The people ran and got Saul and brought him into the middle of the crowd. He was more than a head taller than anyone else. "Look closely at the man the LORD has chosen!" Samuel told the crowd. "There is no one like him!" The crowd shouted, "Long live the king!" Samuel explained the rights and duties of a king and wrote them all in a book. He put the book in a temple building at one of the places where the LORD was worshiped. Then Samuel sent everyone home.

Samuel revealed Saul by anointing him with oil which symbolized the setting apart of a person for divine service. Sometime later Samuel gathered the leaders of Israel together at Mizpah which is in Benjamin's territory as Saul was a Benjamite and reminded them of their foolish insistence of having a king apart from the directive will of God. However, the eyes of the LORD will disqualify Saul because the prophetic word of Jacob says that the scepter of kingship would not depart from Judah (Genesis 49:10). The promised dynasty of kings will eventually produce a Messiah from the clan of Judah who will be King Christ Jesus!

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, be the king over my life. When you came to your people, they received you not. But on the third day after your crucifixion, you became king over all of us by raising yourself from the dead, putting to death sin and the power of the Evil One. Therefore rule rightly over my life because you are merciful and just. Amen.

Israel demands a king (1 Samuel 4-7)

One day the nation's leaders came to Samuel at Ramah and said, "You are an old man. You set a good example for your sons, buty they haven't followed it. Now we want a king to be our leader, just like all the other nations. Choose one for us! Samuel was upset to hear the leaders say they wanted a king, so he prayed about it. The LORD answered: Samuel, do everything they want you to do. I am really the one they have rejected as their king.

Up until this point, Israel had been without an earthly king for about 400 years. God met them at their point of need from the time that they left Egypt until this very day. God desired that the Israelites be a peculiar people unto himself, set apart for him and separate from the world.
But the Israelites turned and desired to be like the nations around them. It was because Samuel's own sons who had turned away from following their father that the Israelites pled their case. From here forward, it will be a long journey for the Israelites. There will be a few good kings that are set over them, but darn few. Instead, they will be under the rule of sinful men instead of a just God.

Daily Prayer: Father, in my life I have the right to choose. We don't have kings were I live, but I can choose to surrender to you my life and all that you have given me or I can choose to live for myself. Jesus said "seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you." Men find out the hard way and begrudgingly learn that I should let God be true because every man is a liar. Amen.

Samuel confirmed as a prophet & delivers Israel from the Philistines (1 Samuel 3:20, 7:3, 7:9, 7:13 (b)

From the town of Dan in the north to the town of Beersheba in the south, everyone in the country knew that Samuel was truly the LORD's prophet. One day, Samuel told all the people of Israel, "If you really want to turn back to the LORD, then prove it. Get rid of your foreign idols, including the ones of the goddess Astarte. Turn to the LORD with all your heart and worship only him. Then he will rescue you from the Philistines. Samuel begged the LORD to rescue Israel, then he sacrificed a young lamb to the LORD. Samuel had not even finished offering the sacrifice when the Philistines started to attack. But the LORD answered his prayer and made thunder crash all around them. The Philistines panicked and ran away. For as long as Samuel lived, the LORD helped Israel fight the Philistines.

Samuel is both a judge and a prophet. He is the link between the period of the Judges and the period of the kings. When he told Israel to repent and turn back to the LORD, he was repeating the words of Moses from Deuteronomy 30 and the words spoken through Joshua. He institutes a blood sacrifice using the best of the flocks and God answers his faithful servant. The Philistines were enemies of Israel in this period and will later be handled by David when the kings of the United Kingdom are ushered in.

Daily Prayer: Father, I too am in need of repentance. While I don't think of idols, I do labor against spiritual strongholds and forces of darkness and evil. In my time also, I call on your name for deliverance and you are there. Amen.

A mother's promise to the LORD (1 Samuel 1: 1-2, 11, 20)

Now there was a certain man from Ramathaim-zophim from the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives: the name of one was Hanna and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. Hanna made a vow and said, "O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your maidservant and remember me, and not forget your maidservant, but will give your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head." It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked him of the LORD."

Hanna's request from God placed her in the center of God's will. In her day, a woman who was barren was a reproach. Now she is asking from God what only God can do which is to give this barren maidservant a son and she proclaimed the Nazarite oath which consecrates this boy for a holy offering to her God. God loves such requests and loves rewarding the faithful. Hanna was living in the period of the Judges as Israel has no king except the Almighty, but God will use his servant Samuel to usher in the period of the Kings in Israel.

Daily Prayer: Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within me, humble me like your maid servant Hannah. Let my prayers and petitions be for your sake and for the sake of your son so that I may receive answered prayer. In your holy name I pray Amen.

Boaz marries Ruth and become Great Great Gandparents of King David (Ruth 4: 13-17)

So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel. May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him. Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse. The neighbor women gave him a name saying, "A son has been born to Naomi!" So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Providence is the mysterous hand of God working all things together for good to those who love him and are called according to his purposes. The story of Ruth starts off with Naomi losing her husband and two sons outside of the land of inheritance and her daughter-in-law becoming a widow. Naomi felt that God's hand was heavy on her, but what she did not know is that unless all of these things came about, God would not be able to usher in the famous King David to shepherd Israel. In this story, Boaz is a type of Christ as he is a deliverer to those who want. Naomi is an example of what God can do to the faithful hearts of his followers. The events of Ruth happened during the period of the Judges and is the final transition to Israel's period of kings for whom David became king over all of Israel.

Daily Prayer: Father, my sight is limited and I know that you have great plans for me if I do not thwart them. Belief is walking by faith and not by sight. It is as Jesus said to Thomas his disciple "Blessed are you Thomas for seeing and believing. But greater is the blessing for those who believe, but have not seen." Amen.

Boaz will redeem Ruth (Ruth 3: 3-5, 11-13)

(Naomi speaking to Ruth) Now take a bath and put on some perfume, then dress in your best clothes. Go where he (Boaz) is working, but don't let him see you until he has finished eating and drinking. Watch where he goes to spend the night, then when he is asleep, lift the cover and lie down at his feet. He will tell you what to do. Ruth answered, "I'll do whatever you say." ( Now Boaz speaks to Ruth) "Don't worry, I'll do what you have asked. You are respected by everyone in town. It's true that I am one of the relatives who is supposed to take care of you, but there is someone who is an even closer relative. Stay here until morning, then I will find out if he is willing to look after you. If he isn't, I promise by the living God to do it myself. Now go back to sleep until morning."

Ruth is a Moabite which means her Hebrew heritage is a mixed one from inter-marrying. Jews traditionally do not respect or welcome the Moabites. In this instance, however, actions speak louder than words. Because Ruth has purity of motive and a humble heart, the people of Israel love her. They feel her worth is greater than seven Hebrew sons. Boaz can see that she submits to him, who is an older man, and he loves her for that. He vows by the living God to make sure that she and Naomi are cared for. Vows, as we have seen, should be made with great discretion.
But Boaz is a man of good reputation and he will not delay in his word.

Daily Prayer: Father, all too often I think of myself. Even in good works that I do, somewhere in my mind lies a selfish motive. So I ask that you create in me a clean heart and a contrite spirit. In your holy name I pray Amen.

Ruth gleans in Boaz' field (Ruth 2: 1-2, 18)

One day, Ruth said to Naomi, "Let me see if I can find someone who will let me pick up the grain left in the fields by the harvest workers." Naomi answered, "Go ahead, my daughter." So right away, Ruth went out to pick up grain in a field owned by Boaz. He was a relative of Naomi's husband Elimelech, as well as a rich and important man. She took the grain to town and showed Naomi how much she had picked up. Ruth also gave her the food left over from her lunch.

In these times, God commanded that farmers not harvest a field clean. He instructed them to leave some for the travelers, the poor and needy, and the animals. Ruth was trying to take care of her mother-in-law Naomi by submitting herself as one who gleans with the poor and needy. This way she could make provisions for herself and Naomi. Without her knowing or intending it, the field in which she was gleaning belonged to a relative who was also a kinsman redeemer. This is one who can provide for the widow Naomi and guarantee her inheritance of the land because of her husband and son's passing. As the story progesses, Boaz needs to make a decision if he will be a savior to this family.

Daily Prayer: Father, even before sending your Son Jesus Christ who is my and our Redeemer, you sent types of redeemers before Christ's coming. I thank you for your faithfulness to me and to my family. My salvation is by grace apart from work, but I desire to do good works to honor You and Jesus my Savior. In His name I pray Amen.

The hesed love of Ruth the Moabite (Ruth 1:16)

Buth Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God."

The background for this text is that Ruth is a woman from Moab who is the daughter-in-law to Naomi who is a Hebrew. Naomi's husband and her two sons died in Moab when they sojourned there during the time of a serious famine. Now, Naomi is returning to Israel, but her daughter-in-law, the Moabite, is pledging loyal love for her mother-in-law as they are both widows now.
Naomi urges her to return to the household of her father and pursue a new husband, as Ruth was a very beautiful young woman. Instead, Ruth sets aside her nationality, her father's house and desires to be with Naomi, no matter what the cost. Hesed love is the kind of love God gives.
It is unconditional and loyal love and this is the love poured our by Ruth to her mother-in-law. Instead of asking for Naomi to adopt her into her family, Ruth pledges it on her own - even to the extent of pledging love and worship to the God of Israel. This is far different from the way of the nations, but Ruth is a far different woman than the gentiles.

Daily Prayer: Lord, the love of Ruth is different from the love of men in that it is unconditional love like your's. By the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells me, transform me into a man of humlity who walks in submission to you. In your name I pray Amen.

The sons of Benjamin are preserved (Judges 20:27b-28; 21:1, 21:6)

Phinehas the priest prayed, "Our LORD, the people of Benjamin are our relatives. Should we stop fighting or attach them?" "Attach!" the LORD answered. "Tomorrow I will let you defeat them." When the Israelites had met at Mizpah before the war with Benjamin, they had made this sacred promise: "None of us will ever let our daughter marry a man from Benjamin." The Israelites were sad about what had happened to the Benjamin tribe, and they said, "one of our tribes was almost wiped out."

The background to this dispute is that a Levite concubine had been murdered in the land of Benjamin and the brother tribes considered them to be a reproach and for the sake of moral purity they set their faces against their brother. The sons of Benjamin are known to be valient warriers. They handled their own against the other tribes until God gave them over to the other sons of Israel. We have learned in earlier lessons the grave danger of making an oath in the LORD's name. Here, with little thought, they vow to withhold wives from the sons of Benjamin not considering that this brother's inheritance will be extinguished if they uphold such a pledge.
Their remedy in this instance is that they found Jews who were not present at the assembly when the vow was made and gave their virgin daughters to Benjamin so that Benjamin would be preserved. God gave his approval to this civil war because he did not want unholy living to be present among his people.

Daily Prayer: Father, it is better to have my discipline fall into the hands of a merciful God than into the hands of men. I know that God does not withhold discipline from his sons and daughters because this is his mark of love for those he calls his own. Let me learn to be careful with my words, especially when they are made as a promise or a vow. Instead, let my yes be yes and my no be no. In your name I pray Amen.

Samson - the Nazirite from birth (Judges 13:5)

"For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines."

A Nazirite is one who is set apart or consecrated for the service of God alone. This one must follow various regulations, one of which is not cutting his hair. After the time of Jephthah, Israel once again fell into sin and God turned them over to the Philistines for a period of 40 years or one generation. God often revisits the birth of a "savior" in the Bible. Here, God is making an appearance for the purposes of announcing the birth of a deliverer from the Philistines. In the Samson narrative, the Bible explains how Samson was unfaithful to the Nazarite calling by pursuing pagan women for himself and not caring for his diet. But it was God himself who called Samson. What Samson had was super natural strength every time the Spirit of God came upon him. Apart from those times, he had only human strength. The Samson story concludes with Samson breaking down the pillars of a large building so that all the Philistines located there would perish and he will perish with them. God's purposes for Samson are complete without Samson's contribution to his own calling.

Daily Prayer: Father, I know that you have a purpose for my life as well. I know there are times that I am a stumbling block to my own destiny, but I thank you Lord for having control over my life. Let me be aware of your guiding hand in my life and let me come to you with a thankful heart. In your holy name I pray Amen.

Jephthah's Tragic Vow (Judges 11: 9-10, 30-31, 34-35)

The leaders of the Gilead clan decided to ask a brave warrior named Jephthah son of Gilead to lead the attack against the Ammonites. Even though Jephthah belonged to the Gilead clan, he had earlier been forced to leave the region where they had lived. Jephthah was the son of a prositute, but his half- brothers were the sons of his father's wife. So Jephthah replied to the leaders of Gilead "All right, if I go back with you and if the LORD lets me defeat the Ammonites, will you really make me your ruler?" "You have our word," the leaders answered. "And the LORD is a witness to what we have said." Jephthah said to the LORD "If you will let me defeat the Ammonites and come home safely, I will sacrifice to you whoever comes out to meet me first." When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, the first one to meet hime was his daughter. She was playing a tambourine and dancing to celebrate his victory, and she was his only child. "Oh!" Jephthah cried. Then he tore his clothes in sorrow and said to his daughter, "I made a sacred promise to the LORD, and I must keep it. Your coming out to meet me has broken my heart."

Jephthah had military qualities, but additionally he had profound reliance on God. Even though he was the son of a prostitute and had been rejected by his brothers, the Lord chose him to the a savior of his people. God picks someone who is despised by men and uses him for greatness. Jephthah was a figure of Christ as he was rejected and suffered before delivering them and identifies with the LORD as he witnesses the loss of his only innocent child.

Daily Prayer: Jesus teaches us to let our yes be yes and our no be no and to make no vows greater than this. If I were in Jephthah's hands and I wanted to honor you, I would dedicate this child toward your service and not sacrifice this child because to you obedience is greater than sacrifice. Let us learn from Jephthah's lesson. Amen.

Israel is oppressed by Midian (Judges 6:1-3, 11, 25, 7:22, 8:27)

Then once again the Israelites started disobeying the LORD, so he let the nation of Midian control Israel for seven years. The Midianites were so cruel that many Israelites ran to the mountains and hid in caves. Every time the Israelites would plant crops, the Midianites invaded Israel together with the Amalekitees and other eastern nations. One day an angel from the LORD went to the town of Ophrah and sat down under the big tree that belonged to Joash, a member of the Abiezer clan. Joash's son Gideon was nearby, threshing grain in a shallow pit, where he could not be seen by the Midianites. That night the LORD spoke to Gideon again: Get your father's second-best bull, the one that's seven years old. Use it to pull down the altar where your father worships Baal and cut down the sacred pole next to the altar. Later Gideon and his 300 men blew their trumpets. As they did, the LORD made the enemy soldiers pull out their swords and start fighting each other. The enemy army tried to escape from the camp. They ran to Acacia Tree Town, toward Zeredah and as far as the edge of the land that belonged to the town of Abel-Meholah near Tabbath. The Midianites had been defeated so badly that they were no longer strong enough to attack Israel. And so Israel was at peace for the remaining forty years of Gideon's life.
Once again, we see Israel go through the cycle of disobedience-judgment-repentance-restoration. God warned them that short of their loyal obedience, he would turn them over to the nations. The Midianites were a cruel nomdic band that camped throughout Palestine. Through Gideon, God wanted the god of his father destroyed and for him to lead a small band of 300 men to deliver Israel from their 7 years of oppression. This is because God wanted them to see that it was not due to their great numbers that they prevailed, but because of God's great strength and loyal love.
Daily Prayer: Father, I too need to breakdown the strongholds that oppress me. Unlike Gideon, my enemy is not flesh or blood but Satan and his angels. I know that you have defeated him with Christ on the cross, but not defeat him again in my life so that he has no control in me or in my family. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Deborah, the prophetess, delivers Israel from the Canaanites (Judges 4:1, 4-7, 24)

After the death of Ehud, the israelites again started disobeying the LORD. Deobrah the wife of Lappidoth was a prophetess and a leader of Israel during those days. She would sit under Deborah's Palm Tree between Remah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, where the Israelites would come and ask her to settle their legal cases. One day, Barak the son of Abinoam was in Kedesst in Naphtali, and Deborah sent word for him to come and talk with her. When he arrived, she said: I have a message for you from the LORD God of Israel. You are to get together an army of ten thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulun tribes and lead them to Mount Tabor. The LORD will trick Sisera into coming out to fight you at the Kishon River. Sisera will be leading King Jabin's army as usual, and they will have their chariots, but the LORD has promised to help you defeat them Jabin grew weaker while the Israelites kept growing stronger, and at last the Israelites destroyed him.
In the opening verse, we see that Israel once again fell into the pattern of disobedience following the death of Ehud who was a deliverer to them. In God's providence, he uses both men and women to fulfill his plans. Within the whole story of the text, it showed that the leader of the Israeli army had his doubts about overcoming the Canaanites, especially with as few men as Deborah was commanding him. In the long run, the honor for the victory belonged to Deborah, because she placed her hope in the Living God of Israel.
Daily Prayer: Lord, it is by faith that I am able to know you and be about my father's business. Like Elisha of old, who requested a double portion of faith, I too request fortfied faith to help me live out my salvation. In your holy name I pray Amen.

Shamgar delivers from Philistines (Judges 3:31)

After him came Shamgar, the son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad; and he also saved Israel.

Shamgar, son of Anath is the name of one or even two individuals named in the Book of Judges. Even though it is one verse alone in this book, it is important because it is included in God's Word. Shamgar is identified as a Biblical judge, who repelled Phillistine incursions into Israelite regions and killed 600 or so with an ox goad (a formidable weapon sometimes ten feet long). From the form of the name, it is suspected that Shamgar may actually have been a Hittite, a similar name occurring with Sangara, a Hittite king of Carchemish; it is also the case that Anath is the name of a Canaanite deity, and the son of Anath is thus merely a royal title. Shamgar may actually have been the father of Sisera.

Daily Prayer: Father, I know that you work all things together for good, especially to those who love you and are called by you. Jesus reminds me that though he was sent unto his own, he too has other pens where he is the shepherd. One does not need to come from Jewish roots to inherit the blessings of Spiritual Israel (those who hold to the promise). Thank you for including me in your plans and your kingdom. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Ehud, the second judge over Israel (Judges 3: 20-21, 27-29)

Ehud (a Benjaminite) went with the other israelites as far as the statues at Gilgal. Then he turned back and went upstairs to the cool room where Eglon (King of Moab) had his throne. Ehud said, "Your Majesty, I need to talk with you in private." Eglon replied, "Don't say anything yet!" His officials left the room, and Eglon stood up as Ehud came closeer. "Yes," Ehud said, "I have a message to you from God!" Ehud pulled out the dagger with his left hand and shoved it so far into Eglon's stomach that it came out the other end. In the hill country of Ephriam he started blowing a signal on a trumpet. The Israelites came together and he shouted, Follow me! The LORD will help us defeat the Moabites." The Israelites folloed Ehud down the Jordan valley and they captured the places where people cross the river on the way to Moab. So Moab was subddued that day under the hand of israel. And the land was undisturbed for eighty years.
The Moabites with the support of the Ammonites and the Amalekites had crossed over the Jordan, invading the land of the Benjamites (cf. Josh 18:21), and had taken Jericho, the city of palms. What he wants to show is how astute this judge was and how he managed to humble the oppressors because God granted victory to him. The author makes a point to let the reader know that the land was undisturbed for eighty years which is two biblical generations and had retaken the land of inheritance of the Benjamites.
Daily Prayer: Father, I know that nobody can deliver out of your hand which is the very reason it is so important to be living according to your will. Whatever you decree, it will surely come to pass. Let me re-examine my salvation and work through it with pain and trembling so that I can come into the life you have given me. Amen.

The First Judge Delivers Israel (Judges 3: 9-11)

The Israelites begged the LORD for help, and he chose Othniel to rescue them. Othniel was the son of Caleb's younger brother Kenaz. The Spirit of the LORD took control of Othniel, and he led Israel in a war against Cushan Rishathaim. The LORD gave Othniel victory, and Israel was a peace until Othniel died about forty years later.
The period of the judges was a period from the death of Joshua that extended for 410 years until Israel's first king. The Book of Judges adequately describes how God's chosen went through periods of rebellion - discipline -and restoration. The judges were not kings, but were men and women who God would raise up as a deliverer. After Joshua's death, a new generation of Israelites grew up who knew not the wonder's of Moses and Joshua. They were unfaithful to the God of their fathers and of Israel and tried worship of the nations that had not been driven out by their fathers. This apostacy continues throughout the Old Testament until the coming of Messiah. The Bible makes a point for us to realize that the one whom God raised up was given power they the Holy Spirit. The Spirit would come upon the judge, but the indwelling of the Spirit was absent in this time. Instead, they received temporary power from God through the second person of the trinity to deliver God's People.
Daily Prayer: Father, today believers have the Holy Spirit indwell them from the point of belief in the Son as Savior, yet all too often I rebell against the holy work of God who dwells within me. Truely I am a sinner in need of a savior. Rebellion is present in all of God's people, less one who is the Son of Man and the Son of God. Receive me Father and purge the sin that haunt's the good life you have given me. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Israel seizes Jerusalem (Judges 1: 1-2, 8-9)

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the LORD, "Which of our tribes should attack the Canaanites first?" "Judah!" the LORD answered. "I'll help them take the land." They attacked Jerusalem, captured it, killed everyone who lived there, andd then burned it to the ground. Judah's army fought the Canaanites who lived in the hill country, the Southern Desert, and the foothills to the west.
God has zeal for the city of Jerusalem. This is indeed the city where he will chose to place his name. Jerusalem has been fought for, will continue to be fought for, and will in the latter days be the center of God's holy wars. In later years, David will become king over all of Israel from Jerusalem and with the second coming of Christ, he too will rule from there. The name Jerusalem is a composite of the prefix "Jeru" which means "city." To "Jeru" we add "salem" which means "peace." So the name Jerusalem is named the City of Peace even though it is the most contended for city in the world.
Daily Prayer; Father, I realize the zeal that you have for the only city to whom you gave your name. Bless you father. Let me not dishonor it in any way because this city is holy ground.
Return to your people the Israelites father. They are blinded to their Savior and their hearts have hardened. Create in them new life and new vision of their True King Jesus Christ. In his name I pray Amen.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 23:11-13, 24:14)

"Be sure to always love the LORD your God. Don't ever turn your backs on him by marrying people from the nations that are left in the land. Don't even make friends with them. I tell you that if you are friendly with those nations, the LORD won't chase them away when you attack. Instead, they'll be like a trap for your feet, a whip on your back, and thorns in your eyes. And finally, none of you will be left in this good land that the LORD has given you. Worship the LORD, obey him, and always be faithful. Get rid of the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
At this time, Joshua has reached the end of his lifetime. He is giving a parting farewell with wise instructions to the bretheren. At the time of his departure, all of the land of inheritance had not yet been conquered. There was still remnants of the nations among them. He is now reminding them of the failures of their fathers and how they feared the nations and didn't trust God to fight for them. Because of their faithlessness, God did not let them enter the land, but let the second generation of Israelites in. Now he is exhorting them to not be like the other nations by imitating them or befriending them. Instead, be a peculiar people to God, holy in their ways and trust in God to rid them of their enemies.
Daily Prayer: Father, faithfulness needs to be characteristic for me also. There are times when I am selfish or even absent minded. This can only be from a lack of true love. True love doesn't have lapses. Instead, it meditates on how they themselves can do even more for the one I love. Let this be true in my as well. In your name I pray Amen.

Conquest of Joshua (Joshua 10: 40-43)

Joshua captured towns everywhere in the land: In the central hill country and the foothills to the west, in the Southern Desert and the region that slopes down toward the Dead Sea. Whenever he captured a town, he would kill the king and everyone else, as the LORD God of Isreal had commanded. Joshua wiped out towns from Kadesh-Barnea to Gaza, everywhere in the region of Goshhen, and as far north as Gibeon. The LORD fought on Israel's side, so Joshua and the Israelite army were aable to capture these kings and take their land. They fought one battle after another, then they went back to their camp at Gilgal after capturing all that land.
The central theme of the Book of Joshua is the seizing of the Promised Land away from its inhabitants and the utter destroyal of all human life in these areas. This was in part judgment by God against these people and also God did not want the influence of these people to be upon his Chosen People. Recall it was only Joshua and Caleb who were determined to take the land with their own generation, but due to lack of faith of the first generation, the land is being taken by their children led by Joshua. Upon the conquest of the land, it will be distributed to the families and tribes of Israel.
Daily Prayer: Father, I need to remember that the battle is the Lord's. It is not likely that Joshua would have succeeded without depending on you. Therefore in my life, create in me a dependence on you in all situations of life. Amen.