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.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
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.
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.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
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 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.
Friday, March 4, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
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.
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.
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