Genesis chapter 7
God bids Noah and all his family to enter into the ark. There is no safety or guarantee outside of God's love and his son's Salvation. The ark represents God's love and safety. The ark represents escape from this world and sin. The ark represents life, while living in the world with an eminent doom represents death. God is calling everyone lost in sin to the safety of his Son's sacrifice and love.
Notice that Noah and his family are being delivered because of their righteousness and faith, not chance or happenstance. So God tells Noah once again what is expected of him and what he has to do to live. God is not leaving our details and he also reiterates that he will destroy all life from the planet.
After Noah puts his family and all the animals on the ark, the rain and floods start after seven days just as God had said. Be certain that God will fulfill and bring to pass all his promises. Now for forty days and nights it rains and causes this flood. No doubt this was a rain that would cause fear in our hearts if we were to see it. What makes it worse for that time was the fact that they had never seen it rain at all, must less a downpour of this magnitude.
Everything on earth is destroyed in the flood; all life, all civilization, everything dies.There are no homes, no people, no animals. After seeing the evil that is in our own time and God has so far spared us, to imagine the evil that existed then must almost purely evil. God must have had to protect Noah while he built the ark if such evil existed.
After it rained for forty days, the Bible says that the water prevailed for another one hundred and fifty days. Nothing could survive this but what was delivered by the hand of God. It will be no different for us.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Genesis 6
Genesis chapter 6
From the last chapter we have the 'righteous' line of Seth. We get that from the last verse of the forth chapter that says 'men began to call upon the name of the LORD. Now it appears that between the other children that Adam and Eve had, Cain's offspring, and even those from Seth's line, that evil people begin to embrace sin and therefore are destroying themselves and the world through their sin.
A lot has been said about the 'sons of God' and giants, men of renown, but we can infer that these were ordinary people, but that even the best, brightest, boldest of all earth married who they would and intermingled with whomever they wished. There were hardly any righteous left. This disgusted God and he repented that he had made man. Notice just after this though, that God had mercy and shows favor to Noah.
There are two things I'd like to point out here. When God destroyed the world the first time, when Christ was born upon the Earth, and when the Lord returns, it will most likely be the same. There will only be remnant left that truly serve God. Also, notice that God is ALWAYS patient and long suffering. Even though man had disgusted him, he yet had mercy on those that serve him. God will always have mercy for those that love him if only the mercy when we receive eternal life in heaven.
Noah is given instructions for his deliverance. Has not God given us the exact instructions for our redemption? Noah no doubt showed faith throughout the building of this ark. You know that he was mocked because the Bible says it had never rained upon the earth. So with faith following instructions Noah was delivered. It will be no different for us.
From the last chapter we have the 'righteous' line of Seth. We get that from the last verse of the forth chapter that says 'men began to call upon the name of the LORD. Now it appears that between the other children that Adam and Eve had, Cain's offspring, and even those from Seth's line, that evil people begin to embrace sin and therefore are destroying themselves and the world through their sin.
A lot has been said about the 'sons of God' and giants, men of renown, but we can infer that these were ordinary people, but that even the best, brightest, boldest of all earth married who they would and intermingled with whomever they wished. There were hardly any righteous left. This disgusted God and he repented that he had made man. Notice just after this though, that God had mercy and shows favor to Noah.
There are two things I'd like to point out here. When God destroyed the world the first time, when Christ was born upon the Earth, and when the Lord returns, it will most likely be the same. There will only be remnant left that truly serve God. Also, notice that God is ALWAYS patient and long suffering. Even though man had disgusted him, he yet had mercy on those that serve him. God will always have mercy for those that love him if only the mercy when we receive eternal life in heaven.
Noah is given instructions for his deliverance. Has not God given us the exact instructions for our redemption? Noah no doubt showed faith throughout the building of this ark. You know that he was mocked because the Bible says it had never rained upon the earth. So with faith following instructions Noah was delivered. It will be no different for us.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Genesis 5
Genesis chapter 5
In this chapter of Genesis we have all the generations of Adam to Noah. There are some noteworthy names in this chapter, but I want to cover the ages involved in this book. At the beginning of time, when sin had not done the damage to man and all living creation like it has done now, it is logical and easy ( for me anyway) to understand how men and women could live so long. We see now thanks to better diets and medical developments that the age of people does steadily creep upward. I realize that is a long way from hundreds of years old, but then again, sin has had thousands of years to shorten men's lives. To believe such things may be a matter of faith for you; it is for me.
It says in the forth chapter that starting with Enos people started to call upon the name of the Lord. For years and what must have been many of Adam and Eve's offspring, there was continued sin. Now, with this line of people, they decide to serve the Lord. This is not different than any other time in the bible or any other time in human history, it is the minority that serve God.
Enoch does something that only one other person in the bible does, and that is walk with God in such a way as to have God take him. We find out more about Enoch in the new testament, that he was faithful and a preacher. Then his son Methuselah is the longest living soul on earth. Methuselah wasn't taken by God, but he lived a long life that must have been a blessing for his service to the Lord.
After just a generation, we come to Noah and his sons. Notice also that is doesn't take long for the years a man lives to shorten quickly, and after Noah it becomes quicker still. Noah has a special name, evidently his father new that something had to change and he prophesied of some to come by naming his child Noah.
Just as thousands of years ago, it is also the same today that God blesses and smiles upon those that serve and love him. This will never change.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Genesis 4
Genesis chapter 4
It doesn't take long for sin to get out of control. Unless someone actively seeks God, they will drift further away from his mercy and protection. Sin was now in the world and it was going to get worse, as is often the case with sin. Pride and ego seemed to be present with the first sin, and now jealousy and greed are going to place a part in this next sin. The bible does not say if this was actually the second sin, so we can only speculate. No doubt this was the first murder, and to make matters worse it was between brothers.
Cain and Abel both took offerings to the Lord. It appears as if Abel took the best (first fruits) and Cain just took what was available. God is is jealous God and wants the best we have to offer him at all times. God wants the best we can offer because he deserves the best we have to offer. Today we live in a world with the plan of Salvation and that was the best heaven had to offer us, so we in turn need to offer our best.
Cain gets jealous of Abel and finally kills him after an argument. I'm sure Cain did not set out to kill Abel, but as sin so often does, it takes you further away from God than you intended. When God comes asking after Abel, Cain sarcastically says that he's not his brothers keeper. Oh, we are indeed our brothers' keeper and we should forever look after our loved ones and fellow saints. We are to lean on one another and there has to be a certain familiarity for that to take place.
Cain doesn't despair for his brother but laments for his own lot in life. Cain had selfishness down pat and he was going to continue on this path. People sometimes ask, in a 'gotcha' kind of way, where did the people come from Cain married and lived with. Obviously they were his own flesh and blood. We don't know how much time passed between the exit from the garden, Cain and Abel's birth, to the murder of Abel. Since God doesn't mention creating other people, we are left with only one conclusion. This is not mysterious or a case of the bible come up short. Evidently the author assumed we were smart enough to figure this part out. So God puts a curse on anyone who touches Cain (again, no need for a vow or curse if he is only one of three people on the planet) that they will see greater judgment then Cain did.
We have the generations of Cain as the chapter ends. We end up with hints of good people and hints of more sin. With the birth of Seth and his son Enos, the bible says that 'then men began to call upon the name of the Lord'. As always, God's mercy shows through to man and his condition.
It doesn't take long for sin to get out of control. Unless someone actively seeks God, they will drift further away from his mercy and protection. Sin was now in the world and it was going to get worse, as is often the case with sin. Pride and ego seemed to be present with the first sin, and now jealousy and greed are going to place a part in this next sin. The bible does not say if this was actually the second sin, so we can only speculate. No doubt this was the first murder, and to make matters worse it was between brothers.
Cain and Abel both took offerings to the Lord. It appears as if Abel took the best (first fruits) and Cain just took what was available. God is is jealous God and wants the best we have to offer him at all times. God wants the best we can offer because he deserves the best we have to offer. Today we live in a world with the plan of Salvation and that was the best heaven had to offer us, so we in turn need to offer our best.
Cain gets jealous of Abel and finally kills him after an argument. I'm sure Cain did not set out to kill Abel, but as sin so often does, it takes you further away from God than you intended. When God comes asking after Abel, Cain sarcastically says that he's not his brothers keeper. Oh, we are indeed our brothers' keeper and we should forever look after our loved ones and fellow saints. We are to lean on one another and there has to be a certain familiarity for that to take place.
Cain doesn't despair for his brother but laments for his own lot in life. Cain had selfishness down pat and he was going to continue on this path. People sometimes ask, in a 'gotcha' kind of way, where did the people come from Cain married and lived with. Obviously they were his own flesh and blood. We don't know how much time passed between the exit from the garden, Cain and Abel's birth, to the murder of Abel. Since God doesn't mention creating other people, we are left with only one conclusion. This is not mysterious or a case of the bible come up short. Evidently the author assumed we were smart enough to figure this part out. So God puts a curse on anyone who touches Cain (again, no need for a vow or curse if he is only one of three people on the planet) that they will see greater judgment then Cain did.
We have the generations of Cain as the chapter ends. We end up with hints of good people and hints of more sin. With the birth of Seth and his son Enos, the bible says that 'then men began to call upon the name of the Lord'. As always, God's mercy shows through to man and his condition.
Genesis 3
Genesis chapter 3
As we start out in the third chapter there seems to be something amiss from the beginning. Why is Eve or anyone for that matter having a conversation with an animal. Why is Eve talking with an animal much less debating one? The world must have been an interesting place before sin entered into it. No doubt many things were different before sin. To answer this strange situation, what else was Satan going to appear as? If we appeared as anything else other than what Adam and Eve were familiar with, no doubt they would have been afraid, or at the very least knew not to trust him. That also goes to the point that Adam and Eve probably had nothing to fear ever. So appearing as an animal and talking probably was the best way to entice Adam and Eve.
Some points we can take from this are obvious. Do not talk to mysterious strangers, do not argue with strangers, and do not debate Satan, ever! Our strength lies in our Lord and Savior, not our lousy debating skills. Debating or arguing with Satan will just lead us to lose every time. I'm also not saying I've ever spoken directly with Satan, but we all have those moments when we're trying to justify something deep down we know we should just give the benefit of the doubt to Jesus. Those are the moments I'm referring too.
Satan mixes in a bit of truth when he temps Eve. He says you won't 'surely' die? As soon as she ate of that fruit death was on its way, but she would not actually choke on it and die that instant. That is the way of our sins as well. When we first sin we are just planting the seed, the real fruit comes out later. Satan also tempted her since of pride. He told her she would know the difference between good and evil. Now that we have hindsight to help us with a conclusion, was Adam and Eve better off with that knowledge? Just some politicians will go on about the poor and injustice of American society, but will themselves will never mention that the 'poor' in this country are far richer than most of the population of this planet. It doesn't help their argument so they leave it out. Satan tempted Eve with true but useless information. What she gave up was far worse than what she gained. Just as people are better off trying to improve themselves then listen to the one-sided truth of a politician with selfish ulterior motives. (As a side note, I did not start out to compare some politicians to Satan, it just turned out that way).
Notice the big fight that Adam puts up when he is tempted? Notice how the verse makes it sound like he was there the whole time and didn't say a word? Adam didn't put up a fight whatsoever, he willingly and unflinchingly went along with the sin. Some sin will stop in its tracks if you just don't give in to it. Gossip is one of those cases where you are in control to stop with you.Oh, but Adam just goes on to blame it on Eve, not even taking responsibility for his own actions.
With their new found wisdom they realize they are naked. Again, I do not see how this makes them better off, because they are not better off. Satan gives us compelling ideas and desires for things we don't need in the first place; he is the consummate sales person. They cover themselves up and God comes looking for them. Here is an illustration that only the Saviors blood can hide our naked sin. God also has to make them clothes because the clothes they made are insufficient. This also is a precursor to show us we cannot earn our way to Heaven.
Make no mistake that God knew where they were and that they were not hiding from anyone. God knows our sins and he even knows before we commit them. As punishment Adam and Eve are kicked out of the Garden and hard work and travail in birth are also punishments. God lets them know that he still loves them and that there will one day be redemption for their sin. God always has mercy while we live.
As we start out in the third chapter there seems to be something amiss from the beginning. Why is Eve or anyone for that matter having a conversation with an animal. Why is Eve talking with an animal much less debating one? The world must have been an interesting place before sin entered into it. No doubt many things were different before sin. To answer this strange situation, what else was Satan going to appear as? If we appeared as anything else other than what Adam and Eve were familiar with, no doubt they would have been afraid, or at the very least knew not to trust him. That also goes to the point that Adam and Eve probably had nothing to fear ever. So appearing as an animal and talking probably was the best way to entice Adam and Eve.
Some points we can take from this are obvious. Do not talk to mysterious strangers, do not argue with strangers, and do not debate Satan, ever! Our strength lies in our Lord and Savior, not our lousy debating skills. Debating or arguing with Satan will just lead us to lose every time. I'm also not saying I've ever spoken directly with Satan, but we all have those moments when we're trying to justify something deep down we know we should just give the benefit of the doubt to Jesus. Those are the moments I'm referring too.
Satan mixes in a bit of truth when he temps Eve. He says you won't 'surely' die? As soon as she ate of that fruit death was on its way, but she would not actually choke on it and die that instant. That is the way of our sins as well. When we first sin we are just planting the seed, the real fruit comes out later. Satan also tempted her since of pride. He told her she would know the difference between good and evil. Now that we have hindsight to help us with a conclusion, was Adam and Eve better off with that knowledge? Just some politicians will go on about the poor and injustice of American society, but will themselves will never mention that the 'poor' in this country are far richer than most of the population of this planet. It doesn't help their argument so they leave it out. Satan tempted Eve with true but useless information. What she gave up was far worse than what she gained. Just as people are better off trying to improve themselves then listen to the one-sided truth of a politician with selfish ulterior motives. (As a side note, I did not start out to compare some politicians to Satan, it just turned out that way).
Notice the big fight that Adam puts up when he is tempted? Notice how the verse makes it sound like he was there the whole time and didn't say a word? Adam didn't put up a fight whatsoever, he willingly and unflinchingly went along with the sin. Some sin will stop in its tracks if you just don't give in to it. Gossip is one of those cases where you are in control to stop with you.Oh, but Adam just goes on to blame it on Eve, not even taking responsibility for his own actions.
With their new found wisdom they realize they are naked. Again, I do not see how this makes them better off, because they are not better off. Satan gives us compelling ideas and desires for things we don't need in the first place; he is the consummate sales person. They cover themselves up and God comes looking for them. Here is an illustration that only the Saviors blood can hide our naked sin. God also has to make them clothes because the clothes they made are insufficient. This also is a precursor to show us we cannot earn our way to Heaven.
Make no mistake that God knew where they were and that they were not hiding from anyone. God knows our sins and he even knows before we commit them. As punishment Adam and Eve are kicked out of the Garden and hard work and travail in birth are also punishments. God lets them know that he still loves them and that there will one day be redemption for their sin. God always has mercy while we live.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Genesis 2
Genesis Chapter 2
On the seventh day God rested from all of his labors. Genesis says that he sanctified the day and made it something special. It was a foreshadowing of the rest to come in Heaven for those that are 'sanctified' by his Son. In Exodus the twentieth chapter and the eighth through the eleventh verses we have the commandment for seventh day, the day of rest. If we go even further though, into the second chapter of Mark we find that the Sabbath was made for man, and not the man for Sabbath. We find that God it good, gracious and merciful to his creation from the beginning.
In the following verses we find that God made the earth and everything in it for man and woman and their use. He made the plants, animals, rivers, lakes, all of it for the use of man. I'm sure God did not intend for man to abuse the earth or the animals and vegetation in it, but I don't believe God intended for man to sin either. I believe God knew man would sin, but I believe it was his love that gave man the choice to serve him or not.
God also not only made the earth for man, but made a specific place for him to rest and enjoy himself. He made a place for man to dwell with his wife. We notice that there is some labor for man in the 15th verse. God wanted Adam to 'dress' the garden. Man was not made to be idle, and idleness does not bring happiness. We will never know how the human body was before sin, but I don't think it was meant to be idle, stagnant and immobile even before the fall of man. Relaxing from work only feels good after you have actually worked, otherwise what are you relaxing from?
The second chapter goes into some detail about where and what exactly is found in Eden. Surely God left no detail out when preparing this place for man. It had rivers, plenty of food, and even precious stones and gold. Here though, we come to the test of man and his character? Who is God to test man and want to see his obedience? He is God, and he is man's creator; who is man to question God's ways and plans? God put trees bearing fruit in the garden and told them they could enjoy all of them but one. Imagine, you're in paradise and your livelihood, happiness and ultimately your life depends on staying away from one thing. It's not hard, until man starts to put himself before God.
So God sees this great thing he has created, and looks over it all, but feels that man needs company. God was ever looking to help his creation along and give him everything he needed. God is good. He causes Adam to sleep and he creates Eve from the ribs of Adam. It seems like a decent price to pay for companionship until you think of the price Christ paid for our redemption.
On the seventh day God rested from all of his labors. Genesis says that he sanctified the day and made it something special. It was a foreshadowing of the rest to come in Heaven for those that are 'sanctified' by his Son. In Exodus the twentieth chapter and the eighth through the eleventh verses we have the commandment for seventh day, the day of rest. If we go even further though, into the second chapter of Mark we find that the Sabbath was made for man, and not the man for Sabbath. We find that God it good, gracious and merciful to his creation from the beginning.
In the following verses we find that God made the earth and everything in it for man and woman and their use. He made the plants, animals, rivers, lakes, all of it for the use of man. I'm sure God did not intend for man to abuse the earth or the animals and vegetation in it, but I don't believe God intended for man to sin either. I believe God knew man would sin, but I believe it was his love that gave man the choice to serve him or not.
God also not only made the earth for man, but made a specific place for him to rest and enjoy himself. He made a place for man to dwell with his wife. We notice that there is some labor for man in the 15th verse. God wanted Adam to 'dress' the garden. Man was not made to be idle, and idleness does not bring happiness. We will never know how the human body was before sin, but I don't think it was meant to be idle, stagnant and immobile even before the fall of man. Relaxing from work only feels good after you have actually worked, otherwise what are you relaxing from?
The second chapter goes into some detail about where and what exactly is found in Eden. Surely God left no detail out when preparing this place for man. It had rivers, plenty of food, and even precious stones and gold. Here though, we come to the test of man and his character? Who is God to test man and want to see his obedience? He is God, and he is man's creator; who is man to question God's ways and plans? God put trees bearing fruit in the garden and told them they could enjoy all of them but one. Imagine, you're in paradise and your livelihood, happiness and ultimately your life depends on staying away from one thing. It's not hard, until man starts to put himself before God.
So God sees this great thing he has created, and looks over it all, but feels that man needs company. God was ever looking to help his creation along and give him everything he needed. God is good. He causes Adam to sleep and he creates Eve from the ribs of Adam. It seems like a decent price to pay for companionship until you think of the price Christ paid for our redemption.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Genesis 1 Continued
Genesis chapter 1
After God created the lights in Heaven (notice he created light before the sun and moon), he turns his attention the the creatures above, on and in the earth. He creates these animals then commands them to multiple. How the world must have been different before sin.
When we get to the sixth day we get to the part where he is going to put man in a prepared place. Notice that man wasn't created first. God thought of everything, he created the earth, prepared it for of living things, then put man in it. God created things in the right order for man to enjoy the earth and worship God.
Also notice that God said let 'us' make man. Here is the entire trinity; God who commands, his Word the savior and the Spirit that moved on the face of the deep; it is all here. Also notice that man is not something that evolved by happenstance. God purposely created man, and purposely and intently made man in God's image. We also notice here at the close of the first chapter that God gave the earth and it's fruit for man to use.
After God created the lights in Heaven (notice he created light before the sun and moon), he turns his attention the the creatures above, on and in the earth. He creates these animals then commands them to multiple. How the world must have been different before sin.
When we get to the sixth day we get to the part where he is going to put man in a prepared place. Notice that man wasn't created first. God thought of everything, he created the earth, prepared it for of living things, then put man in it. God created things in the right order for man to enjoy the earth and worship God.
Also notice that God said let 'us' make man. Here is the entire trinity; God who commands, his Word the savior and the Spirit that moved on the face of the deep; it is all here. Also notice that man is not something that evolved by happenstance. God purposely created man, and purposely and intently made man in God's image. We also notice here at the close of the first chapter that God gave the earth and it's fruit for man to use.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Genesis 1
Genesis chapter 1
Genesis is a large book with so much to offer. It is the Bible's account to how all we know came to being. To take away from it, or to call it fables is to take away the very foundation of our faith in Jesus Christ. In Psalm 11:3 it says 'If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?'. I have found in my own personal experience, that when I take God's Word on faith, he gives me everything I need to believe and see the wisdom in his word. To trust in faith in God is not a blind faith. God will grant you every comfort and reconcile your doubts.
As we begin in the first chapter, you cannot help but think of the words also in John the first chapter. God and his word always existed and absence of his word means to not exist. I've taken some of my thoughts from Spurgeon's Devotional Bible (ISBN 0-8010-8043-6) published by Baker Books.
Starting at the beginning God creates our universe. Our planet and galaxy did just happen by accident or in some big explosion. It was created, crafted rather, by God's omnipotent hand. When he created it, there was nothing of distinction and it was dark. The same as our hearts before God knocks and we except the Savior's salvation. Here in the second verse we have the second part of the trinity as the 'Spirit' moves on the waters.
God said let there be light, and THEN there was light. He created the Sun, the stars and the reflecting moon. It didn't exist until God spoke it. Thus in speaking, and then in the creation from those words we have all three parts of the trinity. The Father, the Word (Son see John 1:1), and the Spirit.
Then notice from the very beginning of what we call time, God made a separation of light and darkness; Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness. but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of Light. God made the separation and then gave them names and then was the end of the first day. Looking at John 1:3 we find, All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
I will post more later.
Genesis is a large book with so much to offer. It is the Bible's account to how all we know came to being. To take away from it, or to call it fables is to take away the very foundation of our faith in Jesus Christ. In Psalm 11:3 it says 'If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?'. I have found in my own personal experience, that when I take God's Word on faith, he gives me everything I need to believe and see the wisdom in his word. To trust in faith in God is not a blind faith. God will grant you every comfort and reconcile your doubts.
As we begin in the first chapter, you cannot help but think of the words also in John the first chapter. God and his word always existed and absence of his word means to not exist. I've taken some of my thoughts from Spurgeon's Devotional Bible (ISBN 0-8010-8043-6) published by Baker Books.
Starting at the beginning God creates our universe. Our planet and galaxy did just happen by accident or in some big explosion. It was created, crafted rather, by God's omnipotent hand. When he created it, there was nothing of distinction and it was dark. The same as our hearts before God knocks and we except the Savior's salvation. Here in the second verse we have the second part of the trinity as the 'Spirit' moves on the waters.
God said let there be light, and THEN there was light. He created the Sun, the stars and the reflecting moon. It didn't exist until God spoke it. Thus in speaking, and then in the creation from those words we have all three parts of the trinity. The Father, the Word (Son see John 1:1), and the Spirit.
Then notice from the very beginning of what we call time, God made a separation of light and darkness; Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness. but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of Light. God made the separation and then gave them names and then was the end of the first day. Looking at John 1:3 we find, All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
I will post more later.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Ruth - 4th Chapter
Ruth chapter 4
When we left off from the third chapter last week, Naomi told Ruth that Boaz wouldn't rest until he had done all he was required, and all he could to make Ruth his rightful wife. We see as the forth chapter starts Naomi was right and Boaz follows the law and asks for the matter to be settled at the gate with elders. The same goes for what Christ did for us. He followed the law, then fulfilled it, that he might be the blameless sacrifice we needed for eternal life with him. There are no shortcuts to doing what is right, but if you get to work immediately, we'll find the time passes quickly.
Boaz stops the near kinsman (notice we never see his name, he is left off from history because he didn't want to take part) and asks him if to take his rightful inheritance. The man is all for taking the land, but he balks when he finds out that there is a woman involved where he will have to raise a child in another man's name. We can have eternal life, but it will cost us the world; we will have to live in Jesus's name and purpose and not our own.
Boaz purchases all that was Elimelech's and his family.Christ purchased all our sin debt and left nothing undone. Boaz declares to all what he has done and what his intentions are. We will have to declare with our mouth what Jesus has done in our hearts and lives. Boaz marries Ruth and Ruth conceives a son. This son would be the grandfather of king David. This gentile is brought into the fold and family of Christ just as we all are if we accept him.
The women of the city say something very profound to Naomi. They tell her that Ruth, this stranger from Moab is more of a blessing to her than seven sons. In that day and age, that is a staggering statement. Male children were everything to a woman. This goes to show, that no matter what the world may say, no matter what the world holds in regard, God lifts those up that seek his face regardless of their current state on this earth. Ruth is yet another story about the wonder of God's love for mankind.
When we left off from the third chapter last week, Naomi told Ruth that Boaz wouldn't rest until he had done all he was required, and all he could to make Ruth his rightful wife. We see as the forth chapter starts Naomi was right and Boaz follows the law and asks for the matter to be settled at the gate with elders. The same goes for what Christ did for us. He followed the law, then fulfilled it, that he might be the blameless sacrifice we needed for eternal life with him. There are no shortcuts to doing what is right, but if you get to work immediately, we'll find the time passes quickly.
Boaz stops the near kinsman (notice we never see his name, he is left off from history because he didn't want to take part) and asks him if to take his rightful inheritance. The man is all for taking the land, but he balks when he finds out that there is a woman involved where he will have to raise a child in another man's name. We can have eternal life, but it will cost us the world; we will have to live in Jesus's name and purpose and not our own.
Boaz purchases all that was Elimelech's and his family.Christ purchased all our sin debt and left nothing undone. Boaz declares to all what he has done and what his intentions are. We will have to declare with our mouth what Jesus has done in our hearts and lives. Boaz marries Ruth and Ruth conceives a son. This son would be the grandfather of king David. This gentile is brought into the fold and family of Christ just as we all are if we accept him.
The women of the city say something very profound to Naomi. They tell her that Ruth, this stranger from Moab is more of a blessing to her than seven sons. In that day and age, that is a staggering statement. Male children were everything to a woman. This goes to show, that no matter what the world may say, no matter what the world holds in regard, God lifts those up that seek his face regardless of their current state on this earth. Ruth is yet another story about the wonder of God's love for mankind.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Ruth - 3rd Chapter
Ruth chapter 3
When we last caught up with Ruth, she found favor in the eyes of Boaz. He wanted to make sure that she was treated well and got an extra part in the harvest. God treats us the same way. He offered his only Son, not some angel. He gave us his real Word and Holy Ghost that we might have a clear path and comfort. God made sure we have handfuls of purpose if we accept it.
Naomi wants what is best for Ruth and gives her the advice she feels is best. She wants Ruth to present herself in the best way possible, if not a little bold. It is easy to question the method that Naomi wants Ruth to use, but we see that because of Ruth's clean heart and Boaz's righteous demeanor, it turned out the way the Lord would have it. Before we think that she is too forward, there are two things on her side. One, she is not doing this secretly. She is in a place of harvest that has many people in it. Also, Jewish law had provisions for widowers so that the next of kin would marry the widower if possible.
The Lord will no doubt take us as we are and save us from sin and hell, but notice that Ruth washes and dresses up before she goes down to see Boaz. I think at the very least, we ought to wear something nice and clean when we present ourselves to the house of God. We would make sure we were dressed up if we were going out to a nice place to eat, or if we were going to a wedding. How much more important is the house of worship than a 'night out'? If God has blessed you with dress attire, where else should you wear it?
After Boaz was asleep Ruth laid at his feet. It frightened him awake and she told him who it was. She was straight forward telling him that she wanted him to take her for a wife according to the law. He wisely was worried about giving off the wrong impression, and he also knew of another kinsman that was closer to Elimelech by law than he was. He did appreciate that this young, hard working woman wanted Boaz and not someone else.
He tells her to leave so that people might not talk and speak more about the meeting than actually happened. He doesn't let her leave empty handed though, as he gives her another portion of the harvest. Jesus does not let us walk away from prayer if we stay long enough for his encouragement. Jesus will give us a worthy portion if we seek him long enough.
As Ruth returns to Naomi, Naomi is elated to hear about all that has happened. She encourages Ruth that Boaz will not rest until the matter is resolved with the nearest kinsman. When fellow saints come to us with a story, let us always try and be encouraging toward them if at all possible.
When we last caught up with Ruth, she found favor in the eyes of Boaz. He wanted to make sure that she was treated well and got an extra part in the harvest. God treats us the same way. He offered his only Son, not some angel. He gave us his real Word and Holy Ghost that we might have a clear path and comfort. God made sure we have handfuls of purpose if we accept it.
Naomi wants what is best for Ruth and gives her the advice she feels is best. She wants Ruth to present herself in the best way possible, if not a little bold. It is easy to question the method that Naomi wants Ruth to use, but we see that because of Ruth's clean heart and Boaz's righteous demeanor, it turned out the way the Lord would have it. Before we think that she is too forward, there are two things on her side. One, she is not doing this secretly. She is in a place of harvest that has many people in it. Also, Jewish law had provisions for widowers so that the next of kin would marry the widower if possible.
The Lord will no doubt take us as we are and save us from sin and hell, but notice that Ruth washes and dresses up before she goes down to see Boaz. I think at the very least, we ought to wear something nice and clean when we present ourselves to the house of God. We would make sure we were dressed up if we were going out to a nice place to eat, or if we were going to a wedding. How much more important is the house of worship than a 'night out'? If God has blessed you with dress attire, where else should you wear it?
After Boaz was asleep Ruth laid at his feet. It frightened him awake and she told him who it was. She was straight forward telling him that she wanted him to take her for a wife according to the law. He wisely was worried about giving off the wrong impression, and he also knew of another kinsman that was closer to Elimelech by law than he was. He did appreciate that this young, hard working woman wanted Boaz and not someone else.
He tells her to leave so that people might not talk and speak more about the meeting than actually happened. He doesn't let her leave empty handed though, as he gives her another portion of the harvest. Jesus does not let us walk away from prayer if we stay long enough for his encouragement. Jesus will give us a worthy portion if we seek him long enough.
As Ruth returns to Naomi, Naomi is elated to hear about all that has happened. She encourages Ruth that Boaz will not rest until the matter is resolved with the nearest kinsman. When fellow saints come to us with a story, let us always try and be encouraging toward them if at all possible.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
2nd Week of October Ruth Chapter 2
Ruth chapter 2
The first verse tells us that Naomi's husband had some rich people in it, and one of those was Boaz. Ruth tells Naomi that she is going to glean in the fields of other people and it says not by design but by happenstance she ended up gleaning in the field of Boaz. Now we know that God does not, nor ever dealt in luck, and this was guided by the very hand of God. If Ruth never would have made the effort though, there wouldn't have been a blessing.
Boaz comes in from Bethlehem and asks his reapers how the it goes with their work. A good and faithful servant of God is always looking out to see if any of God's people, or some lost soul needs help. Boaz is curious of the woman he sees gleaning and they servants tell him it is the Moabitess woman the daughter-in-law to Naomi.Ruth keeps her humbleness (as we all should) and does her part. Boaz seeing her eagerness to work and her contrite spirit tells her to go to no other field to glean. He then tells his servants to drop some handfuls of purpose that Ruth may pick them up. How often does God drop handfuls of blessings and purpose our way that we might enjoy them?
Ruth had a good report and it spoke to Boaz in volumes. He knew her heart not only by her actions, but also by the report of her. As Christians we should all have a good report. After Ruth comes home with such a great haul in her harvest Naomi is curious as to who's field she got such gain. Ruth tells that it is from Boaz's field and Naomi is over joyed at the working and care of God's great hand.
Notice as the chapter ends that Ruth is not immediately saved from her poor state. She works through not only the barley harvest but the wheat harvest as well. We ought to remember that the Gospel Way is long and has many hard days in it, but in the end, God's blessings far outweigh any price we might pay in his service.
The first verse tells us that Naomi's husband had some rich people in it, and one of those was Boaz. Ruth tells Naomi that she is going to glean in the fields of other people and it says not by design but by happenstance she ended up gleaning in the field of Boaz. Now we know that God does not, nor ever dealt in luck, and this was guided by the very hand of God. If Ruth never would have made the effort though, there wouldn't have been a blessing.
Boaz comes in from Bethlehem and asks his reapers how the it goes with their work. A good and faithful servant of God is always looking out to see if any of God's people, or some lost soul needs help. Boaz is curious of the woman he sees gleaning and they servants tell him it is the Moabitess woman the daughter-in-law to Naomi.Ruth keeps her humbleness (as we all should) and does her part. Boaz seeing her eagerness to work and her contrite spirit tells her to go to no other field to glean. He then tells his servants to drop some handfuls of purpose that Ruth may pick them up. How often does God drop handfuls of blessings and purpose our way that we might enjoy them?
Ruth had a good report and it spoke to Boaz in volumes. He knew her heart not only by her actions, but also by the report of her. As Christians we should all have a good report. After Ruth comes home with such a great haul in her harvest Naomi is curious as to who's field she got such gain. Ruth tells that it is from Boaz's field and Naomi is over joyed at the working and care of God's great hand.
Notice as the chapter ends that Ruth is not immediately saved from her poor state. She works through not only the barley harvest but the wheat harvest as well. We ought to remember that the Gospel Way is long and has many hard days in it, but in the end, God's blessings far outweigh any price we might pay in his service.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
1st Week of October Ruth Chapter 1
Ruth chapter 1
As we move from Judges to Ruth, the time frame is still the same. This all happens in the time of the judges in Israel. Within Ruth there are several promises about the coming king; not only David, but Jesus as well. Added to this, we have the hope of the Gentiles in these stories as well, because Boaz is the descendant of Rahab, and Ruth is a great-great grand mother to David. How gracious God is to include the gentiles into his grace plan.
We start off with a famine in Bethlehem-Judah. We don't know if the famine is in all of Israel, but it is where Elimelech lives. Elimelech takes his wife Naomi and his two sons Malhon and Chilion with him into Moab. Now that God has given his people a promised land, I doubt Elimelech is doing this with the blessings of the most high. If he is, why wouldn't God approve of all his people leaving and going to another land. This is not like Abraham and Issac who were only temporarily in the promised land.
Down to Moab they go, and their young sons take wives of the daughters of Moab which is definitely against their law. When you are around people for long enough, you start to become like those people, and that is exactly what happened here. Either by God's judgment or to show his great hand, Elimelech and not long after Elimelech's sons die. Now Naomi is left in a strange land with no means to support herself and two daughter-in-laws with mouths to feed. Knowing that she has a long hard road in front of her, and an uncertain future, she tries to discourage her daughters from going with her back to Bethlehem. Both the daughters out of fresh feelings and love say they want to continue with her. Naomi wants to make sure that they mean what they say. This is exactly how God may treat us in our lives. We may say that we want to serve him, and want what is best from him in our lives, but when pushed, sometimes we falter. To commit not only to Salvation, but to a life for Christ is not the easiest of roads. It is a road full of joy and fulfilled promises, but it is not always an easy road.
After further prodding, we discover that Orpah is more inclined to go back to her own people. Ruth though, in the 16th verse, says what every Christian should say in their hearts and openly. That they will serve God and follow his path no matter what may come. Ruth saw a glimpse of something in her mother-in-laws religion, and was not going to give it up for nothing.
Matthew Henry says something about this occasion that I really like. "It is an evidence of a discontented, distrustful unstable spirit, to be weary of the place in which God hath set us, and to be for leaving it immediately whenever we meet with any uneasiness or inconvenience in it. It is folly to think of escaping that cross which, being laid in our way, we ought to take it up. It is our wisdom to make the best of that which is, for it is seldom that changing our place is mending it."
When Naomi comes to Bethlehem, she is recognized immediately. She now wants to be known for sorrow and not pleasantness. Her life is now a shame to her, and she no longer lives in her former families' glory. Oh, but we find out what is to come to her and Ruth. God has riches untold for those that wait on him.
As we move from Judges to Ruth, the time frame is still the same. This all happens in the time of the judges in Israel. Within Ruth there are several promises about the coming king; not only David, but Jesus as well. Added to this, we have the hope of the Gentiles in these stories as well, because Boaz is the descendant of Rahab, and Ruth is a great-great grand mother to David. How gracious God is to include the gentiles into his grace plan.
We start off with a famine in Bethlehem-Judah. We don't know if the famine is in all of Israel, but it is where Elimelech lives. Elimelech takes his wife Naomi and his two sons Malhon and Chilion with him into Moab. Now that God has given his people a promised land, I doubt Elimelech is doing this with the blessings of the most high. If he is, why wouldn't God approve of all his people leaving and going to another land. This is not like Abraham and Issac who were only temporarily in the promised land.
Down to Moab they go, and their young sons take wives of the daughters of Moab which is definitely against their law. When you are around people for long enough, you start to become like those people, and that is exactly what happened here. Either by God's judgment or to show his great hand, Elimelech and not long after Elimelech's sons die. Now Naomi is left in a strange land with no means to support herself and two daughter-in-laws with mouths to feed. Knowing that she has a long hard road in front of her, and an uncertain future, she tries to discourage her daughters from going with her back to Bethlehem. Both the daughters out of fresh feelings and love say they want to continue with her. Naomi wants to make sure that they mean what they say. This is exactly how God may treat us in our lives. We may say that we want to serve him, and want what is best from him in our lives, but when pushed, sometimes we falter. To commit not only to Salvation, but to a life for Christ is not the easiest of roads. It is a road full of joy and fulfilled promises, but it is not always an easy road.
After further prodding, we discover that Orpah is more inclined to go back to her own people. Ruth though, in the 16th verse, says what every Christian should say in their hearts and openly. That they will serve God and follow his path no matter what may come. Ruth saw a glimpse of something in her mother-in-laws religion, and was not going to give it up for nothing.
Matthew Henry says something about this occasion that I really like. "It is an evidence of a discontented, distrustful unstable spirit, to be weary of the place in which God hath set us, and to be for leaving it immediately whenever we meet with any uneasiness or inconvenience in it. It is folly to think of escaping that cross which, being laid in our way, we ought to take it up. It is our wisdom to make the best of that which is, for it is seldom that changing our place is mending it."
When Naomi comes to Bethlehem, she is recognized immediately. She now wants to be known for sorrow and not pleasantness. Her life is now a shame to her, and she no longer lives in her former families' glory. Oh, but we find out what is to come to her and Ruth. God has riches untold for those that wait on him.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Final Week of September Judges 21
Judges chapter 21
I want to make it clear that I have enjoyed going through the book of Judges. Within this book lies many of my favorite histories between Gideon and Sampson. I believe all of God's word is good for edification and encouragement. The final chapters though are somber and disheartening. I am aware there are still lessons to be learned and to hold these stories in remembrance may very well keep us from serious trouble.
Given these facts, this final chapter doesn't appear to offer much consolation in the choices made by the Israelites. All the tribes swear that they will not allow their daughters to marry into what is left of the tribe of Benjamin. I don't see anywhere that they were commanded by God to do this. If you notice, they swear among themselves, then go to God for advice. That was the wrong order back then, and that is the wrong order to seek God now. Go to God in prayer before you make your decisions, not the other way around. Then, when they see that the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead didn't come out to fight with them, they decide to go kill off the men of that city so that those woman can be wives to Benjamin. It also does not say that this was God's plan, it is just what they decided to do. God spoke to them when they went to battle against Benjamin, but he's not talking to them now, and I'm not so sure they would be listening.
So after this spectacular plan to kill off the males and married woman of Jabesh-gilead there is not enough 'virgins' for the remaining men of Benjamin. Make sure that if you make plans and leave God out of it, whatever is accomplished in the end, won't be enough to satisfy the need. Only God fulfills peoples lives and purposes for their lives. The tribes decide then that they will take the virgins that come out to dance at Shiloh at the time of one of the Holy days. Notice, that these people whom are going to be 'robbed' of their daughters are part of Israel so you would think that this breaks their vow. Well, in Numbers the 30th chapter are the commandments about vows. This doesn't indeed brake the letter of those commandments except that the Israelites who will have their daughters taken obviously won't know about this vow. It is more or less a sham, but they get to keep letter of the law so they think it is fine.
You can clearly see by all of this why God sent his son to die for our sins and make it a matter of faith and not works. You can always play tricks and find ways around laws, but you can not find a way around the feeling of the heart. God knows our very thoughts.
I want to make it clear that I have enjoyed going through the book of Judges. Within this book lies many of my favorite histories between Gideon and Sampson. I believe all of God's word is good for edification and encouragement. The final chapters though are somber and disheartening. I am aware there are still lessons to be learned and to hold these stories in remembrance may very well keep us from serious trouble.
Given these facts, this final chapter doesn't appear to offer much consolation in the choices made by the Israelites. All the tribes swear that they will not allow their daughters to marry into what is left of the tribe of Benjamin. I don't see anywhere that they were commanded by God to do this. If you notice, they swear among themselves, then go to God for advice. That was the wrong order back then, and that is the wrong order to seek God now. Go to God in prayer before you make your decisions, not the other way around. Then, when they see that the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead didn't come out to fight with them, they decide to go kill off the men of that city so that those woman can be wives to Benjamin. It also does not say that this was God's plan, it is just what they decided to do. God spoke to them when they went to battle against Benjamin, but he's not talking to them now, and I'm not so sure they would be listening.
So after this spectacular plan to kill off the males and married woman of Jabesh-gilead there is not enough 'virgins' for the remaining men of Benjamin. Make sure that if you make plans and leave God out of it, whatever is accomplished in the end, won't be enough to satisfy the need. Only God fulfills peoples lives and purposes for their lives. The tribes decide then that they will take the virgins that come out to dance at Shiloh at the time of one of the Holy days. Notice, that these people whom are going to be 'robbed' of their daughters are part of Israel so you would think that this breaks their vow. Well, in Numbers the 30th chapter are the commandments about vows. This doesn't indeed brake the letter of those commandments except that the Israelites who will have their daughters taken obviously won't know about this vow. It is more or less a sham, but they get to keep letter of the law so they think it is fine.
You can clearly see by all of this why God sent his son to die for our sins and make it a matter of faith and not works. You can always play tricks and find ways around laws, but you can not find a way around the feeling of the heart. God knows our very thoughts.
Friday, September 21, 2012
4th Week of September - Judges 20
Judges chapter 20
Once again we see a gathering of Israelites to war in Mizpah. No doubt this area was not only at hand for the battle ahead of them, but a good gathering point for armies. We hear of this place when Gideon is about to go to war. You wouldn't have a war that wasn't near the parties involved, but here must have been advantageous if not convenient. All the tribes except for Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead are coming to war.
The Levite from the previous chapter repeats his story and the Israelites decide what they are going to do. They ask for the men who committed this crime, but the inhabitants of Gibeah and the Benjamites as a whole reject the matter. I would only assume they do this out of pride and not out of defense or deference to the heinous crimes that were committed. I hope they denied turning over the men because they felt they were not going to be bullied. I suppose the reasoning doesn't matter in the end, because Israel is going to have civil war over the matter and thousands upon thousand are going to die.
When the two armies are arrayed, there turns out to be only roughly twenty seven thousand men in total for Benjamin compared to four hundred thousand that were united with the other tribes of Israel. I am not sure what the relevance is in the end, but we are told that the men fighting on both sides were great men of war. These were not just unskilled farm hands brought out of the fields and given a spear and told to fight. These are experienced, conditioned fighting men. To me this just makes the story all the more tragic that God's people are using their best warriors to fight each other instead of cleaning up their borders and territories. This would be a far better use of God's chosen people.
The Israelites seek God's council to fight. Notice that God does not tell them that they will win the battle, he just commands, or gives them permission to go. Remember, that these men that started this whole affair are evil, but the remaining dwellers in the land of Canaan are not without guilt or blame. Israel is doing what is 'right in their own eyes'. None of this was God's will for his people. God doesn't want mankind to war against itself, but he will deliver one or the other. God sent his son not to condemn the world, but to save it.
The Benjamites give the rest of Israel a bitter defeat. Considering the the numbers it is hard to imagine, but Israel didn't send their entire force at first. Israel asks council of God again, and they get the same answer, and the same result on the battlefield. No doubt this is discouraging to the tribes, but God has his plans. They go to inquire again, and this time the Lord not only tells them to go, but says that he will deliver the Benjamites into their hand.
This time, they use their defeats as a ploy to get the defenders of Gibeah to run out after them and then after feinting defeat, they turn to fight their foes. More men come from lying in wait and even more men come from hiding to burn the city and totally put the Benjamites to ruin. All are killed of the Benjamites but a remnant.
These last chapters of Judges are not always pleasant to read, but I believe there are lessons in them for God's people. I like how Israel used their defeats to setup a plan to overcome their enemy. We would do well to learn from our mistakes, defeats, and chastening of our Lord to make ourselves better Christians.
Once again we see a gathering of Israelites to war in Mizpah. No doubt this area was not only at hand for the battle ahead of them, but a good gathering point for armies. We hear of this place when Gideon is about to go to war. You wouldn't have a war that wasn't near the parties involved, but here must have been advantageous if not convenient. All the tribes except for Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead are coming to war.
The Levite from the previous chapter repeats his story and the Israelites decide what they are going to do. They ask for the men who committed this crime, but the inhabitants of Gibeah and the Benjamites as a whole reject the matter. I would only assume they do this out of pride and not out of defense or deference to the heinous crimes that were committed. I hope they denied turning over the men because they felt they were not going to be bullied. I suppose the reasoning doesn't matter in the end, because Israel is going to have civil war over the matter and thousands upon thousand are going to die.
When the two armies are arrayed, there turns out to be only roughly twenty seven thousand men in total for Benjamin compared to four hundred thousand that were united with the other tribes of Israel. I am not sure what the relevance is in the end, but we are told that the men fighting on both sides were great men of war. These were not just unskilled farm hands brought out of the fields and given a spear and told to fight. These are experienced, conditioned fighting men. To me this just makes the story all the more tragic that God's people are using their best warriors to fight each other instead of cleaning up their borders and territories. This would be a far better use of God's chosen people.
The Israelites seek God's council to fight. Notice that God does not tell them that they will win the battle, he just commands, or gives them permission to go. Remember, that these men that started this whole affair are evil, but the remaining dwellers in the land of Canaan are not without guilt or blame. Israel is doing what is 'right in their own eyes'. None of this was God's will for his people. God doesn't want mankind to war against itself, but he will deliver one or the other. God sent his son not to condemn the world, but to save it.
The Benjamites give the rest of Israel a bitter defeat. Considering the the numbers it is hard to imagine, but Israel didn't send their entire force at first. Israel asks council of God again, and they get the same answer, and the same result on the battlefield. No doubt this is discouraging to the tribes, but God has his plans. They go to inquire again, and this time the Lord not only tells them to go, but says that he will deliver the Benjamites into their hand.
This time, they use their defeats as a ploy to get the defenders of Gibeah to run out after them and then after feinting defeat, they turn to fight their foes. More men come from lying in wait and even more men come from hiding to burn the city and totally put the Benjamites to ruin. All are killed of the Benjamites but a remnant.
These last chapters of Judges are not always pleasant to read, but I believe there are lessons in them for God's people. I like how Israel used their defeats to setup a plan to overcome their enemy. We would do well to learn from our mistakes, defeats, and chastening of our Lord to make ourselves better Christians.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
3rd Week of September Judges 19 Adult Sunday School Class
Judges chapter 19
We find out in the 28th verse of the 20th chapter that the events in the next three chapters take place not long after Joshua dies. Phinehas, Joshua's grandson is ruler over Israel at this time. This is not a shining moment for Israel, and the story here is one so horrible that you don't hear of stories much worse even in our wicked day. In my understanding of the story there are really no blameless people here. Every corner of the tale has some moral lapse that should be apparent. I'm not saying we're any better in our time, but in much of the history in the Bible, there is usually someone who is at least on God's side. Here it seems that everyone is out for themselves.
A man known only as a Levite from Ephraim takes a concubine against God's purpose for man and wife. This concubine then decides to sleep around on her 'mate', and leave and go live with her father. Out of shame or stubbornness we don't know. After four months of her absence the Levite goes after her. Where she is, and where the Levite's home was, wasn't all that close. He may have had many emotions while she was gone, but finally a cooler forgiving mind prevails and he journeys to go get her at his father-in-law's house.
His father-in-law seems genuinely happy to see him and they have a three day party. As the Levite thinks it is time to leave, he gets up to go and the concubine's father stops him and insists on him staying longer with more wine and food. After the fifth day, the Levite goes, even though it is too late to travel. Isn't this how we are sometimes? We procrastinate and fiddle until it is too late before we finally decide to do the task that must be done! Obeying human nature sometimes has a heavy price as we are about to find out.
The Levite is travelling with a servant, his concubine, and two donkeys with plenty of food for their journey. His servant says they should stay in Jebus because it is so late, but he says no, we'll have none of that, we'll stay with our own people further up the road. One can't help but wonder if the story would be any different if they had lodged in Jebus. The Benjamites had a city called Gibeah and the Levite wants to lodge there. The only problem is when they get to Gibeah, no one will receive them, which happens to be against Jewish law not to receive a traveler. Finally a man coming from the field after work sees them, has compassion and finds out they are kindred people from the same part of the country. Things are looking up or so it seems. They make merry and eat and drink into the night.
Here the story goes south quickly. Unbeknownst to the Levite and his gracious host, there were some evil men watching for something evil to do. They picked this new stranger as there target for entertainment, and they didn't have anything good in mind. After trying to force themselves into the situation, the host decides to give out the concubine instead of his new friend to the evil men. They then have their way with her all night and let her go crawling back home when they are through with her in the morning.
This is a bad situation that seems to me to get worse by the moment. Instead of the Levite having compassion on the woman that sacrificed herself so that he might not be violated, he tells her to get up so they can be on their way. I understand that he would want to leave before things got worse, but I don't care what time in civilization this is, you couldn't help but have some compassion for this women in her state. I'm sure she was bruised and bloody, along with what psychological wounds she might have. Her injuries were bad enough that she died from them, so I would assume injuries were apparent on her body.
He finds out she will never go with him again, because she is dead. So now this heartless sinful man decides to carve up her body and send it to all the tribes in Israel to get justice. This is a story that makes the case that if two wrongs don't make a right, lets try three, four, five or more wrongs to see if that will make the situation improve. Of course, more sin doesn't make us any holier to God. Only Christ and his righteousness through the cross does away with sin.
The men from Gibeah were evil and should be punished. The Levite was wrong for taking a concubine, wrong for waiting too late to travel, wrong for having no compassion on this woman, and sinned again by what he did to her corpse. Israel truly was doing what was right in their own eyes.
We find out in the 28th verse of the 20th chapter that the events in the next three chapters take place not long after Joshua dies. Phinehas, Joshua's grandson is ruler over Israel at this time. This is not a shining moment for Israel, and the story here is one so horrible that you don't hear of stories much worse even in our wicked day. In my understanding of the story there are really no blameless people here. Every corner of the tale has some moral lapse that should be apparent. I'm not saying we're any better in our time, but in much of the history in the Bible, there is usually someone who is at least on God's side. Here it seems that everyone is out for themselves.
A man known only as a Levite from Ephraim takes a concubine against God's purpose for man and wife. This concubine then decides to sleep around on her 'mate', and leave and go live with her father. Out of shame or stubbornness we don't know. After four months of her absence the Levite goes after her. Where she is, and where the Levite's home was, wasn't all that close. He may have had many emotions while she was gone, but finally a cooler forgiving mind prevails and he journeys to go get her at his father-in-law's house.
His father-in-law seems genuinely happy to see him and they have a three day party. As the Levite thinks it is time to leave, he gets up to go and the concubine's father stops him and insists on him staying longer with more wine and food. After the fifth day, the Levite goes, even though it is too late to travel. Isn't this how we are sometimes? We procrastinate and fiddle until it is too late before we finally decide to do the task that must be done! Obeying human nature sometimes has a heavy price as we are about to find out.
The Levite is travelling with a servant, his concubine, and two donkeys with plenty of food for their journey. His servant says they should stay in Jebus because it is so late, but he says no, we'll have none of that, we'll stay with our own people further up the road. One can't help but wonder if the story would be any different if they had lodged in Jebus. The Benjamites had a city called Gibeah and the Levite wants to lodge there. The only problem is when they get to Gibeah, no one will receive them, which happens to be against Jewish law not to receive a traveler. Finally a man coming from the field after work sees them, has compassion and finds out they are kindred people from the same part of the country. Things are looking up or so it seems. They make merry and eat and drink into the night.
Here the story goes south quickly. Unbeknownst to the Levite and his gracious host, there were some evil men watching for something evil to do. They picked this new stranger as there target for entertainment, and they didn't have anything good in mind. After trying to force themselves into the situation, the host decides to give out the concubine instead of his new friend to the evil men. They then have their way with her all night and let her go crawling back home when they are through with her in the morning.
This is a bad situation that seems to me to get worse by the moment. Instead of the Levite having compassion on the woman that sacrificed herself so that he might not be violated, he tells her to get up so they can be on their way. I understand that he would want to leave before things got worse, but I don't care what time in civilization this is, you couldn't help but have some compassion for this women in her state. I'm sure she was bruised and bloody, along with what psychological wounds she might have. Her injuries were bad enough that she died from them, so I would assume injuries were apparent on her body.
He finds out she will never go with him again, because she is dead. So now this heartless sinful man decides to carve up her body and send it to all the tribes in Israel to get justice. This is a story that makes the case that if two wrongs don't make a right, lets try three, four, five or more wrongs to see if that will make the situation improve. Of course, more sin doesn't make us any holier to God. Only Christ and his righteousness through the cross does away with sin.
The men from Gibeah were evil and should be punished. The Levite was wrong for taking a concubine, wrong for waiting too late to travel, wrong for having no compassion on this woman, and sinned again by what he did to her corpse. Israel truly was doing what was right in their own eyes.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
1st Week of September Adult Sunday School Class Judges 18
Judges chapter 18
We have at the start of this chapter the tribe of Dan going out to seek and find an inheritance. While on their journey to spy out a new land they come across the Levite who is the priest to Micah. The reading of the chapter makes you believe that they know him and recognize his voice. So as the Levite explains to the choicest of the tribe of Dan how he came to be there and what his job is. So the men of Dan ask if their mission will be prosperous. They want this Levite, who is not a priest in the manner the law provides, to ask God whether they will succeed in their mission. We have to remember that this is a time in Israel when everyone did right in their own eyes. Micah's priest tells them they will do well and they depart.
When the spies go out and see a good piece of land occupied by the seemingly careless Zidonians, they know they have an opportunity to claim their own land. They give this good report back to the elders in Eshtaol and Zorah. The elders of Dan decide to get six hundred men together to go down and take the land form the Zidonians.
Along the way back to take their inheritance, they pass by Micah's home in Ephraim. They meet the priest and tell him that they would be happy if he would be their priest over their company, and oh by the way, wouldn't that be a greater honor than being priest for just one man? He takes them up on their offer, so this priest not only disregards God's laws as priest but also has a vanity problem. He has agreed to be the priest of Micah for an agreed payment and now leaves him without a second thought.
Of course none of this sits well with Micah and he chases down the army of the Danites to see why they have done such a things as this. The Danites don't like Micah's tone, regardless of his justification, and tell him more or less to watch his mouth around them. Micah new he was not strong enough to take his priest and idols back by force and he wisely went home.
The soldiers from Dan go down to Laish and lay waste to the inhabitants of the city. These particular Zidonians were separated from the rest of their people who lived further away. The city was conquered and the name changed to Dan in honor of their father. After they settle into the land they make the golden images part of their worship for years if not centuries. It is interesting that the Zidonians were defeated in large part because they were so far away from the rest of their own people. Now, the tribe of Dan suffers in their relationship to God because they are separated by distance from the customs and laws of their own people.
We have at the start of this chapter the tribe of Dan going out to seek and find an inheritance. While on their journey to spy out a new land they come across the Levite who is the priest to Micah. The reading of the chapter makes you believe that they know him and recognize his voice. So as the Levite explains to the choicest of the tribe of Dan how he came to be there and what his job is. So the men of Dan ask if their mission will be prosperous. They want this Levite, who is not a priest in the manner the law provides, to ask God whether they will succeed in their mission. We have to remember that this is a time in Israel when everyone did right in their own eyes. Micah's priest tells them they will do well and they depart.
When the spies go out and see a good piece of land occupied by the seemingly careless Zidonians, they know they have an opportunity to claim their own land. They give this good report back to the elders in Eshtaol and Zorah. The elders of Dan decide to get six hundred men together to go down and take the land form the Zidonians.
Along the way back to take their inheritance, they pass by Micah's home in Ephraim. They meet the priest and tell him that they would be happy if he would be their priest over their company, and oh by the way, wouldn't that be a greater honor than being priest for just one man? He takes them up on their offer, so this priest not only disregards God's laws as priest but also has a vanity problem. He has agreed to be the priest of Micah for an agreed payment and now leaves him without a second thought.
Of course none of this sits well with Micah and he chases down the army of the Danites to see why they have done such a things as this. The Danites don't like Micah's tone, regardless of his justification, and tell him more or less to watch his mouth around them. Micah new he was not strong enough to take his priest and idols back by force and he wisely went home.
The soldiers from Dan go down to Laish and lay waste to the inhabitants of the city. These particular Zidonians were separated from the rest of their people who lived further away. The city was conquered and the name changed to Dan in honor of their father. After they settle into the land they make the golden images part of their worship for years if not centuries. It is interesting that the Zidonians were defeated in large part because they were so far away from the rest of their own people. Now, the tribe of Dan suffers in their relationship to God because they are separated by distance from the customs and laws of their own people.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
4th Week of August Adult Sunday School Class Judges 17
Judges chapter 17
I want to put a some things out there about this chapter. First, the Danites are still looking for their portion of land in Canaan. Given that, this part of Judges is not in chronological order, and these events happened earlier in the history of the Jews before the events of the last chapter about Samson. I believe that all scripture is for our Godly education and use. These particular chapters feel out of place with the previous stories in Judges about judges who rose up to be a good or false leader. I think these chapters are important and have a purpose, but the type of story that is told differs enough that it is a noticeable departure from the rest of Judges.
Reading these next chapters, it is a story of what not to do when serving God or trying to follow his commandments. I don't know how you feel reading the final chapters of Judges, but I keep thinking 'that's not right', and 'that's not wise', and 'isn't that exactly what God said not to do'? I can sit here these hundreds and thousands of years later and cast judgment with the hindsight of the Holy Scriptures. Before I get too high on my wobbly horse, I'll remind myself that it is easy to fall into these traps and I'm guilty of some of them no doubt. How many times in my life have I held up a hobby, task, job, or even another person ahead of my relationship with Christ Jesus. No, I've never bowed down before a graven image, but I've spent countless hours in front of the TV or on the Internet doing literally nothing, when I could have given God just a portion of that time and been better for it. I've spent time in recreation and play when there are far more serious matters to pray about. Should we spend every spare moment in prayer and communication with our Lord through his word? When someone actually goes that far to neglect their more worldly endeavors and forgets to bath and other mundane matters, I'll be the first one to warn them they've gone too far. I've never had to warn anyone that they are spending too much time in prayer, and I don't think I'll ever have to do that either. Rehab clinics aren't full of people who devote too much time to God, not that I'm aware of.
Back to this chapter in Judges, we meet a young man named Micah. Micah steals a bunch of money from his mother and she rightly is upset. She doesn't know it is her son, but after seeing his mother upset, his conscience causes him to reveal the matter to her. Instead of being enraged with her son, she is just happy to have the money back. His mother then vows to take the money and have a graven image made in honor of her son. If this all sounds bad, it is because it is bad. This story has wrong written all over it. This is in clear violation of God's laws and commandments to his people. In the third verse they are talking about breaking the first two of God's commandments, and by the fifth verse they are breaking them.Then after all of this, he takes one of his own son's and makes him a priest, which just in case you're wondering, is another violation of God's laws.
The sixth verse explains some of what is going on here. Everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes. People were their own God's, judges, leaders, and spiritual men. They didn't want or seek help from God's laws, but wallowed in their own sin. Now here comes a Levite wondering about. The only thing right with this part of the story is that the Levites were supposed to be priest by God's law. That's it, after that, nothing else is right about the story. Micah asks the Levite to stay for a small offering and salary. This Levite was so happy for something, that he doesn't seek any other higher calling or purpose of God. Be careful that you are satisfied with doing just so much for the Lord when you know you are capable of doing so much greater for him.The story ends with Micah just giddy with himself that he has done this thing and then just can't wait for how the Lord is going to bless him. We need to seek God in prayer to make sure that the path we are on is one given and chosen by him.
I want to put a some things out there about this chapter. First, the Danites are still looking for their portion of land in Canaan. Given that, this part of Judges is not in chronological order, and these events happened earlier in the history of the Jews before the events of the last chapter about Samson. I believe that all scripture is for our Godly education and use. These particular chapters feel out of place with the previous stories in Judges about judges who rose up to be a good or false leader. I think these chapters are important and have a purpose, but the type of story that is told differs enough that it is a noticeable departure from the rest of Judges.
Reading these next chapters, it is a story of what not to do when serving God or trying to follow his commandments. I don't know how you feel reading the final chapters of Judges, but I keep thinking 'that's not right', and 'that's not wise', and 'isn't that exactly what God said not to do'? I can sit here these hundreds and thousands of years later and cast judgment with the hindsight of the Holy Scriptures. Before I get too high on my wobbly horse, I'll remind myself that it is easy to fall into these traps and I'm guilty of some of them no doubt. How many times in my life have I held up a hobby, task, job, or even another person ahead of my relationship with Christ Jesus. No, I've never bowed down before a graven image, but I've spent countless hours in front of the TV or on the Internet doing literally nothing, when I could have given God just a portion of that time and been better for it. I've spent time in recreation and play when there are far more serious matters to pray about. Should we spend every spare moment in prayer and communication with our Lord through his word? When someone actually goes that far to neglect their more worldly endeavors and forgets to bath and other mundane matters, I'll be the first one to warn them they've gone too far. I've never had to warn anyone that they are spending too much time in prayer, and I don't think I'll ever have to do that either. Rehab clinics aren't full of people who devote too much time to God, not that I'm aware of.
Back to this chapter in Judges, we meet a young man named Micah. Micah steals a bunch of money from his mother and she rightly is upset. She doesn't know it is her son, but after seeing his mother upset, his conscience causes him to reveal the matter to her. Instead of being enraged with her son, she is just happy to have the money back. His mother then vows to take the money and have a graven image made in honor of her son. If this all sounds bad, it is because it is bad. This story has wrong written all over it. This is in clear violation of God's laws and commandments to his people. In the third verse they are talking about breaking the first two of God's commandments, and by the fifth verse they are breaking them.Then after all of this, he takes one of his own son's and makes him a priest, which just in case you're wondering, is another violation of God's laws.
The sixth verse explains some of what is going on here. Everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes. People were their own God's, judges, leaders, and spiritual men. They didn't want or seek help from God's laws, but wallowed in their own sin. Now here comes a Levite wondering about. The only thing right with this part of the story is that the Levites were supposed to be priest by God's law. That's it, after that, nothing else is right about the story. Micah asks the Levite to stay for a small offering and salary. This Levite was so happy for something, that he doesn't seek any other higher calling or purpose of God. Be careful that you are satisfied with doing just so much for the Lord when you know you are capable of doing so much greater for him.The story ends with Micah just giddy with himself that he has done this thing and then just can't wait for how the Lord is going to bless him. We need to seek God in prayer to make sure that the path we are on is one given and chosen by him.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
3rd Week of August 2012 Sunday School Brief, Judges Chapter 16
Judges Chapter 16
As I start this new chapter I want to say that the story of Samson is one of my favorite stories in the Bible as I'm sure the story speaks to most people. Samson was a man that was on fire for the Lord and eager to do what he could to take the yoke of the Philistines off God's people. A trait of mine is to want my heroes to be perfect. I like Alexander Hamilton and I read half way through Ron Chernow's book on Hamilton and quit reading when it got to the part about the affair Alexander had. I like my heroes to be as flawless as possible. I know this is silly, and no one is perfect except Christ Jesus.
Now we are at the part of the story where Samson flirts with the devil one too many times. You can see his slip into immorality in the things he says. This part of the story is a warning but by the end of the chapter it is inspiring at the same time. Samson journeys down to Gaza, and we don't know why. We know once he was there, he saw a harlot and decided to go in unto her. He doesn't seem to go just for that reason, but whatever the reason was, he decided to take a sinful opportunity while he was there. The Philistines, who by this time are always looking to get the upper hand on Samson, lie in wait to catch him. Samson awakes, either by distress of his sin, warning of God, or wanting to leave before he is caught by the shame revealed in the sunlight, decides to take the doors off the gate of the city as he leaves. It was a warning to the Philistines that he was onto them and their plans.
Now we see where Samson meets another woman who catches his eye. The bible does not expressly say that she is a prostitute, but we quickly find out that her loyalty can be bought for a price. The Philistines approach her with an offer she can't refuse and she begins to temp Samson into telling her his secret of secrets. Of course at first, Samson loving a game, doesn't give her the answer she seeks. Odd that Samson never thinks to himself that if he does give up the answer, his life is in jeopardy. I refuse to believe he doesn't know about the Philistines plan to take him. He may be blinded by sin and a little by love, but he already went down this road with his espoused bride, and that ended horribly. He keeps playing her game and keeps getting further away from where God wants him. Samson doesn't give up his secret overnight, and we usually don't give up our walk with God overnight. We let it slip away day by day, hour by hour until we turn around one day and we're far, far away from the light of home.
Samson does the unthinkable, he gives away his special place before the Lord. It goes downhill fast after that, the Philistines pluck out his eyes and throw him into prison with hard labor. The Philistines also suffer from short memory disease. They forget what gave Samson his strength (you and I know that his strength is from God and his relationship with God. Put a blind man on a grindstone all day and he has nothing but time to ask for God's forgiveness), and they let his hair grow back.
Some might argue that what Samson does next is suicide; I heartily disagree. Israel was not the country it would later become under David and Solomon, but it was still this loose set of tribes that many considered one people. They were, or the tribes closest to the coast, at war with the Philistines. What happens when Samson cries out to God and asks for one final victory it just that, a victory in a war against a vowed enemy of God's people.
After this great hall comes down and kills most everyone in it, Samson's brothers come down and get his body to bury it with his father and their people. The way this happens leads me to believe that the Israelites had peace from the Philistines at least for a little while, or his family wouldn't be able to retrieve his body. The story of Samson is tragic, but also uplifting. How many of us, if we let our lives drift away from God, would like to have a great victory for Jesus at the end of our lives?
As I start this new chapter I want to say that the story of Samson is one of my favorite stories in the Bible as I'm sure the story speaks to most people. Samson was a man that was on fire for the Lord and eager to do what he could to take the yoke of the Philistines off God's people. A trait of mine is to want my heroes to be perfect. I like Alexander Hamilton and I read half way through Ron Chernow's book on Hamilton and quit reading when it got to the part about the affair Alexander had. I like my heroes to be as flawless as possible. I know this is silly, and no one is perfect except Christ Jesus.
Now we are at the part of the story where Samson flirts with the devil one too many times. You can see his slip into immorality in the things he says. This part of the story is a warning but by the end of the chapter it is inspiring at the same time. Samson journeys down to Gaza, and we don't know why. We know once he was there, he saw a harlot and decided to go in unto her. He doesn't seem to go just for that reason, but whatever the reason was, he decided to take a sinful opportunity while he was there. The Philistines, who by this time are always looking to get the upper hand on Samson, lie in wait to catch him. Samson awakes, either by distress of his sin, warning of God, or wanting to leave before he is caught by the shame revealed in the sunlight, decides to take the doors off the gate of the city as he leaves. It was a warning to the Philistines that he was onto them and their plans.
Now we see where Samson meets another woman who catches his eye. The bible does not expressly say that she is a prostitute, but we quickly find out that her loyalty can be bought for a price. The Philistines approach her with an offer she can't refuse and she begins to temp Samson into telling her his secret of secrets. Of course at first, Samson loving a game, doesn't give her the answer she seeks. Odd that Samson never thinks to himself that if he does give up the answer, his life is in jeopardy. I refuse to believe he doesn't know about the Philistines plan to take him. He may be blinded by sin and a little by love, but he already went down this road with his espoused bride, and that ended horribly. He keeps playing her game and keeps getting further away from where God wants him. Samson doesn't give up his secret overnight, and we usually don't give up our walk with God overnight. We let it slip away day by day, hour by hour until we turn around one day and we're far, far away from the light of home.
Samson does the unthinkable, he gives away his special place before the Lord. It goes downhill fast after that, the Philistines pluck out his eyes and throw him into prison with hard labor. The Philistines also suffer from short memory disease. They forget what gave Samson his strength (you and I know that his strength is from God and his relationship with God. Put a blind man on a grindstone all day and he has nothing but time to ask for God's forgiveness), and they let his hair grow back.
Some might argue that what Samson does next is suicide; I heartily disagree. Israel was not the country it would later become under David and Solomon, but it was still this loose set of tribes that many considered one people. They were, or the tribes closest to the coast, at war with the Philistines. What happens when Samson cries out to God and asks for one final victory it just that, a victory in a war against a vowed enemy of God's people.
After this great hall comes down and kills most everyone in it, Samson's brothers come down and get his body to bury it with his father and their people. The way this happens leads me to believe that the Israelites had peace from the Philistines at least for a little while, or his family wouldn't be able to retrieve his body. The story of Samson is tragic, but also uplifting. How many of us, if we let our lives drift away from God, would like to have a great victory for Jesus at the end of our lives?
Friday, August 10, 2012
2nd Week of August Adult Sunday School Class
Judges chapter 15
Samson after allowing things to cool down decides he will take a calf for a customary offering and take his wife. I don't know about Philistine law but Jewish law about engagements were very close to the actual vow of marriage. Regardless of time passed and things that transpired, Samson expected his wife to be there when he returned. He finds that his wife has been given to another and to make matters worse, the 'other' is his friend.
The father realized that Samson was not the one to cross. The father was probably hoping that Samson wouldn't return, but this didn't turn out this way. In a panic the father offers the brides little sister. So Samson, in his justified indignation, takes to catching foxes, tying a firebrand to their tails and burning many crops of the Philistines.
Not surprisingly the Philistines get upset by Samson's actions and seek to kill him. First they set on his would be father-in-law and burn his house down with his family inside it. After this they seek out revenge against Samson. They find Samson, but he smites them to avenge the murder of his fiance.
All of this catches the attention of the entire Philistine people. They make a camp around the camp of Judah so the Hebrew people will cast Samson out. Even the Israelites seem to be afraid of Samson, so they send three thousand men to bring him back to the Philistines. Samson makes them promise not to harm him and the men of Judah agree.
Samson breaks the ties that bind him as soon as he is put into the midst of the enemy. He wages war against them in what is only a miracle of God. One of my favorite sayings appears again, when the 'Spirit of the Lord' comes on Samson, great things happen. It is no different in our lives and in our church; when the Spirit of the Lord comes on the scene, souls will be saved and lives changed.
Samson, after such a great battle, is thirsty, he cries out to God and God gives him what he needs. God didn't send his son to die for our sins to turn around and not give us what we need to persist in living for him. God is with us before, during and after the battle to refresh us in our time of need.
Samson after allowing things to cool down decides he will take a calf for a customary offering and take his wife. I don't know about Philistine law but Jewish law about engagements were very close to the actual vow of marriage. Regardless of time passed and things that transpired, Samson expected his wife to be there when he returned. He finds that his wife has been given to another and to make matters worse, the 'other' is his friend.
The father realized that Samson was not the one to cross. The father was probably hoping that Samson wouldn't return, but this didn't turn out this way. In a panic the father offers the brides little sister. So Samson, in his justified indignation, takes to catching foxes, tying a firebrand to their tails and burning many crops of the Philistines.
Not surprisingly the Philistines get upset by Samson's actions and seek to kill him. First they set on his would be father-in-law and burn his house down with his family inside it. After this they seek out revenge against Samson. They find Samson, but he smites them to avenge the murder of his fiance.
All of this catches the attention of the entire Philistine people. They make a camp around the camp of Judah so the Hebrew people will cast Samson out. Even the Israelites seem to be afraid of Samson, so they send three thousand men to bring him back to the Philistines. Samson makes them promise not to harm him and the men of Judah agree.
Samson breaks the ties that bind him as soon as he is put into the midst of the enemy. He wages war against them in what is only a miracle of God. One of my favorite sayings appears again, when the 'Spirit of the Lord' comes on Samson, great things happen. It is no different in our lives and in our church; when the Spirit of the Lord comes on the scene, souls will be saved and lives changed.
Samson, after such a great battle, is thirsty, he cries out to God and God gives him what he needs. God didn't send his son to die for our sins to turn around and not give us what we need to persist in living for him. God is with us before, during and after the battle to refresh us in our time of need.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
1st Week of August Adult Sunday School Class
Judges chapter 14
Starting out, we have Samson going to Timnath to take a wife out of the Philistines. This is normally a sign of bad things to come, but this is one of the rare cases where God is going to use the situation to prove a point or to deliver Israel. We know of at least one other case in Hosea where God has someone marry someone else that seems contrary to what God would have his people do. It is something that only Samson is aware of, it is hidden from his parents, his people and definitely the Philistines.
On Samson journey down to the take a wife he performs one of his many miracles of physical strength that he becomes known for; he kills a lion with his bare hands. God has given him this strength and we notice that Samson is good at keeping secrets even from those close to him. He doesn't seem to be a braggart or like to talk. Interesting considering too much talking is something that eventually plays a part in his downfall.
Samson likes his future wife, which will add salt to the wound that the Philistines give him later. He returns to take her for a wife and on the way he returns to his kill and finds the bees have made honey there in the carcass. After he shares the honey with his parents he starts the seven day celebration that is customary in his time. They bring along some 30 'companions' to the celebration, so Samson offers them a riddle. If they solve the riddle he will give them garments, if they do not solve the riddle, they will give him garments.
After some time the guests threaten Samson's future bride and and her father with death unless she gives them the solution for the riddle. She bugs Samson's to no end, (which later is his weakness and downfall) and he relents and gives her the answer. She then takes the answer to the inquirers, but Samson is wise to what has happened. He goes and takes the lives and garments from other Philistines to complete his vow. Notice that it says the 'Spirit of the Lord' came upon him; oh that that would be said about us and our Christian lives.
Starting out, we have Samson going to Timnath to take a wife out of the Philistines. This is normally a sign of bad things to come, but this is one of the rare cases where God is going to use the situation to prove a point or to deliver Israel. We know of at least one other case in Hosea where God has someone marry someone else that seems contrary to what God would have his people do. It is something that only Samson is aware of, it is hidden from his parents, his people and definitely the Philistines.
On Samson journey down to the take a wife he performs one of his many miracles of physical strength that he becomes known for; he kills a lion with his bare hands. God has given him this strength and we notice that Samson is good at keeping secrets even from those close to him. He doesn't seem to be a braggart or like to talk. Interesting considering too much talking is something that eventually plays a part in his downfall.
Samson likes his future wife, which will add salt to the wound that the Philistines give him later. He returns to take her for a wife and on the way he returns to his kill and finds the bees have made honey there in the carcass. After he shares the honey with his parents he starts the seven day celebration that is customary in his time. They bring along some 30 'companions' to the celebration, so Samson offers them a riddle. If they solve the riddle he will give them garments, if they do not solve the riddle, they will give him garments.
After some time the guests threaten Samson's future bride and and her father with death unless she gives them the solution for the riddle. She bugs Samson's to no end, (which later is his weakness and downfall) and he relents and gives her the answer. She then takes the answer to the inquirers, but Samson is wise to what has happened. He goes and takes the lives and garments from other Philistines to complete his vow. Notice that it says the 'Spirit of the Lord' came upon him; oh that that would be said about us and our Christian lives.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
5th Week of July Adult Sunday School Class
Judges chapter 13
Israel, after the many judges named at the end of the twelfth chapter, decided it would go after other gods again. Now it is the Philistines turn to rule over the Hebrew children. You can't help but wonder how disjointed the tribes of Israel are. They fight against one another, and then fight together against a common foe. One tribe will try to throw off their persecutors, then another tribe will not lend a hand until it looks like they are almost delivered. Many authors and scholars will talk about the burden that David and Solomon put on the other tribes in preparing and then building the temple. Many accuse their actions of causing the kingdom to split after Solomon's reign. While there may be some truth to that, it is also true that once the twelve tribes went into the land of Canaan, they were never really united until Saul reigned, and then David and Solomon. How can a people be united when they are serving other gods?
Back to this chapter. Forty years the Israelites are put under the rule of the Philistines. Now these are the people from the West, along the coast. History says they were decedents of what would eventually be the Greek people from Asia Minor. They were a seafaring people and that explains the fish like appearance of their god. God is longsuffering; and he allows us to continue in sin, but God's heart can be changed and he does not like to hear the continual lamentation of his people. God had a plan to deliver Israel, and he has a plan and a Gospel way to deliver us out of the bondage of sin.
We don't learn the name of Samson's mother, but what a God-fearing woman she must have been. It mentions Samson's father name; Manoah; but never mentions her name. The angel appears to her first, and her again the second time. We don't know her name, but we know her character, and that she was in some ways a forerunner of Mary, Jesus' mother. She was barren, like Sarah before her and Hannah after her. Also just like these two women, God had other plans for the patient souls. The angel tells her that she will not only bare a son, but will also bring him up in the vows of Nazarite found in Numbers the sixth chapter. Samson also is a forerunner for another great person, John the Baptist. John wasn't given the full Nazarite vow, at least in name, but there are similarities.
Manoah's wife is excited and tells her husband with enthusiasm what has transpired. What I like about this story is it appears that Manoah trusts his wife whole heartily and takes her for her word. Women were not always given the same respect as men; obvious in this case because we don't have her name; but Manoah trusted his wife. He is also excited because this helps their cause because it was a shame to not have any male heirs to the family. Little did they realize at this point that this bundle of joy would not only be Israel's deliverer, but do it in amazing deeds.
We soon learn of Manoah's character, too. After he gets the news, the first thing he does is pray to God. When something good happens in our lives, going to God in prayer is a fine habit to have. God hears and then answers his prayer. The angel shows up again, but he's not there, and his wife runs to give him the news of their guest. When all parties are finally together, the angel repeats the story to Manoah. Manoah wants to make a sacrifice, which is good, but the angel has to remind him that the sacrifice is for God, and that is who all the glory should go to. The same thing when Manoah asks the angels name, which I myself would have wanted to know, but the angel again deflects and says the glory goes to God. The angel goes up into the offering in dramatic fashion, leaving Manoah and his wife to bow in fear and trembling.
As the chapter ends, we get another glimpse of the wisdom of Manoah's wife. He insists that because they have seen such a great thing that now God will kill them. His wife on the other hand states the many reasons they wouldn't die now. God had made a vow with them, and for them to die now, (I don't blame Manaoh for being frightened, I would be too), would make that vow of none effect. The same goes with our lives as well. Christ made a commitment and sacrifice on the cross for our lives, why would he let us be defeated if we sought him with our whole hearts?
So Samson is born, and one of my favorite passages appears in the Bible, and 'Spirit of the Lord began to move him'. Oh that the Spirit of the Lord would move our lives in God's work.
Israel, after the many judges named at the end of the twelfth chapter, decided it would go after other gods again. Now it is the Philistines turn to rule over the Hebrew children. You can't help but wonder how disjointed the tribes of Israel are. They fight against one another, and then fight together against a common foe. One tribe will try to throw off their persecutors, then another tribe will not lend a hand until it looks like they are almost delivered. Many authors and scholars will talk about the burden that David and Solomon put on the other tribes in preparing and then building the temple. Many accuse their actions of causing the kingdom to split after Solomon's reign. While there may be some truth to that, it is also true that once the twelve tribes went into the land of Canaan, they were never really united until Saul reigned, and then David and Solomon. How can a people be united when they are serving other gods?
Back to this chapter. Forty years the Israelites are put under the rule of the Philistines. Now these are the people from the West, along the coast. History says they were decedents of what would eventually be the Greek people from Asia Minor. They were a seafaring people and that explains the fish like appearance of their god. God is longsuffering; and he allows us to continue in sin, but God's heart can be changed and he does not like to hear the continual lamentation of his people. God had a plan to deliver Israel, and he has a plan and a Gospel way to deliver us out of the bondage of sin.
We don't learn the name of Samson's mother, but what a God-fearing woman she must have been. It mentions Samson's father name; Manoah; but never mentions her name. The angel appears to her first, and her again the second time. We don't know her name, but we know her character, and that she was in some ways a forerunner of Mary, Jesus' mother. She was barren, like Sarah before her and Hannah after her. Also just like these two women, God had other plans for the patient souls. The angel tells her that she will not only bare a son, but will also bring him up in the vows of Nazarite found in Numbers the sixth chapter. Samson also is a forerunner for another great person, John the Baptist. John wasn't given the full Nazarite vow, at least in name, but there are similarities.
Manoah's wife is excited and tells her husband with enthusiasm what has transpired. What I like about this story is it appears that Manoah trusts his wife whole heartily and takes her for her word. Women were not always given the same respect as men; obvious in this case because we don't have her name; but Manoah trusted his wife. He is also excited because this helps their cause because it was a shame to not have any male heirs to the family. Little did they realize at this point that this bundle of joy would not only be Israel's deliverer, but do it in amazing deeds.
We soon learn of Manoah's character, too. After he gets the news, the first thing he does is pray to God. When something good happens in our lives, going to God in prayer is a fine habit to have. God hears and then answers his prayer. The angel shows up again, but he's not there, and his wife runs to give him the news of their guest. When all parties are finally together, the angel repeats the story to Manoah. Manoah wants to make a sacrifice, which is good, but the angel has to remind him that the sacrifice is for God, and that is who all the glory should go to. The same thing when Manoah asks the angels name, which I myself would have wanted to know, but the angel again deflects and says the glory goes to God. The angel goes up into the offering in dramatic fashion, leaving Manoah and his wife to bow in fear and trembling.
As the chapter ends, we get another glimpse of the wisdom of Manoah's wife. He insists that because they have seen such a great thing that now God will kill them. His wife on the other hand states the many reasons they wouldn't die now. God had made a vow with them, and for them to die now, (I don't blame Manaoh for being frightened, I would be too), would make that vow of none effect. The same goes with our lives as well. Christ made a commitment and sacrifice on the cross for our lives, why would he let us be defeated if we sought him with our whole hearts?
So Samson is born, and one of my favorite passages appears in the Bible, and 'Spirit of the Lord began to move him'. Oh that the Spirit of the Lord would move our lives in God's work.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
4th Week of July Adult Sunday School Class Judges
Judges chapter 12
We start out the twelfth chapter with more trouble for Jephthah from the tribe of Ephraim. Notice this is very similar to what happened when Gideon went after the Midianites. Gideon was able to sooth over the tribe of Ephraim with cool words, but that wouldn't happen with Jephthah.
All out war between the two tribes breaks out and Gideon and his men fresh from victory quickly take the upper hand in the fighting.We find out something interesting here about the tribes. They had different accents living in different parts of Canaan. That itself isn't so odd, because we have the same things in our own country here, but the distance between some of these tribes isn't that great. It goes to show that without mass communication and transportation short distances and cause people to vastly different. The Epraimites couldn't pronounce Shibboleth correctly. We have the same thing with Irish not pronouncing their 'th's' in that, third, or things. Irish pronounce those words with a distinct 't' sound.
After Jephthah and the Gileadites take the pass at the river Jordan, they use this pronunciation difference to find out who is trying to pass themselves off as a different people. It is a sad story that the tribes would fight each other, but interesting to see the tactics used against one another. Seems man is never so clever as when he is trying to perform evil on his fellow man.
I think the victories over Ammon and now also Ephraim show that Jephthah was a great general. This shows again that where you come from isn't as important as having God on your side. Jephthah only judged a short six years and after him came Ibzan. After his seven year judgment, there was Elon who judged for 10, and then Abdon for eight years. I think it goes to show that we need to be thankful to God when we have good leaders and examples because you never know who long they will be with you. Sometimes good men and women die too young and you miss their light and example. Cherish up the gifts that God gives you, especially when it is a good leader.
We start out the twelfth chapter with more trouble for Jephthah from the tribe of Ephraim. Notice this is very similar to what happened when Gideon went after the Midianites. Gideon was able to sooth over the tribe of Ephraim with cool words, but that wouldn't happen with Jephthah.
All out war between the two tribes breaks out and Gideon and his men fresh from victory quickly take the upper hand in the fighting.We find out something interesting here about the tribes. They had different accents living in different parts of Canaan. That itself isn't so odd, because we have the same things in our own country here, but the distance between some of these tribes isn't that great. It goes to show that without mass communication and transportation short distances and cause people to vastly different. The Epraimites couldn't pronounce Shibboleth correctly. We have the same thing with Irish not pronouncing their 'th's' in that, third, or things. Irish pronounce those words with a distinct 't' sound.
After Jephthah and the Gileadites take the pass at the river Jordan, they use this pronunciation difference to find out who is trying to pass themselves off as a different people. It is a sad story that the tribes would fight each other, but interesting to see the tactics used against one another. Seems man is never so clever as when he is trying to perform evil on his fellow man.
I think the victories over Ammon and now also Ephraim show that Jephthah was a great general. This shows again that where you come from isn't as important as having God on your side. Jephthah only judged a short six years and after him came Ibzan. After his seven year judgment, there was Elon who judged for 10, and then Abdon for eight years. I think it goes to show that we need to be thankful to God when we have good leaders and examples because you never know who long they will be with you. Sometimes good men and women die too young and you miss their light and example. Cherish up the gifts that God gives you, especially when it is a good leader.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
3rd Week of July Adult Sunday School Lesson - Judges
Judges chapter 11
We left the last chapter of the Judges with the Hebrews looking for someone to deliver them. As we start the new chapter we here about Jephthah the son of Gilead. The bible doesn't hide the fact that Gilead was the son of a prostitute. This was no consolation to his brothers that were 'full blooded', being children of Gilead and his rightful wife. They have no qualm with their father, the originator of this sin, but with Jephthah.
This chapter tells us that Jephthah was a 'mighty man of valor', so it wasn't anything obvious about Jephthah they didn't like except for something that was out of his control. This is an example of how we should look at those that aren't saved. We aren't better than them because we know the Savior personally, we are sanctified by Jesus, not our own works. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 2:23) putting us on equal footing in that sense. If Jesus loved us when we were yet without hope, then we should in kind to be like Christ, love those that don't know him in the free pardon of sin. How else could we show God's love?
Well, personal jealousy and pride causes this tribe of Hebrews to throw Jephthah out of there midst. It shows more about Jephthah's character than their own character that he left and did not fight them. He goes to another part of the land and becomes a leader there. This also goes to show that it is not WHO you are that makes you anything of consequence, it is WHAT you do that makes you who you are. Jephthah was successful even though he was born in a situation many considered shameful, but he was still a mighty man; then he goes off to another land and is still a mighty man. The only birthright that will ever matter in our lives is the birthright given to us by the Lord Jesus' sacrifice on the cross when we except him. Many a child has been a disappointment to there God fearing parents and many children have lived Holy lives despite having poor examples that brought them into this world.
Matthew Poole says that Jephthah made use of these 'vain' people, and not as in the sense of surrounding himself with yes men. He took their egos and used it to get what he wanted. So it appears that Jephthah was doing just fine when the elders of Gilead came to him and asked for help because the Ammonites were coming to war against the Hebrew people. Be careful who you are rude to, you might need their help down the line somewhere. God's golden rule (Matthew 7:12) will keep you having to go grovelling back to someone you said disparaging things to.
Jephthah was a wise man and he wasn't going to end up in the same situation twice, so he made the elders vow that he would rule over them if he delivered them. Notice that Jephthah also understood that if he didn't defeat the people of Ammon, that there was no need for him to ask to be their ruler. The elders agree that he can be ruler over them if he delivers them. Notice that in a time of necessity that Jephthah parentage isn't important after all.
Not wasting any time, Jephthah sends messengers over to the people of Ammon to see what happens to be bothering them so much that they are going to war against Israel. Turns out, the Ammonites think they have been unjustly removed from their land some 300 years ago, and now they want it back because Israel looks weak. Jephthah reminds them that it is their elders' own fault that they disposed of their land. It was God's land to give, and if they wanted it back, maybe they should get the Ammonites god to help them out.
Then we read one of the best sentences repeated in the Bible and that is, 'the Spirit of the Lord came upon.... We know when we read these words that God is going to show himself mightily to everyone involved. Jephthah races to conquer the Ammonites. Curiously, Jephthah makes a vow that he ends up regretting. I can only think of James 5:12 to keep us from the same folly; but above all things, my brethen, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay lest ye fall into condemnation. Jephthah didn't have to vow this vow, and now it looks as if we will lose his daughter because of it.
Victory once again comes to the Hebrew children; delivered by an harlot's son. God is in charge and he will provide a way of escape. Let us try not to pick how and with whom God will deliver. That part is up to him, we just need to be obedient.
We left the last chapter of the Judges with the Hebrews looking for someone to deliver them. As we start the new chapter we here about Jephthah the son of Gilead. The bible doesn't hide the fact that Gilead was the son of a prostitute. This was no consolation to his brothers that were 'full blooded', being children of Gilead and his rightful wife. They have no qualm with their father, the originator of this sin, but with Jephthah.
This chapter tells us that Jephthah was a 'mighty man of valor', so it wasn't anything obvious about Jephthah they didn't like except for something that was out of his control. This is an example of how we should look at those that aren't saved. We aren't better than them because we know the Savior personally, we are sanctified by Jesus, not our own works. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 2:23) putting us on equal footing in that sense. If Jesus loved us when we were yet without hope, then we should in kind to be like Christ, love those that don't know him in the free pardon of sin. How else could we show God's love?
Well, personal jealousy and pride causes this tribe of Hebrews to throw Jephthah out of there midst. It shows more about Jephthah's character than their own character that he left and did not fight them. He goes to another part of the land and becomes a leader there. This also goes to show that it is not WHO you are that makes you anything of consequence, it is WHAT you do that makes you who you are. Jephthah was successful even though he was born in a situation many considered shameful, but he was still a mighty man; then he goes off to another land and is still a mighty man. The only birthright that will ever matter in our lives is the birthright given to us by the Lord Jesus' sacrifice on the cross when we except him. Many a child has been a disappointment to there God fearing parents and many children have lived Holy lives despite having poor examples that brought them into this world.
Matthew Poole says that Jephthah made use of these 'vain' people, and not as in the sense of surrounding himself with yes men. He took their egos and used it to get what he wanted. So it appears that Jephthah was doing just fine when the elders of Gilead came to him and asked for help because the Ammonites were coming to war against the Hebrew people. Be careful who you are rude to, you might need their help down the line somewhere. God's golden rule (Matthew 7:12) will keep you having to go grovelling back to someone you said disparaging things to.
Jephthah was a wise man and he wasn't going to end up in the same situation twice, so he made the elders vow that he would rule over them if he delivered them. Notice that Jephthah also understood that if he didn't defeat the people of Ammon, that there was no need for him to ask to be their ruler. The elders agree that he can be ruler over them if he delivers them. Notice that in a time of necessity that Jephthah parentage isn't important after all.
Not wasting any time, Jephthah sends messengers over to the people of Ammon to see what happens to be bothering them so much that they are going to war against Israel. Turns out, the Ammonites think they have been unjustly removed from their land some 300 years ago, and now they want it back because Israel looks weak. Jephthah reminds them that it is their elders' own fault that they disposed of their land. It was God's land to give, and if they wanted it back, maybe they should get the Ammonites god to help them out.
Then we read one of the best sentences repeated in the Bible and that is, 'the Spirit of the Lord came upon.... We know when we read these words that God is going to show himself mightily to everyone involved. Jephthah races to conquer the Ammonites. Curiously, Jephthah makes a vow that he ends up regretting. I can only think of James 5:12 to keep us from the same folly; but above all things, my brethen, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay lest ye fall into condemnation. Jephthah didn't have to vow this vow, and now it looks as if we will lose his daughter because of it.
Victory once again comes to the Hebrew children; delivered by an harlot's son. God is in charge and he will provide a way of escape. Let us try not to pick how and with whom God will deliver. That part is up to him, we just need to be obedient.
Friday, July 6, 2012
2nd Week of July Adult Sunday School Lesson - Judges
Judges chapter 10
It is not certain but it does appear as if the judgments of Tola for twenty three years and then another twenty two years under Jair, the Israelites served God. After they pass away, it appears as if they find other gods to occupy their time.
These chapters in Judges, and again during the kings period of Israel, show how merciful and patient God is with his people. Lamentations 3:22, 23 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. God did not deal with the Hebrew children according to what they deserved, and he extends the same mercy to us today. He is long suffering and very patient with us.
It appears that Israel didn't just give up on God to serve another god, but worshiped many gods. They seem to take up with the closest god of the nearest people to them, or whatever was popular or convenient. You make some sense out of them choosing a single God, but it was as if they knowingly went after whatever fit their fancy of the day.
There was a price to pay for this, and that was to worship other gods soon meant to be in subjection to the people who's god they worshiped. This is not by accident, and make no mistake that the world knows which god you say your worship, and they also know which god you actually worship. We are not hiding anything from the world and who we put first place in our lives is evident to all.
When the Hebrews finally cry out to God, he reminds them of all he has done for them, and then tells them he will not give his forgiveness. He tells them to get deliverance from the gods they serve day by day. Israel pleads with him and says to do what he will. This is interesting, because we not truly saved and redeemed by Jesus' blood unless we FULLY acknowledge our sin and need for his salvation. Saying your sorry is one thing, but proving it by your actions is another.
Israel finally composes themselves and gather an army to fight enemies of God. What is interesting here though, is they do not yet have a leader. They do not yet have someone who is going to show himself strong in the Lord to lead them to battle. That we will find out more about in the next chapter.
It is not certain but it does appear as if the judgments of Tola for twenty three years and then another twenty two years under Jair, the Israelites served God. After they pass away, it appears as if they find other gods to occupy their time.
These chapters in Judges, and again during the kings period of Israel, show how merciful and patient God is with his people. Lamentations 3:22, 23 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. God did not deal with the Hebrew children according to what they deserved, and he extends the same mercy to us today. He is long suffering and very patient with us.
It appears that Israel didn't just give up on God to serve another god, but worshiped many gods. They seem to take up with the closest god of the nearest people to them, or whatever was popular or convenient. You make some sense out of them choosing a single God, but it was as if they knowingly went after whatever fit their fancy of the day.
There was a price to pay for this, and that was to worship other gods soon meant to be in subjection to the people who's god they worshiped. This is not by accident, and make no mistake that the world knows which god you say your worship, and they also know which god you actually worship. We are not hiding anything from the world and who we put first place in our lives is evident to all.
When the Hebrews finally cry out to God, he reminds them of all he has done for them, and then tells them he will not give his forgiveness. He tells them to get deliverance from the gods they serve day by day. Israel pleads with him and says to do what he will. This is interesting, because we not truly saved and redeemed by Jesus' blood unless we FULLY acknowledge our sin and need for his salvation. Saying your sorry is one thing, but proving it by your actions is another.
Israel finally composes themselves and gather an army to fight enemies of God. What is interesting here though, is they do not yet have a leader. They do not yet have someone who is going to show himself strong in the Lord to lead them to battle. That we will find out more about in the next chapter.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
1st Week of July 2012 Sunday School Lesson - Judges
Judges chapter 9
Gideon decided he wanted a lot of wives. He was not content with that, but had at least one but probably more concubines. Gideon had 70 sons by his wives and another by a concubine named Abimelech. Having an appetite for more than what God intends us to have will never lead to God's purpose. He can still work with us and through us, but we can change the original intent of our lives for him. This is exactly what Gideon did.
We see with the wives and the concubines, Gideon in some ways lived like the king for Israel he said he wouldn't be. He should have taken his own advice, lived simply, and just judged Israel. After Gideon dies, it appears to leave a great vacuum in leadership in Israel. The bible records that they were already following after Baalim again. In this godless vacuum, Abimelech rises up with the support of his direct bloodline through his mother, and attacks and kills all of his half brothers but one. Jotham, the youngest of Gideon's sons, escapes, and prophecies the troubling end to Abimelech's life. Abimelech is not a full blooded son of Gideon, and Jotham makes sure everyone knows it.
Abimelech doesn't have a peaceful reign in Israel for his 3 years of rule. There are those that don't want him to rule and it causes a civil war of sorts with the surrounding cities and villages. They rise up against him, and then he strikes out at them. This goes back and forth for some time until you can almost see, as if you are waiting for the other shoe to drop, the end of Abimelech coming.
After all of this fighting, and during an attack on a raised tower of sorts, a woman drops a great rock on his head. He doesn't want the dishonor of being finished by a woman and asks that one of his men run him through. In the end the people of Shechem and Abimelech got exactly Jotham said would come. God fulfills his word.
Gideon decided he wanted a lot of wives. He was not content with that, but had at least one but probably more concubines. Gideon had 70 sons by his wives and another by a concubine named Abimelech. Having an appetite for more than what God intends us to have will never lead to God's purpose. He can still work with us and through us, but we can change the original intent of our lives for him. This is exactly what Gideon did.
We see with the wives and the concubines, Gideon in some ways lived like the king for Israel he said he wouldn't be. He should have taken his own advice, lived simply, and just judged Israel. After Gideon dies, it appears to leave a great vacuum in leadership in Israel. The bible records that they were already following after Baalim again. In this godless vacuum, Abimelech rises up with the support of his direct bloodline through his mother, and attacks and kills all of his half brothers but one. Jotham, the youngest of Gideon's sons, escapes, and prophecies the troubling end to Abimelech's life. Abimelech is not a full blooded son of Gideon, and Jotham makes sure everyone knows it.
Abimelech doesn't have a peaceful reign in Israel for his 3 years of rule. There are those that don't want him to rule and it causes a civil war of sorts with the surrounding cities and villages. They rise up against him, and then he strikes out at them. This goes back and forth for some time until you can almost see, as if you are waiting for the other shoe to drop, the end of Abimelech coming.
After all of this fighting, and during an attack on a raised tower of sorts, a woman drops a great rock on his head. He doesn't want the dishonor of being finished by a woman and asks that one of his men run him through. In the end the people of Shechem and Abimelech got exactly Jotham said would come. God fulfills his word.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
4th Week of August Adult Sunday School Lesson
Judges Chapter 8
Gideon find himself in a political situation with the descendants of Ephraim. They want to know why there were not in on the original battle hoping to get some of the first fruit of the glory from that fight. Gideon handles the situation well, saying that he only started the battle, but the children of Ephraim have slayed the princes of the enemy and done a far more glorious deed.
Now the tired and thirsty men of Gideon come upon Succoth and ask for refreshments. The people of Succoth probably cannot believe their eyes when they see the small band he has and the comparing them with the things he is insisting. We see here an example for our own lives; in that no matter how great or impossible the promises in God's Word might seem, they are still worth believing in because he will see them through. His ways are not our ways.
Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out.
Be careful which side of the fight you end up on; God's side will triumph in the end. Gideon warns the people of Succoth that he will return. In Penuel he finds the same answer to his requests and he gives the same promise upon his return.
We learn that there has been an awesome and terrible battle. What makes it so profound is the fact that almost all of these people have killed one another. The tenth verse records that there have been over one hundred and twenty thousand men killed in the flight from Gideon. Now Zebah and Zalmunna are taking a short rest with 15 thousand men; when at the same time Gideon comes another way and slays even more men. Upon hearing this Zebah and Zalmunna flee.
Before the night is over, Gideon finds and captures Zebah and Zalmunna, and then returns while it is still dark to Succoth to keep his word and put the city to waste.
Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
He does the same in Penuel, so keeping his word. After this is all over he slays Zebah and Zalmunna, but first he tries to get his young son to do the dead, and he has no part in it. I suppose this was to make their shame even greater. After his son refuses, he does the execution himself.
Here starts a curious thing that this great leader does. Israel asks him to be king and he refuses. He holds to what God wants and wishes, but as a parting shot, he takes all the earrings of enemy and makes an idol. No of us are perfect or without sin, but this seems so out of character for Gideon. We are to always be on guard against the wiles of the devil. Ego and pride can cause us to do things we might not otherwise do if we don't intentionally stay humble and close to God.
Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention:.....
We are given some foreshadowing of some of the things to come. His son from a concubine, Abimelech, will come up again in the next chapter. We also see that as soon as Gideon dies, the Hebrews quickly forget to follow God and follow after Baal.
Gideon find himself in a political situation with the descendants of Ephraim. They want to know why there were not in on the original battle hoping to get some of the first fruit of the glory from that fight. Gideon handles the situation well, saying that he only started the battle, but the children of Ephraim have slayed the princes of the enemy and done a far more glorious deed.
Now the tired and thirsty men of Gideon come upon Succoth and ask for refreshments. The people of Succoth probably cannot believe their eyes when they see the small band he has and the comparing them with the things he is insisting. We see here an example for our own lives; in that no matter how great or impossible the promises in God's Word might seem, they are still worth believing in because he will see them through. His ways are not our ways.
Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out.
Be careful which side of the fight you end up on; God's side will triumph in the end. Gideon warns the people of Succoth that he will return. In Penuel he finds the same answer to his requests and he gives the same promise upon his return.
We learn that there has been an awesome and terrible battle. What makes it so profound is the fact that almost all of these people have killed one another. The tenth verse records that there have been over one hundred and twenty thousand men killed in the flight from Gideon. Now Zebah and Zalmunna are taking a short rest with 15 thousand men; when at the same time Gideon comes another way and slays even more men. Upon hearing this Zebah and Zalmunna flee.
Before the night is over, Gideon finds and captures Zebah and Zalmunna, and then returns while it is still dark to Succoth to keep his word and put the city to waste.
Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
He does the same in Penuel, so keeping his word. After this is all over he slays Zebah and Zalmunna, but first he tries to get his young son to do the dead, and he has no part in it. I suppose this was to make their shame even greater. After his son refuses, he does the execution himself.
Here starts a curious thing that this great leader does. Israel asks him to be king and he refuses. He holds to what God wants and wishes, but as a parting shot, he takes all the earrings of enemy and makes an idol. No of us are perfect or without sin, but this seems so out of character for Gideon. We are to always be on guard against the wiles of the devil. Ego and pride can cause us to do things we might not otherwise do if we don't intentionally stay humble and close to God.
Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention:.....
We are given some foreshadowing of some of the things to come. His son from a concubine, Abimelech, will come up again in the next chapter. We also see that as soon as Gideon dies, the Hebrews quickly forget to follow God and follow after Baal.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
2nd Week of June 2012 Adult Sunday School Lesson
Judges the 7th Chapter
Now that Gideon has his assurance that he is on the right path, he gathers up his men, over 30,000, and prepares for war.God tells Gideon something interesting, that is that he has too many men for the victory. God wants Israel to know that it is God that delivers them and not their own might. So he tells Gideon to ask who doesn't want to fight. Twenty two thousand men leave. A couple of things here; one is you don't want people in battle that don't want to fight, they can cause the battle to turn against you; the second thing is think how demoralizing it would be if you were trusting in numbers and not God when two-thirds of your group walked away. That is something that we would do well to remember, that God can have a greater victory when HE is in charge than when we're relying on numbers.
A pessimistic person would not enjoy what happens next. God informs Gideon that he still has too many men for God to show himself strong. He tells Gideon that he is to only take those that lap water like a dog when they go down to a brook for a drink. I know what I would be thinking, I would be thinking that I hope everyone gets down and drinks water like a dog. The eight chapter tells us that the Midianites had over 120 thousand men, because by the end of the day, that is how many were killed. Gideon and his men probably had some idea of how large the host of Midian and their allies was. If Gideon was looking for everyone to drink like a dog, that is not what he got; instead he got 300 left out of 10 thousand. To be blunt and honest, those circumstances would probably cause me to have a twisting stomach. Gideon though, holds fast and does as God commands, taking with him only the 300.
God gives Gideon instructions though, just in case he has doubts, to go down into the enemy camp and God will let him hear about the mighty victory ahead. Gideon does as God asks and is blessed for it. It seems to me to be the same in our modern Christian lives, if we will just obey God, go that extra step, he'll not only give us victory, but give us a glimpse on how he will perform it. Gideon returns and tell his 300 brave God fearing men how they will have victory. He more or less tells them to do as he does and God will take care of the rest. Oh what God can accomplish with a God fearing leader that puts all his trust in the one that can perform ALL miracles.
Now imagine if you are the enemy, what a surprise it would be if in the middle of the night, in the middle of your camp, 300 men broke pitchers, shining light on everything, and then blowing trumpets. You probably wouldn't believe there were just 300 men, you would probably assume that you are surrounded, infiltrated and about to be consumed. No doubt, the Midian and the Amalekites start attacking each other, and causing more damage by their fleeing, then the 300 could have caused alone. Like a stampede or an out of control mob running for the exits, the chaos causes more harm then the event that prompted the excitement.
Now the tribes of Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh are all joining in for the chase to put to defeat the people who held the Hebrews under their thumb. What a rout it must have been to see and behold as what God ordained comes to pass in a chase leading away from God's people. To show that God gave them total victory and not just half victory, the princes of the enemy's people are beheaded and brought to Gideon. You don't get the heads of the leaders unless it is a total victory.
Next week, the fighting continues, and there is a price to pay for not being on God's side.
Now that Gideon has his assurance that he is on the right path, he gathers up his men, over 30,000, and prepares for war.God tells Gideon something interesting, that is that he has too many men for the victory. God wants Israel to know that it is God that delivers them and not their own might. So he tells Gideon to ask who doesn't want to fight. Twenty two thousand men leave. A couple of things here; one is you don't want people in battle that don't want to fight, they can cause the battle to turn against you; the second thing is think how demoralizing it would be if you were trusting in numbers and not God when two-thirds of your group walked away. That is something that we would do well to remember, that God can have a greater victory when HE is in charge than when we're relying on numbers.
A pessimistic person would not enjoy what happens next. God informs Gideon that he still has too many men for God to show himself strong. He tells Gideon that he is to only take those that lap water like a dog when they go down to a brook for a drink. I know what I would be thinking, I would be thinking that I hope everyone gets down and drinks water like a dog. The eight chapter tells us that the Midianites had over 120 thousand men, because by the end of the day, that is how many were killed. Gideon and his men probably had some idea of how large the host of Midian and their allies was. If Gideon was looking for everyone to drink like a dog, that is not what he got; instead he got 300 left out of 10 thousand. To be blunt and honest, those circumstances would probably cause me to have a twisting stomach. Gideon though, holds fast and does as God commands, taking with him only the 300.
God gives Gideon instructions though, just in case he has doubts, to go down into the enemy camp and God will let him hear about the mighty victory ahead. Gideon does as God asks and is blessed for it. It seems to me to be the same in our modern Christian lives, if we will just obey God, go that extra step, he'll not only give us victory, but give us a glimpse on how he will perform it. Gideon returns and tell his 300 brave God fearing men how they will have victory. He more or less tells them to do as he does and God will take care of the rest. Oh what God can accomplish with a God fearing leader that puts all his trust in the one that can perform ALL miracles.
Now imagine if you are the enemy, what a surprise it would be if in the middle of the night, in the middle of your camp, 300 men broke pitchers, shining light on everything, and then blowing trumpets. You probably wouldn't believe there were just 300 men, you would probably assume that you are surrounded, infiltrated and about to be consumed. No doubt, the Midian and the Amalekites start attacking each other, and causing more damage by their fleeing, then the 300 could have caused alone. Like a stampede or an out of control mob running for the exits, the chaos causes more harm then the event that prompted the excitement.
Now the tribes of Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh are all joining in for the chase to put to defeat the people who held the Hebrews under their thumb. What a rout it must have been to see and behold as what God ordained comes to pass in a chase leading away from God's people. To show that God gave them total victory and not just half victory, the princes of the enemy's people are beheaded and brought to Gideon. You don't get the heads of the leaders unless it is a total victory.
Next week, the fighting continues, and there is a price to pay for not being on God's side.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
1st Week of June 2012 Adult Sunday School Lesson
Judges Chapter 6
At the start of this chapter time has passed and we find Israel again under subjection to yet a different set of people that were not supposed to be in the land of Canaan if they had obeyed God. All of these different nations rose up from time to time to be thorn in there side, to make them subjects to an ungodly king. This time it is the Midians.The Midians drove the Israelites to hide their valuables and in some cases to hide themselves in the mountains and in caves.
The Midianites would wait for the Jews to sow their crops, and then at harvest time they would come and take anything they wanted, and it appears that they wanted and took everything that they possibly could. They didn't come alone either, but when they were left, there was nothing but a desolate country. Not surprisingly this caused the children of Israel to cry out to God for deliverance. Not all of them, as we'll soon learn, but many of them cried unto God for deliverance.
As always, God hears the cries of his people even if they have a broken heart and a contrite spirit that David mentions in Psalm 51. So God sends a prophet to remind them of what he has done for them in the past, reminding them why they are in their present situation, and telling them he will deliver them.
The Lord sends and angel to sit by a tree for Gideon, the son of Joash to find. Gideon was threshing wheat by the wine press to hide it from the Midianites. You notice here that he is a man of action, and he is doing all he can do for his family to survive. Matthew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Before you can lead the whole nation of Israel, you must first be willing to lead what is currently in your life. It doesn't work the other way around.
This angel comes to talk to Gideon, and even calls him good man. Gideon is quick to ask where the God that delivered all Israel in the past is. He wants to know why they are suffering so. Gideon is aware the sins of Israel, but in his heart he has been pleading to God that he would deliver Israel. This is not uncommon to what we see today. You might pray and cry out to God on a regular basis to save lost souls, and to show himself strong in a sinful world. You are more than aware of the sin in this country and others, but you plead that he might show himself to a world that desperately needs him; and so does Gideon.
The angel quickly tells Gideon that he will deliver Israel. Gideon not surprisingly doubts the angel telling the angel that he is the least in his family, and that they are very poor. Gideon is right, he is insufficient for the job at hand, and so are we as Christians if we are not led by God and his Holy Spirit. By the hand of God though, they will have deliverance from the Midianites. Gideon goes to prepare a sacrifice. He get the sense over and over that Gideon is a man of action. He doesn't wait around and think too much on things, but does was the Spirit calls him to do. He makes the sacrifice and in the process realizes that this 'angel' is not an ordinary person.
Now Gideon makes an altar for the Lord and receives the word to tear down his fathers altar to Baal. He gathers 10 servants, and goes down at night to tear the altar that never should have been built, down. When you do something for the Lord, it doesn't take long for people to notice, especially when it gets on their territory and convicts their heart. The people, Hebrew people, decide they are going to find out who did this and take care of the problem. They go and find Joash and ask him to hand over his son. Here we find that blood is thicker than water from a false god. Joash says let Baal avenge himself and that he will not give up Gideon. Odd that the altar is called Joash's, and he seems fit to worship it, but knows deep inside that the God of Heaven is the only true God and Baal wouldn't be able to even revenge himself. Why did he have it in the first place? The same question can be asked about the gods in our lives; those masters that we put in front of our service to Jesus Christ.
Here come the Midianites one more time with their allies to lay waste to the land of Israel. Gideon takes his appointment seriously and blows a trumpet and gathers the as many Hebrew Children as he can. Gideon wants reassurance of what God has told him, and here we have the cloth and the dew. God gave Gideon what he asked both times, two nights in a row. With this final assurance, Gideon sets out. If you're not sure about something in our life, pray to God till you are satisfied with the answer, don't go blindly into this world thinking it will all work out in the end. God will give us direction in our lives, and show us if we are on the right path.
At the start of this chapter time has passed and we find Israel again under subjection to yet a different set of people that were not supposed to be in the land of Canaan if they had obeyed God. All of these different nations rose up from time to time to be thorn in there side, to make them subjects to an ungodly king. This time it is the Midians.The Midians drove the Israelites to hide their valuables and in some cases to hide themselves in the mountains and in caves.
The Midianites would wait for the Jews to sow their crops, and then at harvest time they would come and take anything they wanted, and it appears that they wanted and took everything that they possibly could. They didn't come alone either, but when they were left, there was nothing but a desolate country. Not surprisingly this caused the children of Israel to cry out to God for deliverance. Not all of them, as we'll soon learn, but many of them cried unto God for deliverance.
As always, God hears the cries of his people even if they have a broken heart and a contrite spirit that David mentions in Psalm 51. So God sends a prophet to remind them of what he has done for them in the past, reminding them why they are in their present situation, and telling them he will deliver them.
The Lord sends and angel to sit by a tree for Gideon, the son of Joash to find. Gideon was threshing wheat by the wine press to hide it from the Midianites. You notice here that he is a man of action, and he is doing all he can do for his family to survive. Matthew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Before you can lead the whole nation of Israel, you must first be willing to lead what is currently in your life. It doesn't work the other way around.
This angel comes to talk to Gideon, and even calls him good man. Gideon is quick to ask where the God that delivered all Israel in the past is. He wants to know why they are suffering so. Gideon is aware the sins of Israel, but in his heart he has been pleading to God that he would deliver Israel. This is not uncommon to what we see today. You might pray and cry out to God on a regular basis to save lost souls, and to show himself strong in a sinful world. You are more than aware of the sin in this country and others, but you plead that he might show himself to a world that desperately needs him; and so does Gideon.
The angel quickly tells Gideon that he will deliver Israel. Gideon not surprisingly doubts the angel telling the angel that he is the least in his family, and that they are very poor. Gideon is right, he is insufficient for the job at hand, and so are we as Christians if we are not led by God and his Holy Spirit. By the hand of God though, they will have deliverance from the Midianites. Gideon goes to prepare a sacrifice. He get the sense over and over that Gideon is a man of action. He doesn't wait around and think too much on things, but does was the Spirit calls him to do. He makes the sacrifice and in the process realizes that this 'angel' is not an ordinary person.
Now Gideon makes an altar for the Lord and receives the word to tear down his fathers altar to Baal. He gathers 10 servants, and goes down at night to tear the altar that never should have been built, down. When you do something for the Lord, it doesn't take long for people to notice, especially when it gets on their territory and convicts their heart. The people, Hebrew people, decide they are going to find out who did this and take care of the problem. They go and find Joash and ask him to hand over his son. Here we find that blood is thicker than water from a false god. Joash says let Baal avenge himself and that he will not give up Gideon. Odd that the altar is called Joash's, and he seems fit to worship it, but knows deep inside that the God of Heaven is the only true God and Baal wouldn't be able to even revenge himself. Why did he have it in the first place? The same question can be asked about the gods in our lives; those masters that we put in front of our service to Jesus Christ.
Here come the Midianites one more time with their allies to lay waste to the land of Israel. Gideon takes his appointment seriously and blows a trumpet and gathers the as many Hebrew Children as he can. Gideon wants reassurance of what God has told him, and here we have the cloth and the dew. God gave Gideon what he asked both times, two nights in a row. With this final assurance, Gideon sets out. If you're not sure about something in our life, pray to God till you are satisfied with the answer, don't go blindly into this world thinking it will all work out in the end. God will give us direction in our lives, and show us if we are on the right path.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
4th Week of May 2012 Adult Sunday School Lesson
Judges 5th Chapter
This whole chapter is a song or psalm dedicated to Jael. It says in the first verse that it is sung by Deborah and Barak. Deborah prophesied that a woman would get the praise for this victory because of the lack of faith on Barak's part.
When Deborah starts the song, she not only sings about the current victory, but of past victories, that some feel mimicked, or favored this same victory. She talks about victory over Edom years ago, and it is interesting to note that she is recalling things that Judges records the children of Israel forgot. God wants us to search him out, search his word, so that we know him, and the past victories he's given his people. They are for our encouragement, edification, education, and exhortation.
She sings that there seems to be no end to what God will do for his people, including moving mountains and the flow of oceans and rivers. Shamgar is mentioned here, even though he is only mentioned a in a small space earlier. She mentions how Israel has suffered at the hands of others, but she does not keep back the fact that these cases, it was Israel's disobedience that let to there troubles.
Later in the chapter, she mentions the tribes of Israel individually, including the tribes that helped, and the tribes that left Barak and his army to their own devices. When you help another individual, or when you help God's saints, God will recognize your efforts; he will also remember when you didn't obey and did nothing to help.
Finally Deborah mentions the craftiness, boldness, and courage of Jael. Jael help put a tired Sisera asleep even though he was prettified with fear. She then boldly took his life and sought out Barak to give him the news. She was a bold woman who was recognized by God, Deborah, Barak, and all Israel.
Since the sacrifice of Jael, Barak, Deborah, and the obeying tribes, Israel had rest for forty years.
This whole chapter is a song or psalm dedicated to Jael. It says in the first verse that it is sung by Deborah and Barak. Deborah prophesied that a woman would get the praise for this victory because of the lack of faith on Barak's part.
When Deborah starts the song, she not only sings about the current victory, but of past victories, that some feel mimicked, or favored this same victory. She talks about victory over Edom years ago, and it is interesting to note that she is recalling things that Judges records the children of Israel forgot. God wants us to search him out, search his word, so that we know him, and the past victories he's given his people. They are for our encouragement, edification, education, and exhortation.
She sings that there seems to be no end to what God will do for his people, including moving mountains and the flow of oceans and rivers. Shamgar is mentioned here, even though he is only mentioned a in a small space earlier. She mentions how Israel has suffered at the hands of others, but she does not keep back the fact that these cases, it was Israel's disobedience that let to there troubles.
Later in the chapter, she mentions the tribes of Israel individually, including the tribes that helped, and the tribes that left Barak and his army to their own devices. When you help another individual, or when you help God's saints, God will recognize your efforts; he will also remember when you didn't obey and did nothing to help.
Finally Deborah mentions the craftiness, boldness, and courage of Jael. Jael help put a tired Sisera asleep even though he was prettified with fear. She then boldly took his life and sought out Barak to give him the news. She was a bold woman who was recognized by God, Deborah, Barak, and all Israel.
Since the sacrifice of Jael, Barak, Deborah, and the obeying tribes, Israel had rest for forty years.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
3rd Week of May 2012 Adult Sunday School Lesson
Judges 4th Chapter
After Ehud the latest savior and judge over Israel dies, the book records that they 'did evil in the sight of the Lord'. Now it will be a different king and a different set of people that will reign over them. Notice that in the first few chapters of Judges, it is always a different king and different people that conquers them. It shows the point that their enemies are many, and they are still suffering from not ridding the land of all theirs' and God's enemies like he commanded.
Jabin was able to enforce his will on the Israelites with his 900 chariots of iron. It seems odd that such a thing would hold down the Jews when they had such great victories in their history over great walled cities, and saw the entire army of Egypt swallowed up by the Red Sea. Regardless, because of their sin and sad situation, you understand that just the people needed to support 900 chariots would in itself be an army. After twenty years, the Israelites cried out enough that God hear them.
Now enters Deborah; she is not only a prophetess but also judges Israel. It seems odd that when Israel wants a king over them, they never really get a queen, but God allows a female judge. It just seems that sin is never a way to get something great from God. That is an obvious statement, but seems to be ignored by many of us in our quest to live for God. Deborah has a favorite palm tree she is known to sit under and it records all of Israel go to her for judgments. From this position she sends for Barak so that he might deliver Israel.Barak likes the news but seems to want assurances from Deborah that they will win. Wanting her presence there shows several things, namely he doubts God, doubts his messenger, and doubts himself even when God has given him the victory. I could go on and on about doubts, lack of faith, and not having enough self confidence to go out boldly for God, but I will not spend the the time here to go thoroughly over that topic. It is as simple as this, when God says go, go, and never doubt or the victory God wants you to have won't be as full as he originally intended.
For doubting, Barak's glory will go to a women, and rightfully so after her courageous effort. Barak is given direct enough instructions, and a person that should be an ally (Heber) of the Israelites gives Sisera a heads up as to what is about to happen. We should note here, that if God is in it, it doesn't matter that Satan is trying to stop your good work for God. He is always trying to do so, but when God is in charge of your life and service, he has already worked it out ahead of time.
Deborah gives the order for Barak to go out against the enemy. Even though Sisera has had advanced notice, Barak and his army have victory and start chasing the Sisera away. He seeks refuge in the tent of a woman Jael, Heber's wife ironically enough. Powerful decisive woman are all over this chapter, and don't let Satan tell you that if you are a woman, you don't have a great work to do for God, because God uses male and female for his work. From what I have read, shepherds had separate tents for men and women; so I suppose Sisera was hoping this fact would further mislead anyone pursuing him. What he didn't count on though was that this cunning Jael knew to give him milk instead of water. This wouldn't quench his thirst as good as water as anyone that has exercised or worked vigorously knows. It also would slow Sisera and his metabolism down. He is already tired, and now thinking he might have escaped, he falls asleep. Jael seizes this moment (unlike Barak earlier in the chapter) and literally nails Sisera's head to the floor of the tent.
This victory not only knocks off Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, but finally leads to the downfall of Jabin, his power over the Israelites and his reign. Barak won, but the glory we'll see in the next chapter, goes to Jael in a song and praise by Deborah.
After Ehud the latest savior and judge over Israel dies, the book records that they 'did evil in the sight of the Lord'. Now it will be a different king and a different set of people that will reign over them. Notice that in the first few chapters of Judges, it is always a different king and different people that conquers them. It shows the point that their enemies are many, and they are still suffering from not ridding the land of all theirs' and God's enemies like he commanded.
Jabin was able to enforce his will on the Israelites with his 900 chariots of iron. It seems odd that such a thing would hold down the Jews when they had such great victories in their history over great walled cities, and saw the entire army of Egypt swallowed up by the Red Sea. Regardless, because of their sin and sad situation, you understand that just the people needed to support 900 chariots would in itself be an army. After twenty years, the Israelites cried out enough that God hear them.
Now enters Deborah; she is not only a prophetess but also judges Israel. It seems odd that when Israel wants a king over them, they never really get a queen, but God allows a female judge. It just seems that sin is never a way to get something great from God. That is an obvious statement, but seems to be ignored by many of us in our quest to live for God. Deborah has a favorite palm tree she is known to sit under and it records all of Israel go to her for judgments. From this position she sends for Barak so that he might deliver Israel.Barak likes the news but seems to want assurances from Deborah that they will win. Wanting her presence there shows several things, namely he doubts God, doubts his messenger, and doubts himself even when God has given him the victory. I could go on and on about doubts, lack of faith, and not having enough self confidence to go out boldly for God, but I will not spend the the time here to go thoroughly over that topic. It is as simple as this, when God says go, go, and never doubt or the victory God wants you to have won't be as full as he originally intended.
For doubting, Barak's glory will go to a women, and rightfully so after her courageous effort. Barak is given direct enough instructions, and a person that should be an ally (Heber) of the Israelites gives Sisera a heads up as to what is about to happen. We should note here, that if God is in it, it doesn't matter that Satan is trying to stop your good work for God. He is always trying to do so, but when God is in charge of your life and service, he has already worked it out ahead of time.
Deborah gives the order for Barak to go out against the enemy. Even though Sisera has had advanced notice, Barak and his army have victory and start chasing the Sisera away. He seeks refuge in the tent of a woman Jael, Heber's wife ironically enough. Powerful decisive woman are all over this chapter, and don't let Satan tell you that if you are a woman, you don't have a great work to do for God, because God uses male and female for his work. From what I have read, shepherds had separate tents for men and women; so I suppose Sisera was hoping this fact would further mislead anyone pursuing him. What he didn't count on though was that this cunning Jael knew to give him milk instead of water. This wouldn't quench his thirst as good as water as anyone that has exercised or worked vigorously knows. It also would slow Sisera and his metabolism down. He is already tired, and now thinking he might have escaped, he falls asleep. Jael seizes this moment (unlike Barak earlier in the chapter) and literally nails Sisera's head to the floor of the tent.
This victory not only knocks off Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, but finally leads to the downfall of Jabin, his power over the Israelites and his reign. Barak won, but the glory we'll see in the next chapter, goes to Jael in a song and praise by Deborah.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
2nd Week of May 2012 Adult Sunday School Lesson
Judges 3rd Chapter verses 12 -
Othniel dies, and Israel disobeys God again. It is easy to look down our noses at the children of Israel and view ourselves as better servants of God, but I believe God has blessed America far better than he did Canaan, and we are guilty of the same things if not worse.
This time God allows Moab to join forces with Ammon and Amalek to conquer Israel. This went on for 18 years until Israel prayed for God's deliverance and he sent Ehud to deliver them. Ehud decides to give a present to Eglon king of the Moabites in the form of a swift dagger into his ribs. By all accounts it appears as if Ehud was cunny, and with the blessing of God, fooled Eglon into trusting him. He stabs him, and Eglon is so fat that Ehud cannot retrieve the daggar from Eglon after he plunges it in. Ehud leaves, locking the doors behind him and is gone before anyone is the wiser.
After Ehud escapes the palace, he blows the trumpet and raises a quick army to go after the Moabites and an enormous victory. For 40 years Ehud was Judge and Israel had peace. Not only this but Ehud, rose up Shamgar who had victory over the Philistines. God hears his peoples' cry and has mercy on them. He will still hear our cries today if we will call on him.
Othniel dies, and Israel disobeys God again. It is easy to look down our noses at the children of Israel and view ourselves as better servants of God, but I believe God has blessed America far better than he did Canaan, and we are guilty of the same things if not worse.
This time God allows Moab to join forces with Ammon and Amalek to conquer Israel. This went on for 18 years until Israel prayed for God's deliverance and he sent Ehud to deliver them. Ehud decides to give a present to Eglon king of the Moabites in the form of a swift dagger into his ribs. By all accounts it appears as if Ehud was cunny, and with the blessing of God, fooled Eglon into trusting him. He stabs him, and Eglon is so fat that Ehud cannot retrieve the daggar from Eglon after he plunges it in. Ehud leaves, locking the doors behind him and is gone before anyone is the wiser.
After Ehud escapes the palace, he blows the trumpet and raises a quick army to go after the Moabites and an enormous victory. For 40 years Ehud was Judge and Israel had peace. Not only this but Ehud, rose up Shamgar who had victory over the Philistines. God hears his peoples' cry and has mercy on them. He will still hear our cries today if we will call on him.
Revival Thought for week 20 of 2012
John 6:44
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
God must first knock at the heart, beckon a sinner to come, burden the heart of the lost that he is so, and needs a savior.
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
God must first knock at the heart, beckon a sinner to come, burden the heart of the lost that he is so, and needs a savior.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
1st Week of May 2012 Adult Sunday School Lesson
Judges 2nd Chapter verses 6 - 10
Last week in class we went on and covered these verses. Even thought the last chapter of Joshua speaks of Joshua's death, this part of the 2nd chapter covers it as well. Notice that in the 7th verse it mentions the elders that outlived Joshua and had also seen the great wonders God had performed for the children of Israel as he brought them out of Egypt. There were some after Joshua's death that knew of the great things God had done and by their presence or the retelling of the times God had delivered them, it seems to keep them out of trouble. They still honor God while these elders are alive. In the tenth verse it is plain that the next generation did not honor the Lord.
Judges 2nd Chapter verses 11 - 15
Now in the 11th verse we quickly see that it doesn't take Israel long after death of the elders to go in the wrong way. They served Baalim. They were not supposed to dwell and intermingle with the people of Canaan. They were not supposed to marry into those tribes, but they did anyway. We can see similar things like this in today's church. We are not supposed to be wedded with the world. We are not supposed to let the world and the activities of this world rule in our lives. We take on relationships with the activities, interests, and going on of this world. We are to be a separated and peculiar people. We not supposed to hide from the world, but we are to change the world, not the other way around.
It doesn't take god long to be angered, and to let the Israelites know that when he said the dwellers in Canaan would be a thorn in their side, he meant it. He let the Israelites serve other people as their masters since they decided to serve other gods.
Judges 2nd Chapter verses 16 - 23
God's anger is never as fierce as it could be, and he always hears the cries of his people. He starts to give them judges to be over them. Not kings, like the other kingdoms and people had, but judges who were leaders in both a spiritual and military sense. A king, as Israel later found out, takes up great resources out hands of the people to support himself. The very fact that a king and his family doesn't support themselves seems to make it so that they expect servitude, gratitude and everything else from the backs of those that serve him. Judges were different though, and they were leaders who supported themselves or were supported by their own families. Israel had good judges and bad judges, but the things he did by their hands were wonderful and nothing short of miracles.
Since Israel was rebellious, God let them deal with the dwellers of the land that they failed to drive out. The end of the second chapter is a brief overview of what the next chapters will be like. The start of the third chapter starts the story about a particular judge named Othniel.
Judges 3rd Chapter verses 1 - 7
Here we have a listing of the nations that are to be a thorn in the side of the children of Israel for thousands of years. The Philistines, Canaanites and so on, are among the offenders. We are know that the Philistines will be thorn in their side till after Davids time. Some of the people are descendants of Ishmael, Esau and other people that were part of a people that fulfill God's promise of the evil that would befall them for not obeying. So in the sixth verse they intermingle with these people, and in the seventh verse they do all manner of evil before God including serving other gods.
Judges 3rd Chapter verses 8 - 11
Here comes a ruler named Chushan-rishathaim out of Mesopotamia. He attacks Israel and puts them under his thumb for eight years. Finally Othniel, Caleb's younger brother and probably a well known Israelite, fought against Chushan-rishathaim and delivered Israel and they had rest for 40 years.
Last week in class we went on and covered these verses. Even thought the last chapter of Joshua speaks of Joshua's death, this part of the 2nd chapter covers it as well. Notice that in the 7th verse it mentions the elders that outlived Joshua and had also seen the great wonders God had performed for the children of Israel as he brought them out of Egypt. There were some after Joshua's death that knew of the great things God had done and by their presence or the retelling of the times God had delivered them, it seems to keep them out of trouble. They still honor God while these elders are alive. In the tenth verse it is plain that the next generation did not honor the Lord.
Judges 2nd Chapter verses 11 - 15
Now in the 11th verse we quickly see that it doesn't take Israel long after death of the elders to go in the wrong way. They served Baalim. They were not supposed to dwell and intermingle with the people of Canaan. They were not supposed to marry into those tribes, but they did anyway. We can see similar things like this in today's church. We are not supposed to be wedded with the world. We are not supposed to let the world and the activities of this world rule in our lives. We take on relationships with the activities, interests, and going on of this world. We are to be a separated and peculiar people. We not supposed to hide from the world, but we are to change the world, not the other way around.
It doesn't take god long to be angered, and to let the Israelites know that when he said the dwellers in Canaan would be a thorn in their side, he meant it. He let the Israelites serve other people as their masters since they decided to serve other gods.
Judges 2nd Chapter verses 16 - 23
God's anger is never as fierce as it could be, and he always hears the cries of his people. He starts to give them judges to be over them. Not kings, like the other kingdoms and people had, but judges who were leaders in both a spiritual and military sense. A king, as Israel later found out, takes up great resources out hands of the people to support himself. The very fact that a king and his family doesn't support themselves seems to make it so that they expect servitude, gratitude and everything else from the backs of those that serve him. Judges were different though, and they were leaders who supported themselves or were supported by their own families. Israel had good judges and bad judges, but the things he did by their hands were wonderful and nothing short of miracles.
Since Israel was rebellious, God let them deal with the dwellers of the land that they failed to drive out. The end of the second chapter is a brief overview of what the next chapters will be like. The start of the third chapter starts the story about a particular judge named Othniel.
Judges 3rd Chapter verses 1 - 7
Here we have a listing of the nations that are to be a thorn in the side of the children of Israel for thousands of years. The Philistines, Canaanites and so on, are among the offenders. We are know that the Philistines will be thorn in their side till after Davids time. Some of the people are descendants of Ishmael, Esau and other people that were part of a people that fulfill God's promise of the evil that would befall them for not obeying. So in the sixth verse they intermingle with these people, and in the seventh verse they do all manner of evil before God including serving other gods.
Judges 3rd Chapter verses 8 - 11
Here comes a ruler named Chushan-rishathaim out of Mesopotamia. He attacks Israel and puts them under his thumb for eight years. Finally Othniel, Caleb's younger brother and probably a well known Israelite, fought against Chushan-rishathaim and delivered Israel and they had rest for 40 years.
Revival thought for week 19 of 2012
Psalm 85
1 LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.
God is more merciful to us than we deserve or can ask for. He has made a way of escape from sin and this world. Just as in Psalm 51, we need a broken heart and a contrite spirit when we call out to him for mercy. If we ask in faith believing, he will revive us, restore us, heal us. He will offer his salvation and happiness, joy everlasting.
We humble ourselves, cry out to him in much prayer, be obeisant, and he will take revive us in our need.
1 LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.
God is more merciful to us than we deserve or can ask for. He has made a way of escape from sin and this world. Just as in Psalm 51, we need a broken heart and a contrite spirit when we call out to him for mercy. If we ask in faith believing, he will revive us, restore us, heal us. He will offer his salvation and happiness, joy everlasting.
We humble ourselves, cry out to him in much prayer, be obeisant, and he will take revive us in our need.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
5th Week April 2012 Adult Sunday School Lesson
Judges 1st Chapter verses 22 - 36 and Chapter 2 verses 1 - 5
Similar to the story of Jericho, the man who tells them the secret entrances to the city of Luz is spared with all of his family. He then goes on to found another city naming it Luz now that the Israelites renamed the newly conquered city Bethel.
We now hear that the tribes of Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, Dan go in to take their lands but do not drive out all of the enemy. This was to be their land, given by God. God doesn't give half promises, he doesn't give and then take away, he doesn't promise something and not fulfill his promises. These tribes of Israel went in and did not follow the commandments of God. They would till this very day, pay for the fact that they did not complete their part of the promise.
Whenever we compromise with Satan, or compromise with the world, we are essentially saying that we don't fully believe in the promises of Christ and his resurrection. I have fallen short myself, but if we seek his forgiveness we can go on in Christ's name. Given this, there is a price to pay for sin after salvation. The children of Israel were delivered according to God's promise. The taking and dwelling of Canaan was their life for Christ so to speak. That which we sow, we shall also reap.
Hebrews 10:26 - 29
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
These are not the most popular verses in Christianity; maybe they should be. We will pay for our sins committed after our 'knowledge of the truth'. Israel payed dearly for not listening to God's commands about taking and dwelling in the land of Canaan. Dwelling among the Canaanites was one thing, but then later taking their gods and their customs was quite another.
Judges 2: 1 - 5
Here comes and angel of the Lord to give a warning that is just in time if they heed the warning. Unfortunately they don't hold it to their hearts for long.
The angel commands them to make to covenants or alliances with these people; destroy their alters and serve only the true God that they now serve. We know that this warning was foretelling of what was to come and what was to be the next several hundred years of Israel's existence.
It is so with us, that if we make bargains, or live for the things of this world more than for God and his kingdom, the pleasures and vanities of this world will be our snares and thorns in our side.
Just as Israel wept, we should as well. God has given us a wonderful country, with wonderful opportunities to live a life for him and HIS purpose. We ought to weep and then serve him with fear and trembling; always heeding the warning unlike what happens in the rest of the book of Judges.
Similar to the story of Jericho, the man who tells them the secret entrances to the city of Luz is spared with all of his family. He then goes on to found another city naming it Luz now that the Israelites renamed the newly conquered city Bethel.
We now hear that the tribes of Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, Dan go in to take their lands but do not drive out all of the enemy. This was to be their land, given by God. God doesn't give half promises, he doesn't give and then take away, he doesn't promise something and not fulfill his promises. These tribes of Israel went in and did not follow the commandments of God. They would till this very day, pay for the fact that they did not complete their part of the promise.
Whenever we compromise with Satan, or compromise with the world, we are essentially saying that we don't fully believe in the promises of Christ and his resurrection. I have fallen short myself, but if we seek his forgiveness we can go on in Christ's name. Given this, there is a price to pay for sin after salvation. The children of Israel were delivered according to God's promise. The taking and dwelling of Canaan was their life for Christ so to speak. That which we sow, we shall also reap.
Hebrews 10:26 - 29
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
These are not the most popular verses in Christianity; maybe they should be. We will pay for our sins committed after our 'knowledge of the truth'. Israel payed dearly for not listening to God's commands about taking and dwelling in the land of Canaan. Dwelling among the Canaanites was one thing, but then later taking their gods and their customs was quite another.
Judges 2: 1 - 5
Here comes and angel of the Lord to give a warning that is just in time if they heed the warning. Unfortunately they don't hold it to their hearts for long.
The angel commands them to make to covenants or alliances with these people; destroy their alters and serve only the true God that they now serve. We know that this warning was foretelling of what was to come and what was to be the next several hundred years of Israel's existence.
It is so with us, that if we make bargains, or live for the things of this world more than for God and his kingdom, the pleasures and vanities of this world will be our snares and thorns in our side.
Just as Israel wept, we should as well. God has given us a wonderful country, with wonderful opportunities to live a life for him and HIS purpose. We ought to weep and then serve him with fear and trembling; always heeding the warning unlike what happens in the rest of the book of Judges.
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