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.
Showing posts with label Dan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dan. Show all posts
Friday, September 21, 2012
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, 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.
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