THE JUDGES
JANUARY 1
! Bible Reading: Judges 2:11-23 Key Verse: Judges 2:16- “Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.”
Key Words: Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges
Every time Israel hit bottom spiritually, God would raise up a judge to deliver them; but even then, Israel would reject the judges (verse 17), so God would give them what they thought they wanted and after they got it, they were sorry they had it. I have a saying I often share with our students in our school ministry. You are free to do what you want, but you are not free to choose the consequences of your actions. Radio personality, Paul Harvey, used to tell of how an Eskimo kills a wolf. The account is grisly, yet it offers fresh insight into the consuming, self-destructive nature of sin. “First, the Eskimo coats his knife blade with animal blood and allows it to freeze. Then he adds another layer of blood, and another, until the blade is completely concealed by frozen blood. “Next, the hunter fixes his knife in the ground with the blade up. When a wolf follows his sensitive nose to the source of the scent and discovers the bait, he licks it, tasting the fresh frozen blood. He begins to lick faster, more and more vigorously, lapping the blade until the keen edge is bare. Feverishly now, harder and harder the wolf licks the blade in the arctic night. “So great becomes his craving for blood that the wolf does not notice the razorsharp sting of the naked blade on his own tongue, nor does he recognize the instant at which his insatiable thirst is being satisfied by his OWN warm blood. His carnivorous appetite just craves more – until the dawn finds him dead in the snow!” It is a fearful thing that people can be “consumed by their own lusts.” Only God’s grace keeps us from the wolf’s fate. What to do: ! Remember, you are free to do what you want, but you are not free to choose the consequences of your actions.
OTHNIEL
JANUARY 2
! Bible Reading: Judges 3:1-11 Key Verse: Judges 3:9- “And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.
Key Words: Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother
Israel had fallen into idolatry and was worshipping false gods. As a punishment for their idolatry, the Lord delivered them into the hands of the king of Mesopotamia, Chushanrishathaim. When Israel finally cried out to God, he raised up Othniel. Othniel’s blood line was certainly right; he was the nephew of Caleb. The name Othniel means “the force of God.” We can do nothing without the power of God upon us, and with God’s power there is nothing we can’t do. The Gospel Herald records the following:
“William Jessup, for fifty years a missionary in Syria, was discouraged because he could not win men to Christ. He decided the difficulty must be in him. He resolved to spend one week by himself with the Word of God. He had not read far when something dawned upon him he had never realized. He had never given God His place in the work of winning others. He had worked in his own strength. He thought of the fall of Jericho. He remembered that God did that so that no man could take credit. After this, he took a sheet of paper and wrote down the names of eleven men whom he was seeking to bring to Christ and lifted them to God in prayer, asking God to do the work and use him if he was needed. “One Friday, one of the young men came to him under a burden for his sins and was saved. In three weeks, all of these men were won. ‘I will be a different missionary the rest of my life. I realize that it is God Who worketh in us to will and to do.’” It’s only by His might that His will can be accomplished.
What to do: ! Go in God’s power or you’ll surely fail.
KING EHUD
JANUARY 3
! Bible Reading: Judges 3:12-30 Key Verse: Judges 3:15- “But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.”
Key Words: the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud
Ehud was the son of Gera, the Benjamite. He was chosen by God to deliver Israel from their eighteen years of captivity by Eglon and the Moabites. Ehud made a special double-edged dagger (verse 16) and then gained entrance to Eglon by feigning to have a secret message for him. When Ehud and Eglon were alone, Ehud used his special dagger to dispose of the Moabite leader. He then blew the trumpet of war and Israel rallied behind their fearless leader and defeated the Moabites. Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers [meeting] together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn’t. “What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?” asks Linus. “These five fingers,” says Lucy. “Individually they’re nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold.” “Which channel do you want?” asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, “Why can’t you guys get organized like that?” There can be no victory without courage and unity. What to do: ! Remember, there is a difference between union and unity. Union is when you are bound together. Unity is when you agree. Example: you can tie the tail of a cat to the tail of a dog and have union, but you sure won’t have unity.
SHAMGAR
JANUARY 4
! Bible Reading: Judges 3:31 and Psalm 31 Key Verse: Psalm 31:24- “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”
Key Words: Be of good courage
Judge Shamgar is mentioned twice in God’s Word: first in Judges 3:31 and again in Judges 5:6. It’s interesting that the name Shamgar means “strange”, for indeed, he is. All we know of him is that he judged Israel for a brief time and that his outstanding feat is taking an ox-goad, which was an instrument used to hurry up the oxen when plowing, and slaying six hundred Philistines with it.
No doubt that Shamgar was of good courage. Now, you nor I will ever confront a Philistine army and kill six hundred soldiers, especially with an ox-goad; but we still need the courage God gave Shamgar.
It takes courage... " To refrain from gossip when others about you delight in it; " To stand up for an absent person who is being abused; " To live honestly within your means and not dishonestly on the means of others; " To be talked about and yet remain silent when a word would justify you in the eyes of others, but which you cannot speak without injury to another; " To be a real man, a true woman, by holding fast to your ideas when it causes you to be looked upon as strange and peculiar; " To refuse to do a thing which is wrong, though others desire it; and " To live always according to your convictions.
What to do: ! With God, courage is commendable. Without God, courage is condemnable.
DEBORAH Part One
JANUARY 5 ! Bible Reading: Judges 4:1-13 Key Verse: Judges 4:9- “And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.”
Key Words: And she said, I will surely go with thee
Deborah was an unusual woman. She was a judge; she was a warrior; she was a leader; and she was fearless and full of faith. It was these character traits that led her to trust God to bring Israel victory over the Canaanites. It’s interesting that Barak had so much confidence in her that he would not go into battle unless she went with him. She may have been a female, but she was no doubt a great leader. A leader is a person who is going somewhere – but not going alone. He takes others with him. His ability in setting up situations in which others are willing to follow him and happy to work with him is a precious skill called leadership. This skill is made up of many qualities – thoughtfulness and consideration for others, enthusiasm, the ability to share responsibilities with others, and a multitude of other traits. But, fundamentally, a leader is one who leads, one who has a plan, one who keeps headed toward a goal and a purpose. He has the enthusiasm to keep moving forward in such a way that others gladly go with him.
What to do: ! Remember, the speed of the leader determines the rate of the pack.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1
DEBORAH Part Two
JANUARY 6 ! Bible Reading: Judges 4:14-24 Key Verse: Judges 4:14- “And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.”
Key Words: And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand
Deborah’s tenacity motivated others to accomplish things they never thought possible. Barak was motivated to go into battle and rise victorious (verse 16).
Jael was motivated to strike a nail through the temple of Sisera, the captain of the army of the Canaanites. She literally nailed him to the floor.
Deborah was a great motivator because she asked for great things to be accomplished by ordinary people. That’s what great leaders do. They require, not just small things of us, but require great things of us.
During the height of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln often found refuge at a Presbyterian church in Washington, D.C. He would go with an aide, sit with his stovepipe hat in his lap, and never interrupt the meeting because the congregation would all be in a dither if they knew the president had come to sit in that midweek meeting. He sat off to the side, near the pastor’s study, as the minister would open the Scriptures and teach God’s Word and would lead the congregation in worship. The war was tearing the nation apart and tearing his soul. Having just lost his own son, Lincoln was on the bottom, and he needed solace and sustenance.
As the pastor finished his message and the people began to leave, the president stood quietly and straightened his coat and took his hat in hand and began to leave. The aide stopped him and said, “What did you think of the sermon, Mr. President?” He said, “I thought the sermon was carefully thought through, eloquently delivered.” The aide said, “You thought it was a great sermon?”
He said, “No, I thought he failed.” “He failed? Well, how? Why?” “Because he did not ask of us something great.” What to do: ! Remember, God uses ordinary people to accomplish great things for Him.
O teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:12
DEBORAH Part Three JANUARY 7 ! Bible Reading: Judges 5 Key Verse: Judges 5:1- “Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,”
Key Words: Then sang Deborah and Barak
This chapter is known as the song of Deborah, but it’s actually a song of praise to the Lord for the great victory He gave (verses 2 – 4). Our Daily Bread records an old Jewish legend which says that after God had created the world, He called the angels to Himself and asked them what they thought of it. One of them said, “The only thing missing is the sound of praise for the great Creator.” So God created music, and it was heard in the whisper of the wind and in the song of the birds. He also gave man the gift of song to “praise Him for His marvelous works.”
“The sole purpose of music is to bring praise to God.”
Sebastian Bach once said, “The sole purpose of music is to bring praise to God.”
At the top of all his music, he wrote the initials “J.J.” (“Jesu Juva”) which is the Latin abbreviation for Jesus, help me; and at the bottom of all his music, he wrote the initials “SDG” which stands for “Soli Dei Gloria:” To God Alone be the Glory. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised! Amen and amen.
What to do: ! Remember that it’s God Who gives the victory when we fight His battles.
A DISOBEDIENT PEOPLE
JANUARY 8
! Bible Reading: Judges 6:1-10 Key Verse: Judges 6:10- “And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.”
Key Words: But ye have not obeyed my voice
Israel again does evil (verse 1).
They just never seem to learn that disobedience brings them into peril. This time they end up in the hands of the Midianites who destroy the crops and cattle. It seems as though this went on for a period of seven years, and finally Israel cries out to God for deliverance. So God reminds them of why they are where they are, “...but ye have not obeyed my voice.” (verse 10) Charles Swindoll writes in regard to obedience: “My wife and I had the pleasure of spending an evening with former astronaut General Charles M. Duke. All of us in the room sat in rapt fascination as the man told of the Apollo 16 mission to the moon, including some interesting tidbits related to driving ‘Rover,’ the lunar vehicle, and his actually walking on the surface. We were full of questions which General Duke patiently and carefully answered one after another. “I asked, ‘Once you were there, weren’t you free to make your own decisions and carry out some of your own experiments...you know, sort of do as you pleased – maybe stay a little longer if you liked?’ He smiled back, ‘Sure, Chuck, if we didn’t want to return to earth!’ “He then described the intricate plan, the exact and precise instructions, the essential discipline, the instant obedience that was needed right down to the split
second. By the way, he said they had landed somewhat ‘heavy’ when they touched down on the moon. He was referring to their fuel supply. They had plenty left. Guess how much. One minute. They landed with sixty seconds of fuel remaining. Talk about exact! I got the distinct impression that a rebel doesn’t fit inside a spacesuit. Whoever represents the United States in the space program must have an unconditional respect for authority.” So must those who are going to be effective in God’s service.
What to do: ! Ask God to give you an obedient spirit.
GIDEON, A MAN OF COURAGE
JANUARY 9
! Bible Reading: Judges 6:11-24 Key Verse: Judges 6:14- “And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?”
Key Words: Go in this thy might
I’ve always found it interesting that God did not tell Gideon to go in the might of God, but rather he told him, go in thy might. Now that raises the question: what was Gideon’s might? I believe the answer is found in verse 13. Gideon had the courage to ask God a question: “Oh, my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us?” Where are all the miracles which our fathers told us of? Not only did Gideon have the courage to ask a question, he also questions the very actions of God. Verse 13: “...but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.” No wonder God chose Gideon. He was a man of courage.
Phil Donahue, the television talk show host, has something of a reputation for giving clergy a hard time, and he has said the reason he’s that way is that he has little respect for them. Most clergy will do anything for some media attention, he says. In his autobiography, however, he tells about an encounter with a pastor who was different. It happened while Donahue was a young television reporter in Ohio, and one day he was sent to West Virginia in the bitter cold winter to cover a mine disaster. He went by himself in a battered little car, carrying a minicam to film the story.
It was so cold when he got there, however, that the camera wouldn’t work. So he put it inside his coat to warm it up enough to run. In the meantime, the families of the trapped miners were gathered around. They were just simple mining people – women, old men, and children. Several of the trapped men were fathers. Then the local pastor arrived. He was rough-hewn, and he didn’t speak well at all. But he gathered all the families around in a circle, and they held one another in their arms while he prayed for them. As this was going on, Donahue was still trying to get his camera to work, and he was incredibly frustrated because he couldn’t film the poignant scene. Finally, after the prayer was over, Donahue managed to get his camera operating. So he told the pastor he had his camera working now and asked if the pastor would please do the prayer again so he could film it for the evening news. Donahue says, by the way, that he’s been with the world’s best-known public figures, including preachers, and they’re all willing to redo a scene in order to get on the news. This simple West Virginia preacher, however, told Donahue, “Young man, we don’t pray for the news. I’m sorry, but we’ve already prayed, and I will not pose.” To this day Donahue remembers that pastor with respect. You don’t forget that kind of character, no matter who you are or what you believe.
What to do: ! Remember, you can tell a lot about a man by the way he treats those who can do nothing for him.
GIDEON, AN ACT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS JANUARY 10 ! Bible Reading: Judges 6:25-32 Key Verse: Judges 6:28- “And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.”
Key Words: Behold the altar of Baal was cast down
The first thing Gideon was to do was to purify his father’s house from idolatry by tearing down and destroying the altars of Baal and by making sacrifice to God. Gideon did this because God commanded it. It was indeed an act of righteousness. Need I remind you that being righteous is not easy, but it is right!
Years ago Joe Bayly, the late Eternity magazine columnist, visited some German Christians who had been devoted soldiers in the German army during World War II. …being righteous Two of them had been put up for promotion to become second lieutenants in the Nazi army. is not easy, but it is The commandant told them he would approve the promotion on one condition: that they join the right! Officers’ Club. Being a member of the club would require them to attend some weekend dances. These young men believed that dancing was wrong because it could lead to immorality. Because of their convictions, they turned down the promotion. Later in their military careers these same men were assigned to the death camps where thousands of Jews were stuffed into ovens and killed. Even though they did not directly participate in the slaughter, they knew what was going on. Yet they never voiced any protest. When Joe Bayly talked to them many years after the war, they looked back on their experience with no regrets, convinced that they had made the right decision. For them, not conforming to social pressure and refusing to dance was an act of righteousness. And conforming to patriotic mass murder and remaining silent while thousands of Jews burned in ovens left them with no feelings of unrighteousness. When we set our own standard of external righteousness, we are capable of any evil. When we are filled with His righteousness, no good is too great.
What to do: ! Be filled with God’s righteousness where no good is too great.
THE SIGN OF THE FLEECE
JANUARY 11
! Bible Reading: Judges 6:33-40 Key Verse: Judges 6:40- “And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.”
Key Words: and God did so that night
When the Midianites and their allies invaded the land of Israel, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon and he gathered together an army from the tribes of Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali. Before going to battle, Gideon asked God for a sign. Gideon put out a fleece and if there was dew upon the fleece only but not
the ground, he was assured from God that God was with him. The next morning, there was dew on the fleece but not the ground, which was a sure sign from God. Now Gideon had to be Baptist because that wasn’t good enough for him. He then requested if God was going to be with him that dew be on the ground but not on the fleece. Gideon had his sign that God would indeed save Israel by the hand of Gideon. While many of us focus on Gideon putting out a fleece, I marvel at the patience of God with Gideon. In his book Five Musts of the Christian Life, F. B. Meyer told about a conversation he had with several believers in the home of William Wilberforce. As they were talking about the difficulties of living as a Christian, a minister, well advanced in years, arose and confessed that he was somewhat “short-fused.” He recalled a time he was trying to control the students in a Sunday School class who were unusually boisterous. His patience was stretched to the breaking point. In fact, he was just about ready to blow his top when he felt inclined to pray, “Lord, give me Your patience, mine is giving out.” In a moment, his spirit was calmed. He therefore decided right then to draw on the Lord’s strength in every difficult situation. One telephone operator turned to another and said, “He’s a patient man. I was flustered and gave him a wrong number four times, and he said so kindly, ‘You gave me the wrong number four times, operator. Try once again.’ I’d like to meet that man.” And the other inquired, “What is his number?” When she was told, she said, “I know him, he’s my pastor.” Then said the other, “I’m going to hear him preach.”
What to do: ! The next time you grow impatient with others, remember that God is patient with you.
Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Proverbs 6:27
THE JUDGE WHO HAD TOO MANY
JANUARY 12
! Bible Reading: Judges 7:1-14 Key Verse: Judges 7:2- “And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.”
Key Words: And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many
The army of the Midianites numbered about one hundred thirty-five thousand (Judges 8:10). There is no military leader today that would want to go into battle with three hundred men facing one hundred thirty-five thousand soldiers. That breaks down to about one facing four hundred fifty men. Sounds a lot like the odds Elijah faced. But the battle was not in man’s hand but in God’s hand, and God’s ways are higher than our ways. This reminds me of a story I read recently: The citizens of Feldkirch, Austria, didn’t know what to do. Napoleon’s massive army was preparing to attack. Soldiers had been spotted on the heights above the little town, which was situated on the Austrian border. A council of citizens was hastily summoned to decide whether they should try to defend themselves or display the white flag of surrender. It happened to be Easter Sunday, and the people had gathered in the local church. The pastor rose and said, “Friends, we have been counting on our own strength, and apparently that has failed. As this is the day of our Lord’s resurrection, let us just ring the bells, have our services as usual, and leave the matter in His hands. We know only our weakness, and not the power of God to defend us.” The council accepted his plan and the church bells rang. The enemy, hearing the sudden peal, concluded that the Austrian army had arrived during the night to defend the town. Before the service ended, the enemy broke camp and left.
What to do: ! Remember God is in the miracle business.
THE WISDOM OF GOD
JANUARY 13
! Bible Reading: Judges 7:15-25 Key Verse: Judges 7:17- “And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.”
Key Words: And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.
Gideon is now prepared for battle. He divides his three hundred men into three companies giving them each a trumpet and an empty pitcher and a torch. Now, I’ve served in the military and you would think that the proper weapons would be an M-16, a B4, and some hand grenades – not a trumpet, a pitcher, and a torch. The pitcher was to hide the burning torches as they advanced toward the army of the Midianites. Hearing the horses and seeing the three hundred torches deceived the Midianites into believing that the army of Israel was large and wellarmed. Gideon and his army were successful because of God’s wisdom being upon Gideon. A student in Columbia University was under the impression that he had been assured by the institution that he would be taught wisdom. Feeling that the university had failed him in the matter, he filed suit against it for eight thousand dollars. The Superior Court dismissed the case; and the Appellate Division of the Superior Court ruled that the suit had been properly dismissed. The presiding judge Sidney Goldmann of the three-man appellate court declared, “These charges were set in a frame of intemperate, if not scurrilous, accusations. We agree with the trial judge that wisdom is not a subject that can be taught and that no rational person would accept such a claim made by any man or institution.” The difference between a smart man and a wise man is that a smart man knows what to say and a wise man knows whether to say it or not.
What to do: ! Remember none of us are wise enough to make it through this life without God and God’s wisdom.
THE UPSET EPHRAIMITES
JANUARY 14
!Bible Reading: Judges 8:1-17 Key Verse: Judges 8:1- “And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.”
Key Words: And they did chide with him sharply
Isn’t it amazing? Here is Israel with a great victory over the Midianites, and wouldn’t you know that trials always come after a great victory! The Ephraimites were upset that Gideon didn’t call on them. They felt rejected. Gideon used wisdom in calming their feelings (verse 3). But isn’t this the way it is? Rather than rejoicing in the victory, there are always those who are trying to find fault. James calls them “fault-finders!”
Adrian Rogers used to say, “If you came here looking for faults, you’ll find them – beginning with the man behind the pulpit. But if you came here looking for God, you can find Him as well. It just depends on what you came here looking for.” I can say amen to that!
Andrew Carnegie felt that you develop people the same way you mine for gold. In gold mining you literally move tons of dirt to find a single ounce of gold. However, you don’t look for the dirt, you look for the gold. The problem with so many today is that they are so focused on the dirt, they are missing out on many of the gold nuggets of life.
Howard Hendricks has a unique way of making you squirm on the horns of a dilemma. One of those unsettling dilemmas involves those who are frustrated with the way others have turned out. One such guy approached Dr. Hendricks with a list of gripes about others. Hendricks consoled the guy with his Columbo-type tactics. He told the man he was really surprised that a man of his intelligence would have friends with so many blatant faults. The man quickly defended his friends by declaring, “They weren’t that way when I met them!”
Hendricks then retorted, “Then I guess it means you made them that way.” The fault we often foist upon others can frequently be the result of our own activities, or lack thereof.
As one old cowboy put it, “A man who treats his wife like a thoroughbred will never end up with an old nag.”
So it is with others as well. What to do: ! If you feel as though you have no faults, remember that makes one more.
A TIME TO SAY NO
JANUARY 15
! Bible Reading: Judges 8:18-35 Key Verse: Judges 8:22- “Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.”
Key Word: Rule thou over us
Gideon, having gloriously delivered Israel from the bondage of the Midianites, was offered the position of ruler, probably that of being king. Gideon rejected their offer, in all likelihood, because he was not in the kingly lineage and because he felt that the position was offered by men, and not God. Gideon knew that this was not an offer he should or could accept. The year was 1942. The store was Sakowitz in Houston. The woman walked in ...still in her work clothes. She’d been working at the Brown Root Shipyards building liberty ships. “I want to buy a $50 hat,” she said. “We have a lot of nice hats,” the clerk said. “Let’s see if we can get one that you like and that looks good on you.” The clerk put a hat on the woman and said, “That’s perfect. Don’t you like it?” “It’s terrific,” she said, “Is this a $50 hat?” “No,” the clerk said, “that’s a $25 hat.” “I told you I want a $50 hat!” the woman said. The clerk looked quite frantically to find a $50 hat in the year 1942 in a department store. She finally found one and put it on the customer. It looked perfectly terrible and it did not fit. “How much does this cost?” the woman asked. “Fifty dollars,” the clerk said. “I’ll take it.”
And that’s the way so many people are today. They want what they want no matter what, even if it is not a good fit and the end result is never good. Gideon rejected the offers of Israel to rule over them. It just wasn’t a good fit.
What to do: ! If it doesn’t fit, then don’t try to wear it – for in wearing it, you look ridiculous and it is destroyed.
ABIMELECH Part One JANUARY 16 ! Bible Reading: Judges 9:1-21 Key Verse: Judges 9:6- “And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.”
Key Words: and went, and made Abimelech king
Abimelech is the only judge to win leadership through treachery. Abimelech knew that the nation wanted Gideon to rule over them; and since he was the son of Gideon, he wanted to become their king. So he goes to his mother’s people who are in Shechem and persuades them to follow him. In the midst of all this, he kills his seventy brothers so that he would have no competition or confrontation; but we do reap what we sow as we will see in a future devotion.
The moral of the story is this: make sure you know who you befriend. They may turn out to be your undoing.
In one of Aesop’s Fables is “The Man and His Two Sweethearts.” “A man, whose hair was turning grey, had two sweethearts, an old woman and a young one. The elder didn’t like having him look so much younger than herself; so, whenever he came to see her, she pulled the dark hairs out of his head to make him look old. The younger didn’t like him to look older than herself, and pulled out the grey hairs, to make him look young. Between them, they left not a hair in his head, and he became perfectly bald.”
Abimelech is about to find out that those who sided with him are about to pick him bald.
What to do: ! Follow the lead of your Godly father and you’ll stay out of trouble. Just ask Abimelech.
A TREACHEROUS JUDGE Part Two
JANUARY 17 ! Bible Reading: Judges 9:22-49 Key Verse: Judges 9:45- “And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.”
Key Words: and beat down the city
Merrill Unger says in regard to these verses: “Zebul, the ruler of Shechem, sent word to Abimelech of the revolt, and requested him to place himself in ambush that night, and be prepared to surprise Gaal in the morning. As was expected, Gaal started out in the morning, was met and defeated by Abimelech, and prevented by Zebul from entering the city. The next day the Selfish men are the people went out into the field, possibly to most treacherous continue their vintage, and Abimelech slew them with two of his companions, while with his and dangerous of all other two he seized the city gates. After men… fighting against the city all day he took it, destroyed it utterly, and strewed it with salt. When the inhabitants of the town of Shechem heard of the fate of the city, they betook themselves to the temple of Baal-berith. Their purpose in so doing was evidently not to defend themselves, but to seek safety at the sanctuary of their god from the vengeance of Abimelech. When he heard of this, Abimelech went with his men to Mount Zalmon, and brought from thence branches of trees. These were
piled against the building and set on fire. The building was consumed with all its occupants, about one thousand men and women.” Selfish men are the most treacherous and dangerous of all men for they think only of themselves and destroy anything or anyone who they see as “the enemy.” Eventually though this always comes back to haunt them. Ralph L. Woods: An ambitious farmer, unhappy about the yield of his crops, heard of a highly recommended new seed corn. He bought some and produced a crop that was so abundant his astonished neighbors asked him to sell them a portion of the new seed. But the farmer, afraid that he would lose a profitable competitive advantage, refused. The second year the new seed did not produce as good a crop, and when the third-year crop was still worse, it dawned upon the farmer that his prize corn was being pollinated by the inferior grade of corn from his neighbors’ fields. When we think only of ourselves, trouble is right around the corner.
What to do: ! Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
ABIMELECH Part Three JANUARY 18 ! Bible Reading: Judges 9:50-57 Key Verse: Judges 9:54- “Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.”
Key Words: And his young man thrust him through, and he died
As you read the verses in today’s devotion, you read in verse 56 that God brought wickedness upon Abimelech because he had disgraced his father in killing seventy brethren. You simply do not disgrace God or the man of God. That’s not just a fact of life, it’s a fact of Scripture (I Timothy 5:19, Numbers 12). Abimelech was the only judge to win leadership by “force.” Every other judge was raised up to stand against evil – Abimelech was that evil. The wheels of God’s justice sometimes grind slowly but they grind surely.
The story is told of a farmer in a Midwestern state who had a strong disdain for “religious” things. As he plowed his field on Sunday morning, he would shake his fist at the church people who passed by on their way to worship. October came and the farmer had his finest crop ever – the best in the entire county. When the harvest was complete, he placed an advertisement in the local paper which belittled the Christians for their faith in God. Near the end of his diatribe he wrote, “Faith in God must not mean much if someone like me can prosper.” The response from the Christians in the community was quiet and polite. In the next edition of the local paper, a small ad appeared. It read simply, “God doesn’t always settle His accounts in October.” Amen!
What to do: ! There is an old saying, remember it well: “I have met the enemy and it is me.”
DO SOMETHING JANUARY 19 ! Bible Reading: Judges 10:1-2 and I Chronicles 7:1-5 Key Verse: Judges 10:2- “And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.”
Key Words: And he judged Israel twenty and three years
Maybe you’ve never heard of Tola. If not, it’s perfectly fine for he did nothing noteworthy. The only thing said about Tola is that he judged Israel twenty-three years, and he died and was buried. You know, I know a lot of Tola’s. They have within their power and ability to accomplish great things, but they rest in their lofty palaces and do not do one thing for God’s kingdom. Our churches are filled with Tola’s. What a shame! Many are like Tola because they fail to answer five basic questions about their life. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Who are you? Why are you here? Where are you going? How do you get there? What will you do when you get there?
How you answer those questions will determine what you accomplish for God. An article in Newsweek titled “Advice to a (Bored) Young Man” sheds light on the life of one individual whose life was one of exploration and discovery. “Many people reading this page are doing so with the aid of bifocals. Inventor? Benjamin Franklin, age 79. The presses that printed this page were powered by electricity. One of the first harnessers? B. Franklin, age 40. Some are reading this on the campus of one of the Ivy League universities. Founder? B. Franklin, age 45. Others, in a library. Who founded the first library in America? B. Franklin, age 25. Who started the first fire department? B. Franklin, age 31.
Who invented the lightning rod? B. Franklin, age 43. Who designed a heating stove still in use today? B. Franklin, age 36. Wit. Conversationalist. Economist. Philosopher. Diplomat. Printer. Publisher. Linguist (he spoke and wrote five languages). Advocate of paratroopers (from balloons) a century before the airplane was invented. All this until age 84. And he had exactly two years of formal schooling. It’s a good bet that you already have more sheer knowledge than Franklin ever had when he was your age. Perhaps you think there’s no use trying to think of anything new, that everything’s been done. Wrong...Go do something about it.”
What to do: ! Something that brings glory to God!
THE JUDGE WITH THIRTY DONKEYS
JANUARY 20
! Bible Reading: Judges 10:3-5 and I Chronicles 20:4-8 Key Verse: Judges 10:4- “And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead.”
Key Words: And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts
Now Jair isn’t known for much but his grandson killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath. J. Vernon McGee says of Jair:
“In Jair’s story I can see three things: (1) prosperity without purpose; (2) affluence without influence; (3) prestige without power. “In that day a donkey was a mark of prosperity. That was the thing that denoted a man’s wealth. For example, Judges 5:10 says, ‘Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.’ This verse speaks about the upper echelon, or the establishment. The donkey was a mark of wealth and was the animal that kings rode upon. There has always been a question about whether or not they had horses in that day. In Scripture the little donkey is the animal of peace and the horse is the animal of war (the horse was imported into that land). But the little donkey was actually the mark of prosperity and the mark of a king. “Jair was obviously a man of wealth and prominence to be able to afford thirty donkeys. He gave each one of his sons a donkey, so he must have had a thirty-car garage! This was the mark of a benevolent father. He was generous, and I think he spoiled his sons. He got them what they wanted. They lived in the lap of luxury and with golden spoons in their mouths. Donkeys probably came in several models, and Jair bought each son the latest thing. But did these donkeys bring glory to God? Did they make Jair a better judge? Did they bring blessing to the people? Did any one of these boys go out as a missionary? No. They lived in Gilead. “Years ago a high school class in the state of Washington came up with this motto for their graduating class: ‘Pep without purpose is piffle.’ Well, it is not much of a motto but it certainly expresses present-day conditions. We have prosperity but without purpose. May I ask you what the goal of your life is? Is it pointless? Is it aimless? Have you found life pretty boring? Shakespeare’s Hamlet said, ‘How stale, flat and unprofitable seem to me the uses of this world.’ What we need today is direction and dimension in our lives. We need a cause, and the cause of Jesus Christ is still the greatest challenge any man can have. Old Jair was some judge, wasn’t he?”
What to do: ! Live your life, not for worldly goals, but for God’s glory.
JEPHTHAH AND REVENGE
JANUARY 21
! Bible Reading: Judges 11:1-10 Key Verse: Judges 11:6- “And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.”
Key Words: Come, and be our captain
Jephthah was an illegitimate son of Gilead. Because of this, he was rejected by his brothers and banished from his father’s house. Jephthah took up residence at Tob, a district of Syria. Here he became the leader of a marauding party and when war broke out between Israel and the Ammonites, his brothers had to eat crow and come begging for his help. Jephthah consented on one condition: if he led Israel to victory, he automatically became their leader, which they willingly agreed to.
Now the moral of the story is this: be careful how you treat others for one day they may have the opportunity to get even. “Some fellows were stationed in Korea during the Korean War. While there, they hired a local boy to cook and clean for them. Being a bunch of jokesters, these guys soon took advantage of the boy’s seeming naivete. They’d smear Vaseline on the stove handles so that when he’d turn the stove on in the morning he’d get grease all over his fingers. They’d put little water buckets over the door so that he’d get deluged when he opened the door. They’d even nail his shoes to the floor during the night. Day after day the little fella took the brunt of their practical jokes without saying anything. No blame, no self-pity, no temper tantrums. “Finally the men felt guilty about what they were doing, so they sat down with the young Korean and said, ‘Look, we know these pranks aren’t funny anymore, and we’re sorry. We’re never gonna take advantage of you again.’ “It seemed too good to be true to the houseboy. ‘No more sticky on stove?’ he asked. “‘Nope.’ “‘No more water on door?’ “‘No.’ “‘No more nail shoes to floor?’ “‘Nope, never again.’
“‘Okay,’ the boy said with a smile, ‘no more spit in soup.’”
What to do: ! Treat people with kindness. You never know when and where you’ll see them again.
JEPHTHAH AND HIS HASTY VOW
JANUARY 22
! Bible Reading: Judges 11:12-40 Key Verse: Judges 11:30- “And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,”
Key Words: And Jephthah vowed a vow
Jephthah’s vow to God was in essence “if you will allow me to lead Israel to victory, I’ll sacrifice to you ‘whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me (verse 30).’” And in verse 34 we read, “...and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him.”
There are two schools of thought here. First of all, there are those who believe that Jephthah’s vow was his daughter would remain a virgin all the days of her life. Secondly, there are those who believe that he literally sacrificed his daughter. Whichever one you believe, we do know that Jephthah kept his vow.
That reminds me of the wealthy oil tycoon who laid on his deathbed, his pastor talked of God’s healing power. “Pastor,” he gasped, “if God heals me, I’ll give the church a million dollars.” Miraculously, the man revived and within a few short weeks was out of the hospital. One day, several months later, he and the pastor chatted on the sidewalk in front of a hardware store. “You know,” the pastor said, “when you were in the hospital dying, you promised to give the church a million dollars if you got well. We haven’t got it yet.” “Did I say that?” the tycoon asked. “I guess that goes to show how sick I really was!”
I’m afraid today that our churches are filled with more tycoons than Jephthahs. What to do: ! When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it. Ecclesiastes 5:4
EPHRAIM AND PRIDE
JANUARY 23
! Bible Reading: Judges 12:1-7 Key Verse: Judges 12:6- “Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.”
Key Words: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand
Jephthah’s victory over the Ammonites was followed by a quarrel with the Ephraimites, who challenged his right to go to war without their consent. A battle ensued between Jephthah and his army and the Ephraimites. Jephthah and his army slew forty-two thousand from the tribe of Ephraim. That’s quite a price for the Ephraimites to pay because of their pride.
A pastor friend said to me on one occasion, “You know, I preached this terrific message one Sunday, and afterward, boy, the comments were terrific. There was one great comment after another. I was so glad to see the people realized it was an outstanding message.”
Then he went home. His wife was busy trying to get lunch on the table and the five kids seemed to be everywhere at once. Rather than “Welcome home, O great orator (or whatever else she might want to say),” he heard from the kitchen, “Honey, the baby’s dirty. Would you change him?” That’s the first comment he got when he got home. So he thought, “That’s an awfully lowly task for someone who just preached such a fantastic message.” But he got the baby cleaned up. Then his wife said, “The garbage needs to be dumped too. It’s been here for a couple of days.” He thought, “This is terrible.” But he did it.
Finally lunch was ready and the family came to the table, and sat down, ready to eat. My pastor friend said, “Well, what did you think of the message?” He was all ready for her to just go wild over it.
She said, “Honey, I heard them at the door today and they said enough to last for two weeks.” Sometime when you’re feeling important, Sometime when your ego’s way up; Sometime when you take it for granted That you are the prize-winning “pup;” Sometime when you feel that your absence Would leave an unfillable hole, Just follow these simple instructions, And see how it humbles you soul. Take a bucket and fill it with water, Put your hand in it up to your wrist. Now pull it out fast and the hole that remains Is the measure of how you’ll be missed. You may splash all you please as you enter, And stir up the water galore, But STOP and you’ll find in a minute, It’s back where it was before.
What to do: ! Remember that pride does come before destruction. Really, it does!!
I can usually judge a fellow by what he laughs at. Wilson Mizner
IBZAN
JANUARY 24
! Bible Reading: Judges 12:8-10 and Matthew 6:31-34 Key Verse: Judges 12:9 and Matthew 6:33- “vs9And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years. vs33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Key Words: verse 9: and he had thirty sons and thirty daughters Verse 33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God
Ibzan, the tenth judge of Israel, seemingly accomplished nothing other than finding mates for his family. Ibzan, according to some authors, gave his full concentration to family. Now, there’s certainly nothing wrong with spending time with our families, but that was not all Ibzan was called to do – nor is it all we are called to do. We each should focus more on that which is eternal rather than that which is temporary. Over the triple doorways of the cathedral of Milan there are three inscriptions spanning the splendid arches. Over one is carved a beautiful wreath of roses, and underneath it is the legend, “All that which pleases is but for a moment.” Over the other is sculptured a cross, and there are the words, “All that which troubles us is but for a moment.” But underneath the great central entrance to “That only is the main aisle is the inscription, “That only is important which is eternal.” important which If we always realize these three truths, we will is eternal.” not let trifles trouble us nor be interested so much in the passing pleasures of the hour. We should live for the permanent and the eternal. Evidently Ibzan didn’t apply this principle. I trust you will.
What to do: ! Spend time with your family; but remember, we are here to live for that which is eternal.
ELON
JANUARY 25
! Bible Reading: Judges 12:11-12 and Proverbs 14:23-27 Key Verse: Judges 12:11 and Proverbs 14:23- “vs11And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years. vs23In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.”
Key Words: verse 11: And after him Elon Verse 23: In all labour there is profit
Two things are said about Elon: he judged Israel for ten years; and Elon the Zebulonite died. Apparently all Elon did was twiddle his thumbs because we know “in all labor there is profit.” “In his book The Normal Christian Worker, the Chinese teacher Watchman Nee listed the character qualities needed for effective Christian service. Chapter one is devoted to “Diligence.” Noting that our Lord criticized the man in his parable in Matthew 25:24-30 as being both “wicked” and “slothful,” Nee warns his readers about laziness, saying: “Look at the apostles. How diligent they were! Think of the colossal amount of work Paul accomplished in a lifetime. See him traveling from place to place, preaching the gospel wherever he goes, or reasoning intently with individuals; even when he is put in prison he is still buying up opportunities – preaching to all who come in contact with him and writing to those from whom he has been cut off. Read what he writes to Timothy from prison: ‘Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season.’ Imprisonment might restrict Paul’s outward movements, but it could not limit the effectiveness of his ministry. What spiritual wealth he ministered through his prison epistles! There was not a shred of laziness about Paul; he was always taking time by the forelock.” Evidently Elon had no diligent spirit at all to accomplish things for God – which makes me wonder: what will people say and write about us years from now? What to do: ! Be diligent in your service for God.
ABDON
JANUARY 26
! Bible Reading: Judges 12:13-15 Key Verse: Judges 12:14- “And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.”
Key Words: And he had forty sons and thirty nephews
Abdon did nothing except “out-Jair” Jair. Talk about keeping up with the Jones family! As we have seen in chapter 10, Jair had thirty sons – but Abdon had forty sons and thirty nephews besides. It must have been quite a sight to see that man ride out of town with his sons and nephews on their donkeys. They call the little donkey the “mocking bird” or “lark” of the desert because he can really bray. Just think of all of those braying donkeys! That is all Abdon contributed. That isn’t much, friend. All of us leave behind a legacy, something for which we are remembered...reminds me of the concert impresario, Sol Hurok. He liked to say that Marian Anderson hadn’t simply grown great, she’d grown great simply. He says, “A few years ago a reporter interviewed Marian and asked her to name the greatest moment in her life. I was in her dressing room at the time and was curious to hear the answer. I knew she had many big moments to choose from. There was the night Toscanini told her that hers was the finest voice of the century. There was the private concert she gave at the White House for the Roosevelts and the King and Queen of England. She had received the $10,000 Bok Award as the person who had done the most for her home town, Philadelphia. To top it all, there was that Easter Sunday in Washington when she stood beneath the Lincoln statue and sang for a crowd of 75,000 which included Cabinet members, Supreme Court Justices, and most members of Congress. Which of those big moments did she choose?” “None of them,” said Hurok. “Miss Anderson told the reporter that the greatest moment of her life was the day she went home and told her mother she wouldn’t have to take in washing anymore.” What is the greatest moment of your life? What to do: ! Gather your family or your Sunday School class or your school class or some friends together and discuss the greatest moment of their lives.
SAMSON, THE NAZARITE
JANUARY 27
! Bible Reading: Judges 13 Key Verse: Judges 13:5- “For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”
Key Words: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God
The Nazarite vow consisted in a person consecrating his life to God for a fixed period. As for Samson, it was a lifelong vow. The vow consisted of abstaining from wine and the fruit of the vine from which wine could be produced. Secondly, a Nazarite was not to cut his hair. Now while Paul said it was a shame for a man to have long hair (I Corinthians 11:14), the vow of a Nazarite was to have long hair in order to bear the shame. Last of all, the Nazarite vow consisted of not going near a dead body as the dead body was considered unclean. This was a vow to keep God first, to keep oneself clean from worldly defilement, and to live humbly for God. It was a promise to God which Samson failed to keep. I am afraid today we are a lot like Samson: a lot of empty promises. Reminds me of a story: “A pilot and his navigator had been shot down and
were adrift at sea in their tiny lifeboat. After several days without food, water, and any hope of rescue, the pilot began to pray. He said, ‘God, you know I haven’t lived a very good life. I’ve been a miserable husband and a terrible father, I’ve cheated, lied and stolen, and haven’t had any use for the church. But God, if you’ll save us from dying out here, I promise I’ll never – .’ The navigator interrupted, ‘Don’t say another word! I think I see land!’” So before you get too hard on Samson, think about some of the promises you’ve made today which you’ve not kept!
What to do: ! Rededicate yourself to fulfill your “vows” to God.
SAMSON WENT DOWN
JANUARY 28
! Bible Reading: Judges 14 Key Verse: Judges 14:1- “And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.”
Key Words: And Samson went down
Anytime you’re going down, it’s never a good thing. Samson did several wrongs. First of all, he married a woman of the Philistines, no doubt marrying out of God’s will. Secondly, on his way to Timnath Samson was attacked by a lion, which he killed; but on his second journey to Timnath, he came across the carcass of this dead lion and found a swarm of bees and honey in it. He scooped the honey out and ate it- but remember his Nazarite vow – he was to have no contact with the dead, thus he broke his Nazarite vow to God. Samson had sinned. Today we try to be politically correct when talking about sin. We call it a mistake, an error in judgment, a slip, a weakness; but the truth is, it is sin. Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman told of a distinguished minister, Dr. Howard, from Australia who preached very strongly on the subject of sin. After the service, one of the church officers came to counsel with him in the study. “Dr. Howard,” he said, “we don’t want you to talk as openly as you do about man’s guilt and corruption, because if our boys and girls hear you discussing that subject they will more easily become sinners. Call it a mistake if you will, but do not speak so plainly about sin.” The minister took down a small bottle and showing it to the visitor said, “You see that label? It says strychnine – and underneath in bold, red letters the word ‘Poison’! Do you know, man, what you are asking me to do? You are suggesting that I change the label. Suppose I do, and paste over it the words, ‘Essence of Peppermint’, don’t you see what might happen? Someone would use it, not knowing the danger involved, and would certainly die. So it is, too, with the matter of sin. The milder you make your label, the more dangerous you make your poison!” Now isn’t that the truth? Today we need to love people and part of that love is being truthful and calling sin what it is – sin. What to do: ! Remember, it’s easier to go downhill than it is to go uphill.
THE JUDGE WHO MARRIED OUT OF GOD’S WILL
JANUARY 29
! Bible Reading: Judges 15 Key Verse: Judges 15:2- “And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion: is not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her.”
Key Words: I gave her to thy companion
There are two events in chapter fifteen which immediately grab our attention. The first event is when Samson catches three hundred foxes, ties their tails together and sets them on fire, sending them running through the Philistine corn fields. His second act that grabs our attention is when Samson takes the jawbone of an ass and slew a thousand Philistines. But understand, this conflict all began when he went down to Timnath and took a Philistine to be his wife. All of this began when he married out of God’s will. Four-year-old Suzie had just been told the story of “Snow White” for the first time in her life. She could hardly wait to get home from nursery school to tell her mommy. With wide-eyed excitement, she retold the fairy tale to her mother that afternoon. After relating how Prince Charming had arrived on his beautiful white horse and kissed Snow White back to life, Suzie asked loudly: “And do you know what happened then?” “Yes,” said her mom, “they lived happily ever after.” “No,” responded Suzie, with a frown,”...they got married.”
A lady wanted to marry four different men in her lifetime. She said each one would help her with the four things she needed the most. First, she wanted to marry a banker – second, a movie star – next, a clergyman – and finally, a funeral director. When asked why, she answered, “One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go!” Marrying out of God’s will is disastrous. Charles Wesley once said that his wedding day was the beginning of the worst days of his life. Marry in God’s will.
What to do before you marry: ! Get your parents’ approval of who you want to marry. ! Get your pastor’s approval. ! But most of all, make sure you have God’s approval.
THE JUDGE WHO LOST HIS POWER
JANUARY 30
! Bible Reading: Judges 16 Key Verse: Judges 16:20- “And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.”
Key Words: And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him
Everyone knows the story of Samson and Delilah. It just seems as though Samson couldn’t resist the Philistine women. So, now we find Samson with this Philistine harlot, Delilah, a choice which eventually leads to his death. The story and life of Samson is filled with sorrow, but to me the saddest part is when Samson was so far away from God that he didn’t even know that God had departed from him. I believe today we have many believers who sit in our church pews in just such a spiritual condition as Samson. They are trying to fight spiritual battles never realizing the power of God has departed from them because they are living in sin. How sad!! Reminds me of a story I read recently. “In his book Spiritual Stamina, Stuart Briscoe tells the story of a man who bought a new computer. Bringing his new prize home, he carefully opened the box, gingerly took the machine out, studied its manual, and connected the wires. Eagerly he flipped on the power switch – but nothing happened. Puzzled, the man switched the computer off and rechecked all the connections. He rounded up a screwdriver and fastened the wires more securely. He read again the relevant portion of the manual. Satisfied that he’d followed directions, he flipped the computer on – and again nothing happened. As his anger rose, the man’s little girl walked into the room. “’Hi, Daddy!’ her cheery voice rang out. ‘What a pretty computer! Can I plug it in?’” I trust today you are plugged in to the right power source. What to do: ! Evaluate your power source today. ! How’s your prayer life? Are you living with unconfessed sin? ! Are you currently living in sin? ! Do you have a close relationship with God? Do you walk with Him and talk with Him and witness for Him? ! Is your relationship with fellow believers right?
Pastor’s Note: The Scripture does not specifically state that Delilah was a Philistine, but she lived in the valley of Sorek (verse 4) which was a region of Philistine-held territory.
THE GREATEST JUDGE
JANUARY 31
! Bible Reading: John 5:19-47 Key Verse: John 5:22- “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:”
Key Words: hath committed all judgment unto the Son
Dr. John Phillips, who recently went home to be with the Lord, said about John 5:22: “The fact that the Lord Jesus is the universal judge means that He has personal knowledge of all the countless human beings in all the ages of history. He has detailed acquaintance with the endless variety of circumstances of each and every individual. He knows the character of each one of us. He knows our motives, opportunities, hidden passions, mental ability, thoughts, desires, words, acts. He knows the lasting influence for better or for worse of our every act and look. Moreover, He has a perfect grasp of all the laws of God by which to judge the world. And He has the absolute right to pass eternal sentence, with no court of appeal and with no cases missed. In other words, the Lord was claiming, in no uncertain terms, to be God over all.” Dr. Arthur Glasser quotes an anonymous rabbi who has said, “A time is coming for all men when they will either wish they were born again, or wish they had never been born at all.” Batesville, Arkansas, resident Johnny Harrington lost his mother in 1991. Before the funeral he threw a party for his dead mother. He propped her up in the casket and put a beer in one hand and a cigarette in her other hand. When questioned about what he had done, he simply said, “I did exactly what she told me to – and I would do it again.” Although many would not espouse to Mr. Harrington’s actions, many are adopting his trivialized view of death. Hebrews 9:27 reminds us that a beer can and a cigarette aren’t what await us after death. No one will escape standing before the greatest of all judges. The question is: Will you stand before Him at the Judgment Seat as a believer or at the Great White Throne as a non-believer? The choice is yours.
What to do: ! Live your life as if the judge is watching, because He is.
I deeply appreciate the help of Laurie Blankenship Trisha Bookout Kathy Endicott Cathy Fortenberry Sandy Lancaster Cathy Lang Pam Lee Marie Moore Mary Parsons John and Tascha Piatt Reba Pontbriand And my lovely wife, Linda
Without God using these people to help this devotional would not have been possible.
Dr. Mike Rouse