Judges 6:15 - Weakness

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” Judges 6:15

How do you see yourself? Are you a winner? Are you strong and confident? These are traits seen as important. To get to the top of your game/career, you have to have these qualities. These are what make the people who are the upper echelon of society. But are they important to God? God can use anyone. He can use the strong and he can use the weak. Sometimes he chooses to use the weak so his power can be seen all the more. Gideon is made a judge for the Israelites not because of his strength, but because of his weakness. He didn't even have great faith because he asks God for several signs to reassure him and possibly those around him that he, Gideon, was to lead this battle to defeat the Midianites.

Lord, Thank you for loving us and using us regardless of our strength or weakness. Please help us to listen for your calling and be open to doing your will. Amen.

Judges 4:8-9 - Mighty warrior women

Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”  “Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. Judges 4:8-9

I love the story of Deborah. Of the 12 judges God raises during this time period, only one is a woman. It is amazing to me that any women are included in this list, considering this time in history. Israel has again done evil and are in captivity. Deborah tells Barak the Lord commands him to go in to battle to rescue the Israelites. He agrees to, but only if she agrees to go. Barak must have had a great deal of confidence in Deborah and her connection to the Lord. Deborah tells him Sisera, the leader of the opposing army, will be delivered into the hands of a woman. Deborah is not talking about herself. In the heat of the battle, Sisera runs off and hides in the tent of a woman. Jael knows who he is, agrees to hide him, then when he is asleep, hammers a tent peg into his skull!

Lord, Thank you for seeing the strength and potential in each of us. Please use us in whatever way you see fit to do your will. Amen.

Judges 3:12 - Sin cycle

Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and because they did this evil the Lord gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel. Judges 3:12

All through the book of Judges, a pattern repeats itself. Israel does evil. God allows them to be defeated or sold into slavery. They cry out to God. God sends them a savior, a judge who rescues them and brings them back to God, They follow God while that judge is alive. Then Israel returns to evil and the cycle repeats itself again. Sins have a way of coming back around. In the case of the Israelites, this usually happened over a generation or more, but this happens to individuals within their lifecycle. Sometimes this cycle, in smaller ways, happens several times a day. To stop a sin cycle, we have to realize it is happening and consciously make a decision to make it stop.

Lord, Thank you for giving your people so many chances to repent. Please help us to realize the sin cycles happening in our lives and please make them stop. Amen. 

Judges 2:10 - The next generation

After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Judges 2:10

While Joshua was alive, the Israelites followed the Lord. Verse 7 states, "The people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel." But what about the next generation? Why were they not faithful? Why didn't they know the Lord? As a Christian, it is my responsibility to not only remain faithful and bring glory to God, but also to teach the next generation about the Lord and what he has done for me.

Lord, Thank you for giving us salvation through Jesus blood. Please help us to share our faith with our children and the children around us. Amen.

Judges 1:1 - Ask The Lord

After the death of Joshsua, the Israelites asked the Lord, "Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Canaanites?" Judges 1:1

In a class on the Judges, it was pointed out that this is the ony time in this book where the Israelites asked for the guidance of the Lord. Judah is the answer, but Judah asks another tribe to go into battle with them, so even this is not fully followed. How often do we ask for the guidance of God? I often praise him, thank him, and make requests, but rarely do I ask for specific guidance. Which should I do first? When should I do this? Who can help me with this? I think God will find a way to communicate to us if we ask for ears to hear and eyes to see his answer.

Lord, Thank you for allowing us to come to you for guidance. Please help us to think first of asking you when we are making decisions. Amen

Judges 6:1a - Again!

The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord...

Again!! The Israelite journey with God is full of rebellion and return. I've been told 40 years was about the longest time the Israelites in the Old Testament were ever continuously faithful as a people. The strongholds of sin are difficult to break free from. My sisters and I have all struggled with food issues and we are studying the book "Breaking Free" by Beth Moore. The beginning of a new year is always a good time to start a new study.

Lord, thank you for giving us the opportunity to start over. Please help us to break free from our strongholds. Amen.

Psalm 82:1 - A verse for TODAY!!

God presides in the great assembly;

     he renders judgment among the “gods”:

This is a very timely verse. I was a little confused by this psalm, so I checked on some commentaries to help me out. In the verse above "gods" refer to human rulers and judges. This verse reassures us that God is in control. Those in power answer to a higher power, a judge of judges. The rest of Psalm 82 gives instruction to those in power and reminds them of how little they know. Verse 5 states: “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken." Sounds like our current election situation...

Lord, Thank you for presiding over the "gods" of this earth. Please help our rulers and judges. Amen.