Judges

Rebellious, Unfaithful Children

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And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not Him.  And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon. And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.  Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.  And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.”

Judges 10:6-10

The book of Judges does not encourage us so much as other books of the Bible do.  Judges shows us a people of God who are not always faithful to Him, and are, in fact very rebellious.

When things are going good they turn away from God, but when they find themselves having trouble with a neighbor or an enemy  they cry out to God,  Every time God hears them, and sometimes He tells them, “Go and pray to the ones you have been worshiping (Judges 10:14).  God even tells them “Not this time.”  Yet the people recognize their rebellion, their sin of departing from God, and are seeking Him, and God sends them a deliverer.

As a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ I am so thankful for these true stories of the struggles of faith God’s people seem to continually.  Day after day, week after week,  month after month, and year after year; they struggle, fall, fail – then they cry out to the LORD, and He hears them and delivers them.

I have no right to criticize God’s people of the Bible days.  I see myself in too many of them.  Gideon was a man who was not real brave, but God’s angel called him “Valiant.”  Gideon accomplished what God called him to do.  He sinned in his later years, yet is a hero of the faith.  I will never be seen as a hero of the faith.  I can also see myself in Samson, a lusty, act without thought, angry man.

I am also thankful that God has delivered me from those things through Jesus Christ.  He died for me (the world) going willingly to die on the cross, was buried, and He rose again; and when I came to Him He gave me a new heart for Him, His word, and sealed me to Himself by giving me His Spirit; the Holy Spirit; who is Christ in you (Colossians 1:27.  He, by grace, keeps me.  He gave me a heart and mind that is growing more and more into hating what He hates.  He has not delivered me from the penalty of sin, so that I can sin more; He has saved me to live a righteous life for His glory.

Will you call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life today?

A Woman’s Power

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Why is it that there are some women who want to be equal with men? There are even a few women who want to be a man; which is sadder still.

Women  have a power over men they sometimes do not realize they have.  We are looking today at a part of Deborah’s Song.  Deborah was one of the judges of the book of Judges where we find our text for today.

Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.  He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.  She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.  At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.
Judges 5:24-27

I have said for years that “Women rule the world,” and what I mean by that is women who are wives of men in leadership positions have a great influence on what kind of policies, procedures, and who they get for their aids.  A whisper in the ear of the husband can get quite a few things moving, in the home, and at the office.

A woman’s power can be for good, or for evil.  For a comparison example think about Deborah who’s song we are looking at; and Jezebel who was king Ahab’s wife in years to follow.   Deborah led the army of Israel to defeat of Amelek  (Judges 4 and 5); and Jezebel framed an innocent vineyard owner, so her husband could have his vineyard (1 Kings 21).

It was not a man whom God used to defeat this enemy of Israel, in a time “when everyone did what was right in their own eyes”  (Judges 17:6 and 21:25).  There is also another woman who is mentioned, and her name in Jael.  Sisera the commanding officer of Jabins Canaanite army ran from his stuck chariot found himself, in what he thought was a friendly face.  He asked for water, and she gave milk.  When Sisera had gone to sleep she put a tent peg through his head.

Ladies you have a great power over men that you must use rightly.  The husband of a wife needs to be humble enough to realize when his wife, in love, is suggesting something good, and/or is giving words of instruction.

Women do have power to affect things for good, or for evil.  The godly woman will lead others to faith in Christ Jesus.  She will lead her children, teaching them of God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit; and she will also be a faithful wife to her husband.  She will live an exemplary life.

Debora lead when no man would.  There are  women who are like that now.  It is a sad thing, though when a woman must take lead when a man is supposed to.

The faith in Christ Jesus is available to all who will humbly call on the precious name of Jesus.  He died for our sins, was buried, then He was raised from the dead.  He live today.

When The LORD Is Not Our King

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In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. Judges 17:6
In those days there was no king in Israel… Judges 18:1
And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah. Judges 19:1
In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25

Four verses from the final five chapters of the book of Judges shows us the peril of living our lives without God, and not following His direction.

Chapter 17 begins with a young man by the name of Micah who has stolen his mother’s silver, gives it back to her, and she rewards him by having the silver molded into an idol, which shows us that Israel gone away from the LORD God. It seems they still incorporate the name of God in their worship, but along side and idol. God is not their King.

Micah had also hired a Levite to be his personal priest, and this shows us the fallen nature of what was supposed to be a spiritual leader of the nation. Men from the tribe of Dan, come and take the idols of Micah, and take his  hired priest as well worshiping in like fashion as chapter 18 says. God is not their King.

In the next chapter we have a Levite with a concubine, later called his wife, who is unfaithful to him, and she goes to her father. This again shows the fallen condition of the Levitical priesthood. When this Levite goes after his wife at her father’s house he meets his father in law, and they get along quite well, the Levite staying  four days or so, before going back to his home in Ephraim. When the man and woman do leave they encounter some vile and wicked men of the tribe of Benjamin who are abominable men, who come to their host for the night, and ask to have the Levite to abuse him.

One thing that is despicable to me is that the Levite throws his wife to the beasts outside. The beasts abuse her all night long, and the man finds his wife dead, with her hand on the threshhold of the door. Depravity, murder, and abomination all because God is not their King.

There is such a hatred in our nation toward the One who created the heavens and the earth. We live in a day when everything is deemed as good, except when it comes to what is right and wrong, what is godly and righteous. God, and His Son Jesus Christ, are revered and trusted by many in lip service, but their hearts are far from Him. God is not King. Everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes.

When someone stands for God and righteousness they are often rebuked, accused of intolerance, and hatred for exposing what is evil. When God is King righteousness, justice, and holiness will prevail, and evil will be put away.

It must begin in the heart of men and women who will come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ who gave His life, dying for the sins of the world. He was buried to take away our sins and leave them in the depths of the sea, and as far as east is from the west. Then, He rose from the grave, alive forever more. On the cross He defeated sin, death, and hell. When you place your heart, your whole being into His hands you receive a new heart, and He changes your life, your outlook on life, and live for Him. Make Him your King today.

Gideon’s Sons

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And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull.
Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren: and all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
Judges 9:53, 56-57

In order to know what is going on with these verses you will need to read all of  chapter nine of the book of Judges.

Abimelech is one of the 70 or so of Gideon’s sons. Gideon is also known as Jerubbaal. Abimelech has a desire to be king even though his father has said the he, nor his sons would rule Israel (Judges 8:23). He kills all the other sons of Jerubbaal, except one who is named Jotham.

In chapter nine is parable spoken by Jotham warning Abimelech and Israel his evil leadership, of his life’s end. The parable is about trees searching for a tree to rule over them; they go to the olive tree, the fig tree, and are rejected. They are rejected by all the trees until they get to a bramble bush who accepts the invitation.

In our text above we see Abimelech being killed by a woman who has thrown a mill stone down on his head, then he cries out to another man to finish him with a sword, because he did not want it said, “Abimelech was killed by a woman.”

It was an evil thing that Abimelech had done in the murder of 70 of his own brothers, and out of a lust for power. The main message here is that God watches over His people, and carries out His word, and the curse of Jotham was fulfilled.

God’s word stands sure. It should be the Christians confidence, our encouragement, and draw our strength from God in the reading, study, and personal application of the word of God in our lives. The books of the Old Testament – the Law, the History, the Wisdom books, the Major Prophets, and the Minor Prophets are the word of God. The books of the New Testament – The Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; the Acts, the Epistles of Paul, and all the rest through the Revelation are the words of the Lord. We must learn them, hear them, and do them. Especially as we see the day of the LORD drawing nearer.

The written word of God shows us who Jesus is. He was before Abraham, Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I Am” (John 8:58). So Jesus Himself is declaring that He is God. He is also our Lord and Savior who died on the cross for our sins, becoming sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). When He died, He was buried, and three days later He rose again, and walked out of the cold ugly tomb. Through Him there is Life, and Life Eternal with Him.

Turning, Turning, Turning, and Turning Again

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And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god. And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side: neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.
Judges 8:33-35

Reading the history of Israel in the book of judges ought to remind us how fickle we people of Adam’s race really is. At this point we read of judges, men, and a woman whom God used to deliver Israel from their tormentors, again and again.

They are loyal and faithful to the LORD while they are following the leadership of the faithful judge, but as soon as he/she is dead they go back into bondage.

Notice where bondage begins. It begins when the people of God turn their backs on God, and live their own way, in their own truth, and worship a god, a demon of their own making. Turning away from their glory in the LORD. They are again in the bondage and iniquity of sin.

When things are going smoothly, with no conflict, and things are comfortable; look out for turning away from God. When we are blessed, and everything seems right, if we are not aware, we need to beware of our position with the LORD, at all times. We also need to continue remembering the LORD our God through all times.

Jesus Christ is the way to God. He is the only way to God. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). The sacrifice of His life on the cross dying for our sins, His burial, and resurrection is the way to life, and eternal life. The only way to being forgiven all of your sins, being made  clean, and clothed in the righteousness of Christ. He is also the only way that we can remain faithful and loyal to Him through every situation and circumstance we encounter in life. We will not be sinless in this life, but because of our faith in Christ when God sees us He sees us as forgiven, clean, and righteous because He sees the blood of His Son Jesus.

Yes, we can still be fickle in and about things, even our faith. When we sin Jesus is our Advocate with the Father. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

When we find ourselves turning away from the LORD, let us immediately turn back to Him.

They Lifted Up Their Voice, and Wept

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Do people weep anymore? Do people cry over their own vile and wicked ways? Does anyone even care?

And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, “I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers;” and I said, “I will never break My covenant with you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed My voice: why have ye done this?” Wherefore I also said, “I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.” And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.
Judges 2:1-5

The children of Israel had failed to do all that the LORD had told them to do. They were commanded to drive out the inhabitants of the land they took possession of; they did not do that in many cases. Reading chapter one we read that the enemy “Had chariots of iron,” so they could not drive them out. Some kept the enemy captives, and as servants/slaves, and this was disobedience to the LORD.

If you will notice three things in the text above:

1. The LORD reminds the people that He brought them up out of the land of Egypt delivering them from hundreds of years of slavery there. That is to remind them, and future generations; even believers/followers of Jesus Christ, that we have been given an even greater deliverance from sin;

2. The LORD reminds them that He will never break His covenant with us; and He does not ever do so. However, that covenant has a clause that says they are to believe Him, trust Him, through obedience in love for Him, so if the child of God gets out of the way and will of God, some discipline, chastisement takes place. So we must take notice of the danger for the follower of Jesus Christ. He does not break His covenant with us, and He will chastise us when we do not love Him enough to obey His word;

3. The LORD’S word to Israel was that the LORD would drive out the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, as long as they were obedient to the commandments of the LORD and not take captives, but to destroy their altars, their idols – their worship of demons; because that is what it is to worship any so called god, made by the hands of men. Now the LORD says, “I will not drive them out from before you, they shall be thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.” The LORD wants to bless His people; however, He cannot look upon iniquity.

Jeremiah the prophet told the people of his day “”Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that My fear is not in thee,” saith the Lord GOD of hosts (Jeremiah 2:19). We do need to realize that our sin offends God. When the child of God realizes sin is an offense to the LORD, that should cause us to weep until we draw near to Him (James 4:8).

One must first come to God through His Son Jesus Christ who became sin for us on the cross, receiving God’s wrath for us. He died in our place, was buried, and He rose again, and when we trust Him alone for salvation, He gives us His righteousness, and a place in eternity with Him.

We Have Sinned

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Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.  And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against Thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.” And the LORD said unto the children of Israel,
“Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?  The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to Me, and I delivered you out of their hand. Yet ye have forsaken Me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.  Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.”
And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, “We have sinned: do Thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto Thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.”  And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.
Judges 10:9-17

When GOD Is Not Heard, and Obeyed

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And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.  And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, “Whither goest thou, and whence comest thou?”  And he said unto him, “We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.  Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.”  And the old man said, “Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.”  So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.
Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.” And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, “Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly. Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.” But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.
Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was, till it was light. And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold. And he said unto her, “Up, and let us be going.” But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.
Judges 19:16-28

But My people would not hearken to My voice; and Israel would none of Me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
Psalm 81:11-12

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Proverbs 17:15

The Consequences of Playing With Sin

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And she said unto him, “How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? Thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.” And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; that he told her all his heart, and said unto her, “There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”  And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.  And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.  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.
Judges 16:15-20

For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: that the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments: and might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
Psalm 78:5-8

A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
Proverbs 16:9

What Is Missing?

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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.        Judges 16:20

What is missing Samson? He did not realize that he no longer had the LORD with him.

There are a lot of things Samson did that was a sin against God. Eating things that his Nazarite vow forbade him to eat, such as the honey from the dead carcass of the lion he had killed with his bare hands. He loved a Philistine woman which was not even the right thing to do for any Israelite, and he took up with all sorts of womanizing. Yet, God was with him… at least until his hair was cut by a deceitful, lying, schemer named Delilah.

Now, I am not approving of Samson’s actions, but of the presence and power of God on him, until God was not there, as he sadly assumed.

Samson is like many of us. He is a popular Biblical character, even today. Maybe that is because we can identify with him too much.

There are many cases in the Bible where people assumed that God was with them, and they found out in a very frightful way, that He was not. For example Numbers 14:40-45 where after rebelling against the LORD to enter the land of Canaan, they rebel again by trying to enter after they have been forbidden to do so.

We never do things like that do we? Ha Ha! When the LORD leaves us it is not so much that the LORD leaves, it is that we have left Him.

As Samson’s hair began to grow and he was growing nearer to the LORD in his blindness, the LORD gives him victory over the enemy of Israel (Judges 16:23-31) when he called on the name of the LORD (Judges 16:28), and the LORD heard him.

No matter what we may do in life that causes us to separate from God He is working to bring us back to Himself.

If you do not know God through His Son Jesus Christ you have no idea what I am writing about. You can by calling on the name of Jesus  who died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and He rose again. He will then be with you everyday from now through eternity.

We Have Sinned

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And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, “We have sinned: do Thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto Thee; deliver us only, we pray Thee, this day.”  And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. Judges 10:15-16

When was the last time you heard the preacher say, “We have sinned”? The mention of sin conjures up all kinds of thoughts in the hearts and minds of all of Adam’s race. We have sinned. Not one of us can say that we have not sinned. If there is a soul that says such a thing calls God a liar, and the truth is not in him (1 John 1:10).

The children of Israel, during the days of the Judges would live for God while a good Judge was alive, yet, as soon as that Judge died they, as a nation turned from God to idols, and lived accordingly. These things are written for our example; ways that we should not live (1 Corinthians 10:6-11), and learn to practice the good things as they  yielded their lives to the LORD.

I am so thankful for the sacrifice of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who lived without sin, and went willingly to the cross taking my place and yours in paying the sin debt that we owed to God. He took the wrath of His Father, that was due us, and died, was buried, and He then rose again declaring the victory over sin, death, and the grave for our justification.

We have sinned. There is a Savior for all who will call on the name of Jesus Christ Son of the Living God.

The Positive and Negative Promises of GOD

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And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.  And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and He sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.  Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.                 Judges 2:13-15

We love the promises of God. There are many who have plaques hanging on the walls of their homes and their offices; maybe even the dashboards of their cars.

Let me ask a question here. It is a question I have asked myself as I read the Scriptures. Aren’t the promises of God everything He has said? Doesn’t the promises of God include the curses God will bring on His people because of our disobedience? I guess that is two questions, but are they not very much linked together.

Yet it seems to me that we neglect these negative aspects, thoughts, and power of His promises. No one that I have ever seen hang the negative promises on their fridge, or the dashboards of their can; and you never see a bumper sticker with one of those.

What we need to do is hear all the promises of God, because just as we see GOD judging, punishing, disciplining the children of Israel – according to His promises – so will He keep His promises, negative and positive for His children today.

You can read some of the blessings and curses of God’s promises in Leviticus 26, and Deuteronomy 29.

The writer of the book of Hebrews said, “If you are without chastisement… then you are illigetimate, and not sons” Hebrews 12:8. That itself is a promise that I love. It assures me of God’s unending , enduring love.

When There is no Rule of Law

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Tim A.'s avatarShiloah Baptist Church

Please read Judges 17 – 19 for today…

“Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was, till it was light. And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.”  Judges 19:26-27 (KJB)

It is stated at least three times in Judges that there was no king in Israel.  Chapters 19:1 and 21:25 are two of those references.  Since there was no king there was no direct human guidance for any law.  We must remember the people of Israel did have God’s law, and they had strayed in horrible fashion.

When there is no rule of law people become a a…

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From Whence does Your Strength Come?

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Tim A.'s avatarShiloah Baptist Church

Read about Samson in Judges 14 – 16…

“And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, ‘O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray Thee, and strengthen me, I pray Thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.'”  Judges 16:28 (KJB)

The man knew from whence his strength came.  Do you?  We often give credit to our physical health, and weight lifting, and exercise. We have even been known to give all the credit to doctors and such. Samson may have thought it came from his hair.

Samson was probably a strong man physically, but he was not a “Super power”.  He had been give a gift from God, and from birth.

His parents only child.  He was promised to them by the LORD, and they took the Nazarite vow for him, which included never cutting his hair, and…

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His Name, Wonderful

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Tim A.'s avatarShiloah Baptist Church

Please read Judges 11 – 13…

“And the Angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after My name, seeing it is secret?” Judges 13:18 (KJB)

“And the Angel of the LORD said to him, ‘Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?” (NKJB)

The Angel of the LORD had appeared to the woman who was the wife of Manoah, and he was working in the field.  They had no children, now, the Man had came and told her they were going to have a son.

This Man was none other than the pre-incarnate Son of God, God the Son with all power, wisdom, and knowledge of the Godhead.  He is worshiped.  Manoah is directed, commanded to offer the sacrifice to God, and it seems that He was inferring to Manoah that He was more than a man.

What is the deal about His name? …

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Much Needed Repentance

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Tim A.'s avatarShiloah Baptist Church

Please read for today Judges 9 – 10…

“And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, ‘We have sinned: do Thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto Thee; deliver us only, we pray Thee, this day.'” Judges 10:15  (KJB)

Since the death of Gideon the tribes of Israel had grossly strayed from the path the LORD had laid out for them, and had turned to the worship of foreign gods, which means they had turned their backs on the LORD.  The LORD God was the One who had delivered them from Egypt, gave them deliverance through crossing the Red Sea, provided water from the Rock, given them manna for bread in the wilderness, and protected them from many enemies in their journey.  Yet they had gone astray in the land of Promise.

Reading chapters 9 – 10 of Judges we find departure, defeat, and chaos.  They are distressed by…

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The LORD Shall Rule

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Tim A.'s avatarShiloah Baptist Church

For your reading please read Judges 7 – 8…

“And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.”  Judges 8:23 (KJB)

It seems that the idea of having royalty or a monarchy is a romantic idea in many, if not most societies.  It was so in the very early days of Israel’s conquering, and divisions of Canaan.

We look at Gideon today, of whom Judges 8:23 speaks.  He was very successful because of God’s power and direction in his life, and for no other reason; as a judge – deliverer.  The people desired him to be their king, and his son, thus to establish a dynasty in the kingdom.  That, however, was not God’s will or intent for that time.

There is no need for royalty of men when men will submit to the rule…

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Women of Bravery

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Tim A.'s avatarShiloah Baptist Church

In your Bible Reading today please read Judges 4 – 6..

“So let all Thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love Him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.”  Judges 5:31 (KJB)

The above verse is the final verse of the Song of Deborah.  The song was sung by Deborah, one of the Judges-Saviors of Israel whom God called and used to deliver Israel from bondage of the surrounding enemies who caused them much sorrow and grief – in loss of crops, animals, etc..  This was due to Israel’s disobedience to the LORD’S commands to rid and destroy all the inhabitants of the land, and the cities.

Deborah was not the only woman involved in this story, this victory over this enemy, Sisera.  She had chosen Bara to go to war, but he did not feel…

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The Chastening of the LORD

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Tim A.'s avatarShiloah Baptist Church

Please read Judges 1 – 3…

“And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which He commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.”  Judges 3:4  (KJB)

How the enemy gets his foot in our door, and into the house is evident from the reading of the morning.

It begins in an unbelieving heart; not believing what God has said, not practicing what He says, and teaching of the children is neglected (Judges 2:10); for they did not know the LORD.

These [children] not only neglected to rid the land and cities they had conquered of their evil inhabitants, but began practicing their evil religion and worshiped the false gods of the land.  It is a good thing to know that God will work in and with His children in disciplining them to get them where He desires…

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When GOD’S Children Go Astray

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There is too much false teaching going around.  Teaching which says to us everyday… Live the way you want to, do your own thing, do not worry about it…  God is a loving God.   He does not judge.  He loves.

If a confessor of Jesus Christ can live in sin, and live without shame, guilt, or condemnation; or the judgment of God; then that being is not a child of God.  God works in His children; correcting, instructing, convicting when we sin.  And if we sin, and refuse to repent; that is, change our minds toward Him; then there will be judgment in accordance with that sin.

Hear what the Spirit of God says in the book of Judges…

“And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: and they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.”  Judges 2:11-13 (KJV)

Every Christian today loves the positive promises of the Old Testament; but very often forget about the warnings, and the judgments on the people of God.  If you will genuinely read the Scriptures and hear what God says you will be able to see and hear what God expects from us… To love the LORD our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength.  Israel; in the verses above turned their backs on God to foreign gods, which were no gods; just wood, and stone.  And we think we live in a civilized and god-fearing culture and society.

Many professing Christians have turned to the worship of Baal, by accepting other religious gods and believes; trusting more in our technology, medicine, finances, and global unity.  Then they begin following the godesses of Canaan [Ashtaroth], in immoral, filthy behavior; acting more like animal beings, than the One who created them.  The writer of Psalm 115 and 135 says, “They that make them are like unto them; so is everyone that trusts in them”  115:8, and 135:18.  Become like what you worship if you will, but I pray you choose Jesus the Son of God, God the Son.

If you are in sin, and are convicted of its wrong Jesus is waiting to receive you back; to cleanse you, and restore you to fellowship with Him.  If you feel no remorse or guilt for your sin; maybe until now, then call on the name of Jesus, He died on the cross for you, was buried, and He rose again; He will hear you and forgive you, and cleanse you; and give you the new birth that is only through faith in Him.

Something from the New Testament to remember…

“For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” Hebrews 12:6-8

Turn to the Lord, believe His word, and live by it.  Cleanse your heart.  Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.

No King, No Rule; Anarchy

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“In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25 (KJV)

Please remember chapter 17 verse six; 18:1, and 19:1 as we look at the above verse. It seems the final five chapters of Judges shows very clearly what happens when there is no “king”; no rule of law, nor prophetic revelation from God heard, and heeded.

When people think they can rule themselves; especially without God, then there will be chaos in the end.

In a note from my daily journal I wrote of this verse,

Judges shows what happens when there is no rule; especially when they choose not to let God rule; but go their own way. It also shows that God is merciful and gracious, and provides a way for those who call on Him from a broken and contrite heart.

This story continues even into 1 Samuel. It is seen in Ruth 1 when Elimelech takes Naomi, and his two sons to Moab; and there Elimelech and his two sons die. O the sorrow we place on our families because we go our own way, doing what is right in our own eyes.

BUT, we have a Saviour, and His name is Jesus.

On the Threshold

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“Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was, till it was light. And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.” Judges 19:26-27 (KJV)

In reading this story of chapter 19; and I do recommend that you would do so; you will notice that three previous verses have noted that “there was no king in Israel in those days” (17:6; 18:1; 19:1). Which tells us basically that there was no law. The final verse of Judges 21 adds to those words, “…every man did that which was right in his own eyes”.

Another verse of Scripture to think on, and I give the NKJV rendering of is,

“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
But happy is he who keeps the law.” Proverbs 29:18 (NKJV)

And so with that in mind we can get a grasp of the vile acts, and consequences of this chapter.

In these events we can see how cheap human life was. That men would throw a woman out to voracious wolves (evil men) to save their own house and lives is next to unthinkable for many men in our day. Yet we are not innocent.

Women and children are fed to the wolves of our society through, husbands, and men who think they own their woman, through sex slavery and human trafficking. Is there any difference? Wives and children live in abusive situations; and treated like property rather than special human beings.

The hands of women and children are on the thresholds of homes today. For some it is too late (like the woman in our story). For others (for the living) there is hope in the cross of Jesus Christ.

If you are one of those people who live in the U.S. of A. and think that slavery is over. You are mistaken; you are deceived. You are part of the problem, need some education on the matter. I know that I need more.

Those of us who are Christian men must commit our lives to Christ, to become more like Him, love Him, His word, and have His compassion for women and children; and be men of God through Him.

The people of this world are enslaved to sin. They go after their own way. We all need a Saviour, and His name is Jesus. He is also the King.

The Pentitents Prayer

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“And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray Thee, and strengthen me, I pray Thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.” Judges 16:28-30 (KJV)

The Philistines were the enemy of Israel. They worshipped false deities, and defied the God of Israel, Jehovah. They really thought they had conquered Israel and their God by blinding and capturing their Judge, their saviour. How could Samson save them now.

Samson, the rascal that he was, the sinner that he was realized that without GOD he could do nothing. He had violated his vow. He had been impure, unholy, deceitful, wicked in his life and living. The blind man was blinded by his enemies having his eyes burned from their sockets.

As his hair began to grow, the Philistines in their eagerness to display their victim, defy Jehovah, and celebrate victory, a supposed victory; brought Samson into their grand cathedral of Dagon their god; to mock, and ridicule him and the GOD of Israel.

As the people are loudly mocking, jeering, laughing; Samson prays to the Lord GOD, and God hears him.

There is no level of one’s life that we can reach where God will not hear the cry of the penitent. You may think that you have sinned beyond God’s forgiveness. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary paid the debt for all our sin.

In sorrow for your sin, cry out to the Saviour Jesus and He will hear your cry and forgive your sin.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

Wondrous Act of the LORD

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“So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the Angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on. For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the Angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground. But the Angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that He was an Angel of the LORD. And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God. But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, He would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would He have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these.” Judges 13:19-23 (KJV)

Manoah had been prepared to offer a sacrifice unto a mere human messenger; but in verses 15-16 the LORD corrects Manoah, and directs him to offer the sacrifice unto Jehovah. When he does the offering is accepted.

This is a Theophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ appearing as the Angel of the LORD.

This appearance is to tell Manoah and his wife of the coming conception and birth of their son Samson. He was to be dedicated to the LORD; refraining from the fruit of the vine, wines, and from any unclean foods, and his hair was to grow long. Samson was to be a Nazarite under a vow to the LORD.

Up to this point of their encounter with the Angel of the LORD they had only viewed him as a “Man of God”, when they offered to make an offering the Angel of the LORD says to them, “You must offer it to the LORD” (13:16). Where we are told in these verses that the “Angel of the LORD did wondrously” it would seem that that would mean He received the offering; approving it by fire. Then ascending up in the flame Himself. Thus Manoah’s and his wife’s falling on their faces to the ground in an act of worship

Manoah fears death after the LORD’S acceptance of their offering; yet his wife assures him that should not be the case. Manoah’s fear shows that he saw this Angel of the LORD as an appearance of God.

The Lord has appeared to mankind in the person of His Son Jesus to die for our sins, be buried, and rise bodily from the grave; putting away our sins for all eternity. Truly the LORD has done Wondrously.

GOD’S Justice

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“Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren: and all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.” Judges 9:56-57 (KJV)

Jerubbaal is Gideon (Judges 7:1). Who had at least seventy sons, and one by a concubine (Judges 8:30-31) whose name was Abimelech, and he was evidently very jealous of the other sons of Gideon.

Gideon would not accept the position of ruler of Israel; he said “The LORD shall rule over you (8:23). He never intended for any of his sons to be ruler, yet that was what Abimelech desired; and he killed all the sons of Gideon, except for Jotham (9:5).

Jotham warned the people of the plight of Abimelech (vv. 7-21). The above verses confirm that what he said came to pass. There is a Just Reward for all who will destroy those whom God has blessed; and that reward is death.

Lust for power in rule is a sad thing, yet our world is full of it. It is seen in homes, churches, local governments, State governments, Federal governments; and it comes from an evil heart. Even a redeemed heart who leads must keep guard against this lust to rule people.  Jesus warned His disciples against seeking to be “first”, and He said if one wanted to do so to be a servant (Mark 9:35).

As followers of Christ, Christians, let us have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:1-7) who did not seek to be served but to serve, and give His life a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). The Just Reward for following Christ is eternal life; given by God’s grace.