Today’s Reading: Judges 17-18; Psalm 76

There was a man named Micah, who lived in the hill country of Ephraim. One day he said to his mother, “I heard you place a curse on the person who stole 1,100 pieces of silver from you. Well, I have the money. I was the one who took it.”

“The Lord bless you for admitting it,” his mother replied. He returned the money to her, and she said, “I now dedicate these silver coins to the Lord. In honor of my son, I will have an image carved and an idol cast.”

So when he returned the money to his mother, she took 200 silver coins and gave them to a silversmith, who made them into an image and an idol. And these were placed in Micah’s house. Micah set up a shrine for the idol, and he made a sacred ephod and some household idols. Then he installed one of his sons as his personal priest. — Judges 17:1-5

Proud of her son, Micah’s mother called on the Lord to bless her son for his truthfulness and restitution. She said she was going to use the coins as a dedication to the Lord, but instead she turned around and made it all about honoring her son. She even went as far as to create an idol for her family to commemorate what a grand gesture her son had made, all the while dishonoring the God who said:

“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind, or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected — even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.” — Deuteronomy 5:8-10

WE CANNOT EXPECT GOD TO BLESS US WHILE WE BOLDLY LIVE IN DISOBEDIENCE.

I can respectfully acknowledge Micah’s honesty, but everything goes downhill after his confession. Enjoying the recognition he was receiving, Micah created a shrine and instituted religious activities around his new idol by establishing one of his sons as his priest. He later met a Levite who was looking to relocate to a new area, and Micah invited him to stay and be his false priest. This invitation should have repulsed the man whose tribe had been set apart to serve God, but something about the terms appealed to the man and he accepted.

So Micah installed the Levite as his personal priest, and he lived in Micah’s house. “I know the Lord will bless me now,” Micah said, “because I have a Levite serving as my priest.” — Judges 17:12-13

There it is again! Micah had placed something else ahead of his worship of the one and only Creator of heaven and earth, yet he expected the Lord to bless him. He was manipulating his circumstances in order to make his sin look less ugly in God’s eyes.

The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue godliness. — Proverbs 15:9

You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. — Ephesians 5:5-6

I see our culture today reflected in the image this passage describes — not just the world’s culture but the culture of the church. We soften our stance against behavior that God has clearly described as sin and we expect Him to continue to bless us. We try to outweigh the bad with good and hope that the sum of our actions bribes God to ignore our disobedience.

But we serve a holy God who does not make allowances for sin, nor is He entertained by our excuses. We serve a God who was willing to give His one and only Son as a sacrifice for our sins in order to free us from our sinful nature. We no longer have to live out the sinful desires of our heart with the excuse that we are too weak to do better. God equips us to live in a right relationship with Him because He loves us too much to leave us in our sinful condition. Living a holy life is part of our covenant relationship with God; therefore, continuing in sin is the same as trampling on the Son of God who shed His blood for the sake of this new covenant.

Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. – Hebrews 10:26-29

WE CANNOT EXPECT GOD TO BLESS US WHILE WE BOLDLY LIVE IN DISOBEDIENCE.

Lord, please forgive us for the ways in which we selfishly do what we want to do, even though you died so that we no longer need to live in slavery to our sinful nature. Forgive us for the bold ways in which we hold out our hands in expectation of your blessings when we are not willing to empty our hands of those things you have clearly defined as sin. We pray for a revival to awaken our churches from their complacency, and we ask you to give them a passion to see others experiencing the life Jesus died to give them. Thank you for your grace, thank you for your love, and thank you for your mercy. What a privilege it is to serve our Holy God, who has always been and will always be worthy of our praise. Amen.

Make vows to the Lord your God, and keep them.
Let everyone bring tribute to the Awesome One.
For he breaks the pride of princes,
and the kings of the earth fear him. – Psalm 76:11-12

Today’s Reading: Judges 16, Psalm 22

One day Samson went to the Philistine town of Gaza and spent the night with a prostitute. Word soon spread that Samson was there, so the men of Gaza gathered together and waited all night at the town gates. They kept quiet during the night, saying to themselves, “When the light of morning comes, we will kill him.”

But Samson stayed in bed only until midnight. Then he got up, took hold of the doors of the town gate, including the two posts, and lifted them up, bar and all. He put them on his shoulders and carried them all the way to the top of the hill across from Hebron. – Judges 16:1-3

One thing that is consistent about Samson is his love to display his own strength. He knew God had chosen him before he was born for a special purpose but, instead of being humbled by God’s selection, he took pride in what he could do. Samson saw himself as invincible and lost sight of His invincible God. He took pleasure in doing whatever pleased him in the moment, rather than living to please the Lord.

Some time later Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the valley of Sorek. The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “Entice Samson to tell you what makes him so strong and how he can be overpowered and tied up securely. Then each of us will give you 1,100 pieces of silver.” – Judges 16:4-5

The Philistines were intent on discovering Samson’s weakness so that they could stop him from wreaking havoc on their people and their land. They saw his infatuation with Delilah as the perfect opportunity to bring him down, and they capitalized on his lust for physical pleasure and her lust for money.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

Over and over again, Delilah would ask Samson what the source of his strength was. He would give her a wrong answer and she would attempt to hand him over to the Philistines. Even though her lack of loyalty was obvious, Samson enjoyed the game and so he continued to give her wrong answers. Delilah nagged and tormented Samson until he was sick to death of it (16:16) and Samson foolishly gave in to her.

“My hair has never been cut,” he confessed, “for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.” – Judges 16:17

And that is exactly what Samson became – weak and unable to save himself. The PLAYER had been PLAYED. Delilah shaved his head and the Philistines captured him. Samson thought the source of his strength was due to the presence of his hair, but his failure to acknowledge God in his life was really the reason he lost his strength. The Lord left Samson to suffer the consequence of his games.

SAMSON’S STRENGTH WAS NEVER IN HIS HAIR.

In a time when so many are curious about their strengths and their giftings, it is good to be reminded that God is the source of our best attributes. We are nothing without Him. He is our Creator and has uniquely designed us for His purposes. Anything we accomplish should be attributed to God and He should be given all the glory.

“Oh Lord,” I prayed, “have mercy on me. Heal me for I have sinned against you…Lord, have mercy on me. Make me well again, so I can pay them back!” – Psalm 41:4,10

The Philistines gouged Samson’s eyes out and bound him in bronze chains. The Avenger was now blind; the Player was now a prisoner. When Samson realized the foolishness of his ways, he began to pray to the Lord. One day they brought him out as a source of entertainment, and Samson asked the servant who was leading him to place him between the two pillars holding up the roof of the temple so that he could lean against them for support.

O Lord, do not stay far away!
You are my strength; come quickly to my aid! – Psalm 22:19

Then Samson asked God to remember him again and to give him one more opportunity to destroy Israel’s enemy. Pushing the two center pillars with the strength he now realized was from the Lord, Samson caused the temple to crash down on all the Philistine rulers, killing everyone in the temple including himself (Judges 16:28-30).

Praise the Lord! He has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and my shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
The Lord gives his people strength. – Psalm 28:6-7-8a

Thank you, Father God, for the strength you give us each day to face what lies ahead. It is a blessing to know that you are in control and that there is nothing ahead of us that you are unaware of or unprepared for. When we begin to give ourselves credit, remind us that you are our strength and our shield. Our hearts are bursting with gratitude for we serve the Lord who gives his people strength!

Today’s Reading: Judges 13:24-15:20, Psalm 10

The Incredible Hulk comes to mind when I read the story of this next judge for Israel. When the Hulk’s blood pressure reached a certain level, or in times of extreme anger, he turned into this strong green creature. One of the famous quotes from the television series was: “Mr. McGee, don’t make me angry. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.” Samson was strong like the Hulk and his biggest weakness was also his temper.

This quote comes to mind as I read the story of Samson because, I must admit, I’m not a big fan of this judge of Israel. But God chose him before he was even born to be used by God to lead the people of Israel, so I have to see the good in Samson’s life, even though he comes across as more FULL OF HIMSELF than FULL OF THE SPIRIT.

When her son was born, she named him Samson. And the Lord blessed him as he grew up. And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him…His father and mother didn’t realize the Lord was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at the time. – Judges 13:24-25; 14:4

Samson might have been a little spoiled by his parents. When a young Philistine woman caught his eye, he demanded his parents get this young woman for him. When they tried to change his mind, encouraging him to choose an Israelite woman instead of a pagan Philistine woman, Samson demanded “Get her for me! She looks good to me” (14:3b). Samson’s SELFISH NATURE would be his downfall, but God would be sure to accomplish His purposes, even through Samson’s temper tantrums and foolish behavior.

As Samson and his parents were going down to Timnah, a young lion suddenly attacked Samson near the vineyards of Timnah. At that moment the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he ripped the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands. He did it easily as if it were a young goat….Later, when he returned to Timnah for the wedding, he turned off the path to look at the carcass of the lion. And he found that a swarm of bees had made some honey in the carcass. He scooped some of the honey into his hands and ate it along the way. – Judges 14:5-6a, 8-9a

SAMSON GAINED CONFIDENCE IN HIMSELF, RATHER THAN IN GOD.

Samson was physically strong, but HE WAS A PLAYER and his own games resulted in destruction. During his wedding celebration, he created a riddle related to the honey and the lion in order to gain material wealth for himself and brag about what he believed he had accomplished with his own strength. He made a bet with the Philistine men in the wedding party, challenging them to solve his riddle. When they could not, Samson’s bride tormented and nagged him until he shared the answer with her. She in turn explained the riddle to the other men and Samson now owed them each the clothing he had hoped they would be giving him. Instead of taking the loss himself, Samson went out and killed thirty men, taking their belongings and clothing to give to the thirty men he owed a prize.

Furious with how this wedding celebration had ended, Samson went home to his parents and left his bride behind. Later he returned to collect his bride but his new father-in-law had given her in marriage to the best man. In anger (more like a good old-fashioned temper tantrum), Samson tied the tails of 300 foxes together in pairs, attached lit torches to each pair, and set them loose in the Philistine grain fields, vineyards and olive groves (14:19-15:5).

SAMSON HAD ACCESS TO THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD BUT CHOSE TO LIVE ACCORDING TO HIS SINFUL NATURE INSTEAD.

When the Philistines found out why Samson had destroyed their crops, they brought the man and his daughter out and burned them to death. When Samson heard about this, he was enraged. He went out and attacked the Philistines, killing many of them. In response, the Philistines went on a manhunt to find Samson and kill him, moving their armies into the land of Judah.

When the Israelites heard of how Samson was attacking the Philistines, they asked him to stop. Samson was picking a fight they were not prepared to finish for him so, in fear, they handed him over to the Philistines. When Samson arrived at the camp, the Spirit of the Lord again came powerfully upon him. He snapped the ropes, grabbed the jawbone of a recently killed donkey and killed 1,000 Philistines with it. Then Samson arrogantly cheered for himself:

“With the jawbone of a donkey, I’ve piled them in heaps!
With the jawbone of a donkey, I’ve killed a thousand men!” – Judges 15:16

SAMSOM MADE HIMSELF THE HERO IN HIS STORY.

Samson’s biggest problem was that he consistently thought HE was winning the battles. He saw himself as the HERO in his stories, missing who the true Hero was. He did not recognize that his battles were won when the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. He thought he was AVENGING himself, but God was using this AVENGER to bring trouble to the Philistines, who were oppressing God’s people.

The Lord is king forever and ever!
The godless nations will vanish from the land.
Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless.
Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.
You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed,
so mere people can no longer terrify them. – Psalm 10:16-18

I may be the main character in my life production, but the hero of my story is God. Every victory experienced is for His glory, every battle won is to His credit. Thank you, God, for the gift of your Spirit in my life, giving me the strength to accomplish what you have called me to do. I make myself available today to be used by you — my Hero!

Today’s Reading: Judges 12-13:23; Psalm 96

A man from Bethlehem named Ibzan was the next judge of Israel. He had exactly thirty sons and thirty daughters, and the only thing scripture tells us about his seven years of leadership is how he played matchmaker for his sixty children. Next Elon from the tribe of Zebulum judged Israel for a full decade. All we know about him is where they buried him. Abdon, son of Hillel, judged for the next eight years. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys, and again we know where he was buried.

WHAT WILL BE SAID OF US ONE DAY? WHAT LEGACY WILL WE LEAVE BEHIND?

After Abdon’s death, the people of Israel again started sinning against God, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines for the next 40 years. But even while letting His people suffer the consequences of the life they chose for themselves, God was preparing for the birth of their next “hero”.

If you have ever seen the movie The Amazing Spider-man, perhaps you remember this famous quote from Peter’s Uncle Ben: “Peter? I know things have been difficult lately and I’m sorry about that. I think I know what you’re feeling. Ever since you were a little boy, you’ve been living with so many unresolved things. Well, take it from an old man. Those things send us down a road…they make us who we are. And if anyone’s destined for greatness, it’s you, son. You owe the world your gifts. You just have to figure out how to use them and know that wherever they take you, we’ll always be here. So, come on home, Peter. You’re my HERO…and I love you!”

In this fictional story, Ben Parker saw that his nephew was special — that he had a larger purpose in life. He intentionally spoke into Peter’s life, encouraging him to accept his calling and live to his full potential. In Judges 13, God revealed to a husband and wife that they were about to have a son who would be born for a very special purpose.

In those days a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was unable to become pregnant and they had no children. The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and said, “Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son. So be careful; you must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.” – Judges 13:2-7

Manoah’s wife ran to him and told him all the angel had said. Manoah prayed for God to send the man of God back so he could receive more instruction about this son who was to be born. I love this portion of Scripture because it speaks to the heart of Manoah. He was so thankful that God was going to bless him with a child that he wanted to be the PERFECT FATHER to this child for whom God had a special plan.

MANOAH INQUIRED OF GOD AND GOD FAITHFULLY RESPONDED.

God sent the angel back to appear to Manoah and to repeat all that he had said to Manoah’s wife, so that he could hear the instructions for himself. Manoah responded in thanksgiving by offering to the Lord both a grain offering and a burnt offering.

Manoah and his wife took their role as parents very seriously. With great intentionality, they came to God with hearts that desired to be the perfect parents for their son. They were overwhelmed that God would choose them and they wanted Him to be pleased with their worship and obedience.

Then Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and offered it on a rock as a sacrifice to the Lord. And as Manoah and his wife watched, THE LORD DID AN AMAZING THING. As the flames from the altar shot up toward the sky, the angel of the Lord ascended in the fire. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell with their faces to the ground. – Judges 14:19-20

In the middle of their sacrificial worship, God showed up for Manoah and his wife! He made his presence known in a spectacular way, affirming to these new parents that He was and would be with them.

WHEN WE INQUIRE OF GOD, HE FAITHFULLY RESPONDS.

Lord, we start out by thanking you for the wonderful opportunities you bless us with. Thank you for trusting us to be a part of your larger plan. Give us a heart that responds in obedience to your call and a desire to be excellent in how we live out your plan for our lives. Reveal to us today how you want us to prepare the way for what you would like to do in the days ahead. For those of us who are privileged to be parents, we ask for wisdom; we thank you for the reminder to be intentional in how we raise our children to follow you wholeheartedly.

Father God, we long to see you do AMAZING things, for you are an AMAZING God! We inquire of you and wait for you to faithfully respond. Be an all-consuming fire, Oh God! We love you so much! Amen.

Sing a new song to the Lord!
Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!
Sing to the Lord; praise his name.
Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.
Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.
Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! – Psalm 96:1-4a

Today’s Reading: Judges 10-11, Psalm 123

More judges came and went for the people of God – Tola judged for 23 years and Jair for the next 22 years. Jair had 30 sons who rode 30 donkeys and owned 30 towns. Again the people did evil in the eyes of the Lord and he turned them over to the Philistines and the Ammonites, who oppressed the Israelites who lived east of the Jordan River for the next 18 years. The Ammonites crossed the river and began attacking Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim as well (10:1-9). Once more God’s people cried out to the Lord for help, confessing their sin against God.

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy, for we have had our fill of contempt. – Psalm 123:3

It took 18 years of oppression for God’s people to FINALLY cry out to the Lord for help. But the hearts of the Israelites were stubborn, and they were slow to repent to the God who had rescued them out of slavery in Egypt. FINALLY God’s people let go of their need to do their own thing and cried out to God.

The Lord replied, “Did I not rescue you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites? When they oppressed you, you cried out to me for help, and I rescued you. Yet you have abandoned me and served other gods. So I will not rescue you anymore. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen! Let them rescue you in your hour of distress!”

But the Israelites pleaded with the Lord and said, “We have sinned. Punish us as you see fit, only rescue us today from our enemies.” Then the Israelites put aside their foreign gods and served the Lord. And he was grieved by their misery. – Judges 10:11-16

God’s people were ready to suffer the consequences of their sin, which is exactly what they had been experiencing for the last 18 years. When we decide we no longer want God to have authority over our lives and begin letting worldly pleasures have our full attention, there are natural consequences. Those things that pulled us away from our right relationship with God become the objects of our suffering.

BUT THE FOCUS OF THIS PASSAGE IS LESS ON THE PUNISHMENT THEY DESERVED AND MORE ON THE COMPASSION THEY RECEIVED.

We see the heart of God when we read that He was grieved by the misery of His children. God had mercy on them — He had compassion on those who deserved the punishment He had the authority to dispense, and He forgave His people once again. This is the perfect definition of mercy, to choose forgiveness and compassion even when such actions are undeserved. We see this mercy on display in the life of the next judge, Jephthah.

Now Jephthah of Gilead was a great warrior. He was the son of Gilead, but his mother was a prostitute. Gilead’s wife also had several sons, and when these half brothers grew up, they chased Jephthah off the land. “You will not get any of our father’s inheritance,” they said, “for you are the son of a prostitute.” So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. Soon he had a band of worthless rebels following him. – Judges 11:1-3

Jephthah was rejected by his brothers because his mother was a prostitute. As far as they were concerned, his birth story would always be about the sins of his parents rather than about the legitimate love of a husband and wife. They wanted nothing to do with their half-brother, so Jephthah left and soon had a new “family” — a group of men seen as worthless misfits became a band of brothers. But when the Ammonites began a war against the Israelites, it was Jephthah that they called to rescue them.

But Jephthah said to them, “Aren’t you the ones who hated me and drove me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me now when you’re in trouble?”
“Because we need you,” the elders replied. “If you lead us in battle against the Ammonites, we will make you ruler over all the people of Gilead.” – Judges 11:7-8

So Jephthah and the king of Ammon began to communicate back and forth through messengers. The Ammonites believed that the land was rightfully theirs because the Israelites had taken it from their forefathers. Jephthah reminded the king of how the land became Israel’s when King Sihon of the Amorites attacked them. The God of Israel gave His people victory in a battle they did not begin, a battle God finished for them. In the same way, it would be up to God to decide who would win today’s battle.

You keep whatever your god Chemosh gives you, and we will keep whatever the Lord our God gives us. – Judges 11:24

So God used Jephthah, the son of a prostitute, to rescue the people of Israel when they cried out in misery. Jephthah was a GREAT WARRIOR because God chose to use him to give His people victory over their enemies.

Who are we to determine the worth of one of God’s children based on the sins of their parents or the sins of their past? Who are we to say this person has value and this person does not. If God can choose the son of a prostitute out of all the men in all the tribes of Israel, then God can choose to use any of us. It’s time to shake off the identity that others have placed on you and see your identity in Christ Jesus, who loves you enough to die for you, and who sees you as someone created to do wonderful things for Him.

NO MATTER WHAT IS IN YOUR STORY, THE GOD OF MERCY CAN USE YOU TO AMAZING THINGS IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. – Psalm 68:5-6

Today’s Reading: Judges 8:22-9:57; Psalm 47

Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Be our ruler! You and your son and your grandson will be our rulers, for you have rescued us from Midian.” But Gideon replied, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The Lord will rule over you!” — Judges 8:22-23

GIDEON WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE A KING.

The Israelites were so excited about their mighty hero, Gideon, that they asked him to become their king. Knowing God was the true hero and the only one who deserved such an honor, Gideon denied their request. Instead he asked each one of them for a gold earring, which he melted to create a sacred ephod. What might have started as a well-meaning act of spiritual leadership ended up being a distraction for God’s people, and soon they were worshiping this beautiful thing they had created rather than keeping their eyes on their own Creator.

After Gideon passed away, the Israelites started worshiping false gods, once again forgetting who had rescued them from all their enemies. There was a need for a new leader, and Abimelech decided that new leader should be him. God had blessed Gideon with 70 sons, and Abimelech saw his siblings as rivals for this leadership opportunity. To make sure none of his brothers rose to the occasion, Abimelech had all of them brought to his father’s hometown of Ophrah, and he killed each one of them on the same large stone. Abimelech had the opportunity to be a HERO, but his greedy pride made him into a MURDEROUS VILLAIN instead.

But Abimelech’s youngest brother, Jotham, escaped and went into hiding. Once the people made Abimelech their king, Jotham climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted these prophetic words:

“Listen to me, citizens of Shechem!
Listen to me if you want God to listen to you!
Once upon a time the trees decided to choose a king.
First they said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king!’
But the olive tree refused, saying,
‘Should I quit producing the olive oil
that blesses both God and people,
just to wave back and forth over the trees?’” — Judges 9:7a-9

THE OLIVE TREE WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE A KING.

The purpose of the olive tree was to grow olives, which could be made into olive oil. This olive oil was useful to both God and to the people. But if the olive tree became a king, what would produce the much needed olive oil? No, the olive tree was never meant to be a king. Jotham continued with his parable:

“Then they said to the fig tree, ‘You be our king!’
But the fig tree also refused, saying,
‘Should I quit producing my sweet fruit
just to wave back and forth over the trees?’” — Judges 9:10-11

THE FIG TREE WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE A KING.

The fig tree brought much pleasure to God’s people with its sweet fruit. It was valuable and had a significant meaning to those who enjoyed its fruit, but it knew that its purpose in life was not to take the place of the One who had created it, and the grapevine also knew its place.

“Then they said to the grapevine, ‘You be our king!’
But the grapevine also refused, saying,
‘Should I quit producing the wine
that cheers both God and people,
just to wave back and forth over the trees?’” — Judges 9:12-13

THE GRAPEVINE WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE A KING.

“Then all the trees finally turned to the thornbush and said,
‘Come, you be our king!’
And the thornbush replied to the trees,
‘If you truly want to make me your king,
come and take shelter in my shade.
If not, let fire come out from me
and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’” — Judges 9:7-15

THE THORNBUSH WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE A KING, AND YET THAT IS WHAT IT BECAME.

Three years later, King Abimelech heard that there were some in the town of Shechem who were raising their voices in rebellion against his leadership. So Abimelech attacked the city and captured it. With more than 1000 of its leading citizens hiding in a tower, the king and his men gathered branches from the nearby trees and stacked them against the base of the tower. When he set the branches on fire, all of the people hiding in the tower were killed. The thornbush deceived the people with an invitation for shelter, but fire came out from the thornbush king and devoured the people.

Abimelech and his men then went to the tower of Thebez where all of its citizens were hiding, and he began to do the same thing. But once again God used a woman to courageously save the people from their enemy. She stood at the top of the tower and dropped a millstone on the king’s head, crushing his skull. Abimelech died that day, because the thornbush was never meant to be a king.

God, help us to fully submit to your plan for our lives. May we be content to be exactly what you created us to be. Reveal in us any attempts to manipulate or take control in areas where you have not given us authority. Comfort us in our calling and give us contentment in your plan for our lives. You and you alone are King. Amen.

Come, everyone! Clap your hands!
Shout to God with joyful praise!
For the Lord Most High is awesome.
He is the great King of all the earth. – Psalm 47:1-2

Today’s Reading: Judges 8:1-21; Psalm 41

Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. — Judges 7:1-3

FEAR CAUSED THEM TO MISS AN OPPORTUNITY.

22,000 men had the opportunity to join the Lord in battle against the Midianites, but missed it because they were too afraid. 22,000 men, when given the opportunity to walk away from the battlefield, chose to put their own emotions ahead of their faith in God. The outcome of the battle remained the same, but these men would always look back at the story of God’s faithfulness with regret. It would be a constant reminder that they let fear stand between them and an opportunity to participate in the Lord’s victory.

So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.

The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. — Judges 7:5-8

FOOLISHNESS CAUSED THEM TO MISS AN OPPORTUNITY.

It is wise to keep your eyes up, to be constantly watching for the attack of the enemy. 9,700 took their eyes off the horizon in order to enjoy the temporary pleasure of the water, and they were sent home to their families. Only those who were wise and aware were left to be used by God for the upcoming battle.

Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it. He said to the men of Sukkoth, “Give my troops some bread; they are worn out, and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”
But the officials of Sukkoth said, “Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession? Why should we give bread to your troops?” — Judges 8:4-6

SELFISHNESS CAUSED THEM TO MISS AN OPPORTUNITY.

The leaders of Sukkoth had the opportunity to share their God-given provisions with those who were called by God to stand on the front line of the battle, but they chose to be stingy with what they had. We could quickly read over this and miss the reflection of our own selfishness in this story. How often does our pastor stand in front of the congregation and present the needs of the church and our response is to decline the opportunity. It’s someone else’s turn. I gave in the last offering. Maybe once I see other people giving, I will make my contribution. Now is not a good time, but I could possibly give in the future. Hanging on tight to all God has given us can cause us to miss an opportunity to be used by God in the life of someone in need.

Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!
The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble. – Psalm 41:1

DO NOT LET ANYTHING CAUSE YOU TO MISS AN OPPORTUNITY.

Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. – Galatians 6:10

“When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.” – Mark 13:9

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. – Ephesians 5:15-17

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. – Colossians 4:4-6

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. – James 1:2

Lord, thank you for the opportunities you will give us today. Give us the courage to trust you, the wisdom to keep our eyes up, and the compassion to share with those in need. May we never miss a moment to be used by you in the lives of those around us. May we be present on the battlefield so that we can celebrate your victory. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Judges 7, Psalm 44

“…I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.” And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a bowlful of water. – Judges 6:37b-38

Our reluctant hero was battling insecurity and our gracious God indulged him by responding, just as He so generously confirms His call to us when He knows we need affirmation of His presence. Oh, what a wonderful God we serve! But this was not enough for Gideon; he laid out the fleece one more time.

WE NEVER HAVE TO ASK GOD TO REPEAT HIMSELF OR PROVE HIS FAITHFULNESS.

Then Gideon said to God, “Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.” So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning but the ground was covered in dew. – Judges 6:39-40

God graciously responded to Gideon’s request once more, confirming the calling placed on Gideon’s life. But God wasn’t done teaching Gideon. While Gideon was asking God to show him HOW He would help Gideon rescue the Israelites, God was preparing to show Gideon WHO would do the rescuing.

When all the warriors gathered together, God told Gideon there were too many. If He allowed that many Israelites to go into battle, they would take the credit for the victory, boasting that they saved themselves by their own strength. So the Lord sent home everyone who was timid or afraid, and 22,000 men left. Gideon was left standing with an army of 10,000.

Next God told Gideon to watch how the men went down to the river to take a drink. If they cupped the water with their hands to drink, keeping their eyes up, they would be in one group; if they knelt down and placed their mouths directly in the river, they would be in the second group. This last group was sent home, leaving only 300 wise and alert warriors for Gideon to lead into battle.

God was ready for Gideon to move forward but, knowing Gideon so well, God allowed him to seek proof one more time. God told Gideon that, if he was still afraid, he could go down close to the Midianite camp and listen to their campfire conversations. Gideon took God up on the offer and came back with the confidence he needed. He split the remaining 300 men into 3 groups of 100, handing each of them a ram’s horn and a clay jar with a torch in it. They surrounded the camp and, on Gideon’s count, they blew the horns and broke the clay jars, surrounding the enemy camp with noise and fire. God caused confusion among the Midianites and they began to fight each other (7:9-22).

GOD WAS CLEARLY THE HERO OF THIS STORY.

Gideon saw clearly that God was still performing miracles among the Israelites, just as He had for their ancestors and just as He continues to do for us today! My thoughts go to these verses in Psalm 18:

I love you, Lord; you are my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety. – Psalm 18:1-2

What mighty act is God calling you to participate in today? Do you have a here-I-come-to-save-the-day attitude, expecting to be the hero of the story? Or are you keeping your eyes up, watching for God to do something mighty through and around you? Are you even now laying out a fleece for God, asking Him to confirm His presence in a situation you are facing or a decision you need to make? I pray God moves today on your behalf so that you can be reminded of His protection over you and His presence as your rock, your fortress and your savior.

They did not conquer the land with their swords;
it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory.
It was your right hand and strong arm
and the blinding light from your face that helped them,
for you loved them.
You are my King and my God.
You command victories for Israel.
Only by your power can we push back our enemies;
only in your name can we trample our foes.
I do not trust in my bow;
I do not count on my sword to save me.
You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies;
you disgrace those who hate us.
O God, we give glory to you all day long
and constantly praise your name. – Psalm 44:3-8

Today’s Reading: Judges 6; Psalm 60

After Deborah and Barak led the Israelites to victory, there was peace in the land for forty years. But the Israelites began doing evil in the Lord’s sight, so he handed them over to the Midianites for seven years. The Midianites were so cruel that the Israelites found themselves hiding in caves and strongholds to protect themselves from the raiders, marauders, and enemy hoarders that were devastating their crops and stealing their flocks. Once the Israelites were reduced to starving, THEN they cried out to the Lord for help. They waited until they had no other options before they called on the God who had already shown them that He could rescue them from Egypt and drive out their enemies in Canaan.

Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree of Ophrah…Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” – Judges 6:11-12

Gideon reminds me of Mighty Mouse. That’s right, the little mouse dressed in a red superhero costume with a yellow cape comes to my mind when I read the story of Gideon. According to Wikipedia, the creator of this small hero, Paul Terry, made this comment: “When a man is sick, or down, or hurt, you say, ‘There’s nothing more we can do. It’s in God’s hand.’ And he either survives or he doesn’t according to God’s plan. Right? So, ‘Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.’ So, taking that as a basis, I’d only have to get the mice in a tough spot and then say, ‘Isn’t there someone who can help?’ ‘Yes, there is someone; it’s Mighty Mouse!’ So, down from the heavens he’d come sailing down and lick the evil spirit, or whatever it was. And everything would be serene again.” [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mighty_Mouse]

MAN’S EXTREMITY IS GOD’S OPPORTUNITY

What a great statement! The people of Israel were in an extreme situation, they were on the edge of survival. They were starving while they hid from their enemies, protecting what little they had left from the marauders who were as thick as locusts with droves of camels too numerous to count (6:5). And out of everyone, God chose Gideon to lead His people in battle against their enemies.

Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”
“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”
The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”
Gideon replied, “If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me. — Judges 6:14-17

While the lovable cartoon character, Mighty Mouse, would have puffed out his chest and declared, “Here I am to save the day”, Gideon’s response was a little different. Before he stepped into this new leadership position, he wanted proof from God. Each time I read this dialogue between Gideon and the Lord in Judges 6, I am shocked by his bold accusations and his demand for proof from God.

“Where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? … The Lord has abandoned us…If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me…” — Judges 6:13, 17a

I find it crazy that Gideon would be so bold. Where is your display of power, God? Have you abandoned us? If you truly are faithful to keep your promises, show me a sign. I need proof; I need to feel your presence and hear your voice. Yet when I remember the times I have argued and negotiated with God, I begin to relate a little to this not-so-mighty hero.

God did give Gideon the proof he asked for and Gideon, humbly realizing what he had demanded of the Lord, built an altar and named it Yahweh-Shalom – which means “the Lord is peace” (6:24). Now Gideon had peace in his heart that he was truly being called by God, but he still struggled with fear as demonstrated in this next situation.

GOD GIVES US THE PEACE WE NEED TO OBEY HIM EVEN WHEN IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO US.

God told Gideon to tear down his father’s altar to Baal and break his Asherah pole. He told him to build an altar to the Lord and sacrifice one of his father’s bulls as a burnt offering, using the Asherah pole as kindling. Gideon obeyed, but he did it at night because he was afraid of the other members of the family. God protected Gideon from their angry response, and then something incredible happened in Gideon’s life — the Spirit of the Lord took possession of him (6:34a).

Now filled with the MIGHTY SPIRIT, Gideon blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms. He sent messengers out, calling all of Israel’s warriors to come together to fight the Midianites. Then Gideon went back to his natural tendency and spiritual weakness as he asked God, once again, for proof that He was truly going to use Gideon to rescue Israel as He had promised He would do.

A great lesson for Gideon and a good reminder for me today is that God ALWAYS keeps His promises. When He sends us to do something, He equips us with the strength to be obedient. There is no need for Him to repeat Himself or to prove His faithfulness, for God can be trusted. I want nothing more than to blindly follow Him wherever He leads.

MY EXTREMITY IS GOD’S OPPORTUNITY!

Father God, thank you for reminding me this morning that you are with me through all situations, even when I have delayed calling on you for help. When I am at the end of my rope and my circumstances are extreme, you are there to remind me that you are with me and that you will give me the strength to step forward in boldness. I ask for that kind of courageous faith today. Give me a humble spirit that responds in awe of you and a grateful heart that is thankful to hear from you. May I accept your commands with courage and may I receive your call with a willingness to do whatever you want me to do. So great is your faithfulness; so amazing is your love. Amen.

With God’s help we will do mighty things,
for he will trample down our foes. – Psalm 60:12

Today’s Reading: Judges 4:11–5:31, Psalm 21

“Very well,” she replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.” – Judges 4:9

This was Deborah’s response to Barak when he put conditions on his obedience. At first it seems as if Deborah was talking about herself, but as we read on we see that the battle was finished by a woman named Jael. Although Jael was not in leadership and there was no expectation for her to do anything but stay in the tent, God had plans to do great things through Jael. He saw worth and value in someone whom the current culture did not value.

GOD STRATEGICALLY POSITIONED THIS WOMAN TO DO GREAT THINGS.

When Sisera was told that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, he called for all 900 of his iron chariots and all of his warriors, and they marched from Harosheth-haggoyim to the Kishon River. Then Deborah said to Barak, “Get ready! This is the day the Lord will give you victory over Sisera, for the Lord is marching ahead of you.” So Barak led his 10,000 warriors down the slopes of Mount Tabor into battle. – Judges 4:12-14

When Barak led the warriors into battle, God caused Sisera and his warriors to fall into a panic. Barak and his men chased after the fleeing army and killed all 900 warriors, but Sisera had hopped down from his chariot and escaped on foot. He ran to Heber’s tent, which had been pitched a distance from the rest of the tribe. Knowing Heber’s family was on friendly terms with King Jabin, Sisera thought he had found a safe place to hide.

Heber’s wife, Jael, invited Sisera into the tent. When he asked for water, she gave him milk. When he laid down, exhausted from his flight, she covered him with a blanket while she took watch for anyone approaching. But as soon as he fell into a deep sleep, Jael took action.

One day I was discussing with a coworker the job that God had called her to do. She had a difficult conversation ahead and she was not looking forward to it. I remember her words — It’s okay. I can do hard things. She knew that, if this is what God was calling her to do, He would equip her with the right words to say and the courage with which to do it. There have been several times when her words have come back to me as I recognized the challenge ahead of me, and I think of her again this morning as I read through the fourth chapter of Judges.

I CAN DO ALL THINGS, EVEN HARD THINGS, THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH.

Jael saw that God had strategically positioned her and she was up for this opportunity to let God do SUPER THINGS through her — she made the decision to do a hard thing! I believe God must have given Jael some extra strength as she picked up the tent peg and hammer, walked across the tent, and placed the end of the peg on Sisera’s temple. I believe God must have given her extra courage and superhero strength in order to drive the tent peg into his skull, killing the king and finishing the battle.

So on that day Israel saw GOD DEFEAT Jabin, the Canaanite king. And from that time on Israel became stronger and stronger against King Jabin until they finally destroyed him. – Judges 4:23-24

Once again, God had called His people into battle and He had fought their battle for them. He caused Sisera and his men to panic and flee the battlefield, and He gave Jael the courage to finish the battle. Deborah and Barak led the people of Israel in celebration of this victory. They recognized that when God marched across the battlefield, the earth trembled; when God was present, the mountains quaked.

The people of Israel were living in fear until Deborah “arose as a mother for Israel” (5:7). I love it! The description of this superhero was MOTHER! Are you surprised? Consider the emotional response that all of us have just at the sound of the word “mother” — it often evokes strong feelings of love and security. My mother was the first person I ran to when I needed someone to talk to or cry with, and her arms are where I felt the safest growing up. She is the superhero in my life who taught me how to do hard things by trusting in the God who strategically positions us for His purposes.

The song of celebration continued:
Listen to the village musicians gathered at the watering holes.
They recount the righteous victories of the Lord and the victories of his villagers in Israel.
THEN the people of the Lord marched down to the city gates. – Judges 5:11

What a great example! Before entering into a battle God has called us to fight, let’s look back and remind ourselves of the many victories God has performed in the past. Let’s give Him praise as we stand in confidence of His power and His mercy.

THE GOD OF OUR PAST STRUGGLES IS THE GOD OF BOTH OUR CURRENT BATTLES AND OUR FUTURE VICTORIES.

Lord, we strategically position ourselves in your presence this morning. Fill us with your strength and your courage. We are ready to do what you have asked us to do. Lord, thank you for being the source of victory in our life. We trust you and we obediently follow you today. Amen.

How the king rejoices in your strength, O Lord!
He shouts with joy because you give him victory.
For you have given him his heart’s desire;
you have withheld nothing he requested…
Rise up, O Lord, in all your power.
With music and singing we celebrate your mighty acts. – Psalm 21:1-2,13