Judges 1

WEEK 1                                                 Judges 1 

MONDAY  Reflections

After Joshua passed away Israel continued to do well. By the end of this chapter, we see a problem. Israel can't or won't drive out the inhabitants God told them to. They didn't have the strength, they didn't have the will, or they just kept them to make money off of them.

Today, we are not asked by God to drive people away, but there are spiritual battles to fight inside us. I find the same reasons given today as Israel did back then. We are too weak., we don't have the will, or we enjoy some benefit from them. The problem with all of these is they are excuses.

I just finished reading a book called Change Anything. It listed the reasons why most people fail when they try to change. What I found most interesting is the same advice they gave can be found in the Bible. No, they didn't promise a quick or easy change but they did offer guidelines for people who really want to change and are really willing to work.

Israel here wasn't strong enough, but we don't see them praying for God's strength. We see they just didn't. There are plenty of reasons why they didn't and we don't. Perhaps they didn't think they needed to right then, or they were tired of war, or they didn't see them as a threat. The most amazing was they kept the people God said to drive away and made them pay tribute (note they had already defeated them). Yes, they were disobeying God, but, hey, they were making money.

As with anything when we choose to disobey God, we choose to pay the consequences. Israel did, and so will we.

 

Personal Note: I didn't like the lesson from this chapter, it hit too close to home. I admit I am struggling with an area in my life that many may not call sin, but it is something God has called me to deal with. I know what I must do, but I add this to encourage you to get up and try again. We only fail when we quit.

Jdg 1:1-36
(1)  Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?
(2)  And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.
(3)  And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.
(4)  And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.
(5)  And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
(6)  But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
(7)  And Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.
(8)  Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.
(9)  And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley.
(10)  And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.
(11)  And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher:
(12)  And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
(13)  And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
(14)  And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?
(15)  And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.
(16)  And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.
(17)  And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah.
(18)  Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
(19)  And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.
(20)  And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.
(21)  And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.
(22)  And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them.
(23)  And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)
(24)  And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy.
(25)  And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family.
(26)  And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day.
(27)  Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
(28)  And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.
(29)  Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.
(30)  Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.
(31)  Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob:
(32)  But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.
(33)  Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them.
(34)  And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:
(35)  But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries.
(36)  And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.

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Jeremiah 10

WEEK    25                                       Jeremiah 10

SATURDAY  Reflections

"The shepherds of my people have lost their senses. They no longer seek wisdom from the LORD. Therefore, they fail completely, and their flocks are scattered" (verse 21, NLT).

 

The church in the West is currently shrinking. The ones who are shrinking the fastest are those who no longer believe or teach the Bible. It is no wonder and seeing this scripture reminds me why. You can't be the leaders of God's people and not seek God.

 

For me as a pastor this is a reminder, I have to keep seeking God if I want to see people gathered to God. No, I might not have a mega church, then again I might someday work in one, but the people who are under my care won't be scattered because of me if I'm seeking God.

Jer 10:1-25
(1)  Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
(2)  Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
(3)  For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
(4)  They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
(5)  They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
(6)  Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.
(7)  Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.
(8)  But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.
(9)  Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.
(10)  But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
(11)  Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.
(12)  He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
(13)  When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.
(14)  Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
(15)  They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
(16)  The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts is his name.
(17)  Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.
(18)  For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so.
(19)  Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.
(20)  My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.
(21)  For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.
(22)  Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.
(23)  O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
(24)  O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.
(25)  Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.

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1 Corinthians 7

WEEK  25                                    1 Corinthians 7

FRIDAY  Reflections

How does one put this chapter into a summary?

 

Here is my attempt.

 

1. Sex in marriage is for both parties and only for each other.

2. Don't use sex or the lack of it in marriage to hurt the other person.

3. It's okay not to get married

4. It's better to be married than be tempted to sin

5. Avoid divorce

6. You belong to God (but your body belongs to your spouse).

7. A husband has to be concerned about his wife (and the other way around)

8. It is really okay not to be married.

9 It really, really might be better not to be married ( especially during times of persecution).

1Co 7:1-40
(1)  Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
(2)  Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
(3)  Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
(4)  The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
(5)  Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
(6)  But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
(7)  For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
(8)  I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
(9)  But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
(10)  And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
(11)  But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
(12)  But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
(13)  And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
(14)  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
(15)  But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
(16)  For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
(17)  But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
(18)  Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
(19)  Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
(20)  Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
(21)  Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
(22)  For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
(23)  Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
(24)  Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
(25)  Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
(26)  I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
(27)  Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
(28)  But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
(29)  But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
(30)  And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
(31)  And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
(32)  But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
(33)  But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
(34)  There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
(35)  And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
(36)  But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
(37)  Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
(38)  So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
(39)  The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
(40)  But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

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1 Corinthians 6

WEEK  25                                        1 Corinthians 6

THURSDAY  Reflections

We can be so much better in the church of Jesus Christ. We should be able to settle disputes without going to court. We should live pure lives. We have the Spirit of God living in us if we are Christians. 

We are called to glorify God with all of who we are in body and spirit. We, as Paul said, are not our own. The truth is, even those who don't follow God belong to Him, but He has given them the freedom to choose to spend life without Him. For those who chose God, we are supposed to recognize we belong to God. First, because He created us, and second because He redeemed us from sin. 

We are God's. Let's act like it.

1Co 6:1-20
(1)  Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
(2)  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
(3)  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
(4)  If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
(5)  I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
(6)  But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
(7)  Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
(8)  Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
(9)  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
(10)  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
(11)  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
(12)  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
(13)  Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
(14)  And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
(15)  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
(16)  What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
(17)  But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
(18)  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
(19)  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
(20)  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

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Psalm 68

WEEK  25                                       Psalm  68

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

Psalm 68:11 “The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:”

 

Okay, who is it that says women need to be silent? David seems to indicate that the women who proclaim God’s word are a mighty throng, not a small minority. There is no barefoot and pregnant here.

 

The rest of the song again proclaims God’s power to deliver. I couldn’t help but point out this verse, written by a man who doesn’t seem to hold the respect for women which we see as the Christian norm. If he sees women proclaiming, then maybe we need to also.  

Psa 68:1-35
(1)  To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
(2)  As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
(3)  But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
(4)  Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
(5)  A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
(6)  God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
(7)  O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
(8)  The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
(9)  Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
(10)  Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
(11)  The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
(12)  Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
(13)  Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
(14)  When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.
(15)  The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.
(16)  Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.
(17)  The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
(18)  Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
(19)  Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
(20)  He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.
(21)  But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
(22)  The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:
(23)  That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
(24)  They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
(25)  The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.
(26)  Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
(27)  There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
(28)  Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.
(29)  Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
(30)  Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.
(31)  Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
(32)  Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:
(33)  To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
(34)  Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
(35)  O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

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Psalms 66 & 67

WEEK  25                                          Psalm 67

Psalms 67

TUESDAY  Reflections

There is one line that is repeated in this Psalm and it is a hope and a prayer. It basically says, let your people praise you, God let everyone praise you. God's praise and God's work were never just for the nation of Israel but for the whole world. Yes, God wanted the Children of Israel to praise Him, but he wants everyone to come to Him. This should be our prayer also. We want those around us to praise God but we also want everyone to praise and serve Him. 

Psa 67:1-7
(1)  To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song. God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
(2)  That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
(3)  Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
(4)  O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
(5)  Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
(6)  Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
(7)  God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

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