Judges 4 Hail to the Chief

WEEK  2                                                  Judges 4

MONDAY  Reflections

Judges chapter four covers the exploits of Deborah, a married woman who served as Israel's equivalent of Prime Minister and Supreme Court Judge. Not only did she serve in these positions but she was a prophetess. God spoke His words through her to all of Israel; men and women. Any person who teaches that God never planned for women to be in leadership either have to ignore this scripture or try to explain it away.

 

Nowhere in this scripture do we see God apologizing for using a woman or explaining that she was the exception and not the rule. What we do see is women rising to the challenge and doing as God has gifted and called them to do.

 

As far as Barak not wanting to go into battle without Deborah, this can be understood easily as Barak wanting to be sure God was with him. Barak understood God was with Deborah, perhaps he doubted God would be with him, he was just a warrior after all. Barak chooses to give up honor and glory for the certainty God was with them.  Personally, I don't think it’s a bad choice at all. 

Jdg 4:1-24
(1)  And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.
(2)  And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
(3)  And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.
(4)  And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
(5)  And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
(6)  And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?
(7)  And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.
(8)  And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.
(9)  And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
(10)  And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.
(11)  Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.
(12)  And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.
(13)  And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.
(14)  And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
(15)  And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.
(16)  But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.
(17)  Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
(18)  And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.
(19)  And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.
(20)  Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.
(21)  Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.
(22)  And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.
(23)  So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.
(24)  And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

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Jeremiah 11

WEEK 1                                                Jeremiah 11

SATURDAY  Reflections

DONE!

How many of you have ever been done?

You are so frustrated you said, “I’m Done!”

You made your parents so angry they said it?

Or your children/relatives made you so angry you were done?

Or maybe it was your work?

Or a church?

I talked with my friend Samuel Padget about this very idea. He developed a sermon on it as did I and we both lamented that the people of Israel got to this point. A point at which God told the prophet not even to pray for them.

This sounds harsh but the people as they were did not need prayer they needed to repent. Unfortunately, this repentance would only come after judgment. Without facing the harsh cost of disobedience they would only get worse.

Is God done? Of course not, but he is done with letting them get away with sin. Years ago a mentor of mine told me she received a call from a parishioner saying their child was in jail again. They were on their way to bail them out. The pastor told the parents to leave him, let him face the night in jail without mom and dad coming to the rescue. The parents hated the idea but they had tried everything else. They waited. They never received another call from the police. It was the last time the child got into trouble. Once the parents said, "We're done" he was forced to see life as it would be if he didn't change. He changed.

I'm not suggesting we quit praying for people, but we do need to realize God is going to do what is right and that may not be what we are praying for (More on this subject later in Isaiah 15&16).


Jer 11:1-23
(1)  The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
(2)  Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;
(3)  And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,
(4)  Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:
(5)  That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD.
(6)  Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.
(7)  For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.
(8)  Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.
(9)  And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
(10)  They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.
(11)  Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.
(12)  Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.
(13)  For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.
(14)  Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.
(15)  What hath my beloved to do in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.
(16)  The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.
(17)  For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.
(18)  And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings.
(19)  But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.
(20)  But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.
(21)  Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand:
(22)  Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine:
(23)  And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.

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Judges 3

WEEK 1                                                    Judges 3

FRIDAY  Reflections

Some claim that God is against interracial marriage. They use God's prohibition on Israel's intermarriage with the people around them as proof. This doesn't hold up under closer scrutiny as Moses married an Ethiopian woman, Boaz married Ruth, among others. So what was this prohibition all about? Verses five and six of chapter three give the answer, "So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and they intermarried with them. Israelite sons married their daughters, and Israelite daughters were given in marriage to their sons. And the Israelites served their gods."

 

God wasn't against Israel marrying converts to God from other nations but bringing pagan teachings into the family. This was the problem. God is never against other races, he, after all, created them by building in the DNA which caused them to become who they are. What God is against is a marriage between believers in God and those that don't. The problem is loyalty is divided between the spouse, their beliefs, and God. After conversion marriage is fine; it is just before that God has a problem.

 

 

This idea is carried into the New Testament (1 Corinthians 7:38, 2 Corinthians 6:14), but without the same force as in the Old as God isn't trying to build an earthly nation in the New Testament.  What about if the marriage takes place before conversion or a believer realizes they married unwisely? If there is no abuse Paul advises the person to stay married and be a Christian example (1 Corinthians 7:12-13).

 

Even outside the church, people tell others to be careful who they marry and not to marry for the wrong reasons. How much more should we listen to God's advice?

Jdg 3:1-31
(1)  Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;
(2)  Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;
(3)  Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath.
(4)  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.
(5)  And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:
(6)  And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
(7)  And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.
(8)  Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.
(9)  And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.
(10)  And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.
(11)  And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
(12)  And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.
(13)  And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.
(14)  So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
(15)  But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.
(16)  But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.
(17)  And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.
(18)  And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present.
(19)  But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.
(20)  And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.
(21)  And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
(22)  And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.
(23)  Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them.
(24)  When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber.
(25)  And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.
(26)  And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.
(27)  And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them.
(28)  And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over.
(29)  And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.
(30)  So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.
(31)  And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.

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1 Corinthians 8

WEEK 1                                          1 Corinthians 8

THURSDAY  Reflections

Who is the weaker brother in 1 Corinthians 8? When considering this Scripture I have seen some people use it to bolster their ego rather than an ally in love. I have also seen this scripture used to justify sin.

 

Some have thought that my stance on not drinking alcohol makes me the weaker brother. However, does it? I know my personality type and that if I did drink I would be an alcoholic. I don't think I weak or less than someone else. Paul here isn't trying to say one is better than the other but one should consider the other person as you might a weak relative by giving them a helping hand. You don’t criticize.

 

Turning this scripture to an excuse to bolster an ego is counter to scripture and to what Paul is teaching. Paul here refers to idols specifically but it can refer to anything of which there can be a disagreement concerning the living out of truth.

 

This isn't someone saying I don't think cheating on my spouse is wrong and you disagree. No, Scripture clearly teaches this is wrong. This scripture can't be claimed as proof you need to accept my sin,  because I don't believe it's sin.

 

The disagreement here isn't if it is okay to worship idols. One is saying that the meat they are eating isn't worshiping idols; others would say it is.  Both parties would say that worshiping anything other than God is wrong. It is in the definition of what worshiping idols entails is where the conflict and the resolution lie. Today it might be the difference between someone saying reading a fantasy book with magic is practicing witchcraft and someone else disagrees. Both agree practicing witchcraft is wrong, but one sees this activity as being the same, the other doesn't.

 

At the end of the day, we need to exercise true tolerance and love. This includes giving in to the weaker not because they are less but because they are your brother or sister in Christ that you do not want to offend.

1Co 8:1-13
(1)  Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
(2)  And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
(3)  But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
(4)  As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
(5)  For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
(6)  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
(7)  Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
(8)  But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
(9)  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
(10)  For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
(11)  And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
(12)  But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

(13)  Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

Proverbs 15

WEEK  1                                          Proverbs 15

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

Could you imagine living in Chicago in the 1920s? You need some money and a guy says come with me. You follow and the man grabs a well-dressed person. The man drags him into an alley and stabs him. He takes out the wallet and gives you the money. You recognize the victim, he is your neighbor who has helped you many a time. Now he is dead and the guy who identifies himself as Al is handing you his money. It's blood money. You take it and run, for you don't know if you will be next to die. As you run you want to throw up because the money in your hands cost a friend his life.

 

What does this story have to do with Proverbs 15? One piece of wisdom shared in this chapter is the sacrifices of the wicked are repulsive to God. Yes, they are giving to God, but what they are giving is little more than blood money and it makes God sick. People all over the world are trying to buy God off with their version of blood money. God isn't impressed, no matter the size. As Samuel told Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22  "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams"(NIV). David lists what God really wants in Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise" (NIV). 

Pro 15:1-33
(1)  A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
(2)  The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
(3)  The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
(4)  A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
(5)  A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
(6)  In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
(7)  The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
(8)  The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
(9)  The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
(10)  Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
(11)  Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
(12)  A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
(13)  A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
(14)  The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
(15)  All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
(16)  Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
(17)  Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
(18)  A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
(19)  The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
(20)  A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
(21)  Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
(22)  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
(23)  A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
(24)  The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
(25)  The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.
(26)  The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
(27)  He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
(28)  The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
(29)  The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
(30)  The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
(31)  The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
(32)  He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
(33)  The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

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