150th Week, Judges Chapters 10 -14

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Monday, Judges Chapter 10

Judges 10 

Verses 1-5

Tanya Ruden

Verses 1-5

THOUGHT

In five verses we read about 2 men who judged Israel for a total of 45 years and yet all we know about them besides this point is they had 30 sons who rode 30 donkeys. I know we have talked about this several times before in these devotions about our legacy, etc., but I felt called to talk about it one more time. 

Do you think nothing was written about them because there was nothing nice to say about them (you know the old saying - if you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all.)?  Or do you think they kept to themselves and did their job, but didn’t do anything spectacular at their job and failed to make a lasting impression on anyone so there was nothing to write? Or was it just in God’s plan they weren’t spoken about because God needed to teach the coming lesson? 

I am not sure, but if it was one of the first two reasons, I pray that never happens to one of us. God calls us to spread His good news by loving all. If we are doing that, then people would have nice things to say about us, and more would be written about us. And if we loved others, we would make an impression at our job, and people would remember us.

Our sermon series has been about the tough questions, and the last sermon talked about the common sense way we are to live each day.  We should spread the good news of Jesus by loving others, not by being judgmental, but showing them they have a purpose here on earth. If we are doing that each day, there would be plenty for Biblical scholars to write about us — not that that is the point, to see how many verses of the Bible would be written about us. The point is; if we are showing God’s love, we will make mistakes and have embarrassing moments, but we also would possibly convert one more person to the saving grace of Jesus Christ and a place in Heaven.  Now there is a Bible story!

PRAYER

Jesus, so simple, yet so hard to live some days.  Like Casting Crowns sings “love them like Jesus, carry them to Him” — that is all You call us to do each and every day.  Yet so often we have hard judging hearts that stand in the way of Your Kingdom. Help us to live each day as an example of You – ‘Loving’.  May we leave a legacy worth noting, not for our glory, but to glorify You! AMEN

Tuesday, Judges Chapter 11

Judges 11

Tanya Ruden

THOUGHT

Wow - Judges is a tough book of the Bible. Tonight I would like to focus on the end of the chapter when Jephthah makes a vow to the Lord to sacrifice the first thing he meets at his house as a burnt offering to the Lord.  The first thing he meets is his daughter. Can you imagine?  I can’t.  

My commentary states he may not have sacrificed his daughter due to various items in the verses, and after Abraham’s potential sacrifice of his son, I find it hard to believe God would have made him follow through with this vow.  But if he did have to, what faith of his daughter; she didn’t run.  She “understood” and just asked for time. What an example!  Either way you interpret this story there is a lesson to be learned.

Have you ever bargained with God? I can admit that I know I did before I became mature in my faith - where you pray “God, if you would only do this, I will do...” - dangerous words. I would say most of the time that I never kept my end of the bargain if God kept His. As I have matured in my faith I have

learned this process is not necessary and not what God wants from us.  He wants to be our friend.  He wants us to humble ourselves before Him and ask Him for things so He can bless us.  All He wants from us is our love, not a “promise” that we will forget or never keep! 

I know this story will be a constant reminder to never “bargain” with God. Sometimes in a ‘crisis’ we say things we don’t mean, just like Jephthah, because we can’t think of another way out. He never wanted Jephthah to sacrifice his daughter for a blessing.  God gave us the ultimate sacrifice so we don’t have to bargain with Him.  

PRAYER

We know You love us.  You want to be our best friend.  You want to bless us. May we be honest with You in our prayers and ask for selfless blessings for You to bestow upon us. Help us to never be so desperate to attempt to ‘bargain’ with You.  You paid the price so we don’t need to.  AMEN

Wednesday, Judges Chapter 12

Judges 12

Verse 1

Tanya Ruden

Verse 1:  Why did you go fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you?

THOUGHT

So let me get this straight.  The Ephraimites were upset.  They didn’t help Jephthah defeat the Ammonites.  So they went to fight against them, and Jephthah got angry and killed the Ephraimites who were on their side in the first place.  No wonder we are a mess.  Where is the common sense?  Where is the teamwork against the next enemy? 

I am sure there is much more to this story than my simple mind can grasp, but it is a reminder for us to think before we act. I am not sure if it was pride or revenge or what exactly that caused Jephthah to act (in my mind) so strangely, but he did; and it cost him some allies. So often we are quick to act/react to situations without thinking about the big picture. We need to think before we act - take a deep breath and count to 10 before we speak. Our actions or words may haunt us for a long time, just like Jephthah’s actions here.

PRAYER

Dear Jesus, so often we “react” to situations forgetting to ask ourselves first, “What would Jesus do in this situation?” and “What is the big picture?”  “Am I reacting with emotions or reacting in love?”   Help us to always think before we speak or act.  May our actions be reflections of You and not reflections of pride, revenge or jealousy. AMEN

Thursday, Judges Chapter 13

Judges 13

Verse 5

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 5:  Because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.

THOUGHT

Oh, my gosh. I can’t imagine an angel appearing to me to give this message from God after first of all not being able to bear any children. Second of all, the child that she will carry will be a Nazirite. That is a person who will take a vow to God our Father. He is a man whose one desire is to be drawn close to God and to separate one’s self from the comforts and pleasures of the world. One of the things they mentioned was to refrain from wine, and the other thing that he would not do was to put a razor to his head until what the Lord asked of him was completed. 

The responsibility that the Lord is giving to Samson is the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines. Here again the Lord uses a pregnancy to deliver an earthly person to be a very important part of His Kingdom. I cannot imagine never cutting a child’s hair even though they wore it longer back then.  Just think of Samson never getting to cut his.

Samson means “sunny”, and initially he did bring sunshine to his home and to Israel at a dark period in their history. But his life ended in the darkness because he did not fully obey the Lord. He was born to Godly parents. They obeyed the Lord and followed His message. He began his ministry blessed by the Lord. Praise God for parents who listen and trust in their heavenly Father.

PRAYER

Father, I pray the Holy Spirit will lead me in writing inspired thoughts as we read about Samson this week. Thank You for Godly parents who strive to have the best relationship possible with You. Help each of us to draw close to You on a daily basis. Father, please be with each of us as we go about a busy week. We praise You in all things. AMEN

Friday, Judges Chapter 14

Judges 14

Verse 6

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 6:  The spirit of the Lord came upon him in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done.

THOUGHT 

My mind is going in so many directions with so many questions. I have listed some things for you to ponder, and if any of you have any thoughts, please share with us.

1. Did Samson know that he was created to be a Nazirite or did his parents hide this in their hearts waiting for the Lord to make His presence known?

2. When Samson experienced the very overwhelming strength, did he realize that the Spirit of the Lord had come upon him, and he had been gifted with great strength?

3. Did he hide it from his parents to keep it private and to use for his own reward?

4. How many of you think the marriage had a very rocky beginning?

a) He married outside his own people

b) His own wife worked at him after being manipulated and cried for seven days.

c) His wife was given away.

5. Do you think Samson realized what was happening after the Spirit of the Lord came upon him for the 2nd time?

6. What am I to do with this strength?

The story will play out in the future chapters. Stay tuned.  We do know after reading that Samson was given the ability of strength. To use these abilities for selfish purposes is to rob the church and fellow believers of their strength. As you use the gifts God has given you, be sure you are helping others, not just yourself.

PRAYER

We pray that the Spirit of the Lord come upon each of the Salt Shakers. We pray for The Salt Shaker Ministry - Christian Love for family.  Fill us and lead us where we can best be of help to You in Your Kingdom. Take all desire of selfish motives from us and be true to helping Your Kingdom. AMEN