152nd Week, Judges Chapters 19-21 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

Click on Title for Video Intro

Monday, Judges Chapter 19

Judges 19

Delores Little

THOUGHT

In this chapter we have a Levite who did not follow the laws of God, but did what he wanted. He took a concubine for a wife.  In Lev. 21:7 it says, “They must not marry women defiled by prostitution or divorced from their husbands, because priests are holy to their God.” In Judges 19:2 it says, “But she was unfaithful to him. She left him and went back to her father’s house in Bethlehem, Judah.”  Well this priest isn’t named but he went back and got her and after many days of drinking and partying they left and ended up in Gibeah. An old man took them in, and while they were enjoying themselves, wicked men came and wanted the priest to have sex with him.  Another law was broken.  In Lev 20:13 it says, “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.” 

Can you see that this sin is going on in the world today, and people accept it as an OK thing to do?  No, it is not. We are to love the people but not the sin they are in.  We hear and read things like this happening in our country and other countries.  Let us not get so use to hearing it that we lose sight of what God says about things like this. Wrong is wrong, and right is right. We need to be more into His Word and learn what He has to teach us.

In I Corinthians 10:1-13 it says, “For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. Now these things occurred as EXAMPLES to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry. We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test the Lord, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did, and they were killed by a destroying angel. These things happened to them as EXAMPLES and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

PRAYER

Father, we ask forgiveness of sins we have been guilty of, and You forgave us.  Please help us each day live unto You and not ourselves. Show us how to teach our children all about You in a loving and powerful way, and it will be sealed in their hearts and minds. Bless this day as we do things unto You and not ourselves. Praise You, God, for sending Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  AMEN

Tuesday, Judges Chapter 20

Judges 20

Delores Little

THOUGHT

This is one long chapter to read. The Levite got all the Israelites together except the Benjamites.  They were the ones who raped his woman.  Do you like the way the Levite in verses 4-7 told the story? He never once said he gave her to them to rape.

What was interesting is that the Israelites had 400,000 fighting men, and the Benjamites had 26,000.  In chapter 18 the Israelites went up to Bethel and inquired of God.  They did this twice but lost many men each time.  The 3rd time they fasted and wept and presented burnt offerings and a fellowship offering to the Lord.   In verse 16 they inquired of the Lord.  He said to go up for He would give the Benjamites into their hands the next day.  That is exactly what happened. Over 25,000 of the Benjamites died and 600 got away. Now remember they ask the Benjamites to just give up the men who did the raping, but they refused.  Here is a chapter of fighting against the family Jacob started with, and this was the tribe his youngest son was from.

We read and hear stories of families killing members of their own today.  How it saddens our hearts and breaks God’s heart.

What are we to do?  Let’s look at Luke 11:9-10:  “So I say to you; ask and it will be given unto you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and he who knocks, the door will be opened.”

PRAYER

Father, we ask forgiveness when we do not seek You first.  Give us the things we need each day that will lead us in the right direction. Let us die to self and live for Christ. Bless this day with love in our hearts for all people in the world and remember to hold them up in prayer.  Be with the workers who are bringing the Good News to those who don’t know it.  Bless all the events that the churches are doing this summer.  In Jesus Name we pay.  AMEN

Wednesday, Judges Chapter 21

Judges 21

Delores Little

THOUGHT

In the last chapter of Judges you read what happened yesterday to the Benjamites and now 600 men are alive.  The other tribes have taken an oath not to let any of their women marry any of the Benjamites.  However, the Israelites felt badly that one tribe would be missing so they offered up burnt offerings and fellowship offerings unto the Lord.  In verse 4 and 5 they asked, “Who did not assemble before the Lord?”  If they failed to do so, they were to be put to death.  Jebesh Gilead did not, and they ended up being killed all except for 400 girls who were virgins.  They were given to 400 of the Benjamites. 

Today we hear and see where young girls are told they can model and perhaps act.  They become slaves and are sold as prostitutes.  They can be as young as children and as old as a young woman.  It is happening all over the world. God sees every single thing being done down here that is wrong.  Human Trafficking has become a major criminal problem.  

Can He forgive these people who do this and the girls who are trapped in it? Yes, He can. We need to pray for things like this so that they can be set free. Couples should not live together before they are married.  Can you see how this book of Judges sounds like our world today?  Everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes and are walking away from God.  That is why we need to be in His Word daily.  We need His help in everything.  We must have the armor of the Lord on for we are in a spiritual battle everyday of our lives. These verses in Ephesians 4:17-32 say it all.  It speaks of living as Children of Light.

PRAYER

Father, we do ask forgiveness of our sins.  We ask You to show us anything that is binding our walk with You and open our hearts and eyes and minds to Your ways not ours. We thank You for what You have done for us by loving us so. Guide us daily to walk in Your Ways, speak Your Truths and live them to the fullness.  In Jesus Name we pray.  AMEN

Thursday, The book of Judges ends.  Now pray for our judges and leaders.

Please Pray for the following: 

1. Our president and vice president

2. Federal officials

3. State governors

4. State officials

5. Judges - local, state and federal

6. Those who enforce our laws - and their protection

7. Our service men and women - and their protection

8. The families of all the above.

9. The upcoming presidential election  

Friday, Books of the Bible the Biblical Shakers have studied

Below you will see the list of the books that Biblical Shakers has read and posted on this blog site.  There are the daily devotions posted along with the chapter read.  If you are interested in any of these, just do a search on the blog site with the hour glass.  It will take you to the place you want.  This may be of benefit if you are in a Bible study or a special study with your church's sermon series.  Use it as an extra addition to your Biblical understanding.  

https://biblicalshakers.blogspot.com/

OLD TESTAMENT

Genesis

Exodus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

Esther

Psalms Chapter 1-51

Proverbs - Several

Ecclesiastes

Isaiah

Daniel 

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Micah

Psalms 

NEW TESTAMENT

Matthew

Luke

John

Acts

Romans

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

I & II Thessalonians

Hebrews

James