Day two hundred nineteen
I have been praying a lot for those that are struggling in life. Some are in financial crisis, some are suffering physically and mentally, and others are in a crisis of faith. It is difficult for me to watch others suffer, it tugs at my heart and sometimes makes me wonder why would God let these things happen? I know that all things the Lord does is for our benefit and experience, but some peoples burdens seem so much bigger and harder than others. It seems unfair sometimes. Then there is the fact that I often feel helpless in my efforts to ease their burdens. What do you say or do for someone who is loosing everything they worked for? Trust God doesn't seem to cut it. What about those who are suffering physical pain or mental illness? Words just don't seem to be enough.
As I thought about this dilemma a scripture verse popped into my head Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God..." I have heard this verse used a million times when talking about the trials in our lives. Many teachers have taught the importance of stopping and being still during the difficult times to give yourself the opportunity to find God in the situation. I learned something new today that helped me understand how this verse is so much more.
The word 'still' used in this verse is a word in Hebrew that means "let go" or "release". I found more power in the statement when it is read, "Let go and know that I am God." Let go of all your problems, worries, concerns, etc, and when you do, then you will know God. As I see it, being still takes effort, but letting go takes more effort. It takes a huge amount of faith and trust in God to give our problems over to Him. I think about the friends in my life that I call to ask to share my burdens and how close I feel to them in order to trust them with my worries. Imagine what the relationship with God would be if we not only shared our burdens with Him, but all together let go of them and let Him lead us through them!
I still do not know the perfect words to tell someone going through difficult trials, but I do have a better understanding of why we go through them: Learning to let go leads us to a stronger relationship with God. It is not always about the perseverance or enduring, it is about building the type of relationship with God that will get us back to Him. A deeper relationship that requires spiritual growing pains. Pains that take us to our limits, that push us to the edge, that require help beyond what any other person can heal. Pain that helps us remember where to turn.
You would think that we would learn this lesson early on in our lives and never forget it so that we don't have to keep going through our trials, but we tend to be slow learners. We are very blessed that He never gives up on us!
I will have to let the Spirit guide me in my words and actions when it comes to supporting others as they go through this growing process, my knowledge is not enough. And I will change the wording in my prayers from 'Lord please lessen their burdens' to 'Lord let them learn from their burdens to let go'.
I hope today to learn to know God better!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
27 Word Prayer
Day two hundred eighteen
My prayer this morning was dedicated to those in my life that are in need of comfort. I am not sure why, but there is an increased need for love, comfort and peace in the lives of those around me. They have some serious struggles they are fighting with and it breaks my heart to know that they are hurting. I am not personally able to 'fix' their problems, but I know that the Lord can do anything, so I turn to Him. I asked Him to help those that are not feeling His love to have their eyes and hearts opened that they might recognize Him in their lives. I also asked Him to be with me, that I might be an instrument in His hands to provide the help I can for them. Please Lord take them by the hand and lead them through these tough times.
Judges 15:18-20
Samson is a little different from the rest of the judges. Most of the judges lived by faith and were obedient to the will of God. Samson, however, lived most of his life not by faith; he lived in the power of his flesh. Samson spent most of his life trying to please Samson.
Physically, Samson was the most powerful and imposing of all the Judges. Spiritually, he was the weakest. Most of his exploits revolve around him seeking revenge against those who have offended him. Most of his exploits arise out of his sinful desires for forbidden women. More scripture is devoted to Samson than to nearly any other Judge, but that Scripture reveals a man who is not to be emulated.
Samson is a man whose life is filled with contradictions. Yet, the lessons we learn from the life of Samson teach us that the greatest enemy we have is self. If we can learn to conquer self, we can walk in this life with spiritual power.
In these verses we see Samson at his finest hour. Samson’s star never climbed higher, nor did his light shine brighter than it does in these three short verses. In a moment of great desperation he casts himself on the Lord by faith. Samson is never stronger than he was during this moment of extreme weakness. On the heels of a great victory, Samson finds himself in a desperate situation. He turns to God and finds not only help for the moment; he also finds hope for his future.
In that moment of great weakness, Samson does the smartest thing he has done in his life to this point: he calls upon God. In this short, 27-word prayer, Samson speaks volumes. He speaks volumes about himself and about his God. What can we learn from Samson's prayer?
It was a cry of Humility – This prayer that poured from the lips of Samson is vastly different from the statement he made in verse 16. In that verse, Samson demonstrated that he had “I” trouble. In verse 16 Samson quotes a poem and his own greatness. Samson gives no glory to God, but he claims all the glory for the victory for himself. Samson failed to remember that verse 14 says, “the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him".
Now, Samson has been brought to the end of his abilities. He humbles himself before God and acknowledges his utter dependence upon the Lord. Samson knows that unless God intervenes, he will die. This is no longer a matter of personal glory; it is a matter of survival.
It was a cry of Honor – Not only did Samson humble himself and look to God to have his needs met, he also took the time to exalt God in his prayer. There are three ways that Samson honored the Lord when he prayed.
He Acknowledged God's Power – Samson gives all the glory for the victory to God. He says, “thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant”. Samson acknowledges the fact that it may have been his hand that held the jawbone of the donkey, but it was God’s power that gave the victory.
He Acknowledged God's Person – Not only does Samson praise God for His power, he also acknowledges God’s person. Samson calls himself “thy servant”. With this statement, Samson appears ready to acknowledge God as his Master. This is why I think this might be Samson’s finest hour, because he finally got the priorities of his relationship with the Lord in the right order. Up until this time Samson has been the master and God got only the leftovers of a wasted life. Now, Samson appears ready to bow to the authority of God.
He Acknowledges God's Preeminence – Samson is worried that he might die, and “fall into the hands of the uncircumcised”. It may be that he is concerned that if he dies in this manner, the Philistines will take his body and use his death as a way to dishonor God. Knowing the traditions of the times, this was a strong possibility. So, Samson prays that God will spare him so that God may not be dishonored. At this single moment in time, Samson’s focus does not appear to be himself, but it appears to be the glory of God. This is something new for Samson.
God hears Samson's prayer and saves him. After these events, Samson appears to change his ways. We are told “he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years”. We have no record of what Samson did during those 20 years. It's too bad, it would have been nice to see the other side of Samson during this time.
Samson made a lot of mistakes in his life, but when he humbled himself and submitted to the will of God, he achieved victory in his life. What did I take away from this scripture study? I am reminded that I can be very stubborn at times too. I can want to go my own way, instead of going God’s way. If I am not careful, I can be a lot like Samson before this prayer. I need to work on my humility. I need to honor God in my life. I need to submit to God's will. I need to remember the lessons and power found in a prayer of 27 words to change a man's heart. I need to remember that my weakest times can turn out to be some of my strongest spiritual moments, if I let them!
Friday, August 5, 2011
Warning Signs
Day two hundred seventeen
Life is bigger than you. I came across this quote yesterday and it got me thinking about the perspective that I have in my life. I am not completely self-centered, but I do have my moments when my focus is about my wants and my desires. But it's not me I'm supposed to be focused on, it's the Lord and His will that I should be thinking about. I need to get over my frustrations when I have to wait or I am inconvenienced. Instead I should be looking for opportunities during these times to learn and seek His will. What if during my impatience I took the opportunity to talk to someone who is also waiting? Could I change the negative situation into a positive? Doesn't it seem like the journey would be so much better if we could see a positive instead of a negative in every situation? I hope so, because I asked the Lord to please be with me today and help me see the positive in all the situations that I come across.
I haven't forgotten that I need to take action, so I do have a plan. Whenever I start to feel those negative feelings I will repeat to myself, "Life is bigger than you!" Five words that can change my attitude and the course of my day. Why didn't I think of this before?!
Judges 14
There are warning signs everywhere you go in life. There are signs along the roadway that point to dangers that lie ahead. There are warning signs that our bodies give us from time to time. There are warning signs that our minds send out when there is a problem. And there are spiritual warning signs. When we ignore these warning signs, we should know that we are headed for danger.
In Judges 14, Samson manifests all the signs of a man who is headed for trouble in his life. Yet, he ignored every one of those signs and traveled ever farther down a road that would lead to dishonor, defeat and death. As Samson took these first steps down the road to ruin, he had no idea where his path would ultimately lead him. He had no idea how bad things would be at the end of the way. Had he heeded the signs, Samson could have avoided many of the problems he faced later in life.
I want to talk about the signs that should have stopped Samson in his tracks and sent him in a new direction. The desires that gripped Samson’s heart, and that motivated his life, should have raised warning flags that problems were just around the corner.
Lust
Samson’s life can be summed up in the events surrounding three women. Those women were “the woman of Timnath”(Jud. 14:1-4); “the harlot of Gath” (Jud. 16:1-3); and “Delilah” (Jud. 16:4-20).
In chapter 14:1-3 He tells his parents that he has been to Timnath. Timnath was a village that belonged to the tribe of Dan. Apparently, it was occupied by the Philistines. On his trip to Timnath, Samson “saw” a Philistine woman. She captured his eye, and he tells his parents to get her for him to be his wife.
There are two statements made by Samson that stand out. These two statements give us a glimpse into his heart. He says “get her for me” and “she pleased me well”. Samson’s focus is on what he thinks, feels and wants. Notice that he went to Timnath and “saw a woman”. When he saw her, he wanted her, and nothing would prevent him from having her. Not the objections of his parents; not what anyone else thought about the issue; not what was in the best interest of the nation of Israel; and not even what God said would stop Samson from having his own way in this matter.
It was against God’s will for an Israelite to marry a Philistine (Ex. 34:16; Deut. 7:3; Josh. 23:12). Desires that stood in opposition to the will of God should have raised a warning flag to Samson.
Disrespect
verse 3 - When Samson’s parents hear what he wants to do, they immediately warn against following this course of action. They know that what Samson had planned is not the Lord’s will, and they try to change his mind by encouraging him to marry a good Israelite girl.
Despite the pleas from his parents, Samson is settled in his heart. Samson doesn’t care what his parents think. He doesn’t care about what God thinks. He doesn’t care about what’s right or wrong. All he cares about is what he thinks, what he wants and what he feels. All he cares about is pleasing himself. So, he disrespects his parent’s wishes and he disrespects God will. This should have been a warning sign to Samson.
Disobedience
As a Nazarite there are certain rules that Samson was to live by. A couple of things raised some questions for me:
verse 5 - Samson is attacked in a vineyard. What is a Nazarite doing in a vineyard? According to Num. 6:3-4, he could not eat anything that came from a vine. He could not drink wine. He had no business being around a vineyard.
verses 8-9 - Samson placed his Nazarite vow in jeopardy just by being near a dead body (Num. 6:6). Samson was so full of his own will and so filled with his own ways that the things of God held no power over him. When Samson touched that dead lion, he violated his vow to the Lord (Num. 6:9-12). He was supposed to go to the priest and offer sacrifices. He was supposed to shave his head. He was supposed to begin again as a Nazarite, because his sin destroyed everything in his life up to that point (Num. 6:12). The price should have been forfeiture of all he had worked for.
Deception
verse 9 -The story gets worse! Samson is so filled with pride, that he never considers the consequences of his actions. By eating the honey from the lion, he defiled himself. By giving it to his parents, he caused them to be defiled as well (Num. 19:11-13). He deceived his parents and caused them problems too!
verses 6, 9 - Samson hid his sin because he did not want his parents to know that he had defiled himself. Had they known, they would have demanded that he fulfill the requirements of the Law of God. He hid his sins because he didn’t want others to think less of him. He knew that he wasn’t right with God.
Evil desires, open disrespect for authority, disobedience to God’s will and deception, that is a lot of warning signs! Imagine for a moment how Samson’s life would have been different if he had recognized the warning signs and turned his life toward God. Sadly, Samson will continue down his path of destruction and a tragic ending.
After studying this story, I realized what a great opportunity we have to reflect on our own desires and behaviors when we learn about Samson. It makes sense that the Lord would include this story as a teaching moment for us. It is a great reminder that we need to evaluate ourselves and get back on track if we have fallen off. I see some pondering in my future today!
Life is bigger than you. I came across this quote yesterday and it got me thinking about the perspective that I have in my life. I am not completely self-centered, but I do have my moments when my focus is about my wants and my desires. But it's not me I'm supposed to be focused on, it's the Lord and His will that I should be thinking about. I need to get over my frustrations when I have to wait or I am inconvenienced. Instead I should be looking for opportunities during these times to learn and seek His will. What if during my impatience I took the opportunity to talk to someone who is also waiting? Could I change the negative situation into a positive? Doesn't it seem like the journey would be so much better if we could see a positive instead of a negative in every situation? I hope so, because I asked the Lord to please be with me today and help me see the positive in all the situations that I come across.
I haven't forgotten that I need to take action, so I do have a plan. Whenever I start to feel those negative feelings I will repeat to myself, "Life is bigger than you!" Five words that can change my attitude and the course of my day. Why didn't I think of this before?!
Judges 14
There are warning signs everywhere you go in life. There are signs along the roadway that point to dangers that lie ahead. There are warning signs that our bodies give us from time to time. There are warning signs that our minds send out when there is a problem. And there are spiritual warning signs. When we ignore these warning signs, we should know that we are headed for danger.
In Judges 14, Samson manifests all the signs of a man who is headed for trouble in his life. Yet, he ignored every one of those signs and traveled ever farther down a road that would lead to dishonor, defeat and death. As Samson took these first steps down the road to ruin, he had no idea where his path would ultimately lead him. He had no idea how bad things would be at the end of the way. Had he heeded the signs, Samson could have avoided many of the problems he faced later in life.
I want to talk about the signs that should have stopped Samson in his tracks and sent him in a new direction. The desires that gripped Samson’s heart, and that motivated his life, should have raised warning flags that problems were just around the corner.
Lust
Samson’s life can be summed up in the events surrounding three women. Those women were “the woman of Timnath”(Jud. 14:1-4); “the harlot of Gath” (Jud. 16:1-3); and “Delilah” (Jud. 16:4-20).
In chapter 14:1-3 He tells his parents that he has been to Timnath. Timnath was a village that belonged to the tribe of Dan. Apparently, it was occupied by the Philistines. On his trip to Timnath, Samson “saw” a Philistine woman. She captured his eye, and he tells his parents to get her for him to be his wife.
There are two statements made by Samson that stand out. These two statements give us a glimpse into his heart. He says “get her for me” and “she pleased me well”. Samson’s focus is on what he thinks, feels and wants. Notice that he went to Timnath and “saw a woman”. When he saw her, he wanted her, and nothing would prevent him from having her. Not the objections of his parents; not what anyone else thought about the issue; not what was in the best interest of the nation of Israel; and not even what God said would stop Samson from having his own way in this matter.
It was against God’s will for an Israelite to marry a Philistine (Ex. 34:16; Deut. 7:3; Josh. 23:12). Desires that stood in opposition to the will of God should have raised a warning flag to Samson.
Disrespect
verse 3 - When Samson’s parents hear what he wants to do, they immediately warn against following this course of action. They know that what Samson had planned is not the Lord’s will, and they try to change his mind by encouraging him to marry a good Israelite girl.
Despite the pleas from his parents, Samson is settled in his heart. Samson doesn’t care what his parents think. He doesn’t care about what God thinks. He doesn’t care about what’s right or wrong. All he cares about is what he thinks, what he wants and what he feels. All he cares about is pleasing himself. So, he disrespects his parent’s wishes and he disrespects God will. This should have been a warning sign to Samson.
Disobedience
As a Nazarite there are certain rules that Samson was to live by. A couple of things raised some questions for me:
verse 5 - Samson is attacked in a vineyard. What is a Nazarite doing in a vineyard? According to Num. 6:3-4, he could not eat anything that came from a vine. He could not drink wine. He had no business being around a vineyard.
verses 8-9 - Samson placed his Nazarite vow in jeopardy just by being near a dead body (Num. 6:6). Samson was so full of his own will and so filled with his own ways that the things of God held no power over him. When Samson touched that dead lion, he violated his vow to the Lord (Num. 6:9-12). He was supposed to go to the priest and offer sacrifices. He was supposed to shave his head. He was supposed to begin again as a Nazarite, because his sin destroyed everything in his life up to that point (Num. 6:12). The price should have been forfeiture of all he had worked for.
Deception
verse 9 -The story gets worse! Samson is so filled with pride, that he never considers the consequences of his actions. By eating the honey from the lion, he defiled himself. By giving it to his parents, he caused them to be defiled as well (Num. 19:11-13). He deceived his parents and caused them problems too!
verses 6, 9 - Samson hid his sin because he did not want his parents to know that he had defiled himself. Had they known, they would have demanded that he fulfill the requirements of the Law of God. He hid his sins because he didn’t want others to think less of him. He knew that he wasn’t right with God.
Evil desires, open disrespect for authority, disobedience to God’s will and deception, that is a lot of warning signs! Imagine for a moment how Samson’s life would have been different if he had recognized the warning signs and turned his life toward God. Sadly, Samson will continue down his path of destruction and a tragic ending.
After studying this story, I realized what a great opportunity we have to reflect on our own desires and behaviors when we learn about Samson. It makes sense that the Lord would include this story as a teaching moment for us. It is a great reminder that we need to evaluate ourselves and get back on track if we have fallen off. I see some pondering in my future today!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Being Moved
Day two hundred sixteen
What a busy week this has been! I am so tired that I had to come home and take a power nap after my early morning seminary meeting. The problem is I still have to go to work and I close tonight!! When I had to force myself out of bed this morning I knew that I wasn't going to get through this day without some help from above. My prayer was more of a plea, "Please give me the energy I need to do all that I am supposed to do in a way that reflects my love for You." I am leaning on the Lord big time today!!
Judges 13:1-25
Today we come to one of the most famous Judges known to Christians: Samson. He seems to have been a man of great physical strength, but weak in intellectual and moral character. He is a walking contradiction.
According to verse 1, Israel had once again turned their backs on the Lord. Because of their sins, God allowed them to be oppressed by their enemies. This sad situation has been going on for 40 years. The announcement of the birth of a deliverer (v 5), was a welcomed word for the nation of Israel. They were reminded that God had not forgotten His people. They were reminded that God had a plan to revive them and to restore them to His favor.
What's so special about Samson?
verses 3-5, 12 - His birth was announced by an angel of the Lord to his mother, then his father.
verse 2 - His birth was a miracle. God came to an unnamed barren woman and promised to open her womb. In that society barrenness was considered a curse. Barren women carried a shame and a stigma that we cannot begin to imagine. Barrenness was often seen as the judgment of God against a home.
In that culture, every young woman wanted the same thing. They all wanted to be a mother who would bear many sons for their husbands. To be barren in that culture meant that a woman was always exposed to the danger of being divorced by a husband who wanted sons. It meant that when her husband died, she would be alone and destined to a life of poverty. No man would willingly marry a woman who was known to be barren. It was a hard, harsh life.
Yet, God came to this unnamed woman and promised her that she would have a baby. He promised her that she would have a son. And, He promised her that her son would be a Judge in Israel. What a promise she received!
I think this story reminds us that God cares about people the world sees as nobodies. Manoah and his wife were just two unknown people living out their lives in Israel. God knew who they were and He knew what they needed and what they wanted. What an amazing God we have!
verse 24-25 - We are told that Samson grew and that “the Lord blessed him.” We have been told that the other Judges were used by the Lord and that they had the Spirit of God come upon them for special times of service, but this statement is not made about any of the other Judges of Israel. It indicates that God’s hand was on this young man in a special way.
verse 25 - We are told that God began to “move him”. That phrase means “to thrust, to impel, to push”. It conveys the idea that God, through the Holy Spirit, began to impress Samson to fulfill his destiny. He used him in those early days in a localized ministry within the borders of the inheritance of the tribe of Dan, of which Samson was a member. The point is, Samson was available to the Lord in those early days and God used him! He got off to a good start!
We may not have had an angel announce our birth, and our birth may not have been a miracle of Samson's magnitude, but we are all blessed by the Lord in some way. He has blessed us with certain strengths and weaknesses. He has put the opportunities we need to grow in our lives and he has surrounded us with the people we need to help us progress. Whether we recognize these blessings is up to us.
The thing that stands out to me the most is the statement that the "Lord began to move him." This made me stop and look for the times in my life when the Lord was moving me. What was my reaction? Did I follow or did I pull back? Did I make myself available to the Lord? Am I doing that now?
God is still looking for some people He can “move” in these days. He is still looking for some servants who are willing and available vessels. I hope that I can be counted among them!
What a busy week this has been! I am so tired that I had to come home and take a power nap after my early morning seminary meeting. The problem is I still have to go to work and I close tonight!! When I had to force myself out of bed this morning I knew that I wasn't going to get through this day without some help from above. My prayer was more of a plea, "Please give me the energy I need to do all that I am supposed to do in a way that reflects my love for You." I am leaning on the Lord big time today!!
Judges 13:1-25
Today we come to one of the most famous Judges known to Christians: Samson. He seems to have been a man of great physical strength, but weak in intellectual and moral character. He is a walking contradiction.
Samson was a man destined for greatness. Before he was born Samson was chosen for a great mission by God. His life is marked by great victories and by even greater failures. He was a man used by the Holy Spirit, but utterly ruled by the flesh. Samson was the strongest man who ever lived, yet he was also the weakest. Samson was dedicated to God before his birth, but dedicated to himself until the day of his death. Though the Lord worked in his life, Samson was determined to pursue his sin and he reaped the consequences of the decisions he made in life.
According to verse 1, Israel had once again turned their backs on the Lord. Because of their sins, God allowed them to be oppressed by their enemies. This sad situation has been going on for 40 years. The announcement of the birth of a deliverer (v 5), was a welcomed word for the nation of Israel. They were reminded that God had not forgotten His people. They were reminded that God had a plan to revive them and to restore them to His favor.
What's so special about Samson?
verses 3-5, 12 - His birth was announced by an angel of the Lord to his mother, then his father.
verse 2 - His birth was a miracle. God came to an unnamed barren woman and promised to open her womb. In that society barrenness was considered a curse. Barren women carried a shame and a stigma that we cannot begin to imagine. Barrenness was often seen as the judgment of God against a home.
In that culture, every young woman wanted the same thing. They all wanted to be a mother who would bear many sons for their husbands. To be barren in that culture meant that a woman was always exposed to the danger of being divorced by a husband who wanted sons. It meant that when her husband died, she would be alone and destined to a life of poverty. No man would willingly marry a woman who was known to be barren. It was a hard, harsh life.
Yet, God came to this unnamed woman and promised her that she would have a baby. He promised her that she would have a son. And, He promised her that her son would be a Judge in Israel. What a promise she received!
I think this story reminds us that God cares about people the world sees as nobodies. Manoah and his wife were just two unknown people living out their lives in Israel. God knew who they were and He knew what they needed and what they wanted. What an amazing God we have!
verse 24-25 - We are told that Samson grew and that “the Lord blessed him.” We have been told that the other Judges were used by the Lord and that they had the Spirit of God come upon them for special times of service, but this statement is not made about any of the other Judges of Israel. It indicates that God’s hand was on this young man in a special way.
verse 25 - We are told that God began to “move him”. That phrase means “to thrust, to impel, to push”. It conveys the idea that God, through the Holy Spirit, began to impress Samson to fulfill his destiny. He used him in those early days in a localized ministry within the borders of the inheritance of the tribe of Dan, of which Samson was a member. The point is, Samson was available to the Lord in those early days and God used him! He got off to a good start!
We may not have had an angel announce our birth, and our birth may not have been a miracle of Samson's magnitude, but we are all blessed by the Lord in some way. He has blessed us with certain strengths and weaknesses. He has put the opportunities we need to grow in our lives and he has surrounded us with the people we need to help us progress. Whether we recognize these blessings is up to us.
The thing that stands out to me the most is the statement that the "Lord began to move him." This made me stop and look for the times in my life when the Lord was moving me. What was my reaction? Did I follow or did I pull back? Did I make myself available to the Lord? Am I doing that now?
God is still looking for some people He can “move” in these days. He is still looking for some servants who are willing and available vessels. I hope that I can be counted among them!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Less Than Perfect
Day two hundred fifteen
I have come to really look forward to Wednesday's, that's the day we hear from our missionary! I am so grateful that he is doing well and enjoying his time at the MTC (exept for the food, he says it gives them gas). He is a great example of how preparation and obedience pays off. I thanked the Lord for blessing my son and my family because of his efforts to serve a mission. I hope it lasts the whole two years!
Judges 11
We are moving right along in Judges. In chapter 11 I learned more about Jephthah. He is a less than perfect man that overcomes some challenges to become a leader in Israel. His story is a real person's story. There is no sugar coating on his life story, he could represent any one of us. That is why his story is so appealing to me.
While the times of the Judges were dark and dismal days for Israel, a few lives stand out as bright lights against the darkness. One of those lights is Jephthah. What we learn form his story brings encouragement to every person.
verse 1 – The first revelation we have concerning Jephthah is that he is “a mighty man of valor”. The phrase “mighty man” means that Jephthah was marked by “great bravery”. The word “valor” refers to “strength, ability and efficiency”. This identified Jephthah as a very courageous and powerful man. He was the kind of man who did what needed to be done in every situation he faced in life. He was the kind of man who refused to back down. He was the kind of man you would like to have at your back in a battle. He was the kind of man others would look to for leadership. He was a strong, able and efficient man.
The next truth we learn about this man is the fact that “he was the son of a harlot”. His father’s named was “Gilead”. Evidently, Gilead was a man who frequented prostitutes. One became pregnant and bore him a son named Jephthah. This was a major strike against Jephthah as it marked him as an illegitimate son of Gilead.
verse 2 - Jephthah’s father also had children with his wife. When these legitimate children reached maturity, they all turned on Jephthah and forced him out of the family home. Apparently, their father is dead and they refused to share their inheritance with Jephthah. Besides, Jephthah’s presence in the family was a constant reminder of their father’s infidelity.
verse 3 -When Jephthah left the family home, he went to a place called “Tob”. Tob was located east of the Jordan River in the country of Syria. We are told “vain men” gathered themselves to Jephthah. The phrase “vain men” refers to those who are “unemployed, bankrupt and empty.” These were idle men looking for something to fill their time. We do not know why they flocked to Jephthah, but it maybe that in him, they saw a leader. Maybe they saw someone who could help them find a purpose in life.
I learned somethings from these verses:
Jephthah took a negative and turned it into a positive. He could have taken his rejection by his brothers as an indication that his life was over and that he would never amount to anything. Instead, he rose above the challenges of his life and made something of himself.
Birds of a feather tend to flock together. People like Jephthah came to Jephthah. The principle is this: people tend to gravitate toward those who reflect what is in their own hearts. Look at the people you talk to. They are often people just like you. We usually seek out others who are just like us. Look at the people you spend your time with. They reveal the sort of person you are!
Rejection is hurtful, but beneficial. God uses the animosity and attacks of others to build our character and refine our lives!
verses 4-6 - While Jephthah is living his life in exile, the nation of Israel is coming under attack. The Ammonites are trying to take over the land. The children of Ammon were the descendants of Abraham’s nephew Lot through and incestuous relationship with one of his own daughters. The Ammonites were cousins to the Jews, but they were also there perpetual enemies. So, Israel is under attack and they do not have a strong leader to guide them to victory over their enemies.
The elders of Jephthah's people come to him with the request that Jephthah come back and become their “captain”. This word means “commander, chief, or ruler”. At one point they asked him to leave; now they come to him asking him to lead! What a change of mind! What a change of direction.
God delights in using the unusable. He specializes in taking those who seem to be the least of the least and making them vessels of honor for His glory! (v 29; 1 Cor. 1:26-31)
verses 30-33 - Jephthah does take the job and leads the children of Israel to victory over the Ammonites.
This story touches my heart. I'm not sure why, maybe because I like to root for the underdog or maybe it is because it has such great lessons in it for us:
We all have strengths and weaknesses, but the Lord can use us and make something special out of our lives.
There is hope for us less than perfects!
I have come to really look forward to Wednesday's, that's the day we hear from our missionary! I am so grateful that he is doing well and enjoying his time at the MTC (exept for the food, he says it gives them gas). He is a great example of how preparation and obedience pays off. I thanked the Lord for blessing my son and my family because of his efforts to serve a mission. I hope it lasts the whole two years!
Judges 11
We are moving right along in Judges. In chapter 11 I learned more about Jephthah. He is a less than perfect man that overcomes some challenges to become a leader in Israel. His story is a real person's story. There is no sugar coating on his life story, he could represent any one of us. That is why his story is so appealing to me.
While the times of the Judges were dark and dismal days for Israel, a few lives stand out as bright lights against the darkness. One of those lights is Jephthah. What we learn form his story brings encouragement to every person.
verse 1 – The first revelation we have concerning Jephthah is that he is “a mighty man of valor”. The phrase “mighty man” means that Jephthah was marked by “great bravery”. The word “valor” refers to “strength, ability and efficiency”. This identified Jephthah as a very courageous and powerful man. He was the kind of man who did what needed to be done in every situation he faced in life. He was the kind of man who refused to back down. He was the kind of man you would like to have at your back in a battle. He was the kind of man others would look to for leadership. He was a strong, able and efficient man.
The next truth we learn about this man is the fact that “he was the son of a harlot”. His father’s named was “Gilead”. Evidently, Gilead was a man who frequented prostitutes. One became pregnant and bore him a son named Jephthah. This was a major strike against Jephthah as it marked him as an illegitimate son of Gilead.
verse 2 - Jephthah’s father also had children with his wife. When these legitimate children reached maturity, they all turned on Jephthah and forced him out of the family home. Apparently, their father is dead and they refused to share their inheritance with Jephthah. Besides, Jephthah’s presence in the family was a constant reminder of their father’s infidelity.
verse 3 -When Jephthah left the family home, he went to a place called “Tob”. Tob was located east of the Jordan River in the country of Syria. We are told “vain men” gathered themselves to Jephthah. The phrase “vain men” refers to those who are “unemployed, bankrupt and empty.” These were idle men looking for something to fill their time. We do not know why they flocked to Jephthah, but it maybe that in him, they saw a leader. Maybe they saw someone who could help them find a purpose in life.
I learned somethings from these verses:
Jephthah took a negative and turned it into a positive. He could have taken his rejection by his brothers as an indication that his life was over and that he would never amount to anything. Instead, he rose above the challenges of his life and made something of himself.
Birds of a feather tend to flock together. People like Jephthah came to Jephthah. The principle is this: people tend to gravitate toward those who reflect what is in their own hearts. Look at the people you talk to. They are often people just like you. We usually seek out others who are just like us. Look at the people you spend your time with. They reveal the sort of person you are!
Rejection is hurtful, but beneficial. God uses the animosity and attacks of others to build our character and refine our lives!
verses 4-6 - While Jephthah is living his life in exile, the nation of Israel is coming under attack. The Ammonites are trying to take over the land. The children of Ammon were the descendants of Abraham’s nephew Lot through and incestuous relationship with one of his own daughters. The Ammonites were cousins to the Jews, but they were also there perpetual enemies. So, Israel is under attack and they do not have a strong leader to guide them to victory over their enemies.
The elders of Jephthah's people come to him with the request that Jephthah come back and become their “captain”. This word means “commander, chief, or ruler”. At one point they asked him to leave; now they come to him asking him to lead! What a change of mind! What a change of direction.
God delights in using the unusable. He specializes in taking those who seem to be the least of the least and making them vessels of honor for His glory! (v 29; 1 Cor. 1:26-31)
verses 30-33 - Jephthah does take the job and leads the children of Israel to victory over the Ammonites.
This story touches my heart. I'm not sure why, maybe because I like to root for the underdog or maybe it is because it has such great lessons in it for us:
We all have strengths and weaknesses, but the Lord can use us and make something special out of our lives.
There may be a cycle of sin in our background, but it can be broken today!
God can use you in spite of your past, your family or your failures.
Your treatment of others reveals how you really feel about God.
You can and should serve God faithfully today and trust Him with all your tomorrows.
There is hope for us less than perfects!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
The Unknown
Day two hundred thirteen
We are in the process of repainting the inside of the house. As we were working together last night my husband started grumbling and I said to him, "If you need to stop, then stop, because you have such a negative attitude!" He replied, "I don't enjoy the process like you (meaning me as a woman), I want to see the results (meaning as a man I just want to get it done)." Even though I am completely capable of painting by myself, he feels the need to help even when it is physically uncomfortable for him. It's the gentleman in him, he can't help himself. Besides he is goal oriented so he wants to finish what he starts right away.
As I painted by myself this morning, I started to see the wisdom in God's design of men and women. I am grateful for my ability to enjoy the process, it makes even mundane tasks a little more appealing. And since I have a lot of chores as a mom and wife, my life is more pleasant with my disposition. I am also grateful for my husband’s need to get things done. His drive gives us a good pace and keeps me motivated. We bring balance to each other, we complement each other. I think that is a brilliant part of God's plan and I shared that with Him in my prayer this morning. His wisdom never ceases to amaze me!
Judges 9-10
So far in the Book of Judges, we have considered the ministries of Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah and Gideon. Today, I would like to talk about the lives and ministries of two of the Minor Judges, Tola and Jair. While the Bible has very little to say about these two men, their lives and deeds have much to teach us.
In Judges 9 we are told the story of a man by the name of Abimelech. Abimelech was the son of Gideon by his concubine (Jud. 8:31). After the death of Gideon, Abimelech determines within himself that he will be the ruler of Israel. He convinces his mother’s people, the Shechemites to support him in his quest to become the king of Israel.
The men of Shechem confer among themselves and decide to help Abimelech. They give him seventy pieces of silver (9:4). Using this money, Abimelech hires a group of thugs to help him achieve his goal (9:4).
Abimelech takes these men to his father’s house and kills 69 of his seventy half-brothers (9:5). The youngest, a boy named Jotham escapes (9:5). After this, the men of Shechem declare Abimelech to be their king (9:6). After his anointing, Abimelech ruled as the king for three years (9:22). In the end, the men of Shechem turned on Abimelech and there was war between them and the followers of Abimelech (9:23-49). In the midst of an attack upon the walls of Thebez, Abimelech got too close to the wall and a woman threw a piece of a millstone from the wall and hit Abimelech in the head (9:53). Knowing that he was dying, Abimelech commanded one of his men to kill his with a sword so that it would not be said that Abimelech had been killed by a woman (9:54).
By the time Abimelech is dead, the nation of Israel is left in tatters from a vicious civil war. Military upheaval isn’t the only problem the nation faced. The Bible tells us that as soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel turned their backs on God and gave their worship to the Canaanite fertility god Baal (8:33-34).
We are in the process of repainting the inside of the house. As we were working together last night my husband started grumbling and I said to him, "If you need to stop, then stop, because you have such a negative attitude!" He replied, "I don't enjoy the process like you (meaning me as a woman), I want to see the results (meaning as a man I just want to get it done)." Even though I am completely capable of painting by myself, he feels the need to help even when it is physically uncomfortable for him. It's the gentleman in him, he can't help himself. Besides he is goal oriented so he wants to finish what he starts right away.
As I painted by myself this morning, I started to see the wisdom in God's design of men and women. I am grateful for my ability to enjoy the process, it makes even mundane tasks a little more appealing. And since I have a lot of chores as a mom and wife, my life is more pleasant with my disposition. I am also grateful for my husband’s need to get things done. His drive gives us a good pace and keeps me motivated. We bring balance to each other, we complement each other. I think that is a brilliant part of God's plan and I shared that with Him in my prayer this morning. His wisdom never ceases to amaze me!
Judges 9-10
So far in the Book of Judges, we have considered the ministries of Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah and Gideon. Today, I would like to talk about the lives and ministries of two of the Minor Judges, Tola and Jair. While the Bible has very little to say about these two men, their lives and deeds have much to teach us.
In Judges 9 we are told the story of a man by the name of Abimelech. Abimelech was the son of Gideon by his concubine (Jud. 8:31). After the death of Gideon, Abimelech determines within himself that he will be the ruler of Israel. He convinces his mother’s people, the Shechemites to support him in his quest to become the king of Israel.
The men of Shechem confer among themselves and decide to help Abimelech. They give him seventy pieces of silver (9:4). Using this money, Abimelech hires a group of thugs to help him achieve his goal (9:4).
Abimelech takes these men to his father’s house and kills 69 of his seventy half-brothers (9:5). The youngest, a boy named Jotham escapes (9:5). After this, the men of Shechem declare Abimelech to be their king (9:6). After his anointing, Abimelech ruled as the king for three years (9:22). In the end, the men of Shechem turned on Abimelech and there was war between them and the followers of Abimelech (9:23-49). In the midst of an attack upon the walls of Thebez, Abimelech got too close to the wall and a woman threw a piece of a millstone from the wall and hit Abimelech in the head (9:53). Knowing that he was dying, Abimelech commanded one of his men to kill his with a sword so that it would not be said that Abimelech had been killed by a woman (9:54).
By the time Abimelech is dead, the nation of Israel is left in tatters from a vicious civil war. Military upheaval isn’t the only problem the nation faced. The Bible tells us that as soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel turned their backs on God and gave their worship to the Canaanite fertility god Baal (8:33-34).
As a result of all these problems, the nation of Israel is in a mess. This was the nation inherited by Tola and Jair.
These two men may not have led any great military campaigns. They might not have commanded great armies. They may not have left a legacy of great spiritual achievements. But, what they did accomplish deserves consideration. What they did still challenges us today.
These men helped maintain peace for nearly 50 years in a nation split apart by war, rebellion and pagan worship. That in itself is no small feat. When there were no attacks from the outside, they helped prevent the nation from being ripped apart from the inside. Theirs was a ministry of peace in a time of turmoil. Tola and Jair did in their day exactly what we are supposed to be doing in our day.
Tola and Jair served for a total of 45 years. They did not lead armies. They did not build cities. They did not write books. What they did was for more important. These men stood for God in an evil day. Their lives, though little is recorded about them, still teach to us today.
What can we learn from their lives? Here are a few thoughts:
Ø You do not have to be famous make a difference – Tola and Jair are not well known, but their lives made a difference for thousands of people living in Israel in that day.
Ø You do not have to accomplish great deeds to live an extraordinary life – Tola and Jair never did anything extraordinary, but their lives still testify today.
Ø God can help you make the best of a bad situation – Tola and Jair inherited a country in trouble. God gave them the ability to hold their nation together for nearly 50 years.
Ø God is honored by, and He will honor, a consistent life – Tola and Jair did not accomplish anything that stands out, but just a look at the length of their judgeship reveals that they were consistent. They stood for the Lord for many years and God honored their faithfulness.
This story encourages us to keep living for the Lord regardless of what is going on around us. Keep living for Him even when times are lean. Keep living for Him even when others walk away. Keep living for Him even when you are attacked for it. Keep living for Him even when it is unpopular. At the end of a life of faithful, consistent love for the Lord we will hear these words:
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord,” (Matt. 25:21).
Hearing these will make every mile of the trip worthwhile!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Just Say NO!
Day two hundred thirteen
There is a funny thing that happens when people find out that you are or were a seminary teacher, they tend to think that you have all the scriptures memorized and you can recall all the stories from the scriptures. I am so not there! Yet the Lord keeps providing opportunities for others to request such information from me. This happens a lot to me, it has become almost a daily thing. It can be a little bit frustrating for both parties in this situation. I feel like I let them down when they put me on the spot and they feel disappointed that I didn't live up to their expectation. When someone asks me for a scripture I like to process it, I want to think about which scripture really meets their needs, and I want time to look it up. When I am allowed the time to do this, it always works out better.
This situation has changed the way I pray in the morning. To help ease the frustration I ask the Lord to please bless my mind with awareness so that I might recognize the verses that others might need today. As I go through my day and I come across verses that jump out at me I write them down and carry them with me. It works great, as long as I remember to bring the piece of paper with me! I am hopeful that eventually I won't need the piece of paper anymore, but until then I will keep seeking the Lord's help and keep my stock of post its on hand!
Judges 8:22-23
Verse 22 - At this point, the Israelites are so impressed with Gideon’s victory that they come to him and ask him to become their king. They are offering Gideon and his family a perpetual kingdom. They say the offer is for him, his sons and his son’s sons. The people of Israel are just like people in every age. The man that can give them what they want, peace, security, success, and wealth, is the man they want to rule over them.
All Israel cares about is the fact that Gideon is a great warrior and that he can offer them safety and security. This will not be the last time that Israel will seek a king. In 1 Samuel 8:19-20 the nation of Israel will repeat their request for a human king. Their reason is that they want to be like the other nations. They would rather be like the rest of the nations around them than have to be the special people of God.
That same trend can be seen in our world today. People choose leaders that promise them what they want, whether it be righteous wants or worldly wants, as long as they can give it to them, they will follow. Where are the people who have the backbone to stand up for the things of God, even if they have to stand alone?
Verse 23 - Gideon sees their request for what it is. The people of Israel should have been thanking God for the victory. Gideon knows that He did not defeat their enemies; he knows it was the power of God that gave the victory. The people should have been worshipping God and thanking Him for the victory that they witnessed. They failed to see that while Gideon was the instrument, God was the one that wielded the weapon.
There is a funny thing that happens when people find out that you are or were a seminary teacher, they tend to think that you have all the scriptures memorized and you can recall all the stories from the scriptures. I am so not there! Yet the Lord keeps providing opportunities for others to request such information from me. This happens a lot to me, it has become almost a daily thing. It can be a little bit frustrating for both parties in this situation. I feel like I let them down when they put me on the spot and they feel disappointed that I didn't live up to their expectation. When someone asks me for a scripture I like to process it, I want to think about which scripture really meets their needs, and I want time to look it up. When I am allowed the time to do this, it always works out better.
This situation has changed the way I pray in the morning. To help ease the frustration I ask the Lord to please bless my mind with awareness so that I might recognize the verses that others might need today. As I go through my day and I come across verses that jump out at me I write them down and carry them with me. It works great, as long as I remember to bring the piece of paper with me! I am hopeful that eventually I won't need the piece of paper anymore, but until then I will keep seeking the Lord's help and keep my stock of post its on hand!
Judges 8:22-23
Verse 22 - At this point, the Israelites are so impressed with Gideon’s victory that they come to him and ask him to become their king. They are offering Gideon and his family a perpetual kingdom. They say the offer is for him, his sons and his son’s sons. The people of Israel are just like people in every age. The man that can give them what they want, peace, security, success, and wealth, is the man they want to rule over them.
All Israel cares about is the fact that Gideon is a great warrior and that he can offer them safety and security. This will not be the last time that Israel will seek a king. In 1 Samuel 8:19-20 the nation of Israel will repeat their request for a human king. Their reason is that they want to be like the other nations. They would rather be like the rest of the nations around them than have to be the special people of God.
That same trend can be seen in our world today. People choose leaders that promise them what they want, whether it be righteous wants or worldly wants, as long as they can give it to them, they will follow. Where are the people who have the backbone to stand up for the things of God, even if they have to stand alone?
Verse 23 - Gideon sees their request for what it is. The people of Israel should have been thanking God for the victory. Gideon knows that He did not defeat their enemies; he knows it was the power of God that gave the victory. The people should have been worshipping God and thanking Him for the victory that they witnessed. They failed to see that while Gideon was the instrument, God was the one that wielded the weapon.
Gideon does exactly what he should have done. He refused their offer and reminded them that their allegiance was to the Lord alone.
By the way, that will still work today! The majority is not always right. It was the majority that cried “Crucify Him!” the day Jesus died. It was the majority that tried to throw Jesus down a cliff in Nazareth when He preached in the synagogue. The majority of the people refused to enter Canaan at God’s command and caused the rest of the nation to die in the wilderness. When we recognize the pattern and the consequences that come from going along with the majority, it should motivate us to take a stand!
One more thought. Did you notice when this temptation came? It came on the heels of great success. We are never more vulnerable to falling into sin than we are just after we have experienced a great victory. A wise man cautioned us with these words, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Pro. 16:18). It is important that we recognize that Satan will use these times against us, it gives us an opportunity to fortify ourselves.
Gideon overcame this temptation with a very firm “No!” He denied himself the glory and the honor and he delighted in bringing glory and honor to the Lord. Sometimes, we just have to say “No!” Sometimes, we need to say it to our friends. Sometimes, we need to say it to our family. Sometimes, we need to say it to our self. Lord please help us to have the backbone to do it!
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