Gossip on Purpose!

This Ruth gal is one of kind. She is committed, she is hard-working, she is humble, she is frugal and generous.

Ruth chapter 2 is helping me recover from the last 5 chapters of Judges where every man did what was right in his own eyes. I can't help but see Jesus Christ pictured in Boaz. But I'll have to leave that for the 4th chapter!

Two items clamor for my attention today.

First, I love how verse 16 reads in the King James Version:

And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.

Who wouldn't want handfuls of purpose in their lives? Some days I think, "I would be satisfied with just one purpose!" And yet

God has created us in Christ Jesus for good works, which God purposed beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

He has given us a purpose, to glorify Him. And if I don't know anything else to do, I can always commune with Him by prayer and His word.

I love that phrase, handfuls of purpose and long to live on purpose as a result!

The other thing is gossip.

It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband...

Everyone knew of Ruth's love and commitment to Naomi. Praise the Lord! Good news carried like wildfire instead of slander or rumors. I only want to be a gossiper if I can share good news!

Lord, thank you for the purity and virtue of Ruth. How I hunger for that kind of commitment, faithfulness, and submission. I want to live purposefully for You and to only share the kind of news that will edify and build up other people and glorify You. Thank you for the bountiful gleanings You are giving in the Scriptures this past month. You are a mighty God, righteous and gracious altogether!

Choice of Faith

Even with the death of 75% of Naomi's family, I still feel a great relief to be out of the book of Judges! At least in the first chapter of Ruth, the deaths seem to be a bit more natural and less gruesome.

But Ruth 1 is a chapter full of choices, and I'm wondering if I have the faith to make choices based on a word from God rather than on my own reasoning (and just what is the difference between reasoning and rationalization, anyway?)

Elimelech reasoned to himself,

"there is a famine in the land God has told us to occupy, but I have a family to feed. I hear the territory God told us NOT to occupy has food. Maybe I'll head on over there just for a wee visit and get our family some grub."

Remember, this was during the times of the judges, and we have discovered the theme of those days were:

"Every man did what was right in his own eyes."

So Elimelech did what was right in his own eyes and took his family to Moab. It only makes sense after all, he has a family to feed, and the place the Lord has led him to is suffering a famine.

And just like the book of Judges, death ended up being a result.

Naomi made a choice to return to the place she left. To go back to Bethlehem, which means the House of Bread. (interesting to note that the Bread of Heaven was born in the House of Bread!). Though she felt bitter, she knew her only hope was to return to where God had told them to lodge.

Orpah made a choice. The reasoning of her mother-in-law (and just what is the difference between reasoning and rationalization, anyway?) convinced Orpah that it would be a death-sentence to follow after Naomi and her God.

Ruth...ah dear Ruth. She made a choice. And oh how I desire to be like Ruth. She made a choice that presented all kinds of problems and barriers and hopelessness. Yet she made a choice to pursue after Naomi's God.

Come poverty, singleness, permanent widowhood, abuse, hard times, homelessness, barrenness, victim of prejudice or hate...she was committed to Jehovah. It seemed she was walking right into a definite losing situation. It went against all reasoning and rationalizing. It was social suicide. And yet, she seems to have heard the Word of the Lord, and followed after it.

What a choice of faith. As Robert Chapman says,

"To act when your path is clear of difficulties is not faith,
but to act despite the difficulties the Word of God apparently creates for you...this is the kind of faith that pleases God the most."

What a woman of Faith. What a choice of Faith. And hopefully we will see how God is going to transform this choice of social suicide into something beautiful. If He can trannsform the Cross into the Salvation of Mankind...He can transform our hard trials and circumstances into something shockingly marvelous.

O Lord, my heart trembles at the question, "do you believe in God's transforming power?" I fear I would rather trust my own reasoning and pretend I don't hear You, instead of making a choice of faith like Ruth did. I believe, Lord. Help Thou my unbelief.

After reading Judges 17-21, Ruth is like a lovely lily in a stagnant pool. Here, instead of unfaithfulness, is loyalty; and instead of imoorality is purity. Here, instead of battlefields are harvest fields, and isntead of the warrior's shout is the harvester's song. We are in for a treat with this book!

I Don't Want to Do it My Way!

Oh I can’t wait for the refreshment that will be found in Ruth! Because these last five chapters have been a real cesspool…and sometimes hitting a little too close to home.

The last chapter of Judges (Judges 21) continues the soap opera of life where “every man went to his own tribe…to his own family….every man to his own inheritance. In those days there was no king in Israel, and everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
(her could just as easily be substituted for his)

And just like I couldn't wait for Judges to end, so I can't wait for the same conniving to end in my own life.

Just how many man-made schemes have we read about this month in our journey through Judges? Every question posed to the “children of God” seems to end up one way or the other, involving harm and death.

And what have these brilliant plans of men accomplished? They have gone full-circle. Their ultimate solution for the mistreatment of a woman (Judges 19) is the exploitation of at least 600 more women (Judges 21).

Oh the progress and forward thinking of mankind!

I have a tendency to relate more to the prodigal son rather than the older son in Luke 15. As a result, I’m inclined to criticize those who look down on others, all the while sympathizing with the one who wasted their riches with swine.

So in my forward thinking, I end up judging those who judge others. Hmmmmmm. Now how is that really all that different?

So here are the children of Israel judging the Benjamites for mistreating a woman, who end up mistreating women to help the Benjamites! Oh God for a heaven-centered balance!

Just how scheming, conniving, manipulative, rationalizing, and deceived we can become if the Lord does not intervene in our lives and disrupt the whole vicious cycle of it all!

O Lord, I don’t want to do it my way. My heart is desperately wicked and is unable to see what is right and good. Let me live in Your reality. Lord Jesus be my King.

The Costliness of Poor Choices

These last few chapters are an unusual read especially when I study them right after asking the Lord to communicate with me. “Lord speak to me. Show me Your mind.” And then to read about a prostitute gang raped leading to her death. Hmmmm.

Today’s no exception to this puzzling response from the Lord to my request. Judges 20 has me scratching my head, wandering what is going on with the children of Israel.

It seems like the last 5 chapters of Judges show an internal breakdown of Israel’s worship and unity. A whole disintegration of Israel seems to be occurring. As soon as we behave in an ungodly fashion (ie, neglecting God), unrighteousness is soon to follow, until we get outright wicked in our ways.

Aside from the bloody civil war that has occurred within Israel, the most noticeable element of this account was how often the concept of “one man” or “unity” is mentioned. I’m thankful to see that at least everyone else understood the atrocity of what was done to this lady.

What was Benjamin thinking? Why rally all your men to protect the guilty perpetrators? Where is their outrage? How did they manage to get unanimity in this decision to protect these murderers?

Whether it was tired of being the “little tribe” or the “youngest brother”, or being confronted by so many at one time, or a soft compassion for the rapists that thought the law of Moses was too harsh, their choice had far-reaching ill effects.

• A civil war broke out.
• 40,000 Israelites were slain.
• 21,000 Benjamites were killed.
• The whole city of Gibeah, men, women and children, up in smoke.

The only folks who needed to be dealt with were the men who raped and murdered the woman of chapter 19. But Benjamin’s choice cost so much more.

Conviction for me comes from the two battles that were fought and lost by the zealous children of Israel who inquired of the Lord.

• A tenth of the men of Israel, were lost in that battle with Benjamin.
• God demonstrated that the “race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong.”
• Attempting great exploits for God by trusting in our power and schemes shall always fail.
• Israel had their own sins that needed to be addressed. (we need to remove the plank from our own eye before dealing with the iniquitous sliver in a brother’s eye)
• And we must not think it strange that a good cause should suffer defeat for a while.
• Nor should we judge the merits of a cause by the success of it.
• Loss and affliction humbles us like no other impetus
  

Lord Jesus Christ, may my responses be in accordance with Your will. Preserve me from choices that are motivated by selfishness or ego. Gently humble me so I might perceive the world through Your eyes.

The Levites as a Litmus Test

Seems like after Samson's death in chapter 16, things have been looking pretty bleak. I guess we shouldn't be too surprise, after all, these chapters are just an outworking of what happened in the garden "every man did what was right in his own eyes." We always seem to be wanting to define what is good and evil.

Thinking about today's chapter, Judges 19, wasn't all that fun. It was horrifying, graphic, angering, it stirred emotions that don't get stirred very much in this news-evading, tv-drama-avoiding gal. But still God spoke to me about my own issues.

• There's the topic of procrastination again, which could have contributed to the ghastly events later in the chapter (verses 5-10).
  
• What about the whole idea of judging those not of "our denomination" or "faith-base"? Though he was near Jerusalem and the day was far spent, he pressed on in the night to avoid staying with "foreigners". (It looks like he would have been better off he had stayed with those who were NOT children of Israel).
  
• Then there is the issue of just how wickedly the Benjamites treated their brother Levite. Can family really be so cruel?
  
• Homosexuality makes an appearance in this chapter, along with rape, prostitution and pimping.
  
• Oh, and how about the dramatics the Levite employed at the end of the chapter, almost as an attempt to lessen his involvement in the whole merciless exploitation?
  

It makes the head spin and the heart faint. 

And I'm wondering why I don't feel this outraged when I hear about the kangaroo trial the Lord had to endure, and the gang rape of the whole world's sin being put upon Him on the cross. Have I become so desensitized to the gruesome horror of the cross, that even Mel can't capture the perversion of it all?

The last few chapters have a common denominator in the story line. Yes, there is the downward spiral. And the headlong trip into idolatry. But what strikes me the most is who the lead role is.<

The Levite, in chapters 17, 18 and then this chapter, serve as a litmus to just how acidic things were getting in Israel. What happens when the watchman is the burglar? Or he who is to be setting people free, is tossing folks in the dungeon? 

• In chapter 17 the Levite is satisfied to disregard Micah's idolatry for a few bucks. 
  
• Chapter 18 have the Danites toting along a very cheerful and willing Levite to "bless" their corruption and disobedience.
  
• Then there is the behavior we have from a Levite in this chapter.

Question...why isn't he serving in the temple? Why is the Lord's business being neglected? Could it be that if the Levites would have been tending to the calling the Lord placed on them, that not only would they be staying out of trouble, but perhaps all of Israel would be more godly?

I can imagine the excuses being rendered (not hard to imagine, because I hear them echoing in my mind). 

• "Well, they aren't paying us the offering like God said they should?" 
  
• "Nobody wants to worship in today's society." 
  
• "The times they are a changin'." 
  
• "What difference will one person make?" 
  
• "I'm just taking a little hiatus." 
  
• etc.

Interesting that the story of David committing adultery with Bathsheba, and eventually murdering her husband, all began with:

"It happened at the time when kings go out to battle that David remained in Jerusalem and saw a woman bathing from his roof top." 

Why wasn't he where he was suppose to be? Oh the grief it would have spared him and other people if he had been.

Oh Lord God, show me where You want me, and compel me to concert my energies and efforts in Your work, and not my own wonderings. Grant me a new heart towards the shocking work You did on the cross for my sake, awaken me to it. And Lord Jesus, I pray You will minister to those who have suffered any type of abuse, especially sexually.

The Costliness of Isolation

What is a person suppose to make of Judges 18? There are many a good lesson to be had from the migration of the Danites away from the land the Lord gave them. Thinking they knew better, they left the call of God to follow their own plans.

Their demise ends up being one of unhampered idolatry that never seems to find a cure, until they have totally disappeared from the closing book of Revelation 7. There is no seal of God on the foreheads of the Danites.

But today, I am challenged more by the people of Laish (located in the orange northern region marked Dan on the map found in yesterday’s posting). I’m sure I have idolatry that needs to be contended with, but the issue of isolation or withdrawal from accountability seems the greater likelihood.

In verse seven the vulnerability most notable to the enemy of Laish was that:

“they dwelt safely, quiet and secure. There were no rulers in the land who might put them to shame for anything. They had no ties with anyone.”

We often think we would enjoy time to ourselves. No one telling me what to do, or challenging me, or sharpening me. What’s the big deal with fellowship, anyway?

Verse 28 shows the result of the isolated living that the people of Laish engaged in:

“There was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no ties with anyone.”

And so it was, the idolatrous, rebel-rousing, God-defying Danites were able to sneak in and strike them by the edge of the sword and burn the city with fire. Laish was so razed that Dan reconstructed and gave it the new name of Dan!

No doubt, isolation seems like the easy way to go. Do your own thing, when you want to do it, the way you want to do it. But this chapter shows me...it’s costly.

O Lord, help me to be content where You want me, and not to go searching for greener pastures outside of Your will. Please help me to establish ties with other people, and avoid the isolation black hole.

PS: brace yourself for tomorrow's chapter...it's a real gut wrencher

The Costliness of Sin

I couldn’t help but be reminded of yesterday’s 1,100 pieces of silver (16:5) when I read today’s chapter, Judges 17. I almost wondered if a Philistine woman who once lived in the Valley of Sorek might have migrated a little north to the region of Ephraim.

I can easily picture Delilah and her 1,100 pieces of silver being chased out of town after her boyfriend killed a pagan temple full of men and women (3,000 all said and done)!

So let’s just assume that the “mother” with 1,100 silver shekels in today’s chapter is the Delilah of yesterday’s chapter who received 1,100 pieces for her betrayal of Samson. Now isn’t that convicting?!

One notable positive about Samson is that we never read of him engaging in idolatry. As unpredictable as he was in his behavior, he always seems to be calling on the Lord and acknowledging Him in all his ways (even if those way were questionable).

But he did have a besetting sin of improper relationships with women (interesting to trace the three mentioned in the chapters about Samson). And the last woman he was with, Delilah, betrayed him for the silver.

And she, being a Philistine, gave sacrifices to Dagon (16:23).

And she, being loved by a faith-filled Israelite (hey, that’s not my assessment, that’s God’s [Hebrews 11:32]), had knowledge of the Lord Jehovah.

So, in chapter 17 we see confusion! Absolute religious confusion in the tribe of Dan and Ephraim. And I have a sneaky suspicion, it will infect the whole nation of Israel before this book is over.

And it all started with a beautiful woman catching a man’s fancy.
A man’s fancy not being held in check.
A man overestimating his own strength and
underestimating the power his sins had over him.

And though Samson is not mentioned in the same breath as idolatry, his behavior leads directly to it. It creates the religious chaos we discover in chapter 17.

Oh, the confusion there must be to ask the Lord Himself to bless the very objects (silver) that will be made into a craven image (disobeying the first and most important commandment)!

Lord Jesus, I pray keep me from engaging in behaviors that are pleasant to me, but may end up causing chaos and confusion in the lives of others. Help me to live a focused and honoring life for You. And if Lord God, I should ever ask You to bless the very thing that grieves You, please set me straight rather than letting it go through to seeming success.

Just as a side note, you can see where the Philistines lived along the Great Sea (Mediterranean). Samson was from the tribe of Dan, and during his time (they move way north later on) that tribe lived at the top portion of the Philistine’s land. Ephraim is the next tribe over and that is where we find ourselves in today’s chapter. Not hard to imagine Delilah having to move on after her boyfriend killed more Philistines in his death than he did in his life!

Told Her All His Heart

Ah yes! This chapter makes me want to recant on everything I said yesterday! And yet... The Spirit of God does not retract His assessment in Hebrews 11:32 about Samson, and He wrote the same book I read!

In Judges 16 today we read of the familiar story of Samson and Delilah. It boggles the mind really! Four times! Four times! (do you know what I'm talking about?)

I can just picture burly Samson convincing himself that he was strong enough to withstand the womanly charms of Delilah (the very area he struggled in while a youth). And so he stayed and listened to her whine, accuse, blame, manipulate, beg, chide...thinking all the while he was in control, and perhaps he could even make a game of it.

And for a while, he did just that.

But somewhere along the time frame, he snapped. Was it the daily pestering? Was it the lusts of his flesh? Did he actually begin to believe that he was indestructible? Perhaps he thought he would be able to sense it if anyone got near his head to shave it while he slept?

Maybe he convinced himself, "aw, the hair is just a symbol of my strength, I know it really comes from God." And indeed that is true, but if God told him to have long hair for the Nazarite vow, then he needs must always have it. He can't just dispose of God's methods and expect God to bless his disobedience.

But whatever he was thinking, something switched inside of him, and he "told her all his heart." Discernment escaped him, and he became a puppet playing into Delilah's script. Three times we read he told her all his heart. Even strong Samson was not strong enough to flirt with his weaknesses.

Now, tempting as is to try and chase down the idea that "a fool venteth all he knows" or "in the multitude of words there is sin," or etc., I'm rather taken up with the idea of what it would look like if we "told Jesus all of our heart!"

Proverbs 3:5-6 says,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight.

But I think the Darby translation has something to offer us when it comes to telling all of our heart...

Confide in Jehovah all of your heart,
lean not on your own intelligence.
in all thy ways acknowledge Him (or give Him knowledge of),
and He will direct thy paths.

Do with the Lord, what Samson did with Delilah.
No, not the lying part.
And no, not the playing games part.
But rather, tell Him ALL of your heart. Even the parts you want to hide, or the areas you don't want to relinquish control over. ALL! And lo! Watch clarity appear!

The glorious thing for us is, as we lay ourselves bare before the Lord, we don't have to worry about the possibility of being exploited, or our vulnerabilities being taken advantage of. He is no Delilah! He won't sell us out for 11,000 pieces of silver!

He can be trusted -- wholly trusted -- with ALL of our hearts!

Ah Lord God, I want to run to You and tell You all of my heart. So You can have ownership of it and take up residency in it. Help me to honestly live in honesty with You!

Just another tidbit off the subject...interesting 11,000 pieces of silver was paid for the life of Samson, whereas the Creator of the Universe sold only for 30.

Deliverance for the Deliverer!

I must confess, I have come to the story of Samson with some already preconceived ideas about him. A self-pitying womanizer, a self-willed brat, an uncontrollable egotistical brute, who wants the world to know just how smart he is by talking in riddles! (I'm not very generous, am I?!)

And initially, the chapter for today, Judges 15, only provides credence to that assessment.

But when I try to read this through a more gracious set of eyes, I'm especially struck by the last verse. Here I am judging this judge by the 5 or so incidents recorded in the 4 chapters given to him. But look at verse 20:

And he judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines.

In this one verse we see the next 20 years of Samson’s life as he judges Israel with no mention of his sensual lifestyle. Twenty years without incident and I want to critique him based the years of his youth. I don't know very many people would care to be measured by that standard...myself included.

That is the beauty of God. Even with all of our sins, failures and weaknesses, He manages to cull fruitfulness from us, and then praises us as if it were our own doing. Just look at how Samson was viewed through New Testament's eyes, a hero of the faith, Hebrews 11:32.

------

Another verse that was delightful to consider is verse 14:

Then the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him; and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds broke loose from his hands.

Just muse on that verse in regards to your own life...what God has done or what you desire for Him to do!

There is no limit to His powerful deliverances. Whatever be the cords of evil habits, woven through long years, and however entangling our circumstances, God's indwelling power can set us free. Ephesians 1:19. I wonder if Samson marveled at the liberation he experienced so easily just as it seemed he was being totally given over to the enemy?

Lord, I pray that you would make the ropes that hold my heart become like flax that is burned with fire. Strengthen me to share the good news of Your indwelling power with others, especially those those snared by lust and addictions.

Good Guy? or Bad Guy?

Sometimes I have to ask that same question about myself! The way I behave sometimes, you'd think I was a self-willed youth making decisions based on the strict criterion of "what will make me feel good!"

Other times, though not as frequent as I'd like it to be, there are moral victories, wise decisions, or good choices made.

In today's chapter of Judges 14, the same question can be asked of Samson! Is he a noble fella or a spoiled child?

Some of the mounting evidence for the latter is:

• Hanging out at the vineyards watching girls
• "I want her"
• "Get her for me"
• "Get her for me" (again!)
• Keeper of secrets
• "I'm smarter than you are"
• "I'll betcha"
• Seemingly has an insatiable appetite for clothes!
• Easily manipulated by a woman
• Given to anger
• (and what is he doing down by the vineyards to begin with [verse 13:24; 14:5])?

But the word for me today is...when he was surprised by a young lion that came roaring at him, he didn't tuck tail and run. He confronted his fears head on, faced them and supernaturally conquered them. Who wouldn't want to experience that?

And in that nike (victory) over his fears, there was much sweetness to be found. How often the Lord may give me a victory in certain areas, and I immediately try to minimize it, rather than indulging in the sweetness of it, like Samson did in his conquest. By all means, dear Deborah, enjoy the sweetness of a God-given triumph. Acknowledge the gracious hand of the Lord in it, and relish the fresh taste.

So not only did he 1) confront his fears, and
2) indulge in the sweetness gained by the victory, but
3) he shared it with others, freely.

I desire to share any sweetness the Lord has given to me in with others. But I would do it just a smidgen different than Samson did. I would be sure to share exactly where the honey came from and by what power (verse 6) such a feat could have been accomplished!

So, even though we have a pile of evidence to demonstrate what a whiney womanizer Samson is (a far cry from the holy Nazarite he was to be), it is a blessing to see how the Spirit of God can merciful use him. (He even makes an appearance in the Great Hall of Faith)

Could it be that God could use a "Good Guy:Bad Guy" kind of person?!
I hear Him saying "yes!"

Oh Lord God, may You be acknowledged in every success in my life. And may I be faithful to share the sweet honey You provide with others. I pray You will make me more and more the "good guy" and daily help me say good-bye to the "bad guy"!

Patience of God with our Questions

Up until this point in the book of Judges we haven’t received any childhood history of the judges. But that all changes in this chapter of Judges 13. Get ready for a good number of chapters about that long-haired hippy judge named Samson!

With the risk of sounding too general, I’m struck by the many questions Manoah needs to have answered, while his wife must confess to him that she neglected to ask the Angel his name or where he was from (verse 6)!

I’m not married or have had any boyfriends, but I have noticed on several team mission trips, that as we prepare for our journey, it is the men who are always asking the questions, wanting to know every possible detail. Whereas the women don’t seem to have the same thirst for knowledge about the small details of things.

Well, I don’t know if that is a true statement for all males and females or not, but it is certainly the case with Manoah and his wife!

And so, as Manoah bombards his wife with questions, he does the same to the Angel of the Lord (perhaps a Christophony [a pre-incarnate appearing of Christ]). And the oh-so-patient Lord bears with them all and even addresses them. Just like He did with Gideon.

We shouldn’t be afraid to ask the Lord questions and seek His counsel. Especially regarding the raising of children.

I’m also impressed by the reasoning of his wife. While Manoah fears for their lives (since it says that no one shall see God face to face and live) she is able to deduce that God in His mercy must be making an exception. Clinging to the promise that she was to conceive a son, it effect how she interpreted the circumstances around her.

Indeed His name is Wonderful!

O Lord God, may I seek Your face like Manoah when I need direction and answers. And may I, like his wife, reason through my fears with Your promises as the premises. Thank You for Your great patience!

Righteous Indignation? or Prejudice?

Well, considering the trend Ephraim seems to have of always showing up after a battle is fought, and then complaining that he didn't get to be a part of it, I am inclined to think this is righteous indignation.

I mean, the Ephraimites not only complain, they accuse Jephthah and the Gileadites and also outright threaten to burn down their houses. So, who can blame poor Jephthah for setting about to pay Ephraim back for some of the choices he made.

But the part I'm most challenged by in Judges 12, is the judging over a single issue. In this case, if you can't say "Shibboleth" the way I say it, I'll excommunicate you, or ignore you, or snub you, or just outright murder you.

So I sit here wondering, what issue is it with me? What one particular misstep am I quick to judge, and build up a barrier straight away?

• Judgmentalism? (never mind the fact I'm judging what judgmentalism is!)
• Gossip?
• Absolutism? (especially about social or political issues)
• Legalism?
• etc?

I mean, I do want to be discerning and all, but to kill my brother for his speech impediment or accent? I would NEVER! (cough, cough)

The thankful thing is, that whether righteous indignation, or just outright prejudice, or just a case of the last nerve being walked on, Jephthah still somehow ends up in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11.

So, even seeing my shortcomings, I can cling to the promise that "He shall perfect in me the work He has started!" And even work me in the kind of righteousness that does not feel the need to slaughter 42,000 people who threaten to burn down my house!

Gracious Lord, thank You for not only putting up with my speech impediments, but for Your great patience with my besetting sin(s). Work in me, I pray, that same kind of holy patience with others.

You Can Change Your Identity!

Yesterday's chapter was almost like a soap opera ending, "Who is the man who will lead us?" only to have the words "To Be Continued..." come across the screen!

Talk about Dysfunctional! Wow! Today's chapter of Judges 11 has it.

• Prostitution
• Discrimination
• Hatred
• Gangs
• Mistreatment
• Sibling Rivalry
• Possibility of Revenge
• Life-long grudges
  
• Bad Guys &
• Heroes

and all in the same family!

It's interesting that the men of Gilead who were so repentant in 10:10, don't even mention the Lord as they sought to find someone to lead them. It isn't until Jephthah brings up God's name, that they finally call on Jehovah.

Two thoughts today come home to me.

1) We can break the chains!
In Judges 9 I talked about Abimelech who was the son of bondage, and how his whole life was lived, and the death he died, all remained in bondage. Never changed.

But here we see the son of a harlot

• not seeking revenge
• demanding amends from the elders of Gilead
• calling on the Lord to deliver them from the enemy
• committing the whole matter into the Lord's hands
• speaking clearly with the enemy to make sure there is a need for war
• giving 2nd chances to his brothers as well as the Ammonites
• not getting sucked into the accusations of the Ammonite king
• stating the truth of the situation back to the enemy trying to clear things up
• counseling the Ammonite king away from holding onto a 300-year grudge
• the recipient of the Spirit of the Lord
• a man desiring to do right by the Lord
• a man of action
• taught his only child to be a woman of integrity and not whiny
  (she was a virgin after all, and even willingly helped her father keep to his vow)
• keeps his vows even to his own hurt

I know we can see a few faults in this story too, but consider the treatment he went through, the gangs he joined...and where was his father while he brothers were mistreating him?

Today we would all understand if he was wayward and never got back on track. But praise the Lord, somehow, someway, he threw off his old identity and was able to enlarge his heart to care for those who cared nothing for him. He didn't let his past, or his critics, or his heritage identify him. But he looked to the Lord to give him guidance, direction and identity.


And then
2) How often we try to blame others when it is really our own fault!
The Ammonites accuse Jephthah of taking their land from them, and tried to convince him it would only be right if he restored the land which his people stole from our poor innocent people who were mere bystanders.

But Jephthah had to remind the King of Ammon how it really went done 300-years before.
It was the Ammonites who attacked the Israelites unprovoked. As a result, the Ammonites got grounded and couldn't see their friends. And just like a teenager, they blamed the parent, "I can't believe you're grounding me, and not letting me see my friends. You're mean!"

So Jephthah says in essence, "I'm not the one who made bad choices that led to this. It was your poor choices that caused you to lose your land, and it would be very healthy for you to take ownership of that!"

Of course, just a youth, the king of Ammon went on to blame Jephthah and as a result got into even deeper doodoo, with worse consequences. (I'm sure he is blaming Jephthah for it all to all his friends).

How often I am that teenager, blaming God for my circumstances, when really my poor choices really led me to it.

O Lord, no matter my circumstances, my past, or the number of scoffers I might have, help me to have Jephthah's enlarged heart, one that looks to You and delivers those who scorned him. And help me to recognize my poor choices and to take ownership of them so I can bring them to You to be dealt with in a healthy fashion.

Who do you go to?

Amazing how Tola didn't merely "judge" Israel, like the previous judges did. He had to actually "save" Israel. And after reading about Abimelech's dysfunctional reign which ended in civil war in yesterday's chapter, it sounds like Israel really needed something more than just a judge. They needed a savior.

And without any other notation regarding Tola, he gets two verses for his quiet, uneventful, nation-saving reign. Abimelech on the other hand, the wicked murderous fellow he was gets the glory of the longest chapter in the book of Judges. Sounds like the same good guy:bad guy coverage ratio we have in today's media!

But that's not what really convicted me in today's chapter of Judges 10.

It's not difficult to miss the error of their ways.

• Did evil
• Served Baals
• Served Ashtoreths
• Served gods of Syria
• Served gods of Sidon
• Served gods of Moab
• Served gods of the people of Ammon
• Served gods of the Philistines
• Did NOT serve the Lord Jehovah

And who do you suppose ended up being their oppressors? None other than the Philistines and Ammonites who they were trying to fit in with!

But they are driven to repentance and cry out to the Lord for forgiveness. And because the Lord could lno onger endure the misery of Israel, He set out to deliver them.

However, the most convicting part of the passage is in the last verse, the verse that serves as an introduction to chapter 11. Here, read it again...

And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said to one another, "Who is the man who will begin the fight against the people of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."

What do you suppose would have prevented them from asking God that question? Maybe they were a little skittish around God because of their past 18 years of poor behavior. Or perhaps they just weren't used to going to Jehovah God. Or maybe they didn't really think it would prove very helpful to ask Him.

I don't know why they didn't (and I'm sure in their minds, they had the perfect rationalization as to why they shouldn't) disturb God with this question. But it drives home to me the question posted as the title: "Who do you go to for guidance?" "Who do you go to for help?" "Who do you go to to get clarity in an issue?"

For me, my sister-in-law is the one I probably go to most. And that's not bad, but I desire to make 2008 a year where even before I go running off to her or my friends, that I meet up with God first.

Lord, whether I am trying to come out of the midst of chaos like the Gileadites, or just trying to get a to-do list for the day drawn up, oh incline my heart to You first. I want to sort out the quandaries of life with You first and foremost. Thank you for Your compassionate and patient heart.

Another Identity Chapter

I'd have to confess, this was a hard chapter to feel fed from. I mean, reading all of the dysfunction, and unhealth, and outright bondage contained in Judges 9...where is food in that?

But to me, I'm struck by the fact that I'm a child of Royalty, a daughter of the King. And if I can rest in that, be secure in that, I won't go about behaving as a child in bondage (verse 18).

You'll notice the dysfunction in Abimelech in more areas than just his murder. He manipulated his brothers, he was determined to get his way, had insufferable sibling rivalry, had someone else do his dirty work, hired worthless and reckless men, wanted to be "king" (notice it wasn't merely a "judge") of everyone, and everything he involved himself in seems to have ended in destruction, one way or another...including his suicidal death. Trying to manipulate even the way he died.

He was the son of bondage. And he remained in that bondage until the end.

Yet he was confronted with a turning point. It is as if his brother Jotham laid before him the right road to chose (yeah for Jotham to have the courage to even face the man who killed his 68 brothers). Notice how forward and forthright and thoughtful Jotham's confrontation with Abimelech was. It seems so healthy, so bold.

It seems Jotham took after his liberating father, Gideon, while Abimelech continued in bondage.

And then just one last thought...it is interesting that in this chapter of chaos, evil, injustice and outright brutality, that the writer makes it clear, that God was still in charge. He isn't wringing His hands in fear that Abimelech might thwart His ways. Everything is being worked out according to Love's goodness!

Oh Father, I desire to take after You and live in Your liberating love. Help me to be as bold as Jotham and make amends where ever there is a need. And thank You for being so faithful to visit with me even through hard chapters like today's.

Outright Refusal to Help

At least procrastinating Reuben made the pretense that they were at least discussing the possibility of starting the commencing of initiating the beginnings to help Deborah and Barak. Sure they never got around to actually doing anything, but at least they could placate themselves with their "good intentions".

But in our chapter for today, Judges 8, we find his brother tribe, Gad (Succoth), not even pretending.

At first read of Judges 8, I'm impressed with Gideon's humble and modest response to his brother tribe of Ephraim (verse 1-3). Almost tempted to call him a smooth talker, or savvy, and yet scripture tells us that "a gentle answer can turn away wrath", and it certainly did in this situation.

The Ephraimites wanted more than just to enjoy deliverance from the Midianites that God worked through Gideon. No, they wanted the glory and fame that went along with achieving the victory themselves. And Gideon gave it to them! How accommodating and humble.

But after Gideon left the Ephraimites behind, he crossed over the Jordan River and ended up in another tribe of Israel's land -- Succoth, that of the tribe of Gad (verses 4-7).

Gideon's response to their mocking refusal to help his weary men seems the exact opposite of what we saw in the first three verses. As I read the two responses Gideon gave, one to Ephraim and to the other, Gad, I took comfort, "ah, yes, I too can be a Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde all within the same day! He's just as wishy-washy as I am."

But upon closer examination, I don't think Succoth is the victim here. I don't think my first take of the story, of feeling sorry for the men of Gad and thinking poorly of Gideon's "mean" answer, is the proper perspective to take.

I think Gideon had discernment to address each of these situations exactly the way they needed to be.

Remember what the events are, the Succothites refused to give Gideon’s battling men the food they needed because they had not yet actually conquered the Midianite kings yet. Perhaps they were afraid that Gideon would fail to capture and subdue the fleeing kings and that later the Midianites would return and punish them for aiding Gideon.

Whatever the reason, these events illustrate the tragic fragmentation of Israel during the time of the Judges. Since the Midianites lived in the deserts of Arabia, Gad and the other tribes east of the Jordan were most vulnerable to their marauding raids. Yet instead of joining Gideon in his attempt to eliminate the threat once and for all, these Gadites flatly refused to get involved. Too risky!

So perhaps the harsh discipline was justified because in their refusal to help Gideon’s army, Succoth and Penuel threatened the whole nation of Israel. Their act was thus equivalent to high treason.

I'm just wondering out loud to myself, is my inclination to think bad of confrontation or strong responses, how it really should be assessed? This guy Gideon has back-bone, and I sure could use some of it!

Lord Jesus, help me to respond with a gentle answer even if means I have to take the low position. But just as much, help me to have the backbone to stand firm on those immovable things. Oh Lord, grant me the wisdom to know the difference. And help me to be a risk-taker in You.

Honesty!

Today's passage is Judges 7. This passage certainly emphasizes the last two days' lessons...

1) Don't procrastinate! Can't you just imagine what would have happened in this situation if Gideon blew his trumpet and broke the pitchers to reveal the light, and the other 299 men had to take some time to mull over whether they would follow suit, or ponder the situation before responding?! As Nike says (which is the victory) "just do it!"

2) God is so accommodating! First of all He lets the fearful depart on their own volition. And secondly, verse 10 kind of cracks me up...

"and if it's not enough for you Gideon, that I just guaranteed you with My very own words (that were powerful enough to create this whole universe) that your enemies were going to be delivered into your hands...then go on down to their camp and eaves drop on the latest scoop."

Funny how overhearing his enemies talk strengthened him more than hearing the voice of God promise him the victory!

But I am struck by a third lesson today.

3) Honesty is Beautiful! It's more than just a signature line (you'd have to get an email from me to understand!), it's a way of life. God, again showing how understanding He is, deliberately affords an opportunity for people to get honest, without being judged or disparaged (that's why 12-step programs work so well).

"For anyone who is here just putting on a front, or taking cues from society, or have been pushed into this assignment, or is simply doing it because there is a need, or you're here because it seems like a good thing to be a part of ... but truthfully you are just plain afraid and don't want to be here ... you can go home."

22,000 returned to their homes. They were honest. They weren't going to keep the spiritual facade up. They were willing to say: "I'm afraid." "I struggle." "I'm tempted." "I sin."

And you know what? They may not have gotten to fight in that particular battle, but as a result
1) they were able to be honest
2) God got the glory for the deliverance
3) they were able to enjoy the victory won on their behalf by other people
4) and I imagine their faith was strengthened by the whole event

Lord, help me to be honest, to let other people be a part of my life to help me on the journey of life. And thank You for each victory You give (especially when the odds are 300:innumerable!)

Who Do You Think You Are?!

God is so accommodating. Yes, perhaps He is inflexible when it comes to justice and His refusal to take bribes to overlook crimes.

But is He inflexible when it pertains to areas of our faith and our need for growth? ... Just look at the chapter for today!

Judges 6 is the chapter read today in St. Philip's 3-year Bible Plan.

If I had to define Gideon, I would suggest:
"He Who Proved God is Accommodating"

Consider the patience of God as He listens to (and answers!) Gideon...

• How can I?
• My family is the weakest.
• I'm the least of this weak family.
• I don't believe in You.
• Can't we just talk about this for a while (kinda like Reuben did yesterday :-)?
• I can't do this alone.
• Can I do it at night time so people won't see me?
• Would you mind humoring me with wetting the fleece only?
• Mind if I procrastinate just a day more and ask You to keep the fleece dry?

What does God do? He accommodates poor Gideon, recognizing his weak faith.

--------

Another thought that I was strongly struck by in this chapter is based in verse 12.

"Just who do you think you are?"
I'm inclined to answer the same way Gideon did:
the least of the weakest, hiding for fear of failure

But look at who the Lord thought Gideon was.
...you mighty man of valor!
(and in Hebrews 11, a man of faith)

You gotta be kiddin' me? Gideon? a man of faith? of valor?

And so it is, the Lord's identification of who we are is so vastly different from how we assess ourselves. The truth be told, most Christians suffer from an identity crisis.

Here is a good list to help straighten out that crisis:
Chronologically as it appears in the New Testament
or
Pictorially as it appears in poster format

Lord Jesus Christ, grant me a glimpse of who You are as well as the truth of who I am in You! Thank you for dealing so tenderly with this weak woman.

Reuben was a Procrastinator

I guess my procrastination is a big issue with me, because I'm seeing the same thing in this chapter today as I did in yesterday's!

Today in Judges chapter 5 I'm struck by the contrast between Reuben and Zebulun. The Message paraphrase of the Bible paints it in clear modern terms in verses 15-18.

"Captains marched down from Makir, from Zebulun high-ranking leaders came down ... But in Reuben's divisions there was much second-guessing. Why all those campfire discussions? Diverted and distracted, Reuben's divisions couldn't make up their minds .... But Zebulun risked life and limb, defied death."

If you're anything like me, you don't have any problems relating to the whole talking a task into the ground and not getting a single thing accomplished as a result...and left to wonder why!

Second-guessing. What if I fail? What if it's not of God? What if it turns out to be a waste of time? What if it doesn't have good ROI's? I can't do it. etc.

But oh how I love Zebulun!
marched down...
came down...
even the high-ranking leaders...
to jeopardize their lives!

Don't you just love Zebulun-type folks! Energetic, vibrant, can-do kind of people. Willing to risk their reputation, success rate, even their very lives to march forward in the Kingdom of God?

Reuben procrastinated away his opportunity to be part of a victory.
Zebulun participated in, and obtained the victory for himself and others.

Lord, oh that I might be from Zebulun's tribe in 2008!

What if Deborah was a Procrastinator?

I've made many resolutions this year...
money management--get some;
weight management--lose some; and
time management--make some.

Of course, we all know you can't "make time," but I do desire that 2008 will the year I "take time" to do the "good thing,"...no, scratch that,...to do the "best thing."

Today's chapter is Judges 4. Of course I love this chapter, it's about a woman named Deborah, who sat under her palm tree and administered wisdom and sound judgment generously to all who came to her. Sounds like a dreamy job, but required special, God-given, qualifications!

But the verse that strikes me the most today is verse 14:

Then Deborah said to Barak,
"Up! For this is the day
in which the Lord
has delivered Sisera [the enemy]
into your hand.
The Lord has gone out before you!"

And what if Barak or Deborah had a headache the day the Lord called? Or stayed up too late the night before? Or for me, what if it were a football Sunday and I didn't have TiVo?

This...is the day!

Procrastination would have been costly.

Deliverance would have been missed.
Freedom from oppression never experienced.
Victory left untasted.

I'm wandering to myself, is there a deliverance, or a freedom, or a victory that my procrastination is robbing from me?

The Lord has gone out before you...I don't want to be left behind playing Bejeweled!

Lord, drive a nail through procrastination in my life. Amen.

Virtue Costs

Our church is reading through the Bible in a 3-year reading plan. We are in Judges 3 today. I thought I would post a blog per each chapter read, just as a matter of spiritual discipline, as well as hope that God shall communicate with me through it.

I'm feeling like Eglon as far as being spiritually out of shape, but I desire to take up the dagger of God's Word and plead the Holy Spirit to start applying it to my life.

I find it interesting that the Lord should test us. It seems the nations that inhabited Canaan prior to the Israelites arrival remained in the promised land, as a trial to Israel (v. 4).

In Mark 6 we see Jesus walking on water towards the disciples' boat in the midst of the storm. And He made as if He was going to pass them by. Why? To test them... "will they call out to Me? Will they look to Me for help?"

In John 6, a hungry crowd of 5,000 men and families can't get enough of Jesus. Interestingly, Jesus asks His disciples "Where shall we buy enough bread for everyone to eat?" And this He said to TEST them.

And then here in Judges 3:4 we see the nations were left as a test.

Testing is what distinguishes Innocence from Virtue.

I want to be more than innocent. I crave virtue in my life. That it would course through my being like blood flows through my veins. For that to happen...there MUST be testing.

A baby is newly born, and having never faced a test, is innocent (not necessarily in the theological sense, but in purity of thought and deeds). Never responded with spite, or harbored bitterness, or wished malice on anyone, or lusted, or etc. Innocent.

As we grow up, we are tested with events that naturally provoke spite, bitterness, unforgiveness, defensiveness, malice, lust, etc. It means so much more for a young man to withstand the adulteress' lures than for an infant to remain pure.

It is in the midst of trial that God enables us to withstand so that we can be virtuous. These nations were there for the virtu-izing of Israel. But verse 7 shows us their downfall (and too often mine) "they forgot the Lord their God". Have you ever heard such sad words? Such dreadful words?

As I endeavour to undertake this project I will look to the Author and Finisher of my faith (Hebrew 12:2-3). And as I look at His 33 years on this earth, we see Innocence being put to the Test. Virtue is born.

And in that sense, Hebrews 5:8 makes sense...
"He learned obedience by the things He suffered."

To paraphrase, "Innocence became virtuous by being put to the test, and passing."

Lord Jesus, help me pass each test that comes my way. May I always have you in mind and heart, and thereby avoid the downward spiral that we see in Judges...all because "they forgot the Lord their God." Amen.