Judges 11

Jephthah was one tough guy, too tough for the rest of the nation and they kicked him out.  But now they needed what Jephthah could provide, a warriors leadership, and they begged him to protect them.  He agrees to return and lead them in battle against the troublesome Ammonites.  This is a confused and barbaric time for Israel; they have been way too familiar with the wrong gods and lost interest in the one true God.  Jephthah is confused as well and he makes a vulgar and immoral pledge to God that cost him his only daughter.

Now we should not get the idea that God wanted that pledge or even that he honored it, nor did he want it fulfilled.  They would have won the battle without it, in fact human sacrifice was forbidden by God (Deut. 18:10, 12:31).  Pledges appear to be a spiritual way of manipulating a sovereign God.  We all try to make deals with God to get the outcome we want.  Wouldn’t it just be better to trust the character of God and the outcome he has for my life?  What can be gained in trying to manipulate the very God who sacrificed his only son on my behalf?  Frankly, it’s insulting and James tells us we do it at our own peril (James 5:12).  How much better to obey God and rest in His goodness, that’s the best deal we could ever swing.

1. Luke 24: 16 “But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.”

When Jesus was first with them, their eyes were intentionally blinded from the Jesus they once knew so well. They were not yet ready to fully understand His perfect plan of redemption. He was there in their midst, yet they did not see.

2. Luke 24: 24 “And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”

While they recounted the “unbelievable” story of the women at the tomb, they also commented on their difficulty in belief. Their eyes and hearts were closed still to the possibility of Christ alive, and making Himself known to the women. He had left an account of Himself, and yet they did not see.

3. Luke 24: 30-32 “…He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him…and they said to one another, ‘Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the scriptures to us?’”

In a familiar setting, Jesus was a guest to the house, yet took on the role of host throughout the meal. He had to take on that role in order to continue the process of opening their eyes to His plan for them. It was after this personal experience with Him, the disciples and followers finally started to put the pieces together. They began to acknowledge the spiritual stirring in their hearts as they were around Him. They also were able to understand scripture that once seemed confusing, or difficult. Christ slowly revealed Himself to them, and they began to see.

4. Luke 24: 39 “Behold My hands and My feet, that is Myself. Handle Me and see for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

Finally, Christ in a very intimate way shows His followers the extent of His love. The visual, physical, and intellectual experiences of the disciples finally opened their eyes. It was only after a series of intentional experiences with Jesus, that the disciples were able to fully grasp the plan and purpose of His death. In His time, they saw.

What a process to undergo in order to see Christ. God had a plan for His followers, but it had to be done in His timing, and with His carefully guiding hand.

Why all of the hurdles? I would like to think that I am open to what Christ might be doing in my life. But the reality is, I am often so caught up in myself (whether it be goals, grief, or the everyday), I miss opportunities to participate in God’s plan. I think this account of the disciples is actually a beautiful illustration of how when we are seeking, He will find us, and open our hearts to His will. All I need to do is seek Him, and He will open my eyes in His perfect time. He is alive, and in our midst.

Lord, help me to seek you. Lean not on my own understanding. Teach me through your Word and the Holy Spirit. Open my eyes, that I might see the opportunities to serve my neighbor.

Sorry for the long posting…

Luke 24:1-8 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7′The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” 8 Then they remembered his words. NIV

As I read about the account of the women finding out about the resurrection of our Lord I am reminded that our faith is unique. Of all the religions in the world, ours is founded on a person not a way of thinking or a philosophy. The simple sentences “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen!” is the foundational truth of everything we believe. In I Corinthians 15:17, Paul states that if Christ was not resurrected, our faith is a fraud and we are fools.

The truth of Jesus’ resurrection is the proof of our forgiveness; of God’s forgiveness through the sacrifice of Christ for our sins. It also demonstrates to us that our faith is a living faith, not a faith based on rules or laws, but a faith rooted in a relationship with the living God because we have a living Savior.

Of all the theological points we are willing to debate or question, this is non-negotiable; Jesus rose form the dead to prove He was God and that His sacrifice on our behalf was real. I am thankful that He is among the living because it reminds me that I too am among those that will live eternally with Him.

Father, thank you for your provision, for forgiving my sin and seeing me as blameless and as your child. I am awed by the resurrection and the implications it has for our faith and to the world. The empty tomb proclaims your glory and mercy. May we be reminded of those things as we reflect on this portion of your Word.

What if I responded to everything the Holy Spirit ever told me. I would be “Super Christian Man”, able to defeat sin in a single wave of my really thick Bible and a blast of my look-at-how-faithful-I-am stretch suit shooter thingy.
I read Psalm 97:10 and think of a math problem – let X=12. “Let those that love the Lord, hate evil”. I so often hear from Christian people about all the stuff that we want God to do for us and then we will do something for him. “God we need good weather for this function to be successful.” “God make me well and I will serve you”. What if I had a sincere desire to please God that will result in his work living through us. “I will glorify you despite the weather”. “As long as this body can move, I will glorify you.” Maybe then God’s desires will align perfect with mine. . .or is it the other way around?

Pray: Lord, your will be done because I am not smart enough.

“Come let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.”–Psalm 95:6-7

Posture paints a picture. I was challenged and encouraged by the posture of the Forgiving Father in the story of the Prodigal son. He stood with arms open wide, looking hopefully over the horizon, waiting and watching for his wayward son to return. His posture revealed the longing in his heart to be close to his son again.

In Psalm 95, the tables are turned. I concern myself with my posture and, more importantly, the condition of my heart. Praise starts with the heart, humbly recognizing, with proper perspective, who He is.

HE IS.

HE IS GOD.

“HE IS OUR GOD.” (v. 7)

HE is the Shepherd. He leads. He feeds. We are the sheep. We need Him. We are His people.

Worship not only recognizes and praises Him for who He is and what He has done (and is doing and will do), but it also brings a better perspective of who I am. As His greatness, goodness and GOD-ness is reckoned with, my frailty is exposed and my need for a Shepherd to save me and guard me and guide me is accentuated.

It is impossible for tainted and fractured man to stand with stiff-necked, puffed-up pride before a pure and holy God. If I am truly seeing God for who He is, then my response will be to kneel and bow before Him in reverence, adoration and humility.

Lord, I know that I can stand and praise you, singing and shouting to You with great joy, because You are the great King above all. But I can also kneel and bow before You, in humble adoration. May my posture reveal the longing in my heart to be close to my Father again.

Psalm 94:10b “He knows everything-doesn’t he also know what you are doing?”

God knows. That is reassuring, challenging, convicting, encouraging, and honestly a little scary.

God knows what is going on in my life. He knows the good, the bad, and the ugly. He knows my heart, he knows my actions, he sees it all. He is the ultimate accountability partner. I can’t slip anything past him and it is futile to try.

Yet at times I, and maybe others, have the attitude that the Psalmist talks about in verse 7… “The Lord isn’t looking, they say, and besides, the God of Israel doesn’t care.”

How ridiculous that statement is!!! God is looking and He does care, more than I even know or can comprehend.

Verses 8-9 repond to this misguided attitude and perspective. “Think again, you fools! When will you finally catch on? Is the One who made your ears deaf? Is the one who formed your eyes blind?” Nothing gets past the Lord and He will respond appropriately to the way I am living my life.

Father thank you that you know. Thank you Lord that you care. Thank you that you are not deceived and you are not mocked. Help me Lord to constantly be aware of your presence, your omniscience, and your involvement in my life. Jesus please continue to prod me, provoke me, and pierce my heart with the reminder of your sacrifice of love for me. Amen.

Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
I love contrasts.  They paint such a vivid word picture.  It sounds like there are two possible effects I can have on my house. I can build it up or tear it down.  In order to build there needs to be wisdom present.  Foolishness brings about the tearing down of a house with my own two hands ~ blame can be placed on no one else. In James 3 there is another contrast given.  It talks about “wisdom” that is earthly (aka foolishness?) which results in envy, selfish ambition, disorder, and every evil practice (v16). Does that sound like a way to tear apart a household, or what?  Contrast that with the wisdom that comes from heaven which is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere (v17). What could be any better for building up any household than this lack of self-focus?

How often am I using earthly wisdom within the four walls of my house and actually doing things that are detrimental to those living there?  My choices certainly do have an effect on those around me and can keep us from being a close family unit.  It would be easy for me to blame others in the family for air that feels like it could be cut with a knife. Am I willing to take the responsibility when it is mine?  Better yet, am I seeking wisdom from above so that I can quickly recognize any reactions that will do anything other than building up my home to be one in which peace and love are found in every corner?

Lord, grant me your wisdom. Give me time to be still to hear the small voice of your Holy Spirit so that I can build up my house to be pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit (showing love, joy, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, kindness, self control), impartial, and sincere.  Help me to be quick to recognize times when I am tearing down my house with disorder and selfish ambition.  Lord, teach me your ways that I may model them for others in my family. Give me humility to see myself honestly.

Joshua 24:14-15 - Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

As Joshua’s life comes to a close, he boldly challenges the people to choose between the gods of their forefathers and the living God, Yahweh. He tells them that they cannot fear the LORD and serve other gods at the same time, for to fear Yahweh is to serve Him. He implies there is no middle ground - everyone will end up worshipping something or someone. And he doesn’t try to coerce or manipulate them to believe. He simply proclaims the truth to them and gives them the freedom to choose. But no matter what they may choose, Joshua has already made his clear choice - “as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Lord, may I boldly challenge others to follow after You, without being coercive or manipulative. Help me to respect other’s freedom of choice, and yet, to be unwavering in my choice to fear You and serve You with all faithfulness. Thank you for being so faithful to me.

Joshua 21:43-45 So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44 The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD handed all their enemies over to them. 45 Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. NIV

As the book of Joshua nears its end, God “settles up” on His accounts with the nation of Israel. I am encouraged to read of fulfilled promise after fulfilled promise in the book of Joshua. It demonstrates to me that our God is one who is true to His word, faithful to act on His promises, and trustworthy in nature.

I find great comfort in seeing God be true to His word time after time in the scriptures because it persuades me that the Lord is equally faithful to His people today. Those things that God has promised to us as His people can be relied upon because we have a God who is true to His promises.

Father, we praise you for your faithfulness. The absolute certainty that we can count on you to do as you have promised gives us rest and comfort in an uncertain world. Thank you!