Tag Archives: Judges 2:10-3:31

April 24, 2015 Bible Study — It Is Good To Give Thanks To the Lord

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 14:1-2

    This proverb says some basic things that are obvious, but reading between the lines tells us some things that are not so obvious. The first part tells us that the wise spend their time being constructive while the foolish are destructive. Thinking about it closer reveals that the writer is telling us that if we are not building, we are destroying. Let us make the effort to build our homes, our lives, our friends and acquaintances. Otherwise, we will be tearing those things down.
    The second part tells us that those who fear the Lord are upright and straight forward, while those who despise the Lord are devious and perverted. Ultimately, if you meet someone who is straightforward in their dealings with others, they fear the Lord (even if they do not know it). On the other hand, those who are devious and conniving despise the Lord, no matter what they say on the issue.

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Psalm 92-93:5

    This psalm starts off with a statement that is so very true. It is indeed good to give thanks to the Lord. I have discovered that just giving Him thanks brings me joy. If you are feeling depressed, think of something, anything, for which you can be thankful. If you are alive there is something for which you can be thankful. Then, think of something else. Before very long you will find yourself feeling more positive. Proclaim God’s love in the morning and His faithfulness at night. By doing this you will not only hold depression at bay, but find joy coming into your life.
    The psalm, and the following one, go on to tell us part of why this is true. The first and primary reason is that if we truly look at what God has done, it will thrill us (it certainly thrills me every time I think about it). The psalmist goes on to remind us that God’s enemies will all be scattered and perish, while those who are godly will thrive. There is no evil in God and His reign lasts from before time began until after time is over. I will praise Him every day.

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Luke 22:14-34

    It is interesting how quickly the disciples went from discussing who would betray Jesus to arguing about which of them was the greatest. This despite Jesus telling them repeatedly that the first shall be last. And once again Jesus responds by telling them that if they want to be great in the Kingdom of Heaven they should take the lowest rank, that those who want to be leaders need to serve others. Jesus came as one who serves, if we want to attain greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven we should do likewise. This lesson is one of the most important ones taught by Jesus. The thing about this is that the lesson is not that we should serve others in order to be the greatest. Rather the lesson is that we should seek how we can help others develop their greatness.

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Judges 2:10-3:31

    The passage begins with a summary of the rest of the book from here out. After the generation which initially entered the land following Joshua died out, their children abandoned God and began to follow the practices of the people of the land. They adopted the evil practices of the people they dwelt among. As a result troubles came upon them. When faced with troubles they cried out to God, who then raised up a judge to lead them back to Him (and rescue them from their enemies). When the judge died, the people once more began following the practices of their neighbors.

April 24, 2014 Bible Study — The Greatest Is the One Who Serves

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 14:1-2

    If you fear God, it will cause you to follow a straight path of righteousness. If you despise God, you will follow a crooked, devious path as a result.

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Psalm 92-93:5

    Yes, it is good to give thanks and praise to God morning, noon, and night. There is a certain joy and fulfillment that comes from singing God’s praises, even with a singing voice as limited as mine. God has made me glad with all that He has done. He has done great things for me, but even greater things to bring justice to evildoers. The wicked may seem to flourish, but they will utterly destroyed. The godly will flourish because God’s goodness is forever.

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Luke 22:14-34

    Once again in this passage Jesus’ disciples began to argue among themselves which one of them would be the greatest. Jesus pointed out to them that the kings of this world lord it over their people, ordering them about for the benefit of the king. And that men who call themselves Benefactor order others to serve themselves. Yet that is not how God measures greatness. If I want to be considered great in God’s eyes, I need to put aside my desires and serve the needs and desires of others. A truly great leader will strive to meet the needs and desires of those whom they wish to lead.

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Judges 2:10-3:31

    After Joshua’s death, those who had known his leadership died off. Once that generation had died off, the people began worshiping the gods of the people around them. As a result God stopped protecting them from raiders and other enemies. However, God still loved His people. So, He raised up judges to lead them and guide them back to Him. The people would follow such judges while those judges lived. While the judge lived the people would prosper as they followed God’s commands. But when each judge died, the people quickly returned to their sins. This is the story of human history. God raises up men to call His people to Him. They answer His call and follow God’s leading. This leads to prosperity for those who obey God, but once prosperity has come, people lose sight of God and worship things other than God.

April 24, 2013 Bible Study — The Greatest Is a Servant

     I have been using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study for almost a year. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I started writing this blog because the only way I can get myself to read the Bible everyday is to pretend that I am teaching someone about what it says to me. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.

Daffodils
Daffodils

Judges 2:10-3:31

     After the generation that grew up in the wilderness died, their children did not acknowledge the Lord and took up the worship of Baal. They angered God by worshiping the gods of the people around them. God handed them over to raiders from the nations around them, when they went into battle He was not with them. The people were in great distress. This led God to raise judges for them to lead them against their enemies, but when the judges died the people went back to their evil ways.
     Shortly after Joshua’s death the people of Israel were forced to serve a king of Aram for eight years. When the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, He raised up Caleb’s nephew, Othniel, to lead them. God gave Othniel victory over the king of Aram. There was peace in the land for forty years. However, after Othniel’s death the people returned to doing evil in the Lord’s sight.
     God gave Eglon, king of Moab, control over the people of Israel because of their sin. They served him for eighteen years being forced to pay him tribute. When the people of Israel once more cried out to God for help, He sent them a deliverer. Ehud, a left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin, was sent to deliver the Israelite’s tribute to Eglon. Ehud made himself a long double-edged dagger and strapped it to his thigh, under his clothes. After Ehud delivered the tribute, he started home with those who had helped carry it. However, after they had gone past a point which got the others clear of Eglon’s forces, Ehud turned back. Ehud went to Eglon and told him that he had a secret message for him. Eglon commanded his servants to leave the room. As soon as they left the room, Ehud approached Eglon and told him that he had a message from God for him. Ehud then drew his dagger and buried it in Eglon’s stomach. Ehud closed and locked the doors to the room and escaped down the latrine. When the Eglon’s servants returned and found the doors locked, they thought that Eglon was using the latrine. After a long delay, they forced the doors and found Eglon dead.
     Meanwhile, Ehud had fled and mustered the people of Israel. Ehud took control of the Jordan River crossings and attacked the Moabite forces west of the Jordan River killing about 10,000 of their strongest warriors. Israel had peace for eighty years after that.

More Daffodils
More Daffodils

Luke 22:14-34

     As Jesus and the disciples sat down to eat the Passover meal, Jesus told His disciples that He had been eager to eat this Passover meal with them because it was the last He would eat until its meaning was fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. Jesus then took the cup and told the disciples to share it among them because He would not drink wine again until He did so in the Kingdom of Heaven. He continued by breaking bread and telling them to take it and eat it because it was His body broken for them. He then went on to tell them that one of them, sitting there with Him as a friend, would betray Him.
     The disciples then began to ask each other who among them might do such a thing. This discussion deteriorated into an argument about who was the greatest among them. Jesus interrupted their argument by telling them that the rulers of this world lord it over people and then call themselves the “friend of the people”. Jesus’ followers were not to be like that. If we want to be the greatest among His followers we must take the lowest rank and be the servant of others. The greatest among us are not those who tell others, “Do this” and “Do that”. The greatest among us are those who ask others, “what can I do to serve you?” or perhaps even just go ahead and do it without asking.
     Jesus then turned to Peter and told him that Satan desired to sift him like wheat. But Jesus had pleaded in prayer that his faith would not fail. That when he had repented and turned back to Jesus again, Peter would strengthen his brothers. Peter responded by telling Jesus that he would go to jail with Him, that he would even die for Him. At this Jesus told Peter that before the crow cried Peter would deny Him three times.
     I will probably touch on this again, but this passage is one which gives me heart. If Peter could be forgiven for denying Christ and become such a key contributor to the early Church, then there is hope for me after the times I have failed to stand up for what I believe to avoid being thought silly or looked down on. It does not mean I can do such things with impunity but it means that I dare hope that, if I am faithful going forward, God will make some use of me to build His Kingdom.

Daffodils in a vase
Daffodils in a vase

Psalm 92-93:5

     I will proclaim God’s unfailing love in the morning and sing of His great faithfulness in the evening. When I think of what God has done for me, I am thrilled. His great works leave me in a state of awe. The Lord has given me strength and made me strong. The Lord is just and there is no evil in Him.

The theme today is daffodils
The theme today is daffodils

Proverbs 14:1-2

     If you are wise, you will carefully build your house. On the other hand, those who are foolish tear it down by their foolishness.
     Those who fear the Lord walk upright on a straight path. Those who sneak along in the shadows as they wind their way trying to stay out of sight despise Him.