Bible Chapter: Judges 7 & 8

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    The story of Gideon is very unique.  It shows us some of God’s nature.  God has all power and can do anything.  As God was about to use Gideon to save the nation, He insisted on doing it in such a way that only God would get the glory.  Gideon started out with an army of 32,000 men.  God whittled it down to 300.  That way no one could say they did it.  God wants us to learn to fully trust Him in every situation.  He has no problem taking care of whatever we may face.  God’s people must learn to be alert to His leading.
    God gave Gideon the victory.  The enemy started fighting itself and the scattered.  The victory was large.  This is what happened when Gideon obeyed God.  This important lesson is what all believers must grasp.  It is easy to try to manipulate victory on our own terms.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    The end of chapter eight jumped out to me as I read it.  After seeing God give them a great victory, and after Gideon judged the nation for forty years of peace, as soon as Gideon died the people again prostituted themselves with the Baals.  They forgot what God had done for them.  They didn’t treat Gideon’s family with kindness.  What this says is that as soon as Gideon was not judging them any more, as soon as their leader was gone, they jumped headlong back to evil.
    It appears that they were not really worshiping God, they were only going along with the program. If their hearts had been for God, they would have continued to serve Him.  To me, this says that people must be above routine religious activities and really get in a close connection with God.  I have seen many people involved in religious stuff in my life.  Now, it looks like many are walking away from even the surface religious involvement they have had.  That strong warning should get all of our attention.  Get close to Jesus, not just the form.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I want to help people see the lessons of Gideon.  God took a “nobody” and used him in such a way that thousands of years later people are being inspired by his life.  Obedience is a key word we see from his victory over Midian.

Bible Chapter: Judges 5 & 6

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    Sing to the Lord.  Sing praises to Him.  One of God’s greatest creations, one of His greatest gifts to people is music.  We are able to use music is many ways.  One of the most powerful ways is to sing to the Lord.  We can sing our worship to the Almighty Creator.  Deborah and Barak sang praise to God for His mercy and deliverance.  They sang because God delivered them from Jaban, the Canaanite king.  Then the land had peace for forty years.
    Sadly, here’s that whiplash again.  From the high at the end of chapter five where it says they had peace for forty years to the low at the beginning of chapter six where it says again Israel did evil in God’s sight, we see that major slide to evil. They came under the powerful oppression of the Midianites.  Israel’s crops were destroyed year after year and they became destitute.  This was because they didn’t listen to God.  Then, they called out to God for His help.
    God came to Gideon to raise him up as a leader and deliverer.  God prepared Gideon to lead the nation to victory.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    God clothed Gideon with the power of His Spirit.  The Holy Spirit equipped Gideon to do a mighty task.  It is through the power of the Spirit that the Lord’s work has been accomplished down through the millennia.  That has not changed.  Believers today must continue to remember that God will still use them.  But, it will only be through His equipping with His power.  The story of Gideon is an exciting one.  We see how God can use the least of the least.  That is how Gideon described himself to God.  God’s response was “I will be with you”.  That is the promise of victory.

3.  How can I help someone?
    Believers in Jesus, don’t put yourself down. God knew what He was doing when He made you.  Let God empower and equip you and then go out and do mighty things for God.

Bible Chapter: Judges 3 & 4

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    God is love.  God is pure and holy.  God wants a people who love Him and live holy lives.  It seems that God’s people down through the ages live a roller coaster spiritual experience -- up and down continually.  This is the story we see in the book of Judges.  Apostasy (abandoning belief) seemed to come so easily. This was followed by bondage to heathen nations.  Then they would finally call out to God and He would deliver them.  This cycle continues today in the church world.  People get excited about God and then they get lazy spiritually and get drawn to sinful lifestyles.  False doctrine comes in and the church proclaims teachings that are far from the Bible.  Spiritual decline comes too easily.  People compromise their relationship with God.
    In these chapters we see examples of how God raised up leaders to bring the nation back to serving God.  God overcame the enemies in supernatural ways.  This truth is expressed in 3:10 where it says the Spirit of the Lord came upon him.  As the power and presence of God came on the judges, they were supernaturally used to lead the people in victory over enemies and back to God.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    Probably the only place where roller coasters are fun is in an amusement park.  They are dangerous in a spiritual journey.  The picture we should display is a slow and steady climb.  Believers in Jesus should live a consistent increase in our knowledge of and relationship with God.  While we are not able to live a perfect life, we should not be in a continual up and down cycle.  We must be consistent in our beliefs and they must be solidly based on the Bible.  Beliefs in God are not based on opinion polls.  Even if the majority calls for something different, Christ-followers must reject anything that compromises God’s eternal truths.
    A very sad statement is the passage that says the Israelites did evil.  They intermingled with the heathen, marrying them and bringing heathen culture in to their families.  God had so clearly told them not to do this.  I see this happening in the church world today.  People are entering in to relationships with sinners that don’t bring the sinner to Jesus, but pull the believer away.  These kinds of relationships must be avoided at all costs.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I sense this book is talking especially to those who declare themselves to be followers of God.  The powerful lesson is for all to get as close to God as they can and obey all the directions He has given.  Any temporary pleasures derived from compromise don’t come close to being worth the price a person will pay.

Bible Chapter: Judges 1 & 2

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    The book of Judges carries on the history of Israel.  They had entered the promised land and were taking control of it.  We see that God was giving them great victories.  We also see that there were times when they failed to drive out the Canaanites.  These people eventually became a thorn in their lives and influenced them away from God.  I see a picture of the importance of separating from sin and sinful activity. The more it hangs around the more it becomes a negative impact on life.
    In these chapters we can also see the importance of passing on God’s truths from generation to generation.  Each new generation must make a personal connection with God, or they will be drawn in to destructive and sinful behavior.  A very important question to ask is why should I serve God?  If I can’t give it a good answer, I will be drawn to the fun and temptation of sin.  I will think it is great at first, and then eventually see the high price it extracts.  In many cases, but then, it is too late.  This cycle of spiritual up and down is seen many times in the history of Israel. It is also seen in church history.  Serving God is not just a matter of following a religious routine.  Each individual must make a personal connection with God or there is nothing left.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    Life is filled with really hard things.  It is often challenging to follow God’s ways.  It is becoming more and more unpopular to be obedient to God’s revealed Word in the Bible.  The behavior patterns we see in these history books are the same patterns we see in the world today.  One issue I see is shortsightedness.  When a person only sees what is right before them without seeing the future and the impact of decisions, then poor decisions will become the norm.  This passage tells us that the people served God till the next generation grew up.  Then they forsook God and provoked Him to anger.  This was because they never understood the reasons to serve and obey God.  They never connected with God.  I must maintain my connection with Him.

3.  How can I help someone?
    It is important to pass the faith along.  Jesus didn’t come to establish a mundane religious ritual.  He came to give us eternal hope.  We have what the Bible calls a blessed hope.  It is the glorious appearing of Jesus to take us to be with Him.  That is worth whatever it costs here on earth.

Bible Chapter: Joshua 23 & 24

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    Joshua grew very old.  The Lord had fulfilled His promises to Israel and they lived in the land in peace.  As Joshua realized that he didn’t have long to live, he called the nation together to remind them of all that God had done for them.  He challenged them again to be strong and faithfully serve the Lord.  If they would do that, God would be with them and help them.  They were again challenged to throw away any false gods.  They were commanded to not intermingle with or marry those heathen that were still around.  Joshua knew that the people would be drawn in to false worship and evil practices of they had connection with the other peoples around them.
    Joshua reminded them that all their victories were because of God’s help.  God drove out the strong armies that withstood Israel’s advances.  If they compromised, they would no longer have God’s help to bring victory.  The issue of compromise is still a problem for God’s people.  As I write this I have just read another article about two famous church groups that are discussing compromise of moral issues because of what the world is doing.  One person stated that their church wouldn’t dare call them on their decisions because it would be embarrassing and give bad publicity.  Joshua wasn’t worried about bad publicity.  He was concerned that the people would follow God.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    One of the most challenging verses in the Bible is where Joshua told the people to make a specific choice to serve God.  They were to make a deliberate and intentional decision about their spiritual service and worship.  God will never allow split loyalties.  Joshua said clearly that he and his household would serve the Lord God.  The people said they would do so, as well.  Sadly, that commitment only lasted as long as the current spiritual leaders lived.  They soon forsook their commitments to serve God.
    People must made a choice.  People must identify not only their to serve God, but WHY they serve God.  I can say that my father was a pastor, so I inherited a belief in God.  No, that will never work.  I must serve God because I made the decision.  I must serve God because He is worthy.  I must serve God because it is a commitment I want to make.  I don’t think people think much about this choice.  I also see that people are deceived in to thinking that no one should influence another person regarding their belief in God.  That is part of the lie of the devil.  Joshua said many times to the nation to pass on the good news about God to their children.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I want to help people see the importance of the decision to serve God.  No one will ever regret their commitment to God as they enjoy the beauties of heaven forever.

Bible Chapter: Joshua 21 & 22

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    The Levites were given cities throughout the land.  They had spiritual responsibilities.  They had carried the Tabernacle throughout the wilderness.  They did not receive a specific inheritance as the land was being divided.  They performed duties in the worship of God.  God took care of them.
    The Lord gave the nation rest.  The tribes that settled on the eastern side of the Jordan River were allowed to return home as they had fulfilled their commitments.  Joshua wrote that all of God’s promises were fulfilled.  When the eastern tribes crossed the river and returned home, they built an altar to remind them of their connection with the rest of the tribes and let people know they were to serve God.  The western tribes thought they were sinning and were ready to go to war to stop them.  Thankfully, there was leadership that went and talked and they were able to settle the dispute without war.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    None of God’s promises failed, they were all fulfilled.  That is one of the most powerful verses in the Bible.  God keeps His word.  I must always remember that truth.  Since God never changes, He will still fulfill His promises.
    Another thought that comes to mind is the importance of living according to God’s directives.  The western tribes thought the eastern tribes were sinning.  It turned out that they were making a memorial to remind future generations of what God had done and the importance of worshiping God in the proper way.  Every new generation must be taught God’s truths.  There is a strong spiritual battle for every generation to pull them away from God.  Each adult generation must not only teach, but must live a godly life.

3.  How can I help someone?
    Every person must grasp the truth that God keeps His word.  I am often saddened when I meet people who have been deceived and lived the life of sin.  The cost is so high.  The blessings of obedience are worth whatever it may cost to serve God.  The rewards of obedience far outweigh the temporary fun sin offers.

Bible Chapter: Joshua 19 & 20

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    God continued to direct the division of the land to the tribes.  He made sure that each tribe had an adequate place to live with enough room for all.  God also provided a place for Joshua to live.  He was given the city of Timnath Serah.
    God also provided cities of refuge.  If someone was involved in an accidental death, they could go to the city of refuge near them and find protection.  It wasn’t that they could commit murder and get away with it, but the cities of refuge provided a safe place till a trial took place.  God was and still is concerned about proper justice for people.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    God is not only able to provide, He provides.  In reading the story of the creation of the nation of Israel and the various stages of their development, God never had a problem in taking care of them.  If they were slaves in Egypt, God was the One who got them out.  When they were in the desert they had adequate food and water.  When they needed to cross a strong river to get to the promised land, God held back the waters.  Now we are reading about the process of settling in the land.  God had a plan for that and He provided all they needed.  God never changes.  He takes care of His people.

3.  How can I help someone?
    Trust God.  Live the way God expects.  Israel had sad stories of when they didn’t trust and obey.  There are many stories today of people who claim to be followers of the Savior who don’t act like it.  Not only have the theology, have the practice of what God says.  Then you will see God’s involvement, provision and protection in life.