Day 226—We are in the eighth month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and prophecy.
Day 226 – Jeremiah 26 – 29 (Jeremiah threatened & spared, Zedekiah & Nebuchadnezzar, a false prophet, letter to the exiles)
Jeremiah 26 repeats the message and threat to our prophet from 11 years earlier when God offered the relenting of the disaster if the people would repent. (More recently, there is no such offer.) Jeremiah’s life is/was threatened, but the city officials spare him, listing other prophets whose lives were spared in the days of Hezekiah and Jehoiakim.
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Jeremiah 27. Jeremiah’s message now is to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon. As the object lesson to accompany the message, Jeremiah was to make and wear a wooden yoke on his neck.
The message from the Creator of earth and everything in it, “I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, MY SERVANT, (in that he serves God’s plans). All the nations shall serve him, and his son, and his grandson until the time of his own land comes. Then, many nations and great kings shall make him their slave.
BUT if any nation or kingdom will NOT serve this Nebuchadnezzar and put its neck UNDER THE YOKE OF THE KING OF BABYLON, I will punish that nation with sword, famine, and pestilence.”
“But any nation that WILL bring its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will leave on its own land to work it and dwell there,” declares the LORD.
Then Jeremiah warns the people of Judah and Jerusalem not to listen to false prophets and priests but to submit to Nebuchadnezzar’s yoke. God promises to bring back the vessels of the House of the Lord when He brings back the exiles…in 70 years. (One year for every Sabbath year they did not honor.)
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Jeremiah 28. In that same year when Zedekiah (the last king to reign), the false prophet, Hananiah spoke against what Jeremiah said, saying instead that the LORD would break the yoke of Babylon and bring back the people in TWO YEARS. To illustrate his false prophecy, he went to Jeremiah, took the yoke off his neck, and broke it.
Soon after Jeremiah went to Hananiah with this word from the LORD, “You have broken wooden bars, but you have made in their place bars of iron. I have put upon the neck of all these nations an iron yoke to serve Nebuchadnezzar, and they shall serve him.”
“Furthermore, listen Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a LIE. Therefore, behold, I will remove you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have uttered rebellion against the LORD.”
Hananiah died in the seventh month.
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Jeremiah 29. Then Jeremiah sends a letter to the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, along with King Jehoiachin, the queen mother, and all the officials and craftsmen.
Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem.…
” Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters, multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”
Jeremiah 29:5-14
But to those who refused to surrender to Nebuchadnezzar, the LORD said…
“Behold I’m sending on them sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like vile figs that are so rotten they cannot be eaten. I will pursue them with sword, famine, and pestilence and will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, a terror, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them because they did not pay attention to my words.”
The LORD trashes the lying words of the false prophets Ahab and Zedekiah. Then the king of Babylon “roasts them in the fire!!!” God also curses the false prophet Shemaiah, and all his descendants, none of whom will see the return from exile…. for speaking “rebellion against the LORD.”
Day 215—We are beginning the EIGHTH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and prophecy.
Day 215 – 2 Chronicles 32 – 33 (Review of Hezekiah’s glory days, his pride, and Manasseh’s reign and repentance, Amon)
Chapter 32 repeats 2 Kings 18-19 and Isaiah 36-37, showing the Assyrian king, Sennacherib invading Judah, trash-talking the God of Israel, Hezekiah’s prayer, and God’s deliverance by His mighty angel wiping out the Assyrian army in a night.
It also states again how Hezekiah’s pride grew about his very great riches and honor and how he made huge treasuries for himself. (Part of it came from the gifts the people gave to God and him when God defeated the Assyrian army). It also hints that the envoy from Babylon was “a test from God” to see what was in Hezekiah’s heart. (He failed.)
(Interestingly, those Babylonian representatives were sent to Hezekiah “to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land.” It seems that as far east as Babylon, the moving backward of the sundial ten steps was noticed. It reminds me of the “star” that appeared in the East that prompted the Maji to come see Israel’s new king when Jesus was born!)
Chapter 33 tells the story of Manasseh’s reign. He began at age 12 (conceived during Hezekiah’s, extra, proud, fifteen years of life.) He was horribly evil, undoing all the good that his father had done. He blatantly disregarded the laws of God about worshiping false gods and idols, sacrificing children, seeing out mediums and sorcery, and keeping holy the Temple of God.
33:10“The LORD spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention. Therefore, the LORD brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, WHO CAPTURED MANASSEH WITH HOOKS AND BOUND HIM WITH CHAINS OF BRONZE AND BROUGHT HIM TO BABYLON.”
Interestingly, when Manasseh was in distress —–He entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him —–, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem. THEN MANASSEH KNEW THAT THE LORD WAS GOD.”
WOW! Hezekiah began good and fell into pride. Manasseh began terrible and ended up humble and honoring God.
Unfortunately, it was too late for his son, Amon, who ruled after Manasseh. He DID NOT humble himself before the LORD but did evil and sacrificed to images. He was assassinated after two years, and his son Josiah reigned.
It seems Josiah learned from his grampa and did what was RIGHT in the eyes of the LORD. 34:1-2
Day 143—We are in our FIFTH month of Bible reading, and today, we finish our ELEVENTH Book (2 Samuel). Are you loving God more each day? What are you learning about Him? Share in the comments section.
Day 143 – 2 Samuel 24, 1 Chronicles 21 – 22, Psalm 30. (Census, judgment, alter/temple, joy)
What exactly incited King David to call for a census of all his military men? 2 Samuel seems to say that the LORD (in His anger) did, while 1 Chronicles says that Satan did. Both instances began with Israel’s sin, which is important when the consequences fall.
Perhaps God, in His anger against Israel, allowed Satan to put the need to see how big his army was in David’s mind. Israel and her king needed to trust ONLY in the LORD for victory in battle and not in the amount of military power that had.
Interestingly enough, Commander Joab confronted the king and said a census was NOT a good idea. But David, who didn’t like Joab anyway, ignored his advice and sent him throughout Israel with an abacus.
The tally numbers also seem to conflict. 2 Samuel‘s number could be the amount of standing army soldiers, and 1 Chronicles could also include all men of military age, whether seasoned or not.
Also, 1 Chronicles mentioned that Joab hadn’t gotten to the tribes of Benjamin and Levi when God stopped the process. (The Levites wouldn’t stand in battle, but only in defense of the Tabernacle and its contents.)
In either case, the whole thing displeased God, and he sent His Seer, Gad, to David to give him three choices as to the consequences of showing this lack of trust in Him. (And NO, this is not like having a Genie in a bottle.) For one thing, the choices were horrific. 1) 3 years of famine, 2) 3 months of devastation by their enemies, and 3) 3 days of pestilence/plague. What a choice!!
David chose #3 for the shorter duration and because he would rather trust himself in the hands of God than the hands of the Philistines, etc. And the Angel of the LORD killed 70,000 men in Israel. (soldiers?) But the Angel stopped when He came to Jerusalem and allowed the king to offer burnt (sin) offerings on the threshing floor of a Jebusite (People who held Jerusalem before David conquered it.)
After seeing the Angel of the Lord, the Jebusite and his sons ran and hid, but then he fearfully approached the King and offered his threshing area, his oxen, and all the wooden implements to use in his offerings. But David refused the offer and insisted on buying everything. “I will not take for the LORD what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” (2 Samuel – 50 shekels for the oxen and implements & 1 Chronicles – 600 for the land)
It reminds me of Abraham, who was looking for a burial place for his wife, Sarah. He did not accept the land as a gift but insisted on paying for it. Both that land and the area David bought became a permanent possession.
This purchased area would become the site of Solomon’s magnificent Temple. (Currently, the Dome of the Rock (“threshing floor”) sits on top of it.)
2 Chronicles. This chapter flows from the previous verses about that area in Jerusalem, which would become the place where Solomon would build a House for the LORD. David was not allowed to build it because he was a man of war and bloodshed, while Solomon, who was a man of peace, could. Meanwhile, God allowed David to make the plans and collect all the materials needed, from great stones and cedar trees to the iron nails for the doors, clamps, etc.
King David even called his young son and charged him with the task, telling him that the LORD would be with him and establish his royal throne in Israel forever. “Now my son, the LORD be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the LORD you God as He has spoken concerning you. Only may the LORD grant you discretion and understanding, that when He gives you charge over Israel, you may keep the law of the LORD your God….. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed. With great pains, I have provided for the house of the LORD.”
Psalm 30. “O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You have healed me. O LORD, you have brought up my soul from the grave.; You restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” “O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.”
Day 101 — We have been reading the Bible daily for over a quarter of the year. Praise God! What have you learned about God? About yourself?
Day 101 – 1 Samuel 13 – 14 (Saul, Samuel, Jonathon)
Chapter 13 reveals the first years of Saul’s reign and “leading Israel into battle” (as they wanted of a king). Both the king and his son Jonathan were successful against the Philistines. But the mighty Philistines refused to take that for very long and mustered a hoard against Israel, including 30K iron chariots.
Freaking out at the sight, the men of Israel ran for cover, into caves, holes, rocks, tombs, and cisterns. Some fled across the Jordan River. Saul waited seven days for Samuel to come (which he had said), but then panicked. The king called for the burnt offering and did it himself. (A big no-no in God’s law.) It was his big, history-altering mistake, for it caused the end of his dynasty. When Samuel arrived, the smoke of the offering was still in the air, and he told Saul that his kingdom was doomed and that the LORD had chosen another, a “man after His own heart,” to be a prince.
Saul still led the armies, but that proclamation would dwell on his mind until he was crazy.
Meanwhile, in Chapter 14, Prince Jonathan and his armor-bearer took on a pack of Philistines themselves, after asking God for a sign. His victory and bravery inspired Israel and they followed suit. “And the LORD saved Israel that day.”
However, unbeknownst to Jonathan, Saul foolishly vowed that no man should eat until the battle was done. Stupid, for they would have been stronger if they’d eaten, and they also would not have slaughtered the spoil right there on the battlefield out of desperate hunger, and eaten raw meat with the blood. A really big breach of God’s law. (Leviticus 17:10-14) Also, Jonathan found a bit of honey and ate it, which invigorated him immediately.
When Jonathan heard of his father’s vow, he was ready to die, but the people resisted and ransomed him.
There continued to be hard fighting against the Philistines throughout Saul’s reign, and Saul found and gathered any strong or valiant men into his personal force. (David would become one of these.)
Day 98 & 99 — We have been reading the Bible daily for a quarter of the year, and today, we begin the tenth book. Praise God! What have you learned about God? About yourself? (Note: SUNDAY’s readings are combined with MONDAY’s)
Day 98 – 1 Samuel 1 – 3 (Hannah, Samuel’s birth & call)
In Chapters 1 & 2, Hannah, the much-loved but barren wife of a Levite named Elkanah, prays for a son, promising to give him back to God all the days of his life. God hears and answers her prayer and Samuel is born. Like Samson, he is born under the Nazarite vow. But that is the only similarity.
After Hannah weans him, she takes the very young Samuel to the Tabernacle and gives him under the care of Eli, the priest. Every year, she visits him to bring new clothes. After fulfilling her promise, God gives Hannah five more children.
Samuel grew and ministered before the LORD in the presence of the old, fat, lazy priest, Eli, and his worthless, wicked sons. Hophni and Phinehas treated the offerings of the LORD with contempt and were very great sinners in His eyes. Eli mildly scolded them, but they continued in their sin, so God rejected the house of Eli.
In Chapter 3, the LORD calls Samuel. It seemed like Eli was calling the boy, so in obedience, he went to the old man three times. Finally, Eli realized God was calling him and told Samuel to answer, “Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.” And indeed, the LORD speaks to Samuel, prophesying the judgment on the house of Eli for his sons’ blasphemous behavior and his not correcting them. Samuel is afraid to tell Eli the word of the LORD, but the old man insists, and after hearing the judgement, acquiesces.
After that, Samuel grew, and all the words God spoke to/through him came to pass. Everyone – from Dan to Beersheba – knew he was established as a prophet of the LORD.
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Day 99 – 1 Samuel 4 – 8 (Philistines, the ARK, Eli, Samuel,)
In Chapter 4, Israel goes to battle against the Philistines and they lose. The elders ask why, but before God can answer, they bring out “the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim” from Shiloh, where the Tabernacle was set up. When the people see it, all of Israel gives a thunderous shout so loud the Philistines are afraid. They think the ARK is a god, like their carved images, instead of the earthly “throne” or dwelling place of Almighty God. They pump themselves up with “Take courage and be men and fight!”
They do, Israel loses, and the Ark of God is captured. Eli’s two sons are killed in battle. When Eli hears the news, he faints backward, breaks his neck, and dies. Phinehas’s wife goes into labor and also dies. The baby is named Ichabod, meaning, “The Glory has departed” from Israel.
In Chapter 5, the Philistines discover that having the Ark of the God of Israel is not such a great thing. First, the statue of their god, Dagon, falls before the Ark in a pose of worship. Then it is completely decapitated. Then, the men of the five cities of Philistia begin dying of a weird, horrendous disease as they pass the Ark from one town to another. Eek! Get rid of the thing, they cry.
In Chapter 6, they devise a plan to send it back to Israel, making it a test to see if “God” really is causing all their problems. They load it on a cart pulled by two milk cows who have young calves. No mama cow will leave her crying babies and pull a cart miles away, but they do, so Philistia knows that it is Israel’s God who is afflicting them. They also send some golden tumors and mice (???) to appease Israel’s God.
Chapter 7 describes how the Ark is kept in Abinadab’s house. His son Eleazar is consecrated (as a priest) to be in charge of it. And it remains there—twenty years!! NOTE: The Ark of the Covenant is there until King David brings it to Jerusalem in 2 Samuel 6.
Samuel chastises them and tells them to put away foreign gods, return to the LORD, and serve only Him. Samuel prays for them as they begin to repent. Suddenly, the Philistines come up against them, and they panic. But Samuel goes before the Lord and intercedes, and the LORD roars against the Philistines, who fled away. In memorial to this miracle, Samuel sets up a stone named Ebenezer, which means “Till now the LORD has helped us.” Peace comes to Israel, and Samuel judges them for all the days of his life.
Chapter 8 tells how Samuel gets old (60) and makes his sons, Joel and Abijah Judges over Israel. But they, like Eli’s sons, do not walk in the ways of the LORD but begin to take bribes and pervert justice. The elders see this and cry out for a king to judge them. Feeling rejected, Samuel prays to God, who tells him that Israel hasn’t rejected Samuel but they have rejected the LORD Himself. God tells Samuel to give them what they want…but to warn them how a king will reign over them.
Samuel warns them with a long list of how an earthly king will not be the same as their righteous King of Kings has been. He will conscript their sons for his army and take their daughters for his cooks and bakers. He will take the best of their crops, servants, and animals. And they will become his “slaves,”
Israel does not heed Samuel’s warnings but cries out, “No, there SHALL be a king over us that we may be like all the nations. Our king will judge us, go before us, and fight out battles.”
Day 96 — We have been reading the Bible daily for a quarter of the year and have begun a new month. Praise God! What have you learned about God? About yourself?
Day 96 – Judges 19 – 21 (A very bad incident, civil war, and kidnap)
Wow, can it get any worse? Today’s reading, the last in Judges, shows how morally low people can get without the knowledge of God.
Chapter 19 tells a story about a Levite that parallels the story of Sodom in Genesis 19. A Levite’s concubine runs away to her father and he goes after her. After several days, the father allows him to take her away. On the way home, they stop in a town of the tribe of Benjamin. An old man advises him to spend the night INDOORS! The reason is that the town is full of craving homosexual men! Like at Lot’s door in Sodom, these men demand that the old man send the Levite out so they can “have their way with him.” The Levite sends out his concubine instead and they ravish her all night so that she dies at his doorstep. (Can you believe it??)
He loads her body on his donkey and goes home, where he cuts it in pieces and sends one to each of Israel’s tribes. (Gag!) In Chapter 20, the tribes muster soldiers to go after Benjamin to destroy them all. After two costly defeats, they use an ambush technique we saw Joshua do against Ai, and nearly wipe out all the Benjaminites – only 600 left.
Remorse then hits the other eleven tribes, and in Chapter21, they devise a plan to give these 600 min, wives to carry on the line. They notice that one city in Israel did not send soldiers to fight. So they go and kill all the men and married women, and steal 400 virgins for the men of Benjamin. But, alas, there are still 200 wifeless men! What to do??
They hear of a festival in Shiloh. They wait in ambush (a different kind) for the young women to come into the vineyards dancing… and grab 200 of them. With these new wives, the 600 of Benjamin return, rebuild their towns, and live in them.
The last verse in Judges says it all. “In those days there was no king in Israel (and) everyone did what was right in their own eyes.”
Day 95 — We have been reading the Bible daily for a quarter of the year and have begun a new month. Praise God! What have you learned about God? About yourself?
Day 95 – Judges 16 – 18 (Samson, Delilah, His sacrifice, Levite, & Dan)
These chapters show the spiraling down of Israel’s morality caused by their lack of knowledge of God and His ways.
In Chapter 16, Samson lusts after two Philistine prostitutes, used for the most part to try to capture Samson, who has been plaguing their nation. It’s not until Delilah beguiles him four times that he gives up the source of his strength. (Did this mean he did not actually “look” strong?) When Samson finally tells the truth that his strength is in his never-cut hair as part of the Nazirite status, God gives him over to the Philistines, who gouge out his eyes, mock him with women’s work, torment and imprison him.
But in prison, Samson’s hair began to grow. On a festive occasion, the Philistines were honoring and sacrificing to their god, Dagon, claiming that “it” gave Samson into their hands. They brought Samson out as entertainment. Perhaps they mocked him, tormented him, or just looked at his pitiable form and felt very brave. Samson, who had been humbled, was about to be “lifted up” by God. It would mean his life.
He asked a young boy to lead him to the center columns of the temple, where Philistines were involved in pagan worship below and in the gallery above. Then Samson “looked” up to God instead of himself and asked just once more to have strength. For vengeance, yes, but also to do what God had called him to – defeat the Philistines. God answered. Samson pushed on the massive columns, and the entire temple fell, killing thousands of Philistine worshipers… and Samson.
In his lustful, self-centered ways, Samson squandered God’s calling and gifts. In a night, he lost his hair, his strength, his eyes, and the presence of the Spirit of God.
I wonder how I am using God’s giftedness to me. Is it for my own pleasure, to glorify myself, cause others to look at and praise me, instead of God? Am I taking my calling (intelligence, ability to teach and write) for granted? How can I jump to the “end” of Samson’s example and be willing to give my life in God’s service if HE, and not me, will be magnified?
Chapters 17 and 18 tell a sad story of Israel’s further decline into sin. 17:6b says, “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” First, there is Micah, from the tribe of Ephraim, who stole silver from his mother. When he confessed, she forgave him and took some of the returned silver to make a carved metal image to worship (as the LORD). Micah added an ephod and other household gods and “ordained” his son to be a priest. When a discontented, traveling Levite from Judah passed by, Micah bribed, then “ordained” him as a “real” priest in his house.
Then, five able men from the tribe of Dan came by Micah’s house. (They were not content in the land God had assigned to their tribe and were “spying out” a better place. This faux priest told them their mission would be successful, and off they went.) Sure enough, way up north near Sidon (Lebanon), they found a very nice city and its surroundings. After reporting it to their tribe, an army was sent, and they conquered it, naming the new place, Dan. (This was not an area originally designated by God for them to conquer.)
Grateful to Micah’s “priest,” for the favorable words, they returned, bribed him, threatened Micah, and took the “priest” as their own to Dan. Later, they ordained a line of priests from their own tribe, who served until the day of captivity.
Day 93 — We have been reading the Bible daily for a quarter of the year and have begun a new month. Praise God! What have you learned about God? About yourself?
Day 93 – Judges 10 – 12 (8 more “bad” judges, Jephthah’s vow)
I know it’s been only a few weeks since we witnessed Moses leading Israel on the East side of the Jordan, and conquering the kings/nations that opposed them there, but did you realize it’s been 300 years??? (11:26)
Chapter 10 tells of two more Judges that arose to “save” Israel from their enemies (which they were supposed to have driven out)! Tola, a grandson of Dodo, from the tribe of Issachar, and Jair from the Trans-Jordan tribes.
After these two died, “Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and Philistia.” They left God and God’s anger flamed against them. He allowed these people to oppress and crush Israel for 18 years. The severely distressed people of Israel cried out to the LORD, admitting their sin. This time, God told them to go to the gods they worshiped and ask THEM for help. But Israel persisted in their confession and repentance, pleading to be delivered. And God pitied their misery.
Chapter 11. This is when Jephthah, a mighty warrior, rose to lead Israel to war against their enemies. (God did not appoint him but allowed it.) Jephthah led a successful military campaign. Israel re-took the land they’d lost to the intruders. HOWEVER, before going to war, Jephthah made a very terrible vow. He vowed that if the LORD would cause him to be victorious, the first thing that came out of his house on his return would become a sacrifice. He, of course, expected it to be an animal. (In his house? Yes, some were kept in a barn-like area beneath the living quarters.)
When he returned victoriously, his only child, a daughter, came out of his house to celebrate his wonderful victory, and Jephthah was horrified.
LET’S STOP HERE.
First, the LORD in no way allowed human sacrifice. Deuteronomy 18:10.
Second,Leviticus 5:4-6 allows a person to escape a “rash” vow, that would cause him to sin. He can confess his sin and bring a lamb or goat to the priest for a sin offering. The priest will make atonement for him…..and he is released from the vow.
Obviously, Israel was so far from knowing The Law given to them through Moses, that Jephthah felt he HAD to go through with his vow. He gave his daughter a two-month reprieve to grieve her loss of the opportunity to marry. When she returned, he “did with her according to his vow that he had made.”
Chapter 12 continues with Jephthah’s brief “rule” as judge, foolishly warring against the Israelites of another tribe. After six years he died.
Next, Ibzan judged Israel for seven years and died.
Elon judged Israel for ten years and died.
Abdon judged Israel for eight years and died.
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The first verse in the next chapter says, “And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.” Little did they know that they were about to get their WORST Judge of all.
Day 91 & 92— We have been reading the Bible daily for a quarter of the year. Praise God! What have you learned about God? About yourself? (Note: SUNDAY’s readings are combined with MONDAY’s)
Day 91 – Joshua 6 – 7 (Midian & Gideon)
In Chapter 6, the “cycle of sin” repeats. After 40 years of “rest” under Deborah, “The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD gave them into the hand of Midian seven years.” And Israel was brought very low because of Midian.
When the people cried out to the LORD, He heard and sent a prophet to admonish them.
Then “the angel of the LORD” visited the fearful, doubtful Gideon and called him a “mighty man of valor.” This story shows the immense patience that God will show towards one of His chosen servants, as first Gideon, whines and complains, then doubts the presence and words of the LORD.
First, Gideon had to pull down his father’s idols and sacrifice to the LORD. Then God was patient with the man through the two nights of fleece laying out, testing God which Israel was never to do., On top of that, in Chapter 7, God won the victory as Gideon obeyed. The Midian army took flight and even started killing each other! Gideon called back the men he’d sent home to chase the enemy across the river and kill the two princes of Midian. Hooray! But wait. So high did Gideon go, and so low would he, Gideon had to reduce the size of his army from 32,000 to 300 men, and he had to go against the huge Midianite army with NO SWORDS, only pots and torches. AND… the powerful Name of the LORD.
Of course, God won the victory, as Gideon obeyed. The Midian army took flight and even started killing each other! Gideon called back the men he’d sent home to chase the enemy across the river and kill the two princes of Midian. Hooray! But wait. So high did Gideon go, and so low will he sink in tomorrow’s reading.
Happy Resurrection Day! Jesus has RISEN!
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Day 92 – Joshua 8 – 9 (Gideon & Abimelech)
Chapter 8 tells more about Gideon, and it’s not good. He tries to mop up after the Midianite victory, but his fellow Israelites won’t even help him by giving his exhausted men bread to eat. He swears to get even after he catches the enemy kings, and he does.
But power and glory go to Gideon’s head, and when Israel wants him to “rule over us,” he first denies their request, saying, “The LORD will rule over you.” The Next thing we know, however, is that he’s collecting golden earrings from them and making an ephod. (NOTE: This was supposed to be ONLY for the High Priest of Israel.) Soon, the Israelites were worshiping it. (Sheesh!!) But God was gracious and allowed forty years of peace in the days of Gideon.
After Gideon dies, the people turn wholeheartedly again to worshiping false gods.
In Chapter 9, Abimelech, one of Gideon’s 70 sons proclaimed himself their ruler and proceeded to kill all of Gideon’s many sons (except Jotham, the youngest one, who escaped). He killed them all on a single stone, so perhaps this was an “offering” to a false god. Jotham called out against Abimelech, predicting his downfall by fire.
And it happened just as the boy predicted; after Abimelech warred against many cities, killing thousands, he came to Thebez. The people there fled to the tower, but he set it afire. A woman threw out a millstone, which crushed Abimelech’s skull. He ordered his armor-bearer to kill him so it wouldn’t be known that a woman had done the deed. But, alas, the Bible said A WOMAN did it. And so the curse of Jotham came to pass.
Day 89 — Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So, CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the third month so far! Praise God! TODAY, we begin the eighth book in our Bible reading!
Day 89 – Judges 1 – 2 (Mopping up, but failing. idol worship and judgment, pleas and rescue)
Chapter 1 begins where Joshua left off, although it is written by a different author. The large tribe of Judah wants to obey God and drive out all the Canaanites in their land. They enlist the tribe of Simeon—living in the middle of Judah territory—and go to war. God gives them victory, even in Jerusalem (but they soon lose that city again). Then, the Judahites help Simeon fight the Canaanites still in their section of land.
All the other tribes fight the pagans in their areas, but every time (except for Issachar), they put the enemy to “forced labor” but are unable to drive them out ultimately.
Because of this, in Chapter 2, God tells them He will not continue to drive out their enemies. Instead, the people they allowed to remain will become “thorns in your sides,” and they will go further beyond toleration to actually serve them.” These useless gods will become “snares” to them.
There is a brief review of the end of Joshua’s life. and the sad proclamation that a new generation rose up “who did not know the LORD or the work He had done for Israel.” This shows that fathers in the families disobeyed God at the very core of their lives, for they were instructed to teach their children the law of their God, speaking about it when they rose up, went out, ate, and slept. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
But Israel went farther, beyond toleration, to actually serving those idols. They abandoned the LORD their God and went after other gods. And the LORD was angry and let them be plundered by surrounding enemies to the point that they could no longer stand.
Then, out of mercy, God raised up “military leaders” (judges) who temporarily saved them out of the hands of the plunderers. Safe again, Israel went right back to their old sinful ways. God let their enemies afflict them until they cried out to him again.
The book of Judges records SEVEN such cycles of sin.
Day 226 – Jeremiah 26 – 29 (Jeremiah threatened & spared, Zedekiah & Nebuchadnezzar, a false prophet, letter to the exiles)
Morning Meditations 