#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 103

Apr12

    Day 103 —  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 103 – 1 Samuel 18 – 20, Psalms 11 & 59 (Saul, David & Jonathan)

In Chapter 18, David meets Saul’s son, Prince Jonathan, and they immediately feel a strong and godly kindship and love. Perhaps Jonathan recognized the man who would be Israel’s future king instead of himself, giving David his royal robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt. 

David was successful in every campaign and task Saul sent him on, garnering the praises of all the women. Saul’s jealousy was enflamed when he heard them sing “Saul has struck down thousands, and David ten thousands.” And when the harmful spirit came on him, they called David with his lyre. Saul sat with his spear in his hand, brooding, but when he threw it at David, the future king evaded it…twice!

Then Saul promised David his first daughter if he was valiant enough to fight the Philistines, but later reneged and gave her to another man. Saul’s second daughter, Michal, loved David, so Saul thought she was a perfect incentive for David to go to battle… and perhaps die. Saul promised him Michal if he would kill 100 Philistines. David killed 200, and Saul was forced to give his daughter. But he became even more afraid of David. “So Saul was David’s enemy continually.”

In Chapters 19 and 20, Saul repeatedly tries to kill David, who always miraculously escapes out of his hand.  Jonathan doesn’t want to believe his father wants to kill his BFF, but it’s finally revealed and Jonathan sees for himself.  He sadly bids David to leave. They pledge their total support and allegiance to each other and David begins his flight from the mad king. 

Psalm 11 beautifully tells David’s song of fleeing from the one who desires his life and trusting in his God as the refuge for all the righteous. 

Psalm 59 is a prayer of David for God to deliver him from his enemies who try to kill him, specifically Saul and the men he sends to hunt for David. But David trusts in God, and sings His praises, brave enough to fight the Philistines, but later reneged and gave her to another man. Saul’s second daughter, Michal, loved David, so Saul thought she was a perfect incentive for David to go to battle… and perhaps die. Saul promised him Michal if he would kill 100 Philistines. David killed 200,

But I will sing of your strength; 
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been a fortress and refuge to me in the day of my distress.
O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, 
For You, O God, are my fortress, 
the God who shows me steadfast love.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 102

Apr11

    Day 102 —  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 102 – 1 Samuel 15 – 17 (Saul, sin, & Samuel)

In Chapter 15, Samuel gives King Saul some very clear instructions. He is to strike the nation of Amalek and destroy all of them, and everything living thing they have.

(The Amalekites were the people who attacked Israel as they came out of Egypt, when they were a bunch of slaves and could not fight. God at that time foretold their doom. Let none be left alive.

So, Saul musters an army of 200K men of Judah. They go to Amalek and defeat them, killed all the people except King Agag (a trophy?) and all but the very best of the sheep, oxen, fatted calves and lambs. Did he obey the instructions of the LORD?  It seems “partial” obedience is not obedience, and when Samuel comes, he is furious with Saul.

“I saved the best animals for sacrifice!” Saul says. (Yeah, right.).

“Obedience is better than sacrifice,” Samuel says. “And because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king.” Then Samuel hacks King Agag to pieces. (!!!)

“I’ve sinned,” says Saul. I was afraid of the people, so I obeyed their voice. Please pardon my sin. Please go back with me.”

When Samuel says no, Saul grabs his robe and it tears. (Oops!) Samuel whirls around, “As you’ve torn this, God has torn the kingdom of Israel from you.  He has in mind, a man “after His own heart, who is better than you.”

Samuel sees Saul no more after this incident, but he grieves for the “would-be” king. The LORD also grieved that He had made Saul king over Israel.

In Chapter 16, God shakes Samuel out of his grief for Saul and sends him to anoint that “man after His own heart.”  God tells him to anoint a son of Jesse whom he will point out. (Jesse is the grandson of Ruth & Boaz.) Samuel obey and immediately thinks it must be Jesse’s firstborn son, Eliab, another tall, strong man. But God tells him NOT to look on appearance or height, but on the heart. Jesse brings all six of his sons who are present before Samuel. Samuel looks to God who shakes His head.  “Don’t you have another son?” Samuel asks Jesse, thinking that maybe he didn’t hear God’s words accurately.

“Only the youngest, a shepherd boy out with the sheep,” was the dismissive comment.

But God, through Samuel, calls for the boy, and when he arrives, God says, “THAT one!” Samuel anoints David and the Spirit of the LORD “rushed” upon him.

However, the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him. (Reminds me a little of the “thorn in the flesh” that God sent to keep another Saul (the Apostle Paul) humble.

No, “it just so happens” that Saul’s servants said that maybe, if a harpist were to come and play for Saul, he would get well. Saul thought it a good idea and inquired of them. They recommended none other than David, the shepherd boy who composed psalms to the LORD with his lyre as he watched his sheep.”  And so, David was brought into the court of King Saul now and then when the evil spirit tormented him. And Saul was “refreshed and well.” (Our Sovereign God orchestrates things so beautifully.)

Chapter 17 tells the well-known story of David and Goliath.  The young man came one day to Israel’s camp with some food for his brothers. While there, he heard the boastful words of the giant Philistine, Goliath of Gath, defying the army of Israel.

“Why doesn’t someone shut that guy up?” he basically says.  His brothers deride him, so he goes to King Saul and volunteers to fight the giant.  “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

The cowardly King Saul (who is head and shoulders – at least 18 inches – taller than any other Israelite) sends a boy to fight a giant. But that boy is on the side of the LORD God.

“Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks?” Goliath roars. “I curse you in the name of Dagon!”

“I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied,” answers David, “that all the earth may KNOW that there is a God in Israel and that all this assembly may KNOW that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle IS THE LORD’S and He will give you into our hand.”

And with a single stone from a sling, the LORD-empowered shepherd boy kills the 9.5-foot champion of Gath. Then he runs to him, draws out that huge sword, and cuts off his head. So there!

King Saul, duly impressed, asks his commander, Abner, who that boy is.   Abner doesn’t know but says he will inquire. When David comes back, swinging the head of Goliath, Abner grabs him and brings him to Saul. David tells him he’s the son of Jesse, from Bethlehem.  (Did Saul not remember how David sometimes plays the lyre for him? But, maybe Saul is out of his mind at those times.)

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 101

Apr10

    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.)

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 100

Apr9

    Day 100 —  YAY! ONE HUNDRED days! 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 100 – 1 Samuel 9 – 12 (a king for Israel, Saul)

So, a tall, dark, and handsome Benjaminite is chosen as Israel’s King.  We see in Chapter 9 how God orchestrates it all, from the loss of a few donkeys to the search and finding of a holy man to having a silver shekel available to give him as a gift, to the event of a sacrifice and feast, in which a special portion of meat had been reserved for a special guest, to God’s specific indication that the man, Saul, was to be anointed “prince over Israel.”

In Chapter 10, Samuel privately anoints Saul to be Israel’s prince, telling him that he will reign over them and save them from their surrounding enemies.  He then tells Saul of a few things that will happen to confirm this fact. Two men will meet him who will do certain things, plus a group of prophets who will also preclude the coming of God’s Spirit upon Saul. Then Saul was to go to Gilgal and wait there for Samuel for seven days.

Of course, all this comes to pass, and when the people are all gathered together, Samuel proclaims Saul King of Israel, reminding them that they have rejected the LORD as their King, and telling them again all the “bad” things about having a human king. Nevertheless, the people rejoice, shouting, “Long live the king!”

Chapter 11 tells of Saul’s first victory over their enemies, the Ammonites, who have been causing terror and submission by gouging out the eyes of the men of Israel. Saul summons 30,000 men from all of Israel and attacks, gaining victory.  At this point, Samuel calls Saul and all the people for a sacrifice and to “officially” make Saul their king before the LORD.

Chapter 12 tells of Samuel’s farewell as their leader, reminds them of the king they now have and what that will mean, and then challenges them to always “obey the voice of the LORD.” “Do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve him with all your heart, for you are God’s chosen people.” He promises to always pray for them and to instruct them in the good and right way.

It’s a good start. And Saul will do well for…. half a chapter.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 98 & 99

Apr8

    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.”

And God says, “Give them a king.”

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 96

Apr6

    Day 96 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for a quarter of the year, and today, we are reading the ninth book. Praise God! What have you learned about God? About yourself?

   Day 96 – Ruth 1 – 4 (A love story, a redemption story)

This book is a wonderful change from the sin and degradation we read in Judges.  But note, in verse 1, that it takes place during that dark time.  God always has a “light” shining for Him.

In Chapter 1, we see a family in the tribe of Judah, traveling to Moab because of a famine in Israel.  Sadly, their trouble doesn’t end there, because after the two sons marry Moabite women (a no-no in God’s law), the husband and both boys die. Widow Naomi and her two daughters-in-law are alone in a country where women are not respected. Naomi, in bitterness, decides to go home, where in Israel, God’s law (if obeyed) helps widows.  She sends the girls home where, hopefully, they can find new husbands.  But, one of them, Ruth, wants to stay with Naomi. She wants Naomi’s people and the LORD to be hers too. That was a very brave move.

Chapter 2 tells how Ruth begins to earn a living in the way God provided. Israelites were to leave the corners of their fields unharvested so the poor could glean grain to eat. Boaz, the owner of the field, recognizes Ruth as Naomi’s Moabite daughter-in-law and admires her work ethic and character. He tells her to glean only in his fields, then tells his men to leave more stalks and not to bother her as she works among them. He then invites her to have lunch with him and his men.

Naomi is thrilled. She recognizes Boaz as one of her kinsmen, a man who could “redeem” her husband’s and sons’ property, taking Ruth as his wife.

In Chapter 3, Naomi gives Ruth some special instructions when the winnowing of the harvested grain is to take place. It may seem odd to us, but what Ruth does is not devious in that culture, but merely a way to “propose marriage” to a man. (Or show that she is available.)  I think Boaz was very willing after watching this sweet, hard-working woman, and he says he will redeem Naomi’s land and take her for his wife.  However, there is a minor problem. There is another “redeemer” closer than he is.

Chapter 4 tells of Boaz’s steps to ensure everything is above board.  He advises the closer redeemer of the opportunity to redeem the land for Naomi’s family. The man agrees until he learns he would also need to marry Ruth.  He has a wife and sons and doesn’t want to jeopardize their inheritance, so he declines. Boaz is now free to marry Ruth, allowing her first child – considered a descendent of Naomi’s husband – the double-portion birthright of his goods.

The couple is married, and Ruth bears Boaz a son, Obed. Naomi is ecstatic. She is a grandma at last and quickly becomes the baby’s “nanny.”

The denouement in this story is fantastic.  This baby boy is none other than the grandfather of the man who would become King David, the ancestor of Jesus, the King of Kings.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 96

Apr5

    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 Chapter 21, 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.”  

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 95

Apr4
    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.

Hint: things get worse!

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 94

Apr3

    Day 94 —  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 94 – Judges 13 – 15 (Samson, good & bad)

Chapter 13 begins with the people of Israel doing EVIL in the sight of the LORD. So, the LORD gives them over into the hand of the Philistines for 40 years.

The Philistines occupied five cities near the Mediterranean coast: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron. It’s possible that they were oppressing Israel from the West at the same time as yesterday’s reading about the Moabites and Ammonites on the East of the Jordan River – a pincer or squeeze situation.  

God raised up a Danite judge, Samson, who is probably the most familiar (and possibly the worst). His story begins with a barren woman whom the Angel of the LORD promises a son. And he is to be a Nazarite from the womb. (Numbers 6:2-8 details the Nazarite prohibitions about eating grapes, cutting hair, and touching dead bodies – all of which Samson fails.)  Samson’s parents seek to train him up in a godly way, and at first, we see the LORD blessing him and stirring him to service.

In Chapter 14, Samson oddly seeks a Philistine woman as his wife. His parents object, but verse 4 reveals that this was of the LORD, as an opportunity against the Philistines. (His ways are mysterious, for sure!)  On the way with his parents to make the marriage deal, a roaring lion came at Samson. Empowered by God’s spirit, he tore the lion to pieces with his bare hands. Several days later, as he returned for his wedding feast, he saw the lion’s carcass in which a swarm of bees had set up house.  He swiped a handful of their honey to enjoy on his journey.  Later, he thinks up a riddle to ask as a way to get “loot” from his Philistine family. 

"Out of the eater came something to eat.
Out of the strong came something sweet."

None of the guests could guess the riddle, and since they didn’t want to lose 30 costly garments, they threatened his bride to find the answer. Afraid, she obeyed, and Samson was tricked.  He knows what they did, and IN ANGER, with the Spirit of the LORD on him, he struck down 30 men of Ashkelon and took their spoil.  Thinking Samson would not return, the bride’s father gave her to the “best man.”  After all, a feast had been prepared. Can’t let it go to waste!

Chapter 15 tells how Samson returned after a cooling-off period to claim his wife and consummate his marriage, only to find his wife had been given to another. Furious, he catches 300 foxes, ties their tails together, and lights a torch between them. The foxes run wildly through the fields of ripe grain, burning it all with the olive orchards.  In retaliation, the Philistines burned his wife and her father. For that he killed all of them. 

Later, the Philistines came to Judah searching for Samson to kill him. The men of Judah gave him up!!!  As the Philistines requested, they bound Samson with new ropes and turned him over to the enemy. 

However, when they roared with glee, the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon Samson, and he burst the robes as if they were straw on fire. They melted off his hands.  With those hands, he took the jawbone of a freshly dead donkey, and with it, he killed a thousand Philistines. 

After all that killing, he was thirsty and called out to the LORD.  Graciously, the LORD split open a rock and poured out water so Samson could drink and be refreshed. 

A flawed hero, full of arrogance, but still used by God. Gives US hope, doesn’t it?

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 93

Apr2

    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.