Ruth 3“I cannot believe I have been so bold as to do this. I followed Naomi’s instructions, and went to Boaz’ threshing floor, and uncovered his feet. I was terrified. But all it took was one look into the eyes of Boaz to assure me that God is in this. Could this kindly man be my rescue – my redeemer? Thank you LORD, fort the hope that you have placed in my heart. ” — Ruth
gleaning in a field
“I definitely did not expect this, LORD. The master of the harvest is showing favor to me. His name is Boaz, and Naomi explained to me that he is one of our family’s redeemers – whatever that means. He is protecting me, and making sure I glean enough to survive, and enough to share. Am I starting to see a glimmer of hope? Is this a God thing? Oh, LORD, I cannot help but thank you for the kindness that this man has shown me. It is enough to know that you have not forsaken me in this foreign land. I trust you.” –Ruth
clinging to Mara
“LORD, are you there? Do you listen to the prayers of a Moabite woman? I thought you loved me. You brought a wonderful family into my life, and showed me what it is like to live within your favor. Now, all I have is three graves. And the one last glimpse of grace and truth is now walking out of my life. I watched as my sister kissed Naomi and let her go. Well, there’s no way I’m going to do that. I know, she says that she is no longer pleasant, but she’s now bitter, because your hand has been against her, taking away her husband and her sons. I know she wants us to stay. We remind her of the joy that has been taken from her. But I cannot let her go alone. Where she goes, I must go. Her God is my God. My husband trusted you to the end, and so will I. So, here I am, LORD – clinging to Mara. Even sorrow is better than the nothingness I had before I met you. I have renounced all for your kingdom — because my all is not enough. I cling to your grace.” –Ruth
deeper to go
Judges 21The ESV Study Bible comments: “Israel’s apostasy had reached the depths, and the stage was set for the coming of a godly king, David, a man after God’s own heart with whom God would make an everlasting covenant. The sympathetic reader who has followed the whole narrative is left yearning for such a king.” Yet the Bible reveals that when the people actually first chose a king, he was Saul, from the accursed Benjamite tribe. It appears that the apostasy in Israel had deeper to go still.
LORD, rescue us!
civil war
Judges 20This civil war between Israel and Benjamin was more than just an act of vengeance against atrocity. It was a symptom of the disease that had affected the whole nation. They had strayed from their relationship with the LORD and so it was inevitable that they would eventually turn against each other. What strikes me is how difficult it was for Israel to defeat the Benjamites, even though they outnumbered them greatly. When we stray from God, and disaster strikes, it is probably the LORD’s way of drawing us back to himself. The way back is not easy.
LORD, give us the courage to persevere on our way back to you.
a rape and murder
Judges 19The brutal rape and murder of the Levite’s concubine bears much resemblance to the story of Lot in Sodom. No doubt that was why this story was chosen out of all such that depicted the depths to which Israel had plunged. It illustrates the depravity of us all, and our need for a Savior. The entire book of Judges serves this purpose.
LORD, we desperately need you. Come into our lives and save us from ourselves.
organized apostasy
This passage continues the depressing story of Micah and the Levite that began in chapter 17. The reader can see to what extent the Danites were moved by greed and resorted to violence and idolatry to get what they wanted. The assumption was that ownership of the idols, the shrine, and the Levite would bring them good luck, and deter bad luck. Their religion was manmade and cheap, and did not bear the slightest resemblance to that set up by Moses, even though the Levite was a descendant of Moses (30). It was organized apostasy. It was further evidence that without strong godly leadership, the tendency of the people is to revert to animism.
LORD, thank you for king Jesus. Teach us to follow him, and stay away from organized apostasy.
blessed by grace
Judges 17Micah was not a judge, and his story does not chronicle God’s intervention in the lives of his people as do the stories of the judges. Instead, Micah’s story illustrates what the spiritual atmosphere was like at the time. “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6 ESV). All around the world today there are those who only know the LORD as one god among many. They think that he responds to manipulation, like the other gods do. They think that if they just hire themselves a priest, then the LORD will bless them.
Christians teach salvation by grace, which cuts both ways. God intervenes in the lives of believers and saves by grace. Blessings also come by grace, and not through an elaborate system of merit. Those who think otherwise are as deluded as Micah was.
LORD, open our eyes to the reality of your sovereignty. We repent of our attempts to manipulate you.
Posted in dependence upon God, discernment, grace, heresies, sovereignty of God
Tagged Judges 17
1 Comment
one last prayer
Judges 16The Bible skips over Samson’s twenty years of judging over Israel, delivering them from the oppression of the Philistines. It tells the story of his betrayal by Delilah, and his being blinded and losing his strength. But he does have one last prayer, and with it he gets the strength to do more than he had done in twenty years of leading Israel.
LORD, teach us not to give up on you, even if we fail you. Remind us that we are just a prayer away.
emotions and the Spirit
Judges 15Rarely does the Holy Spirit work in our lives without an accompanying passion. For Samuel, his anger over being betrayed by his would-be father-in-law set the stage for a miracle. He picked up a fresh jawbone of a donkey and started wailing on Philistines who were trying to kill him. He did not stop until a thousand of God’s enemies were defeated.
LORD, give us faith to act upon the passion you put within us, no matter how hopeless the cause looks.
