1 Samuel 11

Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and he became very angry. 1 Sam 11:6 Is it wrong for a Christian to be angry? It depends on what you're angry about. If you're angry because your team blew a ballgame, not a good choice. If you're angry because people are ignoring the Bible, that's a good choice. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:26 "Be angry and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger." Anger is not wrong, as long we we respond to the situation that brought on the anger. God isn't saying "You can stay angry until suppertime, but then let it go." The call is that if there is some injustice that makes us angry, we should do something about it. If we are unwilling to fight for the Bible or other godly issues, then we just need to let it go. In this passage we see the Spirit of God and anger both at the same time. God was angry over the treatment of His people, and so God the Holy Spirit came upon Saul to work through him to deliver the people, and to do something about the situation that God was angry about. People often get angry and speak privately against people, but they never take a public action to help right the wrongs. Is anger a problem in your life? Getting angry is wrong when we don't get angry over the things that anger God (sin, ignoring sin, degrading the Bible). Don't just get angry, but take action. If you see injustice, don't remain silent about it. But, also be careful how you respond. Though Saul was angry, he still took the time to bring the people together, and didn't just strike out in his anger. Even when Jesus drove the moneychangers from the temple (an issue that made Him angry), the Bible says He "made a scourge of chords" in John 2:15. He didn't keep a whip in His back pocket. He saw a sinful attitude in the church that made Him angry, and He responded to it. Are you keeping a whip in your back pocket to constantly fight against people, or do you respond when God leads you to? Don't excuse your anger as "how God made you". Take responsibility for your actions and attitudes.

1 Samuel 10

Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you mightily, and you shall prophesy with them and be changed into another man. 1 Sam 10:6 As a minister one of the most difficult expectations that people place on you is to have an answer to all their questions. People want to know what God has said or is saying and they want to know now. I began praying a prayer that I think is appropriate for any follower of Christ, in the ministry or not. I began praying "Lord prepare me for the situations, questions, and people that I can't possibly anticipate today." I prayed this prayer because I was feeling overwhelmed at times by the needs and requests. But, when I started praying that prayer, things changed. I didn't feel blindsided by people anymore, and I felt that I answered their questions and situations with a greater wisdom than I ever had before. I firmly give credit to the Holy Spirit living within me, who gave me the words and wisdom I needed for the situations I faced. As you read, you'll find out that Saul was not the greatest king in Israel's history. However, to show the life changing power of the Holy Spirit, when the Spirit came upon him he was changed into another man. He was able to do things he couldn't do before. Even with the Holy Spirit in your life, the change only occurs if you are willing to allow the Holy Spirit to have free reign in your life. Without that, you'll just be the same person you have always been. Would you say that since your relationship with Jesus started, that you've been a different person? Do you have priorities now that you never would have imagined before you were saved? This should certainly be the case. And there may be tasks that you simply feel you are unable to fulfill: perhaps teaching a Sunday school class, or teaching your own children at home about Jesus. If you know there is something you should do, but you feel you can't do it, talk to God about it today. He has the power to make you into a different person, meaning that He can transform your desires, if you honestly and willingly seek out change in your life. Christianity is all about change. We must change from who we were to who God wants us to be. The first step is accepting Jesus, but we have a responsibility at every turn to be a willing participant in the change that Jesus wants to make in our lives.

1 Samuel 9

Saul replied, "Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? 1 Sam 9:21 Have you ever felt like a nobody? Well you just need more self-esteem! That’s what I used to hear growing up in high school. You need to believe in yourself so you can attain your dreams and goals. Many books on the best-seller list are often books to improve yourself and raise your self-esteem. These books come from secular and Christian authors, who both stress that you are valuable. I would agree with them on that point…you are valuable. Every human life is valuable to God, so much so that He sent His Son Jesus to die for your sins and redeem you. However, this value isn’t wrapped up in who we are, but who God is. We do not need more self-esteem in this country. We need more God-esteem. When Saul is told that he is to be king, he says he’s a nobody. The world would have agreed, but God disagreed. But did Saul need a greater trust in himself to be king? No, he needed a great trust in the great God who chose him. The Bible is clear not to think too much of yourself (Rom. 12:3), so self-esteem is never the answer. It’s true that if you believe you will fail, you probably will. But, if you believe you can succeed, why is that? Is it because of the trust you have in yourself, or in Jesus? (Philippians 4:13) The problem with self-esteem is that since you are a sinner, you will at some point do something disappointing, and then thinking highly of yourself will be a difficult task. But, when we’re at a low point, God is still the same as He’s always been. Today, place all of your faith in God. Don’t trust yourself for anything, but in every decision and action, seek God’s approval that you might be successful. Self-esteem can rise and fall…esteem God and watch real results come into your life from an unfailing God who thinks the world of you.

1 Samuel 8

The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. 1 Sam 8:7 Here in Missouri, our denomination is dealing with a decline in baptisms for the fifth straight year. An article was recently written on the issue, but only one sentence was needed from it: baptisms are going down because Christians aren't telling others about Jesus. I have wondered many times why people don't witness like they should. I believe it comes down to rejection. Christians worry they will be rejected by friends or family who feel that the message of Jesus is offensive. And they're right! It's offensive to be told that you are a sinner and that you never please God. But, it's also the truth. In this passage Samuel is distraught that the people of Israel are asking for a king. God tells Samuel that his priorities are misplaced. Samuel's worrying that he's been rejected, when truly it is God who has been rejected. Do you know what would embolden Christians: if they realized that Jesus was being rejected, and not them. I don't want anyone to reject my Jesus, but at least I know it's nothing personal against me. We are simply the messengers responsible for carrying the message. Do you carry the message of Jesus, or do you worry what people will think of you? Go forward in time. What do you think that person will think of you when they stand before God at the end of their life? They will know the truth, whether they accepted it or not. It would be nice to convince them of that truth on this side of eternity, but simply be obedient to share the message. The Gospel of Jesus Christ may not be the most popular message in the world, but it's the only one that will save people from their sins and from themselves.

1 Samuel 7

They gathered to Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day and said there, "We have sinned against the LORD. 1 Sam 7:6 I would never claim to be an expert in police work. Really, all I know about police work I learned from two places: ride-alongs with my brother in law who is an officer, and watching COPS. There is a constant theme that I have discovered in police work...criminals don't know anything. They're driving a car that belongs to "some guy". They're coming from "some dude's house, I don't know his name", they never saw the crack that was in the passenger seat next to them. A recent episode had a young man who robbed a diner. The police caught him standing a few feet a way from a backpack he was spotted with. But, since he didn't have the backpack on, the suspect said he didn't know who's backpack it was, just lying on the ground. The officer said, "Can I ask you something? Do you really think I'm buying any of this?" In this chapter you see Israel admitting a difficult thing: that they have sinned against the Lord. And when Israel's enemies come up against them, what happens? God protects them! Probably the people were more willing to explain away their sin or make up an excuse, but they simply admitted their faults. And in doing so, they found favor from the Lord. It's true that God loves to hear from us, even if we're saying that we're sorry for our sin. Have you confessed your sins to the Lord? Are you choosing not to talk about something in your prayer times? Are you explaining in your mind why it's ok for you to do something that the Bible says is wrong? Your life will be different if you simply admit to God "I have sinned." God does not bless sin, and He wants you to be honest with Him. Take time today, and ask God to show you your sin, in case you have become used to it and can't even see the problem. Whatever God brings to your mind as you sit quietly, ask Him to forgive you for those sins, and ask Him to help you in turning away. He'll help you, but you're the one who must make the choice. And, He will not turn from you as you open yourself up to Him. He loves as He listens.

1 Samuel 6

"Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He had severely dealt with them, did they not allow the people to go, and they departed? 1 Sam 6:6 There are really only two kinds of people in the world: lost people and saved people. You can make any other designations you want, but after life is over, this is the only thing that is truly important. Why are some people saved and some people lost? A big reason is hardheartedness. Simply put, a person may be unwilling to listen to a message that says he has to admit he's a sinner, change his life, and live for an unseen God. The hearer decides that the message of the Gospel is not that important for his life, and goes on living as a lost person. The Philistines were warned not to ignore God as the Egyptians did. When Egypt hardened their hearts, they lost a great many things from animals to people. To be hard in your heart means to simply place your will above that of the will of God. Do you sometimes harden your heart towards God? How do you react when you read of sin in the Bible that you know you're guilty of? Do you immediately repent of it, or do you try to ignore the conviction? Do you make decisions on your own, without seeking the Lord? Have you ignored God's call on you to do ministry, either as a full-time lifestyle or a volunteer inside your church? Anytime you are doing the opposite of what God wants, you are being hard hearted. Have you asked God to forgive you of those times when you've ignored His words to you? Don't just repent of times you were hardened against God, but also ask Him to work in your life to stay obedient to Him. Always be ready for Jesus to give you a course correction for your life. The moment you hesitate or tell God no, you are making a choice against your Savior.

1 Samuel 5

When the Ashdodites arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set him in his place again. 1 Sam 5:3 I like medieval movies with knights, swordfights, and kings. I've never met a king on this earth, but when I watch these movies or see a story about a king on history channel, I notice how people approached them. They would seek permission, they would bow, and they would stay still as they were spoken to. You don't see people fidgeting around, or even looking around, but simply being very still before their king. In this passage, even a lifeless statue shows proper respect before the Lord. The emphasis was not on the ark, but that it was the "ark of the Lord." Twice this statue is brought down low before God. I think of Christians that don't show God half the respect this statue did. When we come before our king in worship at church, it seems that people are distracted and not focused on their King. Maybe I'm the sinner, but when someone prays I often have been getting ready for the next song or something else to keep the service moving, and I can see how people are reacting. Some are looking around, some are moving, digging through a purse. I'm confident that if God was in a physical form in the room, there would be no such movements. Have we forgotten the invisible God? He has made Himself seen and known in many ways, yet when we do not see Him before us, we so often fail to respect Him. When you pray, you are speaking to the Creator of everything. When you worship, you are worshipping the One who gave His life for you, even though you don't deserve it. Show reverence to God. Bow down before Him without hesitation, as you live a life of submission to Jesus. Be still before your God.

1 Samuel 4

As the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth resounded. 1 Sam 4:5 It's amazing how quickly people will trade religion for a relationship with Jesus. When I talk to people about Jesus, I often hear the same response. I'm talking to them about their sin, their need to follow Jesus, and the new life they can have in Jesus. And how often does the person respond by saying "I know I need to be in church more." What does that have to do with the price of tea in China? I can't think of a more useless response to give to the Gospel, than to say that you need to go to church more. As a Christian, church attendance is important to me, but not so that I get a gold star from God on my attendance chart. I love going so I can visit with fellow Christians, and learn from the Word of God. In this passage, Israel picked religion over relationship. They were facing a defeat at the hands of the Philistines. Did they get down on their knees and pray? Israel's loses constantly came as a result of their own sin, but in this case the people ignore any such sin. To receive God's blessing they put their trust in religion and bring out the ark of the covenant. While there's nothing wrong with the ark itself, they were essentially putting their trust in a religious idol to bring them victory instead of the Lord. Could you be accused of trading in your relationship with Christ for religion? Do you find yourself just reading the Bible because you "have" to? Do you rush through your prayers as if you were trying to pray just to say you did? Do you worry more about making it to church than you do in living for Christ daily? I don't read my Bible, pray, or even attend church because I have to. I do it because I want to after seeing the change that it makes in my life for Christ. I live for Christ in a greater way, and find myself farther from my life of sin, when I am obedient in these areas. Ask Jesus to strengthen your relationship with Him today.

1 Samuel 3

Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for Your servant is listening." 1 Sam 3:10 My son really cracks me up sometimes. He's six now, and every once in a while his mother will call for him by simply calling out "Tyler". Early on he would sometimes ignore her voice or not come when she called, and he would get in trouble for that. But for at least the last year, when his mom calls him he shouts back "I'm coming" as he runs out of his room to find his mom. It's as if he's reassuring her that he's coming so please don't punish him for not listening! As he approaches his teenage years, I hope he doesn't trade "I'm coming" for "What do you want?" and just sticking his head out his door. We'll see. When the Lord calls us, He wants our full attention. He wants us to respond immediately and to come running to Him. How does God speak to us? Generally He speaks to us as we pray and as we read His Word. When you read the Bible and see things in your life that don't match up, do you listen, or do you attempt to ignore the message God is giving to you? As I pray, I often begin to sense God's leading as I speak to Him regarding a certain situation or person. I cannot ignore that leading as I begin to have ideas for how to handle the situation. If you find yourself wondering what God has in store for you, make sure you're listening and ready to accept whatever He says. Listening and obedience have to go together in serving the Lord. As you pray, do so without rushing through, so that the Spirit can speak to you as you bring up things in your prayers. As you read the Bible, do so without rushing through, and see how the Lord is speaking to you today in the Bible.

1 Samuel 2

Then Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. 1 Sam 2:1 There is nothing quite as exciting as knowing a new dad. I admit that the birth of each of my children has been a bit overwhelming and always brought me great joy and excitement. But, there's something about having a friend who is going through the process for the first time. They have constant updates for you, carry around the ultrasound pictures, and on and on. And then the baby comes and the daddy acts like he's the one who went through labor! I thought I was going to pass out just cutting the cord...I'm glad there was no labor involved for me! Man that daddy is just beaming. Usually the mommys are excited too, but it's a bit more reserved. Those daddys could be harnessed to power a small city on their excitement. But later, as diapers need changed and sleep becomes a commodity, the excitement can wear off. I remember the night I was saved. It was a pretty emotional night: in the same evening I walked into church on my way to Hell, realized that I had lots of sin and God wasn't cool with it, found out Jesus died for that reason, and walked out of church on my way to Heaven. It was exciting! But, over the years we lose some of our excitement. We get bogged down in discussions of Calvinism, eschatology, and we find ourselves living an academic faith, or no faith at all. We call it good when we go to church, and if we even looked at the Bible that week. Where is your joy in Jesus? Have you lost the excitement you once had? Maybe you need to evaluate your life. Has sin taken up residence and caused you to feel a disconnect with Jesus? Are you in a church for the wrong reasons and need to go somewhere that the people worship God? Do you need to end your allegiance to a denomination, because you feel that the message of the Gospel and the Joy of the Christians life has been lost? Then do what is necessary. Our lives aren't always happy (which is a superficial emotion...I get unhappy when I get the wrong drink in a drive-thru), but we can be joyful. Remembering what we owe to God for saving us. Thank Him today. Just thank Him for saving you and making your life worth something. That should bring you great joy.

1 Samuel 1

As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. 1 Sam 1:13 As I read this today, I tried to think back to those people that I wanted to have praying for me. There are some people who say "I'll pray for you", but there are those that you just know are. I remember going to a See You At The Pole event while I was in college at Mizzou. We were standing on the steps, and some adults had shown up to support us and pray with and for us. In my group was a man from my church named Robert. As people went around the circle and prayed, Robert would utter quietly "Yes Lord", "Make it so Lord", and other statements to this effect. At first it bothered me, but then I realized what I am normally doing when I'm in a large group to pray. I pray, and then I sometimes listen to the other people, but more often I just start thinking of unrelated things and my mind would wander. Robert's method was odd to me at first, until I realized that he wanted to really be in prayer with every person as the prayers went around the circle. When I pray in a large group now, I listen to the person so I can pray with them and for them. In this passage, Eli the priest has never truly seen, experienced or uttered fervent prayer. If he had, he never would have accused Hannah of being drunk. He would have prayed for her, encouraged her, done something different than accuse her of sin. He saw her behavior as a distraction, when she was probably the most authentic person of prayer at the temple that day. Do you really have a time of prayer in your life? Is it a time you gloss over requests and maybe even some failures in your life, or do you really speak to God as the friend He is to us. Adrian Rogers mentioned in a recent devotional of his, that God is often called "Abba" which means essentially "Daddy". Do you see the special relationship you have with God through Christ that allows you to pray in a way that most people never fully realize? He loves you, and cares about the desires of your heart. If they match His desires, get ready to see some spectacular things in your life! If they don't match God's, get ready for Him to mold you to His will. Don't just "pray" as the church defines "prayer", but call out to God. He is listening, and in the myriad of voices that come to Him every day, hour, and moment, He hears you as if you're the only person speaking to Him.

Ruth 4

"May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him." Ruth 4:15 I don't know why in-law relationships are the great punchline of comedians today? I think sometimes people forget when they marry someone, they marry the whole family. My wife's parents were divorced when we got married, but I had a great relationship with Nikki's mother before she passed away (from my wife's accounts, her mom was scoring points for me before we ever went out). And while I think my father-in-law views me as a bumbling city slicker sometimes, I'll never forget walking in the church parking lot with him before our wedding and hearing him say that he was proud I was marrying his daughter. Ultimately, in-law relationships are the same as any other...they require patience, understanding and love. Ruth had this kind of relationship with Naomi. Naomi was feeling a bit sorry for herself, even saying for people to no longer call her Naomi, but "bitter". The love Ruth had for her mother-in-law was so clear, that other people saw it. How are your relationships in your family and with your friends? Is there a lot of strain? Do you find it difficult to talk to certain people? Then it's probable that you have not truly been loving them as you should. Sometimes people can be a strain, and their expectations and selfish desires can push us away. But, that doesn't eliminate our need to love. If you have in-laws, find the good about them and build the relationship for the sake of your spouse and kids if you have them. If you are seen as a person who genuine love, you will be better able to share the gospel with your lost family and friends.

Ruth 3

"Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the LORD lives. Lie down until morning." Ruth 3:13 Some people get the wrong idea in what is really a beautiful story. Ruth goes and uncovers the feet of the man Boaz and lays there at his feet. There is nothing provocative about this act, as it was a Jewish custom to show servanthood. He had shown nothing but kindness, and she had been drawn to him. She requested that Boaz become her kinsman redeemer, another from her family to marry her because of the death of her husband. He takes upon himself the work to complete the redemption. She is simply to wait for him to take care of it. Naomi tells Ruth that Boaz will not rest until it is settled. While this account is completely true, God included it in His Word because it's a picture of Christ. We see the kindness and love He showed us on the cross. Jess didn't rest as He sought to redeem us, finally doing so on the cross and saying "It is finished." Just like Ruth to Boaz, we come to Jesus with nothing. She didn't have anything to offer to Boaz except her life. In the same way, we offer our lives to Jesus, recognizing that we need to be redeemed. Do you remember what it took for Jesus to redeem you? It cost Him pain, suffering and death on the cross. Even though He rose again, do you think it made that death any less painful or difficult? No, and yet he did it for you. I love the quote "He came to pay a debt He did not owe, for people who owed a debt that they could not pay." Our sin costs too much for us to pay for it on our own. Remember as you sit in church or read your Bible, God doesn't owe you anything. He redeemed us. We owe Him everything. Thank Jesus today for redeeming you despite your sin and selfishness, and thank Him that He continues to redeem and hold you for all eternity, even though we are imperfect and fail Him at times.

Ruth 2

When she rose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not insult her. Ruth 2:15 When we were in seminary, money was pretty tight during the period of time that I couldn't find a job. A month came up that we didn't have the money to pay the rent, and the landlord called to say that someone had paid our rent anonymously. She gave us a card so we could write them a thank you note, but in the process I saw the address it was going to...my mother's. So I called my mom and thanked her, and she was disappointed that the secret had not been kept. She truly just wanted to help us, without us knowing it was her and feeling like we owed her some debt. As you look at Boaz, he tried to bless Ruth in different ways. He allowed her to wander into the fields, instead of just taking the unharvested edges that the Law required be left for the poor to harvest. He also instructed his servants to drop extra grain, which by Law was also to be left on the ground for the poor to harvest. She apparently doesn't realize what he had done, and she gets to enjoy a blessing. Too often people try to do something nice for someone else, and they get caught up in horn-tooting. They miss a blessing from God because they sought a blessing from men. Do you truly bless other people? Sometimes we can't do it anonymously, but when you can, do you try? When people know who did something for them, they feel a need to thank them, and it's important that people realize that God is the one who blesses. If you ask for provision in some area, and a person provides it, guess who led that person to make that choice? Be a secret servant, knowing that people who are never rewarded will be rewarded by their Father in Heaven who sees all.

Ruth 1

But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Ruth 1:16 I learned early on, that just because someone calls themselves a Christian, doesn’t mean that they are. When my parents began to allow me to date, going out with a Christian was non-negotiable for them. Quite honestly, I didn’t have a desire to date a non-Christian, because I knew in the long run we could never be compatible. But, until I met my wife Nikki, I had never seen a young woman who was so driven and authentic in her relationship with Jesus. Some girls you had to ask about their faith. With Nikki, her faith was her identity. You could no more separate her faith in Christ from her, than you could to remove her femininity from her. That’s who she very honestly is, and that’s why I love her. In this passage of Ruth (which is one of my wife’s favorite books), Ruth has experienced heartache in the loss of her husband. We see her sister-in-law not only leave Naomi, but to return to her land and to her gods (v.15). Ruth says not only will she not leave, but she doesn’t want those gods of her past. She will stay with Naomi, and serve her God. I’m sure she knew much of Him, as a result of being the wife of a Jew, but she reveals that she truly sees the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as her God. Are you fickle in your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ? Could a Mormon or Jehovah’s Witness snatch you away and bring you into their fold? Could a Muslim or a Hindu give you compelling arguments from their beautifully written religious texts? It happens to “church members” often enough, but is not the destiny of a Christian. A Christian not only claims Christ forever, but He claims us in the same way. Do you belong to Jesus Christ wholeheartedly, or have you held back parts of your life and your will, in the event you decide to go back to a former way of life (drugs, adultery, former disobedience)?

Judges 21

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25 I have had many conversations in recent days regarding the salvation of certain people. The Bible is clear that we are supposed to live lives that are different after we come to Jesus Christ. The Bible talks of walking in light instead of the darkness (1 John 1:6-7) and that our lives produce spiritual fruit (Gal. 5:22-24). If a life doesn't produce fruit or seems to dwell in darkness more than light, there is a good indication that the person is unsaved. Simply praying a prayer doesn't make you a Christian. Romans 10:9 says that we confess WITH OUR MOUTH and BELIEVE IN OUR HEART. Lots of people confess with their mouth, but never made a heart change. We cannot judge with all certainty who is saved, but there should be a standard of living for the Lord that can be seen. If this chapter of Judges seems messed up, that's because it is. People are hunting wives and crying over how the "Lord" cut off a tribe. God certainly did this, but it was in accordance with His character of punishing sin. So finally the chapter ends that there was no king and everyone did what was right in his own eyes. First of all, whether we have a leader or not, we have a responsibility to serve the Lord even if we're the only one who wants to. However, if Israel had a king who would follow the Lord, or if they would recognize God as their king, the nation could change direction. Do you make an impact on the way others live their lives? Do non-Christians see your life and the differences you have (peace, kindness, joy) that most people lack? Do Christians see you and become encouraged because you don't live the Christian life in spurts, but you live it all day every day? The Kingdom needs some people to lead by example. Christ should be our example, but even Paul told people to live as he did, because he was confident he honored Christ, and was helping to set an example for people who needed one. Consider how your life can lead others to Christ and lead fellow brothers and sisters to a closer walk with their God.

Judges 20

Shall I yet again go out to battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease?" And the LORD said, "Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand." Judges 20:28 Have you ever held back part of the truth in order to turn a story in your favor? Sometimes we may have had someone treat us harshly, but perhaps they did so as a result of being provoked by us. But we withhold the details of our mistakes, and only tell others of how we were mistreated. This is exactly what happened in this passage. The Levite tells them all the details of how the men from the tribe of Benjamin abused and murdered his wife, but he doesn't tell them that she was essentially thrown to them to spare his own life. He withheld details in order that revenge would be exacted. How might Israel have responded if he had told the whole truth? Maybe they would have approached the people of Benjamin differently, seeing the responsibility that this husband had in the situation. Ultimately, the men of Benjamin did an evil thing, but I think the reason that Benjamin won the first two battles was because of the dishonesty of this husband. After Israel returned defeated the first time, I'm sure he was shocked, and probably considered telling the whole truth. Finally the third time God tells Israel they will win the victory, but in the meantime many had lost their lives because of the dishonesty of this one man (much like Achan at the battle of Ai). Do you tell the whole truth? Or are you willing to withhold certain details in order to put yourself in a better light? Christians must be people of integrity. Not that we tell the truth, but the whole truth, holding nothing back, and leaving nothing out.

Judges 19

When her master arose in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way, then behold, his concubine was lying at the doorway of the house with her hands on the threshold. Judges 19:27 In this day of women's "liberation" we attempt to refrain from commenting on the inadequacies of women. We speak of women in the military as if we have done them some great service for allowing them to die in battle. We speak of women in the workplace as if a 40 hour work week makes life worth living. Women are nurturing by their nature and generally are very sensitive to the needs of others. As I say this, I assure you that I am fully aware of the inadequacies of men (usually the words "listening" and "romance" come to mind). But, women are a treasure and God has placed men in charge of watching over them, especially our wives. I have only a modest concern regarding what happens to me. However, the Bible is clear that as a man I am to watch over my wife as a "weaker vessel" in 1 Peter 3:7. Literally the Bible says that a wife is a delicate and intricate person, who must be honored and protected like you would a piece of fine china or a family heirloom. Husbands must handle with care. This story is painful to read. It's similar to the situation that happened with Lot, when two angels visited his home, and the men of the city wanted to engage in homosexual relations with them. In that case, Lot offered his daughters, but didn't give them. In this case, the homeowner offers the Levite's wife (it says concubine, which was the term used of a wife married to a man who owned little to nothing, like a Levite priest). First of all, that Levite should have said "wait a minute, if you think you're putting my wife out there. I'd rather go out swinging than to do that." But, this man consents to his wife being given to this evil mob, and the Bible wraps up the horrible account by saying in verse 25, they "abused her all night until morning". The next morning the man found his wife dead on the doorstep. In cutting up her body and sending it out, he was calling for the people of Israel to come together and avenge his wife. The only person who was responsible in this situation was the Levite. If all in that household died at the hands of the mob, I would have thought that better than to find my wife in that condition. Are you a protector of your spouse? Clearly there is a message for husbands here, but wives also should protect their husbands. Do you place the well being of your spouse above your own. The two of you should act like two old couples fighting over who gets to pay for a meal. You should insist! Pray for your spouse. Lift him/her up before the Lord. Treat him/her as if they are special treasure from God, because that's the nature of a marriage relationship. Never allow your spouse to fight a battle without you.

Judges 18

So they set up for themselves Micah's graven image which he had made, all the time that the house of God was at Shiloh. Judges 18:31 I remember the commercial slogan that became big when I was in Junior High: "It's gotta be the shoes!". Everyone wanted a pair of Air Jordans and we truly thought that if you had better shoes, you'd be a better player. I had wanted a pair of Air Jordans since I first saw our school's basketball team wear them. Not only would the shoes make you a better basketball player, but also a better person because you were cool enough and had enough money to own a pair. Of course, every once in a while I'd see a guy wearing Walmart specials and wonder how he was a better basketball player than the people wearing the Jordans. Maybe it wasn't the shoes. In this chapter, we learn the tribe of Dan hasn't taken their inheritance. They had been given a lot, but apparently hadn't taken possession of it (the city of Laish is the same as Leshem in Joshua 19:40-48). So now that are going to, and they meet the priest of Micah's house on the way. It says they recognized his voice, probably meaning his accent or speech and not him as an individual. They see this man has turned from worshipping the Lord to just serving false gods and idols. Instead of chastising him, they join in his failure. So they took the idols and then credited a victory that God had set for them long ago, to the idols. When it was all over, instead of crediting a promise of God, they credited the man-made things. Why do good things happen in your life? Is it because you do a good job of taking charge of your life? Is it because you are extremely lucky? Or do you realize there is a God who loves you and is looking over your life like a conductor of an orchestra. He seeks to fix the squeaky notes of sin in our lives, and encourage the beauty of obedience in other areas. Give God the credit in your life. 1 Thess. 5:18 says that it's God's will for you to give thanks, which means to do God's will, you must be a thankful person. Don't thank your shoes or even yourself, but God and the people He uses to bless your life.

Judges 17

Then Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, seeing I have a Levite as priest." Judges 17:13 One of the frustrating things for me as a minister is to see how much faith people place in me. Now people should be able to trust me or count on me, but I'm talking about the kind of faith that belongs only to God. You could send 50 people to pray for someone, but when a pastor comes it's a different ballgame. Now people think they're being prayed for by someone with a hotline to God. While it's true the ministers have a special position as full-time servants of the Lord, people should be insulted to be told that their prayer is not as good as that of a pastor. Proverbs 15:29, James 5:16, and 1 Peter 3:12 all say that we must be righteous to be effective in our prayers. Our righteousness comes from Christ, so if we're living that Christ-like life as a believer, God is willing to hear our prayers. This man Micah made a similar mistake. He believe that if he had a priest of God in his house to serve over his idols, that God would bless that somehow. This man was putting his stock not only in man-made idols, but in a man himself. This priest should have run far away to be asked to do such a thing, but instead sold himself out for money to serve a false, unhearing god. Who do you trust in, men or God? Most of us would say God, but do you tend to pray to God or talk to people when life is troubling? Do you find yourself trusting in created things like money, a house, even your job, over the Creator. Don't do something just because a pastor or minister tells you. Test their words with the Word of God. This Levite priest had a chance to choose between the scripture or money, and he sold himself out for something that was simply created.

Judges 16

However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it was shaved off. Judges 16:22 When I used to help with insurance claims, I would often take the initial phone call after a policyholder's car or home claim. There were many times I would have to stop in the middle because the person was crying or clearly still upset thinking about their accident or their flooded basement. I would try to help them calm down and let them know that this is what insurance is for, and that we would work to make everything the way it was before their accident. Usually it seemed to help them to know that I cared about them as people and wanted to reassure them that this situation wouldn't last forever. I certainly don't want to call sin "accidents", but in the life of a Christian, sin is supposed to be an unfortunate incident that the Christian calls on God to fix in his or her life. I think about times I have come to God to confess my sin, and I was broken and sad, and He not only forgave me of my sin, but reassured me of His love for me. Here in Judges 16 we see the weakness Samson had for women finally bringing him down, and his hair is shaved as he is captured and blinded. But, while he was in captivity the Bible makes a simple statement in saying that his hair grew back. Obviously this is how hair works, but the Bible mentions it for a reason. If Samson had been brought into the temple of Dagon and pushed in his own strength, I don't think it would have worked. But, he sought for the Lord to strengthen him again, and use him despite who he was. I'm sure in all that time that Samson was grinding grain, he probably spoke with God regarding his sin. And the hair growing back was a subtle way of telling us that God was ready to forgive Samson and restore him if we would ask. Have you had a sinful failure in your life, and you don't know what to do? You've got to just lay it out before your Savior and Friend, Jesus. He already knows so you can't shock Him, and He's simply waiting for you to confess your sins anyway. Anyone who seeks God will find that He's not far from them and ready to provide forgiveness and restoration TO THOSE WHO ASK. As Christians we're forgiven for all our sins, even those we may forget to confess, but only by repentance can we be free of the guilt and move forward with Jesus.

Judges 15

When he had set fire to the torches, he released the foxes into the standing grain of the Philistines, thus burning up both the shocks and the standing grain, along with the vineyards and groves. Judges 15:5 Foxes burning fields with fire tied to their tails. The Red Sea splitting open for the people of Israel to cross. The walls of Jericho falling down simply because a bunch of people yelled really loud. Do you believe this stuff? These are the kinds of accounts that allow people to say that the Bible is no more than a book of fables and fabrications. They quickly dismiss the miraculous and write off the ability of a Creator God who can manipulate His creation. However, when archaeologists discovered Jericho, did they find a pristine community from times gone by? No they found walls that had been utterly torn down on top of each other. What about the mysterious chariot wheels found with bones at the bottom of the Red Sea? God even submitted the animals to Noah so that they came to him, and I'm sure he took the fight out of these foxes until it was time. If there is a part of the Bible that we can't trust, then we can't trust any. You think it's hard to believe foxes burned down these fields, I'd say it's equally hard to believe the Son of God came and died on a cross to pay for the sins of every living person! But He did. I believe Samson tied fire to the foxes tails. I believe Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry land. I believe that Jericho's walls fell with a shout. And I believe that Jesus died to save me from my sins. Faith is not about what we can see, but what we cannot. Are you placing your faith in what you see? If so, you're missing out an unseeable eternal Kingdom that has not come fully to earth yet, but one day will. It's a sight that will end disbelief for many, but by then it will be too late. Do you live in belief or disbelief? Which one do you think is going to take you farther? I've heard many lives changed by their faith in Christ. I've heard of none changed by their lack of faith in Him.

Judges 14

However, his father and mother did not know that it was of the LORD, for He was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel. Judges 14:4 As I read this text I find myself somewhat torn as I understand it. Clearly, it was the desire of the Lord that Samson take a Philistine wife, because it would help bring the downfall of the Philistines. However, you want to see the people of God marry others who love the Lord as they do. In this case, Samson was willing to marry someone based on looks, and quite honestly, she causes him a lot of grief. Could God have delivered the people through Samson in a different manner? I believe so, but the lesson was not only the for the Philistines, but for Samson. God doesn't make him do the unwise things that he does, including marrying a pagan wife, but God worked it out for good in the end. A side note: sometimes people feel that Samson is on a murderous rampage in this and the next chapters, but he is a warrior fighting a war against the Philistines who were ruling in Israel. These are battles, even if Samson may have been the only man fighting. We have all seen situations in our life when we have failed the Lord, and yet we have seen Him glorified in the end. Do you realize that doesn't mean that God's desire was for you to sin? James 1:13 makes it clear that using sin or temptation is not God's method. It is clear that God hates sin, but He can take situations that were intended for evil and for harm, and work them for good. In this case, that's what God did with Samson, and took his desire for this pagan wife, and used it that desire to bring down the Philistines, and will ultimately wake Samson up to his unwise ways. Even though God has worked in bad situations in your life, do you realize how much more He desires to work in godly ones? When you are obedient to God, His plans in your life are easier to accomplish and easier for you to recognize. The Bible is clear that we should keep ourselves from sin (1 Tim. 5:22). Keep these thoughts in mind over the next few days, as we see Samson used by God, despite himself.

Judges 13

Manoah said, "Now when your words come to pass, what shall be the boy's mode of life and his vocation?" Judges 13:12 A jet pilot, police officer, crocodile hunter, and zoo keeper. These are the jobs that my six-year old son seems to be settled on. Not that he will be one of them when he grows up, but he will be ALL of them. One night after we prayed, I talked to him about how he should ask God what God might want him to do when he grows up. Tyler seemed concerned that he wouldn't get to do what he wanted to do when he grew up. But, I explained that ministry was never on my mind growing up, and that I just kept asking God what he wanted me to do. I explained that doing God's will in my work has made the ministry I do very fun and rewarding. I think he understood towards the end, but I pray that God will fulfill the desires of his heart and use Tyler's love for animals one day in a job. In this account, the father Manoah really asks a great question here. He knows that they have been unable to have children, and so to see a child being born must mean that God has a purpose and plan for the child. So the father asks how the boy is to be brought up and what kind of job will he grow up to have? If you have children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews, this would be a great prayer for you to lift up to God on their behalf. How can I raise my kids to serve you Lord? Lord place my child into the vocation one day that will honor you and be fulfilling to them. No matter the age of your children, praying for them to stay in God's will as they grow older is a good prayer. I pray that my kids will find themselves fulfilled as they do exactly what God has led them to do.

Judges 12

Then the men of Ephraim were summoned, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, "Why did you cross over to fight against the sons of Ammon without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down on you Judges 12:1 When you're in basic training you're constantly taught that your branch is the best. In the Army we always heard that the Navy is a vacation, the Air Force is for people who can't run, and the Marines were for people who had lots of fight and little brains. I don't think the drill sergeants necessarily believed this, but it's what they said to us. Later in artillery school, we found that the Army and Marines train together so they can coordinate missions in combat situations. As a result, you had two groups who thought poorly of the other, and both had just went through basic and knew how to fight. There were fights all over the place. Finally one fight was broken up by an Army drill sergeant and a Marine Instructor. The Army sergeant brought up battles where the Marines had come in and totally saved Army platoons from annihilation, to which the Marines cheered. Then the Marine instructor told of countless times the Marines had been pinned down and found themselves rescued by Army units that came to their rescue. It was a neat moment, when we realized we were fighting the wrong people. This situation in Judges 12 is similar. You have the tribe of Ephraim upset that their leader, Jephthah, had not waited for them to go into a fight. At first this seems like they have a point, but if you'll recall in Judges 8, they get upset at Gideon over the same thing, and Gideon reveals that it's because they wanted spoils from the battle. The great preacher Matthew Henry says the big issue in this passage is pride: "Pride was at the bottom of the quarrel. Only by that comes contention." Henry is right, that fights usually start when people think more highly of themselves than they ought. Do you have issues with pride? I have dealt with pride in my life, and I thank God for some of the different ways He keeps me humble, sometimes through people who call me out, and sometimes through a personal thorn in the flesh that He has not removed from me (and I know as Paul knew, that His strength is sufficient for me to work through it). If you find yourself in constant contention with others, especially believers, it may be because pride has taken hold in your life. This is one of the most difficult issues to deal with in life, because it requires us to honestly look at ourselves. I ask you to do that, because God "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). Ask God to show you if pride holds you, or if humility does.

Judges 11

Jephthah made a vow to the LORD and said, "If You will indeed give the sons of Ammon into my hand, 31 then it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, it shall be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering." Judges 11:30-31 Jephthah's folly has been often cited by preachers and teachers. Just what did he think was going to run out of his house first? Maybe he hated his dog or cat, and hoped it would be one of them that came out. An offering to the Lord wasn't just supposed to be whatever you found lying around, but a sacrifice of first fruits. When his daughter comes out, he is deeply troubled. However, I do not believe that he sacrificed her on an altar. It says in verses 37-39, that his daughter left and wept for her virginity. If she were going to die, I would think she would weep for her life. It seems that the sacrifice was that she was in some way devoted to God, and unable to marry. Perhaps she became a servant to the priests, we really just don't know. But, God clearly doesn't want human sacrifice. Even when He tells Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, God stops it, never intending for sacrifice, but testing the obedience of a man who would father an entire nation. Many of the nations that worshipped false gods sacrificed humans, and God called them detestable. It's clear that even if Jephthah made this promise, God would not accept or allow it to be done for His name. Do you find yourself making foolish or unrealistic promises? If you will seek to do what is required of you as a child and servant of Jesus, you will need to make no special promises. Just do what you should do. Keep your word to all people, but most of all to the Lord. Use wisdom before you open your mouth. Trying to make people happy by promising difficult or possibly unrealistic things, will not benefit you when you fail to deliver.

Judges 10

So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD; and He could bear the misery of Israel no longer. Judges 10:16 Well Christmas is over. I know as a pastor that technically it goes on all year long, but realistically we've had decorations up as long as we can. So ornaments have went back into their boxes and soon my wife will decide she can replace the snowman dishes with our regular dishes. Once all the Christmas items are put away, they're not gone forever. We can go out in the garage and simply rummage around until we find it, and then pull them out. We would never take those decorations and throw them out, because we plan to use them again. Israel was putting away what they should have been throwing away. Whenever they would be confronted with their sin of worshipping false gods, they put them away. Gideon didn't put away their altar to Baal, but he destroyed it. Joshua said to choose who the people would serve. The problem was, the people of Israel always kept an out available to them. So they are oppressed and being defeated and they call out to God. He truly is long suffering towards us and toward this people Israel. It makes me think of the passage when Jesus says if your brother sins and asks you to forgive him, you should do so seventy times seven times (Matt. 18:22). God certainly forgave enough times to prove His love. So what are you putting away that you should be throwing away? Is there some sin or disobedience that you simply put away as you acknowledge your sin? Repentance means to turn from sin. Not that you're just sorry, but that you commit to refrain from the sin in the future. Israel continues to fall into sins that they only temporarily put away. Are you ready to bring about a more permanent solution to your sin, or are you happy with your disobedience?

Judges 9

if then you have dealt in truth and integrity with Jerubbaal and his house this day, rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. Judges 9:19 Working with teenagers over the years, I have been privileged to teach them the "True Love Waits" abstinence message over the years. Did some make and truly keep the pledge? I believe they did, just as I did. Were there some that made the pledge, and didn't keep it? Probably, but as a side note, I still believe in teaching sexual abstinence to teenagers. One of the questions I would often get, even in different churches, is "How far is too far?" This is not a question designed to protect them from moral failure, but that will get them in trouble. I like the illustration about the cliff. If you were walking up to the edge of an enormous cliff, how far would be too far? Probably being within a couple feet of the edge would make you nervous. I told them they need to set their convictions about physical encounters now, instead of at a moment where they are losing control of the situation. If a teenager has guilt about what they have done or are doing, it's because they knew that they were doing the wrong thing. The same thing happens in most situations. We argue with God or ourselves that doing something is ok for us, but when we get caught we have shame and fear. In this passage you had a large group of people who were resisting the leadership of Gideon, led by one of his sons, and this rebel force is challenged that if they're being open and honest with Gideon, then they have nothing to worry about. However, they had not dealt with truth and integrity. Even if you never say a word to a person, as soon as you begin hiding things from them and going behind their back, you have lost integrity. Is there a situation that you have not been handling with all truth and integrity? You've been lying to yourself and maybe even others regarding how serious the situation is. Let all your dealings with others be out in the open. A friend once told me "Things done in the open honor God, but things done in secret are pleasing to Satan."

Judges 8

But Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you." Judges 8:23 As the presidential elections draw near, I can't help but think "Who cares?" There seems to be no less influential person than the president, and you can never really trust them. The great statesman, Henry Kissinger said "90% of all politicians make the other 10% look bad." The majority of what you see is people who start with lofty ideals and a desire to change things, until they get to Washington. Suddenly they're disillusioned with the bureaucracy, the attitudes of the people, and the slow pace of change. Soon these men and women simply become a small part of the big problem. We even need independent voter organizations to provide us with details of what candidates believe, because they are so ambiguous about it. Clearly, good leaders are hard to come by now, but that's been true throughout history. That's why great leaders are held in such high esteem. Looking at Gideon, he wasn't the best leader to ever step to the front in Israel, but he had a clear understanding of his role. He tells the people that it's not possible for him to rule over the people, because that is the role and responsibility of God. However, Gideon's personal life is questionable and he puts himself in a position to take something from those he led, which is not a good trait of a leader. But, he at least understood that he was not the leader, and I have to respect that. Who's the leader of your life? Before you bought your house, did you pray about it? Before you bought your car, did you pray about it? Before you married your spouse, did you pray about it? Do you tend to just run headlong into things, or do you seek out a peace from God. Don't attempt to run your own life...people who do that and never find Jesus, run their lives straight into Hell. So why would you for even a moment allow yourself leadership over your life? Start by giving God this day. He has a plan for you even in a simple Thursday.

Judges 7

The LORD said to Gideon, "I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands; so let all the other people go, each man to his home ." Judges 7:7 I was thinking about the different kinds of ministries we try to do through churches. I remember the Easter Cantata at our first church. It required lots of people and we always took anyone who would be involved in some way. Of course, during Vacation Bible School, we're always looking for people who will come and work. Filling all those positions is often difficult (except in West Helena...shout out to the WHBC Youth Group for always showing up to help like a big teenage army), because there is so much that needs to be done, and a week long commitment to go with it. Usually to pull things off in church, we're looking for numbers. To bring about this victory for Israel against the Midianites, God was looking for numbers too, but He was looking for smaller numbers. God gives an opportunity for those who are scared to leave, and then does the water test. Soon what had been an army of 32,000 for Israel, turns into 300, versus a large unnumbered Midianite force. Much is made of the fact that the 300 who God kept, were those who brought water up to their mouth so they could continue to be alert and looking around, and those who stuck their face in the water were removed. I think what's more remarkable, is that when the army is cut to 300, that those who are left don't ask for a second chance on the leaving if you're scared! Your army is cut to barely a fraction of the original, and now as far as you know, you're supposed to go fight a battle. But, they all go, and are obedient to act in the way that Gideon led them, and gain the victory. Here is the important part for us: Do you require an army to be obedient, or can you do it amongst just a few? There will be times in your life as a believer that there will be others around you to stand with you, but there are other times that you must stand with a few or even by yourself. Ask God to strengthen you and give you a boldness when you're on your own. Maybe at work or school, or possibly even at church. Simply be obedient to what God calls you to do, regardless of those who may or may not come with you.

Judges 6

But Joash said to all who stood against him, "Will you contend for Baal, or will you deliver him? Whoever will plead for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because someone has torn down his altar." Judges 6:31 I enjoy reading this account from Gideon's life. It shows a lot about Him, and why God used Gideon to deliver Israel. When Gideon is first told that this will be his task, he has concern because he is no one of great stature. However, he accepts the call and then another from the Lord (again, this angel is clearly Jesus). Gideon is instructed to remove the Baal altar, and build one to God and sacrifice on it. This is to allow those who followed Baal to see a very clear indicator that God was moving. Gideon does it at night, which was probably better anyway, and then the people wake up the next morning and find their Baal worship center destroyed, which was actually owned by Gideon's father, Joash. However, this act seems to wake up even Joash as he wisely tells the people that if Baal is upset about this, Baal should take care of it. No one pleaded when God's sacrifices and altar were neglected, but the false god with no voice had plenty of people coming to his side. When the commands of God are neglected, swift and certain action must be taken. Gideon delayed doing this in the daytime, which wasn't an unwise move, but it appears he tore the altar down the same day that God told him to. There was no delay, which brings the account back to us: Where are you delaying in your life? What sin are you holding back, or refusing to address? What situation in a friend or family member's life are you ignoring because it will be too painful to go through? I'm sure it wasn't easy for Gideon to do this thing to his father, and wondered how Joash might react. Great love is always shown through sacrifice. If we sacrifice what people think of us, in order that we do the right things, then we have in fact shown the greater love. Do not delay to obey. Be ready to be the man or woman God calls to set a situation right.