Yes, I've been reading my Bible each day. I'm just behind on my "journey" blogs. Here are some gleanings from my recent read through the Book of Judges.
- The theme of the book could is the same as year 2007: People did what was right in their own eyes.
- It is amazing how God uses corrupt people to accomplish His purposes (again true today).
- Joshua (previous book) was a great, godly leader. Why didn't the generation after him not know God or the works He did for Israel? Christianity is always one generation away from being impotent.
- Moving forward out of a disobedient spirit is not a wise thing to do.
- Common pattern in the book: People rebel against God, God sends punishment through a foreign ruler, people cry out and repent, God raises a leader, enemy is defeated, people rebel, and the cycle repeats.
- My favorite person in the book is Ehud. We left-handed people stick together.
- My least favorite person is Jael. She kept me from making a 100 on an Old Testament test in seminary (30 years later and I still remember that).
- The Song of Deborah is not your typical love song.
- Gideon, like many today, blamed God for his woes instead of admitting his disobedience.
- We must get rid of all other gods before erecting an altar to the true God.
- Gideon, how many signs do you need? But aren't we the same way?
- The key to Gideon's success--God's Spirit was upon him.
- Did you notice that Gideon didn't argue when his army was cut to 300? What faith!
- When Gideon learned about Midian's fear, he didn't wallow in pride. He got on his knees.
- Gideon was in the middle of celebrating a great victory when he had to deal with a bunch of whiners who wondered why they weren't included.
- Not long after the victory, they were back to their sinful ways.
- Gideon had 70 sons--a busy man he was.
- Abimilech demonstrates the dangers of a divided people.
- I'm grateful that God forgives even when we fall into the same sinful traps over and over.
- Jephthah--Don't make stupid, irrational vows to God.
- English teachers would love chapter 12--Is it Sibboleth or Shibboleth?
- Lessons for parents from Samson's parents: marital communication, praying for wisdom on how to raise our kids, and putting God first.
- God set apart Samson, but he tried to do stuff in his own power.
- Samson is the story of the tragedy of wasted potential.
- Samson didn't know that God's Spirit had left him--how sad.
- How could a husband give his wife to a bunch of sex-crazed men and then sleep through the night while they raped her? Is our culture any different?
- It is not a pretty picture when believers fight each other.
- Chapter 21 speaks to the issue of community--the people grieved at the thought that the tribe of Benjamin might become extinct.
- The last verse of the book sums it all up--the people did what they felt like doing.
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