What Are We Refusing to Give Up?

O. T. #509  "What Are We Refusing to Give Up?"
April 30, 2015
Judges 2-Part 5
They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.  Judges 2:19

LET IT GLOW

We have become a selfish and I-centered generation. We have so many modern tech things available. Young people want to always be entertained. Where is the work ethic? Why do kids not do good things without expecting being rewarded for it? What happened to love your neighbor? What happened to Israel after all they went through to get their land? What did they refuse to give up?

Previously, we discussed an overview of Israel at this time. They were in a cycle of sin. That is why God raised up 14 various judges to deliver them out of it.
What do we learn about this situation?

• It was God who raised up the judges.
• The Lord was with the judges.
• He delivered Israel out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge.
• It was their groanings because of their oppression and affliction under their enemies that God had compassion on Israel.
• Whenever a judge died, Israel returned into their sinful ways of idolatry, even more corruptly than their fathers.
• Because they violated their covenant with God and did not listen to Him, God no longer drove out their enemies as He did during Joshua's time.
• God tested Israel to see whether they would keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their forefathers. (verse 22)
• The Lord allowed those nations to remain; He did not drive them out at once. (verse 23)

LET IT GROW

Israel refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.  (verse 19)

And we say that is sad, then go on our merry way, refusing to give up our evil practices and stubborn ways. What evil practices, Lord, do we do?
Some things come to my mind:

• not giving Him first place in our life;
• treating Sundays as any other day when buying and selling and not making it a day of rest and worship;
• having objects so important that I spend too much time with it, such as cleaning cars and houses spotlessly;
• spreading gossip;
• criticizing, grumbling, jealousy, anger, selfishness.

Ouch. What is the Lord requiring us to give up so we may follow Him with a pure heart?


LET IT GO

Surrender to Jesus all the day long.

Give it up.

Sing praises to Him.

Be thankful always in all things.
 

Cycle and Recycle

O. T. #508  "Cycle and Recycle"
April 29, 2015
Judges 2-Part 4
And they forsook... Judges 2:12
And they forsook... Judges 2:13

LET IT GLOW

A cycle is a sequence that is repeated. I seem to get into a cycle of doing certain things over and over again, or doing things the same way, over and over again. Why can't I do it a new way? Do you ever get stuck in a cycle? Israel did. Check out what they recycled.

Oh how the Lord blessed  His children, Israel. Once they crossed the Jordan River, they had His protection and victories over the enemies of the land living in their Promised Land to be conquered. From Moses to Joshua, Aaron to Eleazer, God used men to lead these people. Now, you will recall the repetition of the rules laid down-not worshiping idols and following the ways of the pagans, nor intermarrying with them. God required that only He was to be worshiped, loved, and served. Israel was to be an example and witness to the rest of the world as to a living and loving God.

Yet...
the cycle of sin began-apostasy, repentance, and deliverance.
Idolatry was a struggle for God's people. In the days of the judges, Israel was attracted to the Canaanite gods.  Baal was their storm god who controlled rain, fire, and lightning. Ashtoreth, Baal's spouse, was the goddess of love, war, and fertility. the worship of these false gods included female prostitution and child sacrifice. (David Jeremiah)

The idols represent sensual, carnal, and immoral aspects of human nature. God's nature is spiritual and moral. Adding the worship of idols to the worship of God could not be tolerated.
Have you noticed the little statues in the oriental restaurants ?
Do we pay attention to what is around us?
Are we careful in our witness of Jesus?

Let's get back to the cycle of sin.
Life Application Study Bible says throughout this period of history Israel went through cycles of:

1. rebelling against God,
2. being overrun by enemy nations,
3. being delivered by a God-fearing judge,
4. remaining loyal to God under that judge,
5. again forgetting God when the judge died.

Don't we tend to follow the same cycle? We remain loyal to God as long as we are near those devoted to Him. When we are on our own, and the pressure to be drawn away from God increases, we drift away. Are we determined to be faithful to Him despite the difficult situations we may encounter? Stay in contact with other believers, especially in worship services.

How thankful we should be for the mercies of God as we go through the sin cycle.

LET IT GROW

Because Israel did not teach the next generation about God, they:

• did evil in the sight of the LORD; (verse 11)
• served Baalim; (verse 11)
• forsook the LORD God of their fathers; (verse 12)
• followed other gods of the people; (verse 12)
• bowed themselves unto them; (verse 12)
• provoked the LORD to anger; (verse 12)
• forsook the LORD and served Baal and Ashtaroth. (verse 13)

As a result of all that, the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, delivered them into the hands of their enemies. Thus, Israel could not any longer stand before their enemies. So wherever they went, the LORD's hand was against them because of the sinful evil. Israel became greatly distressed.

Now, the Lord raised up judges to deliver them from the hands of those that spoiled them. (verse 16)
There's the mercy.
What do we need delivering from, dear ones?

LET IT GO
                    ...of anything that I put before God.
                              ...of those attitudes and grumblings not pleasing to God.
                              ...of sin by repenting and asking for forgiveness.
                              ...and let God take control of my life.
                              ... and let God.
           

Judges, Who Needs Them?

O. T. #507  "Judges, Who Needs Them?"
April 28, 2015
Judges 2-Part 3
Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.  Judges 2:16

LET IT GLOW

I have only been in a courtroom only a few times in my lifetime. Most of them was as  a juror or prospective juror. One thing I recall is that the judge presiding had the control over what occurred within his courtroom. He had the ultimate say, and all followed it. He had the power to do whatever was necessary in order for justice to be carried out.
Judges, who needs them?In the first few chapters of the book of Judges, the 14 judges who will soon be ruling over Israel, are not  doing so as of yet in our reading. Who is our Ultimate Judge? Read on, friend to find out.

Keep in mind that this era was before Israel had any kings to rule ever them. The Lord raised up judges to meet their needs.

The Hebrew word for judge is shopet,(pronounced with both vowels long) meaning ruler, rather than magistrate, and is the source of the noun mispat, meaning judgment or justice. The noun mispat means the judgment given by the shopet and, thus, may indicate justice, ordinance, or codified law (torah) given by God Himself, since Yahweh is the God of mispat (Gen. 18:25). God's justice was manifested in real and observable events because the real God acted with vindicating righteousness upon His people. (Liberty Bible Commentary)

The actual "Judge" in Israel was the Lord Himself, for He only is called the shopet. The individual judges were called by divine appointment and brought to prominence in the role of a deliverer through whom God administered His justice by empowerment with His Spirit (3:10). (Cundall, wrote in Tyndale Old Testament Commentary)

God alone is capable of flawlessly judging the wicked and delivering the righteous (Is. 11:4).

Are we prepared to stand before the Lord our Judge? As Christians, Jesus is going to be our defender because He has paid the price for our sins. He has met God's requirement-a blood sacrifice. We are set free from the penalty of sin here and there, now and then in eternity.

LET IT GROW

What was the purpose of the judges (14) which God raised up in Israel?
Look at our keep verse-they needed delivered out of the hand of those that spoiled them.
Spoiled means to plunder; destroyer; rob, in the Hebrew language.

Why was this necessary?
The Israelites failed God's test, being enticed into:

1. marriages with Canaanites and
2. worship of their gods.

Disobedience was repeated frequently through the centuries, and led God to use the Assyrians (2Kings 17) and Babylonians (2 Kings 24; 25) to expel Israel from the land gained here. (MacArthur)

God through Moses, Joshua and the Law, kept warning Israel to not worship idols, but to worship only God. Sadly, they did not heed, nor do we.

Why were idols so bad in God's sight?
Life Application Study Bible provides us with an excellent answer:

To worship an idol violated the first two of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-6). The Canaanites had gods for almost every season, activity, or place. To them, the Lord was just another god to add to their collection of gods. Israel, by contrast, was to worship only the Lord. They could not possibly believer that God was the one true God and at the same time bow to an idol. Idol worshipers could not see their god as their creator because they created it. These idols represent sensual, carnal, and immoral aspects of human nature. God's nature is spiritual and moral. Adding the worship of idols to the worship of God could not be tolerated.

Christians need to be careful that we do not have any idols in our life, that we do not create a god in the image we want, under our control, establishing the rules of life that we want, nor should we establish us as god of our life. Examples could be our job, career, hobby, entertainment, sports, objects of importance (house, autos, technology), sex. How do we spend our time? What has our focus or thoughts?

I am sad to admit that there have been times whenever I put my career above all, or even as important as God in my life.

Only Jehovah Lord God is the only God to be worshiped, loved, and served. Be careful when pointing out to others their gods. They may become angry when faced with the truth. It is a matter of the heart. God wants us to love Him with all our heart.

LET IT GO

Love God above all and first of all.

Become aware of anything I may have more important than He is.

Follow God's leading, His ways, not my own ways.

Warn others that there will be a time whenever we all will appear before our ultimate Judge, Jesus.

 

He is Astounding!

O. T. #506  "He is Astounding!"
April 27, 2015
Judges 2-Part 2

*Thanks to everyone for your prayers. My husband made it through the ablation of the heart fine, with only 2 pathways needing fixed. It could take up to 3 months before the effects are felt. He went in the hospital on Tuesday, had the surgery on Wed., went home Thurs., but had to go to the emergency room on Friday as a result of an infection. Hopefully, you will excuse my not posting since I was exhausted. Recovery is slow and the special diet of only soft, cold or room temperature foods and cold drinks for 2 weeks. God is so good! We can't thank Him enough!

LET IT GLOW

What a glorious God we serve and love!!  Sunday, our church walked from the 100 year old sanctuary to a twice the size and brand new sanctuary. It was as if we left our wilderness of unbelief and crossed over our Jordan of faith into our Promise Land. (We have been serving 17 years now, almost 18 at FBC.) We were able to build it debt free as God provided. (Only money was borrowed for the technical equipment.)

Had I died back in 2001 after surgery, I would not have been walking with them. Had my husband died two years ago or last week after his heart surgery, he would not have walked with them either.
Had we given up through all the trials, troubles, discouragements, and failures, and left the church, giving up the fight, our faith failing, we would not have walked with the church. That is why I can say, "HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!! "
I am so astounded by God's mercy and grace and strength throughout these 17 years! It has been a tearful weekend; tears of joy and amazement and thanksgiving.
Are you walking by faith or by sight, my friend? Endure, hang in there, and you too will experience my astounding God working in your life. Nothing is too difficult for Him! Then He will by your ASTOUNDING GOD.

Luke 18:31 says, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem.
We went up to our Jerusalem, Highfill, to fulfill God's purpose, not our own. What seemed failure from man's standpoint was a tremendous triumph from God's because God's purpose is never man's purpose.

Now that God has built the space for 300 people to worship the Lord Jesus, He challenges us to build the church. There are so many people lost in our community and countryside; so many who need His love and hope for life. What is God challenging you to do?

Israel served and worshiped the Lord as long as Joshua, the elders, and that generation, who had experienced so many of God's wondrous works, lived.

The first people in the land had vivid recollections of all the miracles and judgments and were devoted to faith, duty, and purity. God would be faithful until the end, but the people would forfeit blessing for trouble, due to their disobedience (verse 3). (MacArthur)

How faithful to God are we? Do we teach His Word to our children and the next generation?


LET IT GROW

Now they had died, those men of faith, obedient leaders in Israel, the chosen children of God and Israel.

The miraculous intervention of God on behalf of the people in the days of Moses and Joshua was now past history. (Falwell)

Verse 10 tells us, There arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which He had done for Israel.

Liberty Bible Commentary explains:

This new generation had forgotten the intervention of Jehovah on behalf of their forefathers and neglected the covenant mercies of God toward them. The apostasy of the new generation set the pattern for subsequent periods of apostasy, restoration, and renewed apostasy.

Webster's Dictionary defines apostasy as a renunciation of a religious faith; abandonment of a previous loyalty. (I think this is a man-made word, since concordances do not have it listed.)

They had not even brought their own children to the Lord! They had failed to teach them the Law, as God had instructed them to do in Deut. 6:1-15. How often this happens in nations, churches, and families. How easy it is for the "younger generation" to fall away from the Lord if the "older generation" is not faithful to teach them and set the best example of obedience before them. (Wiersbe)

Because children learn so much by our example, the home offers the most effective place to pass on the faith to the next generation.  (Life Application Study Bible )

David Jeremiah said, "This verse highlights the importance of solid spiritual leadership and reinforces how quickly spiritual complacency and apostasy can take over."


LET IT GO

Turn from self-indulgence, worldly ways, pleasing the flesh.

Turn to God in surrender, His ways, and pleasing Him.

Teach the little ones about the love and forgiveness of Jesus.

Tears Alone Are Not Enough

O. T. #505  "Tears Alone Are Not Enough"
April 22, 2015
Judges 2-Part 1
And the angel of the LORD came down from Gilgal to Bochim, and said...   Judges 2:1

LET IT GLOW

*I would like to ask for prayer for my husband, Roger, today as he has surgery again on his heart. I am writing this on Monday, so the study will continue. However, if nothing is posted the rest of the week, I hope you will understand. I'll try to keep updates posted. Thanks friends in Christ.

Has anything broken your heart lately? Have you wept bitterly, uncontrollably? Israel did. Wonder why? Continue to read dear one.

Israel accomplished so much with God's help and Joshua's leadership. However, they failed to conquer all of the land. This was due to their failing to obey the Law by making covenants with the heathen nations and joining themselves with their gods.

Israel's backsliding resulted in the Lord appearing to them in human form, called a theophany. What happened?

• First, the Lord went from Gilgal to Bochim, which means weeping, with a message.
• He reminded them that He had delivered them from Egypt into this land.
• God never broke His covenant with Israel. (verse 1)
• He told them to not make a covenant with the people of the land, but to break down their altars. Israel did not obey.
• God tells Israel that He will not drive out their enemies, but will make them as thorns in their side and their gods would be a snare to them. The privileges of the original covenant was forfeited due to her idolatry. (Num. 33:55)

What God says He will do, He does. God keeps His promises and covenants. His Word is truth.
Isn't it good to be reminded of that?

LET IT GROW

The result of Israel's disobedience would be oppression.
Not only had Israel disobeyed God, but they rejected Him.
How did the children of Israel react to such words from the Lord?
They wept aloud, then offered sacrifices to the Lord. The place was called Bokim.

When we disobey God's commands, we can be sure that the consequences will be regrettable.

Do we still weep over our sins and the sins of our loved ones?
Do we weep for those lost?

Repentance means not only confessing sins and asking God to forgive us, but also abandoning our sinful ways. Tears alone are not enough. When we are aware that we have done wrong, we should admit plainly to God rather than try to cover it up or hope we can get away with it.  (Life Application Study Bible)

LET IT GO

Repent, ask forgiveness, abandon my sinful ways, or the consequences will be coming.

Halfhearted or Wholehearted Obedience

O. T. #504  "Halfhearted or Wholehearted Obedience"
April 21, 2015
Judges 1-Part 3
At that time they failed ...  Judges 1:27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33

LET IT GLOW

There have been times that my heart was not in it. The task was like a chore, not a privilege. It was what God wanted me to do, but while I was obeying, it was half hearted obedience. This does not please God. Only wholehearted obedience pleases Him. Dare I say that half hearted obedience is not obedience, but it is sin? Some of the tribes of Israel did the same thing. Their names are written right here in this chapter. How sad it is for them and us.

The land was totally under Israelite control in Joshua's time and in accordance with God's promise. However, this chapter ends with the sad note of incomplete settlement of the land by the various  Israelite tribes. Having received their allotments, the various tribes were unable or unwilling to bring their territory under total settlement so that the enemy could not filter back into their territory.

What began as a series of victories, led by the Lord, ended as a series of compromises. Israel rationalized their failures by making slaves out of the heathen peoples; but this only led to further trouble.  (Wiersbe)

Liberty Bible Commentary explains that the unoccupied territory mentioned were cities in verses 27-36:

• Those cities which Manasseh did not conquer formed a line of Canaanite resistance the northern tribes (verses 27-28);
• Ephraim did not drive them out of Gezer (verse 29);
• Zebulun drove them out of Kitron, but not Nahalol (verse 30);
• Asher had several cities where they did not remove the Canaanites (verses 31-32);
• Naphtali drove out the Beth-shemesh inhabitants, but not the Beth-shemesh, which were centers of Canaanite worship (verse 33);
• Dan was forced into the mountains by the Amorites (verses 34-36), who controlled the Fertile Crescent in the Mesopotamian Valley. The strongest man, Samson, came from the tribe of Dan, which was the weakest tribe.

What does this say to us today? God had the failures of these tribes listed in the Bible. Are our failures written down in heaven? If they are under the blood (of Jesus), forgiven, then they are cast as far as the east is from the west and remembered no more. (See Ps. 103:12)

LET IT GROW

While the Israelites were initially faithful to recapture Bethel, they spared some of the inhabitants, who established another city where they worshiped Canaanite gods. such incomplete or halfhearted obedience opens the door to failure and sin (Josh. 23:13). (D. Jeremiah)

Why did Israel not follow through and completely obey God's commands?
Life Application Study Bible gives possible answers:

1. They had been fighting for a long time and were tired. Although the goal was in sight, they lacked the discipline and energy to reach it.
2. They were afraid the enemy was too strong-iron chariots seemed invincible.
3. After Joshua's death, power and authority were decentralized to the tribal leaders, and the tribes were no longer unified in purpose.
4. Spiritual decay had infected them from within. They thought they could handle the temptation and be more prosperous by doing business with the Canaanites.

Do we often choose to tolerate sin rather than drive it from our lives?
Do we sometimes we know what to do but do not follow through?
Does this result in gradual deterioration of our relationship with God?
Victory comes from living according to His purpose, willing to fully obey God.
Things to ponder.

LET IT GO

Ask God to show me when I am halfheartedly obedient.

Ask God to change my heart and attitudes and forgive me.

Be faithful to fully obey God wholeheartedly.

Does It Matter Where You Go?

O. T. #503  "Does It Matter Where You Go?"
April 20, 2015
Judges 1-Part 2
And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites... Judges 1:9
And Judah went... Judges 1:10,17


LET IT GLOW

Does it matter where you live? We have lived all over our state and in another state, serving the Lord in his ministry. During those years we learned many life lessons. We are serving in the same church for our soon to be eighteenth year. We have traveled throughout the world on mission trips, also. It does matter where you go and live. Does God want you to take the gospel to another people in another place? Are you willing to move when He says go? Or travel and endure hardships for a short time in order that others may hear the Good News of Jesus? What a blessing it is to go. 
Judah had to go, even within their homeland, so they could conquer their cities located in their Promised Land.

We left the tribes of Judah and Simeon with cities they had captured and conquered in their area. Jerusalem was one of the more important ones. Hebron became the early Judean capital, located 20 miles south of Jerusalem in the highest mountains of Judah. You will recall that it was the burial ground of the patriarchs of Israel (Gen 23). It had been assigned earlier to Caleb (Num. 14:24) in anticipation of his subsequent conquest, which is also related in Joshua 15.  (Falwell)

Stay with me through this history stuff. It does have some interesting events.
And then there was the city of Debir, which may have been of interest to Caleb if it was in the territory that he and the other 11 spies went to years earlier. Anyway, it was so important to Caleb that he possess it that he offered his daughter in marriage to the man who conquered Debir, formerly known as Kirjath-sepher. (verse 12)

Well, Othniel did so and he was rewarded with Achsah as his wife, Caleb's daughter. Now this brave Othniel was Caleb's nephew and later became the first judge of Israel. You will recall that Ashsah requested from Caleb a field where the springs of water were. This was very important since this region was vary arid.
Discoveries in this area have revealed many water shafts, or well, that could provide adequate water for those living in the area. (Liberty Bible Commentary)

Does it matter where you live? Just so you are living where God wants you to live and where He wants to use you in kingdom work. Yes it does matter.

This account first appears in Joshua 15:13-19. The author of Judges repeats it here to remind readers that God honors such courage, initiative, and determination when His people pursue what He has asked them to do. (D. Jeremiah)

LET IT GROW

Mentioned are the children of the Kenites, Moses' father in law, who joined Judah, living in Jericho, the city of palm trees. If we keep following Judah and Simeon tribes in their conquest of the land from the Canaanites, we discover that they took control of Gaza, Askelon, and Ekron cities. These cities later formed part of the Philistine pentapolis.

Gaza. Hasn't that been a place of controversy in the Middle East for years, where the Palestinians say the land belongs to them instead of Israel? Well, the Bible is clear on that matter.

Judah was not able to drive out the inhabitants of the valley because of their use of chariots of iron.
It would be many years until the Israelites acquired a knowledge of ironworking, giving the Canaanites a superior advantage in this skill which they had learned from the Hittites. (Falwell)

The Israelite foot soldiers were absolutely powerless when a speeding iron chariot bore down upon them. This is why Israel preferred to fight in the hills where chariots couldn't venture. (Life Application Study Bible)

In repeatedly failing to drive out all the Canaanites from the Promised Land, the Israelites directly disobeyed the Lord's instructions (Deut. 7), which were intended to protect His chosen people from corrupting influences. Where evil is tolerated, it will be accepted and then imitated. (The Jeremiah Study Bible)

Wait, we can't leave it there. Look at verse 20, And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.

Now we can leave it there, peace for Caleb and his family in his own city, on his mountain.

Are we Christians tolerating sin in America, allowing the queers to marry and adopt children? What will happen to our next generation if it continues? We need to take a stand against sin and things which are an abomination to God.

LET IT GO

Stand up for God's ways and Word.

Do not tolerate sin.

Go where God tells me to go.