August 31 -- "Examples of Love and Loyalty"

 Today’s Reading: Ruth 1

"Examples of Love and Loyalty"

Naomi made a hard decision to leave Moab and return to Israel where she will find the support of her relatives and friends. Ruth wants to go with her but Naomi tries to persuade her to stay behind.  Ruth refuses, insisting that Naomi let her come.  Verse 14 says, “Ruth clung to her.”  

Ruth declares her love and loyalty to Naomi, “Don’t force me to leave you; don’t make me go home—not even death itself is going to come between us!” Her words to Naomi reveal that she had grown to deeply love Naomi, and that she had also come to love Naomi’s God, Yahweh.  When Naomi saw how strongly Ruth felt, she gave up trying to persuade her to remain in Moab and accepted her company on the long journey home.

By their actions of love and loyalty, Ruth and Naomi have given all of us some life lessons. There are four lessons we can learn by looking at the bond between these two women. (There are probably more than four, but these are presented for your consideration.)

Loyalty.  Ruth could have easily gone back to the familiar.  She could have returned to her own family and friends.  But her strong bond with Naomi resulted in an unbending loyalty. Tough times did not break that loyalty, but rather strengthened it.  Do you remain committed to others even when troubles come?

Witness.  Naomi’s character and relationship with God were on display for Ruth to see.  And just by being around her, Ruth was drawn to her God.  Ruth now longed for the same relationship with God that she had seen in Naomi.  When others see your relationship with Jesus Christ, are they drawn to Him?

Perseverance.  Ruth held her ground.  She was determined not to lose that relationship that had brought so much value to her life. She would not – could not – let anything bring an end to her love and bond for Naomi.  Do others know that you will stubbornly stick by them when your relationship is threatened?

Trust.  Ruth’s future was uncertain.  She didn’t know what troubles might lie ahead.  But she trusted her future to the God of Israel, and as a result was willing to step forward in faith and follow Him.  In the midst of the circumstances you face, do you trust God to bring good out of it?  Are you willing to step forward by faith?

August 30 -- "Don't Believe Your Own Press Clippings"

 Today’s Reading: Judges 8

"Don't Believe Your Own Press Clippings"

God allowed Gideon only three hundred men to launch the attack against the Midianites, so that Israel might know that victory was not by military power or man’s ingenuity but by God’s intervention and power.

This great victory was God’s doing, but the people of Israel wanted to give credit elsewhere - to Gideon. They wrongly attribute the work to the man, rather than the God who used the man. They saw the man God used and begin to ascribe to him a degree of greatness and prestige.  So much so, that they wanted to make Gideon the King over Israel. Verse 22 tells us that “the men of Israel said to Gideon, ‘Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.’”  Notice who is getting the credit here – not Yahweh, but Yahweh’s instrument.

There is a natural human tendency to credit the people God uses rather than to credit God. Years ago, I attended a church in which a mighty revival was taking place.  People were coming to Christ by the hundreds and lives were being changed by God’s Spirit.  It was a sovereign move of God that came upon that church, but oftentimes people wanted to credit the Pastor for the work that was taking place. The revival was so phenomenal that even the secular press had to send reporters to the scene to find out what was going on. What was this “man” doing that was causing such a great explosion in church membership? On one occasion, a Christian seminary sent a contingent of students thousands of miles to inquire about the situation. They wanted to know what “formula” our Pastor was using to accomplish such a great work. They wanted to discover his “secret sauce” and teach their students to “reproduce” it. When they were told that there is no secret formula but what they were seeing was an unexplainable work of the Holy Spirit, they couldn’t process it.

During this great revival, our Pastor was faced with a huge temptation – to accept the praises of people and take credit for God’s work -or- to remain humble and give glory to God, where it belonged. When asked about this temptation, our Pastor’s reply was, “I never believe my own press clippings.”  In other words, no matter how much others tried to credit him for this revival, he knew it was God’s doing and the credit belonged to no one except God, Himself.  Our Pastor applied the truth of Psalm 115:1, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth.”

Fortunately, Gideon humbly refused their invitation, pointing out that Yahweh was their King.  Gideon knew in his heart-of-hearts that God was the only one who deserved glory for this work and that God was the only one who was rightly their King. Gideon didn’t “believe his own press clippings.”  If God is using your life – if you’re seeing Him do great things through you – be very careful.  Never believe your own press clippings, and never – NEVER! – take credit for the work God has done. 

August 29 -- "When Human Strength is Too Much"

 Today’s Reading: Judges 7

"When Human Strength is Too Much"

Gideon and the armies of Israel are about to take on the Midianites - an intimidating enemy.  So, Gideon prepares the nation for war.  He gathers over 30,000 soldiers to fight in the battle – a number that he was confident would be enough to conquer Midian.  As the troops move closer to the enemy territory, Gideon is interrupted by the Lord who says, “Hold on! You have TOO LARGE of an army with you, Gideon.”  Wait!  What?  Too large an army?  Is that even possible? Gideon certainly would have understood if the Lord told him that his army was too small.  But too big?  Gideon was puzzled. How could having too many soldiers be a problem?  But God had a plan.

The Lord goes on to explain, “If I let you proceed into battle with this much human strength, then you and your armies will take all the credit, saying, ‘I did it all myself,’ and forget about Me. We can’t let that happen Gideon.  I can’t turn Midian over to you like this.”  So, Gideon begins paring down the troops.  First, down to 10,000, and ultimately down to merely three hundred men.  I’m sure Gideon is thinking that there’s no way to beat Midian with only three hundred men.  They’ll crush us.  But God had a plan. 

The next thing that happens is that Gideon disarms his troops.  He tells them to put down their swords and their spears.  He gives each of them a trumpet, a jar, and a torch – not your usual implements of war.  But God had a plan.

The message that God was trying to get across to Gideon and his troops was that there are times when human strength is “too much.”  When we rely on our own resources, and our own ingenuity, and our own strength to accomplish a task it doesn’t leave much room for God to show His might on our behalf.   We can easily get our eyes off of God and His mighty working power.  Whenever we attempt to achieve some spiritual victory in our own strength we run the risk of saying, “I did it by myself.” Rather, we must learn to rely on God and give Him the credit – even when He uses “unconventional” methods to win the war.

Who, or what, is your Midian?  Is there an intimidating enemy on your horizon?  Are you gathering your resources to take on the battle?  Are you planning the strategies to use – like “positive thinking” or “determination” or “seven steps to success”?  Don’t be surprised when the Lord interrupts you and says, “Wait!  Don’t do it.  Put down your ‘swords’ and ‘spears’ and pick up your trumpet and torch.”  Then you will see God’s plan and His power and His victory, and you’ll be able to say, like Gideon, “look what the Lord has done!”

August 28 -- "Face-to-Face"

Today’s Reading: Judges 6

"Face-to-Face"

The people of Israel have, once again, turned away from God.  Once again, the LORD delivered them into the hand of their enemy.  This time it was the Midianites who oppressed Israel for seven long years.  Because of the heavy hand of the Midianites, the Israelites took to hiding out in dens, and caves, in the rocks, in winepresses, in the mountains – wherever they could find.  The Midianites were particularly ruthless in their dealings with Israel.  They would destroy their crops, their flocks, and their herds leaving no sustenance for Israel. 

But, once again, Israel cried out to the Lord.    And, once again, the Lord sent a deliverer to rescue them.  The angel of the Lord came to a man named Gideon who – like the rest of Israel  – was hiding out from the Midianites.  Instead of threshing the wheat out in the open at the threshing floor, Gideon was threshing the wheat in the winepress hoping not to be spotted by the Midianites.

This is what makes the Angel’s words so unexpected.  The Angel finds Gideon hiding out and says to him, “God is with you, O mighty man of valor.”  Wait!  What?!  Are you talking to me?  I’m no mighty man of valor.  I’m a scaredy-cat.  I’m hiding down here in the wine vat because I’m weak and afraid.  I am actually the weakest member of my family – and my family is the weakest one in all the tribe.  You got the wrong dude!  But the Angel insisted, giving him a radical mission from God – “Go in this might of yours. I am sending you – yes YOU – to deliver your people!”  Then the Angel makes a promise that changes Gideon’s viewpoint completely – “I will be with you and you shall defeat the Midianites.”

After a bit more persuasion from the Angel, Gideon came to the stark realization that this was a genuine divine encounter with the Angel of the Lord.  He says in verse 22, “Alas, O Master God! I have seen the angel of God face-to-face!”  Wow!  A face-to-face encounter with a being from the Spirit world. (Many believe that this was actually a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ Himself – known as a theophany.)  From the moment of that encounter, Gideon became exactly the person God knew he could be – a mighty man of valor.

God saw in him a reality that Gideon didn’t even see in himself.  God saw that he could be more than a wimpering scaredy cat hiding in a winepress.  God knew that Gideon was destined for greater things.  Not because of any character trait of Gideon, but because of the anointing of God’s power upon his life. 

God sees in you a reality that you don’t even see in yourself.  God sees that you can become more than you ever have.  God knows that you are destined for great exploits for His kingdom.  Not because of any natural abilities of your own, but because He will empower you and He will be with you.  Answer the call.  Crawl out of your insecurities and fears.  And trust the Living God to make your life a powerful witness for Him.  God is with YOU, O mighty man/woman of valor!

 

 

August 27 -- "Melody to the Lord"

 Today’s Reading: Judges 5

"Melody to the Lord"

This is the song of Deborah and Barak.  It is a song of victory.  But more than that, it is a song of praise to the God who gave them victory.  Deborah and Barak’s song of praise recalls the dramatic activity of God, the initiative of the leaders, and the willing service of the people which together produced the spectacular victory over Jabin, Sisera, and the military forces of Canaan.  One writer called this song "the finest masterpiece of Hebrew poetry" that "deserves a place among the best songs of victory ever written."¹

The opening stanza gives the reason, as well as the call, to bless the Lord.  Their melody to the LORD praises Him for three reasons: the leaders led, the people served, and God brought the victory. 

They “bless” the LORD that the leaders took the lead in Israel.  The word “bless” in Hebrew means to kneel as an act of reverence.  They were truly thankful that God put it on the hearts of the leaders of the nation to get up and take action.  This outcome wasn’t always assured.  You remember from chapter 4, that it took a strong exhortation from Deborah to get Barak, the military leader, to get up and get going.  Now, they are thankful that God gave him the grace and courage to do so.

They also bless the LORD that the people “offered themselves willingly.”  Oh, what a blessing it is when we experience a grassroots rising of God’s people to service.  In every thriving church, there is always a strong army of servants among the congregation.  The leader cannot do it him/herself.  The people must be willing to offer themselves to get into the fray and take ground from the enemy.

The remainder of this melody to the LORD is praise for His personal involvement in the battle.  They didn’t fight alone.  God intervened and gave them the victory.  He showed Himself strong on their behalf.  And for that, they are truly thankful.

Thus we see three elements that are necessary for the success of any ministry: strong leadership, willing servants, and God’s power.  When these three elements converge, we too will be singing and making melody to the Lord for His victory.  “To the LORD I will sing; I will make melody to the LORD, the God of Israel.”

 ¹Robert H. Pfeiffer, Introduction to the Old Testament

August 26 -- "Up!"

 Today’s Reading: Judges 4

"Up!"

Inciting someone to good works is a practice that is honored and encouraged throughout the Bible.  Hebrews 10:24 commands us to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” There are moments for all of us when we get down and discouraged or when we draw back when confronted by a strong enemy (sin, the flesh, the devil).  In those moments, we need someone to incite us to get up! 

In today’s reading, we have one such exhortation.  Barak, the commander of the Lord’s armies, was down.  He was discouraged and was drawing back because Jabin, the king of Canaan, had amassed an intimidating military arsenal.  We are told that Jabin had cruelly oppressed Israel with his nine hundred iron chariots for twenty years.  Barak was intimidated by this show of force, and was down – really down. It is likely that he was suffering some form of depression or, at least, despair.  His sadness had led to hopelessness and dejection.

Deborah was a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth. She was judge over Israel at that time.  She sent for Barak and said to him, “Get up!  It has become clear that God, the God of Israel, commands you to go to Mount Tabor and prepare for battle against Sisera, the leader of Jabin’s military forces.”  This appeal to Barak was Deborah’s way of inciting him to pull out of his discouragement and get back to doing what God had called him to do.  Barak, still feeling down and discouraged, said to Deborah, “If you go with me, I’ll go. But if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”  Oftentimes, it is easier to pull out of our periods of discouragement when a fellow believer is by our side supporting us and keeping our head in the game.  This was one of those times. “I can’t do this alone,” says Barak, “I need your support.”  Deborah, moved by her faith in God, assured him that she would be with him.

Deborah’s word to Barak was, “UP!”  You’re down, but get UP.  You’re faith is waning, but get UP. Deborah reminded Barak that the LORD would be marching before them.  By faith, she declared, “This very day God has given you victory over Sisera.”  At the moment when Barak was at his lowest, when he thought defeat was certain, God was exhorting him to get UP and trust Him for the victory.

We all face downturns.  We all go through times of sadness and discouragement.  We are sometimes intimidated by the forces against us.  Sin will flex it’s muscles and say, “you’ll never defeat me.”  But we should never give up. Don’t yield yourself to despair.  Don’t listen to the lies of darkness.  Right at those moments when your defeat seems certain, the LORD says to you - “Up! This very day I have given you victory!”

August 25 -- "A Deliverer Rescues Israel"

Today’s Reading: Judges 3 

"A Deliverer Rescues Israel"

The Lord allowed Israel to be defeated by an enemy nation and taken into servitude.  The people of Israel were in servitude to Cushan-Rishathaim for eight years.

Then, the people of Israel cried out to the LORD and He raised up a deliverer who rescued them, Caleb’s nephew Othniel, son of his younger brother Kenaz. The name “Othniel” means lion of God.  We don’t know much about Othniel, except that “the Spirit of God came upon him” and he rallied the nation.  They went to war and the LORD delivered Cushan-Rishathaim into their hand and they were freed from servitude. This was God’s doing.  "The Spirit of Yahweh" came upon Othniel’s human spirit, enabling him to accomplish what his natural strength could not. After that, the Nation had peace for the next forty years.

It was in answer to Israel's cry that the LORD raised up Othniel as their "savior."  Not only did Othniel lead the people to military victory, he led them back into a right relationship with God. They once again honored the LORD.  The corruption of the people had led to their oppression, and now their repentance leads to their rescue. 

Othniel became the first of some fifteen “Judges” that would govern the Nation over the next 400 years.  These were not judges in the sense of a magistrate or one who presides over courtroom judicial proceedings.  These judges were temporary and special deliverers, sent by God to deliver the Israelites from their oppressors.  Each time the Israelites came to the “end of themselves” and turned back to God for deliverance, they called upon Him and – consistent with His character and promise - He sent a rescuer to deliver them. 

There are two lessons we can learn from this.  The first is that even the most corrupt nation is eligible for God’s mighty deliverance.  If any society will humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways, the Almighty Deliverer will send deliverance and victory to that society.  As God promised, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me." Psalm 50:15  The second lesson is that God can do mighty things through only one person upon whom is His Spirit.  Jesus said, “apart from Me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5) but when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you can do “all things through Him who strengthens us.” (Philippians 4:13)

If you are open to it and allow God’s Spirit to take control, you too can do mighty works – perhaps even deliver a nation!