The Minor judges (part 4)

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. 

    Well, today we will cover the minor judges.  This will be short and sometimes only a couple of lines cover them.

  First of the minor judges is Shamgar. Judges 3: ³¹ After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel.

  Next comes Tola. Judges 10: 1After the time of Abimelek, a man of Issachar named Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim. ² He led Israel twenty-three years; then he died, and was buried in Shamir.

  The third minor judge, chapter 10: ³ He was followed by Jair of Gilead, who led Israel twenty-two years. ⁴ He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys. They controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth Jair. ⁵ When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.

    After the major judge Jephthah came Ibzan, chapter 12:⁸ After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem led Israel. ⁹ He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters away in marriage to those outside his clan, and for his sons he brought in thirty young women as wives from outside his clan. Ibzan led Israel seven years. ¹⁰ Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.

    And directly following Ibzan came Elon: chapter 12: ¹¹ After him, Elon the Zebulunite led Israel ten years. ¹² Then Elon died and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

   Then last of the minor judges is Abdon: chapter 12:¹³ After him (Elon), Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, led Israel. ¹⁴ He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He led Israel eight years. ¹⁵ Then Abdon son of Hillel died and was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.

   Just so you know the chronological order the judges would be: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, Samson.

   Then after this, Judges 17-21, it describes how people lived when they had little leadership or when they had poor leadership. The last of the major judges, Samson, was a small depiction of lack of character and principles were to demonstrate through the rest of Judges.

   I do hope you enjoyed learning about the Judges and the events.  May God bless you this day and the following days of your life. Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny
 

Judges 13-16 Samson

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  Well, moving into Samson.  A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites and his wife were barren. No child.  Well, what brought this about was the fact that the Israelites did evil in the sight of God.  Again, we repeat the process of evil in God's eyes, repent and cry out, God sends a deliverer, Israel turns back to God.  Soooo.........

   An angel comes to Manoah's wife and tells her of her coming birth. She believed and told her husband, the husband wished to meet this man (angel).  Upon meeting the man (angel) they were told what to do.  In Judges 13: ⁵ You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

   Samson went to Timnah and fell in love with a young woman. Then drama entails.  Please listen to Judges 13 to 16 to get the full story.  Well, Samson asks a riddle of the 30  men attending the wedding feast. They threaten the young woman he loved (wife), she gave the answer to the riddle - and at this point Samson became enraged and killed 30 men in Ashkelon.

   The saga continues and it would be good for you to read this compete story.  Samson's wife is killed because of his actions. He slays many Philistines because of this.  After this slaughter some men came to him, had a conversation, bound him and took him to Lehi. The Philistines shouted against him. The power of the LORD came over him, he broke the ropes and killed a thousand Philistines.
   Then he travels to Gaza, meets and sleeps with a prostitute, and left in the middle of the night, as the Philistines sought to slay him.

   Next comes his downfall, Delilah. Samson is a man of great strength who led Israel for twenty years, but he was not a saint.  Delilah's name is a Hebrew name, but it is not clear if she was a Philistine or Israelite woman.  She appears in the Bible after the harlot (prostitute) and some speculate she may have been a harlot as well.  However, whatever her background, Samson enjoyed her company in many ways and they were not married.  She betrayed Samson for eleven hundred pieces of silver from each of the lords who approached her for the betrayal.

   They shaved Samson's head, the LORD was departed from him, they captured him, put out his eyes and held him in prison.  When the Philistines had become merry (drinking) they wanted to have sport with Samson.  They brought him forth, he asked to feel the pillars so he could stand and lean against them.  There were about three thousand men and women who wished to make sport of Samson.  Here in Judges 16:25-31 is the final story of Samson, praying to God for strength once more to avenge the trickery and loss of his eyes. He supports himself on the center pillars, and with a last burst of strength (God's power) he kills these three thousand and himself. He led Israel 20 years.

   Samson was a man of little character and few principles.  He possessed enormous potential, but used his opportunities unwisely. God gave Samson the responsibility to lead Israel, but Samson was not a good leader.  Hope you enjoyed this information.  There is much more in detail and you will need to read it for yourself.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

The Book of Judges

Good morning all! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!!!!!   

  The book of Judges.  These are not judges as we think of them today.  These were leaders of Israel, there to deliver Israel from bondage.

   The exact date of the writing of Judges is not clear; however, what difference does it really make?

   The Judges served a certain tribe or in specific regions of the country.  Judges is classified as either major or minor judges.  Just as the prophets were major or minor.  What made a major judge was the information given; a minor judge did not have much information.  Sometimes only a few lines to tell what they did.

   First, the major judges - six of them - Othniel (3:7-11); Ehud (left-handed) (3:12-30); Deborah (4:1-5:31); Gideon (6:1-8:28); Jephthah (10:6-12:7); and Samson (13:1-16:31).

   Read the links so you will know first hand. It is all quite interesting. First look at Othniel - this is the same old story: the children of Israel did evil in the eyes of the LORD (they went into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years); they cried out for help; God heard and sent Othniel; and they were delivered.

   Next is Ehud (a left-handed mand) - and this story is very interesting. Here the Lord gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel for 18 years. Again, because of the evil of Israel they were enslaved. But the story here is very interesting and you have to read it. This is a fun yet sad story for Eglon; good for Israel.  Here it is: ¹⁶ Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a cubit long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing. ¹⁷ He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man. ¹⁸ After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way those who had carried it. ¹⁹ But on reaching the stone images near Gilgal he himself went back to Eglon and said, “Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.”  The king said to his attendants, “Leave us!” And they all left. ²⁰ Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his palace and said, “I have a message from God for you.” As the king rose from his seat, ²¹ Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king’s belly. ²² Even the handle sank in after the blade, and his bowels discharged. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it. ²³ Then Ehud went out to the porch^[f]; he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.
   Israel was once again delivered.  Then comes Deborah (4:1-5:31) And,
Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, so the Lord sold them into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. Sisera, the commander of his army, was based in Harosheth Haggoyim. He had nine hundred chariots fitted with iron and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, and again, Israel cried to the Lord for help.   Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. The story is quite interesting and I would ask you what relevance is a tent stake?  Let me know if you find out.  Judges 5 Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang a song. Take time to read it.
  Now it is time for Gideon.  The Angel of the LORD spoke to Gideon, who was skeptic.  Then Gideon tested the LORD with a piece of wool fleece, not once, but twice.  Gideon then did as God commanded, tearing down the Baal altar and cutting down the Asherah pole.  The people were angry and demanded Gideon come out. Gideon father said if Baal is a god let him contend with Gideon. The people then  gave him the name Jerub-Baal that day, saying, “Let Baal contend with him. Now you know the rest of the story, 32,000 men and God said you have too many men.  22,000 of the men who trembled with fear were released.  10,000 remained and God said too many men, go down to drink and sort them out.  The ones who went down on their knees to drink were let go; the ones who cupped their hands were kept - 300 men.  Then you know the rest of the story - yes, Gideon won because of God.
   Okay, you mind is probably completely saturated by this time.  I'll finish with Jephthah and Samson and the minor judges tomorrow.  Have a safe and blessed day and weekend. Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

The 3 charges to Joshua from God

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!!

  Joshua's 3 charges were:

• tell what the LORD had done for Israel (vv 1-13)
• Fear God and serve Him (vv 14-23)
• The renewal of the covenant (vv 24-28)
• Then comes the death of Joshua at 110

   Joshua 24: Joshua called all the leaders, great or small, to come and share with what God had given him to say.  This message was from God.  He shared what happened when they came out of Egypt, killing the Egyptians who pursued them. Then about Balaam and Balak, about the different peoples they defeated.  Reminding them they were enjoying the vineyards and food from lands they conquered and did not plant, grow or cultivate.  God gave them a productive land and they should remember this.

  Joshua told the people they needed to be faithful to God, cast all idols some held aside and follow, serve and obey God.  At this time at Shechem Joshua said, “This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the Lord has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God.”

The verses at the end tell us best of Joshua's death. 
²⁸ Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to their own inheritance.

Buried in the Promised Land

²⁹ After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten. ³⁰ And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Serah^[c] in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
³¹ Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel.
   Beginning in Judges with the next study. Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

The Conquest (part 2) Joshua 10-12

Well, hello and blessings to you my friends. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  When I put links to scriptures it is beneficial for you to click on them and listen to the Bible.  If I put everything, each point and detail in I would just be rewriting the Bible.  If you listen you will pick up on the items too numerous to put in a morning devotional.
  The southern campaign, Joshua 10.  The southern campaign began when Adoni-Zedek, the king of Jerusalem, called four other kings to join him in attacking Gibeon.  Gibeon appealed to Joshua for help and Israel defended them because of the covenant they made through trickery.
    Joshua went to help and defeated the kings.  In verses 12-14 you will read about when the sun and the moon stayed still.  A great story to read and absorb.  Joshua defeated the 5 kings, took them, had the captains place their feet upon the necks of the kings, killed them, and placed them on 5 trees for all to see.  At sundown, they were taken down and cast into the cave where they had been hiding from the Israelites, laid great stones in the cave's mouth to seal it.  As you read you can see more conquests.
  Next comes the northern campaign (Joshua 11-12:24)  Now Jabin, King of Hazor heard about the Israelites and recruited many other kings so that their army was the sand that is upon the sea shore, with horses and chariots.  They met together and camped at the waters of Merom to fight Israel.
  The LORD reassured Joshua to not be afraid for He (God) would deliver these fighting men to Israel.  Then Israel was to hough their horses (hough means cut the hamstring or achilles tendeon to render them useless) and burn their chariots with fire.
  The LORD did give them to Joshua and the Isrealites pursued them as far as Sidon and killed them all, as God commanded.  This victory allowed Joshua control of the norther part of Canaan, as well as the central and southern areas.  The only fortified city taken was Hazor (11:13) and Joshua did not take the other cities which were built on mounds.  These cities were built on high places and over the centuries they continued to be elevated further by building on the rubble of former generations.  Then, the inhabitants built walls around the cities making them practically impossible to conquer.
  Now comes the division of the Land (Josh 13:8-21:30;  22-23:16 )   Now, the Levites owned no land because they were priests.   The whole congregation of the people of  Israel gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting.  Joshua 20 describes cities of refuge.  These cities were set apart to protect the persons who killed another accidentally.  Three cities of refuge were located west of the Jordan River and three east of the Jordan.  These were set up so that one who had hurt another without any malicious intent would be able to have a place of sanctuary.  Tomorrow we will go into Joshua's charge, one of his last acts and then into Judges. Love you all
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

The Conquest of Canaan (part 1)

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!

    Joshua is leading Israel into the promised land. Remember, they crossed the Jordan during the harvest time, which was flood stage. When the priests carrying the Ark put their feet in the river, God blocked it and the people crossed to the west side.

  Now, there are 3 basic campaigns making up the conquest: a central campaign, southern campaign, and the northern campaign.

  If you will read Joshua 6 you will read about the conquest of Jericho when the walls came tumbling down. The attack of Jericho marked the beginning of the central campaign.  Jericho was a symbol of the strength of Canaan.  Jericho is one of the oldest cities and fortified to be not conquered and was strategically located.  When Joshua took Jericho this divided the land in half.

    If using logic and looking at the people of Israel and the strength of Jericho, Israel cannot win.  However, throw the variable of God into the situation and now the strength of Israel is stronger than anyone, but, only with God on their side.

  The Israelites were to take all the spoils of war for God.  Israel went up against Ai and was turned back. Joshua did not understand and was distraught. The confidence of Israel was shaked.

   Joshua fell on his knees and cried before the LORD. God told him to get up and they had a conversation. God had commanded that all silver, gold, and bronze be set aside for His (God's) treasury.  All other spoils were to be destroyed. Achan disregarded the command of God and hid some of the spoils of Jericho under his tent.  Achan planned to use for himself what God had set apart for Himself.  Achan's sin resulted in God's removing His protection from the people of Israel.         
     Achan and his family were stoned.  With the sin removed from the people of Israel, God directed Joshua to take Ai and Bethel.  Once they did, Joshua built an altar to the Lord at Mount Ebal.  The people worshiped the Lord with burnt offerings as Moses had commanded. 

   The kings in the west heard of all the Israelites had done, and waged war against him.    In Joshua 9, Joshua had been tricked into an alliance with Gibeon.  Joshua showed his human side and disobedience in following God, as we often do.  This may be a lesson for us to not compromise what God tells or directs us to do.  Next we will move into the southern campaign in Joshua 10.  Thank you for reading.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

The Book of Joshua

Good morning and hello to all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.
    The book of Joshua starts a new time or generation for the Israelites.  For the first time in 40 years Moses is not their leader, he has died at age 120 and Joshua is appointed by God to lead the people.  He proved to be a capable and effective leader.
   The book of Joshua has three main divisions:  Chapter 1-12 the conquest of the land; Chapters 12-23 the division of the land; and Chapter 24 Joshua's charge to the people to remain faithful to God.
   The first 12 chapters tell us how the Israelite people, led by God and gave them the land of Canaan.  The faith and courage had to be shown to God so they would be able to conquer the land.  In chapter 1 verse 6-9 Joshua is told 3 times to be strong and courageous. V. 10-18 he tells the officers to prepare the people to move in three days.  The east bank of the Jordan was given to the tribes of Reuben, Gad and 1/2 the tribe of Manasseh since this land was well suited for herdsmen, of which they were.  However, there was a stipulation Joshua placed on them and that was the men of military or fighting age would help the other tribes take the land of Canaan.
   In Joshua 2:1-24 two spies were sent to spy on Jericho.  These men were hidden by Rahab, a prostitute of Jericho.  Because of this, when Israel captured Jericho, Rahab received protection from them and remembered as a heroine is the history of Israel. (please take time to read the story of Rahab).
   Joshual 3:1 to 4:9 (please read or listen to)   Joshua appointed 1 man from each of the 12 tribes, and when the priests of the Levi's stepped into the water with the Ark of the covenant; the water was held back and the Jordan riverbed was dry.  Each man from the tribes picked up a rock from the riverbed and then once across built a memorial to God.  These stones (memorial) was to remind the people of each following generations of what God had done for them (Israelites) when crossing the Jordan.
  This would remind the people of God's power, protection, and guidance.
   Chapter 5 tells of Joshua's circumcising all the men of Israel and the people's keeping the Passover in the plain of Jericho.  It was now that the people ate unleavened cakes and the manna ceased.  Now if you remember all were circumcised when God told Abraham to do so.  However, at this time they had traveled 40 years in the wilderness and the ones born during this period had not been circumcised.  Now was the time - in obedience to God.
  Whew!!  Tomorrow, the conquest of the land. Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny