PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Judges 3-4
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord.” (Judges 3:7)
“When they cried out to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer.” (Judges 3:9)
The book of Judges repeats these two phrases, revealing a cycle of sin and deliverance.
The lesson is, God doesn’t give up on us even when we walk away from Him.
God continues to send help when we crash and cry; Jesus is the ultimate deliverer.
But unlike the judges in this book, Jesus is not a flawed, sinful saviour.
He breaks the cycle of sin that constantly repeats itself in this book.
He is tested, like the Israelites, but He does not “do evil in the eyes of the Lord”.
Jesus does not use cunning and deceit (like Ehud) to overcome Satan or sin.
Jesus is God’s answer to me when sin and misery make me desperate.
I’m encouraged that Jesus has come, but do I follow Him out of this cycle of sin?
Do I keep returning to the sin that gets me into trouble, or do I turn to the Lord?
Though He will still come when I lose my way, maybe I should choose a better way.
These stories remind me to cling to my deliver before the test, so that I don’t crash.
I want my life to follow His pattern, not the Israel’s pattern sin and misery.
PRAYER
Lord, You want to give me love, joy and peace. Help me to choose You and Your way before and during the test, so that I don’t have to cry out to You for mercy and deliverance.
Sin and then again confessing again and again. How often did God punish and relent and sent someone to save his people – how often did the people reject God and serve other gods ? I too fail -still, because of Jesus and the HS working within me, I make progress – and then I have a weak moment and I flounder. I’m amazed, I shouldn’t be, that Jesus doesn’t reject me – like God didn’t reject His people even though they had suffer the consequences of their actions – I too am not rejected. Help me Jesus to overcome each temptation, each moment of weakness – discipline me and stay with me – help me face it and stay true to you!
The people returned back from their evil ways and served the lord during the days of the Judges. The Judges were raised by God to show the way to rightful living – living in His presence and serving Him. I too need to serve Him always in order to have peace. I and the land in which I live need also to acknowledge Him and serve Him in order to have peace.
No God = No peace
Know God = Know peace.
I need to follow Him daily and as I do, I need to pray for righteous leaders to lead the people to follow Him all the days of their lives. Then we truly have rest.
Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.