PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Judges 1-2
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord.” (Judges 2:22)
God wants us to enjoy life to the full, but the poison of sin undermines that life.
To establish a kingdom of hope, God’s people need to take a firm stand against sin and evil.
The book of Judges describes what happens when they make compromises with temptation.
From the beginning, the Deceiver has been enticing us to forget God and go our own way.
In a sense, we all find a tree with forbidden fruit in the garden of our life.
Your specific test will be different than mine, but the same temptation is behind it.
‘Forget God, forget God’s way, everyone’s doing it, try it you’ll like it, it will be worth it!’
But now as then the result of giving in is the same: life becomes unbearable.
The word for ‘test’ and ‘tempt’ is the same, yet they are very different.
The difference lies in the motive of the tester or tempter.
God tests us to make us stronger, the Deceiver tempts us to make us fail.
The same situation is both a test from God, and a temptation from Satan.
As Jesus followers we need to maintain our connection to God to overcome sin.
God will help us resist and reject temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13)… will we pass the test?
PRAYER
Lord, help me to recognize the seductive lies of the enemy, and to refuse them. Lead me not into temptation, and deliver me from evil. I need Your help!
Wheat trying to live among the weeds. We think we can make a ‘purist’ society – having right theology etc. but the truth is even then there is sin – messing things up. We are tested by living where we are – we can’t avoid it – but we mustn’t let it compromise who we are. The practices of the remaining people living within in Israel became a snare to them – so also the practices and learning of our society – can compromise us also. We need to know who we are and stay close to the Spirit’s leading- to keep us from straying from the faith. In fact, in the resistance we will become stronger in faith – however, the temptations will always be there! I need to be strong and courageous – well connected to my Lord and Saviour!
Do this and live! That’s what the Lord God says and we the people still go our own way. Yet the Lord does not leave His people but raises a judge to save His people and show them the way once again. But when the judge died the people go their own way. Jesus is the way and I need to follow Him. I need to keep my eyes on Jesus at all times and walk in His SonShine. I need to listen to the Voice saying, This is the way. Walk in it.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.