Like most people, I love things in chronological order. In fact, I assume things are in chronological order. When I read the Chronicles of Narnia to my kids, I read them book six first. Before I read the Lord of the Rings, I made myself read the Hobbit first, just to get the right order of things. People who don't write things in chronological order are "artsy," and will be tolerated if they do a good job and get stuff straightened out in the end and don't lose us in between.
In Judges, God is "artsy," in that the final two stories, chronologically, would have been placed toward the beginning. Apparently He felt this was a better idea. So, again, before we read Judges for today, it is good to know that this event happened within the decades after Joshua's death. Look at Judges 20:28, Phinehas is the high priest. It is hard to give an exact time, but it is within the life time of Phinehas, who probably was in his 30's or 40's when Joshua died. This will make a few things we read today a little more understandable. It will make other things we read very alarming.
Judges 19-20
Judges 19
Vs. 1-20 There are some similarities to the previous story in that this man was a Levite. This "wife" had been unfaithful to him, but he wanted her back, so all was well.
I always wonder when I read this why 10 verses are devoted to the guy trying to get away from his father-in-law. I guess it might have to do with the sense of hospitality or the lack of purposefulness in life.
V. 14 In any event, once they arrive in the town square of Gibeah, you start getting that "Sodom and Gomorrah" feeling.
Vs. 21-30 So here is a city of Israel, of Benjamin, that has gone "Sodom." How did that happen? Apparently it wasn't known wide and far, or this man would have stayed among the Gentiles.
No angels were there to save them so the man gave the mob his unfaithful wife rather than the virgin daughter of his host.
Judges 20
The repetition that caught my eye in this chapter was "as one man." This is another one of those things that shows it was early in the history of Israel. Later, during the time of Samson and Samuel, it is hard for the nation to do anything unified. Samuel, in leading Israel, will bring unity to the nation in worship.
The people did the right things in assembling and questioning God (Phinehas and the Urim and Thummim) and seeking only to punish the guilty in Gibeah.
So, a huge question is, "Why did God tell Israel to fight Benjamin twice, but allow them to lose twice?" In those two battles, Israel lost 40,000 men. Why did God allow them to lose twice?
Vs. 26-28 I think that God wanted to bring the people to a real place of desperate dependence and humility. The offerings would have been to confess and cleanse their own sin. I think God allows us to meet disaster for the same reasons. It is often after a defeat, that we become desperate and honest in seeking God's will and mind.
When everything was finished, Israel had lost 65,000 soldiers, plus Israel destroyed at least 20,000 people in the towns of Benjamin. Only 600 people of Benjamin were living. Just think, an entire tribe was reduced to 600 men. In Numbers 26:41, before the people crossed the Jordan, Benjamin numbered 45,600 people. This means that Israel killed at least 45,000 people, men, women and children of Benjamin.
John 3:22-4:3
This is another one of those rich sections of Scripture with the Gospel in it.
V. 27 This is a very interesting statement for church planters and for those who puzzle over church growth, especially for churches who are "right" but reaching no one, criticizing bigger churches who are wrong, but ministering to people. Obviously, there are some standards for evaluation of truth and error, but within the believing church, this is a good statement to keep in mind before we blast our brother.
V. 30 This is the famous statement that more elder church leaders need to be preparing to make. Making disciples means equipping and installing the next generation of leaders, now.
Jesus will use this "bride" imagery later, after Matthew's dinner for Jesus to ease the tension with these disciples as the Pharisees try to pit John's followers against Jesus.
Vs. 35-36 What a meaningful statement in such few words. Notice how true belief is defined in the context of these verses. To "believe" in and not obey Jesus, is to not "believe." Jesus will really expand on this on His next Passover visit in John 5.
Psalm 104:24-35
I found another German "round" song in here, but I'll spare you.
Notice the tone of verse 35. Can you understand this in the context of the psalm and in the context of our waiting for the kingdom of God.
Matthew 13:41 The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42 and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
Proverbs 14:22-24
I wonder about verse 24, if wealth can be interpreted as something other than money. I think there are a lot of people who are wise in Christ who are not rich in money.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.
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