Judges 21
Vs. 1-7
This event just keeps getting worse. What I find interesting in all of this is
that Israel asks God about fighting, but they don't appear to ask God regarding
a solution to the problem with Benjamin and where to get wives for them. They
sought God for something difficult like fighting and then, when their lives
weren't at stake, they said, "We can figure this out on our own."
I've always wondered why there was no direct question to the Lord and why there
was no answer.
It seems
to me that things had fallen apart with the worship at the tabernacle. The ark
of the covenant was easier to move, and possibly they moved the inner sanctuary
(Holy of Holies) with it. In 1 Samuel we have the ark being moved and brought
into battle, and afterward, the ark is separated from the tabernacle for years.
It seems then, that Phinehas brought the ark to Bethel, but the tabernacle and
altar and lampstand, etc., remained in Shiloh. So when they sacrificed at
Bethel, they needed to build an altar.
Even in
their worship and inquiry, there is something here that is not right. The Lord
doesn't say anything. The verdict, Everyone
did what was right in his own eyes, was spreading like a cancer in almost
everything that happened in Israel. Keep in mind that this event and the event
in chapters 17 and 18 happened within the first 60 years Israel was in the
land.
V. 5 The
oath they took doesn't seem to have been from the Lord, but rather, it was what
the leaders thought was a good idea. This is reminiscent of Jephthah and the
misguided vow he made. It made some sense that anyone who didn't send a
representative to the battle was in some way saying they agreed with the men of
Gibeah or didn't think cleansing the land was important.
Vs. 8-12
Somehow this doesn't strike me as just or smart or honorable. It just seemed
good to them and they got 400 brides out of the deal. And the death toll that
Benjamin is responsible for kept rising.
Vs. 19-24
The next big idea was to allow 200 men from Benjamin to kidnap the young women
from Shiloh. Brilliant!?!?! I wonder how God would have weighed in on that idea
if they had asked Him.
V. 25 This
verse seems to give the commentary on all of this activity. They did not
inquire of the Lord. They followed their own mind and "god" thoughts
and feelings.
As
disciples, we don't want to be wooden and rigid in seeking God's will, but we
don't want to just live by good and godly feelings. I think it is good for us
to consider God in every decision we make, just to stay in the habit. If we can
just buy thing after thing, and watch show after show, go where we want and do
what we want, without really laying it before God, I think we might be kidding
ourselves. Maybe we're not really following God and His Word at all, just our
"god" thoughts.
Ephesians
5:15-17 Look carefully then how you
walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the
days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the
Lord is.
Ruth 1
As Samuel
is writing the history contained in Judges and in Ruth, God is also using him
to help the nation accept the upcoming kingship of David. Although David would
not become the king of Israel until after Samuel’s death, Samuel had already
anointed David as king years before he died.
We’ve
noticed that Bethlehem appears in these last stories in Judges. Bethlehem is
also the main stage of the story of Ruth. This last story about Benjamin will
also be important as we enter 1 Samuel, since the first king of Israel, Saul,
will be from Benjamin. In the 380 years after the near destruction of the tribe
of Benjamin, the tribe grew. King Saul will be from this infamous area and in
his first battle, the battle that brings him into prominence as a king, it will
be to protect the people living in Jabesh-gilead. That city would have been
near and dear to the tribe of Benjamin since that’s where many of them have
ancestry to that city through their great-great-great grandmothers. Unfortunately
King Saul will become the mortal enemy of David, so God is showing the nation
of Israel the importance of Bethlehem so they will welcome a couple of very
important men who will be born there.
V. 1 This
took place during the days of the judges. The Bible Knowledge Commentary-OT,
p. 415, suggests that this might have taken place during the judgeship of
Gideon. Who knows? Since we know that Ruth's son will be Obed, the father of
Jesse, the father of King David, these time references put this event a couple
of generations before Samuel and Samson.
V. 2
Notice with this story, and in the last two stories in Judges, there is another
mention of Bethlehem. This area of Israel was taking on dominance, and this
story in particular points to God's selection of David as king. So then, even
in all of this history, God's plan of redemption is working. A tribe, Judah,
has been given a privileged standing and now the region around Bethlehem and
Jerusalem is becoming, not just the geographical center of Israel, but the
redemptive center as well.
Vs. 1-14 I
don't know that Elimelech did anything bad in leaving. I don't read that it was
somehow God's punishment that all these guys died. We have the advantage of
seeing God's plan in this. They didn't. As disciples, we learn not to judge God
because of chaos in our lives. God is working for good.
It looked
like one of the boys married OPRAH, but alas, it is really ORPAH.
Vs. 15-18
Somewhere in this, there is not only loyalty, but also great faith on Ruth's
part. She was literally turning her back on her previous way of life. Whatever
this family was doing, even in dying and doubting their way, they were a
testimony to these two women. Ruth couldn't find a home anymore apart from
Naomi and her ways, and part of "her ways" was the worship of Yahweh.
Apparently Ruth fully believed in Yahweh.
Vs. 19-22
One irony we see here that Naomi didn't see was that she came back bitter and
empty in her own eyes, but we see Ruth with her. Bringing Ruth back was
probably the point of the entire ten-year adventure. God had been in control
and He was still in control.
V. 22 They
returned around the time of the Passover. There is a lot of redemption going on
here. The BKC also mentions the frequency of the forms of the word, return. This morning I was reading that
the pairs of apostles Jesus sent out, preached the gospel "that men should
repent"…that is, the gospel says to turn from sin and turn toward God. I
think that the image of turning or returning is part of the early story in
Ruth.
John 4:4-42
You know
this story, and you'll make lots of great observations.
Vs. 4-6
Just for trivia, this place is probably Shechem from the OT (Joshua 24:32). A
lot of history took place there, in particular, the blessings and curses and
the renewal of the covenant in Joshua 8:33-34.
Vs. 7-15 I
think the most instructive thing for me was that Jesus understood this
situation as being laid before Him by His Father. I think this is one of those
situations that shows us how Jesus abided in the Father and how we as disciples
abide in Christ.
Vs. 16-18
This was the Spirit giving Jesus some insider information at a critical time.
Vs. 19-26
I've read this story several times and have never understood, as many preachers
say, that she was trying to get Jesus off onto a side issue. It seems to me
that when she realized that Jesus was a prophet, she asked a question that was
important for her, and Jesus gave her a very direct and sensitive answer. Her
response shows she had an open heart.
Vs. 27-30
Apparently you didn't talk to strange women. This was culturally stretching for
the disciples. I always chuckle at the people going out to meet Jesus,
especially since she told them that Jesus knew everything she had ever done.
You might have had a lot of scared husbands and suspicious wives running out to
speak to Jesus first.
Vs. 31-38
And then Jesus used this to teach His disciples what we are supposed to be
doing on earth.
V. 34
Somehow I think this needs to be truer of me and all of us with each passing
day.
V. 35 I
believe this. Lord, help my unbelief.
Vs. 39-42
What an amazing story. The Father created the situation; the Spirit supplied
the information and nudged the Son; and the Son saved the lost and trained His
disciples. Somehow I think this has something to do with abiding in Christ.
Psalm 105:1-15
This is the first of three days we'll be reading this psalm.
It is probably written by David to unify the nation in worshiping in Jerusalem.
David is confirming that the present events are God's blessing as promised in the
promise to Abraham to save and bless Israel and draw all nations to Him through
Israel.
Vs. 1-6 The peoples are the nations or Gentiles. Notice that
Israel is always identified in Abraham. Notice the commands of celebration:
call, make known, sing, tell, glory, rejoice, seek and remember. This would
preach.
Vs. 7-11 Now notice the words, He and His. This is the
God who makes covenants, and promises His love and faithfulness.
Vs. 12-15 And not only does He promise, He proves it with
His power.
David is using God's faithfulness to the covenant with
Abraham, to motivate the nation to follow God in the covenant with Moses. The
covenant with Moses said that if they obeyed, God would bless them as a nation.
The covenant with Abraham says that God will redeem Israel and use them to
offer redemption to all nations. Both covenants stood side by side, but faith in
the promise to Abraham enabled the people to pursue God in obeying the covenant
under Moses.
Proverbs 14:25
The truth saves. Period. No amount of "foggy
speak," even Christian "foggy speak," saves lives. Disciples
should lovingly tell people what their master says and let Him take the heat.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year
Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't
work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/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 complete description of this model
of being and making disciples you can find it in my book: Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
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.
Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like documents containing an entire month
of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download
these to use on your computer or to print.
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