Sun.’s Devo - Praise Goes First

Read: Judges 1:1-2:9; Luke 21:29-22:13; Psalms 90:1-91:16; Proverbs 13:24-25
After Joshua was gone, the Israelites needed to go up against the Canaanites. They asked God which tribe should go first. The Lord chose Judah because “praise” should always be given first to assure a victory. The Canaanite king was Adoni-bezek who was a very wicked king. When they caught him they cut off his big toes and his thumbs. He had done the same thing to 70 other kings so he was judged in the same way.
They fought against Jerusalem and set it on fire. Then they took Hebron. Caleb promised his daughter, Achsah to the man who would take Kirjath-sepher. Caleb’s younger brother, Othniel took it and got a wife. Not only did Othniel get a wife, but he got the southern land with upper and the nether springs. Othniel means “the force of God”. Othniel stepped out in faith and went under the power of God to risk everything to get a wife. With a wife, he would one day have children to carry on his name - his posterity. Little did he know the inheritance he would get with it also. He is an example to us of fearlessness. Sometimes we have to step out in faith and risk everything to gain what we want. If the Lord is leading us, we will get more than we want.
Yesterday, in Luke, Jesus was prophesying the fall of Jerusalem which happened in 70 A.D. It was a precursor to the end of the ages. History does repeat itself. Ecclesiastes tells us that what has happened will happen again and what has happened has already happened before. It is a cycle that gets stronger and stronger as it spins to the end.
Jesus told Peter and John to prepare the passover meal and instructed them exactly how to do it. Angels were stationed to meet them all the way. I wonder how many angels we meet in our daily walk. I bet we would be surprised.
Lord, teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.