Read: Judges 2:10-3:31; Luke 22:14-34; Psalms 92:1-93:5; Proverbs 14:1-2
Sadly, the next generation grew up with no personal experience with the Lord and they rebelled. There is no way to have a walk with the Lord without experiencing him personally.
Israel got off track. They associated with the people of the land and even intermarried and worshipped their gods. True to God’s Word, their enemies’ gods were a snare to them and thorns in their sides and they turned them away from God. God raised up judges to deliver the people out of their trouble when they turned to him. God sent Cushan-Rishathaim to rule over them for 8 years. His name means “blackness of double wickedness”. When Israel cried out to the Lord, he sent Othniel to save them. Othniel means “the seasonal Word of the Lord”. Their season lasted for 40 years.
They went into sin again and the Lord gave them over to Eglon for 18 years. When Israel cried out to the Lord, he raise up Ehud, a left-handed man. His name means “undivided”. To be left-handed means that you operate in the spirit. We are mostly a right-handed society so we naturally do things better with our right hand. Right has to do with the natural. Ehud took a two-edged sword and killed Eglon. That is how we kill our enemies when we walk in the spirit. We kill them with the Word of God.
Ehud brought 80 years of peace to Israel.
Notice how the years of captivity went from 8 to18 and the years of peace went from 40 to 80.
In Luke, Jesus explained that the kingdom of God would come at his death. The kingdom of God was in heaven and it was coming also to earth. The disciples got excited and discussed among themselves which one of them would be the greatest in this kingdom. They weren’t quite getting the picture. Jesus explained that his kingdom was different than the kingdoms of the world. The greatest in God’s kingdom is like the youngest (the least likely) and the leader is the one who serves. Jesus was the greatest example of being the servant. He demonstrated the kingdom.
Jesus knew that Peter was about to enter one of his greatest temptations so Jesus told him he had prayed for him. When the time came, he would remember what Jesus said and it would help him get back on track. He would be able to use his experience to help others down the road.
Lord, help us to walk in the Kingdom today, wielding the Sword of the Spirit.
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