Fri.’s Devo - Victory

Read: Judges 2:10-3:31; Luke22:14-34; Psalms 92:1-93:5; Proverbs 14:1-2
Once the eye-witnesses of God’s power died, a new generation grew up who had no personal experience with God. They did evil, fell into idolatry and abandoned the Lord, so God got angry with them. The nation went through cycles of rebellion, oppression, repentance, then deliverance. This cycle was repeated over and over.
God explained why he didn’t allow Joshua to conquer all of the enemies in the land. They were left there to test the people’s hearts. They were also there to teach the people how to fight. That is why we have trials. It is not for our destruction - it is to make us strong.
Whenever the people turned to idolatry, God turned them over to an adversary to punish them. Then they would turn to the Lord for help against their adversary and God would give them a judge to rescue them. The first judge He gave them was Othniel, the same man who fought for Caleb’s daughter. His name means “the force of God”. They had been under the wicked rule of Cushan-rishathaim for 8 years. His name means “their darkness was double wickedness”.
God gave Othniel victory and they were free for 40 years. They sinned again and were given over to Eglon of Moab for 18 years. Israel repented and God gave the Ehud who fought with his left-hand and used a double-edged sword to do it. That means that he knew how to fight spiritually.
He went in and took out the “principality” with the Word of God then rallied his army and took the city. He ruled for 80 years.
Notice how the years of oppression get longer but the years of freedom did also.
In Luke, Jesus was having the Passover meal with his disciples. There were four cups in the Seder. The cup he drank first was the cup of affliction. The cup they drank after the meal was the cup of redemption. This was the new covenant promise. Up until then they had always drank this cup in anticipation of their redemption but now Jesus told them they would drink it in remembrance because this year their redemption had come.
He spoke of the greatest that should take the lowest rank. He was speaking of the way he was the greatest yet he came to serve but also, ironically, Judas Iscarot was the oldest and John was the youngest. This statement became true about them. Judas became the least and John the greatest. Jesus also knew the plan Satan had for Peter and the plan God had for Peter so he interceded for him. The prayers of Jesus won over the plan of Satan’s and it always will.
Lord, may we be warriors in your war against Satan and your promise of victory.