Fri.’s Devo - The Good News

Read: Judges 9:22-10:18; Luke 24:13-53; Psalm 100:1-5; Proverbs 14:11-12 Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years when God stirred up strife between Abimelech and the men of Shechem. God wanted to judge them for assisting Abimelech in killing Gideon’s 70 sons. The citizens revolted against Abimelech and set up an ambush to catch him. but Abimelech was warned about it. Abimelech lived in Arumah but had left Zebul in charge of Shechem. A newcomer came to live in Shechem named Gaal which means “loathing servant”. He stirred up the city to rebel against Abimelech. Zebul sent word to Abimelech to come and attack the city before he lost it to Gaal. Abimelech led his men and arrived in Shechem at the early light. He divided his army into four groups. Gaal and Zebul were standing at the city gates when Abimelech’s army ascended on the city. Gaal saw them but Zebul tried to tell him he was only seeing shadows. By the time they were almost on the city Zebul asked him where his big mouth was now. Gaal had little time to rouse the men of Shechem to fight. As the men of Shechem ran out of the gates to fight, another group of Abimelech’s surrounded them and wouldn’t let them back into the gates. The other groups fought in the fields. Abimelech’s army fought all day and captured the city, killed the people and leveled Shechem and scattered it with salt so it couldn’t be planted again. Some of the leading citizens had hid in the temple of Baal-berith. Abimelech locked them in and burned the temple killing 1,000 people who had lived in its tower. Abimelech also attacked the town of Thebez and captured it. They had a tower also that the people fled to. Abimelech prepared to burn it down also but a woman dropped a milestone out of the top of the tower on Abimelech’s head. He knew he was going to die so he told a soldier to kill him so it would’t be said of him that a woman killed him. Abimelech and the people of Shechem got exactly what they deserved and the curse of Jotham was fulfilled. The next two judges were Tola who ruled for 23 years and Jair who ruled for 22. Then Israel went back into idolatry and served Baal and Ashtoreth. God turned them over to the Philistines and the Amorites who oppressed them for 18 years. Finally, Israel cried out to the Lord and he sent them back to cry out to their gods. They got rid of their gods and continued to beg the Lord for help. The armies of Ammon came to Gilead and the people of Israel assembled at Mizpah. The leaders of Gilead announced that whoever would lead the attack against the Ammonites would be their ruler. In Luke, people were leaving the city after the Passover to go back to their home towns. Jesus disguised himself and walked up to two of his followers. Jesus asked them what they were talking about and they told him all that had happened in Jerusalem to the man they had hoped was the Messiah. They relaid the story of the women who found his tomb empty and were wondering if he was truly alive like some believed. Jesus then took them through scripture and showed them how the law and the prophets all pointed to what had just happened. Jesus had fulfilled the scriptures. When they got to Emmaus, their home town, they begged Jesus to stay with them. He went in to eat with him. When Jesus took the bread in his hands and blessed it and broke it, their eyes were opened and they realized who he was. He then vanished. They were so excited they went back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples. As they were telling their story, Jesus appeared among them. He explained to his disciples the things he had told the two on the road. He had fulfilled his mission to start in Jerusalem and with the help of the Holy Spirit, they would carry his testimony to the ends of the earth. He led them to Bethany and as they watched, he was taken up to heaven. Lord, may we continue your commission to tell the world about you. May we do that in everything we do.