Sun.’s Devo - The Judges

Read: Judges 2:10-3:31; Luke 22:14-34; Psalm 92:1-93:5; Provers 14:1-2 Once Joshua died, the next generation did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel. They served the gods of the people around them. So God was angry with Israel and fought against them. They had their possessions stolen. When they did cry out for the Lord, he sent judges to rescue them from their enemies, but as soon as the judge died, they returned to their idolatry. Those nations had been left in the land to test the people but they always failed the test. The first judge that God sent was Othniel, Caleb’s nephew who had married his daughter. His adversary was King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram. He had kept Israel in bondage for 8 years. This king’s long name means “of double wickedness”. The Lord gave Othniel victory over him and they had peace for 40 years. When Othniel died, the people turned back to their idols and God sent the judge Ehud. His name means “undivided; united”. His adversary was King Eglon which means “the bull calf”. He was an extremely fat man. Ehud stabbed him with a foot long knife that got stuck in his belly and the fat covered it so that he could not bring it back out. He fled to Seirah where he blew a trumpet to call the Israelites to war. They took control of the Jordan River so no Moabites could escape and killed 10,000 of their stronger warriors. None escaped. They had peace in the land for 80 years. Shamgar was the third judge. His adversaries were the Phillistines. He killed 600 with an ox goad. In Luke, Jesus told his disciples that he was eager to eat this meal with them because he would not eat it again until its meaning was fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. He then walked them through the symbolism of Passover and what it represented. The bread represented his body which would be crucified for them and us. The cup represented the new covenant between God and his people which would be confirmed with his blood sacrifice. Then, Jesus exposed that one of them would betray him. They couldn’t believe it. Instead, they argued among themselves who would be the greatest in Jesus’ kingdom. He told them that in the world it is the one served who is greater, but in God’s kingdom it is the one who serves. Because the disciples had stayed with him during his greatest trials, they would given the right to eat and drink at his table and have individual thrones in the Kingdom. Jesus turned to Peter and told him that Satan had wanted to take him but Jesus had prayed for him to remain strong. He told him when he had repented that he needed to be the one to strengthen his brothers. Peter had no idea what he was talking about so he proudly told him he was ready to go to prison for him or die for him. Jesus told Peter that before the rooster crowed in the morning he would have denied knowing Jesus three times. How like Peter we are…so sure we would stand for Jesus when we are very weak. Our only strength is what the Lord gives us for every situation. We need a daily dose of Jesus and his grace to make it through the day, the hour, and sometimes the minute of our lives. Lord, give us victory over our enemies and the strength to stand when we feel very weak.