Fri.’s Devo - The New Covenant

Read: Judges 8:18-9:21; Luke 23:44-24:12; Psalm 99:1-9; Proverbs 14:9-10 Zebah and Zalmunna where finally captured by Gideon and he asked them about the men they killed at Tabor. They told them they all looked like him. Gideon realized that they had killed his family and told his oldest son, Jether to kill them. Jether was only a kid and couldn’t do it so Gideon did it himself. *** The people of Israel wanted to make Gideon their king and Gideon refused, but he did ask for everyone to give him a gold earring from their spoils. (Reminds me of the same request Aaron asked for to make the golden calf.) Gideon made an ephod and the people and Gideon worshipped it. It ended up leading them into idolatry. When Gideon died they called it Baal-Berith meaning “lord of the covenant.” *** Gideon had had 70 sons with his many wives, and one son, Abimelech with a concubine from Shechem. When Gideon died, Israel forgot all Gideon had done for them and showed no respect for his family. Abimelech rose up and went to the elders of Shechem and proposed that they make him their ruler instead of Gideon’s 70 sons. They gave him 70 silver coins to raise up an army to kill the 70 sons of Gideon. They killed them all except Jotham, the youngest, who escaped and hid. *** The leading citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo met under an oak beside the pillar at Shechem. This was the place of many covenants from Abraham to Joshua. This is also the place that Jesus met the woman at the well and showed her the new covenant. This day, it was a place of warning. They made Abimelech their king and Jotham stood on Mt. Gerizim and shouted to them. He told them of all the “trees” who had been asked to be king and all refused until they asked a thornbush, who stood for Abimelech. Jotham told them that if they had acted honorably toward Gideon and his descendants then may they find joy in their decision, but if they hadn’t then may fire come out from the citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo and devour Abimelech. Jotham then escaped to Beer. *** In Luke, Jesus was on the cross and the sky went dark for three hours. The curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple torn apart exposing the Ark, the presence of God. Now, all were welcomed into the presence of the Lord. Jesus entrusted his spirit into God’s hands and breathed his last breath on earth. *** When the Roman officers saw how Jesus died they said, “surely this is an innocent man.” They went home in deep sorrow. *** Joseph of Arimathea was a member of the Sanhedrin and he had not agreed with what they did to Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. He took it down and wrapped it in linen and laid it in his tomb that was hewn out of a rock. He had to hurry before the Sabbath began. The women who loved Jesus watched from afar. They went home and prepared spices to bring back. *** They returned on the morning after the Sabbath and found the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. They went in but the body was not there. Two men appeared in dazzling white and told them that He wasn’t there, he had risen! They remembered that Jesus had told them he would rise from the dead. They had not understood it then. They ran to tell the disciples and Peter came to see for himself. *** This was the culmination of all the Old Testament and New Testament prophecies. This was the beginning of the new covenant of love and life. It was no longer about sacrifice and blood but inner sacrifice and the power of blood already spilled. Sin was defeated and taken away and the way was made to God. *** Lord, let us experience the miracle of this day anew in our hearts. Thank you for sending your beloved son to be the sacrifice for our sins. Thank you for taking our sin away and giving us hope and life. May we live in life and power not shame and sin.