Mon.’s Devo - Go is Faithful to his Promises

Read: Judges 9:22-10:18; Luke 24:13-53; Psalm 100:1-5; Proverbs 14:11-12 After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for only three years, God sent a spirit of division between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem. They revolted against him for killing the 70 sons of Gideon. They set an ambush to catch Abimelech but he was warned and escaped their plan. *** Gaal of Bed moved to Shechem with his family and gained the confidence of the people of Shechem. At an annual harvest party, the people began cursing Abimelech and Gaal offered them a solution to challenge Abimelech to a fight. *** Abimelech’s leader of the city, Zebul heard what Gaal was saying and sent word to Abimelech to come quickly and attack the city in the morning. He came with his army at night and surrounded the city. *** In the morning as Gaal stood at the gates of the city with Zeba he looked out and saw the army. Zeba told him it was just the shadows of the hilltops. When Jaal refused to believe him he confessed that it was Abimelech with his army and now what was he going to do? *** Jail called the citizens of Shechem out to fight. They were driven out of the city to chase Abimelech and were ambushed by Abimelech’s men. They fought the whole next day and the city was leveled to the ground and scattered with salt. *** Some of the leaders of Shechem that lived in the tower of Shechem ran to hide in the Temple of Baal-berith. Abimelech and his men set fire to the Temple and killed about 1000 men. *** Then Abimelech attacked the town of Thebes and captured it. Many of the men and women fled to the tower. and climbed to the roof. Abemelech prepared to burn it also but, a woman dropped a millstone from the top and it fell on Abimelech’s head and caused his skull. *** When Abimelech’s men saw he was dead, they disbanded and returned to their homes. This is the way God got revenge on Abimelech. *** Tola was next to rise up and lead Israel. He was from the tribe of Issachar but lived in the town of Shamir. He judged Israel for 23 years. Then Jair from Gilead judged Israel for 22 years. When he died, Israel went back to doing veil again committing idolatry by worshipping Baal and Ashtoreth. God was angry with them and turned them over to the Philistines and theAmorites who oppressed them for 18 years. *** When the Israelites cried out to the Lord and repented, God was tired of their hard hearts and told them to cry out to the gods they had trusted all these years. The Israelites, put away their false gods and pled with the Lord to help them. *** The Ammonites camped against Israel at Mizpah and the leaders of Gilead said that whoever attacked the Ammonites first would become the ruler over all the people of Gilead. *** In Luke, the people were leaving Jerusalem because the Passover was over. Everyone was talking about what happened to Jesus. Among them were two men on their way home to Emmaeus. Jesus began walking with them and asked them what they were discussing. They told him about Jesus who was a great teacher and a prophet who did many miracles. They had hoped he was the Messiah but he was crucified. *** Jesus then explained what the scriptures of Moses and the prophets had said about the suffering of the Messiah. When they neared Emmaeus, they begged Jesus to stay the night at their house. As they sat down to eat and Jesus blessed the bread and broke it, they recognized him. He disappeared. They were so amazed they left for Jerusalem in the hour. *** They returned and went to where the disciples were meeting and told them what had happened. Then Jesus appeared to all of them and told them what the next step was. They would receive the Holy spirit and it would fill them with power from heaven. *** Jesus led them to Bethany and blessed them and then was taken up to heaven. They returned to Jerusalem and were filled with great joy. They spent their time praising God in the Temple. *** Thank you Lord for your encounters that change our lives and fill us with the joy we need to continue serving you. May we live a life of praise to you.