Wed.’s Devo - A Turn of Events

Read: Judges 9:22-10:18; Luke 24:13-53; Psalm 100:1-5; Proverbs 14:11-12 The leaders of Shechem had agreed to let Abimelech kill Gideon’s sons and rule over them, but God was not pleased. After three years, God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem to punish them for killing Gideon’s sons. The leaders robbed from anyone coming their way and Abimelech found this out. *** A new man, Gaal, moved to Shechem and the leaders liked them. He hosted a huge party and didn’t invite Abimelech. At the party, Gaal told the men that if he was in charge, he would get rid of Abimelech. *** Zebul, the ruler of Shechem reported what Gaal had said to Abimelech. He suggested that Abimelech do a surprise attack against Gaal early the next morning. When Gaal came to the city that next day, he stood at the entrance of the gate of the city and told Zebul that it looked like people coming down from the mountaintops. Zebul told him it was just shadows so he would’t have time to stage a counterattack. *** When Abimelech’s men got close enough for Gaal to see who they really were, Zebul said, “Where is your mouth now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him.’” Now, Gaal and his men had to fight them. Abimelech chased him and his men out of town and forbid them to live in Shechem. *** The next day, people in the city came out to the field and Abimelech ambushed them and killed them. He razed the city of Shechem and sowed it with salt. *** The leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard what had happened and had entered the stronghold of El-berith. Abimelech had his men gather brushwood and set it on fire, killing everyone in the tower. One thousand men and women died in the tower. *** Then Abimelech went to Thebes and captured it. The people fled to their tower for refuge. Abimelech was making a fire to burn it down like he had done in Shechem, but a woman threw a millstone down from the tower and it fell on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull. He had his armor-bearer kill him so he wouldn’t die by the hand of a woman. *** Abimelech had reaped what he sowed and the curse of Jotham had come upon the men of Shechem for killing all the sons of Gideon. *** Another judge rose up to save Israel whose name was Tola from Issachar. He judged Israel for 23 years. *** Then Jair from Gilead judged Israel for 22 years. After him, Israel did evil and gave themselves to worship Baal, Ashtaroth, and the gods of the nations they were told to defeat. God was so angry, he gave them over to the Philistines who oppressed them for 18 years. *** They finally cried out to the Lord to save them, but the Lord was done with saving them. He told them to go cry out to the gods they had chosen to serve over him. When the Lord said this, the people got serious and put away their false gods and served the Lord. *** God saw their repentance and the oppression they were under. The Ammonites encamped in Gilead against the people of Israel. Israel’s leaders met at Mizpah and discussed finding a man to lead them to battle. *** In Luke, Jesus had died and rose from the dead. Two of the men, who were returning from the Passover, were on their way to Emmaus which was about 7 miles from Jerusalem. They were discussing the Passover and Jesus’ death on the cross. Jesus walked up beside them and asked them what they were talking about. *** The two men, told of how Jesus had died on the cross and they had thought he was the Messiah. Then, the women had found his tomb empty and angels told them that Jesus was alive. *** Jesus then told them what all the prophets, starting with Moses had said about this very day. When they arrived at Emmaus, they urged Jesus to come stay with them for the night. He agreed and as they sat to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. When he broke it and gave it to them, their eyes were opened and they recognized him. He suddenly disappeared. They were so excited they immediately got up and returned to Jerusalem to tell the disciples. *** As they were telling the disciples, Jesus appeared and stood with them. He told them not to be depressed, this was all part of the plan. He ate with them and explained through scripture what had happened and why. Now, they would be his witnesses to the world. But, they were to wait in the city until he gives them power from heaven. *** He led them out to Bethany and blessed them then departed and told them to meet him in Jerusalem. *** Lord, it is amazing how quickly you can turn our sorrow to joy. May we remember that everything works for the good for those who love the Lord and are called to his purposes.

Tues.’s Devo - He is Alive!

Read: Judges 8:18-9:21; Luke 23:44-24:12; Psalm 99:1-9; Proverbs 14:9-10 Gideon captured the kings of Canaan, Zebah and Zalmunna and asked him what them men that they killed at Tabor looked like. They described Gideon’s brothers. Now, he had to kill them. He told his young son to kill them and when he couldn’t do it, he did the task. He took the moon-shaped ornaments from the necks of their camels which were idolatrous objects depicting Astarte. *** Then the men of Israel asked Gideon to reign as their king. Gideon told them that he and his sons would not reign over them, the Lord would. But, then he asked for everyone to give them the earrings from their spoil and made a ephod which the people worshiped. By the mercy of God, they had rest for 40 years from their enemies. *** Gideon had many wives, 70 sons and a concubine who had a son named Abimelech. As soon as Gideon died, Israel turned back to worshiping Baal and made Baal-berith their god. They forgot what God and Gideon had done for them. *** Abimelech went to Shechem where his mother was from and stirred up an insurrection against the sons of Gideon. They gave him 70 pieces of silver out of their temple to Baal so he could hire some men to go with him to Ophrah and kill all 70 of Gideon’s sons. Jotham, the youngest son escaped. *** Abimelech returned to Shechem where they made Abimelech their king. Jotham came and stood on Mt. Gerizim and rebuked them for treating Gideon’s family so wrongly since they had delivered them from the Midianites. He pronounced a curse on Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. He then fled to Beer and lived there. *** In Luke, Jesus was on the cross and around noon the sky went totally dark for three hours. The curtain in the Temple was torn from the top down. Jesus committed his spirit to the Lord and died. The centurion present realized that this man was surely innocent. The crowds realized this also and went home beating their breasts in repentance. The women who had followed Jesus stood at a distance watching all of this unfold. *** Joseph of Arimathea was a member of the council. He was a righteous man who was looking for the kingdom of God and had believed in Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. He took him down from the cross and wrapped his body in a linen shroud and laid him in his own tomb. It was about time for the Sabbath to begin so the women followed and saw where Jesus was laid so they could return and bring spices for his body. *** The day after the Sabbath, the women arrived with their spices and found the stone to his tomb had been rolled away. When they went in they saw two angels in all their glory. The angels asked them why they were looking for the living among the dead. He was not here but had risen. Had not Jesus told them he would die and rise on the third day? Then the women remembered what Jesus had said t. They ran to tell the men, who didn’t believe them, but Peter ran to the tomb and found nothing but the linen cloth where Christ had been laid. *** Lord, thank you for the Resurrection! Thank you for the Holy Spirit that helps us believe. Thank you that you are in us and bear witness to the truth. Help us to have courage and great discernment today and in the days ahead.

Mon.’s Devo - Battles - Physical and Spiritual

Read: Judges 7:1-8:17; Luke 23:13-43; Psalm 97:1-98:9; Proverbs 14:7-8 Gideon took his army and camped south of the Midianites. God told Gideon he had too many in his army because they would boast that they won in their own strength. God wanted them to know that He was the one who was delivering them so they wouldn’t repeat their sinning. God told Gideon to announce that if they were afraid, they were free to go home. Twenty-two thousand went home. *** There were still too many people, so God had Gideon take them down to the stream. The men who brought the water up to their mouth with their hands could remain. The ones who lapped like dogs were to leave. With 300 men, God would save them. *** That night, God sent Gideon down to the camp of the Midianites to listen to what they were saying, to encourage him. He took Purah his servant. The Midianites and the Amalekites were spread out like locusts there were so many of them. They listened while a man told his fellow soldier that he had had a dream the night before where a cake of barley tumbled into the camp of Midian and struck their tent and it fell. The tent tumbled upside down, then lay flat. The other soldier interpreted his dream as meaning Gideon and his army would totally defeat them because God had given this land to them. *** When Gideon heard this, his fears were gone and he worshiped the Lord. He went back to the camp and divided the men into three groups of one hundred each. He gave them trumpets and empty jars with torches inside the jars. He told them that when he blew the trumpet, they were to blow their trumpets and shout, “For the Lord and for Gideon.” *** They surrounded the enemies camp and when Gideon blew his trumpet, he smashed his jar and shoutes. The light appeared. His men did the same, then the next group did the same. Then the last group did the same. The enemy were awakened out of their sleep and totally confused. They ran out of their tents and began fighting each other, probably because they couldn’t see and they were so confused. They fled toward the Jordan River into the land of Ephraim. *** Gideon called out the men from Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh to pursue them. He told the men of Ephraim that they were coming their way so they could help capture the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. The men from Ephraim killed Oreb on his own rock and killed Zeeb at his own winepress. Then they brought their heads to Gideon. *** The men of Ephraim were mad a Gideon for not calling them to fight with them. When Gideon explained that they helped bring down the princes of the armies, which was huge, they were satisfied. *** After the battle, Gideon brought his army across the Jordan into Succoth. They were tired and hungry. Gideon asked the men of Succoth to please feed his men as they were on their way to pursue the kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna. The men of Succoth refused to feed them, so Gideon promised to flail them with thorns and briers when he came back through. *** Next, they came to Penuel and asked for food. When they refused to feed his men, Gideon promised to come back through and break down their watch tower. *** They continued to pursue the kings who had fled with their army. Gideon attacked the army and Zebah and Zalmunna fled. Gideon pursued the kings and finally captured them which threw the army into a panic. *** Gideon returned the way he had come. He captured a man from Succoth and found out from him the 77 names of the officials and elders of Succoth. He took them and flailed them with the thorns and briers from the wilderness, then he went to Peniel and knocked down their tower, just as he had promised. *** In Luke, both Herod and Pilate found Jesus innocent. Pilate wanted to punish Jesus and then release him but the crowd yelled for him to release Barabbas to them instead. Barabbas was in prison for actually doing what they had accused Jesus of doing. He was the insurrectionist and the murderer, Jesus was the reformer who gave life. *** Pilate tried to reason with the Jews, but they were adamant. They wanted Jesus crucified. Finally, Pilate washed his hands of the whole matter and gave them Jesus to do with as they pleased. *** They led Jesus to his death and grabbed Simon of Cyrene to carry his cross behind Jesus. Many followed Jesus mourning and crying for him. Jesus turned to them and told them not to weep for him but for themselves and their children. Because the day was coming when it will get so bad, they will want to die. *** Jesus was hung between two criminals where he was mocked and ridiculed. An inscription was placed over him that read, “This is the king of the Jews.” *** One of the criminals joined in the ridicule and told Jesus to save himself and them if he was indeed the Christ. The other criminal rebuked him saying they were receiving death because they deserved it, but Jesus had done nothing to receive his death. He asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom. Jesus told him that he would be with him that day in Paradise. *** Lord, thank you that when we are facing powers greater than us, you encourage us to lean on the power that is above all powers. You gave both Gideon and Jesus victory over more than the powers on the earth, but powers in the heavenlies. May we trust in your power to fight all our enemies.

Sun.’s Devo - God’s Man of Valor -

Read: Judges 6:1-40; Luke 22:54-23:12; Psalm 95:1-96:13; Proverbs 14:5-6 The children of Israel fell back into idolatry so the Lord gave them over to the Midianites who oppressed them for 7 years. The Midianites raided their crops at harvest time and left them with nothing to eat. The Israelites cried out to the Lord for help. *** God sent a prophet to the people who reminded them of their promise to follow the Lord the last time he had delivered them, yet they had not followed through with their promise. Yet, in God’s mercy, he came to rescue them. *** The angel of the Lord came and met Gideon under the terebinth at Ophrah. He addressed him as a mighty man of valor and told him that the Lord was with him. Gideon questioned if the Lord was with them, why were they so oppressed. He complained about how God brought them out of Egypt and now he had turned them over to the Midianites. God told him he was sending him to save Israel from the Midianites. Gideon argued how he could not be then to save Israel since his tribe was the smallest. But God said he would help him. Gideon asked for a sign that it was really the Lord who was speaking to him. He told him to wait and he would bring him a present. *** Gideon went home and prepared meat and unleavened bread and brought it to him as a present. God told him put the food on a rock and pour the broth over it. The angel touched the meat with his tip of his staff and fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the meat and the bread. Then the angel of the Lord disappeared and Gideon knew he was the Lord. Gideon was amazed that he had seen God face to face and lived. God’s spirit told Gideon not to fear, he would not die. Gideon built an altar and named it “The Lord is Peace.” *** God instructed Gideon to take two of his father’s bulls and use them to pull down the altar of Baal his father had erected, and to cut down the Asherah pole beside it. Then he was to build an altar to the Lord where they had been. He was to take the second bull that was 7 years old. He stood for the seven years they had worshiped idols. He was to make a fire from the wood of the Asherah pole and sacrifice the bull on the altar. *** Gibeon took 10 of his servants to help him and did it at night in fear of the men in his family and the town, *** The next morning, everyone saw what had happened and eventually found out it was Gideon who did it. When the men of the town came to get Gideon, his father, Joash defended him. He reasoned with the men that Baal was big enough to defend himself and his altar. When nothing happened, they started calling Gideon, Jerubbaal which means, “Baal will be contended with.” *** Meanwhile, the Midianites and the Amelekites crossed the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel. The Sprit of the Lord was upon Gideon and he blew the trumpet as a call to war. The Abeizrites responded. Gideon sent out messages to Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali to come help him fight. *** Gideon then put out two fleeces for the Lord and he honored both of them. Gideon now knew for sure that God would save Israel. *** In Luke, Jesus was taken to Caipas’ house to be tried by the priests. Peter followed and sat in the courtyard. He denied knowing the Lord three times and then the rooster crowed and he remembered what Jesus had said about him. He was distraught with shame. *** Jesus was mocked and beat by the men holding him. When the chief priests and scribes gathered they took Jesus away to question him privately. They asked him if he was the Christ and he refused to answer their question. He did tell them that from then on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God. So, they asked him if he was this Son of Man. He only told them that they said he was. *** They then took him before Pilate and accused him of forbidden the people to pay their taxes and declaring himself as Christ, a king. Pilate asked Jesus if he was the King of the Jews. Jesus told him that he said he was. Pilate told them that he didn’t find Jesus guilty of a crime. This upset the priest who claimed that Jesus stirred up the people all around Galilee. *** Pilate realized if Jesus was a Galilean, then that was Herod’s jurisdiction. He sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at the time. When Herod questioned Jesus, he refused to answer him. This made Herod so mad that he mocked Jesus, dressing him in royal clothes, and sent him back to Pilate. Pilate and Herod, who had been enemies, became friends that day. *** Lord, thank you for your steadfast love and mercy. It amazes me the abuse you have been given by your children and yet you still choose to love us. May we be your people of valor and fight for your name sake.

Sat.’s Devo - The Sword of Victory

Read: Judges 4:1-5:31; Luke 22:35-53; Ps. 94:1-23; Proverbs 14:3-4 Once Ehud died, the people went into idolatry again. God gave them over to Jabin, the king of the Canaanites who oppressed them for 20 years. The Canaanites had recovered their strength in the north from Joshua’s victory. This was the greatest oppression Israel had been made to endure. Jabin’s army had 900 chariots of iron and was led by Sisera. *** Deborah was the judge for Israel and would sit under a tree between Ramah and Bethel to judge the people. She had Barak sent to her and asked him why he hadn’t obeyed the word of the Lord. God had commanded him to take 10,000 of his men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun and meet Sisera, the commander of the Canaanites by the Kishon River so God could give them the victory. Barak said he wouldn’t go unless Deborah went with him. It was customary in the east for a warrior to take something dear to them to war for good luck. Deborah finally agreed to go, but told him that the glory for their victory would go to a woman, since he leaned on a woman. Little did he know, the woman would not be Deborah. *** The descendants of Hobab, Moses’ father-in-law lived near by. They were known as the Kenites. *** Sisera and his army met Israel’s army at the Kishon River where they fought. Barak’s army killed everyone of Sisera’s men and Sisera fled on foot. *** He ended up at the tent of Jael’s a woman married to Heber the Kenite. Thinking they were allies, he asked if he could hide in her tent. She let him in and gave him some milk to drink. He collapsed on her bed from exhaustion. God put him into a deep sleep and while he was sleeping, Jael drove a tent peg through his temple in his head. When Barak arrived, she showed the now dead Sisera to him. *** Deborah and Barak sang a song about their defeat. In the song they give praise to the Lord for their victory. They explain the sad state Israel was in for abandoning their God. They were thankful for the godly leaders who rose up in God’s strength to fight their enemies, and to God who gave them the victory. They rebuked Reuben for hearing the sound of battle, but instead of fighting they chose to sit peacefully at home. The people of Gilead, Dan and Asher also chose not to help. But, Zebulun, Naphtali risked their lives for their country and fought without seeking the rewards of conquest. *** In heaven, the angels fought against Sisera as men fought on earth. The enemy was defeated near streams of the Kishon. The ones that fled had to cross the deep and marshy bed of the rushing river, but the Lord had sent a heavy rain, causing the waters to suddenly rise. Many warriors died in the quicksands, and others were drowned or washed into the sea. *** The Lord cursed Meroz, a city within Issachar and Naphtali which lay on the way of the fleeing army of Sisera. The people in the city refused to help fight them. *** He blessed Jael for overcoming her fear to fulfill her destiny. What a contrast to Sisera’s mother who waited for Sisera to bring her embroidered fabric. *** After this great victory, Israel experienced peace and rest for 40 years. *** In Luke, Jesus explained to his disciples that something had shifted, and before when he told them not to take money, provisions and a sword, he was now telling them to take all these things. *** Jesus took his disciples with him to the Mount of Olives and told them to pray that they wouldn’t enter into temptation. Then he prayed that God would remove this cup of suffering from him, but added that he wanted God’s will above his own. Angels came down and strengthened him. Jesus prayed so earnestly that he sweat drops of blood. *** Jesus went to check on his disciples and found them sleeping. While he was talking to them, the crowd, led by Judas, was approaching. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss and Peter took his sword and cut off the servant of the high priest’s ear. Jesus stoped him and touched the man’s ear and it was healed. Jesus made a point that they could have done this in the day, but they chose to do this at night. He was exposing their sins which are done in darkness. This was not lost on them who were the teachers of the law. *** Lord, in our times of greatest temptation and trials, may we not be found sleeping. May we always carry our sword of the spirit and be ready and willing to use it. May we walk in the light.

Fri.’s Devo - God is Good -

Read: Judges 2:10-3:31; Luke 22:14-34; Psalm 92:1-93:5; Proverbs 14:1-2 The generation who had served under Joshua died and the next generation did not know the Lord or what he had done for them. They went after the Baals and the Ashteroth. They abandoned the Lord and He gave them over to their enemies. He fought against them in battle, just as he had warned them he would if they abandoned him. *** They were oppressed by the nations who ruled over them, and when they could take it no longer, they cried out to the Lord. He would raise up a judge to save them. They would serve the Lord until that judge died, then they would lapse back into worshipping the gods of the land. *** God no longer drove out their enemies and left the five lords of the Philistines, the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites to test them. The Israelites lived among them and cross-bred with their people. Israel followed after their gods of Baal and Asheroth. They were made to serve Cushan-rishathaim, the king of Mesopotamia for 8 years. They cried out to the Lord to save them and he sent Othniel, Caleb’s nephew who married his daughter. Othniel prevailed against the king, and the Israelites had rest for 40 years. When Othniel died, Israel went back into idolatry and sin. *** God brought the Moabites, the Ammonites and the Amalekites against them and defeated them. They served Eglon, king of Moab for 18 years. *** When Israel cried out to the Lord, he raised up Ehud to deliver them. Ehud went to Moab to give Israel’s tribute to Eglon. He had everyone leave the room so he could speak to Eglon privately. Ehud stabbed king Eglon in the stomach. When he did this, Eglon’s bowels released. Since Eglon was so fat, his skin swallowed up Ehud’s sword, so he left it in his stomach and fled, locking the door behind him. Eglon’s servants thought he was relieving himself, because of the smell. This gave Ehud time to escape to Seirah where he blew the trumpet and rallied the troops. They went down and killed 10,000 of the Moabites and seized the fords of the Moabites on the Jordan. The Moabites had not let the Israelites cross the Jordan and now they were free to cross. Israel had peace for 80 years. *** Their third judge was Samgar who killed 600 Philistines to save Israel. *** In Luke, Jesus had his last supper with his disciples. He explained that the wine represented his blood and the bread represented his body. He would not eat again until the kingdom of God comes. He told them to annually observe this meal in remembrance of him. Then he exposed that his betrayer was sitting among them. They questioned who it was, but argued over which them would be regarded as the greatest in Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus clarified that it would be the one who serves that rules. Just as he was serving them now; he would rule later. But, he did tell them that God was giving him a kingdom where they would be invited to eat and drink at his table and sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. *** Then Jesus told Simon that the devil had a special target on his back. Jesus had prayed for him that his faith would remain strong. When he has gone through his trial, he can use what he learned to strengthen others. When Simon Peter defended his undying allegiance to Jesus, Jesus told him that he would deny him three times that very night. *** In today’s reading we read where God would use his enemies to test the people. Satan would be used in Simon’s life to test him. Our enemies are our tests. God uses their tests to strengthen our faith. We should never blame God for our trials. Satan is the one who attacks us with evil. God is the one who turns this evil to something good. *** Lord, we praise you for turning every evil intention that the enemy has brought against us to something good. You are the good Shepherd and the Faithful Father. We thank you for your love and care.

Thurs.’s Devo - Endure Till the End

Read: Judges 1:1-2:9; Luke 21:29-22:13; Psalm 90:1-91:16 Joshua died after he had made sure everyone knew the boundaries of their land. Now, it was time to go in and take their inheritance. The Lord said that Judah was to go first and since Simeon’s territory was within Judah’s, they took Simeon with them to conquer their land. Then, the rest of the tribes went in and began to take their land. They had victory after victory, but also defeat after defeat because they failed to drive out all the inhabitants of the land. The tribe of Judah couldn’t drive out the inhabitants of the plains because of their iron chariots. The Benjamites couldn’t drive out the Jebusites in Jerusalem. Also, Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan could not drive out the Canaanites from their land. Some of the tribes were able to put their enemies to work for them as their slaves. *** The angel of the Lord met them in Bochim and told them that he had brought them from Egypt and given them this land. He would never break his covenant with them, and they were never to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land. He had told them to break down the altars of their enemies, but they had not done that, so now they would become snares to them and their gods would become a snare to them. The people wept before the Lord and presented sacrifices to him. *** After Joshua had released everyone to go conquer their land, he died. He was 110 years old. He was buried in his land of Ephraim. The people continued to follow the Lord until the elders who had outlived Joshua died. They were the last to have witnessed all the great works God had done for them. *** When God gives us a promise, we will always have to fight the demons guarding our promise. They might be fear, intimidation, lies, etc. We have to fight them to get to our promise. We don’t want to be like the Israelites who gave up before they got their total victory. Another lesson to be learned from what we read today is that if we don’t pass on the stories of what God has done for us to our next generation, they will not walk in the victories we walked in. Our witness should make them press on to have their own stories of what God did for them. *** In Luke, Jesus had been asked by his disciples what would be signs of the end. He used the fig tree as an example. They could look at them and see that summer was coming. In the same way, they would be able to tell it was getting close to the end when they begin to see all the things that he said would be signs. Everything he promised in his Word would be fulfilled. He encouraged them to stay sober and awake. *** Jesus taught everyday in the temple and would sleep on the Mount of Olives. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was near and everyone would be coming to Jerusalem for Passover. The chief priests and scribes were trying to plan how to kill Jesus, but feared the people. *** Satan entered into the heart of Judas Iscariot and he met with the chief priests and the scribes. He was given money to betray Jesus to them. In the meantime, Jesus was sending his disciples ahead of him to prepare the room where they would eat their last Passover together. *** Lord, help us to remember that we have a real enemy who wants to kill, steal and destroy. But, greater are You within us than this enemy in the world. May we rise up and defeat the enemies that come to take our inheritance from us. May we fight strong in you name and defeat his power. Help us to endure till the end.