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Tuesday,
January 26,
2021
"Living In
The Times Of The Judges"
Message summary: Let us live
under the realization that "the eyes of the LORD
range throughout the earth to strengthen those
whose hearts are fully committed to Him" (2
Chronicles 16:9). (A verse from yesterday's
message.) Let us commit our hearts fully to Him this
day and receive His strength and blessing as we live
in these very challenging, increasingly lawless
times. Today, let's strive to do what's right, not
in our own eyes, but in the eyes of the Lord!
Listen
to this message on your audio player.
Listen
to this message on your audio player."In
those days there was no king in Israel: every man
did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges
21:25).
The Babylon Bee is a satire
site that often rather accurately describes
conditions in our world today such as this recent
headline, "American Christians Excited To
Live Through The Book Of Judges Firsthand".
The Babylon Bee is a satire
site that often rather accurately describes
conditions in our world today such as this recent
headline, "American Christians Excited To
Live Through The Book Of Judges Firsthand". Have
you ever wondered what it would be like to live
during such a period in history like that described
in the Book of Judges? Well, during that or any
other dark time, God most certainly had a people
just as He does today all over the world who reside
in a wide variety of living conditions, including
the very catastrophic. This people group has been
called the remnant, which is a recurring theme
throughout the Bible. The Anchor Bible Dictionary
describes it as "What is left of a community after
it undergoes a catastrophe".
The
gotquestions.org website explains: "A remnant is a
left-over amount from a larger portion or piece,
whether it is food, material from which a garment is
fashioned, or even a group of people. Although
remnants could be looked upon as worthless scraps,
and many times are, God assigned high value to those
of His people whom He had set aside for holy
purposes, those He labels as “remnants” in several
places in the Bible."Where
is our culture heading? We wonder when the perfect
Judge of the universe will act in a dramatic way to
judge evil as He has done so all throughout history?
These are questions I consider when observing the
moral apostasy evident throughout our land and the
world.
The
Book of Judges ends with the summary statement that
describes the moral climate of Israel at that time
as expressed in the daily text. "In those days
there was no king in Israel: every man did that
which was right in his own eyes."
The first part of the verse describes the period as a time when "there was no king in Israel". As later history proved, having a king or leader in itself was not necessarily significant. Even when the nation had kings there were periods when the people earnestly followed and obeyed God. But there were also periods of spiritual decline and apostasy. However if we understand "king" in the sense of "moral authority" and under God's kingship this portion has enduring meaning.
The latter part of the verse really sums up the period: "Every man did that which was right in his own eyes". The NIV phrases it, "everyone did as he saw fit". The period of the Judges was one of the most barbaric times in history. Some are troubled at the events recorded and even wonder why they are mentioned in the Bible, but they merely document the sordid history of the period and the consequences of living without regard to God.
But is it that much different than our
day? Stories of lawlessness and barbarism are far
too common in our own time. Listen to the news any
given day and the increase in lawlessness is
evidenced all around us. Surely the phrase, "Every
man did that which was right in his own eyes"
describes our times as well.
Fellow believer, let us who follow the Lord heed the words of Scripture through Moses: "Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the LORD your God" (Deuteronomy 12:28). Today, let's strive to do what's good and right in the eyes of the Lord rather than what is right in our own eyes!
2 Peter 3:17 gives a warning we all do well to heed, "You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability".
Let us live under the realization that "the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him" (2 Chronicles 16:9). (A verse from yesterday's message.) Let us commit our hearts fully to Him this day and receive His strength and blessing as we live in these very challenging, increasingly lawless times. Today, let's strive to do what's right, not in our own eyes, but in the eyes of the Lord!
Be encouraged today,
The
Book of Judges ends with the summary statement that
describes the moral climate of Israel at that time
as expressed in the daily text. "In those days
there was no king in Israel: every man did that
which was right in his own eyes."The first part of the verse describes the period as a time when "there was no king in Israel". As later history proved, having a king or leader in itself was not necessarily significant. Even when the nation had kings there were periods when the people earnestly followed and obeyed God. But there were also periods of spiritual decline and apostasy. However if we understand "king" in the sense of "moral authority" and under God's kingship this portion has enduring meaning.
The latter part of the verse really sums up the period: "Every man did that which was right in his own eyes". The NIV phrases it, "everyone did as he saw fit". The period of the Judges was one of the most barbaric times in history. Some are troubled at the events recorded and even wonder why they are mentioned in the Bible, but they merely document the sordid history of the period and the consequences of living without regard to God.
But is it that much different than our
day? Stories of lawlessness and barbarism are far
too common in our own time. Listen to the news any
given day and the increase in lawlessness is
evidenced all around us. Surely the phrase, "Every
man did that which was right in his own eyes"
describes our times as well.Fellow believer, let us who follow the Lord heed the words of Scripture through Moses: "Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the LORD your God" (Deuteronomy 12:28). Today, let's strive to do what's good and right in the eyes of the Lord rather than what is right in our own eyes!
2 Peter 3:17 gives a warning we all do well to heed, "You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability".
Let us live under the realization that "the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him" (2 Chronicles 16:9). (A verse from yesterday's message.) Let us commit our hearts fully to Him this day and receive His strength and blessing as we live in these very challenging, increasingly lawless times. Today, let's strive to do what's right, not in our own eyes, but in the eyes of the Lord!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, we
read throughout the period of the Judges that the
people of Israel endured great heartache and
spiritual defeat because each one became his own
authority and acted on his own opinions of what was
right and wrong. They did not look to You as the
final authority; they disregarded Your holy laws and
chose to do that which was right in their own eyes.
We see this prevailing attitude in our own day, but
as believers we acknowledge that our judgment is
flawed and our motives are selfish when we do not
submit our will to a holy God who knows what is best
for His children. We want to obey Your laws and
surrender our will as we seek to do what is good and
right in Your eyes resulting in our hearts being
strengthened and our lives being blessed as we walk
in the ways of Christ in whose name we pray. Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"There Is A King" Video
Calvary Church worship team What a
good reminder for all times!
It won't be long, we will
behold Him
And every tear He'll wipe away
We'll be at home, the war will be over
Soon we will meet our Savior face to face
And every tear He'll wipe away
We'll be at home, the war will be over
Soon we will meet our Savior face to face
What
does the Bible mean when it refers to
a remnant? from gotquestions.org
Finally
today:
The
other day we took our van in for a
repair to a small independent,
family-owned garage in Columbia, PA. It
reminded us both of the kind of garages
our dads took our cars to when we were
young. It had a real authentic feel,
look and even garage-like smell in the
small waiting room. Alphabetized license
plates from each state formed a border
around the entire room. We also liked
the folksy wisdom on this sign!
Send
a message to Stephen
& Brooksyne
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Weber".Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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