The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Judges 2-5
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 4: The Land: God’s place for his people
Background Information: Judges 2-5
Just as Moses and Joshua had feared, Israel failed to drive out the Canaanites and began to adopt all their cultural and religious practices. Chapter two is an overview of what is coming. Israel will rebel against God, they will suffer disaster at the hands of the Canaanites, Judges will lead them out, then the cycle will repeat in ever downward spirals. Now, which is it? Did Israel fail to drive out the Canaanites, or did God leave them there as judgement and to teach Israel warfare? The answer appears to be both. Victory was never going to be the result merely of Israel’s efforts, since only God could give them victory over the foes that continually outmatched them. However, they had repeatedly rebelled against God, so He would not give them complete victory. Instead, he would allow their enemies to remain, both as judgement and as a means of continual growth. Israel’s history and God’s involvement in it is complex. This is because the Biblical narrative is not a fairytale; fairytales tend to be simplistic. The Bible is divine/human history, and it is far from simple. One thing is uncomplex, if we obey the clear Word of God we will thrive. If we do not, we will not.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for Dalton & Hannah to clearly share the gospel to Buddhists overseas. Pray for healthy churches to spring up among this people group.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call some now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.
Review the Storyline Map: Where we are in the Bible
Act 1 God’s Plan for All People
Scene 1: The Creation: The God of all of life.
Scene 2: The Fall: Rejecting God’s vision for life
Scene 3: The Flood: God judges and makes a covenant to preserve life
Act 2 God’s Covenant People
Scene 1: The People: God calls a Covenant People
Scene 2: Deliverance: God rescues his people.
Scene 3: The Sinai Covenant and law: God embraces and instructs his people
Week 13:
Scene 4: The Land: God’s place for his people
Day 1: Judges 2-5
Day 2: Judges 6-9
Day 3: Judges 10-13
Day 4: Judges 14-18
Day 5: Judges 19-21
Day 6: Ruth
Scene 5: Kings and Prophets: God shapes a kingdom people
Scene 6: Kings and Prophets: God divides the kingdom people.
Scene 7: Kings and Prophets: The southern kingdom as God’s people
Scene 8: Exile: God disciplines his people
Scene 9: Return: God delivers his people again
Act 3 God’s New Covenant People
Scene 1: Christ’s coming: God’s true king arrives
Scene 2: Christ’s ministry: God’s true king manifest his kingdom
Scene 3: Christ’s deliverance of his people: God’s work through the death, resurrection, and enthronement of his king
Scene 4: Christ’s church: God’s people advance the kingdom
Scene 5: Christ second coming: God future for the kingdom