The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Judges 14-18
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 4: The Land: God’s place for his people
Background Information: Judges 14-18
Samson is a fool from the start. Disregarding covenant law and his parents’ wish, he is determined to marry a Philistine woman. As happens over and over in the Old Testament, the Lord intends to use Samson’s sin for God’s own larger purposes. Samson broke the Nazarite law by coming in contact with the animal corpse. This is why he didn’t tell his parents where he found the honey. Samson enters into an expensive gambling arrangement with some Philistines at his wedding feast. Most people would own only one garment at a time; this was a high stakes riddle. What follows is deceit and murder and revenge. If you are appalled, you should be. The entire episode shows how Samson is a fool, and God uses even his folly to judge the Philistines. Samson dies a maimed, bound man in a final suicide attack on his enemies. There are no “good guys” in this story as things are getting darker and darker for humanity. The story of Micah stealing from his mom, making a household idol, and installing his own son as a priest is a snapshot of Israel’s fallen domestic life. There is nothing of the Covenant or the glory of God in any of this. The summary of their terrible condition is found in verse 17:6 “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him.” This sad truth is played out in the massacre of the people of Laish, whom the Scripture describes as “a quiet and unsuspecting people.” Judges demonstrates the terrible outcomes when humans “do whatever seems right” to them, not what God has clearly said is right to do.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for the Disaster Relief efforts that are ongoing in North Carolina. Pray for gospel seeds planted through those efforts to bear fruit. Pray for the relief efforts in California. Ask God to use Kevin and Donna as they serve with other workers from Kansas.
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