The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Judges 19-21
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 4: The Land: God’s place for his people
Background Information: Judges 19-21
Chapter 19 is shocking, and that is the point. It begins by reminding us that Israel had no king, and we already know what that means. Everyone did whatever seemed right. Then we see a Levite acquiring a concubine, who then is unfaithful to him. It gets worse from there. This Levite stays in a town with fellow Israelites because he fears how non-Israelites will treat him. His own kinsmen are far worse than what he feared from non-Israelites. They threaten him with rape, then rape his concubine. It’s all terrible and leads to a bloody civil war. Following that war comes the devastation of Jabesh-Gilead; evil follows evil. The book ends appropriately with, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him.” We are meant to be shocked and appalled by all these events, and we are told why they occur. This is what happens when humans do what seems right to them. This is what happens when humans are not led by a king. However, we will soon see what happens when humans are led by human kings, who also do whatever seems right to them. A mere human king will not prove to be a solution. All this is pointing forward to the one true King who is both human and divine. King Jesus is the only solution for humanity’s terrible condition.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for the Christian Challenge Women’s event that is happening tonight. Ask God to speak to the ladies who attend. Ask God to strengthen their faith and encourage them in sharing the gospel.
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