Skip to main content

March 14 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 73

If you haven't already heard the story, after today, you'll be able tell the story behind this picture.  Blessings!

Image result for abimelech

DAILY READINGS

Judges 9-12 & Psalm 73

DAILY NOTES

Judges 9

  • This chapter outlines the rise and fall of Abimelech.
  • The chapter opens with his desire to rule over the people.  He is confirmed and immediately kills "70" brothers, except the youngest who is able to hide.
    • The younger brother offers a curse to the leaders who selected Abimelech because he killed his family.
  • Abimelech goes into battle and is, somewhat, successful. He then turns his attention on the people of the city (not the troops).  
  • A woman standing in a tower throws a millstone on Abimelech.  He is close to death, but orders someone to kill him so it can't be said he was killed by a woman.  #MachoMan
Judges 10
  • Two judges, Tola & Jair, are mentioned.
  • The people turn from God again.  This time, when they cry out, God says he will not deliver them.  It is later stated, however, that God could not stand to see the people suffer.
Judges 11
  • The rise of Jephthah as judge.  
  • Take note of his victory and his vow.
Psalm 73
  • Take note how specific and honest this psalm is.  Can we pray that honestly?

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

I'm pretty sure we just read the first parable of the Bible (Judges 9:7-15).  We don't often associate parables with the OT, but there it is.  

I love the story behind it.  Jotham's brothers have been killed by his brother.  Jotham is able to escape; of course, he is fearful for his life.  But he returns to deliver a prophetic word to the leaders responsible for his brother's coronation and, more importantly, the death of his other brothers.  

It's a courageous thing to do.  Maybe he get courage from God.  Maybe he conjures some up by remember his father, Gideon.  Gideon was the least in his smallest clan, too (presuming that being being the youngest equates being the least).  

What's powerful to me is that he comes out of hiding to give his parable.  The parable comes with a promise of blessing or curse, depending on what the leaders have done.  After that he returns to hiding and we never hear of him again.  His prophecy comes true, but he is never seen or spoken of in scripture.

The real courageous people of faith are the ones that "stand in the gap" for others.  They aren't seeking notoriety or publicity.  There are plenty of times they feel as if they need to hide, but their words and their prayers, sometimes their actions, need to be given.  So, they courageously do what God has called them do.

Lord, help us live courageously so.

Stay blessed...john
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

March 31 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 90 David's family situation continues to spiral.  In today's reading, David's family is torn apart by rape.  As a consequence, David's son sets his eyes on his father's throne. DAILY READINGS 2 Samuel 13-15 & Psalm 90 DAILY NOTES 1 Samuel 13:1-14 Amnon was David's first born son (3:2).  That may shed light as to why David seems to deal with him so easily (Verse 21).  Although he does kind of the same thing later with Absalom. Tamar is Absalom's full sister, half sister to Amnon.  Amnon is lovesick with her.  He devises a plan, with the help of a friend, to have her enter his chamber (bedroom).   Since she was a virgin, she didn't go out and about.  She remained in her house, perhaps protected.   Tamar knows what will become of her if Amnon goes through with his wishes; she will be left aside, unable to marry (see Verse 20).  She seems willing to have become married to Amnon, but his lust clouds h...
Post a Comment
Read more

January 27 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 27 We'll be reading about atonement today.  T oday's video helps make sense of that biblical theme. DAILY READINGS Exodus 30-31 & Psalm 27 DAILY NOTES Exodus 30:6 Everything has its place.   Exodus 30:10 Once a year would be Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). Exodus 12-15 The Lord's offering is required of everyone equally (of the appropriate age).  Strangely enough, there is a designation of rich and poor.  Everyone has just come from Egypt.  How has that distinction arisen?   Exodus 31:13 It's interesting to compare how the idea of sabbath here relates to previous mentions of it.   Exodus 31:18 Moses had written the words down.  Now, with merely his finger, God has provided the tablets for all to remember the covenant that has been made.   Psalm 27 Have you ever prayed and prayed and prayed for something?  The psalmist seems to know the feeling.  His final adm...
Post a Comment
Read more

June 19 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 170 DAILY READINGS Jeremiah 7-9 & Psalm 15 DAILY NOTES Jeremiah 7 Notice the emphasis of God's house having God's name.  It belongs to God, but the people, through their unrighteous actions, have made it theirs.  God's house has been turned into a "den of robbers" (vs. 11).  Remember when Jesus said that (Matthew 21:13)? According to Jesus, what was the Temple supposed to be called? Remember when the people tried to use the ark of the covenant as a weapon against the Philistines (1 Samuel 4)?  That was at Shiloh.  Jeremiah brings that event to our minds again as a sign (vs. 14).  God says that human sacrifice was not his command, nor did it come to his mind.  You'll have to do some wrestling with the story of Abraham almost sacrificing Isaac (Genesis 22). Jeremiah 8 Jeremiah (God) says to unearth the kings' bones and lay them before the sun and moon and all the other gods they served and worshiped.  Ouch. Even animals ...
Post a Comment
Read more