Judges 19

“Behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door” (v22). The terrible events that led to a woman’s rape and murder mirror the story of Sodom, from Genesis 19. But in Judges, the horror occurs at home. A traveling Levite (supposedly a spiritual leader) and his concubine avoided the foreign city of Jebus (later Jerusalem) thinking the Israelite city Gibeah would be safer. Instead of finding refuge, the Israelites there turned out to

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Luke 14:25-35

“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (v33). Jesus’ teaching about discipleship was both hard and practical. He explained that following him would require “all”. Nothing, not family, career, or the pursuit of self-fulfillment, can be more important than following him (v26). When we hold something back, like the builder who doesn’t count the cost (v28-30), eventually we will turn away from God to serve that other thing. 

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Luke 14:1-24

“And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?’ But they remained silent” (v3-4). The Pharisees were a very moral, religious group that highly valued keeping the Law. However, their ideas about ‘God’s kingdom’ did not match what Jesus said and did (v15). They were repulsed by Jesus’ teaching and healings. In the parable of the banquet, they were invited but refused to go in, while the “poor and crippled and blind an

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Psalm 40

“He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure” (v2). The psalmist continually testified about his personal stories of God’s forgiveness and rescue. He had learned that God’s primary desire was not “sacrifice and offering,” but that we go to him humbly, with a trusting heart that asks for help and delights to do his will (v6-8). 

“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see a

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Judges 18

The tribe of Dan had sent spies to find good land. They found a beautiful, isolated town, with prosperity based on their not having the cost of maintaining a king. The town’s lack of protection (the role of government) made them vulnerable, and the town was slaughtered. The possession of the town did not lead to righteousness. The “graven images,” vs30,31, the household idols and the homemade ephod, v20 were set up, and the “for-hire” priest put in place. 

Life without disc

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Judges 17

“In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes,” v6. What sounds like opportunity for a utopian experience when one’s intention was right, became an expression of one’s distorted idea of what God would bless. This man’s private chapel became a place of idolatry he believed God would prosper, v13.

Neither the government nor the church is perfect, but both are gifts of God and are needed. Without civil government, thugs rule. Wi

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Judges 16

“When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart”, she sent for the Philistine lords” (v18). The author of Judges makes it clear that despite Samson’s exploits of strength, he – like all humans – in the end was ruled by his heart. Delilah was the third Philistine woman he had pursued (after his wife and a prostitute), ignoring his parents’ urgings to find an Israelite woman. Delilah sensed that the source of Samson’s strength had to do with heart-loyalty (v15), and whe

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Judges 15

“We have come up to bind Samson, to do to him as he did to us” (v10). The Philistines, having already killed Samson’s wife and father-in-law, wanted revenge on Samson for burning their grain fields (v5). Samson had been furious because his wife had been given to another man, an episode in a long cycle of violence and betrayal. Although the Lord used Samson to accomplish deliverance, Samson was no different than his enemies: “As they did to me, so I have done to them” (v11)

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Luke 13

“Strive to enter through the narrow door” (v24). Jesus spoke against the human tendency to excuse ourselves but want harsh judgment for others. To those who wanted to cast blame on people for experiencing disasters, Jesus warned them to instead focus on their own need to repent (v1-5).  To those who thought “eating and drinking” near the Messiah was enough, he warned against complacency and told them to seek the “narrow door” (v24-29) 

“And people will come from east and we

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Luke 12

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life ... (v22). Jesus told his disciples not to be anxious about food, possessions, and resources, the things that the world seeks, because God values us and knows our needs (v25). When we “seek his kingdom” first, following the way of Jesus, the other parts of life find their place (v31). Those who spend their lives accumulating “ample goods” forget that at any time, they may face the Lord, who says “This moment your sou

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Psalm 39

“My heart became hot within me ...” (v3). The psalmist brought his anger and frustration about “the wicked” to the Lord (v1-2). Rather than asking for judgment on his enemies, he asked for divine perspective: “Make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!” (v4). Recognizing his sinfulness and that his earthly life was just “a breath” helped him release control to the Lord (v5-9).

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in yo

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Judges 13-14

“Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful” (v13). The Lord’s angel visited an unnamed, childless woman and gave instructions concerning her and a future baby, Samson (13:2-7). The woman told these things to her husband Manoah. Manoah asked for the angelic appearance to be repeated (v8), insisted on hearing the instructions himself (v11), and later panicked at having “seen God” (v22). His wife reminded him that the Lord would not have given them a mission if he me

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Judges 12

“Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought with Ephraim” (v4). Without a king to unite them, the Israelite tribes ended up fighting each other. The Ephraimites did not like that only the “men of Gilead” went to war with Jephthah, and won, against the Ammonites. The Ephraimites provoked the Gileadites by questioning their legitimacy as a clan: “You are fugitives of Ephraim” (v4). Battling each other, one of the only distinctions between them was the way they p

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Judges 11

“So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the LORD delivered them into his hand” (v32). During the chaotic time of Judges, when Israel had no king or temple, God’s laws were not well-known in the land. Even individuals called to be leaders (like Jephthah and Samson) disobeyed God while fighting for Israel. Jephthah made a foolish vow promising to offer “whatever” exited his door as a burnt offering; tragically, it was his daughter. However, God

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Judges 10

“Did I not save you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the Ammonites and from the Philistines?” (v11). God had rescued the Israelites and put them in the Promised Land, but they “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord” by serving the false gods of the very nations that oppressed them. These idols seemed attractive, promising abundance, but worshiping them led to misery, not freedom (v14). The people were “severely distressed” (v9), and turned back to God fo

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