Journal Through the Bible: Week 36 Wednesday

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Although we do not know the exact date of this event we know that Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, was the high priest.

Judges chapter 20

Does God issue any commands in this chapter?

• When consulted, God told the tribes to set the battle in array against Benjamin.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised to deliver Benjamin into the hands of the other tribes on the third day of battle. The other two days had resulted in defeat even though God had told them to go. The deaths could have been a judgment because of all the wickedness of all the tribes during this era of Jewish history or it could have been that God was waiting for them to make the proper sacrifices (such as is mentioned in verse 26) before giving them victory.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• When asked whom should be the leading tribe against the Benjamites God told them that Judah would lead the charge. Judah is the chosen tribe because it is from Judah that the Lion of Israel, the King of Israel, would descend.
• Victory did not come until the third day and then only after great sacrifices, fasting, and weeping. Jesus was victorious on the third day but only following His great sacrifice and the fasting and weeping of His followers. Victory over sin is given as a free gift to us but it cost dearly.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Nothing that I identified. 

Journal Through the Bible: Week 36 Tuesday

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Judges chapter 19

This must be one of the most revolting chapters in all of Scripture! There is little that one can say except what the Bible itself says about it:

And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.   Judges 19:30

The events related in this chapter took place in Gibeah, the village of Saul's birth. This chapter tells of behind the scenes events that affected his ancestors.

Does God issue any commands in this chapter?

• God does not speak.

Does God make any promises?

• God does not speak.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• In a way, the old man who gave lodging to the Levite and his entourage was a type of Christ when he took them in and provided all of their necessities. He also attempted to keep them separated from the wickedness around them. 

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Not that I identified.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 36 Monday

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Judges 17:1-18:31

This is a strange passage that illustrates the blending of proper worship with the doctrine of  "I think I can worship God in the way I choose" even though God had given repeated instructions about the offerings used for the upkeep of the Levites and concerning idolatry! Obviously, these instructions were being ignored and/or abused. The speech given by Micah's mother is a prime example: "I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD" for Micah "to make a graven image."

This passage follows on the heels of the Samson chronicles because it concerns men from Samson's hometown of Zorah. (See 18:2 and look back to 13:2.)

I am always astounded when I read 18:14-20. Five spies told their brethren about the ephod, teraphim, graven image and molten image in Micah's house and ended with the knowing words, "consider what ye have to do."

What? Destroy the idolatrous stuff? Right away! That would be the thought that crossed my mind!!!!

Evidently not theirs. They just stole everything and made it their own. Even the priest was happy because he got to preach his distorted gospel to a bigger audience.


Does God issue any commands in this passage?

• God did not speak in this passage.

Does God make any promises?

• The priest of Micah told the men of Zorah when they hired him to inquire of the LORD that God was with them on their quest to get more land for the tribe of Dan in the north.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Not that I identified.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• Not that I identified.

TAKE TIME: Schedule for September 9-14, 2013

Introduction: We will conclude with our reading of the book of Judges. Aside from a couple of examples of idolatrous behavior it also contains a graphic disgusting story. This story of the failure of the tribe of Benjamin sets the stage for the later introduction to King Saul from that tribe. We will also read the book of Ruth, another story that took place at the time of the judges but an uplifting one about redemption that sets the stage for the later introduction to King David who descended from Ruth.


Reading Assignment:

• Monday - Judges 17:1-18:31
• Tuesday - Judges chapter 19
• Wednesday - Judges chapter 20
• Thursday - Judges chapter 21
• Friday - Ruth 1:1-2:23
• Saturday - Ruth 3:1-4:22

Memory Verse

And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.    Ruth 2:20


Prayer Journal (ACTS)

• Adoration - This week take time each day to praise Jesus for being both God and Man.
• Confession - Ask God to reveal hidden sin in your life and then confess it.
• Thanksgiving - Thank God for providing your Kinsman Redeemer.
• Supplication - What are your prayer requests this week? List them for future reference so that you can see how God answers.

Search the Scriptures

Look for references for each of the following:

• Promises that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?
• References that either refer to or infer something about future events.
• What does this passage teach about Jesus?
• Commandments that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?

Putting the Word into Action

The days of harvest are quickly coming to an end. If you are someone who cans or freezes your produce perhaps you could find someone who needs your extra produce or something you have made from your produce. Or perhaps you could just give someone a cobbler, pie, or vegetable dish just as an encouragement to them. Kindness requires no reason.