Judges 3: 12-30

This was the story of Ehud and how he was able to defeat the king of the Moabites. This incident just highlights how God uses strange (to us) circumstances and people to bring about his purposes. Ehud was left handed and from the symbolism is used to show God's hand of punishment rather the the right hand is where hope sits (Jesus). The disobediant Israelites were under the Moabite rule for 18 years and were oppressed and ultimately cried out to the Lord for relief. Ehud was an unassuming man who fashioned a short sword as his weapon. He was able to move about freely in the presence of the king of the Moabites and thus while carrying the tax monies in his right hand, used his left hand to slay the king. He escaped to meet the rest of the Israelite army and then returned to defeat the Moabites and retake their land. They had peace for 80 years.

Decent day at work and each day brings me closer to the end of the year and getting my head and heart ready for the holidays. Still I am undecided as to what and where I will spend NYE and my plans since Irene is headed on her road trip with other people in my church. Still with the day off, it gives me decent flexability. Tonight is my firm's Christmas party so it will be a long night. Overall, I was able to get most of my portion of the survey done that will see if we are heading in the right direction.

Praise for today: For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end. Isaiah 9: 6-7a

Judges 3: 7-11

The pattern of each judge's life is laid out in these verses. First, it starts with the people doing evil things and neglecting the Lord, then their enemies are allowed to inflict pain and hardship upon them, the Lord answers the people's cry for help, the Lord sends a judge who was the Spirit of God and then finally there is peace and tranquility until the judge dies. The first judge was Othniel, Caleb's younger nephew who was sent by God to defeat the king of Aram. This peace lasted 40 years.

Glad to see that we are such a repetitive and predictable lot. If we can only include God from the beginning instead of when the pain comes we would be soooooo much better off. Actually, it was a pretty good day at work yesterday and I got rid of all of my required "courses" to remain at work which were due at year-end. Should be a relatively easy rest of the work week and then a few days off (Monday and Tuesday) as well. So glad to hear from my cousin that his procedure went well. Prayers now for those who are traveling back, especially the HI group and for Megin going to GA.

Praise for today: Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. Psaln 113: 2-3

Judges 3: 1-6

It didn't take long for the Israelites to abandon the Lord and take up the customs and the religion of the land they inhabited. They need to "toughen up" and learn how to defend themselves as well as possess the land that they were given. The 5 tribes that were the Philistines were Gaza, Ekron, Ashkelon, Ashdod and Gath. The struggles to remain independent and pure were already getting tougher due to intermarriages which the Lord forbade. This would plague the Israelites throughout their future as a nation as I experienced in Chronicles.

My day went pretty well. The major coup was getting off on NYE and that was big in my mind - the first in decades. My thoughts and prayers are for my first cousin, Ping who is undergoing a procedure today to hopefully regulate his heart rate. He is very, very near and dear to me.

Praise for today: The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him. Psalm 37: 40.

Judges 2: 20 -23

The Lord voiced his displeasure and judgment to the Israelites as a result of their disobedience and lack of gratitude. The actions resulted in three things: to punish them, to test their loyalty to God and to train them for battle (since they were not trained warriors). These were new people with untested mettle and without training for combat and it was essential to see if they were the same that left Egypt nearly 40 years ago.

This was a tiring weekend. Friday was FW and then after getting home late for that having to do laundry late at night. Saturday had a 7 AM departure for a Father's Heart soup kitchen where I cooked more eggs in a few hours than I did in 10 years. Got home in the mid-afternoon to put the outdoor lights up and then off to Tuscarora Inn and Retreat Center to see my old friends Avalon. Glad David drove since I was whipped. Great convo with him as well (more going than coming home since the roads were tougher). Late night since we got home at 11:30 and then the 7:30 AM out the door to church on Sunday. Long day there since we had a Leadership meeting so I didn't get down to Delly until closer to 7 PM. Glad I was able to catch up on my readings in Proverbs so I can keep the stupid away. This will be a long week here but hopefully with few issues.

Praise for today: For the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. Psalm 37:17

Judges 2: 9-19

With Joshua out of the way, the people are left to their own devices. This section basically lays out the pattern for the whole book of life without law and without truth.According to the commentary:

The writer then tells us what the book is about. The people left God. They did evil things and they praised the Baals. Then God allowed their enemies to defeat them. And he allowed the enemies to divide them. The people cried out to the Lord. He sent judges to rescue them. Even then, they only changed their behaviour for a short time. After the judge had died, they were worse than ever!

So it seems that man after all of these centuries have not learned the lessons that were set forth by God since Creation. If my people... How true is that verse! We have gotten worse in our lack of standards and morality and need a turnaround but somehow I don't feel it is coming soon. I for one am very disappointed in the events and the news that I hear. Still I do have hope. Looking forward to coming back home and to FW later on. I along with several others in my church will be serving at a NYC soup kitchen called a Father's Heart and really look forward to that. Later on that night will head up and see Avalon in PA.

Prayers for my family and friends!!!

Praise for today: The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. Psalm 69: 33

Judges 2: 1-8

Now marks the transition between the book of Joshua and the time of the Judges. The place where this takes place (which some Bible scholars call Bethel) was called Bokim (place of weeping). This is where the Lord had told it straight to them. They were admonished for their lack of discipline and inability to adhere to the Lord's request and thus the ground work was laid for their entire lives. According to the commentary:

God had made an agreement with his people. And he had done what he agreed to do. But they had not done what they agreed to do. Now God said that he would allow their enemies to capture them. They would praise other gods. The people wept and they offered sacrifices. (Sacrifices were gifts for God. They were asking him to forgive the things that they had done wrong.) They were probably not really sorry. Later, they did wrong things again.

Joshua now told them to go and live in the land that the Lord had given them. He would die at the age of 110 and according to v. 9, "They buried him at the edge of his property. This was in Timnath Heres. It was in the hilly country where Ephraim’s tribe lived, north from Mount Gaash." The leaders were the Judges or at least the start of them. The people started to worship Baal ( false god of rain and crops) and Asherath (false gods of war and crops and the wife of Baal). They would have sex with male and female priests so that they would spawn future priests and also would sacrifice their children in hopes of appeasing their "gods" for rain, crops and peace.

Finally felt a sense of catching up yesterday and now will turn my attention to the looking and planning ahead at work. Still am trying to plan out the rest of my vacation days as well. Finally "decorated" my place here in Delly with my CB tree and snowman (which doesn't work). I am also enjoying reading a chapter of Proverbs aloud when I get home and praying. 

Praise for today: For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalm 1: 6

Judges 1:34-36

It seemed that to each tribe much was given but it still required effort to achieve ownership. The tribe of Dan was inhabitated by the Amorites and they forced the people of Dan to live in the hills rather than in the low places. According to the commentary: Dan’s tribe could not even live in their area with the Canaanites. In chapter 18, the writer tells us that many people from Dan’s tribe went to live somewhere else. They went to live in the north. The cities where the Amorites lived (in verses 35‑36) were between Joseph’s sons’ tribes and Judah’s tribe. Judah’s tribe was in the south.

Getting back was pretty easy and the ride and the hotel stay was enjoyable. The main thing of angst was that I found out that I left my laptop at the condo and it won't be for a while until I get it back. So now I am relegated to use my old one and with all of its limitations and lousy graphics. Still bad breath is better than no breath at all. Daniel said that he would swing by FL to pick up the lappy before he heads home to NJ around Christmas. The Monday was ok since I had a dental appointment (which went well) and paying all of the bills (ugh!) as well as seeing Daniel before Christmas. David treated for dinner at a sushi place which was a welcomed surprise. Ride down was uneventful and yesterday was a day to stuff five pounds into a one pound bag - overall got a lot of stuff done and more to do. Found out that I have to take my remaining days off or lose them so now I have to get that planned out as well. Finally caught up on my shows (at least some of them) and started my Proverbs chapter a day to keep the stupid away (thanks, AC!).

Praise for today: No one whose hope is you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. Psalm 25: 3