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Classic Bible: My Favorite Passages From Judges

March 26, 2013 in Bible 0

This is part of the Classic Bible: Favorite Stories & Passages series. Read more from the series!

In my current Bible reading plan, the Old Testament books of history form one of the longest lists, along with the Old Testament books of prophecy. As a result, it takes me longer to get through these lists than it does the rest.

And, let’s face it, some of the OT history books get pretty repetitive, such as the books of Chronicles.

Gavel

But the book of Judges is different. This book details some of the earliest history of the nation of Israel after they entered the Promised Land, before God gave the people a king. The leaders that God raised up were, well, judges. And their stories are pretty interesting.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Ehud – Judges 3:12-30

Ehud was one of the earliest judges, who led the Israelites against the Moabites. By some trickery, he gained access to King Eglon, who was very fat, and killed him. The story tells us that Eglon’s fat completely swallowed Ehud’s sword. Leaving the palace, Ehud closed the doors to Eglon’s inner chambers, causing his servants to think he was in the bathroom. They waited to the “point of embarrassment” before realizing that Eglon was dead, but by then, Ehud was long gone.

Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab. – Judges 3:15

Think On These Things… Whatever Is Noble

March 6, 2013 in Bible 4

We have to be extremely careful with our thoughts. They tend to pop out in our words and actions. Some people are adept at hiding their thoughts from most of the rest of us. But most of us can’t do that all the time. In fact, for those who know us best, our thoughts are written across our face.

Whatever Is Noble...

We need to avoid certain actions, locations, books, magazines, movies and other things that contribute to our though life if they contribute to negativity in our minds, if they lead to evil thoughts.

In Philippians 4:8-9, Paul gives us some direction on how to direct our thoughts. First, he tells us to think about things that are true. But next, he instructs us to think about things that are noble.

If you are like me, nobility is a vague notion in my mind. Just what does it mean?

Dictionary.com lists several different definitions for the word noble:

distinguished by rank or title.
pertaining to persons so distinguished.
of, belonging to, or constituting a heredity class that has special social or political status in a country or state; of or pertaining to the aristocracy.

I’m pretty sure none of those really fit what Paul is trying to say here. But dictionary.com goes on to list a fourth definition:

of an exalted moral or mental character or excellence: a noble thought.

That seems more likely. But it still doesn’t really tell me what noble means.

Think On These Things… Whatever Is True

January 22, 2013 in Bible 2

Towards the end of 2012, I started a series of posts on Philippians 4:8-9. And then, with the holidays, all the end of year wrap-ups, reviewing my goals, my Life Plan, and One Word for the new year, and the birth of my son, I kind of let it slip through the cracks.

Whatever Is True...

But now, I want to revisit that idea, and write some articles about each of the characteristics listed in this passage.

Paul’s grammar, in the original Greek, gives each of these first six traits distinct and special emphasis. The first one Paul mentions is “whatever is true”.

There are a lot of ways the word “true” can be used, and numerous implications throughout Scripture. But what does Paul intend here? Based on his context and wording, “true” here means that one’s thoughts conform to reality. This seems to be reinforced by the phrase “think on these things.”

This is not the word used for reaching a truth at the end of a logical thought process. This is more of the idea of truthfulness, integrity, character. True means honest, genuine.

That’s a tough quality to find in the twenty-first century. It seems as if everything is ambiguous; that nothing is black and white. the line between truth and falsehood is fuzzy and indistinct and gray. Based on the fact that Paul found it necessary to write this, it must have been much the same in the first century.

Think On These Things…

December 19, 2012 in Bible 5

This morning, I read through the last two chapters of Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

I’ve read this many, many times before, and am encouraged by several pieces of this letter.

Philippians 4:8-9

In fact, for a long time, I had Philippians 4:8-9 printed and hung next to my office door at the first church I served. I love this short, encouraging letter that Paul wrote so many centuries ago.

Over the next few days, I want to look at each of these individual characteristics, seeing how they need to be implemented in our thinking.

First, a little background…

Philippi was a small but significant city in the Roman Empire. It was located on a major Roman road, and was an important part of Macedonia.

Praying For Others

December 6, 2012 in Bible 2

I’m reading through the books of 1 and 2 Samuel this month in my daily Bible reading, and found a passage I’ve never really noticed before.

I read it a couple of weeks ago, and it’s been on my mind almost ever since. It’s one of the most convicting passages on prayer that I’ve found, at least in the recent past.

Child Praying

Take a look for yourself. The passage I’m talking about is found in 1 Samuel 12:23.

Let me give a little context. The Israelites have entered the Promised Land, and God has used a series of judges to govern the nation, drawing their wandering attention back to him continually.

But the people of Israel keep looking to their pagan neighbors. And now they want a king to rule over them. They’ve rejected God, and have asked him to give them a ruler.

Samuel is disappointed. He knows that this is a rejection of God’s leadership for the Israelites. In fact, he tells them this, and he does so pretty bluntly.

God responds by choosing Saul to become king. But because of Samuel’s message, the people of Israel see the error of their ways and ask Samuel to pray for them. They know they’ve done wrong in rejecting God in favor of a king.

Believing In Miracles

September 21, 2012 in Bible 0

We started a new series this week in our youth ministry. Over the next few weeks, we are taking a look at several of the miracles that Jesus performed during his time on this earth.

As I read through many of the miracles found in the Gospels, I started asking myself several questions.

Water To Wine

I’ve read each of these accounts before. In fact, using the Bible Reading System I’m currently experimenting with, I’ve read them several times this year alone.

But reading them all together has allowed me to see them a bit differently.

And it brought to mind some hard questions.

Have you ever seen a miracle?

I’m not talking “natural” miracles, like sunsets or butterflies or newborns. We tend to overuse the word, throwing it around everywhere, effectively neutralizing its real definition. No, I’m talking about the real thing. I’m talking about a miracle like Jesus performed. Water turned into wine. A storm calmed. Blind eyes opened. The dead raised.

I know these things still happen. I know God is still working powerfully. I just don’t think we see them as often as we used to. At least here in America, that is.

I have a few friends who are missionaries. One is in China. Another is in Africa. The stories I hear from them give me chills. People are experiencing miracles like crazy, and it sound very New Testament-ish.

But I don’t see that happening as much here in America. And I’m asking myself why.

I think I may have the answer, or part of the answer, at least.