Child

Re:Verse passage – Judges 2–8; 1 Samuel 3:1-11 (day three)

“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Crucial to this circumstance was Samuel’s own curiosity. It was Samuel’s yearning to know coupled with his prayer inviting God to speak that resulted in a moment of growth and transformation for Samuel as a prophet who would one day carry the word of God to an entire people. Later, Jesus would evoke the spirit of this story when he set a child in the midst of his hearers, telling them that unless they became like children, they would not enter into life with the Lord. The world needs a child-like Samuel kind of wonder to emanate from the church. That’s what will represent God’s kingdom on this earth so that people will turn to Christ.

When God is Silent

Re:Verse passage – Judges 2–8; 1 Samuel 3:1-11 (day two)

And word from the Lord was rare in those days, visions were infrequent. vs. 1b

I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining.
I believe in love, even though I don’t feel it.
I believe in God, even when he is silent. Anonymous

There are several periods in the Bible where God remains silent, or is perceived as being far away. Do you even feel like that? What are we to do in those times? It can be so difficult to maintain a trajectory when you feel like you are on your own. There is always a reason for the silence of God. It can be disconcerting, for sure, but our call must continue forward. It is also important during those times to remember that we have the Word of God to help shape the next steps. Don’t be discouraged if you haven’t “heard” from the Lord in a while. Trust your call, continue in prayer, don’t give up seeking after him. He is nearer than you realize.

Monday Re:Verse Blog – 8/23/2021

Re:Verse passage – Judges 2–8; 1 Samuel 3:1-11 (day one)

Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through Judges 2–8; 1 Samuel 3:1-11 in our Summer Re:Verse Series: “JUDGES – God, Our Deliverer.”

Narrative

Re:Verse passage – Judges 8:18-34 (day seven)

His concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech. vs 31

The Bible is Divinely inspired and written over thousands of years. Throughout that time, various authors use many different genres to communicate God’s Word. Judges falls into the category of historical narrative. What is the point of a narrative? To tell the story. There is no fluff, no frills, no beating around the bush. It is “straight to the facts.” In narrative we don’t get to hear the author tell us point blank, “Gideon made some poor choices.” That wasn’t his point. He was just stating the facts. However, if we catch the context clues, we can see that the author is foreshadowing the consequences that come from Gideon’s poor choices. The son of a concubine, Abimelech, is going to be a thorn in this family tree. Sometimes it may seem like the Bible doesn’t condemn our heroes for their sinful behavior, but the narrative is just showing us the facts. It’s our job to interpret the facts in context of what else we know to be true about God. Isn’t the Bible cool?

Appearances

Re:Verse passage – Judges 8:18-34 (day six)

I don’t know Gideon’s intentions in commissioning the making of the ephod, or how it was used, but its affect was clear. Rather than seek God, the people coveted this religious garment. It was a step down the road towards full blown idolatry.

Sometimes a thing or practice can have the appearance of godliness, but really only serves to boost our own own ego and self-reliance. This usually happens when we fail to obey God’s Word, and take matters in our own hands (like Gideon).

Even the best intentions, if not led by godly wisdom and discernment, can result in destructive outcomes. Real godliness doesn’t come from looking the part, but by looking to him.

Remember

Re:Verse passage – Judges 8:18-34 (day five) “Thus the sons of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side;”  One of the issues I encountered most from as a Youth Minister was teenagers saying, “I am doubting my salvation and if God is even real, Can you help?”

My first question to them was always, “When was the last time you were reading God’s Word and praying daily?”  The answer almost always was something like “Well, it’s been a while”.

A daily time with God in His Word and in prayer, helps us remember (in moments of thanksgiving, praise, and petition) God’s strength, love, and faithfulness, to name a few. Paul says to pay close attention and  constantly listen to the Lord. Here’s how he illustrates it.  “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

‭‭Galatians 5.  Moment by moment. The Holy Spirit will call out the cadence, set the gate of each step.  He has the path and pace chosen, will we walk with Him?  Daily in His Word, Weekly with His body, moment by moment in prayer.  When we do, we remember, we stay in step, our doubts or struggles find peace and power.

How’s your daily time with God in His Word  and in prayer?

Here’s extra reading/worship (if you have time). A prayer of confession and dedication. A reminder of how easy it is to “forget” and a reminder of who God is.

Come Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise 

Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it, Mount of God’s unchanging love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Hither by Thy help I’m come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

Positioning

Re:Verse passage – Judges 8:18-34 (day four)

It was a sad commendation of Israel.  Verse 33 says that as soon as Gideon had died, Israel played the harlot with the Baals.  Verse 34 says the sons of Israel did not remember the Lord their God.  God had brought Israel out of Egypt, out of slavery; He had delivered them from the Egyptian army; He had brought them to the Promised Land after feeding them in the wilderness for forty years; He had displaced the people in the cities and the lands before them; and had now delivered them from their enemies and given them peace.  With all this history, Israel just walks away.  Where was their relationship with God?

We can easily fall into the same trap.  If we fail to maintain our personal relationship with God…fail to read His Word daily…fail to pray and worship…fail to keep fellowship with other believers…we will not have a relationship to sustain us when temptation comes.  (Make no mistake…Satan knows exactly when we are most vulnerable.)  God’s love and grace are always available…we just have to be in a position to receive it!

Go

Re:Verse passage – Judges 8:18-34 (day three)

“And the land was undisturbed for forty years in the days of Gideon.”

Gideon’s campaign gave Israel two generations of peace. What they did with that peace unfolds in disturbing fashion in the succeeding narrative. For now, however, they had the peace for which they had longed, dreamed, and cried. There are incalculable differences between the ancient Israelite culture and current Western civilization. The one similarity, though, is that Gideon’s peace and the peace which currently characterizes the West both mean freedom from existential threat. In other words, nobody is about to eradicate your world. Do you take that for granted? Everybody does. But now is the time to build a good future. That’s been God’s command from the beginning: “Be fruitful.” That means more than population. Israel did not build a good future in the days of Gideon. With Christ, you can.

Not Done Yet

Re:Verse passage – Judges 8:18-34 (day two)

Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, also your son’s son, for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.”23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.” vs. 22-23

The Midianites were conquered. The tendency for Israel to want to elevate the instrument of Midian’s defeat makes sense. That’s where it gets complicated. Gideon was the instrument, yes, but he was not the reason for the victory. It was God who orchestrated all things to work for his good and glory. For Gideon’s part, he recognized this, but assumed his job was finished. There is so much to caution us in this story. If the Lord brings us to a place of victory we should rejoice and remember it was his hand of provision that made it possible. We should also not assume that once that victory has occurred that our assignment is done. As long as we have breath we should be seeking what our next task for the kingdom should be. May we never be complacent in the work.

Monday Re:Verse Blog – 8/16/2021

Re:Verse passage – Judges 8:18-34 (day one)

Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through Judges 8:18-34 in our Summer Re:Verse Series: “JUDGES – God, Our Deliverer.”