Re:Verse passage – Judges 6:1-16 (day one)
Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through Judges 6:1-16 in our Summer Re:Verse Series: “JUDGES – God, Our Deliverer.”
Leadership
Re:Verse passage – Judges 4:4-23, 5:7, 24-27 (day seven)
Whether we realize it or not, each one of us are leaders. God has entrusted Christians with the Gospel to be missionaries to our workplace, to our homes, to our friend groups, etc. In these circles, we are leaders. Even if we are not the “boss” in these circles, our Christlikeness draws people to us. I expect this is similar to what Deborah experienced.
Being a woman in a patriarchal society, I doubt Deborah was looking to be a Judge for all of Israel. People came to her under her tree not because of her physical traits, but because of her Godly wisdom. She gained leadership from Godliness, and she maintained leadership from humbleness. She empowered those around her, knowing others strengths and her own limitations. She pointed all glory back to God, not on herself. She culminates her leadership in thankfulness. Her song to the Lord is full of thanks for what He did to deliver Israel.
In your leadership circles are you exuding Christlikeness? Are you wise, humble, and thankful? People are already following your lead, where are you leading them?
Sing!
Re:Verse passage – Judges 4:4-23, 5:7, 24-27 (day six)
On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song. Judges 5:1
[Totally shocked Aaron didn’t jump on the opportunity to write about the song! But, I will!]
Perhaps, the most natural and powerful thing to do in light of God’s deliverance is to sing! We don’t add to God’s glory when we sing; we rejoice in it. We reflect it. Maybe that is what it means to be made in the image of God. Maybe it means we are storytellers (in how we live and speak) of God’s glory most extravagantly seen in our own deliverance.
So, remember you were designed to be a story teller. You were made to sing!
Gone Before
Re:Verse passage – Judges 4:4-23, 5:7, 24-27 (day five)
“She said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.”
“Deborah said to Barak, “Arise! For this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hands; behold, the Lord has gone out before you.”
Is there anything that will or could happen today (trips, conversations, decisions, etc.) that the Lord has not “gone before” and will not be present with you as you experience or participate in?
Deborah’s source of joy, courage, and faithfulness is found in this truth.
For those who are anxious or uncertain about today or the future… God goes before. For those who are reluctant to follow the Lord in obedience, God goes before. For those lacking joy, courage, hope, and strength, God goes before. And from the promise of His great accompanying love, wisdom, and sovereignty, we find confidence and conviction to walk “forward”daily, serving Him with hope and joy.
In Control
Re:Verse passage – Judges 4:4-23, 5:7, 24-27 (day four)
Isn’t it amazing that God sometimes puts in place the elements for blessing, provision, and answered prayer before we ever are aware of our need? Heber the Kenite had left his kinsmen and moved far from his homeland. Most likely he had good reasons to leave and relocate, but probably never knew that it was God putting him in place so his wife could deliver Israel.
Have you ever experienced God’s provision in advance of your need? Probably. Have you ever considered that you might be the advanced provision for someone else’s need? God might be using you just as He did Jael. Jael did not get up that memorable morning knowing that she would be used of God that day in such a dramatic way. Your plans and actions may be carefully thought out and planned according to sound logic…always remember though who is really in control!
Event
Re:Verse passage – Judges 4:4-23, 5:7, 24-27 (day three)
“Now Heber the Kenite…had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim.”
When you and God live together within a life of love, his purpose is that all events in the universe – even the randomness that God allows – occur in such a way as to bring good to you. This actuality informed Jesus’s deep calm and confidence as he walked this earth. It fueled Paul’s courage in the face of suffering. Even seemingly unconnected occurrences form the fabric of reality that will strengthen and protect you. A decision made by Heber prior to Israel’s military campaign positioned his family’s tent in a location that would intersect Sisera’s flight from Israel’s army. Jael took care of the rest. Happenstance? Well, consider that “it just so happened” precisely because God made a universe that works for your good.
Credit
Re:Verse passage – Judges 4:4-23, 5:7, 24-27 (day two) She said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.” vs. 9
Credit where credit is due, right? We live in a world where it feels critical for us to be acknowledged. Who worked the hardest; who earned the most; who sacrificed more than any other; these are the things that occupy most of our days. We want to be given credit. Deborah had a longer vision than Barak did. Ultimately it wasn’t about who got credit, it was about the Lord delivering his people. Are we content with that? Can you be satisfied knowing that the Kingdom has advanced even if you don’t receive the accolades that come with victory? The ultimate question is where do we place our value; in man or in God.
Monday Re:Verse Blog – 6/28/2021
Re:Verse passage – Judges 4:4-23, 5:7, 24-27 (day one)
Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through Judges 4:4-23, 5:7, 24-27 in our Summer Re:Verse Series: “JUDGES – God, Our Deliverer.”
Shamgar
Re:Verse passage – Judges 3:31 and Acts 2:42-47 (day seven)
“After him came Shamgar the son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad; and he also saved Israel.”
One verse. One sentence. One story. We are only 3 chapters into Judges but we can already fill in the blanks for the details of this story… After 80 years of peace, the people forgot about Ehud and started worshipping other gods. They then fell into oppression to a foreign nation. Some of the old people said, “Remember when we worshipped YHWH and life was good? Lets do that again!” So they cried out to God for help. God listened and called Shamgar while herding cattle to go fight the Philistines. Shamgar took that literally and left with his cattle prod to fight the Philistines. Shamgar obeyed. God won. Israel was saved.
Why is this story so easy to fill in the blanks? Because it’s our story too. When reading this book, we would like to think we are the judges, but in all actuality, we are the people stuck in our own cycle of sin. Lucky for us, our Judge has already saved us. We need only to call out His name!
Enjoy One Another
Re:Verse passage – Acts 2:42-47 (day six)
…all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. Acts 2:47
When you read these verses, does it put a smile on your face? Can you imagine the joy they experienced with one another? Not to mention the extraordinary display of God’s power?
We were meant to delight in one another, to express goodwill towards each other. It’s joy in Jesus and one another that drew the attention of others in those early days. And what they saw they had never encountered anywhere before.
I imagine, what was true then, is true now.
Let’s enjoy one another!