Today’s Tasting: Judges 3–5 (NLT): God used judges not only to deliver the Israelites from their enemies, but also to remind them of and lead them in the ways of the Lord. When the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, He allowed their enemies to overtake them. Then the Israelites would cry out to the Lord in distress, and He would come to their rescue—time and time again.
In the beginning of chapter 3, the people of Israel had been in bondage to King Cushan-Rishathaim of Mesopotamia for eight years. God appointed Othniel to be the judge of Israel and gave him victory over King Cushan-Rishathaim. Then there was peace in the land for forty years. When Othniel died, the Israelites again did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord and were defeated by their enemies. They were in captivity for eighteen years, then God raised up Ehud as the next judge. Ehud killed King Eglon of Moab, giving the Israelites victory over the Moabites. This time there was peace in the land for eighty years. So the cycle continued, with the Israelites eventually sinning against God and being oppressed by their enemies, then crying out to God and being delivered. The last judge described in today’s reading is Deborah, who prophesied that God would give the Israelites victory at the hands of a woman. Chapter 5 records the song of Deborah, a song of praise to the Lord after the Israelites had again defeated their enemies.
Today’s Nourishment: It is good to remind ourselves that God loves us, even when we act wrongly. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Just like the Israelites, we are disobedient and sin against God but God in His loving kindness forgives us.
Have you ever felt like you’ve messed up so badly that God wouldn’t forgive you because you couldn’t forgive yourself? I have been there many times but let me reassure you that God is not like us. His love is everlasting and unconditional. He will not take His love from us. No matter what you have done, you can come back to God. He is ready with open arms to receive you back. Cry out to Him and repent. He will hear your cry and rescue you from your troubles.
Father, I’m sorry for being disobedient and sinning before You. I ask that you create a clean heart in me and renew my spirit within me. I am so glad that You don’t treat me like I treat You. I am so glad that nothing can ever separate me from Your love. Please strengthen me to resist sin so that I may be pleasing in Your sight at all times. In Jesus’ name, amen!
Tomorrows Reading: Judges 6–7
Chantea Williams https://gwwministry.wordpress.com/
Chantea, I have found that forgiving ourselves as individuals is the most difficult of persons to forgive. When we can get to this point of forgiving grudges against ourselves, we can move on. We are actually encouraged to check our grudges daily, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27). Thanks for reminding us that we are human and we get stuck in some of the same cycles that Israel was caught up in. We can ask for forgiveness and forgive and move on.
We are so much like the Isrealites in how we will cry out to The Lord in forgiveness and then go back to our sinful ways. I’m so thankful that we serve a God who truly does love us unconditionally and when we repent He forgives us and shows us the right way. Col 2:10- That I may have a walk worthy of The Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God!