My 'One Year Bible' Journey

Today I read from the following books;



JUDGES 4:1-5:31
LUKE 22:35-53
PSALM 94:1-23
PROVERBS 14:3-4


In Judges today it talks about the Israelites once again going back to their evil ways after Ehud died.


- They seem to need constant leading, they have proven themselves, when there is no strong leadership they quickly fall into wickedness. I guess this is true on many levels even today. When the cat's away the mouse will play..... -



So the Lord "Sold Them" into the hands of Jabin a king of Canaan. The commander of his army Sisera was very strong, his army was strong with 900 iron chariots. Once again the Israelites cried to God for help in their suffering. God spoke to Deborah a prophetess who's husband, Lappidoth was leading Israel at that time.

Deborah sent for Barak from Kedesk and told him that God commanded him to take 10,000 men to Mount Tabor. God would lead Sisera and his chariots and troops into Barak's hands. Barak said to Deborah, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go".



- Wow, I can't imagine all that the Israelites have gone through seeing gods wonder over and over, and over and then to have God ask you to do something and you tell him I'm not going unless someone else is going. Almost like, if I'm going down so are you? That's crazy, I would like to think that I would have gone into battle 100% confident in God...but then again, I've never been in charge of 10,000 men or fought in a battle. -



The lord handed Sisera's army over to him, they killed every soldier except Sisera who escaped on foot. Sisera fled to the tent of Jael because they had friendly relations. He asked for water, and she gave him milk, he asked her to keep guard at the entrance of the tent and lie to everyone telling them that no one was in the tent with her.
While he slept she grabbed a metal tent post and a hammer and drove the tent post into his temple and straight into the ground! He died right there. She found Barak and told him that Sisera was inside the tent. It then states that after that day the "hand of Israel grew stronger and stronger". There is a 2 page song that Deborah and Barak sing after they defeated the enemy. It essentially gives glory to god but tells the whole story of their victory in the song.

In Luke Jesus went up the mountain while some his disciples followed him, then Jesus went on further and the disciples stayed behind. Jesus prayed so vigorously that he sweat blood! When he rose from his prayers he headed down the mountain to find his men asleep. He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."



It says that while he is still talking to them a crowed came up to them. The crowed was being led by Judas. Judas came up to kiss Jesus when Jesus said to him "Judas, are you betraying the Son of man with a kiss?" When Jesus' followers say what was happening they started to fight, they cut off the ear of a man, but Jesus quickly stopped the battle. he touched the mans ear and it healed completely. Jesus said to the priests who had come to kill him; "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lat a hand on me. But this is your hour - when darkness reigns."



- Whoa, those are some strong words as it is, let alone being said to you by Jesus himself. I wonder if at that moment they hesitated in their decision at all? I wonder if hearing there plan be called evil or dark made them say to themselves, well maybe we took this a little far...Either way we all know what is about to happen so even if they did second guess themselves, it didn't change their minds completely. -



The proverbs for today is; PROVERBS 14:3-4 "A fool's talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them. Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest."

Labels: Barak, daily readings, Deborah, Ehud, God, Israelites, Jael, Jesus, Judas, Judges, Luke, Proverbs, Sisera