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

Today I read from the following books;

JUDGES 2:10-3:31
LUKE 22:14-34
PSALM 92:1-93:5
PROVERBS 14:1-2

Today's reading was intense. Judges talks about the Israelites becoming corrupt. It mentions that the whole generation previously written had gone by the new generation did not know the lord. They worshiped false idols and inter married with other people both of which was strictly forbidden when God gave the land to the Israelites.

It says that God became angry and delivered them into the hands of their enemies, which is what he warned them about if they ever turned their backs on the lord. It goes on to say that they cried to God out of their suffering and he heard them, he assigned a leader or "Judge" named Othniel who went to war and freed Israel from their enemies. But after Othniel died the Israelites became corrupt again and started worshiping false gods, so God again gave them over to their enemies. They again cried to God for help and he assigned them another Judge named Ehud. Ehud it says was a "Left handed man" The Israelites sent him with a tribute, which was a double edged sword that he strapped to his right thigh. He went to the king of Moab who was a fat man, and said he had a secret message for him. The king ordered all his servants out of the room.

- I can't describe the next part any better than it is written so I am going to write it here word for word. -

"Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his summer palace and said, 'I have a message from God for you.' As the king rose from his seat, Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king's belly. Even the handle sank in after the blade, which came out his back. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it. Then Ehud went out to the porch, he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them."

-Whoa, that is pretty intense. That would make one heck of a action scene in a movie... -

It then goes on to explain that he returned, blew a horn and the Israelites gathered. He spoke to them about what God had ordered him and they went to war, God handed their enemies over to them.

In Luke today it talks about the passover where Jesus ate with the 12. He mentions that, that will be the last time he will drink or eat before he "finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." He tells them that one of them will betray him (we already know who that is...) and tells Peter that he will betray Jesus 3 times before "the rooster crows".

- There were some amazing stories today. -

The Proverbs for today is; PROVERBS 14:1-2 "The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. He whose walk is upright fears the Lord, but he whose ways are devious despises him."

Labels: daily readings, Eglon, Ehud, God, Israelites, Jesus, Judges, Luke, Othniel, passover, Peter, Proverbs, Psalms, Simon