April 24th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Judges 2:10-3:31 ~ Luke 22:14-34
Psalm 92:1-93:5 ~ Proverbs 14:1-2

Old Testament - Today in Judges we read about Israel forgetting about God and worshiping other gods.  Judges chapter 2 verse 19 stood out to me - "But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They followed other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways."  I wonder if we are so different today from the Israelites in the time of the Judges?  Do we maybe shape ourselves up for short amounts of time - but then go back to our corrupt ways?  Do we ultimately refuse to give up our evil practices and stubborn ways?  Why is this?  What is the remedy to this problem?  Or - perhaps I should ask - Who is the remedy to this problem?  Who can literally rescue us from this problem?  Who can rescue us from ourselves?  Will we allow Jesus to rescue us from our evil practices and stubborn ways?

New Testament - Today in Luke chapter 22 we read about the Last Supper.  Every time I read verses 19 & 20 I am reminded of the amazing beauty of Communion in our churches today - "Then Jesus took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." After supper he took another cup of wine and said, "This wine is the token of God's new covenant to save you--an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you."  Do these verses remind you of Communion at your church?  Do you find Communion to be a beautiful experience at your church?  Why do we do Communion in our churches today?

Bible.org's commentary on our Luke chapter 22 readings today titled "The Last Supper" is at this link and commentary titled "Perspective, Personal Ambition, and Prophecy" is at this link.

Psalms - Today in Psalm 92 verse 4 we read a joyful verse – “For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.” When was the last time you reflected upon God’s deeds? When was the last time you reflected upon God’s work of his hands? Do you think this might be a good daily habit? Do God’s deeds make you glad? Do you sing for joy regularly for God’s work of his hands?  Bible.org's commentary on Psalm 92 titled "Worship - Our Delight and Our Duty" is at this link.

Proverbs - Today in in Proverbs chapter 14 verse 2 we read – “He whose walk is upright fears the LORD.” What does it mean to you to fear the Lord? Is it possible that for us to have some fear of the Lord is healthy? Why would fear of the Lord be healthy? Don’t get me wrong – I’m not suggesting we live our lives in abject fear of God all of the time. But - this Proverb is in the Bible - and it says that someone whose walk is upright fears the Lord. So, I do humbly suggest that there is a healthy fear of God that each of us should recognize. (along with a raging LOVE of God as well of course) Do you fear God at all? Why or why not? Do you think that you should have any fear God? Why or why not?

What verses or insights jumped out for you in today's readings?  Please post up in the Comments section below!

Grace,
Mike

Comments

[Ramona]

Judges 2:10-3:31

Israel forgot because their parents forgot to listen, to heed the words of Moses:

These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up. You should tie them as a reminder on your forearm and fasten them as symbols on your forehead. Inscribe them on the doorframes of your houses and gates. Then when the LORD your God brings you to the land he promised your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give you a land with large, fine cities you did not build, houses filled with choice things you did not accumulate, hewn out cisterns you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant and you eat your fill, be careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, that place of slavery. You must revere the LORD your God, serve him, and take oaths using only his name. You must not go after other gods, those of the surrounding peoples, for the LORD your God, who is present among you, is a jealous God and his anger will erupt against you and remove you from the land. (Deuteronomy 6:6-15 NET.)

If they didn’t know it means they were never told. How many of us fail to tell our children of our struggles, failures and hopelessness before our salvation, and our deliverance stories after. I am thoroughly convicted of my failure to do this. We fail to tell because our children usually say, “I’ve heard that story before,” yes we fail to remember that God has to repeat Himself and His Word to us over and over again, ‘cause we don’t get it. Even if they close their ears to our word, their sub-conscience is still listening.

Either the Word of God is true or either we consider it nice poetry or an interesting narrative, it can’t have it both ways. Our stories prepare them to choose wisely when they get to a crossroad that we have stumbled on, our stories warn them and give them tools to recognize the dangers meeting them on their journey after they leave our protection. Our stories are our legacy, a road map, which we bequeath to our children.

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children … (Proverbs 13:22 KJV)

In the King James, the text of Judges 2:10 reads,

And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. (Judges 2:10 KJVR).

In the Hebrew, the word knew is the word yâda‛, to know (properly to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively instruction, designation, punishment, etc.).

The generation didn’t know because they weren’t told.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Nigel]

I agree with Ramona. God has been challenging me to teach & model & lead my children to a real realationship with God. THis morning I showed them how I read and pray using this blog. I pray that it may never be said of my children that they grew up not knowing the LORD.