“1 In those days Israel had no king” (Judges 19:1)

A simple proclamation begins the horrific story of Judges 19.  There are parts of the Bible that I would like to say, “I am sorry that happened.”  For example, the birth of Jesus was also accompanied by the slaughter of countless babies.  (Matthew 2:16).

When there is the promise of a new king, someone is always in trouble of losing power.  Judges is setting up Israel to have a king, and ultimately for the coming of the King of Kings.  Moral chaos becomes the norm when there is no law.

The moral chaos around us is indication to me of the need for the King of Kings.  As a child we use to sing the song, “Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King.”  In the midst of a Judges 19 style world, my heart is going to focus on that song.

If you have never heard Andre Crouch‘s song, here you go:

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“The LORD replied,” (Judges 10:11)

How do you hear the Lord?  It is pehaps the most important question.  If you are full of sinful behaviour, how do you hear the Lord?  If you are full of saintly behaviour, how do you hear the Lord?

I am sorry to tell you that there is no special formula to answer this one.  It simply comes down to taking time to build a realtionship with God.  Over time, you will start to know the sound of God’s voice.

I am challenged today to take some extra time to just listen.

“Abimelech used [the silver] to hire reckless adventurers, who became his followers.” (Judges 9:4)

Abimelech hired a brute squad to get rid of anyone who may fight for leadership.  Brute power will never spare you from all harm. In the end, Abimelech dies from blunt force trauma.

There are times that force is neccessary for leadership.

• Sometimes you have to hold a child to make them stay
• Sometimes you have to fire an employee to make them stop stealing
• Sometimes you have to take the license of a habitual speeder.

However,

• if you run a home where your kid’s #1 motivator is fear, then you will end up with a family like Judges 9.
• If you run a business where the “fire” button is easily reachable, then you will have a Judges 9 style organization.

My goal of heaven is not to just escape hell.  It is to be with my Creator.  On this 10th day of Judges, this is what I am reflecting upon.

Gideon is running after the Midianites, and finding out who is with him on the conquest.

When you find victory over an oppression, you have to pursue to eradicate it.  Too many of us, start down a road of change and then we stop at the first sign of victory.

• We start pursuing being healthier, and we stop at the first sign of success
• We start pursuing being free of bad habits, and we stop at the first point of breakthrough

Being completely free of oppressive thoughts and oppressive sins, takes a complete pursuit until you reach the core root of that oppression.

My prayer today is that the Lord would give me the strength and courage to keep fighting the good fight.

Gideon has been filled with fear.

1. He is threshing in a winepress.  This hides the grain.

2. He declares that his clan is the weakest and he his the weakest in his clan (v. 15)

3. He destroys the altar of Baal at night.

Gideon is a far cry from the strong leader he needs to become.  And yet, God chooses him to deliver Israel.  A continuing theme throughout Scripture is that God uses the weak to confound the strong.

“Then the land had peace for forty years” (Judges 5:31)

In one of my all-time favorit movie, First Knight, Sean Connery as King Arthur lays down one of life’s great truths.  King Arthur is being challenged to war, and the king’s response is:

“There’s a peace you only find after war.”

Maybe my all-time favorite movie line.  So many of us try to have peace in our lives by avoiding conflict.  Often (perhaps most often)  peace will only after the confrontation is over.

“Then the land had peace for forty years” (Judges 5:31)

What could it say for you and me today?

• “Then the home had peace….”
• “Then the finances had peace…”
• “Then the marriage had peace…”
• “Then ________ had peace…”

1 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:

2 “When the princes in Israel take the lead,
when the people willingly offer themselves—
praise the LORD!

3 “Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers!
I will sing to the LORD, I will sing;
I will make music to the LORD, the God of Israel.

Where has the great music gone?  For centuries, the best music was found from people who followed God.  The most beautiful poems, writings, paintings, and choruses were centered around Christ.  I long for a time when spirit filled artist are inspired by the Great Creator to fill our thoughts with descriptions of what God has done.

I am not a lyricist nor a composer, but I hope someday someone listens to a lesson of mine, and it insipires them to write.  That would be simply incredible.  I am going to put a little more song in my day today.  Go ahead and make the day a musical.  (Musicals can be manly, right?