Daily Bible Reading for April 3, 2020

Today my Bible reading plan covers Judges, Chapters 10-12.

In Chapter 10, God raises two different judges, Tola, who judged twenty-three years, and after he died,  Jair, who judged Israel twenty-two years. After Jair dies, the Israelites returned to doing evil, serving Baal and the gods from other nations bringing God to anger. God sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, and they oppressed them for eighteen years.

The Israelites cried out to the LORD, only this time they owned their sin.

“We have sinned against you because we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals.” Vs. 10

The LORD’s responded to them by reminding them of how many times he delivered them from their enemies, yet they continually forsook him, so God said he would not save them. God issues tough love.

“Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.” Vs. 14

The Israelites admit that they sinned again and appeal to God to do whatever he must but to please save them, and they also got rid of their gods and returned to serve the LORD. Because God is a God of mercy, God pities them. The Psalmist says that he will not despise a broken and contrite heart. (Psalm 51:17)

“‘We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good to You; only please deliver us this day.’ So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD; and He could bear the misery of Israel no longer.” Vs. 15b-16

In Chapter 11, Jephthah is introduced as a mighty warrior. Jephthah was the son of a prostitute. His father Gilead whose sons he had with his wife, drove Jephthah out because they did not feel he was entitled to their inheritance.

But when the Ammonites came to war against them, they went to get Jephthah to fight in the war against them. He made them promise that if God gave him the victory, they would make him their leader. They agreed. Jephthah does win, but sadly he makes a vow to the LORD that will cost him the life of his only daughter.

In Chapter 12, the Ephraimites question Jephthah for the reason he did not invite them to join in the fight just as they did Gideon. They end up in a civil war in which Jephthah wins. Jephthah judges Israel for six years. After his death, God raises three judges; Ibzan, who judges for seven years, Elon, who judges for ten years, and Abdon, who judges for eight years.

My Thoughts On This:  In true repentance, it is important to own our sin. Hosea 14:2 says “Take with you words…”. We must state our sin before God. Secondly, we must abandon our sin like the Israelites got rid of the foreign gods. (See Matthew 3:8). God is a God of mercy, when we are truly repentant, i.e, really sorry for our sins, being sorry that we grieved him (see Psalm 51), he will have mercy.  True repentance is a gift from God.

Let’s read the Book!