Good morning! Keep up with the ongoing messages. I keep being inspired!
Judges chapter 21. Weep for the Lost.
Once again we have completed another book of the Bible. This is exciting to see people together reading God's word, learning and growing!
After war had taken place with the Benjamites and after they were defeated, the 11 tribes WEPT bitterly because they wanted the Benjamite to be restored. They wanted it so badly that they put a plan into action to help make it possible. Their plan was to help the Benjamites who had survived to find wives so the tribe could grow versus die out.
This reminded me of Jesus in Luke 19:41-44 where it says “As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city he WEPT over it.” Why? Because they were lost. Because they did not recognize Jesus as the coming Savior and King. Jesus's plan was to die for the sins of this world so that we might live and grow!
I truly want to have a broken heart for lost souls. Such that I WEEP over them as did Israel with the Benjamites and as Jesus did for the lost! I'm passionate to see people come to know the Lord, but not like Jesus was. I pray for the Heart of Jesus that my heart would be broken and would WEEP for the Lost. IF my heart is that concerned, then I know my actions will follow and I will be more active with a plan to reach lost souls. What is our plan today to reach lost souls?
Lord, give Me Your Heart and passion for the lost! In Jesus's name, amen!
Thanks Sarah for sharing that powerful and challenging message yesterday. I appreciate Pastor Blair, you and everyone else who shares comments as we continue to journey through God’s Word.
I think that the very last verse of the last chapter of Judges pretty much gives the overall theme of the book.
“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
In chapter 20, the Israelites were fighting against their own people, the Benjamites. Now in this following chapter, they are sad and trying to find a way to keep this tribe from dying out. I can’t help but think that this all could’ve been settled in such a better way in the previous chapter. We read about their plan. I don’t quite understand all of it completely, but Wow! What a way to get a wife! It makes me wonder about what kind of a relationship these families would’ve had as they lived out their lives together.
Child: “Mom, how did you meet Dad?”
Mom: “Let’s not talk about that today. Maybe we can discuss that when you’re a bit older.”
Child: “That’s the same thing that you said when I asked you about what happened to Grandpa and Grandma.”
I was reminded today of Romans 8:28. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”
The song that I chose for today is called Try and Try Again, a parody of Flying High Again. Here’s the link.
https://youtu.be/ePmtdZFmXI4
The tragic story told here is what happens when man’s faith in God disintegrates … the nation’s unity also falls apart. Then (as Jim and verse 25 say) every man did what was right in his own eyes – not what was right in God’s eyes. The local people should have dealt with the issue by bringing the criminals to justice. Instead, a town and an entire tribe defended this wickedness, even going to war over it. There was plenty of wrong on both sides. From then on, the tribe of Benjamin survives but was the smallest of them all. Later from the tribe of Benjamin comes King Saul, Queen Esther, and the apostle Paul.