(261) 18 September : Proverbs 16v30 / Judges 17-19 / Psalm 62v1-2

BEGIN WITH PRAYER

"Lord open my eyes and my heart."

Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world.

Wisdom to chew on

Proverbs 16:30

Understanding to grow in

Stealing from parents. Fashioning idols. Self-appointed priests. Raiding peaceful peoples. Plundering your own. Failing to provide hospitality to those in need. Cowardice with respect to protecting a woman. Rape, abuse and murder. It's a catalogue of how things moved from bad to worse in Israel. Indeed, the desire for homosexual sex and offer of women shows they have descended to the depths of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19v1-8). And the refrain throughout explains why: Israel had no king. the book of Judges has shown how eadily the people turn from God when they have no leader. But it is not any king they need. They need a righteous, wise and faithful king who will keep them mindful of God and obedient to his law. It is thought provoking to note how ready even those claiming to be Christian are to embrace a DIY Christianity, not to mention the inhospitality and depravity that marks our own culture in these days of moral relativism. We need Jesus as much as they did back then. Only he can bring true reform as people embrace him through the gospel. As you read note the various signs of moral compromise in Israel.
Judges 17-19

Finish this reading by pausing to ask yourself:

1) What’s the main thing it teaches me about God or his purposes in Christ? Then praise him for this.

2) What’s the main thing it teaches me about his will for me or the world? Then pray that home.

Devotion to offer up

You could read this aloud and perhaps as a springboard to further prayer.

Psalm 62:1-2

·       For introductions to the various Bible books click here.

·       To consult Matthew Henry’s concise commentary click here