Two year Bible reading program.

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 16:31 Understanding to grow in The final verse of the book highlights that the actions we read of today are not commendable. The wickedness of yesterday leads Israel to rise up against those who tolerated it. But casualties on both sides show that the other tribes were not without sin. All were being punished. And that led to the tribe of Benjamin almost being wiped out. In microcosm, it shows that the danger in Israel failing to love and obey God is that he hands them over to hostile peoples. Here, however, Benjamin is spared. Yet only by terrible means, as the remaining men are given wives left in another war, or women that they steal. The point is that without a king to mediate God's rule, si...

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 ke...

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 16:27-29 Understanding to grow in This famous story seems intended to prove that Samson's strength really was from the LORD. Without the hair that signified his being set-apart for God's purposes he was no stronger than anyone else. It reminds us that we are able to serve with all the Lord's energy even despite great weakness (Col 1v29). Through him we can achieve what we might never imagine we would be able to. But there is a shadow of Christ here too. Samson's final act is to give his own life to defeat God's enemies. Christ won his greater victory by such a sacrifice, but also by relying on his Father's strength (Lk 22v43). And it is that strength, that rose him from the d...

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 16:26 Understanding to grow in The barren mother and the angel mark Samson's birth as God intervening to save his people. It foreshadows Jesus' own birth, whilst showing just how much we need a saviour who is actually righteous. Samson displays faith, but is appallingly impetuous and sinful, bringing tragedy on those around him. Yet God still uses him. It makes us thankful that Jesus always gets things right. There is no collateral damage with him. But it clarifies too, that although God may use us despite our sin, it doesn't mean he is unconcerned about it. As you read, note Samson's traits. Judges 13-15 Finish this reading by pausing to ask yourself: 1) What’s the main thing...

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 16:25 Understanding to grow in God's grace is seen in acting for a hugely compromised people. Israel consistently turn to idols, yet he is still willing to hear them when they persistently cry out and turn from their practices. It's an encouragement to us that no matter how compromised we or the church become, and no matter how bad things subsequently get, if only we will return to the Lord and cry out for his help, he is ready and willing to hear through Christ. The state of Israel is also seen in the leader they choose and the civil war that results. It warns against accusation and disunity in the church, but also against foolish vows. The text seems to imply Jephthah's led to his sacr...

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 16:24 Understanding to grow in It's one thing to want a king or ruler, it's quite another to desire the right sort of king and for the right reasons. The Israelites seem to want Gideon to rule for their protection, but are unconcerned about whether he will lead them in God's ways as they follow him into idolatry. And those who crown Abimelek show no concern for his wiping out Gideon's (also called Jerub-Baal) family, only wanting a ruler who will benefit them. This is very short sighted, as God's justice means that evil will not triumph in the end. Moreover, it shows the fickleness and self-centredness in our own decisions. But it also breeds an appreciation for Christ, who truly...

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 16:23 Understanding to grow in Even weak faith can be used by God. Gideon shows timidity in breaking down the altar to Baal at night, and doubt in questioning God's commission, needing confirmation with the fleece, and the reassurance of the Midianite's dream. Likewise, Jesus described his disciples as "you of little faith" yet still used them. What encouragement. Of course we are called to a confident faith. But in his kindness, the Lord often gives what our weak faith needs to be bolstered and uses us despite it. This is why we are called to play our part. Serving Christ is not just for the spiritual giants. There are lessons in chapter 8 too about wanting to help rather th...

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 16:22 Understanding to grow in God often uses the most unlikely candidates. This narrative portrays his use of women (Deborah and Jael) in war as a rebuke to the men. One cannot but think that, except for John, it was the women who stayed with Jesus at the cross when the men fled. Today too, men are often put to shame by the greater commitment and courage for the Lord shown by women. But the greater point is that whoever God raises up and uses, they can be successful because it is the LORD doing the work (4v23) - the point of Deborah's song. His "power is made perfect" in our weakness (2 Cor 12v9), as it was in winning the greatest battle through a bloodied and beaten labourer from Naz...

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 16:20-21 Understanding to grow in Warm hearts so easily grow cold. Despite previous commitments, the Israelites fail to drive out the Canaanites completely. God allows this to test each generation to see if they will obey as their anscestors did, and to train them for war. Yet the next generation prove unfaithful, turning to the idols around them. As God promised, he then withdraws his protection, the nations advance, his people cry out, and in mercy he sends a judge as saviour. Yet when the judge dies, the people only return to their idolatry. This is the pattern we will see in this book of "Judges." It shows how much we need a saviour who lives forever, always keeping us in check. But th...