Judges 8:18-32; Luke 23:26-43; Psalms 99:1-4; Proverbs 21:28-29

NT: “When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots. The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” An inscription was above him: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭23:33-43‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

As a fulfillment of Isaiah 53:12, Jesus was numbered among the transgressors by being crucified between two criminals, and He interceded for the transgressors by asking God to forgive His executioners. As the crowds, the religious leaders, and even one of the crucified criminals mocked Jesus, one of the criminals had a moment of revelation and faith. Written above Jesus was a sign that said, “This is the King of the Jews.” Somehow, as that criminal looked at the beaten, bloodied, crucified Jesus, he realized that Jesus was the Messiah. Imagine that faith that was required to come to that conclusion. Many of those who were in the crowd mocking Jesus had probably followed Jesus during His ministry – yet when things didn’t go their way, they rejected Him. Yet here, in the final hours of Jesus life – beaten beyond recognition… seemingly powerless and miracle-less… being shamed and ridiculed by everyone, and looking far from kingly – the criminal placed his faith in Jesus and said, “When (not if) you come into Your kingdom, remember me.” In that moment of faith, the criminal was numbered among the righteous and would be with Jesus in Paradise. Jesus may not have saved His own life, but He saved the life of a repentant criminal.

Proverbs: “A wicked person puts on a bold face, but the upright one considers his way.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭21:29‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

You can see this proverb illustrated in the two criminals that were crucified with Jesus. One criminal was bold and defiant, while the other considered his guilt. Wicked here means guilty of sin or unrighteous. Both criminals were guilty, but one was numbered with the righteous and one was not. What made the difference? A humble consideration of his guilt accompanied by confession and repentance. The Bible teaches that all have sinned – but the Bible also says that among those sinners are saints that have been cleansed from their sin through faith, confession, and repentance.

Judges 8:1-17; Luke 23:13-25; Psalms 98:1-9; Proverbs 21:27

Psalms: “Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has performed wonders; his right hand and holy arm have won him victory. The Lord has made his victory known; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his love and faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen our God’s victory. Let the whole earth shout to the Lord; be jubilant, shout for joy, and sing. Sing to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and melodious song. With trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn shout triumphantly in the presence of the Lord, our King. Let the sea and all that fills it, the world and those who live in it, resound. Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains shout together for joy before the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world righteously and the peoples fairly.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭98:1-9‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

On the night when Jesus was born, an angel appeared to shepherds in the field and said, “I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” In Romans 8, Paul wrote, “For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility — not willingly, but because of him who subjected it — in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:19-21‬ ‭CSB‬‬) In Revelation 7, we see that at the end of the age, there will be a vast and innumerable gathering of people from every nation, tribe, people, and language that will sing of and celebrate God’s great salvation. When the Son of God came to earth, He lived a sinless life and then gave His life to pay for our sin. He defeated the power of sin, defeated the power of death, and made a way for us to be free from our sin and filled with His life. God’s plan of salvation is not just for a small remnant of people – it is a global plan for any and all who will believe the news and respond accordingly. Not everyone will accept God’s salvation, but it is offered to all. One day, when all have had the opportunity to hear and respond to God’s salvation message, The Son of God – the Lord our King, will come again to claim His kingship and establish His kingdom on earth. Then He will judge the world righteously and the peoples fairly… and all creation will be made new and given the same salvation as those who responded positively to the gospel. It is a good message. It is a glorious message. It is a global message. It is a joyous message. It is a message that I have responded to and experienced the effects of. It is a message that I have faith in, hope for, and eagerly expect. Joy to the world, the Lord has come. Let earth receive her King!

Judges 7:1-25; Luke 23:1-12; Psalms 97:1-12; Proverbs 21:25-26

Psalms: “The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coasts and islands be glad. Clouds and total darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and burns up his foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord — at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness; all the peoples see his glory. All who serve carved images, those who boast in worthless idols, will be put to shame. All the gods must worship him. Zion hears and is glad, Judah’s villages rejoice because of your judgments, Lord. For you, Lord, are the Most High over the whole earth; you are exalted above all the gods. You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his faithful ones; he rescues them from the power of the wicked. Light dawns for the righteous, gladness for the upright in heart. Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones, and give thanks to his holy name.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭97:1-12‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

If you have ever been in a gathering when the Lord manifested His presence – or even in a private time of worship – it is a wonderful and awesome experience. Elijah had an experience like that in 1 Kings 19:11-13. Elijah saw all the idol worship that was going on in the land and lost hope. In the midst of his depression and hopelessness, God manifested His presence to Elijah and suddenly everything became clear. He was able to see that Lord reigned over all. The Prophet Isaiah had a similar experience in Isaiah 6:1-4. The king had just died and Isaiah sought the Lord. Suddenly he saw the Lord high and lifted up… and everything for Isaiah changed in a moment. John the Apostle was banished to a remote island and was concerned for the state of the persecuted fledgling church – then suddenly Jesus, the exalted King of Kings manifested Himself to John and shifted his perspective. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 14 described what should happen when the the Lord manifests His presence in a gathering and the Spirit of prophecy is released: the secrets of peoples hearts are revealed, they are convinced, they are convicted, and they fall on their face and declare that God is truly present. Everything changes when the exalted King is enthroned among His people. The Lord’s (and our) enemies flee before Him. The mountainous obstacles that ominously stand in our way melt like wax. The false gods and idols of the world are exposed for what they are. Everyone present – believer and unbeliever alike – see and experience His glory. Depending on where you are with the Lord, it can be a fearful or a joyous experience… but one thing is certain: all are convinced that the Lord reigns over all.

Judges 6:33-40; Luke 22:54-71; Psalms 96:1-13; Proverbs 21:23-24

Psalms: “Sing a new song to the Lord; let the whole earth sing to the Lord. Sing to the Lord, bless his name; proclaim his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his wondrous works among all peoples. For the Lord is great and is highly praised; he is feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; bring an offering and enter his courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; let the whole earth tremble before him. Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns. The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken. He judges the peoples fairly.” Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and all that fills it resound. Let the fields and everything in them celebrate. Then all the trees of the forest will shout for joy before the Lord, for he is coming — for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with his faithfulness.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭96:1-13‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Most of this Psalm comes from a song that was sung on the day that David brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 16:23-33). It is a celebration of the goodness and greatness of God. Sing, sing, Sing! 3 times the psalmist calls us to sing to the Lord. We sing to the Lord a new song. Why? Our God is I AM, the ever-present God. He isn’t just the God of the past… He is the God or our present realities. We aren’t limited of songs about what He used to do. We can sing fresh new songs of what He is doing in our lives now. Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! This isn’t just a call to God’s people – it is a call to all of creation to give praise and thanks to the creator and sustainer of all life. Sing to the Lord songs of blessing (celebration, praise, and adoration) and proclaim the good news (the gospel) of His salvation every day! The gods of the peoples… the gods of culture and society… the gods of the nations of the world: they are good-for-nothing, worthless idols. Our God, on the other hand, created the entire universe! So give Him high praise! Ascribe, ascribe, ascribe! 3 times the psalmist calls us to ascribe to the Lord. Ascribe means to attribute to. The psalmist calls everyone – all the people groups of the world, to ascribe to God. What do we ascribe to Him? Glory (honor, majesty, splendor, dignity, weightiness) and strength. We are to ascribe to Him the glory that is due His incomparable, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent name – and we are to worship (bow down completely and surrender fully) Him in the splendor and jaw-dropping beauty of His perfect and complete holiness. Imagine if we truly held God in such high regard. How would our lives be different than they are now? How would we impact the world around us? Oh, for a moment even – turn away from the craziness of all that is going on around us and look to the Lord who is high and lifted up. Ascribe to Him the glory that He is due through songs of praise and adoration. Worship Him in His awesome and wonderful holiness. Let God’s greatness and awesomeness inform your perspective on the world and see if that doesn’t bring you peace. Then say to the chaotic world as you go about your day, “The Lord reigns!”

Judges 6:1-32; Luke 22:39-53; Psalms 95:1-11; Proverbs 21:21-22

OT: “The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord handed them over to Midian seven years, and they oppressed Israel. Because of Midian, the Israelites made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds… So Israel became poverty-stricken because of Midian, and the Israelites cried out to the Lord. When the Israelites cried out to him because of Midian, the Lord sent a prophet to them. He said to them, “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I brought you out of Egypt and out of the place of slavery… I said to you: I am the Lord your God. Do not fear the gods of the Amorites whose land you live in. But you did not obey me.’” The angel of the Lord came, and he sat under the oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash, the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress in order to hide it from the Midianites. Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “The Lord is with you, valiant warrior.” Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened? And where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about? They said, ‘Hasn’t the Lord brought us out of Egypt? ’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.” The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the grasp of Midian. I am sending you!” He said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Look, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s family.” “But I will be with you,” the Lord said to him. “You will strike Midian down as if it were one man.” Then he said to him, “If I have found favor with you, give me a sign that you are speaking with me… When Gideon realized that he was the angel of the Lord, he said, “Oh no, Lord God! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” But the Lord said to him, “Peace to you. Don’t be afraid, for you will not die.” So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. It is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites today.” (‭‭Judges‬ ‭6:1-2, 6-8, 10-17, 22-24‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

In its on-again-off-again relationship with the God of Creation, Israel had once again walked away from the Lord and was living according to their own whims and desires. Because they had walked away from the Lord, they were no longer under His covering and blessing and were exposed year after year to the marauding Midianites. When they cried out to the Lord asking why things were so bad, He sent them a prophet to tell them the truth: Despite all that He had done for them, they were unfaithful to Him and were serving the gods of the land. Meanwhile, the Angel of the Lord (a pre-incarnate Christ) appeared to a cowardly, no-name farmer who was trying to eek out a living while hiding from the enemy. “The Lord is with you, valiant warrior,” said the Angel of the Lord – which is quite comical if you think about it. Gideon was anything but a valiant warrior – but God doesn’t look at us according to how we are currently. Instead He sees what we can become if we surrender our lives to Him and allow Him to work through us. He sees our destiny in Him and gives us a name to live up to. Gideon’s response was far from being faith-filled, and was full of doubts and questions – but the Lord was patient with Him. The Lord’s parting words to Gideon were, “Peace to you. Don’t be afraid. You won’t die.” Then in a brief moment of faith, Gideon built an altar of remembrance and called it the Lord is Peace. Jehovah Shalom in Hebrew. Shalom is a pretty comprehensive word. It means far more than peace. Wrapped up in that word are the concepts of completeness, safety, health, prosperity, contentment, and wellbeing. In that moment… probably for the first time in his life… Gideon was at peace, for the Lord had blessed Him with peace – and he realized that the only way peace would come is through the Lord – for the Lord IS peace… He is safety… He is health… He is wholeness… He is contentment and wellbeing. If we desire peace, it can only be found in the Lord.

Psalms: “Come, let’s shout joyfully to the Lord, shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation! Let’s enter his presence with thanksgiving; let’s shout triumphantly to him in song. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. The depths of the earth are in his hand, and the mountain peaks are his. The sea is his; he made it. His hands formed the dry land. Come, let’s worship and bow down; let’s kneel before the Lord our Maker. For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, the sheep under his care. Today, if you hear his voice: Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on that day at Massah in the wilderness where your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did. For forty years I was disgusted with that generation; I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray; they do not know my ways.” So I swore in my anger, “They will not enter my rest.”” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭95:1-11‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

This psalm contains a call and a warning. I’ll start with the warning first. Don’t harden your hearts through a lack of faith and disobedience. Don’t allow your heart to go astray from the word, will, and ways of the Lord. If you harden your heart and determine to live your life according to your own desires and pursuits, you will not find rest and you will not be at peace. Instead of hardening your hearts, do this (and here is the call): Worship, bow down, and kneel before the Lord our Maker and our God. Enter His presence with thanksgiving. Shout joyful shouts of praise to Him. All the earth… all natural resources… all nations… everything is His. He is the Creator and sustainer of all life. Instead of trying to make our own way in life, let’s become His people and the sheep under His care. Then, in His care, we will find peace and rest for our souls.

Proverbs: “The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love will find life, righteousness, and honor.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭21:21‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Instead of pursuing your own carnal desires and ambitions, pursue righteousness and the mercy/faithful love of the Lord. If you do that, you will find abundant and vibrant life, justice and righteousness, and the glory and honor of the Lord.

Judges 5:1-31; Luke 22:35-38; Psalms 94:14-23; Proverbs 21:19-20

Psalms: “The Lord will not leave his people or abandon his heritage, for the administration of justice will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it. Who stands up for me against the wicked? Who takes a stand for me against evildoers? If the Lord had not been my helper, I would soon rest in the silence of death. If I say, “My foot is slipping,” your faithful love will support me, Lord. When I am filled with cares, your comfort brings me joy. Can a corrupt throne be your ally, a throne that makes evil laws? They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the Lord is my refuge; my God is the rock of my protection. He will pay them back for their sins and destroy them for their evil. The Lord our God will destroy them.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭94:14-23‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Those who lean on their own understanding and make their own way in the world have no assurances – but those who trust in the Lord and acknowledge His ways have this great assurance: The Lord will not leave His people or abandon what is rightfully His. If we belong to the Lord by faith, then He is for us. He stands up for us and defends us. As the Apostle Paul said in Romans 8, “If God is for us, then who can stand against us.” When we feel like we are losing our footing, He comes and supports us. When the cares of life surround us, He comforts us and brings us joy. The Lord is our safe place, our refuge, our retreat, our stronghold, and our shelter. No matter how crazy and out-of-control the world around us gets, we can be safe and at peace in the Lord. He leads us by His word, will, and ways. His rod and His staff protect and comfort us. He blesses us in the midst of our enemies and the chaos they cause. Now, more than ever, look to the Lord, rest in Him place your faith on Him, and be assured.

Judges 4:1-24; Luke 22:24-34; Psalms 94:1-13; Proverbs 21:17-18

NT: “Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest. But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called ‘Benefactors.’ It is not to be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving. For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. You are those who stood by me in my trials. I bestow on you a kingdom, just as my Father bestowed one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:24-32‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

You would think, after 3 years of following Jesus, the disciples would have learned that greatness in the Kingdom is not something that should be fought over. Greatness is not something that can be taken from someone else. Greatness in the Kingdom is serving – it is laying your life down for your brother and loving your neighbor as yourself. The greatest in the Kingdom is the servant of all. It was during this squabble that Jesus taught the disciples what true greatness is by washing their feet. The purpose of discipline is not punishment. The purpose of discipline is correction and teaching. When the disciples started talking smack to each other about who was the greatest, Jesus disciplined them. He corrected them and taught them unto making them more mature disciples. A disciple, then, is someone who is under someone’s discipline. If we are true disciples of Jesus, then we will allow Him to discipline us, just as Jesus disciplined the original 12. Sometimes that discipline comes in the form of trial and testing. When Satan asked to sift Peter (and the other disciples), the Lord had the authority to say no, but He didn’t. Why? The sifting was part of Jesus’ training plan. If Peter was never disciplined in that way, he would never grow strong enough to endure the inevitable hardships to come. And once Peter learned what he needed to learn during the sifting, he was to then strengthen and teach his brothers. All the while, Jesus would be praying for him to endure. Discipline is never enjoyable, but it is needed to build us into mature disciples that can go the distance and endure. God is not committed to our comfort, He is committed to our growth – and if we trust Him to grow us, He will comfort us along the way.

Psalms: “Lord, God of vengeance — God of vengeance, shine! Rise up, Judge of the earth; repay the proud what they deserve. Lord, how long will the wicked — how long will the wicked celebrate? …They say, “The Lord doesn’t see it. The God of Jacob doesn’t pay attention.” Pay attention, you stupid people! Fools, when will you be wise? Can the one who shaped the ear not hear, the one who formed the eye not see? The one who instructs nations, the one who teaches mankind knowledge — does he not discipline? The Lord knows the thoughts of mankind; they are futile. Lord, how happy is anyone you discipline and teach from your law to give him relief from troubled times until a pit is dug for the wicked.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭94:1-3, 7-13‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

When we look around and all we see are injustices prevailing – we see ungodly people thriving while the righteous suffer – what do we do? Sadly, many lose their faith, give up hope, and grow angry at God. In their anger and frustration, they abandon God’s ways and embrace the ways of the world. The psalmist was in a similar predicament, but instead of jettisoning his faith, he embraced the Lord even more fully. First, he called on God and prayed to the God of justice and righteousness – asking for the Lord’s will and ways to prevail over the will and ways of the wicked. Then he made the greatness of God known to all who would hear. He made sure that everyone knew that their injustices were not unseen… though they were “getting away with murder” now, they would eventually reap the consequences of their godlessness. After that, he opened his own life up before the Lord and welcomed the Lord’s discipline – asking the Lord to teach him and grow him through the troubled times, that he would be strengthened in his faith and endurance, and receive comfort from the Lord through the test and trials. During this season of trial: 1) Are we praying to the Lord and placing the need for justice in His hand or are we just getting angry? 2) Are we glorifying the Lord and making Him known, or are we sullying God’s reputation by the way we react to the events of the day? 3) Are we allowing the Lord to discipline us, cleanse us, train us, and make us stronger; or are we clinging to our comfort and resisting the discipline of the Lord? The enemy has asked to sift us. Will we give up our faith, or will we endure and come out of this stronger than ever before?

Judges 3:1-31; Luke 22:14-23; Psalms 93:1-5; Proverbs 21:14-16

NT: “When the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. Then he said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:14-20‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Jesus fervently desired to share this particular Passover with His disciples, for this would be the last Passover He would partake in. The next feast that He would participate in would be the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the great celebratory feast at the end of the age when He is fully reunited with His bride the church. This would also be His last meal before going to the cross. During the final phases of the Passover, Jesus did something different. Passover was instituted by God on the night He delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt. The Jewish nation was to celebrate Passover every year to remind them of God’s great deliverance. When Jesus broke the bread and passed it around, He said, “From now on when you eat this meal, remember Me and the great deliverance I won for you by offering My body as the sacrifice.” Then, He took the cup of wine, and before drinking it, said, “From now on, this cup of wine will serve as a reminder of a new covenant that I am establishing with you, not through the blood of a lamb, but through My blood which is going to be completely poured out for your sakes.” Communion is not a time to mourn. It is a time to give thanks, remember, and celebrate what Jesus has done for us… until we celebrate with Him at the end of the age.

Psalms: “The Lord reigns! He is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed, enveloped in strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken. Your throne has been established from the beginning; you are from eternity. The floods have lifted up, Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their pounding waves. Greater than the roar of a huge torrent — the mighty breakers of the sea — the Lord on high is majestic. Lord, your testimonies are completely reliable; holiness adorns your house for all the days to come.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭93:1-5‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

This psalm was probably written to remind God’s people, in the midst of challenge, that the Lord is great and His word endures forever. Raging seas and pounding waves are often used as symbols of the rise and fall of nations, leaders, and political systems. Torrential storms are symbolic of the circumstances and voices that rage around us that can be deafening to the word of truth and reason. God is above all of that. He is greater than the things that surround us and scream and shout at us. He is Lord over the flood and raging seas. His throne is firmly established and nothing can shake Him or knock Him off His throne. His word is completely reliable and it endures through the harshest circumstances and never fails. What a great truth to remember: If we have surrendered our lives to God’s word, will, and ways; not only do we serve an unshakable God who is sovereign over all, we also have a savior who gave His entire life for us to save us, lead us and keep us through all things.

Judges 2:10-23; Luke 21:37-22:13; Psalms 92:1-15; Proverbs 21:13

OT: “Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110… That whole generation was also gathered to their ancestors. After them another generation rose up who did not know the Lord or the works he had done for Israel. The Israelites did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. They worshiped the Baals and abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed other gods from the surrounding peoples and bowed down to them. They angered the Lord, for they abandoned him and worshiped Baal and the Ashtoreths… The Lord raised up judges, who saved them from the power of their marauders, but they did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostituted themselves with other gods, bowing down to them. They quickly turned from the way of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to the Lord’s commands. They did not do as their ancestors did. Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for the Israelites, the Lord was with him and saved the people from the power of their enemies while the judge was still alive. The Lord was moved to pity whenever they groaned because of those who were oppressing and afflicting them. Whenever the judge died, the Israelites would act even more corruptly than their ancestors, following other gods to serve them and bow in worship to them. They did not turn from their evil practices or their obstinate ways.” (‭‭Judges‬ ‭2:8, 10-13, 16-19‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Sadly, somehow the generation that Joshua led into the promised land failed to pass their knowledge and honor of the Lord to their children. Did they never tell their children the stories of crossing over the Jordan River, or the miraculous conquest of Jericho, or the sun standing still as they fought their enemies? Did they never pass on Joshua’s final words to not forsake serving the Lord? Maybe growing up in the promised land instead of wandering in the desert caused the younger generation to take the blessings of the Lord for granted – turning them into a entitled and thankless people. Maybe the parents didn’t want to “force their beliefs” on their kids and allowed their children to come to their own conclusions within a vacuum void of truth and direction. Whatever the reason, within one generation, the holy nation of Israel – God’s chosen people – had completely abandoned the Lord God and were worshiping the gods and idols of the people they were supposed to vanquish. God doesn’t go away just because we forget Him. He is eternal and will forever reign as Lord over all creation, whether we regard Him or not. His word, will, and ways never fail. Yet we can easily abdicate the glorious destiny for our lives and descend into a meaningless existence by abandoning the Lord for the gods and idols of our age.

Psalms: “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to your name, Most High, to declare your faithful love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, with a ten-stringed harp and the music of a lyre. For you have made me rejoice, Lord, by what you have done; I will shout for joy because of the works of your hands. How magnificent are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts! A stupid person does not know, a fool does not understand this: though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be eternally destroyed. But you, Lord, are exalted forever… The righteous thrive like a palm tree and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, they thrive in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, healthy and green, to declare, “The Lord is just; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭92:1-8, 12-15‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Juxtapose Psalm 92 against Judges 2. What a difference faithfulness to the Lord makes! It is good to give thanks to the Lord and sing praises to His name. One thing that thanksgiving and praise does is remind us of God’s goodness and faithfulness so that we do not forget. Another thing that it does is proclaim the truth of who God is and His faithfulness to upcoming generations – so they don’t forget. Every day of the week, a lamb would be sacrificed to the Lord in the morning and in the evening, reminding the people of their dependence on the Lord. In the same way, we are to declare God’s mercies that are new every morning, and then thank Him for His faithfulness at the close of each day. Those who are planted and remain in the Lord are firmly established and thrive year after year in the flow of God’s blessing – bearing fruit even in their old age. The wicked however, (those who abandon the Lord for their own ways) are merely a flash in the pan. Though they may seem like trees at the moment, they are really just weeds that grow up fast and are then gone. Give thanks and praise to the Lord! Allow yourself to be planted in the Lord’s presence and pass your knowledge of God on to the generations that come after you so that they may thrive in His presence as well. For the Lord is exalted forever and His faithfulness never ends.

Judges 2:1-9; Luke 21:29-36; Psalms 91:1-16; Proverbs 21:11-12

NT: “Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they put out leaves you can see for yourselves and recognize that summer is already near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Be on your guard, so that your minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, and worries of life, or that day will come on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth. But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭21:29-36‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

As the Lord’s return draws nearer and nearer, there are two things we must do: 1) recognize, and 2) be on guard. When trees begin to produce leaves, we know that winter is ending and summer is on its way. In the same way, as we see the signs that Jesus spoke of, we need to recognize them for what they are and be assured that The Lord is faithful to His promise… His return is getting nearer. As leaves on trees show signs of life and are the precursor of fruit, as we look among the nations and see communities of Jesus followers popping up everywhere, we must recognize that The Lord’s commission is being fulfilled and His return is growing nearer and nearer. We definitely don’t want to miss and miss out on what the Lord is doing because we don’t recognize the signs. Jesus also warned us to be on our guard… to stay awake and alert… to not allow ourselves to be lulled to sleep or dulled in our awareness or thinking. How do we stay alert? We allow God’s word to dwell in us as we abide in Christ and keep our eyes ever on Him – allowing Him to teach us and lead us as we stay involved in the business of the Kingdom.

Psalms: “The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say concerning the Lord, who is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust: He himself will rescue you from the bird trap, from the destructive plague. He will cover you with his feathers; you will take refuge under his wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield. You will not fear the terror of the night, the arrow that flies by day, the plague that stalks in darkness, or the pestilence that ravages at noon. Though a thousand fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, the pestilence will not reach you. You will only see it with your eyes and witness the punishment of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord — my refuge, the Most High — your dwelling place, no harm will come to you; no plague will come near your tent. For he will give his angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways. They will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the young lion and the serpent. Because he has his heart set on me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows my name. When he calls out to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor. I will satisfy him with a long life and show him my salvation.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91:1-16‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

This psalm has become a source of hope and encouragement to many during this months-long quarantine to try and slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In my community, I see signs in people’s yards all around town that simply say Psalm 91. We live in a dangerous world full of natural disasters, self-serving people, deadly plagues, unstable economies, etc. While the dangers of this world affect the righteous and unrighteous alike, those who abide with the Lord and submit to His covering can be confident that the Lord of Creation is watching over them. And if their lives are touched in someway by the dangers of life, they will not be destroyed. When we set our heart on the Lord and follow Him completely, the Lord sets His heart on us and delivers us from destruction. When we get hit with bad news or experience things that would completely level any normal person, we are able to stand and shine in the midst of the trials and tribulations through the grace that God gives us. As the world around us continues to spiral further and further out of control, we can be safe and at peace because the Lord is with us through it all, and is our peace in the midst of the storm.