1 Samuel 10, Ecclesiastes 11, 1 John 1

Samuel gave Saul signs to look for so Saul would believe God had indeed chosen him. The chief sign was that Saul would "be turned into another man." (v.6) And "So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart . . ." The people saw Saul's tall, commanding stature. God saw Saul's heart. The power of the Holy Spirit would make Saul an effective king, not his physical prowess.

All along, Saul was clearly God's Plan B. Of course, He knew the people would reject Him and prepared Saul for his role. But a human king wasn't God's ideal plan.

The Israelites were so focused on what they could see that they rejected all else.

Solomon knew that if our focus is on ourselves and our happiness, based on circumstances, we'll end up miserable and under God's judgment. But if we focus on giving and serving others, we will see a return. It may come as material goods, and it may come by knowing we've pleased God. But if our focus really is on God and others, our greatest treasure will become having God's pleasure.

John wanted his readers to have no doubt that he wrote what he had seen, heard, and touched: Jesus Christ. That Jesus Christ is the Son of God, eternal in nature. And that others can have fellowship with Him. John makes clear the test to know who is living in fellowship with Christ--only those who practice truth. That means living it out in our behavior. Once again, it's about focus, this time on Christ and living like Him.

1 Samuel 9, Ecclesiastes 10, 2 Peter 3

God decided to give Israel what they wanted: a king. He chose Saul, a young man full of promise. Samuel followed God's leading and anointed Saul, even though he agreed with God, and warned the people, that they were better off without a king. Samuel was their leader. His position and influence could have been diminished by a king. But he trusted and obeyed God. Samuel could have focused on his insecurities or his worries about the future. Instead, he busied himself with the work at hand. Even with the real possibility it would all blow up in his face (and it did) he followed God's lead. Sometimes God's will looks like a disaster to us.

Solomon saw the excesses of the courts of his contemporaries and the ridiculous results. His own wisdom was the reason he rose above all other kings and queens. As the king, he understood the ways royalty procured information: reckless, open speech. He knew all he or his servants had to do was listen. Somebody would babble sooner or later. Let's not be known for our babbling, but for our listening.

When it seems the foolish and the wicked will rule forever, the Day of the Lord will come. The earth will burn up and judgment will be meted out. This is the true big picture. Until then, we are to live as wise ones, following God, listening to and trusting Him, no matter what.

1 Samuel 8, Ecclesiastes 9, 2 Peter 2

The middle years of Samuel's adult life were unremarkable for their lack of crisis. Samuel was a good man and a good leader. The people responded and enemies either were defeated, made peace with Israel, or simply steered clear of them.

But he wasn't a good dad. Maybe it was all his travel away from home. Maybe it was lack of focus on fatherhood. Whatever the reason, his sons turned out just like Eli's sons.

And the people panicked. Instead of trusting God when no heir apparent was in sight, they came up with their own plan. A king.

Yes, Samuel was old. Yes, he might well have died before God raised up a new leader. Yes, there might have been a leadership vacuum for a few years. But God knew what to do and they could trust Him. They chose not to.

Solomon contrasts the perspective of humans with that of God often in this book. We should work to please Him because reward on earth likely won't come. The world doesn't regard or reward those who are godly and wise.

Peter teaches the hopeless depravity of men, too. He describes the end result of these people's lives, and it is ugly. It is even worse for those who heard the truth, who appeared to follow it, but whose hearts never turned to the Lord. They had knowledge, but never surrendered to the Lord.

All three chapters tell of the futility of life for those who choose not to trust Christ. Solomon alluded to the fulfilled life: trust and follow God. Samuel did. Peter did. You can.

1 Samuel 7, Ecclesiastes 8, 2 Peter 1

If you ever wondered where the phrase, "Here I raise mine Ebenezer," in that old hymn came from, now you know. In verse 12, the stone memorial was built to remember, "Thus far the Lord has helped us."

The key for the Israelites was worship. When they worshipped right, their enemies stayed at bay and there was peace. It took a leader to show them what to do. They followed Samuel's admonition, and peace ensued.

How we worship determines whether our enemy stays at bay. If we feel overcome by evil, stop. Check our worship practices. Cut out anything in our lives that competes with God. Focus on Him. Praise Him. Thank Him. Meditate on scripture. The enemy will flee.

Solomon speaks of the need to live a righteous life. Not to live longer, but to please God, that "it will be well with those who fear God . . " referring to life after death. In the meantime, he recommends we not take ourselves too seriously. Verse 15 implies the value of enjoying the life we have. The chapter ends with the reminder that we as humans cannot understand all the workings of God. So, our job is to worship right and leave the rest to God. The peace that comes will help us enjoy living.

Peter points out the need to not only trust Christ, but go through a process of character development. (v. 5-9) An intentional focus on living for the Lord parallels worship and produces confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ. When we trust Him and live for Him and worship Him, we need not fear our outcome. Peter knew his life's end was close. He wanted others to be encouraged by his faith and pay attention to the prophecy of scriptures for their own assurance of life with Christ after death.

1 Samuel 6, Ecclesiastes 7, 1 Peter 5

Recognize God's power. Even the diviners and priests to the false gods of the Philistines recognized the One True God and His power. They didn't understand how to worship Him, or that they even could, but they knew they had to send the ark back to the Israelites because of God's power coming against them.

Respect God's power. The men of Beth Shemech rejoiced at its return to them, but even they failed to respect and honor the ark in a proper manner. They knew it housed the power of God, and still they opened it. And paid with their lives.

Know and Follow God's Instructions. The reason they didn't know was that they hadn't heard the scripture. They didn't have priests who taught them God's instructions. We might wonder at their foolishness, but we will join them if we don't read the Bible and attend a church where the Bible is taught.

Focus on the Eternal. Are you shocked by the content of Ecclesiastes 7? We are prone to think of suffering or grief as a bad thing. This fresh perspective from Solomon encourages us to focus on the eternal, rather than the temporal. And, I think, it reminds us to lighten up.It's all for a greater cause.

Follow Leaders. Peter exhorts the elders to shepherd (read: guide) the flock and the flock to follow their shepherds. He knew the importance of solid teaching to keep followers from going astray and making stupid decisions like the Israelites and their handling of the ark.

Keep Your Focus and Keep Following. He also talks about living in suffering and keeping a proper focus. Down through the centuries, nothing has really changed.

1 Samuel 5, Ecclesiastes 6, 1 Peter 4

Many Christians and conservatives in the U.S. are wringing their hands over the results of our recent presidential election. I sense real fear as I listen to some acquaintances talk. But 1 Samuel 5 speaks calm and peace to me. This chapter describes how the Holy Spirit, who dwelt in the ark of God, by His very presence caused the enemy so much death and grief that they only wanted to be rid of it. The enemy is allowed the power God intends, and no more. We can trust the Lord to prevail. Yes, we have to do our part, but we need not despair. God is in control.

Solomon realized that our focus needs to be eternal, rather than temporal. Everyone dies, he says, so we'd better pay attention to "Him who is mightier" (v. 10).

Peter continues Solomon's train of thought. He tells us what our focus needs to be in practical terms: doing the will of God. Living in such a manner that lost people don't understand and persecute us for being Christians. He contrasts this new focus with our old focus - physical pleasures on earth.

If we need any motivation to keep our focus on Christ, it is the judgment that awaits everyone. Whatever happens in our country or our lives on earth, it really is not as important as our lives in heaven. So let's raise our gaze to catch a glimpse of the bigger picture and keep our eyes on it.

1 Samuel 4, Ecclesiastes 5, 1 Peter 3

First Samuel 4 is a sad chapter. The Israelites realized after a defeat by the Philistines that they needed the Lord's presence in order to be successful in battle. But the sins of Hophni and Phineas had not been confessed. This was the time of judgment the Lord had prophesied through the child Samuel.

God's people can only go so far in their reckless abandonment of God and grieving the Holy Spirit. There comes a day of reckoning. If one is doing more harm than good by remaining alive, the Lord will remove His covering of grace and death will come.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 presents a lesson we all need. Isn't most of our praying done with words? How much we need to hear! One way to hear more and speak less is to read scripture every day. Three chapters - as we practice here - provides a lot of God's wisdom and truth to chew on through the rest of the day. Choose part of the daily reading to meditate upon in quiet moments. Review it. Pull meaning and application from it. Try to memorize it. Let's let our words be few.

Verses 10-17 describe those who lust after wealth and fame. These people are contrasted with those who labor with joy at work the Lord provides, as we see in verses 18-20. These are the people who can enjoy the wealth they have because it is a mere by-product of their life focus. Not the focus itself. It's all about priorities.

If the Israelites, particularly Hophni and Phineas, had obeyed the principles Peter quoted from Psalms in 1 Peter 3:10-12, and had hearts tuned to the joy of the Lord as in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, they'd have won the battles against the Philistines and avoided the judgment of the Lord.

If we live our lives mindful of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins, and live in such a way as to maintain a good conscience (v.16), then we will inherit the blessing. (v.9)

A word on submission: For us as women, it is simply good practice for submitting to God. Relish the opportunity. And remember the admonition men are given in verse 7.

Kathryn's Vacation

Dear Readers,

My son is getting married on Saturday, so I am taking the week off to prepare and enjoy my family. I plan to return next week.

God Bless,

Kathryn

1 Samuel 3, Ecclesiastes 4, 1 Peter 2

Samuel's Lessons. Samuel learned three things:

1. What the voice of the Lord sounded like.
2. What to do when he heard it: Listen.
3. What to do with the message: Tell it, follow through. It wasn't intended only for Samuel.

God's Blessing. Because Samuel remembered these three lessons, God used him for a great purpose and everyone knew that he was a prophet of the Lord. "So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground." (v.19)

What is Vanity? If a quest for wealth or fame is all that motivates a person, it is "vanity and grasping for the wind." (v.16) The one thing Solomon says has any value is friendship with one or two companions.

What's Our Purpose? Peter concurs. The only prize worth living for is eternal life. The way to bring others along is to live out the word of God in front of them and share the gospel.

The Real Path to Greatness. Obedience to the voice of God, following through for the good of others instead of ourselves, is the path to greatness. All else is vanity.

1 Samuel 2, Ecclesiastes 3, 1 Peter 1

Reading 1 Samuel 2 is like looking into a camera lens while it zooms out to a panorama. This is the big picture God had in mind when He withheld a child from Hannah. He needed her to come to the point of willingness to give her first-born son to the Lord. The priesthood was in tatters. Eli's natural sons could not carry it on. The whole nation's future was at stake. God needed the man He would create as Samuel. Compare verse 26 with Luke 2:52. This chapter points straight to Jesus. The sins of Eli's sons were as grievous as those of the Pharisees in Jesus' day. Samuel became a priest. Jesus became both our High Priest and perfect sacrifice.

Solomon is right when he says there is a time for everything. He also makes the point that humans can't see the big picture of what God is doing. So we need to trust Him and enjoy what He gives us. It can seem that evil prevails now, just as it seemed in Eli's time and Solomon's. But God doesn't allow evil to go on without end. He brings all to justice.

Peter's words echo Solomon's and highlight the arrow pointing from the Old Testament to Jesus Christ. We, who live with the benefit of reading the Bible as a whole, should heed Peter's instructions readily. Treasure our inheritance in heaven and live our lives in a manner worthy of the Spirit who dwells in us.

1 Samuel 1, Ecclesiastes 2, James 5

Reading Hannah's story makes me cry. Her inability to conceive brought shame, scorn and ridicule. She lived daily in misery, each month fresh with disappointment. For years. And prayer changed everything. Prayer changed everything for her personally and for her nation. She was not only a woman of prayer, but of her word. When the time came to relinquish her son, she didn't back out.

Hard things drive us to prayer. It is when life eases up that we find out if we meant what we prayed.

Solomon discovered that accumulating things didn't bring fulfillment. Not even wisdom was able to make him content. He failed to recognize two things. In the words of John Maxwell,  "All . . . have two major voids:

1. The God-sized vacuum inside their heart; only the Lord can fill it.
2. The life-sized vacuum inside their heart; only their life mission can fulfill it."

James recognized the vacuums. He addresses them here. Accumulating things not only leaves a void, but also leads to sin. Solomon worried that his descendants would do foolish or sinful things with his wealth. And he searched for the meaning Hannah found. A life mission. James found it, too, and encourages his readers. He instructs us how to live while we wait for the ultimate fulfillment--the return of Christ.

Ruth 4, Ecclesiates 1, James 4

The story of the redemption of Ruth is powerful. The whole concept of the rite of redemption was instituted by God to show us what Jesus Christ would do for us: buy us back. Boaz bought Naomi's property back, and that included Ruth. He was not the closest relative, so he was not obligated to do it. But he wanted to. I think he loved Ruth. Jesus Christ didn't have to redeem us either, but He wanted to because He loves us. Boaz and Ruth became the great-grandparents of King David, who was an ancestor of Jesus.

Solomon's perspective as he wrote Ecclesiastes sounds hopeless. And it was, as long as he focused on earthly pleasures and systems. Only in looking above and beyond what we see and experience on earth do we find purpose and meaning. Ruth found purpose in following God. Solomon should have followed her example.

James draws the conclusion Ruth drew and Solomon ultimately did. Focus on the world and ourselves leaves out God and is worthless. Waiting on God and trusting Him for the outcome is priceless.

Ruth 3, Proverbs 31, James 3

Courage. What a gutsy move! Ruth's heart must have pounded in her head as she bathed and dressed. Then as she snuck to the threshing floor, she may have had thoughts running in her mind such as, "You're crazy!" Or, "You're a foreigner. What makes you think Boaz will take you?" Or even, "What if he does take me? My reputation could be ruined."

Obedience. If Ruth made a list of the positives and negatives related to her choice, it would have come out even. There is only one real reason she went. Obedience. She knew Naomi's love for her and chose to obey the voice of love. Sometimes our decisions must be made solely in obedience to our Lord's voice of love.

Advice. King Lemuel's mother was concerned about two things. One, that Lemuel would stay away from women he wasn't married to, and two, that he stayed away from wine. She spends a little time dispensing wisdom on each subject before devoting great detail to qualities he should look for in a wife. Any ordinary woman wouldn't do for her son!

Example. The woman Lemuel chose to marry should be a hard worker and wise business person. Verse 18 may indicate spiritual provision rather than actual food. Either way, she is kind and generous. She reminds one of Ruth.

The final quality of a virtuous woman is the "bridled" tongue James describes. Controlled speech. Wise.

Ruth, the virtuous wife, and the person James describes together present a picture of the kind of woman I want to be.

Ruth 2, Proverbs 30, James 2

It seems that Ruth knew who Boaz was in a general way, but not that he was a close relative. It was appropriate for her to seek help from Naomi's family for the two of them. The heart of Ruth is revealed in three ways:
1. How she worked hard to gather enough not just for herself, but Naomi, too
2. Her respectful attitude toward Boaz
3. Her generosity in keeping enough dinner leftovers to take to Naomi.
This is the picture of a quality young woman. The kind God just can't wait to use for a grand purpose.

Proverbs 30 is completely different from the rest of the book. Agur is unknown to us, as are Ithiel and Ucal. But Agur's desire to know God is evident, as well as his acknowledgment that wisdom comes from knowing God. His observations are astute because he knows where to look for answers--God's word. (v.5)

Ruth's character, and Agur's understanding, came from God. But had Naomi shown partiality and refused to love, accept, and teach Ruth, and had Boaz rejected her because of prejudice, God would not have worked his marvelous plan to create Obed and the family line to Jesus Christ. Agur believed (had faith) and in faith wrote words that speak truth thousands of years later.

All these people lived out their faith--made it evident--by the things they did. Because faith without works is dead.

Ruth 1, Proverbs 29, James 1

Why did Ruth stay with Naomi? The love between the girls and their mother-in-law is demonstrated by their tears at the thought of leaving her. Why did Ruth choose Naomi's God? Because Naomi introduced Him to her and lived out her faith and His love. She didn't have to. In legal and religious terms, her sons had disobeyed by marrying foreign women. Instead of judging them, Naomi loved them.

The wicked and the foolish are both contrasted with the righteous and wise. And no matter if a person is poor or a king, the Lord metes out justice. He is love, but He does judge sin. The blood of Christ covers our sins at salvation, so whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe. This was the ultimate decision of Ruth -- to trust in the One True God.

Proverbs 29 and James 1 say many of the same things. The wise person is slow to speak. God is the source of wisdom and love. The rich and poor are the same before the Lord. And keeping oneself "unspotted from the world" by righteous living pleases God.

Naomi must have lived a wise and righteous life to have such an impact on Ruth.

Do others see the difference in my life?

Judges 20, Proverbs 28, Hebrews 13

The end result of sin is always death. Romans 6:23 says, "The wages of sin is death." Thousands of men and an unrecorded number of women and children died in the war between the tribes of Israel. The culprits in the sin died as well as by-standers who, up until that day, refused to speak out and condemn the behavior around them. The entire tribe of Benjamin suffered the consequences of a sin allowed to continue in their midst.

The contrast between the wicked and the righteous, the greedy and the wise, is stark. Verse 13 says, "He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." No one is perfect; we all sin. But when we confess and then change our behavior, God forgives. Israel stood before God and confessed. The tribe of Benjamin did not.

While Paul's focus was on eternity in heaven, he ended his letter to the Hebrews with practical advice. Live a moral life. Stay true to the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Share what you have with others. Be submissive to the pastor (v.17). Pray for his (Paul's) release.

Making an effort to live a life free from sin, and confessing when we do sin, keeps us unencumbered and able to focus on the kingdom that awaits us.

Judges 19, Proverbs 27, Hebrews 12

One thing leads to another. The depth of depravity described here didn't get that way overnight. It crept up like a cat stalking a mouse. The nation of Israel, tribe by tribe and city by city, rejected God. They turned to idols and did whatever they wanted. Today we might call it a progressive society. In this case, we mean one that progresses away from any religious or moral underpinnings. The word "freedom" might be invoked, misused to mean everybody can do their own thing without regard for the consequences to anyone else.

Chapter 19 presents a stark picture, but we must face it full-on if we're to avoid repeating it.

Solomon wanted his son to learn and be wise. Verse 11 speaks to the son, telling him so. Solomon has learned that it's important for a king to make sure he has good friends and keeps them because family will try to take the throne away. Solomon saw this happen when his brother, Absalom, stirred up a coup against their father, David. Solomon also teaches his son how to keep the kingdom strong in verses 23-27.

Even though we aren't kings, the same wise principles apply to us. Friends are priceless and prudence preserves our resources.

The lynch pin holding all three chapters in Judges, Proverbs, and Hebrews together today is the discipline we read about in Hebrews 12. If we reverence God and persevere with the goal of heaven in mind, if we endure, if we maintain an accurate mental image of our God, we will avoid sin and be wise.

Judges 18, Proverbs 26, Hebrews 11

The people of the tribe of Dan were evil. They not only invaded and destroyed a peaceful, hamless country. They also stole Micah's idols and his priest. His priest wan't exactly loyal, since he followed the most money and influence, but the treachery of the Danites is inescapable. A striking fact is that they remained idolaters down through the years to the Babylonian captivity. When the tabernacle resided at Shiloh, they still refused to turn from their sin.

Humans would have given up  on them. But we know that through seventy years of captivity, the hearts of the people turned back to the Lord. He kept His covenant even when the Danites broke it. God never gives up on us.

The  foolish, lazy, and dishonest will reap what they sow. A wise person stays far away from them.

The contrast between the "heroes of faith" and the Danite tribe, along with fools, the lazy and dishonest, is stark. The chooice is ours to make and the consequences are clear.

I say, with Joshua, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Judges 17, Proverbs 25, Hebrews 10

Wandering in Sin. The scripture doesn't tell us how many years passed between Samson and Micah. Because of Micah's complete failure to realize his idolatry, we may assume it was a long time. Not even the young Levite understood the situation. Without a leader, the people, just like a flock of sheep without a shepherd, wandered away from the pasture of good grass to a weedy, rocky place. Although it looked good to them, it was the wrong place. The mixture of Judaism with pagan idolatry was a sin.

Today, Christians can run into the same situation when we allow the concerns of the day, or our desires for things or leisure, to dilute our passion for Christ.

Spiritual Self-Control. Don't you love a good mystery? So does God. (By the way, that's why we do. We're made in His image.) He plans for us to seek: to seek a relationship with Him, to seek truth. The book of Proverbs is rich in truth. Proverbs 25:28 stands out today because it explains what happened with the Israelites, particularly Micah and the young Levite. They failed to rule over their own spirits in the matter of worship, doing what felt right instead of what was right. Then they became like a city broken down with no walls. They had no sense of restraint or security.

The Right Leader. Jesus Christ's death on the cross provided us with the only sufficient sacrifice for our sins. At that moment, He became our perfect priest. The writer of Hebrews makes it clear that holding onto our faith with endurance assures us of receiving the promise of heaven. Failure to do so guarantees the fearsome judgment of God.

Let's avoid the company of Micah and the young Levite and follow our Perfect Priest.

Judges 16, Proverbs 24, Hebrews 9

Pride. Samson was a great man with a great weakness: pride. He knew he was special and that God appointed him for mighty works in the literal sense of the word. Even his failures God used for Israel's good. After twenty years he must have felt invincible, because he trusted Delilah even after evidence that she was not trustworthy.

Consequence. When Samson disobeyed God in the one critical act of allowing his head to be shaved, God followed the principle of tough love and logical consequences. Samson knew the presence of the Spirit of the Lord was symbolized by his hair. He knew if he cut it the Lord would depart. So did God. And that's what happened.

Destruction. The resulting suffering taught Samson what nothing else could: humility. When Samson humbled himself before God and everyone else, then the Spirit of the Lord performed His greatest work.

Warning. Wisdom, knowledge, understanding and righteousness are compared to a well-built house and productive field. Honestly, industriousness and steadiness are qualities leading to prosperity. But the most important teaching in this chapter of Proverbs is found in verses 11-12. A soul-winner is described in verse 11 and verse 12 teaches individual accountability. Ignorance is not necessarily and excuse.

Reformation. The tabernacle Moses built, and the temples after it, stood as symbols of spiritual truths and heavenly realities. Their purpose was instructional and as stand-ins for the Real Deal. In spite of their inferiority, they were necessary until the coming of Christ. Then He replaced them with His perfect sacrifice, shed blood, and resurrection. This is called "the time of reformation" in verse ten. This chapter is a beautiful description of the doctrine of atonement.

Salvation. Christ died for us, that by His power we might be saved. If we will turn to Him, away from our path toward death, and put our trust in Him instead of our own strength, we will be saved from destruction.

Judges 15, Proverbs 23, Hebrews 8

Height of Influence. Chapter fifteen records the height of Samson's influence. He didn't get off to a great start, and his service to God cost him everything. But he judged Israel for twenty years after he defeated the Philistines. When we surrender our lives to be used by God for His purpose, it does cost us. Many times it costs those we love even more, like it did Samson's wife. Our loved ones may not die, but we may have to move far away. Whatever the cost, it is worth it all when compared to the price Jesus Christ paid for our salvation. When we remember the cross, it puts everything in perspective.

Reward for Living Well. Proverbs 23 says much about eating and drinking. Eating too much meat and drinking sparkling red wine are both problematic for the wise and righteous. Teaching the truth to our children causes parents to rejoice. And we can look forward to the here-after when we live well.

Mercy Covenant. I'm so glad Jesus Christ made the first covenant, and the laws it was based on, obsolete. In His great mercy, He remembers our sins and "lawless deeds" no more. We do still need to live wise, righteous lives--and when we do, it helps us anticipate going to heaven with joy. But Hebrews eight is straightforward. The writer confirms that this new covenant is not based on works of righteousness on our part. It is based on the mercy of God and the work of Jesus Christ.

Judges 14, Proverbs 22, Hebrews 7

In case we forget that God is always at work around us, and that He always accomplishes his purposes, the fourteenth chapter of Judges is in the Bible. What looks like another slide away from the Lord on Samson's part, capitulation on his parents' part, and deviousness on the part of Samson's wife, is all part of God's plan. He knew how it would play out, and used the events to set up the Philistines. No matter how things appear to us, we must remember that God is in charge and will not be thwarted.

The writer of the Proverbs reminds us that the reason he wrote them was to teach us truth and so that we will trust in the Lord. This is the way we should approach the reading of all scripture. So that we can learn truth and to trust in the Lord.

The truth about the Lord Jesus Christ is told to us in Hebrews 8. He is our priest, the only one we need, the only one who can save us. He is better than the Levitical priests and brought to an end the need for them. And He ever lives to intercede for us. (See verse 25.)

Back when Abraham offered His tithe to Melchizedek, God was working on His plan for salvation through Jesus Christ. When Samson married a Philistine woman, God was working on His plan to save Israel and when Solomon wrote Proverbs, God was at work to teach all his readers how to live godly lives.

You are part of His plan. Watch for His work around you.

Judges 13, Proverbs 21, Hebrews 6

What a beautiful series of events! Even though, as a whole, Israel did evil in the sight of the lord, one couple remained faithful. Mrs. Manoah knew the Angel of the Lord (the pre-incarnate Christ) when she saw Him. She and her husband, Manoah, believed what He said, eagerly sought another visit form Him, and worshipped Him.

Do I believe God even if what He says is most unlikely in human terms? Am I always on the lookout for Him, anticipating His presence wherever I go? And do I remember to worship Him when I find Him?

Reading through the book of Proverbs reinforces, day after day, the practical details of how to live out who we are. The righteous, godly person behaves in these ways. But we can never forget that behaving this way doesn't make us who we are. Jesus Christ did that. Upon the basis of salvation, let's live godly lives so we're prepared for God to show up and do marvelous works through us.

As we persist in godliness, we grow in understanding. The wise person clings to the Lord, seeks His counsel through His word, and holds the hope, the certainty of heaven. The anchor of the soul.

Judges 12, Proverbs 20, Hebrews 5

Leaders Without Influence. Japhthah was a great warrior and the Lord used him to tame the cranky Ephraimites. But afterward, he only judged Israel six years before his death. Jephthah was followed by a series of three men who each judged Israel less than ten years. No comment is made about any of them other than the incredible number of children they had. We can infer, then, that these men each had more than one wife and several concubines besides. They must also have had great wealth in order to provide for so many. And immediately after the death of the third one, Israel "did evil in the sight of the Lord." (13:1) Again, we can infer that their spiritual influence was minimal. Physical desires and prowess kept them from being who God needed for Israel's benefit. It seems that these "judges" were more interested in personal glory than God's glory.

Leadership Qualities. A real leader is a wise man or woman who trusts the Lord for direction and understanding. One who speaks less and listens more, who works hard and is honest in business dealings. This person has good relationships with family and is known as a peace-maker. This is the type God can use for His glory.

Real Leaders are Called by God. Human priests also needed to offer sacrifices for their own sins. But Jesus Christ, the supreme example of leadership, and called by God as our great High Priest, (v.10) never sinned. However, He did "learn obedience by the things which He suffered." (v.8) By this we learn that real leadership includes suffering. If we never go through difficult times, others cannot relate to us and will not follow.

Jesus Christ, the One We Need. However, the larger point of Hebrews 5 is that Jesus Christ is not simply the best, but the only, High Priest we need. He is the Son of God, but He also suffered and by His death brings us salvation. That's what Israel needed, but human leaders could not deliver. Israel needed God, but they kept substituting men.

We need God as the Leader of our lives. But we keep substituting ourselves.

Judges 11, Proverbs 19, Hebrews 4

God wants you. If you think you're a nobody and that God can't possibly use you to accomplish His purpose, then you read the right chapter today. Jephthah's experience dispels those thoughts. If we think some one else is unworthy of Christian fellowship because of their pedigree or their past, reading about Jephthah will disprove those notions. He is one example of many in the Bible where God chose the most unlikely candidates to carry out His missions.

Take it seriously. Jephthah is also an example of the seriousness of promising God we'll do something. The incident with his daughter is hard to understand. But a couple of things are clear.
1. A vow to God must be kept. 
2. We should carefully consider the vows we make and not spout off whatever pops into our heads in a moment of excitement. Consider the cost.

Wisdom, words, and action all go together. The wise person speaks only after careful thought and only the truth. She then acts in ways that are kind and merciful. A foolish person speaks without regard for truth or the well-being of others and her actions result in destruction.

The Power of Word. God spoke the world into existence, and then rested. The gospel of salvation brought through the work of the cross has been spoken, or preached, to us. The Word of God, scripture, is living and powerful. Jesus is our High Priest, to whom we can go for mercy and grace in our times of need. Let us hold fast our confession. If we say Jesus is Lord, we need to be prepared to live it out so we can enter the rest of heaven.

Live your words. Let's recognize that God wants to us each of us in His plans, accept the gift of salvation and live it out with wise words and actions.

Judges 10, Proverbs 18, Hebrews 3

Judges 10 says as much about God as it does about the Israelites. Their fickle nature is well-known to us and we recognize both their almost unbelievable lack of sense and the same tendency within ourselves. But God, although He needed to punish their waywardness, could hardly stand it. The cries of His people, no matter how just their suffering, tore at His heart. And so He prepared to save them. Just like He prepared to save us when He sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins.

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." (v 10) The name of the Lord is the only name by which people are saved. And that only happens because of His great mercy and love.

Unbelief is the one thing that will keep us from being saved by the name of the Lord and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We must cry out to Him, run to Him, trust Him, and believe that He is Who He said He is. Then He will come to our aid and save us. Even though we don't deserve it.

Judges 9, Proverbs 17, Hebrews 2

Judges 9 is a gruesome, sad chapter. Israel followed the wrong man. Shechem followed the wrong man. Greed seemed to know no end, for a while. But eventually the gravy train ended, tempers flared, war broke out again, and judgment came against all who had put their trust in men, money, and power instead of God.

Hard lesson. The wisdom of Proverbs teaches that "he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished" (v.5) and "an evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him." (v.11) Abimelech learned these lessons the hard way.

Don't Drift Away. "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away." (v.1) We are in no less danger than Gideon and Abimelech of drifting away.

We have a Brother who will not betray us, but will come to our aid and intercede for us as our high priest. We need to stay in close fellowship with Him so that we don't allow anything to come between us and cause us to drift away.

Judges 8, Proverbs 16, Hebrews 1

God's assignment for Gideon included war, which was physically exhausting. It cost him the lives of his relatives and at the very end, when he and his men were famished, no one would help them or feed them. They were left to conquer the last two kings with no resources except faith in God.

Returning as victors, they subdued those who had ridiculed them and withheld food from them. The thrill of victory was so sweet that Gideon apparently believed he could let his guard down. So he set up a golden ephod which the people worshipped instead of God. It may have started out as a reminder of God's victory, but it became a substitute for God instead.

Because of his sin, Gideon's influence shrank until no one even remembered God by the time of his death.

It's too bad Gideon didn't have Proverbs to read. If he had realized that a proud heart is an abomination to the Lord, pride goes before destruction, wisdom is much better to get than gold, and it's better to be humble than to divide the spoil with the proud, his legacy might have been different.

Jesus is exalted above the angels. He is God's Son and they are ministering spirits sent to help those who "inherit salvation." Angels helped Gideon. Jesus himself, pre-incarnate, gave Gideon his assignment and went before him into battle.

Gideon needed to remember, as should we, that there is only one God, and whatever we do for Him only happens by His power.

Judges 7, Proverbs 15, Philemon

This chapter of Judges tells of another, most unlikely, battle and victory for the Israelites. A pattern is emerging. God approaches a person who seems to have certain abilities and gives him or her an assignment far outside those abilities. The assignment is daunting, with huge ramifications. The person takes some persuading, but eventually obeys. God does a miracle and His assignment is accomplished.

1. What is God's assignment for you?
2.  How far outside your comfort zone is your assignment?
3.  Will you obey?

Proverbs 15 is primarily about words. What we say indicates the state of our hearts. How was Gideon's battle won? Partly with words: "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" These words of the soldiers indicated the faith in their hearts. There is power in our words. We need to make sure the condition of our hearts and minds produces wise speech. If we pay attention to what we way, the content and attitude of our words, and discover not wisdom, but foolishness, sorrow, scoffing, anger, strife, disdain, or pride, we need to recognize the problem. We are not living a life of obedient faith and God cannot accomplish His purposes through us.

What was God's assignment for Philemon? To receive Onesimus back into his household, not as a run-away slave, but a brother in Christ. Unheard of. And outside Philemon's legal rights.

What was God's assignment for Onesimus? To go back to the man he ran away from and face the consequences, even though he didn't have to as long as nobody told Philemon where he was.

I can imagine that neither man relished his assignment. We aren't told the outcome, but since the letter is included in the Bible, we assume Onesimus did go back and that Philemon accepted him as a Christian brother. Only obedience to God and His power at work could have accomplished this reconciliation.

1.  Is there someone to or about whom your words might indicate a need for reconciliation?
2.  Is this the God-sized assignment He has for you?
3.  Will you obey and let God do the work?

Check your heart condition. Begin saying the right words. And watch to see what God does.

Judges 6, Proverbs 14, Titus 3

God called Gideon a "mighty man of valor" while he was still hiding in the wine press. God saw what He had in mind for the future.

Gideon could only see the present . . .  and he had questions. "If the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?"

God didn't answer Gideon's question. He gave an assignment. This is where we tend to push the pause button in our lives. We want our questions answered before we proceed. But Gideon obeyed.

The first assignment didn't look like what it was. Tearing down idols and thus making the whole community angry might not have been Gideon's idea of valor or how to save Israel from the Midianites. But he obeyed. He trusted God to fit all the pieces together.

Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." Verse 14 adds, "The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied from above."

We who have been saved, "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy . . ." have a responsibility "to be ready for every good work." The Bible is full of instructions for right living and we are to follow them. But we are also to follow God's leading in assignments. He lives in us and will, by the Holy Spirit, manifest Himself in such a way as to accomplish His work through us. Even if it doesn't look like what He says it is.

Judges 5, Proverbs 13, Titus 2

Glory. Deborah took time after the victory to give the glory to God. But she also recognized that Israel won because "the people willingly offer[ed] themselves." And she chastised the tribes who didn't provide soldiers.

Surrender. Full surrender to whatever the Lord asks of us - "to the point of death" (v.18) - is required in order to see Him do mighty works through us. Otherwise, we end up on the sidelines watching the triumph of others.

Victory. A wise person, who lives and speaks and works with prudence, joins the victory parade and is satisfied.

Live it Out. Leaders rise to the top as they follow Christ, live pure lives, and teach others how to be like them. We are all trained and taught by the grace of God. When we follow Him, are 100% sold out to Him, it shows in the way we live and speak. That's when God does great things.

Judges 4, Proverbs 12, Titus 1

It doesn't matter who you are. If you have a personal relationship with God and obey Him, He will work through you to accomplish His purposes.

Deborah could have said, "I'm a woman. I can't be a leader." But she obeyed the voice of God. She knew it was His voice because she spent time with Him.

Barak said, "I'll only go if you go, Deborah, but if you go, I will." His obedience was conditioned upon Deborah's. He didn't know God the way she did. Barak didn't have the same faith and trust as Deborah, but he did obey. And I'm sure the experience taught him to know and trust God in a fresh way.

Jael wasn't a soldier or a prophetess. She was a wife. But she evidently had great faith in the Lord. She was a distant relative of Moses and lived in a household that followed the Lord. She could have said, "I'm just a housewife. What You want me to do is dangerous." But she obeyed the leading of God, and His purpose was accomplished.

Righteous living means being honest, truthful, humble, wise, and a hard worker. The difference between a righteous person and an unrighteous is made evident by these qualities, or lack of them. But what makes a person righteous is the Source of wisdom: the Lord. A relationship with Him produces righteous living.

"They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him . . ." Titus1:16. Here is the difference between the righteous and unrighteous. Between those who have faith and those who say they do. Between those who talk the talk and those who walk the walk. Genuine faith is lived out through obedience.

Judges 3, Proverbs 11, 2 Timothy 4

The Lord knew what was best for Israel. He loved them beyond human understanding, so He allowed some difficult things to happen in order to get their attention. The nations the Lord left in Canaan served the purpose of testing the loyalty of the Israelites, training future generations in war, and causing the people to cry out to the Lord for help.

We have a basic sin nature just like the Israelites did and we sometimes find ourselves trapped by our unwise decisions or actions, too. God loves us as much as He loved them, and engineers our circumstances to make us focus on Him. Difficulties also train us in spiritual warfare so that we become better able to ward off sin. It is all for our good because it's all about the love relationship God pursues with us.

Proverbs 11 continues the teachings from chapter 10. The righteous person is described as generous, kind, able to hold confidentiality, peaceful, one who listens to wise counsel, respected by neighbors and a soul-winner. I want to be like that, don't you?

Paul's admonition to Timothy to preach the word is one all pastors love and should heed. It is the most concise direction for how to be a good preacher in the Bible. Church members should look for a man like this to be their pastor.

Paul's life contrasts with the Israelites. He stayed true to his calling even though he suffered and ultimately died for it, abandoned by most of his former colleagues and friends. The Israelites suffered because of their sin. Paul suffered because he was faithful. But it was all designed to draw people to the Lord.

We must keep hold of God's perspective on our troubles: He loves us and those in our circle of influence and will do whatever it takes to pursue us and them.

Judges 2, Proverbs 10, 2 Timothy 3

Failure to go all the way with God produces shrinking faith, which produces apathy. Fervor cools. And children are the ones who suffer. Oh, they may get along alright as long as their parents live. But parents won't teach a faith they don't have. We are always just one generation away from losing families of faith.

Chapter ten is a list of wise sayings from Solomon. He wrote them for his son. He wanted to make sure to pass down some of the wisdom God gave him. He handed down his faith. Unfortunately, Solomon's words didn't always match his actions, and his son failed to pass the wisdom to his sons.

Paul handed down his faith to Timothy. He warned Timothy of the dangers lurking under the mask of hypocritical "Christians." These men appeared to be godly but their hearts were full of pride and haughtiness. Pleasure and money meant more to them than God. This sort is especially dangerous because of their outward appearance. Timothy had an advantage over the Israelites. He had scripture to read, along with Paul's letters. He possessed secret intelligence on the enemy hiding in plain sight.

We have the same secret intelligence. If we pay attention, we can avoid falling into the trap of apathy and idolatry. Then our faith will be powerful and our children will want to be like us. They'll love the Lord like we do. And one more generation will be saved.

Judges 1, Proverbs 9, 2 Timothy 2

Is God satisfied? The Lord told Moses and Joshua--and both men told the people--that God would give them all the land and that they should drive out all the inhabitants. But for some reason, the Israelites stopped short. A few excuses are mentioned, such as "chariots of iron" and determination on the part of the inhabitants of certain cities or regions. But that's all they were - excuses. Since when is God limited by mere facts? It can be easy to get most of the way through a difficult project, become comfortable with the victory so far, and rationalize putting off any further actions. "I just need to rest a while," we think. But that thought can turn into "This is enough for me. I'm satisfied." The question ought to be, "Is God satisfied?"

Is God pleased? Wisdom works hard. Folly drinks stolen water. Wisdom fears the Lord and gets to know Him. From a personal, loving relationship flows the desire to please God, to do whatever He asks. Wise people are students of the Bible who learn from God.

Is God finished? There is no half-way or almost-there stopping point with Jesus Christ. Warriors, athletes, and farmers all know this. The real truth is found in verse 12. "If we endure, we shall also reign with Him." Also, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (verse 15) Jesus Christ completed His work on the cross and His will is for us to stay faithful to Him for the rest of our lives, no matter what happens or how hard life becomes.

Joshua 24, Proverbs 8, 2 Timothy 1

Just before Joshua died, he called the leaders of Israel together for one purpose: to seal in their minds and hearts devotion to the One True God. He reminded them of all the mighty works of God on their behalf in the past and he cautioned them about the future consequences of changing their minds and following other gods.

Remembering what God has done for us in the past is a powerful tool for sealing our commitment today. Joshua's famous statement in verse 15, ". . . Choose this day whom you will serve . . . But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord," voiced what the rest of the people also decided.

There was just one catch. They had to put away their idols. Is it shocking to discover that they possessed idols at this point in their saga? Take a moment to assess where you are in your journey. Do you carry around idols, even though you say you're following God? The consequence of continuing with them is that we become unable to worship and follow God as long as we hold anything back. And that leads to personal chaos.

Choosing to follow God means choosing wisdom over wealth. But the end result is incredible wealth. Does this mean the Lord will give us "silver" or "gold" or "rubies" if we follow Him? Maybe. Maybe not. Tangible silver, gold or rubies, anyway. When we choose to follow the Lord instead of any other thing, that question becomes irrelevant. Our focus changes. We recognize the wealth of our relationship with Him. Verses 30-36 mirror the caution Joshua gave the Israelites. Choose the Lord, because any other choice brings death.

We cannot judge the faith of a person by the outcomes in his life. Paul, by the time he wrote this chapter, had been betrayed by most of his followers in Asia. He actually uses the word "all." He also mentions Timothy's "tears." Life was terribly hard, with little evidence of reward. But Paul never forgot the real wealth of his choice.

Joshua 23, Proverbs 7, 1 Timothy 6

Don't let your guard down. Joshua reminded the people of all the mighty things the Lord had done for them. Then he said, in essence, "Don't let your guard down in the future." They had fought battles and the Lord won them. But it wasn't over. Because it's never over. There are always temptations. The only way they witnessed God-sized miracles like the parting of the Jordan River and the fall of Jericho was because they listened to God and obeyed what He told them to do. The key to obedience and hearing God speak is a relationship with Him. Joshua knew this. That's why he told them to remain faithful to the Lord and never follow other gods. When we are in a close, personal relationship with God, when we listen to Him and obey what He tells us to do, we'll see Him accomplish God-sized things through us, too.

Don't let your guard down because it is never over.Proverbs 7 reads like a story. A cautionary tale. The chapter begins by telling the reader the secret for avoiding the scenario that follows. It is never over. Temptation is everywhere. Only keeping and treasuring God's words will prevent falling.

Keep fighting and don't let your guard down. Another kind of temptation is money. Keeping the words and doctrine of Jesus Christ produces godliness (v 3) but failure to do so produces chaos and haughtiness. Staying pure and in right relationship with the Lord is described here as a fight. (12) So no matter who we are, or what century we live in, we must stay on guard, fight off temptation, read the Bible and pull in close to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then we can say, along with Paul and Joshua, that as our days on earth end, we are content, remembering all the God-sized work accomplished by Him through us.

Joshua 22, Proverbs 6, 1 Timothy 5

Well-meaning intentions can easily be taken the wrong way. Caution on both sides is advised. The Israelites became so agitated over what they perceived as the motivation for the actions of the two-and-a-half tribes that they prepared for war. The two-and-a-half tribes should have stopped to think how their actions might be interpreted by the rest of the nation. A little communication before the deed would have gone a long way. If our actions might be seen as something sinful, it might be best to back up and trust God to take care of the situation. When we try to "help" God it can make His job caring for us more difficult!

Stop to think about the consequences of your actions before you act. Or in the case of the "sluggard," consider what will happen if you stay lazy. Every action does have a consequence. Satan's favorite ploy is to blind us to the truth by dangling pleasure before our eyes. Wise people see around the pretties to what lurks behind.

Actions have consequences. The church was charged with caring for "real" widows: those who had no husband or living children, who were over the age of sixty. Why the rules? Because of the sinful actions of some. Paul also gave more cautionary instructions about accusing an elder. Stop. Think.

If we will always follow this exhortation to stop and think before we act or speak, we'll avoid much heartache and make God's job easier!

Joshua 21, Proverbs 5, 1 Timothy 4

The Framework. The Levites, since they were priests and not warriors or farmers, were given cities scattered throughout the Promised Land. They needed places to live among the rest of the people. An interesting note is that five of the six cities of refuge were given to the Levites. The priests were in charge of the law and a "slayer" would have to wait for the death of the current high priest before moving back home. So we can see how God designed His nation to be ruled by His laws, carried out by the priests who should be godly men. It was set up to run beautifully. Did it? not always~because people fail. But God gave them the tools and framework for optimal operation.

The Pattern. God gives us the pattern for wisdom in chapter four. But in chapter five we find that everyone doesn't follow the pattern. Because people fail. But optimal living only happpens when we stay within the framework and follow the pattern.

The Result. Proverbs five constrasts two lifestyles, and so does 1 Timothy four. Failure to live a disciplined life has disastrous consequences. But following the Lord's instructions ends in the salvation of many.

Joshua 20, Proverbs 4, 1 Timothy 3

Reading about the cities of refuge again reminds us that God planned for forgiveness. It also illustrates part of His character: a place to find hope for the future when our circumstances might do us in. Another truth shines up at me from this page. The people had to go along with God's plan and actually designate the cities as refuges. They had to agree to let those people live, no matter what emotions might overtake them. Sometimes following the will of God goes against our emotional instincts.

Living wisely requires discipline. Choose to hear instruction (i.e. read the Bible), memorize scripture, guard your heart so that you aren't carried away by your emotions, only speak what is honest and true, make sure your eyes only see what they should and be careful where you go. Then you will be tuned in to the Lord's frequency.

Pastors and deacons are to be wise, disciplined men. Their wives must be also. But really, shouldn't the descriptions found here fit us all?

The great mystery is how God became man. It is no mystery how to live in wisdom, or to know that we need to forgive. But we can only do it by the grace of God, through the Holy Spirit, imparted to us because of the mystery.

Embrace the Mystery.

Joshua 19, Proverbs 3, 1 Timothy 2

Possess the land. Dividing the land between the seven remaining tribes was accomplished by casting lots at the door of the tabernacle in Shiloh. The priest, Eleazar, Joshua, and the tribal leaders conducted the process. In the Old Testament, casting lots was one way God spoke to men. So God actually directed the division and they all knew it. It might have been easy to quibble among themselves over the borders, but not when they knew for certain God laid it out.

A couple of interesting notes: 1. Dan got more because they took the initiative and fought for it. 2. East was always referred to as "toward the sunrise" but west was either "west" or "at the sea."

Follow instruction. God speaks to us through His word today and when we read the Bible, we know for certain Who it is that we hear. Proverbs 3 is instruction we cannot quibble over. If we will follow what we read here, our lives will be full, meaningful, and satisfying. We will "occupy the land" in a spiritual sense the way the Israelite tribes did in the physical sense.

Pay attention to details. 1 Timothy 2 opens with instructions for a quiet and peaceable life: prayer for all those in authority. Then Paul goes on to instruct a quiet and peaceable church function. It can be hard to accept our roles when we listen to the voices of culture around us. But when we recognize God speaking through the Bible, we won't quibble over details.

Joshua 18, Proverbs 2, 1 Timothy 1

Joshua's question to the remaining tribes tells on them. "How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?" Here they were, at last, in the Promised Land. And yet seven tribes watched their fellow Israelites take charge of their inheritance while hanging back and waiting. Waiting for what? That was what Joshua wanted to know. As God's mouthpiece, we can be sure Joshua voiced the question for God.

Were they afraid? Maybe. Lazy? Mm. Maybe. We don't know why they waited. But when Joshua broke it down into instructions, they obeyed. They conducted a survey, wrote the results in a book, and cast lots. Sounds very modern to me. "Conquer Your Enemies in Three Easy Steps."

Wisdom equals receiving God's words and treasuring His commands. When we do these things, God is our shield, guard and guide. Proverbs 2:21 says, "For the upright will dwell in the land, and the blameless will remain in it." Maybe the seven tribes needed to deal with a sin problem. Failure to receive God's words and treasure His commands leads one down a dark road. The seven tribes stood at the intersection. It was time to choose.

Paul instructs Timothy to teach sound doctrine: the reason for the law was to show sinners the truth about themselves, and the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ saves them from their way. Two, Hymenaeus and Alexander, stood at the intersection and chose the wrong way. Paul and Timothy chose the right way.

Is God calling you to choose His path? Is He leading you in a direction you hesitate to follow? Be like the seven tribes and stop procrastinating. God will break it down for you, step by step.

Joshua 17, Proverbs 1, 2 Thessalonians 3

I can just hear the whine in the voices of Manasseh's escendants as they complain to Joshua about the size of the land apportioned to them.
     "We're girls. We get some, too!"
     "We want more!"
     "We don't like that land, why can't we have something different?"
Joshua, like a patient, but firm, father, says, "Take it or leave it. But I believe you can do what it takes to make it yours."
But Machir wasn't whining with the others. And so, he was rewarded for being a man of war.

We are people of war. We must be willing to fight like Machir. Instead of physical enemies, we face intimidating spiritual enemies.

Wisdom comes from fear of the Lord. And a wise person, like the bird, sees the net cast to trap her. Recognizing and staying away from sin is part of the battle we fight. Reconnasance is essential in any war.

It takes discipline to be a good soldier. And wisdom. We need to recognize and stay away from sin not only in the world around us, but in the household of faith. This is where it gets difficult to see the net. We must have radar antennae like Martians. The only way we can sense danger is through prayer.

Joshua 16, Psalm 150, 2 Thessalonians 2

Ephraim and Manassah, the tribes named for the sons of Joseph, had overlapping territory since the cities for Ephraim were in the land of Manasseh. Ephraim included Bethel and Luz, the sites famous for their significance in Jacob's life. Do your children know the landmarks of your spiritual heritage? Do you tell stories to be handed down of what God has done? Jacob told his stories, and so when these tribes inherited the cities, they could gain courage for their own battles from him.

When we praise the Lord for His mighty acts, it inspires praise for everything else. And praise tells our stories.

Paul reminds the Thessalonians of a truth he had already taught them. (See verse 5.) They were nervous and shaken by what someone else said. Hearing the truth over and over is reassuring when we are frightened or unsure. Paul tells them to "stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle." (v. 15)

Just as it was important then, it is important now to not only "stand fast and hold on" ourselves, but to hand down to our children and grandchildren the faith stories they can hold on to.

Joshua 15, Psalm 149, 2 Thessalonians 1

Joshua 15 details the borders, and cities within them, that outlined the land Judah would inherit. This was a huge area and included the city of Jerusalem. It was up to the people to take the land for themselves. Caleb's land lay in part of this area and he drove out three real giants. He put muscle where his mouth was. He acted on the faith he had already verbalized. Faith is only as good as the actions based on it. Faith is the glove on the hand.

Judah was not able to drive out the inhabitants of Jerusalem with the result that they had to share space. The Bible gives no reason for this failure, nor does it outline specific, serious consequences. The situation apparently was simply not as ideal as it could have been. The Judah-ites may never have known what could have been. When we fail to act in full faith, we miss opportunity and may never even realize it. But that doesn't excuse our failure or negate it. God knows.

Psalm 149 describes the pairing of faith with action a little bit differently. When the people are full of praise and worship, when their joy overflows, then they are prepared to go out with the sword. "This honor have all His saints." This verse (9) refers to us even now. Verse 3 describes being filled up completely with praise; our bodies overflow with it in dance and song. Only at this point do we have what we need to fight and win. I believe this describes the filling of the Holy Spirit and the power He provides.

Here is another example of faith and working power. The Thessalonian Christians suffered persecution, but Paul reminds them of the power of God  to overcome and destroy enemies. It is Jesus Christ who actually does it for us. We just have to engage.

Verse 11: " . . . That our God would . . . fulfill . . . the work of faith with power."

Joshua 14, Psalm 148, 1 Thessalonians 5

Joshua divided up the land among the tribes for their inheritance west of the Jordan before they had conquered it. What faith! Not only that, but Caleb, the other spy from forty years earlier, who along with Joshua believed and trusted the Lord, wanted to inherit (and thus fight to conquer) the part of the land famous for its giants. And he was 85 years old! These men are certainly "Heroes of the Faith" for me. When I face my "giants" I'll remember them.

How do stars and waters, sea creatures and cattle, hail, snow and wind praise the Lord? Through obedience. Doing what they were created to do. My ultimate praise to God is also obedience. Even if I'm afraid, I will follow the example of Caleb.

In case we wonder what obedience looks like, Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5. After assuring us of the ultimate triumph, he gives exhortations for right living. Living this way will bring praise to the Lord.

Joshua 13, Psalm 147, 1 Thessalonians 4

Joshua was old and had fought many battles for control of cities in the Promised Land. But God said, "There remains very much land yet to be conquered." I wonder how it felt to hear those words and know they were true. Yet I do hear them every day. "So much to do and so little time." The victories of my past are, indeed, past. I have to look forward. God also told Joshua to go ahead and divide the land among the tribes so they would know where their inheritance lay. Chapter 13 details what had already been conquered east of the Jordan.

Seeing at least part of the dream already come true and settled surely must have motivated the warriors to keep fighting for the rest. So take time to savor your victories thus far--but not too much. Remember them, then move on. Go take the rest of your inheritance.

"The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those whose hope is His mercy." (Psalm 147:11) This is the key to victory and ultimate peace. It is the Lord who does all the great things listed in this Psalm, not a man or woman. (See verse 10) We can trust Him to provide. And then we need to praise HIm for having done so.

If we want to know how to live in the "land" the Lord has given us, how to act as occupiers, 1 Thessalonians 4 tells us.

1. Remain sexually pure. In those days and in these, it is exceedingly difficult to stay pure. Not only does temptation abound, but so does social acceptance of any sort of deviant behavior. This point is crucial, however.
2. Lead a quiet life. Work to support yourself and love your fellow Christians. This means minding your own business! Paul did actually say those words.
3. Keep the end in mind. Peace comes from knowing how the story ends.

Joshua knew how it would end, David knew, and Paul knew. We do, too.

Joshua 12, Psalm 146, 1 Thessalonians 3

Pure victory. All-out, absolute, unequivocated, complete, total, without-a-doubt victory. That was the end result of the battles Moses and Joshua fought. If God is for us, indeed, who can be against us? Thirty-one kings and their armies were completely wiped out. The land belonged to the Israelites.

Who is the King of the land? The Lord is. "Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help." (verse 3) Don't put your trust in earthly princes because they'll let you down every time. The Lord is a wise, righteous, benevolent ruler.

Paul was on pins and needles of anxiety over the Thessalonians until he found out that they had remained faithful to the gospel. It seems in verses 1-4 that his physical afflictions had left him so scarred that he was afraid for the Thessalonians to see him. That maybe they would be disheartened by seeing him. But warriors do bear scars. Paul heard back from Timothy that they were still living proof of the victory of salvation.

Victory. It requires trusting the Lord as your general, and engaging in battle ourselves. It can also mean physical persecution and certainly does mean spiritual and emotional persecution by Satan. We will be wounded and we will have scars. But scars, while recalling the wounding experience, indicate healing. We can trust the Lord to bring us through to complete victory.

Joshua 11, Psalm 145, 1 Thessalonians 2

The last battle Joshua fought may have been the most intimidating to him as he faced it. The enemy army was "as many people as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude . . ." (verse4). Why was Joshua anxious? One might think each victory would make the following battle easier for him. But when God begins to work, the enemy realizes things are serious and goes to work, too. Each battle thus becomes more intense than preceding ones. However, what Joshua and his army knew from experience was that God would win. He was their General. Only this certainty could have given them the courage they needed to fight.

We have the same certainty. And we also face escalating battles as God's victories become more numerous in our lives. But this chapter ends with the end of wars. Peace came when all the enemies were dead. We are headed toward an end of wars, too. Heaven is our reward for fighting until the last enemy is dead. But we have to remember Who our General is so we will ". . . not be afraid of them . . ." (verse 6).

Psalm 145 describes the peace after wars are over. God is the Victor and His kingdom is glorious. It is also the description of the warrior's heart. Calm can reign in the middle of chaos because of what the Lord has done. This is where our mental and spiritual focus needs to be.

Joshua and his army took the spoils of war for themselves--gold, silver, precious gems. Paul tells the Thessalonians that he has fought battles, a war even, to tell them the gospel and that they are the spoils of war for him, the great reward.

This is why we fight--to win souls who will be our joy, our "crown of rejoicing" when they are "in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming." (verse 19)

Joshua 10, Psalm 144, 1 Thessalonians 1

Fight and Win. The great victory of Joshua and the Israelites over the five kings and their cities of the South land illustrates the victory of a Christian in complete obedience to God. When the Lord said, "Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand . . ." Joshua took Him at His word and and marched all night to Gibeon to engage the enemy. His faith and trust were so strong that he told the sun and moon to hold still until the enemy was vanquished. God rewarded Joshua's trust by halting the sun and moon. Then He finished off the escapees with hailstones.

Remember Past Victory. David experienced the same kind of victory. He recognized that it was the Lord who did it. And he and his kingdom lived the reward of peace and prosperity.

Anticipate Future Victory. The Christians in the Thessalonian church received great power through the Spirit when they trusted Christ. And their changed lives were a testimony to all the neighboring regions.

Just as the victories of Joshua, David, and the Thessalonians became a testimony to the world, the victory of God in our lives shows to our circle of influence what a might God we serve. But victories don't happen without battles.

How to Win:
1. Put on your spiritual armor.
2. Engage the enemy in the name of the Lord.
3. Trust Him to fight for us and win for us.
4. Believe the victory from the beginning.

Then watch what God does and enjoy the peace He gives.

Joshua 9, Psalm 143, Colossians 4

Because God is in charge, He accomplishes His plans. The deceit of the Gibeonites didn't stop the Israelites from taking over their land and the gullibility of Joshua and his leaders didn't mean defeat. It meant making slaves of the Gibeonites instead of killing them. Joshua could have told the Gibeonites he wasn't bound to his promise because they deceived him. But he chose the "high road" and lived out the nature of God before them by keeping his word. One can only wonder how many of those slaves came to trust the Lord as their God because Joshua kept his word.

David asked the Lord for guidance in his struggle to stay one step ahead of his enemies. He approached his situation the right way, by asking advice from God. This stands in contrast to Joshua and his leaders because, as Joshua 9:14 says, " . . . but they did not ask counsel of the Lord." We can learn from this to always seek counsel from the Lord, both when we're facing trouble and when things seem peaceful, because we always need wisdom, even when life seems easy.

"Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside . . ." Colossians 4:5. Seeking God's counsel provides us wisdom in our dealings with people. By treating others as we ought, we never know when we might have an opportunity to "speak the mystery of Christ" to them. (verse 3)

Joshua 8, Psalm 142, Colossians 3

Joshua 8 opens with these words from the Lord, "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed." Joshua's army had just suffered a major setback but God encourages them. Verse 3 says, "Joshua arose . . ." He got up and made plans which were then carried out. These were not just any old plans that he dreamed up. They were God-given instructions. And this time everyone obeyed. When the battle was over, Joshua set up a memorial and read the scripture--all of it.

The stone memorial stood for generations reminding the people of the reward of obedience and the faithfulness of God to keep His promises. When we suffer a set-back, remember to not be afraid or dismayed. Set it right and then claim the power of God to move forward, following His guidance.

David was afraid and dismayed when he hid in the cave from Saul. But in the end, he recognized that the Lord would provide victory.

If you're wondering what the plan is, how to move forward, what to do, it's found in Colossians 3. "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." (verse 2) There's our focus. Start acting like who you are: a child of God, an heir with Jesus Christ, an ambassador for Him.

From verse 12 through the rest of the chapter we find instructions for moving forward. "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." Col. 3:23-24

Joshua 7, Psalm 141, Colossians 2

Joshua 7 is an ugly picture of sin and defiance that resulted in horrible judgment. There were actually several scenes.

1. The sin
2. The defeat in battle because of the sin
3. Joshua's anguish over the defeat when he didn't understand it, including his conversation with the Lord
4. The judgment

Sin always is more costly than we imagine it will be. Defiance against God always ends in destruction. The scene that grabbed me was Joshua's and his question of the Lord. "What will You do for Your Great Name?" This is the bottom line. It is all about God's Great Name. God's answer comes in the form of instructions. The first is "Get up!" Don't lie around feeling sorry for yourself. Here's what to do . . .

In times of great stress, when we don't understand what is happening, take it to the Lord, and don't lie around feeling sorry for yourself. Get busy doing what you know to do.

David knew the hazards of sin. In Psalm 141, he asks the Lord to keep  him pure.

Achan wanted treasure and tried to get it the wrong way. He was so focused on the things he saw that he couldn't see or obey the Lord. The real treasure is all wisdom and knowledge in God the Father and Jesus Christ. When we follow the treasure map - the Bible - we will solve the mystery and gain all the wealth found in the knowledge of God.

Joshua 6, Psalm 140, Colossians 1

Joshua chapter six describes the fall of Jericho into the hands of the Israelites. It was a most unusual battle, without a shot fired. Not even arrows flew. Joshua led his army to march around the walls of the city while seven priests blew trumpets. They were followed by priests carrying the Ark of the Lord. The army followed the priests. Can you imagine living inside Jericho and wondering what was going on? How unnerving! The Israelites just marched around the city once each day for 6 days in a row while the trumpets blared. Then they went back to their camp. But the seventh day, upon Joshua's command, the whole army shouted at once. At the sound of the shouts, the city walls collapsed.

To really understand this amazing story, we need to turn back a few verses into chapter five. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Joshua and told Joshua He, the Angel, was the commander of the army. Not Joshua. With that kind of commander, who could lose? But Joshua had a critical role to play. He could have whined about not getting to be in charge. He could have said, "Lord, that is the craziest plan I've ever heard. It won't work so we'd better do it my way."

When the Angel of the Lord is on your side, miracles happen. But trust and obedience also have to happen. Like the old hymn says, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way." Joshua trusted God and obeyed His odd-sounding instructions. The people trusted Joshua's leadership and obeyed. And God fought and won for them.

God will fight and win for me and you, too. But our part is to trust and obey.

In this Psalm, David is surrounded by evil men. Just like God helped Joshua and the people, David knows He will help him. It doesn't matter whether we're on the offense or the defense, God is still the same and the battle and victory are both His. We can trust Him.

I think we sometimes forget what it took when Christ fought for us on the cross. We were His enemies, but He gave everything so we could be called His friends. This kind of friend is so worthy of our trust and obedience! He has everything under control. We can trust Him.

Joshua 5, Psalm 139, Philippians 4

Three great events happen in this chapter of Joshua.

1. The second circumcision
2. Manna ceased
3. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Joshua

The second circumcision was necessary because it was the first one for these men. It symbolized a fresh start and their real commitment to the Lord. It was a terrible thing to endure as an adult. But it was necessary to seal the covenant. It was literal for them and is spiritual for us. Our hearts are circumcised at salvation. We have a fresh start. We're forever and always different afterward.

The manna ceased because the people didn't need it anymore. They were in the Promised Land and could eat its produce. Another fresh start.

The Angel of the Lord appeared to set the tone for another fresh start. Battles would now be fought with the Lord as commander. When we face spiritual battles, remember this image. God is still fighting for us as we "take" our "Promised Land" for Him.

Psalm 139 is a beautiful word picture of the warrior. You. Me. God made us, knows every single part of us, and is right here to help us. He will fight for us. (verse 19) Here is the key to victory: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24) NKJ

Philippians 4:6-9 are extensions of Psalm 139:23-24. They, again, are keys to victory.

What to think about:

What is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, whatever is virtuous or praiseworthy.

What to do:

The things you learned and received and heard and saw in Paul.

It's simple, really.

Joshua 4, Psalm 138, Philippians 3

This generation of the People was obedient. So God performed another miracle, similar to the crossing of the Red Sea for them. Only this time, the people were armed for battle. They knew what lay ahead. And they were ready. But just so they wouldn't forget that day, God instructed them to take stones from the river and set them up as a reminder.

I have reminders of past spiritual victories in a collection. I've put items that represents the events in a box. They are tangible and an occasional look through them along with a walk down memory lane fortifies me when life gets hard.

For the Psalmist, a song was the reminder. His words paint the picture of the glorious Lord who helps His children and saves us from our enemies.

Paul remembers how he used to trust in his circumcision, and his adherance to, and zeal for, the law in order to be found righteous. He says all that was worthless. The only thing that matters is what Christ did for us on the cross. This is the victory we need to remember as we press on into the battle.

Walking in a manner worthy of Christ is our battle. We press forward, gaining ground as we deny the power of our flesh and focus on Christ.

The miracle of salvation is behind us. But the power of Christ goes before us into battle. We need to remember that as we face the future. We know what lies ahead, but we also know Who wins!

Joshua 3, Psalm 137, Philippians 2

Joshua told the people what they should do and what God would do. The people obeyed exactly, and watched God do what He promised. The Bible is full of God's promises and we can trust Him. The key is our obedience.

The cry from captivity is a mournful one. Sin caused the captivity. The contrast between Joshua 3 and Psalm 137 is stark and illustrates the difference between blessings from obedience and consequences of sin.

The whole point of obedience is to become like Christ, humble and obedient to death and then exalted. Paul encourages the Philippians to be obedient, reminds them of his own obedience, commends Timothy and Epaphroditus for their obedience, and chides the Philippians a bit for what they lacked toward Paul. The point is not that we'll be exalted now or even as Christ later, but we will be heirs with Christ later. It is all for Christ.

Our obedience now brings - attracts - others to Him. If we suffer for the cause now, it's not the same as suffering the consequences of sin. We need to recognize the difference. Sometimes we get so caught up in the experience of suffering that we fail to see why we are suffering. There is suffering because of our faith, suffering as a result of sin, and suffering that is designed to refine us. (Of course, all suffering refines us, but some is only for that purpose.)

Paul was persecuted for his faith, and so were Timothy and Epaphroditus. The Philippian Christians faced the very real possibility that they would be, too. This is the suffering to which he refers. But even when going through something so terrible, Paul and others of his day watched God do what He promised. God won all kinds of victories for them, even though they ultimately died for Him. Christ died, too - more accurately, first. But that didn't mean God forgot His promises.

We are promised a place at the table in heaven. God always keeps His promises.

Joshua 2, Psalm 136, Philippians 1

We can live in the state of promises, but only for so long. There comes a time when we have to go do something - whatever God instructs. In this case, the spies went into Jericho. For her part, Rahab had to do something also. But as individuals obeyed, God worked and protected them all. Rahab was certainly an unlikely candidate, so we need to learn from her example not to judge others.

His mercy does endure forever. It is the Lord who created the earth and us and who rescues us from our enemies. (Read: spiritual enemies, those forces who would cause us doubt, worry, fear, and ultimately stop us from following God.) Those enemies are defeated by the cross and we need to stand strong because His mercy endures forever!

Paul's enemies thought that by arresting him they'd stop the spread of his message. How wrong they were! Paul knew that physical affliction, even death, was not defeat, but actual victory. He encourages the Philippians to remember this when they suffer. "To live is Christ and to die is gain." (Phil. 1:21) The whole purpose of prolonging Paul's life was to produce more fruit of the gospel and for the benefit of others, not Paul.

Does my life benefit others? Am I willing to give it up to benefit others as the spies were? Can I really say with Paul that it doesn't matter to me whether I live or die, only that God's will is done? These are heavy questions, but really are the bottom line.

So as long as I live, I better be doing what I know God has called me to do. 

Joshua 1, Psalm 135, Ephesians 6

After Moses died, Joshua stepped into the leadership role as a military leader. The Lord told Joshua it was time to go in and possess the Promised Land and also promised to go with the people as they fought for it.

This Psalm is a praise to the Lord for keeping His promise to His people. He delivered them from Egypt and settled them in the land He gave them. He is the only true God.

Just as Joshua became a military leader and led the people to fight for their land, we also are in a battle for our land. Our land is our minds and God is with us to help us fight in the power of the Holy Spirit. He provides our armor and weapons, but He actually wins, defeating the enemy for us. (Col. 2:15)

Just as Psalms 135 records the victory from Joshua, Colossians 2:15 records the victory from Ephesians 6.

Deuteronomy 34, Psalm 134, Ephesians 5

When Moses died, it was the end of an era. The slavery experience, deliverance, wilderness experience, and tabernacle construction were finished. It was time to move on with a new leader. New beginnings are fresh starts, but they're even better than the first start because of the wisdom gained from what has gone before.

Yes, bless the Lord - the God of new beginnings. By standing in the house of the Lord at night, it indicates round-the-clock devotion and prayer and praise. Difficult times and good times should both drive us to our knees and lift our hands before our God.

Ephesians five can be summed up in two words: love and wisdom. If we love God and each other and pray day and night for wisdom, our new beginnings in Christ will be light-filled.

The Moses era was like night. Taking the Promised Land was a new day. When we are saved we pass from darkness to light. The Psalm passage is that--the passage--from dark to light.

Deuteronomy 33, Ps. 133, Ephesians 4

Just as Moses blessed each of the tribes before his death and told them what a good thing it was to belong to the Lord, we as Christians have that same blessing. We, too, are a people "saved by the Lord" and our enemies will submit to us and we will "tread down their high places" because of the power of the Holy Spirit living in us.

"How good and how pleasant it is" not only to be saved by the Lord, but to dwell together in unity. Christianity is not merely an individual, solitary life, although it certainly begins with God and me alone. The instant I stepped into a relationship with my Heavenly Father, I also began a relationship with His other children--my brothers and sisters. Despite the human propensity for sibling rivalry, it is good, the Psalmist reminds us, to live in unity and harmony!

And so, Paul found it necessary to instruct further, more specifically, on the topic of unity. We do need to remember that we all have the same Heavenly Father and the same Spirit living in us. But as Moses gave a unique blessing upon each of the tribes, emphasizing how God would use them--Levi to minister in the tabernacle, Judah to be a warrior, Asher to be strong, Benjamin to rest in the Lord, Gad to administer justice, Reuben to multiply in the land, and so on--similarly, Jesus Christ gives each of His children, you and me, grace gifts. We know them as spiritual gifts. It's important for us to live out these gifts for the building up of the body, the church. And it's also important to live in a way that pleases Christ.

"And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." Eph. 4:32

Deuteronomy 31, Psalm 131, Ephesians 2

God chose Joshua as the new leader of the people after Moses' death. Both men entered the tabernacle together, one last time for Moses, and the first time for Joshua, to visit with God. The news from the Lord was not good. the people would rebel and God would hide His face from their evil. He would remove His hand of protection and they would suffer and wonder why.

Isn't that how we are? When we as Christians sin - and make a habit of it - God has to distance Himself from that. Then we wonder why we suffer.

Psalm 131 is short, to the point, and illustrates how our lives should be. What a beautiful, profound, word picture! A weaned child is not a helpless baby, but is still dependent on his mother and knows it. That's the spiritual place where we need to be. Not helpless, but not self-sufficient, either. And always aware of Who we are dependent upon.

In Ephesians 2, Paul writes that the blood of Jesus Christ made it possible for Gentiles to be redeemed. He broke down the wall between Jews and Gentiles and made everyone equal at the foot of the cross. Verse 4 tells us that God, out of His rich mercy, because of His love, made us alive together with Christ.

The bad news was that the people of Israel would not remain faithful to the Lord and that Gentiles would have no way to come to Him.

The good news is that Jesus Christ died for all. We all get a new start. And once we do, let's remember our dependence on the Lord. We don't want to go down the road of rebellion.

Deuteronomy 30, Psalm 130, Ephesians 1

If we remember that what the Lord did for Israel in the physical realm, He does for us in the spiritual, then Deut. 30 becomes a promise for us. The Lord will bring me back from "captivity" - illness, strongholds, grief - to the land of "before." He will turn curses to blessings. He will circumcise my heart (v.6) to love the Lord my God with all my heart and all my soul. And actually, none of what God wants from us is too mysterious or hard to get hold of. Verse 14 says, "But the word is very near you, in your mouth, and in your heart, that you may do it." There are no excuses and it's all a matter of the heart.

The Lord said if Israel would turn back to Him after straying away that He would gather them back to the "land of their fathers." The Psalms passage continues this theme. "With the Lord there is abundant redemption."

Epesians 1 describes this redemption. It was provided by the blood of Jesus Christ and by His grace we can know the mystery of His will: that redemption is for gentiles, too. After we hear the word of truth, the gospel, and believe, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is like our engagement ring or our adoption papers. He promises us final redemption when our bodies are gathered with our spirits on that final day.

There is hope for even the "Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day!" No matter what happens in our lives, we can remember our future. We know how the story ends.

Deuteronomy 29, Psalm 129, Galatians 6

Memory is a powerful tool. God (through Moses) wanted the people to remember all He did for them in the past so they would trust Him for the future. He also wanted them to remember the bad things that result from failure to follow and worship only the One True God. Third, He wanted to renew the covenant with them before they crossed into the Promised Land because they would have to fight for control of it. They needed internal fortitude to go forward.

Psalm 129 could be the rallying cry as the people entered the battle. It sounds like a speech at a pep rally to me, at the point where the leader gets the crowd fired up and leads a chant. He yells, "Who are the Bluejays?" and the people yell back, "The mighty, mighty Bluejays!" Only here it's, "Who is the Lord?" and the people say,"The mighty, mighty Lord, who gave us the victory!"

Paul had been through many battles for Christ and had the scars to prove it. He claimed a lot of territory for the Lord. His message, like that of the Psalmist, was to do good to others when you're the victor. Glory in the Lord because that's where the victory comes from. Verse 16 says, "And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God."

Doesn't it help to remember God's faithfulness in the past when you face new trials? It helped me when I found out I had cancer and kept helping as I fought through the treatments. When I didn't think I could go on, I turned to the Bible and read the promises there.

Have you fought valiantly in the battles you faced? Have you remained true to the Lord, no matter what? The reward is a fresh sense of His presence, a thrill that He came through again: the thrill of victory. Keep fighting, my friend. The result is worth it.

Deuteronomy 28, Psalm 128, Galatians 5

Deuteronomy is a book expounding on the Word of the Lord to Moses. It is a book of law. Chapter 28 is purely frightening. If this chapter didn't scare the people into avoiding idolatry, I don't know what would. Sadly, nothing did. Eventually they were taken captive to Babylon after a long and terrible seige and the land lay in ruins for years. Then again, in 70 A.D., Jerusalem was burned and the land turned over to the Romans, then eventually the Muslims and Arabs. It remained a desolate, dusty place where wars were fought for almost 2,000 years because the Jews rejected Jesus Christ.

Today we need to heed the same warning. Follow the Lord and He will guide me and protect me and provide for my needs. Reject the Lord and I'm left to my own devices outside the care and protection of His hand. Chronic sin in the life of a child of God is a dangerous thing.

What a contrast from this gloomy scene as we read Psalm 128. This Psalm presents the picture of what happens when the Lord is worshipped and followed. The choice, and consequences of going either way, are crystal clear.

Galatians completes the picture. Choosing to live by the Spirit instead of in the flesh produces beautiful, good fruit.

What will you choose today? How will you live out your choice?