Reflection on Judges 3:1-11

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Scripture

These people were left to test the Israelites – to see whether they would obey the commands that the Lord has given two their ancestors through Moses.

Observation

The Lord left nations such as the Philistines and the Canaanites to teach warfare to a generation that had no experience in battle.

The Israelites quickly gave into the ways of their pagan neighbours, intermarrying with them and worshipping their gods.

The Lord then sent the Arameans to rule over them. When the people cried out to the Lord for rescue, He sent Othniel. The Spirit of the Lord came on him to deliver the people of God. The Lord gave Othniel victory, and there was peace in the land for 40 years.

Application

Why does God allow suffering, persecution and hardship? Why is it so hard to be a Christian?

The Lord allows temptations and opposition to make us stronger in Him. if life was always easy, we would not see a need to pray.

These tests also come as a way of allowing God (and us) to see if we will be faithful to Him. If it costs nothing to be faithful, is my heart truly committed to the Lord?

In the case of the Israelites, they very quickly became like their neighbours instead of winning them to follow the Lord.

Sometimes, it seems that it is easier to be like the people of the world so we can fit in. The truth, however, is that this way leads to spiritual death.

Prayer

Lord, it is hard to stand up to all the temptations that surround me. Please help me to stand firm for you. Amen

What is a woman?

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The great question of our age has stumped nominees for the Supreme Court of the USA, politicians and even health professionals.

“What is a woman?” is the question that defines the stupidity of the elites that run our nation.

In April Senator Eric Antic asked Brendan Murphy, the head of the Australian Health Department, no less, for a definition of a woman. You would think that a doctor would be able to manage what most 7 year olds can do. You wold think that a man who has obviously been around for a few decades could think back to last year when we all agreed what a woman was.

You would be surprised. Doctor Murphy asked for the question to be taken on notice. It only took 78 days, but the Department came up with the following definition of a woman:

“The frameworks adopted to define a person’s gender include chromosomal makeup, the gender assigned at birth, and the gender with which a person identifies. The Department of Health does not adopt a single definition. Health policies and access to health programs are based on clinical evidence and clinical need for all Australians, regardless of gender identity, biological characteristics, or genetic variations. Our programs are designed to be inclusive and to provide better health and wellbeing for all Australians.”

Well that clears that up.

Rescue Plan

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It was a perfect morning for bike riding, as so many of them have been lately.

It was a Saturday morning, and I was nearly home after a 40 km ride that took me down the Kamilaroi Highway to Turrawan, across the Tariaro Bridge and back along the Old Gunnedah Road. Whenever I take this route, I stop at the bridge and admire the beauty of God’s creation.

Less than 2 kilometres from home, I noticed that the back tyre felt soft, and a minute later it was clear that there was no air in the tyre at all. The greatest hazard a cyclist faces is a puncture in the middle of a ride.

Without a second thought, I called my wife, who jumped into the car and came to rescue me. I was thankful that it was only a 2 km ride home and not a 20 or 30 km ride.

A couple of days later, the inner tube was replaced, and I was back in business.

My need to be rescued reminded me of an even greater need that we have.

Our tendency to run our own lives our own way is described by the Bible as “sin.” Our lives work best when we live God’s way, but we all want to do things our own way, regardless of the cost to ourselves or other people.

Sin separates us from God. It destroys the relationship that we have been created for. We can’t fix it on our own abilities.

But God initiated His own rescue plan, by sending Jesus into the world to pay the penalty for our sin. The most famous verse in the Bible reminds us: “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

If you are finding that your life is about as much fun as a bike with a flat tyre, why don’t you ask God to take control? Say “Sorry” to God and ask Him to lead you to a church where you can learn to live God’s way.

Quote for the Day

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While earlier generations might have seen damage to body or property as the most serious categories of crime, a highly psychologized era will accord increasing importance to words as means of oppression. And this represents a serious challenge to one of the foundations of liberal democracy: freedom of speech. Carl Trueman  

Reflection on Judges 2:10-23

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Scripture

The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, and served the images of Baal. They abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshipping the gods of the people around them. and they angered the Lord.

Observation

The generation of Joshua dies, and a generation grows up that fails to acknowledge the Lord. Instead, they worship the idols of Baal and the other gods of the nations around them.

This makes the Lord angry, and He hand them over to raiders who steal their possessions. They fight against other nations, but they are defeated because the Lord is not with them.

The Lord raises up judges to rescue the Israelites, but the people continue to worship other gods. They worship the Lord while the judge is alive, but they quickly turn back to foreign gods.

Application

During my lifetime, I have seen the overturning of Christian values right across the Western world. Australia really wasn’t an expressively Christian country in the way the United States was, but our culture and our institutions were. Our shared morality with basically Biblical.

It started collapsing in the 1970s as the sexual revolution took hold and increasingly socialist ideas infiltrated mainstream politics.

Whether it is Australia, the United States, or the United Kingdom, the people have turned away from the Lord to pursue other gods.

As we have abandoned the Lord and his ways, we have suffered an avalanche of societal woes. The only long-term remedy is a revival in which there is a massive turning back to the ways of Jesus.

Despite the refusal of Israel to follow the Lord consistently, and their repeated return to idolatry, the Lord never gave up on them. I believe that the lord will not give up on Australia and that revival will come.

Prayer

Holy Spirit come and blow your breath over this nation. Lead us away from our idols and back to you, the one true God. Amen.

Quote for the Day

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In fact, I might press this point further: institutions cease to be places for the formation of individuals via their schooling in the various practices and disciplines that allow them to take their place in society. Instead, they become platforms for performance, where individuals are allowed to be their authentic selves precisely because they are able to give expression to who they are “inside.” Carl Trueman

Reflection on Judges 2:1-9

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Scripture

“For your part, you were not to make any covenants with the people living in this land. You were to destroy the altars. You disobeyed my command. Why did you do this?”

Observation

The angel of the Lord meets with the people of Israel at Bokim. He confronts them about their failure to destroy the altars of the pagan gods. Because of this, the Lord will no longer drive out the people living in the land. The Israelites weep on hearing this judgement .

Joshua sends the people away, each tribe to take the land allocated to them. The Israelites continue to serve the Lord throughout Joshua’s life.

Joshua dies at the age of 110.

Application

The Lord commanded Israel to kill the people living in the land, to make no covenants with them, and to destroy their altars. They failed to obey these important commandments.

Israel was meant to be a holy nation, dedicated to the Lord. In order to do this, they must not tolerate worship of any other god other than the Lord.

When we read the Old Testament, we see there is constant temptation for them to turn away from the Lord to worship other gods, particularly Baal and Ashtoreth. At times, child sacrifices were made to these false gods.

The church is also meant to be holy and dedicated to the Lord. We must not worship the idols that the world wants us to follow. Some denominations have walked away from the gospel of Jesus Christ to worship other gods such as the social gospel and marxism.

I need to keep my heart pure and set apart for the Lord. It is a daily battle, ensuring that the gods of this world are not enticing me to worship them.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you are the Way the Truth and the Life. There is no other God but you. Amen.