A Ruler in Defense (Explanation) (Judges 12:1-3)

2/7/2010 7:55 AM

 

SPIRITIUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                              Focus: A ruler in defense (Explanation)

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                        Reference:  Judges 12:1-3

 

            Message of the verses:  “1 ¶  Then the men of Ephraim were summoned, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, "Why did you cross over to fight against the sons of Ammon without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down on you." 2  Jephthah said to them, "I and my people were at great strife with the sons of Ammon; when I called you, you did not deliver me from their hand. 3  "When I saw that you would not deliver me, I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and the LORD gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?’”

            This section begins the last drama in this play that I have been studying on the life of Jephthah and I will cover the first two sup-points in this SD.  Accusation and then Explanation are these two points.

            Just as in the case of Gideon the people of Ephraim came to see Jephthah after the fight with Ammon was over and wanted to receive praise for the victory without coming to the battle.  They were invited to the battle both times and did not come and now they are upset.  Jephthah was not as tactful with his words as he told them that they were called to come and fight, but they did not come and his first concern was to defeat the Ammonites not please Ephraim.  During those eighteen years that Ammon was oppressing the nation of Israel Ephraim did not offer it’s help to defeat them.  It looks like there is going to be a fight against these two tribes who were of the same family.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.  (KJV)  Maybe Jephthah should have used the same kind of approach as Gideon did and there avoid a war that would only kill family.  The truth said in a way that makes someone angry does not serve a great purpose if a fight breaks out over it.  I want to learn this lesson and apply it to my own life.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1. Practice the truth of Proverbs 15:1.

 

2/7/2010 8:10 AM