Israel's Lack of Submission to the Lord (Judges 10:6-16)

1/31/2010 8:02 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                    Focus:  Israel’s lack of submission to the Lord

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                        Reference:  Judges 10:6-16

 

            Message of the verses:  “6 ¶  Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the sons of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; thus they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him. 7  The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the sons of Ammon. 8  They afflicted and crushed the sons of Israel that year; for eighteen years they afflicted all the sons of Israel who were beyond the Jordan in Gilead in the land of the Amorites. 9  The sons of Ammon crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was greatly distressed.

    10 ¶  Then the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD, saying, "We have sinned against You, for indeed, we have forsaken our God and served the Baals." 11  The LORD said to the sons of Israel, "Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the sons of Ammon, and the Philistines? 12  "Also when the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you, you cried out to Me, and I delivered you from their hands. 13  "Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods; therefore I will no longer deliver you. 14  "Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your distress." 15  The sons of Israel said to the LORD, "We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good to You; only please deliver us this day." 16  So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD; and He could bear the misery of Israel no longer.”

            It has been said about history that it seems to repeat itself, and that is what happens to Israel at this time in their history.  In the last SD it was reported of Israel that they lived without being attacked for twenty-three years, but did not get close to the Lord which caused them to begin to worship the gods of the nations that were around them as seen in verse six.  God again becomes angry with Israel and He sells them into the hands of the Philistines and the sons of Ammon, which was a distant relative of Israel through Lot, Abraham’s nephew. 

            After eighteen years Israel again calls out to the Lord but this time He refuses to help them at first, but after the children of Israel put away their idols and say to God to do as He sees fit, even though they go ahead and ask again that He get rid of those who are attacking them.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I think that one of the reasons that God gives Israel victory over their enemies is because of His character; for one thing God loves Israel.  Israel is the apple of God’s eye and even though they sin He still loves them, and even though He disciplines them, with that He shows His love for them.

Learning of Gods character is a wonderful thing to learn and one of the ways is to learn His attributes, which is what I am trying to do and it is a wonderful study.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1. Continue to learn more about the attributes and character of God.
2. Follow Proverbs 10:19 “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.”
3. Continue to follow Philippines 4:8 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

 

1/31/2010 9:06 AM