Skip to main content

Daily Devotion: Judges 3:12-14

By

Judges 3:12-14    "And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.  (13)  And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.  (14)  So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years."

We can already see in this book of Judges that Israel had cycles when they would follow closely to the Lord and other times when they would stray from Him. This was a constant in their history. But, if we are honest with ourselves, it is also a constant in each of our lives. There are times when we feel closer to God than at other times. In the day of Judges, the people would stray to the point of worshiping the gods of the land. This is what God had warned them about before He brought them into the Promised Land. They were not to follow after the nations and serve their gods; yet, they did it time and again.  God would allow the nations to rise against them each time they strayed. On this occasion, the people of Moab came against Israel and "possessed the city of palm trees."  What is the significance of this? Palm trees always represent a place of rest and comfort. Remember when Israel came to Elim where there were 70 palm trees. It was a place of rest and restoration.  

At the time of our verses today, Moab had taken away their rest, comfort, and place of restoration. It is a true fact that when we wander away from the fellowship of God, we lose all comfort and peace. It is an impossibility to maintain peace in our hearts and minds without the presence and power of God being with us. So how did God use a judge to deliver Israel when they cried out to Him? God chose a man by the name of Ehud to deliver Israel from the stronghold of Moab. We read in Judges 3:16, that Ehud "made him a dagger which had two edges." 

 Hopefully your mind is already where I am going with these thoughts. How can you and I defend ourselves against the wiles of Satan whereby he attempts to rob us of our peace and comfort? God has given us a weapon that is very efficient in our defence. " Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand." (Psalm 149:6)  The twoedged sword is the very Word of God. We are to take "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." I find that I need to spend time in God's Word every day in order to be practiced with this sword and able to use it in my spiritual warfare. How about you?

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Daily Devotion: Enter With Thanksgiving - Psalm 100:1-5

By
One of the most beautiful Psalms of Thanksgiving is the 100th Psalm. Please turn to it and read verses one through five. With all my heart I believe we are a people and a nation that has truly been blessed by God. Of all those who “give thanks to Him and praise His name” we should be at the top!  It is not uncommon to compile wish lists at Christmas, and draw up a list of resolutions for the new year. But there is another list we often overlook - a Thanksgiving Day list of all for which we are thankful. What would your list contain? Most likely, a good part would be material possessions. I’m convinced that we would find that we have much more for which to be thankful than just our material possessions.  Like you, I’m sure my list would include the major things - life, health, family, friends, and the nation we live in, despite all its flaws. But even more than that, I’m thankful for my salvation, my Church family, and the mercy that God showers upon us each d...
Read more

Daily Devotion: Colossians 1:25-26

By
Colossians 1:25-26    “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;  Even   the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:” In verse twenty-four, Paul has expressed his joy in bearing hardship for the church. It is of this church, the body of Jesus Christ, that he is made a minister. Since Paul used the phrase “made a minister” in verse twenty-three of this same chapter, it seems there is something important that he wishes to convey. The Greek word translated as “made” means “to cause to be.” It was the will of God (Col 1:1) that caused Paul to become a minister. God is always the cause of true ministry. Although our fathers may be ministers, if we become true ministers of the gospel it is  not  because our fathers are ministers. True ministers of the gospel do not take that path because they seek honor for themselves, or b...
Read more

Daily Devotion: Matthew 6:9-13 (3)

By
Matthew 6:9-13    "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  (10)  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  (11)  Give us this day our daily bread.  (12)  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  (13)  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." When others might go away from us, God has promised never to forsake us. When others might not be truthful, our Father in heaven is faithful and full of truth. When others cannot understand our feelings, our Heavenly Father knows exactly how we feel and is able to empathize with us. In fact, He has told us that He is "touched by the feelings of our infirmities." He is stirred when we are sad.  Our relationship with Him is of th...
Read more