I will admit, up to this point, women only seemed to play a few key roles so far in the Bible reading. Then, I read in chapters 4-5 of Judges about the prophet Deborah.
Once again, the Israelites sinned against the Lord and were under a violent rule by Jabin for twenty years. The Lord spoke to her, and instructed Barak to take 10,000 men and attack Jabin's soldiers--this was a feat, as Jabin's army had chariots.
Barak was afraid and told her he would not do it unless Deborah accompanied him. She agreed, but told him that the victory would not be his. It would be her's. He agreed.
The attack was a success. Victory stood on the shoulders of the Israelites. And what happened to Jabin seems to be something taken straight out of Game Of Thrones: he was hid away in a tent and given milk to drink. He fell asleep, and during that time a tent peg was driven right through the side of his head into the ground.
And there was peace in the land for forty years.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Sunday, September 22, 2013
A sword in the gut
In the book of Judges, chapter 3, it is filled with some interesting characters.
First, the Israelites once again forget their loyalty to God and start worshipping other gods--again. Why don't they ever learn, you may ask yourself? No idea. They turn away after the Joshua's death and are attacked by the kingdom of Mesopotamia. Then, they cry out to the Lord who sends a man named Othniel to save them.
Next, after Othniel's death some forty years later, the Israelites sin again and turn against the Lord. Again. They remain under the rule of King Eglon for eighteen years before they cry out to the Lord again and he sends Ehud to save them.
The tale of Ehud reads like a thriller Dan Brown or Brad Meltzer would fictionalize.
Ehud is a left-handed man who has a double-edged sword, which is only a foot and a half long. He wears it on his right side, underneath his clothes. One day, he visits King Eglon--who is described as a very fat man. Ehud gave Eglon gifts, then advised him that he had a secret message for him.
Eglon ordered his servants to leave them.
After they left, Ehud said he had a message from God. He removed the hidden sword and stabbed Eglon right into the gut, all the way and through his back side. Ehud left the sword, exited, and locked the doors behind him. Only when he was safely away did the servants find their king was dead.
Ehud then blew a horn and ordered the attack on King Eglon's people. They achieved victory.
First, the Israelites once again forget their loyalty to God and start worshipping other gods--again. Why don't they ever learn, you may ask yourself? No idea. They turn away after the Joshua's death and are attacked by the kingdom of Mesopotamia. Then, they cry out to the Lord who sends a man named Othniel to save them.
Next, after Othniel's death some forty years later, the Israelites sin again and turn against the Lord. Again. They remain under the rule of King Eglon for eighteen years before they cry out to the Lord again and he sends Ehud to save them.
The tale of Ehud reads like a thriller Dan Brown or Brad Meltzer would fictionalize.
Ehud is a left-handed man who has a double-edged sword, which is only a foot and a half long. He wears it on his right side, underneath his clothes. One day, he visits King Eglon--who is described as a very fat man. Ehud gave Eglon gifts, then advised him that he had a secret message for him.
Eglon ordered his servants to leave them.
After they left, Ehud said he had a message from God. He removed the hidden sword and stabbed Eglon right into the gut, all the way and through his back side. Ehud left the sword, exited, and locked the doors behind him. Only when he was safely away did the servants find their king was dead.
Ehud then blew a horn and ordered the attack on King Eglon's people. They achieved victory.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
The aftermath of Joshua's death
In chapter 1 of the book of Judges, the Israelies go to war against the Canaanites. What follows is one conquering war after another, the Israelites taking this land and that. The Canaanites were spread out, and each tribe took the time to war against them.
Most of the time they won. Others, for whatever reason, they did not. But the Canaanites were enslaved to work for them.
In chapter 2, the Israelites do what has been warned of them NOT to do: disobey God.
Those who had seen the awesome power God performed were faithful. However, as the years wore on and they started dying off, the next generation didn't hold to the same faithful values and started to worship other gods.
This angered God. And because of it, God prevented victories that should've been won to them.
Most of the time they won. Others, for whatever reason, they did not. But the Canaanites were enslaved to work for them.
In chapter 2, the Israelites do what has been warned of them NOT to do: disobey God.
Those who had seen the awesome power God performed were faithful. However, as the years wore on and they started dying off, the next generation didn't hold to the same faithful values and started to worship other gods.
This angered God. And because of it, God prevented victories that should've been won to them.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Prayers for Justice
Psalms 17 regards one man's plea for help to God.
The speaker is confident God will see things his way, that God will do the right thing. He also calls his plea an "honest prayer."
He is confident in God seeing things his way, for he confirms his heart is pure and he has never done wrong. He has never shown any violence towards others.
He calls his enemies lions, and adds they're waiting to tear him to pieces. He tells God to punish not only them, but their children and their children's children.
The speaker is confident God will see things his way, that God will do the right thing. He also calls his plea an "honest prayer."
He is confident in God seeing things his way, for he confirms his heart is pure and he has never done wrong. He has never shown any violence towards others.
He calls his enemies lions, and adds they're waiting to tear him to pieces. He tells God to punish not only them, but their children and their children's children.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Joshua's final days
In the book of Joshua, chapter 23 is Joshua's farewell address to the Israelites. He told them all he was very old and that they must obey God's laws long after his death.
They must serve the Lord, who drove out powerful nations for Israel to occupy.
In chapter 24, it starts with a recap of the Israelites journey, starting with Abraham and ending now with Joshua. He told them repeatedly to throw away any false idols and to serve the Lord.
The people agreed to do so.
Joshua dies at the ripe age of 110.
They must serve the Lord, who drove out powerful nations for Israel to occupy.
In chapter 24, it starts with a recap of the Israelites journey, starting with Abraham and ending now with Joshua. He told them repeatedly to throw away any false idols and to serve the Lord.
The people agreed to do so.
Joshua dies at the ripe age of 110.
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