BR-14 Chronological Bible Read (April 2 — 8)

I hope you're having a good week. We continue reading through Judges and then into the Book of Ruth. I know I've promised to keep these brief, and I will try, but we have four major stories in this week's reading: Gideon, Jephthah, Samson, and Ruth! These stories are at the heart of our scriptures.

Blessings,
Steve

P.S. Some folks find parts of Judges confusing. Drop me a line if you think I can help. SCO
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We are reading The One Year Chronological Bible (New Living Translation - Tyndale). The best way is with your own copy of this Bible translation.
LINK HERE or copy and paste this link to the daily reading schedule:
http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan/oneyearchronologicalbiblereadingplan.pdf

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Judges 7:1 through 1st Samuel 1:8


Gideon: April 1 & 2, Judges chapters 6, 7, & 8
Even though Gideon's Judge-ship technically started the previous week, I want to cover his service all in this note.

(1) Gideon is one of my favorite Judges because of his doubts. God is so patient with him. Each time Gideon doubts, God encourages him, either through exhortation or though signs (such as the fleece tests). I'm not suggesting that the story of Gideon gives us license to test God. I only am commenting on how encouraging it is to know that, while I may need to go forward in faith, I don't have to feel "strong and courageous." I can feel weak and timid, but still "go with the strength you have."

(2) I laughed at the new name they gave Gideon (April 2, Judges 6: 25-32): Jerub-baal (meaning "Let Baal Defend Himself!"). The local pagans considered Baal a powerful god. Why would he need defenders? Who says there's no humor in the Bible?

(3) The taking of the Midianite camp by Gideon and his soldiers (April 2, Judges chapter 7) has been taught in the U.S. War College as an effective military strategy.

Jephthah: April 3, Judges 11:1-12:7
This tale shows us that while God can work with the leader chosen by the people, a lack of wisdom will still cause that leader to make poor decisions. Jephthah's vow is one of the saddest moment's in all of Israel's history. A foolish person does not suddenly become otherwise just because they ascend to a position of leadership. God does allow Israel to choose its own leaders from time to time (like Jephthah and King Saul), but things do not always go well for the nation in those circumstances; the same may also be said for those God chooses (like David). It underscores for us the great need that we should pray for our leaders, constantly, regardless how they came to be our leaders. We always want God's wisdom to prevail.

Samson: April 4th, Judges chapters 13, 14, 15, & 16
Three cautionary tales all in one week's reading! First there was Gideon's Ephod (a garment that became an idol and led to all sorts of fallout). Then, there was the entirety of Jephthah's judgeship. And now we come to Samson. Though possessing great strength and confidence, as well as a strong desire to punish the Philistines, Samson continuously demonstrated a lack (almost an absence) of wisdom when it came to romance. His confidence in the strength provided to him by God led to his dependence on it for all his decisions. God may choose us as a tool; but, like Solomon, we can ask for wisdom, too!

The Levite and his concubine: April 6th, Judges chapters 19, 20, & 21
This story illustrates just how bad things had gotten during the time of the Judges. The regard for human life, especially the lives of women, had fallen to near zero. It is tales like this one that people point to when they reference the "patriarchy" of the Old Testament. I don't dispute that, but I want us to take a step back and realize this kind of thing could happen any time in history if, as it says of God’s people at the end of Judges, "all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes."

Ruth: April 7th & 8th, The Book of Ruth
Her story takes place late in the Judges period and aligns with the time of the Levite's concubine story; a period of almost lawlessness prevails (part of the reason Ruth needed protecting when she gleaned grain from the field owned by Boaz). This is the part of the Bible from which we get "Whither thou goest, I will go" that is often heard in wedding vows or wedding music, but those are words Ruth says to her mother-in-law! This little book, all four chapters, is worth your time to re-read at future opportunities. Ruth is a jewel. Her child is the grandfather of King David! Ruth is the second "non-Jew" listed in the lineage of Jesus (Rahab, the Harlot, was the first).

In the interest of space and time, I'll save Samuel for next week.