Judges 9-11; Psalm 17; Luke 23
The story of Abimelech (Judges 9) is detailed to illustrate the general condition of the Israelites at that time. Despite being in the Promised Land, in the best place specially prepared for them by God, and enjoying all the blessings God filled their lives, the Israelites did not seek God or live according to His law. Intrigue, hostility, and cruelty towards each other were the natural result of such a state.
Judges 10:6 accurately conveys the typical situation of the Israelite people: "And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the Lord, and served not him."
As a result, God was forced to punish them again and again, allowing surrounding nations to attack them and rule over them.
Jephthah is another complex character. The son of a harlot, he was a brave man. He gathered a private army of "vain men." What they did is not mentioned, but the elders of Gilead knew they could fight (Judges 11:5-6). At the same time, Jephthah recognized his dependence on the Lord (Judges 11:9) and tried to resolve the conflict with the Ammonites peacefully (Judges 11:12-14). He knew the history of Israel well (Judges 11:15-27) and called on the Lord to judge them.
The fact that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah (Judges 11:29) does not mean that God fully approved of his actions. Scripture, in many places, speaks of God using various people for His purposes, including the pagan Cyrus (Isaiah 45).
The story of Jephthah's hasty vow and his daughter is one of the difficult passages to interpret. Most likely, he fulfilled what he promised (Judges 11:39), which speaks to the strong influence of paganism among the Israelites. First, Jephthah makes a vow that God did not require but was common among pagans. Second, when faced with a situation where both actions would violate God's law, he goes through with sacrificing his daughter, which is typical for pagans in such situations.
Psalm 17 is another prayer of David when he is in distress. Asking God to deliver him from his enemies, David concludes this request, expressing that his goal is communion with God and delighting in Him: "But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation." (Psalm 16:15).
Luke 23. In the trial of Jesus Christ, Pilate three times says that he finds no fault in Him, earnestly seeking a way to release Him. But he was unable to resist the pressure of the crowd and handed Jesus over to be crucified. Jesus' death on the cross made a clear impression on those present that a righteous man was dying (Luke 23:47).
Judges 10:6 accurately conveys the typical situation of the Israelite people: "And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the Lord, and served not him."
As a result, God was forced to punish them again and again, allowing surrounding nations to attack them and rule over them.
Jephthah is another complex character. The son of a harlot, he was a brave man. He gathered a private army of "vain men." What they did is not mentioned, but the elders of Gilead knew they could fight (Judges 11:5-6). At the same time, Jephthah recognized his dependence on the Lord (Judges 11:9) and tried to resolve the conflict with the Ammonites peacefully (Judges 11:12-14). He knew the history of Israel well (Judges 11:15-27) and called on the Lord to judge them.
The fact that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah (Judges 11:29) does not mean that God fully approved of his actions. Scripture, in many places, speaks of God using various people for His purposes, including the pagan Cyrus (Isaiah 45).
The story of Jephthah's hasty vow and his daughter is one of the difficult passages to interpret. Most likely, he fulfilled what he promised (Judges 11:39), which speaks to the strong influence of paganism among the Israelites. First, Jephthah makes a vow that God did not require but was common among pagans. Second, when faced with a situation where both actions would violate God's law, he goes through with sacrificing his daughter, which is typical for pagans in such situations.
Psalm 17 is another prayer of David when he is in distress. Asking God to deliver him from his enemies, David concludes this request, expressing that his goal is communion with God and delighting in Him: "But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation." (Psalm 16:15).
Luke 23. In the trial of Jesus Christ, Pilate three times says that he finds no fault in Him, earnestly seeking a way to release Him. But he was unable to resist the pressure of the crowd and handed Jesus over to be crucified. Jesus' death on the cross made a clear impression on those present that a righteous man was dying (Luke 23:47).
Posted in Reading Bible Together