What scares us?
Is it people who wield control over us?
Is it circumstances stronger than our grip on things?
Do we face life this day avoiding iron-clad issues that God sends us?
The Israelites lived in sin. Judges 1:29 It came about when Israel became strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out completely. These Canaanites had "iron chariots" which scared the Israelites way more than their fear of falling into idolatry. Their God, Host of the Heavens, could put iron in their hearts, if they let Him.
An Angel of the Covenant, the Word shows up, dead serious, much alive and speaks about their sins in Judges 2:1-2:
“I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you and as for you, you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land. But you have not obeyed Me; what is this you have done?" The angel says: I will make them thorns in your side. And the response: "All the sons of Israel lifted up their voices and wept. They worshipped there with tears, not with praises of joyful voices. And they served God through the next generation, and that was it! No more serving God. They served Baal. What in the world happened to the Israelites that a whole generation quit serving the God they followed from plagues to wilderness to promised land. They became "severely distressed" Judges 2:15.
They played the harlot after other gods---how could that be? They turned way too quickly and did not do as their fathers did. Judges 1:17. What about our children of this generation? Are they turning way too quickly. They seem so enmeshed in this celebrity society, a media-controlled society. What about us? What can we do? We can try to work real hard at being good ---but our efforts may just end up in doing penance for our sins. Their tears flowed well but no tears can save us from our sin. Oh, to have ears that hear well, wrestle well. We are forgiven. Are we repenting deeply when we see what we are doing to God, abandoning those sinful ways, following after holiness not happiness. May we follow hard after our God this day and listen to what He is saying to our hearts.
PRAYER FROM PSALMS
Psalm 15
Who shall live on your Holy Hill?
O God,
It is those who speak truth in our hearts! 15:2
Help us this day to hear what we say to ourselves and to You.
Help us this day to do no evil to our friends, our families.
Help us this day to cast no slur against any man.
Help us this day to be more concerned about our sin than our success.
Help us this day to deal with our sin rather than play the harlot.
Help us this day to do these things and,
Thank You for keeping us from being shaken people.
OVERVIEW: Judges 1-2
Image: LOC, LC-ppmsca-09756
“I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you and as for you, you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land. But you have not obeyed Me; what is this you have done?" The angel says: I will make them thorns in your side. And the response: "All the sons of Israel lifted up their voices and wept. They worshipped there with tears, not with praises of joyful voices. And they served God through the next generation, and that was it! No more serving God. They served Baal. What in the world happened to the Israelites that a whole generation quit serving the God they followed from plagues to wilderness to promised land. They became "severely distressed" Judges 2:15.
They played the harlot after other gods---how could that be? They turned way too quickly and did not do as their fathers did. Judges 1:17. What about our children of this generation? Are they turning way too quickly. They seem so enmeshed in this celebrity society, a media-controlled society. What about us? What can we do? We can try to work real hard at being good ---but our efforts may just end up in doing penance for our sins. Their tears flowed well but no tears can save us from our sin. Oh, to have ears that hear well, wrestle well. We are forgiven. Are we repenting deeply when we see what we are doing to God, abandoning those sinful ways, following after holiness not happiness. May we follow hard after our God this day and listen to what He is saying to our hearts.
PRAYER FROM PSALMS
Psalm 15
Who shall live on your Holy Hill?
O God,
It is those who speak truth in our hearts! 15:2
Help us this day to hear what we say to ourselves and to You.
Help us this day to do no evil to our friends, our families.
Help us this day to cast no slur against any man.
Help us this day to be more concerned about our sin than our success.
Help us this day to deal with our sin rather than play the harlot.
Help us this day to do these things and,
Thank You for keeping us from being shaken people.
OVERVIEW: Judges 1-2
Image: LOC, LC-ppmsca-09756
I am on my new computer and cannot figure out how to post a picture, yet. So, no pics for the past two days. I'll figure this out soon! Thanks for your patience. Bev
ReplyDeleteA wise pastor said one Sunday from the pulpit, "We are only one generation away from being a Godless people." One generation doesn't carry the torch in their hearts for their Lord, and He is so quickly forgotten. So easily dismissed. Particularly when things are going well. When we have a season of rest, we don't pray like we do when we are needy with enemies on each side. How can we be so easily distracted from authentically pursuing our First Love?
ReplyDeleteHelp us to be more concerned about our sin than our success. What a beautiful prayer, Bev. One to which I say an Amen.