Ruth 1

 Elimelech means "God is King." However, he did not live into that name as he left the kingdom where God was to be king to a place where God wasn't. It is no wonder he found trouble. 

Dr. Herbert Lockley pointed out that in chapter one, we see three standing in the road deciding where to go. Like the thieves at the cross, one goes to perdition, the other to paradise (Lockley, pg 68). I'm not sure it's a perfect picture of Jesus on the cross, but it reminds me that there are people in our lives and families who will not follow us into the promised land. It may be sad it was here, but Jesus said that families would be divided over him (Luke 12:53). 

Lockley, Herbert, All the Books and Chapters of the Bible, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, 1966.

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1 Corinthians 12

 

When we see all the gifts that God seems to be saying are for use in the body of Christ, it is interesting that the chapter ends with the idea that these gifts aren’t that important. There is a better way than just having gifts. That way is Love. The gifts are great, but without love, nothing changes. The gifts can do great things, but love is the power that changes the hearts of men. Gifts are God are important, but they aren’t what we ultimately need. 

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Psalm 74

This Psalm focuses on God being faithful to his covenant because God is. The psalmist focuses on all the things that have happened and gone wrong. It focuses on how the enemy is an affront to God and not just that they are hurting Israel. This is the key to the psalm. God, this isn't about what we want, it's about you. Yes, we understand that God brought the judgment because of Israel's sin, but Israel's redemption will be and was because of God's faithfulness. This is what the psalmist is looking to. On a different note, this psalm isn't denying Israel's responsibility; it's just not talking about it right now. 

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Judges 14

 

The question I have is, why was Samson in Timnah? It seems that though this was supposed to be a Jewish town it was controlled by the Philistines. So why is the person who is supposed to be delivering Israel from the Philistines hanging out with them? The answer might be found in a song I have heard saying, "Looking for love in all the wrong places." The problem is when you look there, you normally find the wrong kinds of "love." That is what happened here. Samson only found trouble when going to a place he shouldn't have been. 

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Judges 13

 

Here is a picture of the beginning of the life of Samson. He had everything that one would need to start off with. Yet in the words the angel spoke, there is also a hint that things are going to go wrong. The angel says that Samson will begin to deliver Israel, not that he will do it. In spite of all the benefits and the good home, Samson will only begin the work. Yet in this, there is an interesting similarity to another group. A group with a great beginning, good parents as it were, and good training. A group that would see supernatural power and yet not fulfill its destiny, and that would be Israel. Samson is a picture of all that Israel had been, a special and precious child given a miraculous beginning, only to fall into whoring.   

What is the picture for us? We have been bought with a price, we have a great beginning in Jesus and the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to help us if we accept it. Yet, if we don't follow the commands of God, we will find ourselves failing to be all we are meant to be as Christians. We could walk away, or even if we don't walk away from God, we could end up at the end of our lives calling out to God and making it to heaven, but not bringing deliverance to others. We don't want to be a Samson.

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Jeremiah 14

 

The people were suffering from famine, and false prophets were promising good when evil was coming. God tells Jeremiah to stop praying for the good of the people, yet God still tells them what they can do to return to him. God tells them how to pray. The problem will be that even in the trouble, the people will not do what God has asked. They will not pray the prayer God has given them. They want to claim God's protection but not submit to God.  They refuse to move. It is a sad, sad time. It is no wonder Jeremiah wept. 

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Judges 12

 

Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon are the next three judges, and in their rule, we see no reference to God. We do see their prosperity as seen by the number of children they have. I also notice that Ibzan has possibly used marriage as a way to strengthen his influence among the tribes. Again, no reference to trusting in God, and therefore no mighty miracles either. It seems to be a time of peace, but without a spiritual renewal, ultimately, the nation would fail. 

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