Judges 10:1-8
After the time of Abimelek, a man of Issachar named Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel. He led Israel twenty-three years.
He was followed by Jair of Gilead, who led Israel twenty-two years.
Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines.
For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites.
The two were not military leaders. They 'judged' Israel, respectively, for 23 and 22 uneventful(波瀾不驚) years.
Southern Israel is now caught in a vice between the Philistines on the west and the Ammonites on the east.
Why?
Once again the Israelite did evil in the eyes of the Lord, they forsake the God Almighty, they pursued the gods around their countries. So the enemies arose and oppressed all the Israelites.
Under the peace, they were forgot the grace of the Lord and be attracted by the world, God's chosen men are less than whole population.
How?
Trust in the God, do not forget His Grace and love, only the Lord is my God.
Monday, November 30, 2015
Sunday, November 29, 2015
God's righteousness endure forever
Judges 9:22-57
God made revenge to Abimelech and Shechem for the shedding of their blood, Jerub-Baal's 70 sons.
God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers.
God also made the men of Shechem pay for all their wickedness.
God - and justice - has the last word, even if it is presented in a rather tit-for-tat(針鋒相對) fashion.
Symbolically consigning the city to permanent desolation. It was in fact rebuilt 150 years later in the time of Jeroboam I.
Upper millstone: 45cm/18 inches across.
How?
God is righteousness, not wickedness can live long in the world. Fear the Lord for He is God. His righteousness endure forever.
God made revenge to Abimelech and Shechem for the shedding of their blood, Jerub-Baal's 70 sons.
God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers.
God also made the men of Shechem pay for all their wickedness.
God - and justice - has the last word, even if it is presented in a rather tit-for-tat(針鋒相對) fashion.
Symbolically consigning the city to permanent desolation. It was in fact rebuilt 150 years later in the time of Jeroboam I.
Upper millstone: 45cm/18 inches across.
How?
God is righteousness, not wickedness can live long in the world. Fear the Lord for He is God. His righteousness endure forever.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Story-with-a-point
Judges 9:1-21
Gideon, with some claim to kingship, firmly rejected it. Abimelech, his brutal and ambitious son, shows no such scruples(顧忌). But Abimelech is not Gods choice as his father was, and the writer plainly sees the dangers of inherited (dynastic) leadership.
Shechem : was the central sanctuary of Israel in Joshua's day. But now it has a temple/house to Baal. The city's history goes back a very long way to Jacob and earlier.
This is an early example of a parable or story-with-a-point. Compare Nathan's parable in 2 Samuel 12:1-4.
story-with-a-point: make a point - tell a story. point out the danger of leadership.
How?
Dangers of inherited leadership, God's choice better than man's idea.
Gideon, with some claim to kingship, firmly rejected it. Abimelech, his brutal and ambitious son, shows no such scruples(顧忌). But Abimelech is not Gods choice as his father was, and the writer plainly sees the dangers of inherited (dynastic) leadership.
Shechem : was the central sanctuary of Israel in Joshua's day. But now it has a temple/house to Baal. The city's history goes back a very long way to Jacob and earlier.
This is an early example of a parable or story-with-a-point. Compare Nathan's parable in 2 Samuel 12:1-4.
story-with-a-point: make a point - tell a story. point out the danger of leadership.
How?
Dangers of inherited leadership, God's choice better than man's idea.
Friday, November 27, 2015
Image of God is forbade
Judges 8:22-35
It is good that Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.”
It is wrong that Gideon told them "each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder." Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.
Ephod: In the Old Testament, the ephod has two meanings. In one group of passages, it signifies a garment; in another, very probably an image. As a garment the ephod is referred to in the priestly ordinances as a part of the official dress of the high priest.
The word ephod has an entirely different meaning in the second group of passages. The most natural inference from all these passages is that “ephod” here signifies an image that was set up in the sanctuary, especially since the word is cited with teraphim, which undoubtedly refers to graven(雕像) images. ephod, in these cases, refers to a portable idol.
On the death of Gideon, the Israelite once again began to worship the Baals. God was fine in a crisis, but when that was forgotten the pull of gods who would bind Israel to their neighbours and give good crops was too strong.
Why?
Probably an image of God, which the law forbade, though Good News Bible translates 'idol'. The place then became a rival to Israels official sanctuary.
People always easy to forget the sad consequence for their sins after they have peace.
How?
Carefully to follow God's word and commandment, even Gideon took great things but he failed in his way at last.
It is good that Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.”
It is wrong that Gideon told them "each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder." Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.
Ephod: In the Old Testament, the ephod has two meanings. In one group of passages, it signifies a garment; in another, very probably an image. As a garment the ephod is referred to in the priestly ordinances as a part of the official dress of the high priest.
The word ephod has an entirely different meaning in the second group of passages. The most natural inference from all these passages is that “ephod” here signifies an image that was set up in the sanctuary, especially since the word is cited with teraphim, which undoubtedly refers to graven(雕像) images. ephod, in these cases, refers to a portable idol.
On the death of Gideon, the Israelite once again began to worship the Baals. God was fine in a crisis, but when that was forgotten the pull of gods who would bind Israel to their neighbours and give good crops was too strong.
Why?
Probably an image of God, which the law forbade, though Good News Bible translates 'idol'. The place then became a rival to Israels official sanctuary.
People always easy to forget the sad consequence for their sins after they have peace.
How?
Carefully to follow God's word and commandment, even Gideon took great things but he failed in his way at last.
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Crescent-moon-shaped ornaments
Judges 8:1-21
Gideon went up by the route of the nomads(游牧民族) east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked the unsuspecting(毫無防備的) army. He pursued them and capture them, routing(verb,擊潰) their entire army.
As is the man, so is his strength.
Gideon took the oraments off Zebah and Zalmunna camels' necks
Crescent-moon-shaped ornaments are still popular among Arab peoples today. The Bible mentions them only here and in Isaiah.
People lived in Scooth and Peniel refused to help Gideon, so they were be punished after Gideon came back from battle.
Why?
Brave are Gideon and his 300 men, attacked fifteen thousand entire army.
As is the man, so is his strength. As strong and brave is Gideon so he has trength to kill his enemy. As week is son of Gideon so he afraid to kill other. As evildoer is Zebah and Zalmunna, so they suffer the same consequences.
How?
Victory of fight is belong to the Lord, but all the plunder are belong to God either.
Gideon went up by the route of the nomads(游牧民族) east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked the unsuspecting(毫無防備的) army. He pursued them and capture them, routing(verb,擊潰) their entire army.
As is the man, so is his strength.
Gideon took the oraments off Zebah and Zalmunna camels' necks
Crescent-moon-shaped ornaments are still popular among Arab peoples today. The Bible mentions them only here and in Isaiah.
People lived in Scooth and Peniel refused to help Gideon, so they were be punished after Gideon came back from battle.
Why?
Brave are Gideon and his 300 men, attacked fifteen thousand entire army.
As is the man, so is his strength. As strong and brave is Gideon so he has trength to kill his enemy. As week is son of Gideon so he afraid to kill other. As evildoer is Zebah and Zalmunna, so they suffer the same consequences.
How?
Victory of fight is belong to the Lord, but all the plunder are belong to God either.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!
Judges 7:15-25
Gideon and his 300 men, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!”
The Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords.
Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out. Gideon sent messengers through out the hill country of Ephraim,"Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah."
Why?
Gideon uses his wits in the surprise attack, but the victory in the ensuing(隨後) rout(大敗) is God's.
Once again God go ahead before Gideon, the victory is belong to the Lord.
Because Gideon heard the dream in the camp of Midianites, "This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands." so they shout "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon."
How?
Be encouraged, follow God's way and work with God, there is victory belong to the Lord, we are working with the Lord.
Gideon and his 300 men, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!”
The Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords.
Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out. Gideon sent messengers through out the hill country of Ephraim,"Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah."
Why?
Gideon uses his wits in the surprise attack, but the victory in the ensuing(隨後) rout(大敗) is God's.
Once again God go ahead before Gideon, the victory is belong to the Lord.
Because Gideon heard the dream in the camp of Midianites, "This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands." so they shout "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon."
How?
Be encouraged, follow God's way and work with God, there is victory belong to the Lord, we are working with the Lord.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Serve the Lord with faith
Judges 7:1-14
Before the war between Israel and Medianites, the Lord let Gideon reduce his army number from twenty-two thousand men to three hundred men. In order that Israel may not boast against God that their own strength has saved them.
Gideon went to the camp of Medianites as God told him, he heard the talk in the camp, Gideon knew that the Lord has bring the enemy into his hand.
Bedouin from the east - the Midianties who were descendants of Abraham by his second wife, Keturah - swept through southern Israel as far as the Philistines city of Gaza. The terror spread by these fierce camel-rider is vividly pictured in 6:11. Gideon is forces to thresh his meagre grain harvest secretly, in the confines of the wine press.
The faith of this man, for all his initial caution, is see in his readiness to face the Midianite hordes(成群) with a force of only 300 men.
The barley loaf stands for Israel, the tent for the nomadic(游牧) Midianites
Why?
God don't want the people serve him are trembles, without faith. The behavior is not good are excludes from the servant of the Lord either, who drink water like the dogs.
Those who scoop up the water and lap it from their hands are more alert to danger than those who kneel.
How?
Serve the Lord with faith and live as noble. For we are the servant of the Almighty God.
Before the war between Israel and Medianites, the Lord let Gideon reduce his army number from twenty-two thousand men to three hundred men. In order that Israel may not boast against God that their own strength has saved them.
Gideon went to the camp of Medianites as God told him, he heard the talk in the camp, Gideon knew that the Lord has bring the enemy into his hand.
Bedouin from the east - the Midianties who were descendants of Abraham by his second wife, Keturah - swept through southern Israel as far as the Philistines city of Gaza. The terror spread by these fierce camel-rider is vividly pictured in 6:11. Gideon is forces to thresh his meagre grain harvest secretly, in the confines of the wine press.
The faith of this man, for all his initial caution, is see in his readiness to face the Midianite hordes(成群) with a force of only 300 men.
The barley loaf stands for Israel, the tent for the nomadic(游牧) Midianites
Why?
God don't want the people serve him are trembles, without faith. The behavior is not good are excludes from the servant of the Lord either, who drink water like the dogs.
Those who scoop up the water and lap it from their hands are more alert to danger than those who kneel.
How?
Serve the Lord with faith and live as noble. For we are the servant of the Almighty God.
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