The Israelites Repented

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. And because the Israelites forsook the Lord and no longer served him, he became angry with them. He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, who that year shattered and crushed them. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites. The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim; Israel was in great distress. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord, “We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals.”  (Judges 10:6-10 NIV)

Well... they blew it again!  The Israelites (like us) had a tendency to turn their backs on God and worship other gods.  But, I have to give it to them - at least they had enough sense to repent - to turn back to God who has and will deliver them - when they are backed in a corner and need deliverance!  I am always amazed at the number of people who will not repent - who cannot even begin to acknowledge that the reason that they are in trouble is because of the false gods they've been following and serving.

I have to admit, on more than a few occasions, I have just wanted to say:  "What is wrong with you?  Can't you see that you've done this to yourself by making choices to follow a god - to follow a path - that can only lead to destruction?"  Actually, what goes through my head is usually not in such kind terms. 

It is just very difficult for me to believe that it is so hard for people to understand that all the bad stuff that might be happening in someone's life - is not everyone else's fault.  In this world, it is important that we take responsibility for our own actions and if the consequences are not so good then maybe we need to consider other courses of action.  Listening to the way in which the LORD, your only true God would have one go, would be a very wise thing to do - particularly if you're really sick and tired of being backed in a corner with no place to go.  Jesus saves!  Only God can deliver you from yourself. 

May the LORD, your God help you to follow in the way that He would have you go. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Glory Has Departed

She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The Glory has departed from Israel”—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. She said, “The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.” (1 Sam 4:21-22 NIV)

The Israelites attempted to use the ark as a means to manipulate their odds of winning the battle with the Philistines - like God is some puppet that if we say the right words or do the right thing He will do our bidding. They never consult God. They don't ask Him for guidance. They bring the ark of the covenant onto the battlefield in order to manipulate the outcome to their favor and they lose. They lose the battle. They lose the ark. The glory has departed from Israel.

I have been thinking a lot lately about the power of God and His many gifts to us. I think especially of the gift of His presence with us. He is with us always. His glory is with us. Yet, I wonder if we are really aware that God is with us? Do we use words like "God is with you" as platitudes in order to try to comfort the lost, the lonely, the hungry, the bereaved? Or, do we really believe these words? Do we use the words like magical incantations - hoping they will comfort - hoping they will help conquer? Or, do we really believe? Where is God's glory in all this? Is His glory with us when we use his word - his law - call upon His presence - like a magical incantation - to manipulate the outcome - to bring us success?

The glory had departed from Israel. They were still His people. Yet, they had entered into some dark times because they did not trust Him or His will for them, rather they tried to manipulate it for their benefit.

The glory, I believe, has departed from many lives - lives of His children today. Simply because we use the gifts, the freedom He has given us in Christ to try to manipulate Him. We don't trust Him. We don't go to Him. We don't listen to Him. We do all the talking and telling. We don't have glory. God is the glory! Without His glory, we are going to be in a very dark place. As we continue our journey through the season of Lent, let us remember that without God we are nothing. From dust we have come. To dust we shall return.

May God help us on our Lenten journey that we might return to the LORD, our God. There is only one God and that is not us! Let us bow down and worship the one true God and not to our own desires.  May He help us so that we might learn to hear His Word, listen to Him, and return to Him for our life and salvation.  

God's Peace - Pr. J