Today’s reading: Ruth 3, 4; I Samuel 1; Psalm 21, 51, 81, 111, 141; Proverbs 21

Earlier today I heard a message on Ruth chapter 4 and it was fantastic. I am going to try to remember some of what was said.

Boaz is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. Look at Ruth 4:1, “Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.” When a man died in the Old Testament a near relative could marry his wife and they could have children together to keep the family name going. This is the role of a kinsman redeemer. Jesus is our kinsmen redeemer.

Ruth 4:2, “And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.” These ten men are a picture of the law or the ten commandments. These ten men were to make sure that Boaz was doing everything correctly. The ten commandments are God’s law to ensure that we do all things correctly.

Ruth 4:6, “And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.” Who cannot redeem us? The devil. He cannot redeem us nor will he. As a matter of fact he would do anything he can to keep us from being redeemed.

My point today? Simple really. Jesus loved us so much that he paid the ultimate price for you and I. He paid with His own blood the price of sin for you and I. All we have to do is accept His free gift of salvation. Just like the kinsmen redeemer who paid the price for the land and the wife. The songwriter penned, “Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe.” Ruth is a picture of the Church. She is not perfect; but, Jesus died for her the same.

Jesus died to pay the debt of sin that you owe. Will you accept His free gift today? Let me know so that I can show you how to trust Christ as your Saviour today.

Today’s reading: Judges 21; Ruth 1, 2 ; Psalm 20, 50, 80, 110, 140; Proverbs 20

Ruth 1:16-17, “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”

We live in a day that relationships are disposable. This should not be. Our Scripture for today is is one that is often used at weddings. I remember when my wife and I were first married she played the piano and/or sang in eight weddings in seven weeks. We were pretty busy back in those days.

We had the pleasure of attending a wedding service of sorts last Sunday. It was a renewal service or ceremony for a couple in our Church. It was so beautiful. There was nothing fancy about it. The beautiful part was the committing again of this couple to one another. Their children were able to attend this service also.

The best part of the service; I thought, was that there was going to be no giving away of the bride as there were no parents there. One of the trustees of the Church walked the lady down the aisle. When asked, “Who giveth this woman to this man?” the reply came back, “The Church and I do.” It was so awesome!

Why do I ramble today about such things? Simple. When we enter into a marriage relationship we are making a covenant with our mate for life. No matter what may come we are to be committed to them “until death do us part”. This is not a reference to homicide. Seriously, we need to be in it for the long haul no matter what comes or goes, depending.

It helps if your marriage; like the one renewed last week, is built upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice Ruth 2:12, “The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.” I believe that you will be rewarded for sticking to it. We need to trust Christ for eternal salvation; but, we also need to trust Him for daily things like food, etc… It will be payday some day and the books will be opened and then we will all know how good or bad we really did. I hope that I finish well. I hope that when I am old that I will be able to look back on life and see a life that was filled with serving God and loving the wife, children and family He blessed me with. Proverbs 20:29, “The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.” The gray head comes so much faster than you realize.

So friend, how is your marriage?

Today’s reading: Judges 18, 19, 20; Psalm 19, 49, 79, 109, 139: Proverbs 19

Judges 18:31, “And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.”

I remember growing up my mother had a picture of an image that was supposed to be Jesus. Since these artists do not know what Jesus looked line in His earthly body I don’t know how they could paint a picture of Him. The picture had a distinct feature that used to give me the creeps. No matter where you were in the room it appeared that the eyes would follow you.

The truth is that Jesus is able to see us no matter where we are or what we are doing. We must be aware of that fact. Notice our Scripture for today. The children of Israel had taken a graven image that belonged to Micah and set it up and worshiped it while God’s house was in Shiloh. How sad. Their devotion was divided. They were no longer like Caleb who “wholly followed the Lord”.

So many of our so-called Churches today have this problem also. They seem to be out of balance on worship and Christ honoring music. Their pulpits are filled with a feel good type of gospel which is no gospel at all. The Church has become a coffee bar and social club. This should not be! I believe it grieves the very heart of God.

I think the Church has lost it’s vision of people perishing and spending eternity in hell. How about you? Do you still believe in a real, literal hell? I hope so; because, it is a real place and people go there daily.

We have lost our vision for winning souls. Look at Judges 19:17-18, “And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou? And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.” I think this looks like the Church today. A wayfaring man is a traveler. How many times do we see someone traveling through life and we just let them go on their way and never speak to them of their eternal souls? Far too many!

We need to be seeking to win the lost to Christ. We need to be doing it so much that we become so comfortable with it that it is like breathing to us. Look at Judges 20:16, “Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.” These people were well practiced and were experts with their weapons. We have only one offensive weapon and that is the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. We need to know it and use it in the battle.

We need to have a vision. We need a vision of people perishing. We need a vision of serving God. Notice Psalm 49:8-9, “(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.” The reason it “ceaseth for ever” is because it is a done deal so to speak. Jesus died once for all: Hebrews 6:4, Hebrews 7:27, Hebrews 9:28. I love it that even the Old Testament talks of eternal security. Once we are saved we are always, eternally saved. Because of this we should be serving God out of love for Him and gratitude for what He has done for us.

Let’s get busy! Will you?

Today’s reading: Judges 15, 16, 17; Psalm 18, 48, 78, 108, 138; Proverbs 18

Judges 15:4, “And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails.”

I think the story of Samson is one of the saddest accounts in all of the Bible. He appears to be one that was not given any boundaries as a child and look where it lead him as an adult. As we go about our life we falter and fail from time to time. We should not live a life like this. We need to rise above these shortcomings. This is easily said but not so easily done.

Sometimes small besetting sins are compared to these foxes in our passage today. It seems to be the small stuff that can trip us up and cause us to fall. Beware of the little foxes. In my life it seems that the big things are easy to trust Him for or through. It is the small things that I seem to think I can handle it and then I find myself falling again. This should not be. Samson let the little things get him too. How could he not figure that his wife was up to something by pressing him so long to know the secret of his great strength? Then he gave in to her and she sold him out to his enemies.

Look where Samson’s sin got him at the end of his life. Judges 16:30, “And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.” Beware of sin! Sin will cost you more than you want to pay. It will keep you longer than you want to stay. It is dangerous stuff.

Remember when we are being tempted that we can run to Jesus. Notice Proverbs 18:24, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” What a promise! When we need a friend to help us overcome temptation He is right there. Run to the Lord!

Do you have your running shoes on?

Today’s reading: Judges 12, 13, 14; Psalm 17, 47, 77, 107, 137; Proverbs 17

Judges 14:2-3, “And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.”

We live in a day that I thought was like no other. As I was reading today’s Scripture I realized that we live in a day not too much different than the days of Scripture. Why would I say that? As I read the Scriptures each day I see thing happening then and now that are much the same. Some people want to question the validity of Scripture to have the answer for their problem or situation. I say to you that the Scriptures have the answer to all of men’s questions and problems.

Notice Samson here. The first thing I notice is that he is running the home. Twice in these two verses he tells his parents what to do. This ought not to be. Notice he says, “…now therefore get her for me to wife ” and “…Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.”

Who is in charge here? Samson is in charge. God forbid the Israelites to marry and give their daughters in marriage to the Philistines. Knowing this, Samson orders his parents to get this Philistine woman for him to marry. This is so sad.

Later on she sells him out to the Philistines and they capture him and put him in bondage. This could have been avoided if he had simply followed the commands of God. His parents might have changed things too if they had trained him correctly and stood up to him when he wanted to do something against the will of God.

So parents, how are you doing? Are you teaching and training your children to follow God? I hope so. If your children are running the household then things are not in the order that God ordained them to be. God help us!

Today’s reading: Judges 9, 10, 11; Psalm 16, 46, 76, 106, 136; Proverbs 16

Judges 9:48, “And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.”

I wish I had a dollar for ever time I heard someone say, “Do as I say and not as I do.” This is just an excuse for not doing right. We need people today that will stand up and as as the last phrase of our passage today states, “What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.” Paul said it this way in the New Testament in I Corinthians 11:1, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

We have so many negative examples today. As you watch the news most of all you see is bad news. One man said it this way, “You get two minutes of bad commercials and twenty-eight minutes of bad news.” All you see is this so called important person getting into trouble for some transgression and that important person that is in trouble for such and such a transgression. It is horrible.

What we need are some men and women that will take a stand for God and live a life that is pleasing and acceptable to Him no matter the cost. Easily said; but, not so easily done. I know. For nearly thirty-four years now I have been on this voyage we call the Christian life. I have not always lived my life in such a way as to please Christ and I deeply regret it. The good news is that every day is another change to wipe the slate clean and start over with a renewed obedience.

In Judges 11:31, “Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.” we see a man named Jephthah made what we would call a rash vow. We know later that he did fulfill this vow. The first through the door was his only daughter. This is very sad. To the credit of Jephthah he did what he vowed but it cost him his daughter.

How about you and I? Would you and I be considered a person of our word? I hope that you and I will be examples today that others can follow and God will be pleased with. Will you?

Today’s reading: Judges 6, 7, 8; Psalm 15, 45, 75, 105, 135; Proverbs 15

Judges 6:25-26, “And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.”

I love the study of Gideon. It takes on a whole new meaning after you watch the Big Idea version with Veggie Tales. I am not saying it is bad. I am saying that whenever I read this account now I see it in a whole different light. Gideon wins some great battles. He starts out; after using the fleece to know God’s will for him, with some tremendous victories. The first victory is to tear down the altar of Baal and the grove that accompanied it. That took some real effort. Then they made an altar and sacrifice to the True God. This is how we turn from sin to God. Amen!

Another victory we see in Judges 7:18, “When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.” God miraculously delivered Israel by causing the Midianites to turn their swords on their own men. What a great victory! Some did escape and they were pursued and eventually caught. In this process two kings refused to help Gideon’s men by giving them bread and water. Their reward came later just as Gideon told them it would. He came back and wiped them out with God’s help.

Sometimes after a great victory comes a great defeat also. Gideon took the earrings from the spoil of their victory. Notice Judges 8:27, “And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.” What could have been a great blessing became a curse. We have to be careful not to misuse what God has given us. Notice Proverbs 15:16, “Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.” Be careful! It is not always better to have all those things we seem to want so badly. It is better to be content with God and His provision. So, how are you doing?

Today’s reading: Judges 3, 4, 5; Psalm 14, 44, 74, 104, 134; Proverbs 14

Psalm 14:1, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”

Our Pastor was relating a story today from his elementary school days. He told of how he was called upon in class to read out loud like the other students. He said for some reason he got it into his head that he did not want to read out loud. When it came his turn the teacher called his name and instructed him to read a certain part of the material. He promptly said, “No.” The teacher responded “Do you know who I am?” From this point it went downhill quick. He told of being in the principal’s office and his parents being called in and how he received the “rod of correction”.

There are certain authorities in our lives that you just do not say “no” to. One of such is your teachers. This is academic suicide to say the least. This is exactly what we have in our passage today. Notice the words “there is” are in italics. This means they were added so that the sentences would make sense. Remove these words and what do you get? You end up with, “The fool hath said in his heart, no God.” The word “fool” means stupid or wicked in this verse. In other words the Psalmist is saying if you deny God you are not too smart and you are wicked.

This is typical of our day. We see people getting further and further away from God. The more people run away from God the more wicked they become. Look at Psalm 74:20, “Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.” Everywhere you look today there is wickedness. We live in a dark and evil day. On the other hand it should be easier for us to let our light shine in such a dark day. The darker it is the brighter the light appears.

Be careful about who you tell no. Don’t tell God no. Maybe He has been trying to talk to you and you have been ignoring Him. I hope you will listen to Him today and obey His voice. You don’t want to go to the wood shed do you?

Today’s reading: Joshua 24; Judges 1, 2; Psalm 13, 43, 73, 103, 133; Proverbs 13

Joshua 24:15-16, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;”

I love this passage of Scripture. I have knocked on many doors over the years that had verse 15 on the door. One would be led to believe that the people who lived there would be followers of Christ. Normally this is what you find. Ever once in a while you run across someone that you wonder why they put such an inscription on their door. I guess it was there when they bought the house or something.

The children of Israel had made a covenant with God that they would obey Him and serve Him. They also agreed that they would not worship the gods of the land they were in. I wish this had held true for all of history; but, it did not. Just a few verses and Israel is living their lives in such a way that God forbids.

This is just like you and I. We go to Church and we hear a great sermon and we make valuable decisions. Then Monday morning comes and it is dog eat dog and we let our grand decision from Sunday slip away from us. This should not be! I am just as guilty as the next person. Please don’t think I am sitting high and mighty looking down my nose at others. I am sitting here acknowledging that I have failed miserably at this too. I wish I had not; but, I have.

Here is the main thing. When you sin do you confess the sin to God and get it covered by the blood of Jesus? I hope so. Then you can go on and live a life that pleases Him. Then you to can say as Joshua, “… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

So, how are you doing?

Today’s reading: Joshua 21, 22, 23; Psalm 12, 42, 72, 102, 132; Proverbs 12

Joshua 21:13, “Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,”

As a firefighter you receive training in what to do in case you are in a burning structure and need to get out fast. To go through a wall, door or whatever is called “to breech”. If I was to breech a wall with an axe and accidentally hit an instructor that would be horrible. Especially if I fatally wounded the person so that they died.

If this was Bible times there were places called cities of refuge. In our text today God is providing one of those cities of refuge. They were put in place in the event you accidentally killed someone you could run to the city and be safe. There would be a hearing of sorts on the matter and you would be judged guilty or innocent in the matter. You could be caught by someone of the deceased’s family and they could kill you before you got there.

So how does this relate to today. Very simple really. As we serve the Lord today we are hounded by the devil and his demons. They chase us as someone said, “as the hounds of hell”. The great news is that we have a city of refuge. We can run to someone that will protect us and His name is Jesus Christ. He is our refuge!

I remember growing up we had an old dog that wandered off the farm and got caught across the road and across a small field area. I remember going and getting him and carrying him back across the field and the road and putting him back in his dog house. He was safe from the elements and predators.

When we run to Jesus we are safe from all predators. Mosie Lister wrote a great song entitled, ” ‘Till the Storm Passes by”. I love the word of the chorus, “…keep me safe ’till the storm passes by.”

Have you found refuge in Jesus Christ from sin? Have you been born-again? If so, do you find refuge in Christ when you are being pursued by the enemy of your soul? I hope so.

Run to the Lord!