Bible League: Living His Word "The angel of the LORD said, 'Curse the city of Meroz.Curse its people! They did not come to help the LORD fight.' They did not help the LORD against his powerful enemies." Our verse for today is a part of the song of victory that Deborah and Barak sang on the day that the Israelites defeated Sisera, the commander of King Jabin the Canaanite's army. Deborah, a prophet and judge in Israel, had prophetically commissioned Barak to gather 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun and attack Sisera. Charging down Mt. Tabor, Barak led the Israelites into battle and victory. From time to time and from place to place the people of God still encounter enemy opposition to the Kingdom of God. Although the battles that ensue are not usually military battles, like the battle at Mt. Tabor, they are battles nonetheless. The powerful enemies of the Lord under Satan's command try to stop and roll back the advance of the Lord's Kingdom on earth. The opposition can be strong and the battles can be fierce. During such times the Lord still calls out leaders to attack the enemy in order to preserve and advance His Kingdom and rule. He fills people with the same Spirit Deborah had and he sends them forth to sound the alarm. The alarm reaches people like Barak and they gather together an army in order to stop the opposition and defeat the enemies of the Lord. The people that respond to the Baraks of the world are volunteers for the battle (Judges 5:2). No one makes them fight; they fight because they are obedient to the call of the Lord. Not everyone is called to join a given battle. They may not be able or they may not be near. But for those ready and able, it is incumbent upon them to volunteer for the fight. For their efforts the Lord blesses them, as he blessed Jael, the wife of Heber who killed Sisera by driving a stake through his head (Judges 5:24). On the other hand, those that refuse to join in the battle, although they are ready and able, do not receive the blessing of the Lord. Indeed, they receive the opposite of a blessing. They receive a curse from the Lord Himself. You cannot ignore the call of the Lord with impunity. After all, as Jesus said, "Whoever is not with me is against me. And anyone who does not work with me is working against me" (Luke 11:23). Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEzekiel 20, 21 Ezekiel 20 -- God Refuses the Elders of Israel; Destruction and Restoration of Jerusalem NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezekiel 21 -- Parable of the Sharp and Bright Sword NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading James 1 James 1 -- Trials and Temptations; Be Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.Insight How can you hold on to a good conscience? Treasure your faith in Christ more than anything else and do what you know is right. Each time you deliberately ignore your conscience, you are hardening your heart. Over a period of time your capacity to tell right from wrong will diminish. Challenge As you walk with God, he will speak to you through your conscience, letting you know the difference between right and wrong. Be sure to act on those inner tugs so that you do what is right—then your conscience will remain clear. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Titus 3:9 Avoid foolish questions.Our days are few, and are far better spent in doing good, than in disputing over matters which are, at best, of minor importance. The old schoolmen did a world of mischief by their incessant discussion of subjects of no practical importance; and our Churches suffer much from petty wars over abstruse points and unimportant questions. After everything has been said that can be said, neither party is any the wiser, and therefore the discussion no more promotes knowledge than love, and it is foolish to sow in so barren a field. Questions upon points wherein Scripture is silent; upon mysteries which belong to God alone; upon prophecies of doubtful interpretation; and upon mere modes of observing human ceremonials, are all foolish, and wise men avoid them. Our business is neither to ask nor answer foolish questions, but to avoid them altogether; and if we observe the apostle's precept (Titus 3:8) to be careful to maintain good works, we shall find ourselves far too much occupied with profitable business to take much interest in unworthy, contentious, and needless strivings. There are, however, some questions which are the reverse of foolish, which we must not avoid, but fairly and honestly meet, such as these: Do I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? Am I renewed in the spirit of my mind? Am I walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit? Am I growing in grace? Does my conversation adorn the doctrine of God my Saviour? Am I looking for the coming of the Lord, and watching as a servant should do who expects his master? What more can I do for Jesus? Such enquiries as these urgently demand our attention; and if we have been at all given to cavilling, let us now turn our critical abilities to a service so much more profitable. Let us be peace-makers, and endeavour to lead others both by our precept and example, to "avoid foolish questions." Daily Light on the Daily Path Matthew 7:20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits.1 John 3:7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; James 3:11-13 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? • Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. • Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 1 Peter 2:12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. Matthew 12:33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. Matthew 12:35 "The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. Isaiah 5:4 "What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why, when I expected it to produce good grapes did it produce worthless ones? New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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