Day 39
Judges 5-8
Bible Time Period: Conquest and Judges
You led Israel triumphantly into the Promised Land. They failed to teach their children, and instead did what was right in their own eyes: Help me to keep my eyes on you and teach others what is truly right.
Prayer Almighty God, Your old covenant people suffered in the cycles of sin and apostasy as they repeatedly broke the commandment to serve and worship You alone. They turned to the false gods of the pagans who they believed offered them acceptance by their pagan neighbors and the hope of material wealth and social prominence. And yet we are reminded that despite their sins, You did not abandon them, they abandoned You. Help us, Lord, as we face the same temptations in being influenced by the secular world. Socially acceptable attitudes toward morality and tolerance being used as an excuse to turn a blind eye to sin have become more important than right worship and obedience to Your commands. These have become the false gods of the modern age. Give us the spiritual and moral strength to withstand those influences and the wisdom to recognize what is a snare to draw us away from our covenant relationship with You. We pray in the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Agape Catholic Bible Study, Judges Lesson 3)
Reflection
The title "judge" does not suggest that the chief figures were legal experts or juridical officials; for the most part, they were military heroes commissioned by God to act as saviors and deliverers (Judges 11:27), and so guarantee the survival of Israel in times of national crisis (6:34).
Flawed and far from perfect, the Judges were still God's useful instruments for the achievement of his plan of salvation.
The lesson of the book of Judges is clear. Over and over, the Israelites failed in their promise of fidelity to the Lord, were delivered into the hands of their enemies, and were then rescued by a loving and merciful God. To accomplish his deliverance, God sent them the Judges, who served as types of the true Savior and the perfect Judge who was to come: Christ. (Catholic Bible Dictionary, General Editor Scott Hahn, page 491 -492)
Today's Reading
Judges 5 -8
Prayer Almighty God, Your old covenant people suffered in the cycles of sin and apostasy as they repeatedly broke the commandment to serve and worship You alone. They turned to the false gods of the pagans who they believed offered them acceptance by their pagan neighbors and the hope of material wealth and social prominence. And yet we are reminded that despite their sins, You did not abandon them, they abandoned You. Help us, Lord, as we face the same temptations in being influenced by the secular world. Socially acceptable attitudes toward morality and tolerance being used as an excuse to turn a blind eye to sin have become more important than right worship and obedience to Your commands. These have become the false gods of the modern age. Give us the spiritual and moral strength to withstand those influences and the wisdom to recognize what is a snare to draw us away from our covenant relationship with You. We pray in the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Agape Catholic Bible Study, Judges Lesson 3)
Reflection
The title "judge" does not suggest that the chief figures were legal experts or juridical officials; for the most part, they were military heroes commissioned by God to act as saviors and deliverers (Judges 11:27), and so guarantee the survival of Israel in times of national crisis (6:34).
Flawed and far from perfect, the Judges were still God's useful instruments for the achievement of his plan of salvation.
The lesson of the book of Judges is clear. Over and over, the Israelites failed in their promise of fidelity to the Lord, were delivered into the hands of their enemies, and were then rescued by a loving and merciful God. To accomplish his deliverance, God sent them the Judges, who served as types of the true Savior and the perfect Judge who was to come: Christ. (Catholic Bible Dictionary, General Editor Scott Hahn, page 491 -492)
Today's Reading
Judges 5 -8
Commentary
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Art
Gideon Thanks God for the Miracle of the Dew - Maarten van Heemskerck
Gideon Thanks God for the Miracle of the Dew - Maarten van Heemskerck
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