QT 31 Dec 12, Evil is not from God but is used by God to accomplish his will

Judg 9:22-24 (NIV) After Abimelech had governed Israel three years, 23 God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, who acted treacherously against Abimelech. 24 God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal's seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.

NOTE: Abimelech is not a judge. The word used here is suwr (pronounced soor) and means to vanquish; to rule. The normal word used for the judges in the book is shaphat (pronounced shaw-fat'), meaning to judge or pronounce a sentence. In essence, Abimelech has set himself up as ruler. Whether the other tribes completely submit to his rule or not is questionable, but Shechem is under his rule. The other interesting question regards the evil spirit sent by God. In Job 2:3b, God says "And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason." God takes responsibility for an action that is clearly done and suggested by Satan (Job 1:9-12). God says that ("me against him") because God gave permission for the event. I think this is a similar case. God cannot do evil, but God can allow it when he sees the greater good that he can accomplish through it. In this case, God intends to judge Abimelech and the people of Shechem's sin, and remove Abimelech from his position of authority. The people of Shechem were fully aware of what Abimelech did to his innocent brothers, and yet they made Abimelech their king. Therefore God allows or sends (it doesn't really matter since allowing is the same as sending) the evil spirit. In many ways, God could have done absolutely nothing. Just removing his presence and allowing people to act as their sinful nature desires would have ultimately had the same result. It's possible, God's action only speeds up the result. There is a major truth in scripture. God is in control. He does not do evil. He allows it for many purposes. For the believer, we know that in all things (including evil), God works for the good of those who love him (Rom 8:28).

QT 26 Dec 12, Speaking out against evil in the world

Judges 9:1-2, 5b-21 (NIV) Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother's brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother's clan, 2 "Ask all the citizens of Shechem, 'Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal's sons rule over you, or just one man?' Remember, I am your flesh and blood."

 . . . But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding. 6 Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelech king.

7 When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, "Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. 8 One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king.'

9 "But the olive tree answered, 'Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and men are honored, to hold sway over the trees?'

10 "Next, the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and be our king.'

11 "But the fig tree replied, 'Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?'

12 "Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come and be our king.'

13 "But the vine answered, 'Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and men, to hold sway over the trees?'

14 "Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, 'Come and be our king.'

15 "The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!'

16 "Now if you have acted honorably and in good faith when you made Abimelech king, and if you have been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family, and if you have treated him as he deserves— 17 and to think that my father fought for you, risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian 18 (but today you have revolted against my father's family, murdered his seventy sons on a single stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his slave girl, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is your brother)— 19 if then you have acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today, may Abimelech be your joy, and may you be his, too! 20 But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelech and consume you, citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelech!"

21 Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech.

NOTE: Jotham's concern over  how Gideon's (Jerub-Baal's) family is treated is repeated earlier in the story by the author (8:35). The people are complicit in Abimelech's treachery in a number of ways. The first is  they encourage Abimelech in his sin instead of confronting his proposed wicked action. It was not just talk of a hot-head, and it was evil. We too should remind people of sin and confront the proposed action even if it is only words. Because words often lead to actions. Secondly, the people ignore the action after it is accomplished. They seem to take the attitude that what is done is done, and they can't change anything, so they will ignore it. But this is also evil. We have a responsibility to stand up against evil and lawlessness. We cannot ignore evil and hope it goes away or doesn't affect our lives. Jotham calls out for justice and no one responds.

This story, like many in Judges, reflects poor decisions all around. For instance, we do not see Jotham do the right thing either. For instance, he does not give credit to God for Gideon's actions, but sees Gideon as the one who saved them. Also, Jotham does not pray for God's assistance, although we will clearly see God work and use Jotham's word to accomplish his judgment. So, being in the right and being the person who was abused, doesn't mean that our follow-on actions are pure either. Jotham does do one thing right that the people do not. He speaks out loud and rebukes the actions of his sinful brother.  He should have also taken it to God as a matter of prayer.

The Day After Christmas

For the last few weeks, I have been having my quiet time devotionals in an Advent e-book by Piper. One of the neat things about reading another person's thoughts is the different perspectives to common stories. I suppose that is one reason I share some of my thoughts on this blog. It is my hope and prayer that God would use these thoughts to encourage others in their walk with God, or to even seek God if they don't really know him. May this new year be the most special of years and may we all seek God with all of our hearts! Amen!

QT 5 Dec 12, Don't lift up your own head, let God

Judges 8:33-9:6 (NIV) No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god and 34 did not remember the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. 35 They also failed to show kindness to the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) for all the good things he had done for them.

9:1 Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother's brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother's clan, 2 "Ask all the citizens of Shechem, 'Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal's sons rule over you, or just one man?' Remember, I am your flesh and blood."

3 When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, "He is our brother." 4 They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech used it to hire reckless adventurers, who became his followers. 5 He went to his father's home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding. 6 Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelech king.

NOTE: Abimelech is an interesting story. I do not believe he is a judge. He is never raised up by God. He seizes power on his own initiative. His story follows the comment of Israel prostituting themselves and not remembering the Lord their God, therefore he is in the role of the oppressor. He claims kingship in Shechem and he kills his 70 innocent brothers, descendants of Gideon. The story is about oppression that rises from within the land instead of external to the land. Therefore, our enemy is not always those external to us but sometimes the very person who is one of us. Also, Abimelech rises to his position on his own initiative rather than waiting upon God. He acts deceitfully in stirring up the crowd. He sins in his steps to hold onto the power.

What are the lessons? Let God raise you up, not yourself. If a change in position requires you to act immorally, then it is not from God. There is no reason to lie or act wrongfully when God is involved. Wait upon God and he will raise you up in His time, not yours.

Recently, I was offered a position I have desired for over a year. I did not seek it or act to get it, and the offer was truly out of the blue. As I approach the decision of whether this is from God or not, I must watch my motives and my actions. My desire is to serve, not to exalt myself.

QT 4 Dec 12, When our words and actions differ, we create an inconsistency that can ruin our ministry

Judg 8:23-35 (NIV) But Gideon told them, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you." 24 And he said, "I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder." (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.)

25 They answered, "We'll be glad to give them." So they spread out a garment, and each man threw a ring from his plunder onto it. 26 The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels, not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains that were on their camels' necks. 27 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.

28 Thus Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again. During Gideon's lifetime, the land enjoyed peace forty years.

29 Jerub-Baal son of Joash went back home to live. 30 He had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives. 31 His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelech. 32 Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

33 No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god and 34 did not remember the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. 35 They also failed to show kindness to the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) for all the good things he had done for them.

NOTES: A few things stand out to me from this passage. One, culture is dictated by customs of the time and not by long-standing norms or rules. Gold earrings on men were the custom of the time and not an indication of sexual orientation or a sin. Secondly, Gideon requests for a share of the plunder was not wrong, nor was what he did with it wrong if we view it in the context of a symbol of civilian magisterial rule. On the other hand, Gideon had just said he would not rule over the people (8:22--God would rule), and now he takes on the role of a ruler. And what he creates, then becomes a snare, an idol. Our actions need to be in accord with our words. If you say you are not going to rule, and then choose to rule, there is an inconsistency and an insincerity in your life. In the next passage, Abimelech, his son, clearly thinks that the family of Gideon are rulers of the land. This error is facilitated in some way by the ephod. And also, the ephod goes from being a civilian symbol to a religious symbol, in direct contrast to the ephod worn by the high priest. What was Gideon thinking or was he thinking?

Where do my words and my actions cross? What are my true interests? Do I say one thing about my ministry and purpose, and then do another thing? Lord, help me to know your purpose, to say the right things, and to follow through with the right actions.

QT 3 Dec 12, If God is really our ruler, why do we only pretend He rules?

Judges 8:4, 10-12, 22, 23 (NIV) Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it.

. . .

10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with a force of about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of the armies of the eastern peoples; a hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen had fallen. 11 Gideon went up by the route of the nomads east of Nobah and Jogbehah and fell upon the unsuspecting army. 12 Zebah and Zalmunna, the two kings of Midian, fled, but he pursued them and captured them, routing their entire army.

. . .

22 The Israelites said to Gideon, "Rule over us — you, your son and your grandson — because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian."

23 But Gideon told them, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you."

NOTE: The Midanites numbered 120,000 and now were down to 15,000. Gideon is still chasing them with his 300. Now, the Ephraimites had joined later and defeated two other kings, so some of the losses were caused by other tribes. And of course, the Midianites probably don't realize that only 300 men are chasing them at that moment. They are scared to death, and the first sign of any troops would probably cause them to run. As Gideon's small forces chase them down, outlying towns along the way refused to feed them, probably waiting to see who the victor is and not thinking 300 men are a threat. But Gideon routs the final 15,000, killing the last two kings and taking revenge on the cities who did not support him when requested. Is that moral? I don't know and God is silent, but it is what Gideon does. To Gideon's credit, when offered a rulership or kingship he turns it down. And he gives the correct biblical answer, "The Lord will rule over you." Already, Israel is starting to look for a human king, a physical presence to rely on. The problem is that they cannot see God and therefore can't trust God. But the problem is not that God is untrustworthy as shown with 300 men routing a force 400 times larger. The real problem is that the people do not allow God to rule in their lives (see Judges 6:1-6). And we are like that too. When we call God, Lord, we need to obey his teaching. We need to serve others. We need to treat all people with respect (that includes the person behind the counter at the fast food place, the janitor, the homeless, the child, the person who is most unlike me). We really don't live as Christ has called us to live. And as a result, we don't really let God rule in our lives.