1-4: So, is it a good thing when your name is barely mentioned in the bible? Does that mean that you did not make any really notable mistakes?
14: Can God lie? He seems to play these games often. Saying that he will not do something, and then ultimately giving in to help the victim. So I guess that he changes his mind. God can do that, I think. But does he say that he will not help just so that he can hear us beg him?
16: What does it mean "impatient over the misery of Israel?
There are two very different ways of viewing this. Either God had compassion and was impatient over their release, or God was impatient with Israel's continued unfaithfulness. Most bible versions seem to favor the first view, I also think that it is in God's character to be compassionate rather than annoyed.
18: Was it right for them to be asking this question to one another? Shouldn't they have been asking God? Yet, I often ask others for answers to my problems before I ask God...how is that any different?
God will always take you back, no matter how many other Gods you have been worshipping.
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Friday, August 22, 2014
Judges 9
5: What does it mean, he killed them "on one stone"?
Abimelech and his executioners laid them down one by one over a stone and killed them, which gave the youngest son time to hide.
7-21: So let me get this straight, Jotham spoke loudly to the leaders of Sechem about the ill choice that they made in making Abimelech their king, and them fled to a place called Beer. Would it have been more prudent to stay silent and wait for a time at which he could strike at his murderous brother without being a marked man? Then again, he was likely driven by grief. And when people are in such a state they tend to have issues with their judgement. Also, how is it that he could give this whole speech before the men of Sechem or Abimilech tore him down form his post on Mount Gerizim...?
23: Ok, I have a problem. How is it that this can be printed: "...God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Sechem..." And then in James 1:13 we see: "...God cannot be tempted with evil, for he himself tempts no one." How can both statements be true? Isn't sending the spirit equal to tempting these men to sin against each other?
45: Why is Abimelech fighting against the city? Weren't all the relatives of Gaal driven out of the city?
Abimelech's rage got the better of him. A violent man cannot promise that he will not lose control when his feathers are ruffled. He turned on the very men that originally supported him.
45: What does razed mean?
Destroyed.
If a leader is not appointed by God or by Godly men, he will fail. Be careful who you follow.
Abimelech and his executioners laid them down one by one over a stone and killed them, which gave the youngest son time to hide.
7-21: So let me get this straight, Jotham spoke loudly to the leaders of Sechem about the ill choice that they made in making Abimelech their king, and them fled to a place called Beer. Would it have been more prudent to stay silent and wait for a time at which he could strike at his murderous brother without being a marked man? Then again, he was likely driven by grief. And when people are in such a state they tend to have issues with their judgement. Also, how is it that he could give this whole speech before the men of Sechem or Abimilech tore him down form his post on Mount Gerizim...?
23: Ok, I have a problem. How is it that this can be printed: "...God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Sechem..." And then in James 1:13 we see: "...God cannot be tempted with evil, for he himself tempts no one." How can both statements be true? Isn't sending the spirit equal to tempting these men to sin against each other?
45: Why is Abimelech fighting against the city? Weren't all the relatives of Gaal driven out of the city?
Abimelech's rage got the better of him. A violent man cannot promise that he will not lose control when his feathers are ruffled. He turned on the very men that originally supported him.
45: What does razed mean?
Destroyed.
If a leader is not appointed by God or by Godly men, he will fail. Be careful who you follow.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Judges 8
2-3: I do not understand how Gideon quelled their anger.
They were upset because they were not called to help with the initial attack (they did not know that God didn't want them there). After they delivered the heads or Oreb and Zeeb they complained to Gideon about the lateness of his call. Gideon quells them with flattery, pure and simple...a very old and effective trick.
2: Who is Abiezer?
He was the ancestor of Gideon. The eldest son of Gilead, descendant of Manasseh.
7-9: Gideon does not seem near as gracious in this chapter.
14: Why 77?
It is hard to say, the number crops up a lot in scripture. I have heard that it is a number of completeness. What I do not understand is why it is used here, in such a small section of the bible.
16: He took thorns? How did he teach the men of Succoth a lesson?
It was public whipping...then he killed them. John Gill commends Gideon's wisdom in this action. He thinks they deserve it and Gideon was wise to seek out only the elders for this chastisement. But I am not so sure. I just feel that this is not the way that God would have done it, and even if it were, we have no record that God had any part in this display. God always needs to be in front of us as we do battle.
18: "As you are, so were they." What does this phrase mean?
It could mean that they looked like Gideon, the kings could see the resemblance, this agrees with the next verse where they seem to flatter Gideon by saying that they could have also been kings.
20: How old is a young man considered to be?
I did not find an answer, it seems to me that he would be less than 30, I have heard that that is the true "coming of age" in that time...which makes sense. I know a lot of men who don't seem very mature until that age... :)
23: Gideon's actions in the next verses do not support his apparent indifference in being their king.
24: Wait...were they Israelites (v. 22) or Ishmaelites? And what does that have to do with owning golden earrings?
I was misreading, the Israelites defeated the Ishmaelites, and from the spoils of war, each Israelite was to give Gideon an earring.
27: Whored. What a gruesome word to use, but it is accurate. Whenever we turn our faces from God, we are essentially whole-heartedly selling ourselves to something (or someone) else.
33: It is no wonder that the people turned away from God as soon as Gideon died. They were not really following God. They were following Gideon (based on verse 28..."they raised their heads no more.
Gideon seems to have lost all that doubt that he displayed in the previous chapter. He treats his fellow man as the enemy would treat them and then when peace is restored, he leads them back into idolatry. Old habits die REALLY hard. I guess we should learn to never lose that self doubt that dwells in each of us, because when we do, we will revert back to that sinful nature that was our original motivation.
They were upset because they were not called to help with the initial attack (they did not know that God didn't want them there). After they delivered the heads or Oreb and Zeeb they complained to Gideon about the lateness of his call. Gideon quells them with flattery, pure and simple...a very old and effective trick.
2: Who is Abiezer?
He was the ancestor of Gideon. The eldest son of Gilead, descendant of Manasseh.
7-9: Gideon does not seem near as gracious in this chapter.
14: Why 77?
It is hard to say, the number crops up a lot in scripture. I have heard that it is a number of completeness. What I do not understand is why it is used here, in such a small section of the bible.
16: He took thorns? How did he teach the men of Succoth a lesson?
It was public whipping...then he killed them. John Gill commends Gideon's wisdom in this action. He thinks they deserve it and Gideon was wise to seek out only the elders for this chastisement. But I am not so sure. I just feel that this is not the way that God would have done it, and even if it were, we have no record that God had any part in this display. God always needs to be in front of us as we do battle.
18: "As you are, so were they." What does this phrase mean?
It could mean that they looked like Gideon, the kings could see the resemblance, this agrees with the next verse where they seem to flatter Gideon by saying that they could have also been kings.
20: How old is a young man considered to be?
I did not find an answer, it seems to me that he would be less than 30, I have heard that that is the true "coming of age" in that time...which makes sense. I know a lot of men who don't seem very mature until that age... :)
23: Gideon's actions in the next verses do not support his apparent indifference in being their king.
24: Wait...were they Israelites (v. 22) or Ishmaelites? And what does that have to do with owning golden earrings?
I was misreading, the Israelites defeated the Ishmaelites, and from the spoils of war, each Israelite was to give Gideon an earring.
27: Whored. What a gruesome word to use, but it is accurate. Whenever we turn our faces from God, we are essentially whole-heartedly selling ourselves to something (or someone) else.
33: It is no wonder that the people turned away from God as soon as Gideon died. They were not really following God. They were following Gideon (based on verse 28..."they raised their heads no more.
Gideon seems to have lost all that doubt that he displayed in the previous chapter. He treats his fellow man as the enemy would treat them and then when peace is restored, he leads them back into idolatry. Old habits die REALLY hard. I guess we should learn to never lose that self doubt that dwells in each of us, because when we do, we will revert back to that sinful nature that was our original motivation.
Feeling...dissatisfied
Feeling very unsure of myself right now. I had my first day with students in my 4th year of teaching. Everything went just fine, I had no bad premonitions that any student was going to make my life miserable, I didn't feel like crying at the end of the day (which was totally the truth 3 years ago), I felt pretty much in control all day. I just feel like I am not good enough.
Not good enough.
The enemy stabs at my heart with that one. I want everything to be perfect, in fact, I want to BE perfect. Which is not possible, at least not on my own. Perfect is what I am called to be, but I was never called to do it on my own.
I try so hard to do it on my own, in fact I don't know how to even allow God to "take the wheel" in many circumstances. For example, how do I give it to God when I feel the way that I do today? Dissatisfied, not good enough. The Christianeze answer is: "Just trust that he has it under control and move on."
Ok, how?
Nobody ever seems to be able to answer that one. Pray, meditate on the word, I guess. It is never an easy fix, is it? The truly difficult problems never are.
I wish there actually was an easy button to some of life's problems. But the simple fact is that life is not easy, God never said that it would be. We are constantly tested and tempted by the enemy and our only true defense is from a being that we cannot see, that rarely verbally speaks to us, and we need to work really hard to maintain a close relationship with. But when I come to think of it, the really important relationships in life do to take work to maintain.
So what is the moral of my little rant?
It doesn't matter how I feel, I must trust what I know. I know that God is good and that he desires the best for me. I feel inadequate, but he is more than sufficient for anything that life throws my way. I have to trust him EVEN THOUGH I don't feel him working or see it at the time.
After all "every good thing, every perfect thing comes from above." James 1
Not good enough.
The enemy stabs at my heart with that one. I want everything to be perfect, in fact, I want to BE perfect. Which is not possible, at least not on my own. Perfect is what I am called to be, but I was never called to do it on my own.
I try so hard to do it on my own, in fact I don't know how to even allow God to "take the wheel" in many circumstances. For example, how do I give it to God when I feel the way that I do today? Dissatisfied, not good enough. The Christianeze answer is: "Just trust that he has it under control and move on."
Ok, how?
Nobody ever seems to be able to answer that one. Pray, meditate on the word, I guess. It is never an easy fix, is it? The truly difficult problems never are.
I wish there actually was an easy button to some of life's problems. But the simple fact is that life is not easy, God never said that it would be. We are constantly tested and tempted by the enemy and our only true defense is from a being that we cannot see, that rarely verbally speaks to us, and we need to work really hard to maintain a close relationship with. But when I come to think of it, the really important relationships in life do to take work to maintain.
So what is the moral of my little rant?
It doesn't matter how I feel, I must trust what I know. I know that God is good and that he desires the best for me. I feel inadequate, but he is more than sufficient for anything that life throws my way. I have to trust him EVEN THOUGH I don't feel him working or see it at the time.
After all "every good thing, every perfect thing comes from above." James 1
Monday, August 11, 2014
First day of inservice
Well, here we go! Off to another exciting year in the field of Art Education. Year four. Baby 2. If I keep having babies at this rate, I am not going to want to come back any more...which would really suit me fine. I love to teach, I hate school politics.
But, one load off my shoulders, I am not teaching yearbook anymore. A strange turn of events. The yearbooks were in my room this morning and for a split second as I was looking through them I was thinking of all the things we did and how we could do things this year...then I realized that I was not doing it any more. No more worrying about students not getting things done, or having to go to all home events to make sure there are pictures, or actually taking over lazy student's pages.
*sigh*
It will be good to have a year off from that. I don't know what next year will bring, but for now, maybe I can focus on some things that I always neglect. Things like interacting more with the students in my classroom, entering artwork into fairs, doing my own art. We'll see.
I really hope and pray that I can be more positive this year. I have a feeling the lack of yearbook will help me with this. But I also know that there are some school politics that will be easy for me to complain about, especially in the teachers lounge...may have to avoid the area sometimes if I really want to stay positive...
I have great ideas for this year. I hope that I can follow through with them.
Emmett is 18 months old today. Baby #2 is 18 weeks old. Fun coincidence. :)
But, one load off my shoulders, I am not teaching yearbook anymore. A strange turn of events. The yearbooks were in my room this morning and for a split second as I was looking through them I was thinking of all the things we did and how we could do things this year...then I realized that I was not doing it any more. No more worrying about students not getting things done, or having to go to all home events to make sure there are pictures, or actually taking over lazy student's pages.
*sigh*
It will be good to have a year off from that. I don't know what next year will bring, but for now, maybe I can focus on some things that I always neglect. Things like interacting more with the students in my classroom, entering artwork into fairs, doing my own art. We'll see.
I really hope and pray that I can be more positive this year. I have a feeling the lack of yearbook will help me with this. But I also know that there are some school politics that will be easy for me to complain about, especially in the teachers lounge...may have to avoid the area sometimes if I really want to stay positive...
I have great ideas for this year. I hope that I can follow through with them.
Emmett is 18 months old today. Baby #2 is 18 weeks old. Fun coincidence. :)
Friday, August 8, 2014
Judges 7
2: I hate those questions that people give after doing a study about something like this. The question would go something like this: "Have you ever been in a situation where God worked through you even though you faced unsurmountable odds?" I hate those questions because I can never think of an answer, and because I can't think of an answer, it makes me feel like I don't trust God when I am in difficult situations, which is likely true in many situations. It makes me feel like a bad Christian...I want there to be a big fat instance that I can bring to mind immediately and wow the listeners with how God has worked in my life. But I suppose that would be boasting in my own achievements... *sigh* I am constantly reminded of my own inadequacy.
5-7: This seems absurd. First of all, who drinks water like a dog? Surely I would think the more...slow witted of people, since it would certainly be more efficient to kneel and cup the water in your hands. Also, how long would it have taken to look at each individual to see how he drinks? God does not seem to care who he takes with him on this particular trip, since he will get all the glory anyway.
15: It is interesting to me that the text does not say that Gideon worshiped God, just that he worshipped. I think it usually mentions God when referring to people worshipping him.
18: Is there self pride in Gideon's shout? Perhaps not, at least not in this stage of his life. Just wait a while...
19: Why is it important that Gideon acted at the beginning of the middle watch?
Apparently, this was a good time to act because it was dark; and as men were coming back to the camp from their post, other men were coming to take their place. As they heard the glass jars and the shouting and the trumpets, the men who were coming for their watch mistook their comrades for the enemy, thus began to attack them. In the confusion and fear, no one knew what was going on.
25: Why would they bring the heads of the kings to Gideon?
It was the thing that people did back then. I guess it is a conquering thing.
I was perhaps a little hard on Gideon in the last chapter. He is a little spineless and doubting. He doubted his ability to complete the task that God wanted him to do. But without doubt, he would have blundered in and tried to do it on his own, which would have only resulted in disaster. So the moral of the story is that doubting your ability to complete a task is not bad, as long as you turn to God so that he can work through you. Lord, help me lean on you.
5-7: This seems absurd. First of all, who drinks water like a dog? Surely I would think the more...slow witted of people, since it would certainly be more efficient to kneel and cup the water in your hands. Also, how long would it have taken to look at each individual to see how he drinks? God does not seem to care who he takes with him on this particular trip, since he will get all the glory anyway.
15: It is interesting to me that the text does not say that Gideon worshiped God, just that he worshipped. I think it usually mentions God when referring to people worshipping him.
18: Is there self pride in Gideon's shout? Perhaps not, at least not in this stage of his life. Just wait a while...
19: Why is it important that Gideon acted at the beginning of the middle watch?
Apparently, this was a good time to act because it was dark; and as men were coming back to the camp from their post, other men were coming to take their place. As they heard the glass jars and the shouting and the trumpets, the men who were coming for their watch mistook their comrades for the enemy, thus began to attack them. In the confusion and fear, no one knew what was going on.
25: Why would they bring the heads of the kings to Gideon?
It was the thing that people did back then. I guess it is a conquering thing.
I was perhaps a little hard on Gideon in the last chapter. He is a little spineless and doubting. He doubted his ability to complete the task that God wanted him to do. But without doubt, he would have blundered in and tried to do it on his own, which would have only resulted in disaster. So the moral of the story is that doubting your ability to complete a task is not bad, as long as you turn to God so that he can work through you. Lord, help me lean on you.
Judges 6
7-10: This is the first rebuke to the Israelites when they called upon God, but the Bible does not say anything about the people's response to God. I wonder if they repented...surely God would not have sent Gideon if they did not repent. Then again, perhaps their repentance was much like Gideon's leadership; gung ho to start, but without the true conviction to see it through.
11: What is a terebinth?
It is a smallish tree.
15: "Weakest in my tribe" "youngest in my household" God likes to do that, just to prove how big he is.
27: I understand the fear Gideon feels. My family means the world to me and disappointing them would make me very uneasy.
28: Where was this Asherah that the men of town would not hear all the commotion of an alter being built, a bull being slaughtered and a pole being cut down and chopped?
31: For all Gideon's fear, his father backed him up, I wonder what it would have been like if he had let his father in on the plan. God wanted it to happen, so it would have been done either way. I am sure that the father would have appreciated his son's trust, or at least some heads up.
35: Too many names in the Bible to keep straight. I wish it would call them by their original tribe names to keep me from confusion!
36-40: Finicky little fellow, wasn't he?
God can use any of us, even when we are unsure of our ability. The key is to trust him. TRUST HIM!
36-40: Finicky little fellow, wasn't he?
God can use any of us, even when we are unsure of our ability. The key is to trust him. TRUST HIM!
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Judges 5
6: What are "byways"? Why are they safer than highways?
Other versions say "crooked paths" or "winding pathways" or "side roads." This amounts to going the long way around to avoid the trouble presented on the main roads.
23: Who is Meroz? And isn't it odd to say that they did not come to the "help of the Lord?" My God never needs help...
It is not that God needed the help, it was just the fact that they did not help their fellow man. So they are mentioned cursed.
30: Why are we talking about spoil? What is meant by "A womb or two for every man?"
This is the reason why Sisera's mother (hypothetically) assumes that he is late in coming home. He is taking home riches of various kinds, and yes, enough female slaves for every male to have one or two.
Answer the call of the Lord! And he will do great things with your life.
Right now, I feel my call is to think less of myself. Be a little more selfless and serve a bit more. My husband especially, of whom I expect so much...
Other versions say "crooked paths" or "winding pathways" or "side roads." This amounts to going the long way around to avoid the trouble presented on the main roads.
23: Who is Meroz? And isn't it odd to say that they did not come to the "help of the Lord?" My God never needs help...
It is not that God needed the help, it was just the fact that they did not help their fellow man. So they are mentioned cursed.
30: Why are we talking about spoil? What is meant by "A womb or two for every man?"
This is the reason why Sisera's mother (hypothetically) assumes that he is late in coming home. He is taking home riches of various kinds, and yes, enough female slaves for every male to have one or two.
Answer the call of the Lord! And he will do great things with your life.
Right now, I feel my call is to think less of myself. Be a little more selfless and serve a bit more. My husband especially, of whom I expect so much...
Friday, August 1, 2014
Judges 4
13: I understand that the 900 chariots of Iron went into the river by the helpful commentary in my Bible, but it never actually says that in the chapter...how can we know for sure that this is what happened?
It's explained in the next chapter...keep reading!
It's explained in the next chapter...keep reading!
I think that the point is that this is God's victory. No human genius could have predicted the flood that took the chariots advantage away from the Canaanites.
19: Is it significant that Jael gave Sisera milk instead of water?
There could be many reasons. One explanation may be that she was giving him more than he asked for. Whereby gaining his trust and making him relax. In Judges 5:25 Deborah said, "He asked for water, she gave milk; She brought out cream in a lordly bowl." Having a full stomach also may have helped him fall into a deeper sleep so that she could do her dirty work.
21: The woman had a lot of nerve...why the tent peg? why drive it all the way through his head? wouldn't one good hit have taken him out?
She may not have even known why she did it this way, but God used it as a symbol of the slow, suspenseful manner in which God subdued Jabin king of Canaan.
It was faith in the Lord that won this battle. Sometimes we need to set aside what we know (that 10,000 Israelites on foot) could not defeat a technologically advanced force (chariots). Know that we always need to ask God for wisdom, but we also need to step out in faith and meet our battles head on and watch God work!
There could be many reasons. One explanation may be that she was giving him more than he asked for. Whereby gaining his trust and making him relax. In Judges 5:25 Deborah said, "He asked for water, she gave milk; She brought out cream in a lordly bowl." Having a full stomach also may have helped him fall into a deeper sleep so that she could do her dirty work.
21: The woman had a lot of nerve...why the tent peg? why drive it all the way through his head? wouldn't one good hit have taken him out?
She may not have even known why she did it this way, but God used it as a symbol of the slow, suspenseful manner in which God subdued Jabin king of Canaan.
It was faith in the Lord that won this battle. Sometimes we need to set aside what we know (that 10,000 Israelites on foot) could not defeat a technologically advanced force (chariots). Know that we always need to ask God for wisdom, but we also need to step out in faith and meet our battles head on and watch God work!
Judges Resources
Dave Mitchell Sunday Sermon: March 2 - May 10, 2014.
Tom Nelson, Denton Bible Church Sunday Sermon: October 1999-May 2000
Tom Nelson, Denton Bible Church Sunday Sermon: October 1999-May 2000
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)