King James Daily Bible Study: Arm Yourself
Date: Wednesday March 23, 2011
Chapters: Judges 3-5
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Details of Today's Reading: The apostasies of Israel, God brings up judges Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, and Deborah to deliver the Israelites, Barak, and the song of Deborah and Barak.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
The word judge is defined as a chief magistrate (official), with civil and military powers. While we as Christians may not carry military powers, we do carry something that is powerful and that is the Word of God. The Bible says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” - Hebrews 4:12.

The Israelites were governed by judges for more than three hundred years. While the judges were alive the Israelites were obedient and followed God wholeheartedly and prospered, but when they died the Israelites quickly forgot God, falling right back into the corruption of those who lived in the world and becoming enslaved to them.

“Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;..And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years. And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.” - Judges 3:1,2,5-9.

Temptations and trials detect the wickedness of the hearts of sinners and strengthens the graces of believers in their daily conflict with Satan, sin, and this wicked world. While we must live in this world, we are not of it and are forbidden to conform to it. The only way we can guard ourselves against the temptations of the world is through God and remaining in His Word. Yes, we need a man of God to guide us, it's great to have studies like these to help us understand God's Word, but what good is that man or these studies if we do not get in His Word ourselves. We are all human, although I teach the Bible, I am human and make mistakes just like you. Reading God's Word for yourself only confirms my findings or any errors that I have made. “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” - Ephesians 6:11-13.

As the Israelites fell away from the Lord again when Ehud died, God gave them into the hands of the Canaanitish king Jabin, who oppressed them severely for twenty years with a powerful army under Sisera his general. God will use anyone to help stir us in the right direction, He even used a woman to judge the people.

“And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time...And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?..And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.” - Judges 3:1-4,6,8,9.

Deborah was a prophetess, one instructed in Divine knowledge by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. She judged Israel as God's mouth to them, correcting abuses, and redressing grievances. By God's direction, she ordered Barak to raise an army, and engage Jabin's forces. Barak insisted upon her presence, she was eager to help, though reminding him that she would be the one honored, whom was the weaker vessel. However, Barak values the satisfaction of his mind, and the good success of his enterprise, more than mere honor. God created the woman to be a help meet for the man, sometimes she is stronger in her faith, but God will not give us a task that we can not handle, even if that means lifting up the spirits of man who is weaker in his. “Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her...Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” - Proverbs 31:25-28,30.

The amazing thing about God is that no matter how many times we turn from Him, He is eager to help when we cry out to Him. That's the key, we need to cry out to Him. Do you ever wonder why Jesus asked a person what they needed, well knowing already what they needed? He wanted them to come to Him on their own. God knows what we need, but just like anyone else, He will not offer His help until we come up to Him and ask Him for it. I remember times where I would be working really hard while watching another just standing there and wondering why they would not just come over and help. Well, no one wants to overstep their bounds, they might want to help, but unless I asked they assumed I did not need any help. God is the same way, if we do not ask, we do not receive. “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” - James 4:2,3.

God is no respecter of persons, therefore, we are to judge no person, but we can judge a persons behavior and warn them against it. Jesus said, “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” - Luke 17:3,4. People of the world are clueless to God's judgment upon them, what they perceive as bad luck or what many might say is karma, is, in fact, God trying to get their attention. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.” - I Corinthians 2::14-16. There is nothing more powerful than having the mind of Christ, which can only be obtained by and through the Word of God.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Othniel, a deliverer upon whom the Lord rested. The Spirit of the Lord rests upon all who know Christ.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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