Wednesday, February 19: Judges 19- No Word + No God-honoring Leadership = Disaster and Rebellion

For me this is one

of the most troubling accounts in the Old Testament. Many aspects of this story sicken me.

I thought back of the lessons of the last two days. Sin has a way of burrowing into our lives and when it does it, often grows more and more depraved.

Israel has sunk to despicable lows. The sins of these men are as bad, if not worse, than the pagan peoples Israel was supposed to replace.

I found myself thinking about what happened. I noticed two important factors.

One, Israel was leaderless. They had no king and no judge, the heads of the tribes who should have been the patriarchs and protectors of their clan are absent, too. There is no one to direct the people in the ways of God and goodness.

Two, Israel is Wordless.  The word of God is absent from Israel’s conscience existence. We haven’t heard of the Word since Joshua’s days. The scrolls of God’s Word are collecting dust within the Tabernacle somewhere. The priests, the feasts, the worship, nothing connected to the Word of God is mentioned.

We should not be surprised that Israel has degraded to this…

No Word + No God-honoring Leadership = Disaster and Rebellion!

I flipped to 2014. God’s people still need these two pillars.  Ask yourself two sets of questions.

1)      Personal questions: Are you attending to God’s Word in your own life? Do you guard yourself by reading, studying, meditating upon God’s Word? We are a fortunate people who can all read and write. Are we using these gifts to strengthen our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord?
    If NOT, what will you do about this?
    If YES, where are you growing and where might the Lord want you to grow in the next few months?

2)      Community questions: Are you part of a faith community where the Word of God is honored above all else as the VERY Word of God? Is every page revered by your church leaders? Do your leaders strive to lead and direct your portion of God’s family to deep and more faithful following of God’s Word?
    If NOT, start praying for your leadership that God would get a hold of their hearts.  And as you pray ask the Lord if there is more you can/should do about this.
    If YES, praise and thank God for your faith-community leaders. Pray for them, support them and follow them as they lead you closer to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord, thank You for Your Word and for the ability to read and study it. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who You have sent to lead us into all truth and who will teach and guide us! What a gift!!!

And Lord, thank You for the men and women You have sent to be our faith community leaders. Endow them with Your Holy Spirit that they might lead us well and closer to You. Give me ears to hear Your directives through them. This I pray in Jesus’ name and for the sake of Your church and Your mission to reach the world with the name of Jesus. Amen