Psalm 23:4 …I will fear no evil, for you are with me. I’m encouraged by the promise of God’s presence no matter the evil or enemies we must face, he never leaves us.
2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." When I see sin increasing and God isn't coming back yet to judge I think about how there are more souls that need salvation! He is being patient for more souls to repent and escape judgment! As the sin in this world becomes more and more prevalent I am praying that today would be the day for more souls to be saved! I am praying for open doors to talk to them and boldness to open my mouth to speak the gospel clearly!
Psalm 102:26-28 "[26] They [the wicked] will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, [27] but you are the same, and your years have no end. [28] The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you." This verse helps me when I feel lonely pursuing righteousness. Praying to see my need for the gospel more every day.
”In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.“ Psalm 37:10-11 This reminds me that there is an approaching expiration date for the wicked and it directs my thoughts to the eternal promises I have in Christ! 🙌🏼🙌🏼
You, O LORD, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever. On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man. Psalm 12:7-8 I take heart God will protect me from this wicked generation!
How does wickedness increase? Under the heading of Tolerance we start to descend down the slippery slope of Sin! #1) First comes the tolerance where we overlook the evil, #2) we as a society & as individuals permit this evil to exist among us, #3) next we legalize this evil, #4) we then promote the evil, #5) then we celebrate this EVIL, and eventually those who still call it Evil will be Prosecuted! I take great comfort in Psalm 16, verses 7,8 & 11: "I bless the Lord who gives me counsel, in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
My goto verse which also placed the fear of the Lord in me is Hebrews 4:13 ”And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.“ This prompts me to pray and share the gospel more. ALL will give an account. It’s not only comforting but also a warning.
"So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might." And the land had rest for forty years. - Judges 5:31 It’s troubling to see what the sins of the people lead to in the book of Judges. I’m encouraged to live set apart from sin today knowing that the wicked will perish but the friends of YHWH will be like the sun that rises in its might!
”Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!“ (Psalm 119:1-3) The Lord has encouraged me with this verse so many times while I am on campus at Cal State Long Beach! True happiness will come not from sin, but through trusting and obeying the Lord!
Psalm 37:1-3 [1] Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! [2] For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. [3] Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Yes Tracey! Thank you for commenting from this Psalm! You WON a Promise Land board game you can pick up in the Kids Ministry lobby this weekend after the services!
Psalm 1 Blessed is the man who does not walk after the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law does he meditate day and night. He will be like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season. Whatever he does will prosper. Not so the wicked; they are like chaff the wind drives away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgement or sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous but the way of the wicked will perish. Hopefully I didn't butcher that too much since I was doing it from memory. Praying for God to grant repentance and faith and turn hearts and people from darkness to light. 🙏😀
Lotsa love in Christ to my CBC-HB Fam!! Love the ever growing bible scripture list here y’all have done .. good one Bobby and all here! May we Looking UP!^ (Col 3:1-4, Luke 21:28) 💙🙏📖😊 ★ Proverbs 24:19-20 [NASB] “Do not FRET because of EVILDOERS or be ENVIOUS of the WICKED; 20] For there will be NO FUTURE for the EVIL man; the lamp of the WICKED will be put out.”
It is so sobering to read about the generations that follow being more and more in sin and not following the LORD. It immediately reminded me of my own family, how my grandfather was a righteous man and a great godly example, but yet many of my cousins have drunk from the broken cisterns of this culture and no longer embrace the faith that they were taught. It also stirs me to not only teach my young son and live out the Shama in our home, but to also be praying for his soul and that the LORD would save his soul and keep him from falling away! A passage that I often go to is Psalm 73. It seems that all around us the wicked are prevailing, but that is always a good reminder that the LORD will get His vengeance and the wicked will not prosper forever!
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. Proverbs 11:10-11
”and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger.“ Judges 2:2, 12 If this isn’t a case of “those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it,” I don’t know what is. It’s so vital to pass on Biblical truths to our children.
Psalm 32:10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. Psalm 16:4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.
Psalm 58:10-11 The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked. Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.”🙏🏻❤️
I turn to Psalm 73 when faced with the increasing wickedness all around. Making sense of the sin in the world is a wearisome task and too high for me, but this Psalm leads me straight to the sanctuary of God. From that perspective, it’s crazy how it all makes sense again, where I can find encouragement and strength to keep walking in righteousness. Psalm 73:16-17 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.
Psalm 1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalm one reminds me of the present and future blessing that comes from being someone who does not abide by the world’s wisdom but who is devoted to God’s wisdom in His word! Even when others are ruined by the events of life, the one who loves God’s law will stand firm and bear fruit! And after this life God will preserve the righteous who love His law while the wicked perish!
Psalm 119:1-4 ”Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently.“
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalm 1:5-6
Psalms 84:10 ”For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.“
Ticket to Ride, yes! This train is bound for glory This train. Woo woo! This train is bound for glory, This train. Woo, woo! This train is bound for glory All that ride it must be holy. This train is bound for glory This train. Woo, hoo! Psalm 34:15-16, "The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth."
All of Psalm 73 encourages my soul! How Asaph sees the success of the wicked, but then turns to see how without God, their end is ruin! The Lord is my strength and portion forever, He will put an end to all who are unfaithful to Him, but it is good for me to be near Yaweh!
Yes Bonnie! I have been encouraged by Psalm 73 as well! You WON a Promise Land board game and you can pick it up in the Kids Ministry lobby this weekend!
You made a proooomise!! Praising God for his promises! Judges has been so eye opening towards the reality of walking on the line of obedience and disobedience. The tribes putting the Canannites to forced labor instead of driving them out like God commanded them to, feels like them walking on the line of obedience, thinking that what they were doing was a good thing since it benefited them. You see the result of them walking on the line in Judges 2, God’s judgment and wrath. It’s a reminder of the need today for full obedience to God and to be watchful for lukewarm actions and thinking. To do everything in faith, knowing that my life is his.
Ps 11: 3 if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” 4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. 5 The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
Im excited to get into the book of Judges! No matter what is going on around us we have the Lord and Psalm 27! It has some reallly good encouragement: “And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”” Psalm 27:6-8 “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:13-14
Psalm 37:9-11 For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.
The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me. Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous- you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God! My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow; - Psalm 7:8-12
I am praying that I can teach my grandchildren the Bible. Let them know that their grandparents are seriously glad of their salvation and want to teach them the good news.
I am so thankful for our kids ministry!! We listen to the songs and videos all the time! I’m encouraged to not forget what the Lord has called us parents to do- 4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4, ESV)
Psalm 62:8 ... “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.“ Go to God in prayer in the midst of evil. He is our protector. Psalm 62:6 ... “He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.” We will not be shaken in the midst of evil because we are overcomers in Christ.
I think about Psalm 50 and how God himself is judge. He may be patiently enduring now but he will judge those who are wicked. Psalm 50:16-21 "16 But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? 17 For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you. 18 If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you keep company with adulterers. 19 “You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit. 20 You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son. 21 These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before"
Psalm 73:12-17 [12] Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. [13] All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. [14] For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. [15] If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
[16] But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, [17] until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. (ESV) I thought of this verse: The Psalmist looks at the wicked and how they are living their best lives, but then he looks at how hard they try to walk rightly. He gets discouraged until he goes into the sanctuary of God, his presence, and discerns their end. He knows how they will end.
Judges 5:6 “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned; travelers took to winding paths.7 Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel. 8 God chose new leaders when war came to the city gates, but not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel. 9 My heart is with Israel’s princes, with the willing volunteers among the people. Praise the Lord! *** Deborah is a shining example of someone who loves righteousness and has chosen to rise up and live according to God's teachings. Even when everyone around her disobeyed God and embraced sin, and there was a lack of leadership, she stood up and remained steadfast in her commitment to the Lord. Despite the scarcity of those willing to take responsibility, she bravely volunteered herself and joined those who lived and fought for righteousness.
God is so merciful to keep raising up Judges to save Israel. It seems like what was written in Judges 2:15-19 is a summary of what is to come in Judges and Judges 3 starts playing it out. But what should we learn? Take heed lest we fall and to pay close attention to God's word. ”Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.“ 1 Corinthians 10:11-12 ”Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” Hebrews 2:1
Im glade I don’t have to put my hope any worldly judge! But I put my eternal hope in Jesus Christ! I am gonna pray that our generation is not a generation that forgets who Jesus is but would be lights for his gospel!
“Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.” ~ Philippians 3:19-4:1 And from Judges 2, I was thinking how God told the Israelites “But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done?” (2:2) When I see Jesus face to face, I don’t want Him to tell me that, but what I want to hear is “Well done!”
I’ve loved reading through the OT with everyone! I’m excited to get into this next book and see what God is telling me. I’ve made it a habit to highlight all the “LORD”’s and I feel like it helps me focus on WHO the Bible is about.
”Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.“ Romans 6:13 ESV
”Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.“ Galatians 6:7-9 ESV
Ephesians 6:10-13 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."
In Judges 3 today it was so easy to see the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience so plainly. And Judges (and Joshua) are way more epic/action packed than 300 or Gladiator. Where’s the Judges movie…. Ehud The Deliverer, Shamgar and the Oxgoad! There will be an ultimate Judgement one day I think of this verse in Mathew. Matthew 24:12-14 [12] And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. [13] But the one who endures to the end will be saved. [14] And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
The Lord, your God is with you, the mighty warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love, He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing Zephaniah 3:17.
We had our SCOD or T.A.C.O. Tuesday evening at our house. We read together aloud Judges 1 and 2 to make sure we were all on the same page- and we were! What I observed in these 2 short chapters is how Israel is floundering in the “Promised Land” without a national spiritual leader to keep them as one body, pointing them back to YHWH and depending on Him and His way. YHWH clearly told the generation before He would be with them and they could take the land- only clear out the other people who had had ample time to know the LORD’s reputation and could have repented and come to Him ( like Rahab and her family) but they didn’t so get rid of them and their gods. And when Israel didn’t do this, we see they suffered and will continue to suffer for many generations because now they do not know their own God and they’re worshipping false gods and doing abominable things! Passing on our faith to the next generation is a MUST! Just like Bobby pointed out about the Jesus movement of the 70’s. Where are all the godly kids of those 70’s converts? We should have even more godly people than in the 70’s, but we don’t. If we do not follow the Shema of Deut 6:4-9 and pass on our faith to our kids, they too will be a generation who doesn’t know and obey the One True Living God! Help us Father to be faithful and do that so we can say as in 3 John 1:4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in Truth.” (Sheila Livingston)
Matthew 28:19-20 [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV) Jesus will be with the church all the way to the end! I am encouraged knowing He's right there with us.
Some passages I think of are Romans 2:6-8 & all of Psalm 73! Even though wickedness is increasing, we can trust that God sees all and will render to each what is promised! “He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.” Romans 2:6-8
What I find fascinating about the book of Judges is its depiction of judges. Typically, when we think of a judge, we envision someone poised to deliver judgment and punishment for wrongdoing. They're tasked with administering justice according to the law. During the period portrayed in the book of Judges, Israel had trayed from God's covenant, breaking His commandments and forsaking His law. However, instead of receiving their just punishment, these judges acted on God's behalf. They loved, defended, fought for, protected, taught, and guided the people, steering them back to the right path. While some of these judges failed to fully represent God's holiness and perfect attributes, they all shared a common purpose: to deliver, to shepherd, to fight for, to sacrifice their lives to shelter, love, and provide care for God's people. In this way, they embody a crucial aspect of God's character. He is an unparalleled judge who willingly lays down His life for those He loves, echoing the sentiment expressed in Romans 5:8.
Round 2 “The Book of Judges” Acts 26:18 “To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” 2 Timothy 2:26 “And they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”
”Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”“ Daniel 3:16-18 ESV One of my favorite passages in the Bible. Here, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego face death to obey God. This is years after they had been brought to Babylon - their names changed, brought up in all the teachings of the Chaldeans - yet they (along with Daniel) remained faithful to obey God. And their faith was not dependent on God saving them. “BUT IF NOT…”. They lived in an ungodly culture for years and maintained God’s laws, exercising their spiritual muscles for this moment, when facing death, to obey Him. Perfect examples to emulate in the culture we live in today to obey God.
Do not be conformed to this world,but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.Rom 12:2
”Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.“ Psalm 37:1-6
"but God shows his love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8 This was the first verse that came to mind. I can't help but think about how I was following the world in much of their sin and I was chosen and saved by Christ's death and resurrection. I can't help but feel pain and sorrow when I see the sin in the world, including my own. I long to share his love with others so that they may be drawn near to him in order to follow in his foot steps of love.
Titus 2: 11¶For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Be the Church Judges 2:10 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel… 12 And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers,…17….They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so The book of Judges reveals that the new generation did not know God, encompassing not just a few families, but the entire generation. This raises questions: Did each family neglect to teach their children about God, as instructed in passages such as Exodus 12:26-27 and Deuteronomy 6:6-9? Or did the entire community collectively fail to impart knowledge of the Lord to their children, as indicated in verses like Leviticus 20:4 and Deuteronomy 4:9-10, among others? The phrase "the new generation" not knowing God suggests a widespread lack of understanding, although God may have preserved individuals faithful to Him, as seen in the example of the seven thousand in Israel who did not bow to Baal, as well as the examples of Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, and Deborah. Nevertheless, as demonstrated in Daniel 9:5-6 and 1 Kings 14:16, individual actions affect the entire community, underscoring collective responsibility. Israel's failure to uphold this responsibility is evident, as illustrated by the consequences of Achan's sin affecting the entire community. Despite this, they neglected to watch out for one another, hold each other accountable, and raise the next generation to know God. The responsibility for passing on knowledge of God rested not solely on individual families but on the entire community. The Israelites had failed to be the Church! Now living in the new covenant era, as the body of Christ, we are called to love, support, and edify one another (1 Corinthians 12:25-26, Ephesians 4:32, James 5:16). Yet, collectively, we often fall short. We witness the next generation drifting away from following the Lord and wonder why, despite our efforts. It is imperative that we do not repeat Israel's mistake and disobey the Lord's command. We must grow together as a generation, collectively raising our children in the knowledge of the Lord, praying, supporting, nurturing, guiding, teaching, and protecting them. We must be the Church together, for one another, and for the next generation (Psalm 78:4-7; Deuteronomy 6:4-7). Only by embracing our collective responsibility as commanded can we ensure that the next generation walks in the ways of the Lord.
Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful
The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” When YHWH reveals himself and makes it clear that everyone will give an Account AND that no one will get away with evil. GIVE ME peace.
John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
My hope is in the justice of our LORD! it is not on me to become self righteous against sin, but stay obedient and humble. Our kindness is meant to bring others to salvation Romans 12:17-21 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it[a] to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Flee from sexual immorality. Sexual immorality sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God. ICorinthians 6:18-20.
Psalm 73:27-28 [27] For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. [28] But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. 🩷🩷
Psalm 23:4
…I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
I’m encouraged by the promise of God’s presence no matter the evil or enemies we must face, he never leaves us.
2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."
When I see sin increasing and God isn't coming back yet to judge I think about how there are more souls that need salvation! He is being patient for more souls to repent and escape judgment! As the sin in this world becomes more and more prevalent I am praying that today would be the day for more souls to be saved! I am praying for open doors to talk to them and boldness to open my mouth to speak the gospel clearly!
Amen!!!
Psalm 102:26-28
"[26] They [the wicked] will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, [27] but you are the same, and your years have no end. [28] The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you."
This verse helps me when I feel lonely pursuing righteousness. Praying to see my need for the gospel more every day.
”In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.“
Psalm 37:10-11
This reminds me that there is an approaching expiration date for the wicked and it directs my thoughts to the eternal promises I have in Christ! 🙌🏼🙌🏼
You, O LORD, will keep them;
you will guard us from this generation forever.
On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among the children of man.
Psalm 12:7-8
I take heart God will protect me from this wicked generation!
Amen! Thank you for sharing this verse! You WON a Promise Land board game you can pick up in the Kids Ministry lobby after the services this weekend!
How does wickedness increase? Under the heading of Tolerance we start to descend down the slippery slope of Sin! #1) First comes the tolerance where we overlook the evil, #2) we as a society & as individuals permit this evil to exist among us, #3) next we legalize this evil, #4) we then promote the evil, #5) then we celebrate this EVIL, and eventually those who still call it Evil will be Prosecuted! I take great comfort in Psalm 16, verses 7,8 & 11: "I bless the Lord who gives me counsel, in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
My goto verse which also placed the fear of the Lord in me is Hebrews 4:13 ”And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.“ This prompts me to pray and share the gospel more. ALL will give an account. It’s not only comforting but also a warning.
"So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might." And the land had rest for forty years. - Judges 5:31
It’s troubling to see what the sins of the people lead to in the book of Judges. I’m encouraged to live set apart from sin today knowing that the wicked will perish but the friends of YHWH will be like the sun that rises in its might!
”Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!“ (Psalm 119:1-3)
The Lord has encouraged me with this verse so many times while I am on campus at Cal State Long Beach! True happiness will come not from sin, but through trusting and obeying the Lord!
Psalm 37:1-3
[1] Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
[2] For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
[3] Trust in the LORD, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Yes Tracey! Thank you for commenting from this Psalm! You WON a Promise Land board game you can pick up in the Kids Ministry lobby this weekend after the services!
"Sin is increasing...let us be the remnant who are righteous" -- Pastor Bobby
Psalm 1 Blessed is the man who does not walk after the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law does he meditate day and night. He will be like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season. Whatever he does will prosper. Not so the wicked; they are like chaff the wind drives away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgement or sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous but the way of the wicked will perish. Hopefully I didn't butcher that too much since I was doing it from memory. Praying for God to grant repentance and faith and turn hearts and people from darkness to light. 🙏😀
Lotsa love in Christ to my CBC-HB Fam!! Love the ever growing bible scripture list here y’all have done .. good one Bobby and all here! May we Looking UP!^ (Col 3:1-4, Luke 21:28) 💙🙏📖😊
★ Proverbs 24:19-20 [NASB] “Do not FRET because of EVILDOERS or be ENVIOUS of the WICKED; 20] For there will be NO FUTURE for the EVIL man; the lamp of the WICKED will be put out.”
It is so sobering to read about the generations that follow being more and more in sin and not following the LORD. It immediately reminded me of my own family, how my grandfather was a righteous man and a great godly example, but yet many of my cousins have drunk from the broken cisterns of this culture and no longer embrace the faith that they were taught. It also stirs me to not only teach my young son and live out the Shama in our home, but to also be praying for his soul and that the LORD would save his soul and keep him from falling away!
A passage that I often go to is Psalm 73. It seems that all around us the wicked are prevailing, but that is always a good reminder that the LORD will get His vengeance and the wicked will not prosper forever!
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. Proverbs 11:10-11
”and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done?
And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger.“
Judges 2:2, 12
If this isn’t a case of “those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it,” I don’t know what is. It’s so vital to pass on Biblical truths to our children.
Psalm 32:10
Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.
Psalm 16:4
The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.
Psalm 58:10-11 The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked. Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.”🙏🏻❤️
I turn to Psalm 73 when faced with the increasing wickedness all around. Making sense of the sin in the world is a wearisome task and too high for me, but this Psalm leads me straight to the sanctuary of God. From that perspective, it’s crazy how it all makes sense again, where I can find encouragement and strength to keep walking in righteousness.
Psalm 73:16-17
But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me a wearisome task,
until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I discerned their end.
Psalm 1
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Psalm one reminds me of the present and future blessing that comes from being someone who does not abide by the world’s wisdom but who is devoted to God’s wisdom in His word! Even when others are ruined by the events of life, the one who loves God’s law will stand firm and bear fruit! And after this life God will preserve the righteous who love His law while the wicked perish!
Psalm 119:1-4
”Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently.“
Book of Judges! Let’s Taco bout it!
Psalm 141:10
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I pass by safely.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalm 1:5-6
Thanks for sharing this verse! You WON a Promise Land Board Game! You can pick it up in the Kids Ministry lobby this weekend!
@@bobbyblakeyThank you! We love board games.
Psalms 84:10
”For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.“
Ticket to Ride, yes!
This train is bound for glory
This train. Woo woo!
This train is bound for glory,
This train. Woo, woo!
This train is bound for glory
All that ride it must be holy.
This train is bound for glory
This train. Woo, hoo!
Psalm 34:15-16, "The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth."
All of Psalm 73 encourages my soul! How Asaph sees the success of the wicked, but then turns to see how without God, their end is ruin! The Lord is my strength and portion forever, He will put an end to all who are unfaithful to Him, but it is good for me to be near Yaweh!
Yes Bonnie! I have been encouraged by Psalm 73 as well! You WON a Promise Land board game and you can pick it up in the Kids Ministry lobby this weekend!
You made a proooomise!! Praising God for his promises!
Judges has been so eye opening towards the reality of walking on the line of obedience and disobedience. The tribes putting the Canannites to forced labor instead of driving them out like God commanded them to, feels like them walking on the line of obedience, thinking that what they were doing was a good thing since it benefited them. You see the result of them walking on the line in Judges 2, God’s judgment and wrath.
It’s a reminder of the need today for full obedience to God and to be watchful for lukewarm actions and thinking. To do everything in faith, knowing that my life is his.
Ps 11: 3 if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
5 The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
Im excited to get into the book of Judges! No matter what is going on around us we have the Lord and Psalm 27! It has some reallly good encouragement:
“And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.””
Psalm 27:6-8
“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”
Psalm 27:13-14
I am so encouraged by the references you mentioned. God said the same thing many times hoping we would listen and take it to heart.
Psalm 37:9-11
For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant peace.
The LORD judges the peoples;
judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness
and according to the integrity that is in me.
Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
and may you establish the righteous-
you who test the minds and hearts,
O righteous God!
My shield is with God,
who saves the upright in heart.
God is a righteous judge,
and a God who feels indignation every day.
If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword;
he has bent and readied his bow;
- Psalm 7:8-12
I am praying that I can teach my grandchildren the Bible. Let them know that their grandparents are seriously glad of their salvation and want to teach them the good news.
I am so thankful for our kids ministry!! We listen to the songs and videos all the time! I’m encouraged to not forget what the Lord has called us parents to do- 4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4, ESV)
Psalm 62:8 ... “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.“
Go to God in prayer in the midst of evil. He is our protector.
Psalm 62:6 ... “He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.”
We will not be shaken in the midst of evil because we are overcomers in Christ.
I think about Psalm 50 and how God himself is judge. He may be patiently enduring now but he will judge those who are wicked.
Psalm 50:16-21
"16 But to the wicked God says:
“What right have you to recite my statutes
or take my covenant on your lips?
17 For you hate discipline,
and you cast my words behind you.
18 If you see a thief, you are pleased with him,
and you keep company with adulterers.
19 “You give your mouth free rein for evil,
and your tongue frames deceit.
20 You sit and speak against your brother;
you slander your own mother's son.
21 These things you have done, and I have been silent;
you thought that I was one like yourself.
But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before"
Psalm 73:12-17
[12] Behold, these are the wicked;
always at ease, they increase in riches.
[13] All in vain have I kept my heart clean
and washed my hands in innocence.
[14] For all the day long I have been stricken
and rebuked every morning.
[15] If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
[16] But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me a wearisome task,
[17] until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I discerned their end. (ESV)
I thought of this verse: The Psalmist looks at the wicked and how they are living their best lives, but then he looks at how hard they try to walk rightly. He gets discouraged until he goes into the sanctuary of God, his presence, and discerns their end. He knows how they will end.
Proverbs 14:31-32 (ESV): 32 The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
but the righteous finds refuge in his death.
Judges 5:6 “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned; travelers took to winding paths.7 Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel. 8 God chose new leaders when war came to the city gates, but not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.
9 My heart is with Israel’s princes, with the willing volunteers among the people. Praise the Lord!
*** Deborah is a shining example of someone who loves righteousness and has chosen to rise up and live according to God's teachings. Even when everyone around her disobeyed God and embraced sin, and there was a lack of leadership, she stood up and remained steadfast in her commitment to the Lord. Despite the scarcity of those willing to take responsibility, she bravely volunteered herself and joined those who lived and fought for righteousness.
God is so merciful to keep raising up Judges to save Israel. It seems like what was written in Judges 2:15-19 is a summary of what is to come in Judges and Judges 3 starts playing it out. But what should we learn? Take heed lest we fall and to pay close attention to God's word.
”Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.“
1 Corinthians 10:11-12
”Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.”
Hebrews 2:1
Im glade I don’t have to put my hope any worldly judge! But I put my eternal hope in Jesus Christ! I am gonna pray that our generation is not a generation that forgets who Jesus is but would be lights for his gospel!
“Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.”
~ Philippians 3:19-4:1
And from Judges 2, I was thinking how God told the Israelites “But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done?” (2:2) When I see Jesus face to face, I don’t want Him to tell me that, but what I want to hear is “Well done!”
2 timothy 2:22
“so flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace along with those who call on the lord with a pure heart.”
I’ve loved reading through the OT with everyone! I’m excited to get into this next book and see what God is telling me.
I’ve made it a habit to highlight all the “LORD”’s and I feel like it helps me focus on WHO the Bible is about.
”Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.“
Romans 6:13 ESV
”Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.“
Galatians 6:7-9 ESV
Ephesians 6:10-13 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."
In Judges 3 today it was so easy to see the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience so plainly. And Judges (and Joshua) are way more epic/action packed than 300 or Gladiator. Where’s the Judges movie….
Ehud The Deliverer, Shamgar and the Oxgoad!
There will be an ultimate Judgement one day I think of this verse in Mathew.
Matthew 24:12-14
[12] And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. [13] But the one who endures to the end will be saved. [14] And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
The Lord, your God is with you, the mighty warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love, He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing Zephaniah 3:17.
We had our SCOD or T.A.C.O. Tuesday evening at our house. We read together aloud Judges 1 and 2 to make sure we were all on the same page- and we were! What I observed in these 2 short chapters is how Israel is floundering in the “Promised Land” without a national spiritual leader to keep them as one body, pointing them back to YHWH and depending on Him and His way.
YHWH clearly told the generation before He would be with them and they could take the land- only clear out the other people who had had ample time to know the LORD’s reputation and could have repented and come to Him ( like Rahab and her family) but they didn’t so get rid of them and their gods. And when Israel didn’t do this, we see they suffered and will continue to suffer for many generations because now they do not know their own God and they’re worshipping false gods and doing abominable things!
Passing on our faith to the next generation is a MUST! Just like Bobby pointed out about the Jesus movement of the 70’s. Where are all the godly kids of those 70’s converts? We should have even more godly people than in the 70’s, but we don’t. If we do not follow the Shema of Deut 6:4-9 and pass on our faith to our kids, they too will be a generation who doesn’t know and obey the One True Living God! Help us Father to be faithful and do that so we can say as in 3 John 1:4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in Truth.” (Sheila Livingston)
Sheila Livingston
Matthew 28:19-20
[19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV)
Jesus will be with the church all the way to the end! I am encouraged knowing He's right there with us.
Some passages I think of are Romans 2:6-8 & all of Psalm 73! Even though wickedness is increasing, we can trust that God sees all and will render to each what is promised!
“He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.”
Romans 2:6-8
Love your teaching, Pastor Bobby!
What I find fascinating about the book of Judges is its depiction of judges. Typically, when we think of a judge, we envision someone poised to deliver judgment and punishment for wrongdoing. They're tasked with administering justice according to the law. During the period portrayed in the book of Judges, Israel had trayed from God's covenant, breaking His commandments and forsaking His law. However, instead of receiving their just punishment, these judges acted on God's behalf. They loved, defended, fought for, protected, taught, and guided the people, steering them back to the right path.
While some of these judges failed to fully represent God's holiness and perfect attributes, they all shared a common purpose: to deliver, to shepherd, to fight for, to sacrifice their lives to shelter, love, and provide care for God's people. In this way, they embody a crucial aspect of God's character. He is an unparalleled judge who willingly lays down His life for those He loves, echoing the sentiment expressed in Romans 5:8.
Round 2 “The Book of Judges”
Acts 26:18 “To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
2 Timothy 2:26 “And they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”
"There is R-rated content in the book of Judges." -- Pastor Bobby
”Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”“
Daniel 3:16-18 ESV
One of my favorite passages in the Bible. Here, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego face death to obey God. This is years after they had been brought to Babylon - their names changed, brought up in all the teachings of the Chaldeans - yet they (along with Daniel) remained faithful to obey God. And their faith was not dependent on God saving them. “BUT IF NOT…”. They lived in an ungodly culture for years and maintained God’s laws, exercising their spiritual muscles for this moment, when facing death, to obey Him. Perfect examples to emulate in the culture we live in today to obey God.
Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
Do not be conformed to this world,but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.Rom 12:2
”Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.“ Psalm 37:1-6
"but God shows his love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8
This was the first verse that came to mind. I can't help but think about how I was following the world in much of their sin and I was chosen and saved by Christ's death and resurrection. I can't help but feel pain and sorrow when I see the sin in the world, including my own. I long to share his love with others so that they may be drawn near to him in order to follow in his foot steps of love.
Titus 2: 11¶For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
12training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
13waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Be the Church
Judges 2:10 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel…
12 And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers,…17….They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so
The book of Judges reveals that the new generation did not know God, encompassing not just a few families, but the entire generation. This raises questions: Did each family neglect to teach their children about God, as instructed in passages such as Exodus 12:26-27 and Deuteronomy 6:6-9? Or did the entire community collectively fail to impart knowledge of the Lord to their children, as indicated in verses like Leviticus 20:4 and Deuteronomy 4:9-10, among others?
The phrase "the new generation" not knowing God suggests a widespread lack of understanding, although God may have preserved individuals faithful to Him, as seen in the example of the seven thousand in Israel who did not bow to Baal, as well as the examples of Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, and Deborah. Nevertheless, as demonstrated in Daniel 9:5-6 and 1 Kings 14:16, individual actions affect the entire community, underscoring collective responsibility.
Israel's failure to uphold this responsibility is evident, as illustrated by the consequences of Achan's sin affecting the entire community. Despite this, they neglected to watch out for one another, hold each other accountable, and raise the next generation to know God. The responsibility for passing on knowledge of God rested not solely on individual families but on the entire community. The Israelites had failed to be the Church!
Now living in the new covenant era, as the body of Christ, we are called to love, support, and edify one another (1 Corinthians 12:25-26, Ephesians 4:32, James 5:16). Yet, collectively, we often fall short. We witness the next generation drifting away from following the Lord and wonder why, despite our efforts. It is imperative that we do not repeat Israel's mistake and disobey the Lord's command. We must grow together as a generation, collectively raising our children in the knowledge of the Lord, praying, supporting, nurturing, guiding, teaching, and protecting them.
We must be the Church together, for one another, and for the next generation (Psalm 78:4-7; Deuteronomy 6:4-7). Only by embracing our collective responsibility as commanded can we ensure that the next generation walks in the ways of the Lord.
I found 21 references to LORD. (Sheila Livingston) amazing to see that!
Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful
The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
When YHWH reveals himself and makes it clear that everyone will give an
Account AND that no one will get away with evil.
GIVE ME peace.
John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
I found 16 reference to the LORD (YHWH) in Judges 2.
My hope is in the justice of our LORD! it is not on me to become self righteous against sin, but stay obedient and humble. Our kindness is meant to bring others to salvation
Romans 12:17-21
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it[a] to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Flee from sexual immorality. Sexual immorality sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God. ICorinthians 6:18-20.
Psalm 73:27-28
[27] For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. [28] But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
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