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It Seemed Right… –Judges 21:25

April 6, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Choices, Judges, Sin with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Judges 19:1 through Judges 21:25

If today’s reading was set to a movie I would not have watched it!  Just ask my hubby, if there’s blood, my head is under the blanket!  There were several times I was actually speaking to my Bible and saying, “you have got to be kidding me?”

But the last sentence explained everything:

In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.  –Judges 21:25

I think the folks from the tribe of Benjamin, all the Israelites for that matter, were having problems with their world view.  My paraphrase of a biblical world view is filtering every decision we make large and small through the principles in the Word of God.

In today’s culture and even in today’s church we are proud to say that we live in a country that anyone can do whatever seems right in their own eyes…

I looked up the word “right” in two dictionaries:

Merrium-Webster’s Online Dictionary: qualities (as adherence to duty or obedience to lawful authority) that together constitute the ideal of moral propriety or merit moral approval.

Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary: In morals and religion, just; equitable; accordant to the standard of truth and justice or the will of God. That alone is right in the sight of God, which is consonant to his will or law; this being the only perfect standard of truth and justice. In social and political affairs, that is right which is consonant to the laws and customs of a country, provided these laws and customs are not repugnant to the laws of God. A man’s intentions may be right, though his actions may be wrong in consequence of a defect in judgment.

What a difference 185 years can make!  Friends, once again I’m so glad we’re taking this journey!  Reading through Word of God helps us to know what the standard of truth is and what is right in the eyes of God!

Father, I pray that You will be my King and my leader.  Show me what’s right in Your eyes.  I don’t want to do what “seems right” to me.  Help me throw away the lie that “right is in the eye of the beholder”!

Jesus, you are my King of Glory!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller


Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Ruth 1:1 through Ruth 4:12

What Will Be Your Finest Hour?

April 5, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Biblical Principles, God Speaks today, Judges, Trust with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Judges 16:1 through Judges 18:31

I have heard the story of Samson since I was a little kid. I’ve always thought Samson was missing a few brain cells.  He really did some dumb things:

  • Saw a Philistine woman and immediately wanted to marry her
  • Teased the young men at the wedding party with a riddle
  • After his fiancé’s insistence Samson tells her the answer to the riddle then gets mad when  the young men “guess” the answer
  • Goes down to Ashkelon, killed thirty men, took their belonging and gave their clothes to the men who had solved the riddle
  • Goes back home, leaves  his future wife to marry his best man
  • “Later on” goes to see his “wife” and gets made because she married his best man and tied 300 foxes tails together in pairs and fastened a torch to each pair of tails.  That day Samson burned the Philistines’ grain, vineyards and olive groves to the ground
  • Spent the night with a prostitute
  • Fell in love with another Philistine woman named Delilah
  • Teased Delilah with the key to his strength
  • The Philistines came in to take him three times and then he tells the secret to his strength knowing they would come again
  • Really thought he could still shake himself free after he lost his hair

Was Samuel really stupid or was there something more going on?

Here’s “the rest of the story”…

  • When her son was born, she names him Samson.  And the Lord blessed him as he grew up.  And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he lived in Mahabeh-dan…  (14:24-25)
  • But Samson told his father, “Get her for me!  She looks good to me.”  His father and mother didn’t realize the Lord was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time.  (14: 3b-4)
  • At that moment the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he ripped the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands.  (14:6)
  • Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him.  He went down to the town of Ashkelon, killed thirty men, took their belongings, and gave their clothing to the men who had solved his riddle.  (14:19) 
  • As Samson arrived at Lehi, the Philistines came shouting in triumph.  But the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon Samson, and he snapped the ropes on his arms as if they were burnt strands of flax, and they fell from his wrists.  (15:14)
  • Samson was now very thirsty, and he cried out to the Lord, “You have accomplished this great victory by the strength of your servant.  Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of these pagans?  So God caused water to gush out of a hollow in the ground at Lehi, and Samson was revived as he drank.  (15:18-19)
  • Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again.  O God, please strengthen me just one more time…” Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple…so he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime.  (16:28-30)

Did you see it?

God used Samson to preserve the Israelite nation. Samson’s finest hour was his last hour.

Just one more time, I stand amazed at God’s ways!

Heavenly Father, Your ways are higher than our ways.  Help us to trust You when things we see don’t make sense.  Remind us that you don’t use the same scorekeeping system we humans use—it’s all about Your plan, Your ways, and Your will. Help us to know You are in charge of kings and kingdoms–The outcome is in Your hands!  Holy Spirit, strengthen us in the knowledge that when Your Spirit comes upon us we can do supernatural things.  Jesus, help us when we grieve the seemingly pre-mature loss of family and friends; give us hearts to understand that sometimes our finest hour in honoring and displaying Your Glory might just be in our passing from this life into Your arms.

Spirit of the Lord, come upon us. Use us today.

In Jesus Name, Amen!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Judges 19:1 through Judges 21:25

God Can Use Weirdness–Judges 14:3-4

April 4, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Failure, God Speaks today, Judges, Living a Life that reflects the Son, Parenting, Trust with 2 Comments


Today’s Scripture Reading: Judges 11:29-15:20

Samson was just plain weird!  I don’t know, maybe he was just a big tease but he sure didn’t seem “normal” to me.

In my opinion Samson…

  • Seemed spoiled rotten and very demanding
  • Thought he was all that
  • Enjoyed making people look stupid

His father and mother objected. “Isn’t there even one woman in our tribe or among all the Israelites you could marry?” they asked. “Why must you go to the pagan Philistines to find a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me! She looks good to me.” --Samson 14:3

But,

God

had

a

plan

for

Samson’s life.

In those days a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was unable to become pregnant, and they had no children.  The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and said, “Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son.  So be careful; you must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.” Judges 13:2-5

Do you ever give a judgmental look at people and think, “They’re just plain weird.  Surely, they’re not “God’s anointed?”

Samson’s poor parents.  It must have been so hard for them. They loved to play by the rules.  They even asked the Angel of the Lord about “the rules.”

So Manoah (Samson’s father) asked him (the Angel of the Lord) “When your words come true, what kind of rules should govern the boy’s life and work?” –Judges 13:12

Samson disobeyed rules for a hobby.

Samson’s parents must have been at their wit’s end because they didn’t know that God had a purpose for Samson’s weirdness.

His father and mother didn’t realize the Lord was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time. –Judges 14:4

Friends we need to be careful criticizing and judging “weirdness,” judging people who don’t act, think, or serve God like we do.  It may be for the Glory of God.

Father, give us grace to understand people who have different ways of doing life than we do.  Help us to realize, YOU made them.  They fit perfectly in YOUR plan for them.  You are God and we are not!

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Judges 16:1-18:31

“God, Do You Care About My Misery? –Judges 10:11-16

April 3, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Encouragement, Jesus, Judges, Parenting, The Hurting World, Tough Times, Trials with 0 Comments



Today’s Scripture Reading: Judges 9:22-11:28

The Lord replied, “Did I not rescue you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites?

When they oppressed you, you cried out to me for help, and I rescued you. Yet you have abandoned me and served other gods. So I will not rescue you anymore.  Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen! Let them rescue you in your hour of distress!”

But the Israelites pleaded with the Lord and said, “We have sinned. Punish us as you see fit, only rescue us today from our enemies.”  Then the Israelites put aside their foreign gods and served the Lord. And he was grieved by their misery. –Judges 10:11-16

The love of God…

A-m-a-z-i-n-g!

How many times did the Israelites worship anything and everything

other

than

the

One

True

God?

I’ve lost count.

But He was still grieved by their misery.  He still heard their cries of repentance.  His heart was still touched by their pain.

How much more must God be grieved when we are in misery because of a seemingly senseless tragedy or when “bad things happen to good people?”

In John 11:35, Jesus, Son of God wept at the death of his friend Lazarus.

God cares about your misery.  He sees your sadness and pain.  You are not alone.

Heavenly Father, help my friends who feel like they can’t go on.  Make a way for them to make it through the day.  Comfort them as only You can comfort.  Weep for them and with them Lord.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Judges 11:29-15:20

Sometimes It’s Best to be Under-qualified–Judges 7:2

April 2, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Fear, Finances, Judges, leadership, Pride with 3 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Judges 7:1 through Judges 9:21

“You have too many warriors with you.”  That’s what the Lord said to Gideon. (7:2)

If I were Gideon, a farmer who was trying to lead an army, I probably would have said, “Excuse me, I need all the help I can get! You can never have too many warriors!”

Before Gideon had a chance to object, the Lord explained it perfectly:  If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength. (7:2)

Friends, this principle  didn’t just apply in Gideon’s day.

Has God said to you?

“I want to accomplish my plans for you with…

  • Less money
  • Less education
  • Less equipment
  • Less people
  • Less confidence in your ability
  • Less praise from others

…because I want to receive all the Glory.”

While Your Heavenly Father probably didn’t speak to you audibly, He definitely speaks those words through the ways He answers our prayers.

I remember a time in my life when I was having great success in my career.  In the beginning I knew the Lord was blessing me but as time moved forward and more and more success came my way I began to think it was my personality, talents and hard work that made everything fall into place.

I’m sad to tell you that this was one of those times the Lord said, “If you think you’re so hot then do it by yourself!”

Once the Spirit of the Lord (yesterday’s reading) left me to do it on my own, all that “self-confidence” quickly disappeared.

It was over fifteen years ago but the memory is still vivid.  Talking in front of groups of people had been so easy, but without “the Spirit of the Lord taking possession” (6:34) I began to dread the thought of any type of interaction with people.

I’ve always heard that success is a bigger test than failure; I think it was true in my life.

The best place to be is under-qualified AND full of God’s anointing.

Gideon found this to be true in today’s reading. It’s interesting that the Lord weeded out the majority of the extras with one word:  fear

That’s what our enemy, Satan is hoping for—our fears to overtake us so we won’t do what God has planned for us to do.

I pray that we will be like Gideon; once we hear the Lord call us out, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you,” we will step out with less and give all the Glory to the Lord.

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Judges 9:22 through Judges 11:28

Are You Constantly Tempted? –Judges 2:2

March 31, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Choices, Failure, Judges, leadership, Obedience with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Judges 1:1 through Judges 3:30

Can you believe these Israelites?

In yesterday’s reading they were saying, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods” (Josh 24:16). And today they’ve broken covenant with the Lord and made covenant with the foreign people of the land (Judges 2:1-3).

Something caught my eye in verse 2 of Judges 2…They (the people of this land) will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.

I’m thinking out loud here, but I wonder if some of the areas in our lives where we seem to be tempted beyond measure are places where we’ve broken covenant with the Lord.

I know that Jesus came to free us from the Law (Romans 8:20) but I also know that God put  laws into place, such as  sowing and reaping that affect His ability to intervene, even though Jesus has forgiven us of our sins (Gal. 6:7).

We certainly see an example of sowing and reaping in today’s reading.

After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.  –Judges 2:10

Because of the Israelites failure to “fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly” (Joshua 24:14) their children had no knowledge of the amazing God of their fathers.  They needed a Joshua in their lives who lived a life that said, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord!” (Joshua 24:15)

Do you ever wonder why God didn’t just wipe out all the nations that were tempting the Israelites to turn away from the living God?  We got the answer in today’s reading:  I did this to test Israel–to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the Lord as their ancestors did (Judges 2:22).

Even in Israel’s day they had a choice.  God wanted them to choose to wholeheartedly follow him.  I guess they failed the test.  But they got a do over… And so do we.

Father, I want to live in covenant with You. I want to live a life that overcomes temptation. Please show me the areas in my life that are not pleasing to You and teach me Your ways.  I want to leave a trail that my children and grandchildren can follow that leads straight to You Lord.  I pray for this next generation.  Holy Spirit, draw them to You.   Help me to tell my children and grandchildren about the mighty God that you are in my life.   Bless my fellow travelers on this journey.  Word of God Speak.

In Jesus Name, Amen and Amen!

 
 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:   Judges 3:31 through Judges 6:40

It Seemed Right–Judges 21:25

April 6, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Absolute Truth, Christian Living, God Speaks today, Judges, righteous living, Word of God with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Judges 19:1 through Judges 21:25

If today’s reading was set to a movie I would not have watched it!  Just ask my hubby, if there’s blood my head is under the blanket!  There were several times I was actually speaking to my Bible and saying, “you have got to be kidding me?”

But the last sentence explained everything:

In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.  –Judges 21:25

I think the folks from the tribe of Benjamin, all the Israelites for that matter, were having problems with their world view.  My paraphrase of a biblical world view is filtering every decision we make large and small through the principles in the Word of God.

In today’s culture and even in today’s church we are proud to say that we live in a country that anyone can do whatever seems right in their own eyes…

I looked up the word “right” in two dictionaries:

Merrium-Webster’s Online Dictionary: qualities (as adherence to duty or obedience to lawful authority) that together constitute the ideal of moral propriety or merit moral approval.

Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary: In morals and religion, just; equitable; accordant to the standard of truth and justice or the will of God. That alone is right in the sight of God, which is consonant to his will or law; this being the only perfect standard of truth and justice. In social and political affairs, that is right which is consonant to the laws and customs of a country, provided these laws and customs are not repugnant to the laws of God. A man’s intentions may be right, though his actions may be wrong in consequence of a defect in judgment.

What a difference 182 years can make!  Friends, once again I’m so glad we’re taking this journey!  Reading through Word of God helps us to know what the standard of truth is and what is right in the eyes of God!

Father, I pray that you will be my King and my leader.  Show me what’s right in Your eyes.  I don’t want to do what “seems right” to me.  Help me throw away the lie that “right is in the eye of the beholder”!

Jesus, you are my King of Glory!

©2012, Dianne Guthmuller


Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Ruth 1:1 through Ruth 4:12

What Will Be Your Finest Hour?

April 5, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Believing God in the Hard Times, Faith, Giving Our Best to God, God's Merciful Ways, Judges, Tough Times, Trials, Trust with 1 Comment

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Judges 16:1 through Judges 18:31

I have heard the story of Samson since I was a little kid. I’ve always thought Samson was missing a few brain cells.  He really did some dumb things:

  • Saw a Philistine woman and immediately wanted to marry her
  • Teased the young men at the wedding party with a riddle
  • After his fiancé’s insistence Samson tells her the answer to the riddle then gets mad when  the young men “guess” the answer
  • Goes down to Ashkelon, killed thirty men, took their belonging and gave their clothes to the men who had solved the riddle
  • Goes back home, leaves  his future wife to marry his best man
  • “Later on” goes to see his “wife” and gets made because she married his best man and tied 300 foxes tails together in pairs and fastened a torch to each pair of tails.  That day Samson burned the Philistines’ grain, vineyards and olive groves to the ground
  • Spent the night with a prostitute
  • Fell in love with another Philistine woman named Delilah
  • Teased Delilah with the key to his strength
  • The Philistines came in to take him three times and then he tells the secret to his strength knowing they would come again
  • Really thought he could still shake himself free after he lost his hair

Was Samuel really stupid or was there something more going on?

Here’s “the rest of the story”…

  • When her son was born, she names him Samson.  And the Lord blessed him as he grew up.  And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he lived in Mahabeh-dan…  (14:24-25)
  • But Samson told his father, “Get her for me!  She looks good to me.”  His father and mother didn’t realize the Lord was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time.  (14: 3b-4)
  • At that moment the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he ripped the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands.  (14:6)
  • Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him.  He went down to the town of Ashkelon, killed thirty men, took their belongings, and gave their clothing to the men who had solved his riddle.  (14:19) 
  • As Samson arrived at Lehi, the Philistines came shouting in triumph.  But the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon Samson, and he snapped the ropes on his arms as if they were burnt strands of flax, and they fell from his wrists.  (15:14)
  • Samson was now very thirsty, and he cried out to the Lord, “You have accomplished this great victory by the strength of your servant.  Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of these pagans?  So God caused water to gush out of a hollow in the ground at Lehi, and Samson was revived as he drank.  (15:18-19)
  • Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again.  O God, please strengthen me just one more time…” Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple…so he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime.  (16:28-30)

Did you see it?

God used Samson to preserve the Israelite nation. Samson’s finest hour was his last hour.

Just one more time, I stand amazed at God’s ways!

Heavenly Father, Your ways are higher than our ways.  Help us to trust You when the things we see don’t make sense.  Remind us that you don’t use the same scorekeeping system we humans use—it’s all about Your plan, Your ways, and Your will. Help us to know you are in charge of kings and kingdoms–The outcome is in Your hands!  Holy Spirit, strengthen us in the knowledge that when Your Spirit comes upon us we can do supernatural things.  Jesus, help us when we grieve the seemingly pre-mature loss of family and friends; give us hearts to understand that sometimes our finest hour in honoring and displaying Your Glory might just be in our passing from this life into Your arms.

Spirit of the Lord, come upon us. Use us today.

In Jesus Name, Amen!

©2012, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Judges 19:1 through Judges 21:25

God Can Use Weirdness–Judges 14:3-4

April 4, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Christian Living, Judges, leadership, Living a Life that reflects the Son with 1 Comment


Today’s Scripture Reading: Judges 11:29-15:20

Samson was just plain weird!  I don’t know, maybe he was just a big tease but he sure didn’t seem “normal” to me.

In my opinion Samson…

  • Seemed spoiled rotten and very demanding
  • Thought he was all that
  • Enjoyed making people look stupid

His father and mother objected. “Isn’t there even one woman in our tribe or among all the Israelites you could marry?” they asked. “Why must you go to the pagan Philistines to find a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me! She looks good to me.”

But,

God

had

a

plan

for

Samson’s life.

In those days a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was unable to become pregnant, and they had no children.  The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and said, “Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son.  So be careful; you must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.” Judges 13:2-5

Do you ever give a judgmental look at people and think, “They’re just plain weird.  Surely, they’re not “God’s anointed?”

Samson’s poor parents.  It must have been so hard for them. They loved to play by the rules.  They even asked the Angel of the Lord about “the rules.”

So Manoah (Samson’s father) asked him (the Angel of the Lord) “When your words come true, what kind of rules should govern the boy’s life and work?” –Judges 13:12

Samson disobeyed rules for a hobby.

Samson’s parents must have been at their wit’s end because they didn’t know that God had a purpose for Samson’s weirdness.

His father and mother didn’t realize the Lord was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time. –Judges 14:4

Friends we need to be careful criticizing and judging “weirdness,” judging people who don’t act, think, or serve God like we do.  It may be for the Glory of God.

Father, give us grace to understand people who have different ways of doing life than we do.  Help us to realize, YOU made them.  They fit perfectly in YOUR plan for them.  You are God and we are not!

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

©2012, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Judges 16:1-18:31

“God Cares About Your Misery”–Judges 10:11-16 (NLT)

April 3, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Depression, Encouragement, Failure, Forgiveness, God's Merciful Ways, Judges, Prayer, Sin, Tough Times with 0 Comments



Today’s Scripture Reading: Judges 9:22-11:28

The Lord replied, “Did I not rescue you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites?

When they oppressed you, you cried out to me for help, and I rescued you. Yet you have abandoned me and served other gods. So I will not rescue you anymore.  Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen! Let them rescue you in your hour of distress!”

But the Israelites pleaded with the Lord and said, “We have sinned. Punish us as you see fit, only rescue us today from our enemies.”  Then the Israelites put aside their foreign gods and served the Lord. And he was grieved by their misery. –Judges 10:11-16

The love of God…

A-m-a-z-i-n-g!

How many times did the Israelites worship anything and everything

other

than

the

One

True

God?

I’ve lost count.

But He was still grieved by their misery.  He still heard their cries of repentance.  His heart was still touched by their pain.

How much more must God be grieved when we are in misery because of a seemingly senseless tragedy or when “bad things happen to good people?”

In John 11:35, Jesus, Son of God wept at the death of his friend Lazarus.

He cares about your misery.  He sees your sadness and pain.  You are not alone.

Heavenly Father, help my friends who feel like they can’t go on.  Make a way for them to make it through the day.  Comfort them as only You can comfort.  Weep for them and with them Lord.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

©2012, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Judges 11:29-15:20

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