Listening to the Word

Judges 17-18; Psalms 89; 2 Corinthians 3   “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long; they exalt in your righteousness. For you are their glory and strength; and by your favor you exalt our horn. Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord, our king, to the Holy One of Israel.” Psalm 89:15-18 How do we learn to acclaim the Lord all day long and continually walk in the light of his presence? The names of God give us rich material to meditate on as we remember the various aspects of God’s character and nature throughout the day. When we live through the day with worship, we enjoy the glory and strength of God. The Lord’s presence shields us from distractions and the attacks of the enemy. God’s presence makes our conversations richer, our attitude more joyful, and our faith stronger.   As we begin our day with worship, will we also choose to learn to walk in the light of God’s presence thr...

Judges 13-16; 2 Corinthians 2   “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other the fragrance of life...” 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 Fragrances are marketed in different strengths, from concentrated perfume to ‘eau de cologne.’ Paul described the aroma of Christ as a fragrance others could smell wherever he went. This fragrance is the knowledge of Christ and upon closer examination should remind people of the character, ministry, and essence of Christ. Are we a diluted ‘eau de cologne’ version of Christ, or the full perfume? Paul also used the analogy of the triumphal procession of conquering heroes who returned from battle to describe his attitude and reception as he traveled on mission with Christ. Jesus has defeated the principalities a...

Judges 11-12; Psalms 50; 2 Corinthians 1   “…We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers.” 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 Pressure causes even the most secure of us to behave poorly. Few of us will face deadly pressure for the gospel, but regardless the degree, pressure either pushes us toward God or away from God depending on our heart-posture. When pressure causes us to cry out to the Lord for deliverance, provision, and protection, the weight can be shared by others in prayer. When we try to endure or navigate pressure in our own strength, we miss the opportunity to grow in grace. Sometimes the Lord allows the pressure to increase so ...

Judges 9-10; Psalms 49; 1 Corinthians 16 “Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem…‘Remember, I am your flesh and blood.’…They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech used it to hire reckless adventurers, who became his followers. He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers…Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Milo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelech king.” Judges 9:1, 2, 4-6 Illegitimate authority is birthed out of rejection and resentment. It is gained through violence and requires force to be maintained. Because Abimelech’s mother was a concubine, it meant he would never share in the inheritance of Gideon’s sons. While his father conquered through obeying the Lord (with trumpets, torches, and clay jars), Abimelech murdered his brothers, and eventually murdered the citizens of Shechem. It is ironic that the temple of Baal-Berith wh...

Judges 8; Psalms 42; 1 Corinthians 15   As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Where can I go and meet with God?” Psalm 42:1,2 What we pursue in life, shapes and defines us. The Psalmist cried out to God for his presence and uses the image of a thirsty deer seeking water. God’s Spirit is water to our soul. This cry for the presence of the Lord re-orients our days and our life when we give the Spirit of God priority in our lives. The gift of God’s presence within us means we no longer have to only seek God in corporate worship at a defined location like a temple or tabernacle. Our bodies become the temple of the Lord when we offer them to God, and his Spirit fills us with the glory of the Lord’s presence. To seek the Lord’s presence, like a thirsty deer, when he already indwells us means we turn away from distractions, quiet our soul, and listen to his Word. We worship, we listen, and we obey because we w...

Judges 6-7; Psalms 52; 1 Corinthians 14   “…the Lord said to him, ‘Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.’ So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord is Peace…That same night the Lord said to him…’Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. Then build a proper kind of altar to the Lord…’” Judges 6:23-26 This is the first revelation in the scriptures of Jehovah Shalom - the Lord is Peace. The “shalom” the Lord spoke to Gideon was found in God’s presence. Rather than fear, God’s peace strengthens us and gives us the courage to obey the mission-call of God. Gideon’s first assignment from the Lord was to tear down his family altar to Baal and the Asherah pole beside it. The strength of God’s peace in Gideon was stronger than fear of reprisal from his family and the town. God’s peace is not appeasement or a concession-based lowest common denominator negotiation; God’s peace is his presence in the battle and comes thro...