Reflecting God - "Leadership and Honor" at The Global Church of the Nazarene in Lenexa, Kansas, United States for Tuesday, 10 November 2015 - Embrace Holy Living - Scripture: Judges 19:1-13

Reflecting God - "Leadership and Honor" at The Global Church of the Nazarene in Lenexa, Kansas, United States for Tuesday, 10 November 2015 - Embrace Holy Living - Scripture: Judges 19:1-13RG AUDIO 111015

Judges 19:1 In those days, when there was no king in Isra’el, there was a certain Levi living on the far side of the Efrayim hills who took a woman from Beit-Lechem in Y’hudah to be his concubine. 2 But his concubine was unfaithful to him and left him to go to her father’s house at Beit-Lechem in Y’hudah, where she stayed for some time, four months. 3 Then her husband went after her to persuade her to return; he had his servant with him and a pair of donkeys. She brought him into her father’s house; and when the girl’s father saw him, he was glad to meet him. 4 His father-in-law, the girl’s father, kept him there; so he remained with him three days; they ate, drank and stayed there. 5 On the fourth day they got up early in the morning, and he prepared to leave. But the girl’s father said to his son-in-law, “You’ll feel better if you have a bite of food before you leave.” 6 So the two of them sat down and ate and drank together. Then the girl’s father said to the man, “Please stay one more night, and have a good time.” 7 The man rose to leave, but his father-in-law pressed him, so he stayed there again. 8 The morning of the fifth day, he got up early to leave; but the girl’s father said, “Why don’t you have something to eat, and leave this afternoon?” So the two men ate. 9 When the man got up to leave with his concubine and servant, his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, “Look, it’s almost evening. Please stay the night — you see that it’s getting late. Stay on, enjoy yourself, and tomorrow get going early on your way home.” 10 But the man wouldn’t stay that night; so he got up and left with his concubine and his two saddled donkeys; and they arrived at Y’vus, also known as Yerushalayim.

11 By the time they arrived at Y’vus it was nearly evening; and the servant said to his master, “Why don’t we go on into this city of the Y’vusi and stay there?” 12 But his master said to him, “We won’t go into a city of foreigners which doesn’t belong to the people of Isra’el. We’ll go on across to Giv‘ah.” 13 He said to his servant, “Let’s go, and we’ll get to one of those places; we’ll stay in Giv‘ah or Ramah.”

"Leadership and Honor" by Author: Rhonda Carrim
The book of Judges recounts Israel’s downward spiral into wickedness. The last judge mentioned in the book is Samson, and his story ends with chapter 16. Beginning in chapter 17, foreboding words are repeated four times in the final five chapters: “In those days Israel had no king” (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). In the first and last instances are added the words, “Everyone did as they saw fit.”
In Israel, kings were to administer the righteousness and justice of God. In yesterday’s passage, Abraham demonstrated his understanding of God as a righteousness Judge. Yet the accounts from the final chapters of Judges indicate that righteousness and justice were in exceedingly short supply. Together these chapters drive home some important truths.
When God is honored, people are valued and respected. When God is dishonored, people are dehumanized and used. The reversed is also: true: When people are dehumanized and used, God is dishonored. Godly leadership at any level will lead the way in honoring God and respecting people.
Hymn for Today: "I Would Be True" by Howard A. Walter

1. I would be true, for there are those who trust me;

I would be pure, for there are those who care;

I would be strong, for there is much to suffer;

I would be brave, for there is much to dare;

I would be brave, for there is much to dare.

2. I would be friend of all—the foe, the friendless;

I would be giving, and forget the gift;

I would be humble, for I know my weakness;

I would look up, and laugh, and love and lift.

I would look up, and laugh, and love and lift.

3. I would be faithful through each passing moment;

I would be constantly in touch with God;

I would be strong to follow where He leads me;

I would have faith to keep the path Christ trod;

I would have faith to keep the path Christ trod.

4. Who is so low that I am not his brother?

Who is so high that I’ve no path to him?

Who is so poor, that I may not feel his hunger?

Who is so rich I may not pity him?

Who is so rich I may not pity him?

5. Who is so hurt I may not know his heartache?

Who sings for joy my heart may never share?

Who in God’s heaven has passed beyond my vision?

Who to Hell’s depths where I may never fare?

Who to Hell’s depths where I may never fare?

6. May none, then, call on me for understanding,

May none, then, turn to me for help in pain,

And drain alone his bitter cup of sorrow,

Or find he knocks upon my heart in vain.

Or find he knocks upon my heart in vain.

Thought for Today:
"

 Better a day in your courtyards

than a thousand [days elsewhere].

Better just standing at the door of my God’s house

than living in the tents of the wicked.

" Psalm 84:11.
Please pray:
For the development of Christian leaders in the Virgin Islands.
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