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"An Appropriate Sense of Place" by John M. Nielson
Judges 7:22 The men of Isra’el said to Gid‘on: “Rule over us, you, your son and your grandson, because you saved us from the power of Midyan. 23 Gid‘on replied, “Neither I nor my son will rule over you; Adonai will rule over you.” 24 Then he added, “But I have this request to make of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from the booty you have taken.” For the enemy soldiers had worn gold earrings, like all the other tribes descended from Yishma‘el. 25 They replied, “We’re glad to give them to you.” They spread out a robe, and each man threw in the earrings from his booty. 26 The gold earrings he requested weighed more than forty-two pounds; and this doesn’t include the crescents, pendants and purple cloth worn by the kings of Midyan and the chains around their camels’ necks. 27 Out of these things Gid‘on made a ritual vest, which he located in his city, ‘Ofrah. But all Isra’el turned it into an idol there, and it thus became a snare to Gid‘on and his family.
28 This is how Midyan was defeated by Isra’el, so that they ceased to be a threat. The land had rest forty years during the lifetime of Gid‘on; 29 Yeruba‘al the son of Yo’ash returned to his home and stayed there.
30 Gid‘on became the father of seventy sons, because he had many wives. 31 He also had a concubine in Sh’khem, and she too bore him a son, whom he called Avimelekh. 32 Gid‘on the son of Yo’ash died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Yo’ash, in ‘Ofrah of the Avi‘ezri.
33 But as soon as Gid‘on was dead, the people of Isra’el again went astray after the ba‘alim and made Ba‘al-B’rit their god. 34 They forgot Adonai their God, who had saved them from the power of all their enemies on every side; 35 and they showed no kindness toward the family of Yeruba‘al, that is, Gid‘on, to repay them for all the good he had done for Isra’el.
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I once heard the story of a child who was afraid in a storm. His mother went to his room to comfort him, but he was afraid to have her leave. She reminded him that God would watch over him. “But,” he said, “I want somebody with skin on!”
Israel was like that. God wanted to be their king, but they pleaded for a human king. After Gideon’s victory, the people wanted him to establish a royal dynasty, but Gideon knew better. He was also humble enough and wise enough not to fall into the trap of fame, place, or position. He understood that God desired to be their king. Eventually, God would reluctantly give in and let them have a king, but that didn’t work out very well, just as God had warned them.
It is still an insidious temptation for us to allow someone or something other than God to rule in our lives, relationships, values, and loyalties. It is also tempting for us to rule over our selves or others. We must remember that if we allow any other “king” in our lives, it will inevitably lead to chaos. Jesus is Lord!
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Hymn for Today: "Rejoice, The Lord is King" by Charles Wesley
1. Rejoice, the Lord is King!
Your Lord and King adore;
mortals, give thanks and sing,
and triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart,
lift up your voice; rejoice;
again I say, rejoice.
2. Jesus the Savior reigns,
the God of truth and love;
when he had purged our stains,
he took his seat above.
Lift up your heart,
lift up your voice; rejoice,
again I say, rejoice.
3. His kingdom cannot fail;
he rules o'er earth and heaven;
the keys of earth and hell
are to our Jesus given.
Lift up your heart,
lift up your voice; rejoice,
again I say, rejoice.
4. Rejoice in glorious hope!
Jesus the Judge shall come,
and take his servants up
to their eternal home.
We soon shall hear
th'archangel's voice; the trump of God
shall sound, rejoice!
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Thought of the Day: 1 Timothy 1:17 So to the King — eternal, imperishable and invisible, the only God there is — let there be honor and glory for ever and ever! Amen.
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Please Pray: That many people in El Salvador will come to know Yeshua the Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKadosh.
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Please Pray: That many people in El Salvador will come to know Yeshua the Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKadosh.
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