Friday, March 29, 2013

Days 86 to 88 - 2010

Originally posted in a forum in 2010 - this post may contain links which are no longer valid, if you find a non-working link, please let me know and I will attempt to find a replacement or make a correction as necessary.


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Days 86-88

Israel's backsliding ~ some nations left ~ 2nd Apostasy and servitude (Moab) ~ Death of Eleazar ~ 2nd Judge - Ehud (served 80 years) ~ Micah's idol worship ~ Danites invade Laish ~

"...everyone did that which was right in their own eyes..." is repeated a couple of times during these days. (Judges 17:6, 21:25, even Job gets a shot Job 32:1)

Sooo...I did a quick E-sword search of "own eyes".

Here is Father's admonition:

Num 15:39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:
Deu 12:8 Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.

Psa 36:2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Pro 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Lord, help us to discern with the spiritual eyes, rather than the physical.

I confess I fall all over the next section. As a woman...it hurts to think about. I know that our God is holy, righteous, merciful and judges justly.

A Levite and his concubine ~ he married a woman from Bethlehem-Judah, she played the harlot. He went and spoke friendly to her to bring her back. Did he have ANY idea about what was to come? Did she?

They leave and stay overnight in Gibeah where the men were Benjamites. A man from Ephraim invites him to lodge. Sons of Belial (without profit, worthlessness) ask the Ephramite to give them the Levite. He offers his daughter (a maiden) and the concubine.

I literally cringe with the thought...yet Job offered his maiden daughters to such similar men...did they value the women less? Or the sin of raping a woman is less than the wickedness these men intended? Ultimately with Job the angels did not allow that trespass, nor did the Ephramite give his daughter to such destruction.

The concubine...she paid for her harlotry (and was a statement against Israel in the process) - 'they knew her, and abused her all night until the morning:' This all is all....literally all night, so much that she fell down dead at the threshold of the door. The Levite takes her corpse home, cuts it into 12 pieces and sends it to the tribes of Israel.

Israel goes to Gibeah and seeks those 'sons of Belial' and the Benjamites say no...CIVIL WAR.

Israel - 400,000 vs Benjamin 26,000 + 700

Israel loses the first 2 battles and 30,000 men - 30K...that is more than the whole Benjamite army.

3rd battle - Israel loses 30 men and Benjamin 25,000 - + women, because after all is said and done 600 Benjamites are hiding in the woods w/out wives.

Jabesh-Gilead did not come to the battle - all the men, women and children pay with their lives - all except 400 maidens. Round 2 of eligible maidens - a dance in Shiloh...and the Benjamites depart to their city to repair and restore. Did they learn, or more importantly, did they REMEMBER the past? Obviously not...

3rd Judge - Shamgar (served 1 year, dual judgeship) ~ 3rd Apostasy and servitude (Canaan)

Do we?

Which makes me wonder about our nation as we 'do what is right in our own eyes' and call evil good and good evil and depart from following the Lord - where stand we? Where are the mighty men of valor to stand forth and call for repentance? Will we suffer the same or something similar for our wickedness and idolatry?

Lord, we deserve not the least of any of thy mercies...which are too numerable to be counted, forgive us Lord, not because of any person or anything that we have or will do, but simply for thy gracious and bountiful name's sake. Thou art holy, just and righteous, let Your name be magnified by a multitude of tongues throughout the width and breadth and depth of this land. Consume us not for our wickedness. Lord, cleanse our land and bring healing to this nation...help us to be bold witnesses for You and to not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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