Day 96-11

VI From the crossing into Canaan to the reign of Saul - 1422-1065 B.C. ~ cont.

C. Establishment of Judges ~ cont.

11. 11th Judge - Samson (served 20 years) - Judges 15:20

a. Warning to Eli - 1 Samuel 2:22-36

b. Ark taken, death of Eli (98 years) - 1 Samuel 4:1-22

c. Ark became a curse to Philistines, remains there seven months - 1 Samuel 5:1-12; 1 Samuel 6:1
d. Ark restored and brought to Bethshemesh - 1 Samuel 6:2-21, 1 Samuel 7:1
e. Ark rests at Kirjath-Jearim - 1 Samuel 7:2

{pages 422-427}

Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. (1 Samuel 2:22)

Why did he allow the behavior?  Why do I allow and/or tolerate behavior in my children or myself which is not pleasing to God?  Eli's sons were killed by the LORD for their rebellion.  O Lord, help me to confront whatever sin I am allowing to reign in my home or life and rout it out.  Cleanse me this day Father from an apathetic heart and mind.  Help me to be a bold contender for giving a proper estimate of You in all areas of my life.

And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.  (1 Samuel 4:3)

Did they ask?

How oft do we go about in our own thoughts, thinking to do that which is pleasing to the Lord,  but not seeking counsel from Him?  Lord, forgive me for the times when I do not seek You first, but plow ahead thinking that something is 'good' and 'right' and use my own thoughts to determine a course of action.

And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore. (1 Samuel 4:7)

Were they referring to the ark?  Had it ever been taken into battle prior?  Hmmm...something to research.  :-)

And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us: it was a chance that happened to us.  (1 Samuel 6:9)

I made a note next to the verse above.  Would this be considered a fleece?  The Philistines were unsure, however, their thought that the plague(s) were from the Lord were substantiated when the cart, kine, offering, and ark went 'home.'

Lord guide the steps of Your people, give us an earnest desire to seek and know Your plans and purposes for us.  Help us not to be fearful or afraid of the changes and challenges You may allow in our lives as we continue this Pilgrim's journey to our Celestial City.

Day 95-11

VI From the crossing into Canaan to the reign of Saul - 1422-1065 B.C. ~ cont.

C. Establishment of Judges ~ cont.

9. 9th Judge - Eli (served 40 years) (1 Samuel 4:18) ~ cont.

d. 6th Apostasy and servitude ~ cont.

(3) Philistines in the West - Judges 13:1; Psalm 106:34-46

e. Dedication of Samuel - 1 Samuel 1:24-28

f. Hannah's song - 1 Samuel 2:1-10

g. Exploits of Samson begin - Judges 14:1-20; Judges 15:1-2

h. Eli's evil sons
(1) Faithless priests - 1 Samuel 2:12-17
(2) Samuel's childhood in tabernacle at Shiloh - 1 Samuel 2:11, 18-21, 26
i. Birth of Saul - 1 Samuel 9:1; 1 Samuel 14:51
j. Call of Samuel - 1 Samuel 3:1-21
10. 10th Judge-Jephthah of Gilead (served 6 years) - Judges 12:7

{pages 418-422}

And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.  (Psalm 106:36-38)

My original thought on that passage applied to verses 36 and 37 and how the 'church' is rife with idolatry.  Those who call themselves Christians do not seem to differ much from those who are in the world.  Lord, help Your Bride to be without spot or wrinkle, purge and cleanse us from thinking, talking and/or acting like the world.  Lord raise up men of character, wisdom and discernment to guide and direct, who will rightly divide the Word of truth, men of noble character and intent, not hirelings.

Because I did not want to fragment the passage, verse 38 is included, which made me think of the genocide of unwanted children, a/k/a abortion on demand, and how Father tells us in HIS word that innocent blood cries out for vengeance.

But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.  And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.  And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein. (Genesis 9:4-7)

The cultural climate of the day says children are a burden, live your own life, be focused on your goals, your satisfaction, completely missing the point of why we are here.  What is our purpose?  Is there a purpose?  Do you know why God made you?  Do you know what God's purposes are for you?  Have you accomplished the works that HE has created for you from the foundation of the earth?

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  (Ephesians 2:8-10)

The next passage that caught my attention, due primarily to the dereliction of morality in our land:

And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.  (Psalm 106:41)

Some would say that God does not judge nations...I would say Scripture is rife with examples of how Father used nations to judge one another.  Those nations who have forsaken the ways of the Lord should tremble with great fear...and repent or perish.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  (2 Chronicles 7:14)

While I recognize that this verse may only be applicable to the nation of Israel, Scripture does give comfort to other nations that if they repent He will stay His hand (Nineveh - book of Jonah).

I originally found the passages in 1 Samuel 2:7-8 (Hannah's song) to be encouraging for those who are poor or beggers, but decided to include verses 9 and 10.

The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.  The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.  (1 Samuel 7-10)

I liked the reassurance and affirmation that HE will keep HIS saints...I wanted just the portion about nothing separating us...but...well...it is all so good.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.   (Romans 8:29-39)

Lord let us not be weary in well doing, nor faint in the day of adversity, helps us, Your chosen vessels to be bold, courageous, proclaiming Your Word and standing to Your high calling.

Day 94-11

VI From the crossing into Canaan to the reign of Saul - 1422-1065 B.C. ~ cont.

C. Establishment of Judges ~ cont.

9. 9th Judge - Eli (served 40 years) (1 Samuel 4:18) ~ cont.

b. Samson's introduction ~ cont.

(2) Birth - Judges 13:24-25

c. Samuel's introduction

(1) Parents - 1 Samuel 1:1-19
(2) Birth - 1 Samuel 1:20-23
d. 6th Apostasy and servitude
(1) Ammonites in the East - Judges 10:6-18
(2) Jephthah, the warrior and his vow - Judges 11:4-40; 12:1-6

{pages 413-418}

And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him. (1 Samuel 1:23)

I thought this verse interesting as it substantiates how a wife's vow can be mitigated or affirmed by her husband.

If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house in her youth; And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand. But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her. And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul; And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand.  But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her. But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her.  (Numbers 30:3-9)

And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.   (Judges 10:7)

Sold them?

H4376 - A primitive root; to sell, literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to surrender).

**sigh** - There it is again...the daughter in marriage.  Which implies ownership.  I know God owns Israel, He owns it all, really.  A dad owns his daughter(s)?  A man owns his wife?

Sold - used 80 times in the OT (as H4376) - Jacob requested Esau's birthright ~ Leah and Rachel counted themselves sold by Laban ~ Joseph's brothers sold him to the Ishmaeelites (Midianites) ~ Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt ~ Joseph acknowledges that they sold him ~ Joseph buys the land of Egypt for Pharaoh ~ a man could sell (betrothed) his daughter to be a maidservant ~ men stealers sold their captives ~ men were to sell the live ox (and divide the dead ox) ~ stolen items sold had to be restored ~ a thief could be sold for his theft ~ men could sell to one another ~ Israel could NOT sell the land for it belongs to the LORD ~ sold items or people could be redeemed by a kinsman redeemer ~ animals that died of themselves could be sold to an alien ~ the LORD sold Israel several times ~ Sisera was sold into the hands of a woman ~ Naomi sold her land ~ God sold Israel into the hand of Sisera ~ Ahab sold himself to do evil ~ widow woman sold oil to sustain her ~ Israel sold themselves to do evil ~ Nehemiah and others redeemed Israelites which had been sold ~ Nehemiah forbade selling on the Sabbath ~ Esther and her people were sold by Haman ~ Proverbs encourages us to buy the truth and NOT sell it ~ Proverbs 31 woman sold goods ~ LORD sell the land into the hand of the wicked.

All this being sold, brought these verses to mind:

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.  (1 Corinthians 6:20)

Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.  (1 Corinthians 7:23)

This verse captured my attention, because of the phrase:  Spirit of the Lord came upon him.


Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.  (Judges 11:29)

Those upon whom the Spirit of the Lord came/acted upon:  Othniel ~ Gideon ~ Jepthah  ~ Samson (4x) ~ Saul ~ David ~ Saul (departed) ~ Elijah ~ Jahaziel ~ Jesus (foretold Isaiah) ~ Ezekiel ~ Micah ~ Jesus (fulfillment of Isaiah) ~ Phillip (caught away by) ~ those chosen by God (1 Corinthians)

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.  (1 Corinthians 3:18)