Judges 20:1–21:25, Philippians 4:21–23, Psalm 72:1–20
Today’s OT reading is summed up by the final
verse: “In those days there was no king in Israel.
Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)
Eleven of the twelve tribes of Israel had
gone to war against one tribe because of the evil done to the Levite’s
concubine (yesterday’s post) and in the end, many people lost their lives. This
happened because they were not following the Lord, nor did they have any
authority in their lives to hold them accountable. It reminded me of a line in
a book about Scottish history that went something like this: “If the clans didn’t
have anyone else to fight with, they fought with each other.”
It would be easy to put them down, to be
critical of their lack of unity and their ways of dealing with “family” issues.
Such bozos they were. However, when I think about the temptations that cross my
mind and what would happen if I followed them, how can I be critical? Without the
strong leading of the Holy Spirit, the results in my life would be just as
horrifying. Sin is a powerful and destructive force. The headlines in the
newspaper every morning prove it.
The NT reading is in stark contrast. It
is at the close of the joyful book of Philippians where Paul simply conveys greetings
to God’s people. He adds only a few lines, yet they show the difference that
Jesus makes in the family of God. Obviously, these people cared for God and one
another.
“Greet every saint
in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet
you, especially those of Caesar’s household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
be with your spirit.” (Philippians 4:21–23)
So also did King David who came along
much later than the time of the judges. He prays to God with an attitude of
care and concern for God’s people, but also praises God for His goodness . . .
Give the king your
justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! May he judge your
people with righteousness, and your poor with justice! Let the mountains bear
prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness! May he defend the cause
of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and
crush the oppressor! . . . . For he
delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has
pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From
oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in
his sight . . . . May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the
sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! Blessed be the
Lord, the God of Israel, who alone
does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth
be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! (Psalm 72:1-4,
12-14,17–19)
No wonder people read the psalms to get a
balance of rebuke and comfort. The OT judges tipped the scale too far to
darkness and evil. Sometimes Paul seems so godly that I cannot reach that
height. But David is easy to relate to as he speaks of his fears and then
overcomes them by exalting the greatness of God.
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