April 23- Skin In The Game

April 23, 2011

Scripture Readings:
Judges 1:1-2:9; Luke 21:29-22:13;
Psalm 90:1-91:16; Proverbs 13:24-25

History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to 
moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline. 
~General Douglas MacArthur

Judges 1:1-2:9

Dear friends, you did it!!!  You have completed the first six books of the Old Testament.  Congratulations!  Keep reading with me.  Don't give up.  I know you can do this and it will be well worth it.

Today we get into a very interesting book in the Old Testament, but first I want to talk about a new show on television.  It is called "Skin."  And boy there's a lot of skin to be seen on this show. You may have heard about it on the news because it is causing an uproar.  Apparently, this shows tries to portray the real lives of middle-class teenagers in this country.  It may not surprise you to find out that the producers and writers of this show are focusing on drug use and immoral sex among teens.  Rebellion and licentiousness are the flavor of the month.  Wow. How original.  This story line is as old as the book you and I are reading this year. As a matter of fact in the book of Judges we are going to be watching the Israelites "do what is right in their own eyes."  At times the story will look just like this modern television show.  Everyone will have "skin in the game," if you know what I mean. The Israelites' experiment with the governmental form of theocracy leads them to questionable practices, idol worship, and suffering.  They are not good at following a God that they cannot see.

We are about to start of series of cycles in the nation of Israel.  As the saying goes, "History repeats itself."  Well, it certainly will be true in the book of Judges.  Here is the cycle:

• The nation serves God.
• The nation forsakes God (idol worship).
• The nation follows what's right in its own eyes (sin and pleasure).
• The nation is sold into slavery.
• The nation is under servitude.
• The nation cries out for deliverance from God.
• The nation turns to God.
• The nation repents of sin.
• A Judge is raised up for the nation.
• The nation is delivered.
• The nation serves God.

We will see this repeated seven times.  Oh, the joy...

In our reading today the most prominent thing you will notice is that the tribes are meeting with constant failure as they attempt to defeat the Canaanites in their various land areas.  Each tribe is responsible for driving out the people on their apportioned land.  The phrase, "...and they failed to drive out the people.." is repeated throughout these chapters.  Finally, we see the Angel of the Lord (pre-incarnate Jesus Christ) explain to the Israelites what is happening.  Here is his explanation in Judges 2:1,

"I brought you out of Egypt into this land that I swore to give your ancestors, and I said I would never break my covenant with you.  For your part, you were not to make any covenants with the people living in this land; instead, you were to destroy their altars.  Why, then, have you disobeyed my command? Since you have done this, I will no longer drive out the people living in your land. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you." (NLT)

Israel's disobedience in not tearing down pagan idols and altars has caused their defeat. After this explanation from Christ the people weep, are dismissed to their apportioned lands, and Joshua dies at the age of 110 years.

What can we learn from this cycle?  Obedience to God prevents sin and suffering.  The nation of Israel is a picture to the world of every human being and the predictable cycle of rebellion against God.  Our sin nature leads us all into this cycle. The Apostle Paul deals with this tendency in Romans 7:7-25.  What are we to do?

We rely on Jesus Christ, the central character of history, to stop this cycle in our lives.  Jesus pays the penalty for our sin and makes us new creatures in Christ.  With the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives we finally have a shot at obedience.  We can break the unhealthy cycle of the slavery to sin.  Does this mean that we will be sinless and perfect?  NO.  But it does mean that we will slowly be sanctified in our behavior.  If we are earnest in following God, we will become more like Christ each day.

Luke 21:29-22:13

Jesus makes an interesting statement today.  He says that heaven and earth will pass away, but his words will never pass away.  Remember how we talked about the heavens and the earth in Genesis being created by His spoken word and that the word "word" implies God's mind, intelligence, logic, and essence?  God's essence remains forever. 

It is logical then that we would obey Jesus' next command to his followers.  He says that we should not be living in careless ease, getting drunk and filled with worries about this life on this earth.  It is all going to pass away anyway.  Instead, he says that we should be mindful of truth, watchful for his second coming, and be steadfast in prayer.

Are you wasting your time on earth drinking alcohol and trying to cope with your worries and sorrows about this life by getting drunk?  Jesus warns against this.  He knows it is tempting to approach the hardships of life this way. He is encouraging us to get perspective.  One day this world and all of its troubles will be gone.  Live like you know this truth!

Psalm 90:1-91:6

Here is a beautiful prayer of Moses.   Drink in these thoughts.  Vs. 4 helps us to get perspective on the concept of time from God's viewpoint.

Here is a beautiful verse from Psalm 91:1  "Those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, will find  rest in the Shadow of the Almighty." 

Have you found rest in His shadow?

Proverbs 13:24-25

Disciplining your children proves that you love them.  When God disciplines you, it shows His love for you.  Embrace this.

What did you see today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton
@ 2011