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Judges 7:1-9:21<\/strong><\/span> Okay, the big question from today\u2019s readings in Judges is are you the type of person that cups water in your hands and laps it up like a dog or are you someone who kneels down and puts your mouth directly in the stream to drink??\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 I confess I\u2019m option #1, so I guess I would have gone on with Gideon for the battle. In all seriousness, a commentary suggested that God chose those that cupped water in their hands rather than kneeled down, because it meant those who didn\u2019t kneel down were always ready for any emergency situation that might come up.\u00a0 I guess I can buy that\u2026\u00a0 Nowadays perhaps the person who is always ready may be the person who drinks directly from the water cooler like this guy?? \ud83d\ude42<\/span> Much of our readings in Judges chapter 7 & 8 today are like Braveheart! Quite action packed readings today!\u00a0 An image is below for Judges chapter 7 verses 19 & 20: \u201cIt was just after midnight, after the changing of the guard, when Gideon and the one hundred men with him reached the outer edge of the Midianite camp. Suddenly, they blew the horns and broke their clay jars. Then all three groups blew their horns and broke their jars. They held the blazing torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands and shouted, \u201cA sword for the LORD and for Gideon!\u201d\u201d<\/em><\/span> Judges chapter 8 verses 23 & 24 are an intriguing look at beautiful humility mixed with a unique request \u2013 \u201cBut Gideon replied, \u201cI will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD will rule over you! However, I have one request. Each of you can give me an earring out of the treasures you collected from your fallen enemies.\u201d\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 It is awesome that Gideon says he will not rule over the Israelites- but that God will.\u00a0 But then, his ask for a piece of gold from each person is intriguing.\u00a0 We read in verse 27 that Gideon made a sacred ephod from the collected gold \u2013 so, this does appear worshipful perhaps at first glance.\u00a0 But then verse 27 tells us: \u201cBut soon all the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshiping it, and it became a trap for Gideon and his family.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Yikes!\u00a0 Not exactly what should have happened here\u2026\u00a0 It\u2019s interesting.\u00a0 I wonder if we do this in our lives today as well.\u00a0 Perhaps we are very humble in one regards \u2013 but then maybe we make some sort of unique request of those around us\u2026 and that unique request goes awry.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know if I can give you a good example of this.\u00a0 But perhaps this will ring true for you in some area of your life?\u00a0 If so, can you abandon the false idol you are worshiping as quickly as possible?\u00a0 Particularly if this false idol was born out of something that was initially worshipful.\u00a0 Will you let it go?<\/span><\/p>\n Jotham\u2019s parable is quite good in Judges chapter 9 today!\u00a0 Good idea that he got out of Dodge after telling that parable!\u00a0 Particularly after the horrendous act Abimelech committed as shown below by artist Gustave Dore\u2026<\/span> Worship God:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings in Judges reminded me of Kathryn Scott\u2019s singing \u201cYour Name is Holy:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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