God's Faithfulness 03.23.08

It is Sunday March 23, 2008, Resurrection Day also known as Easter and today we are continuing our study on the book of Judges. Please read Judges 3 -- 5 in your Bible or Click Here to read. In today's study we will read about the Israelites intermarrying with Canaanites, and their worshipping false gods, their defeat; and the Lord raises up judges, Othniel, Ehud, and Deborah to deliver Israel from sin. Today's message focuses on the importance of seperation from God from sin and His faithfulness to forgive no matter how many times we fail.

Although Joshua had executed all the Canaanite kings, the Canaanite people still occupied the promised land. "And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses." (Judges 3:4).

The first major step in the downfall of the Israelites was their disregard for the Commandments of the LORD. They then became friendly neighbors and dwelled among the Canaanites. The third step in their decline soon followed as they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. The fourth step was inevitable because the Israelites' heathen wives who worshiped idols could not teach their children to worship the One True God. Sadly, the final step was that the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgot the LORD and served Baalim. "And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years." (3:5-8).

The outcome was certain. Sin separated the sinner from the protective love of God, and they were soon under the control of an enemy nation. However, after years of suffering the Israelites cried out to the Lord, He heard their cry and deliverd them from their sin. "And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim." (3:9-10).

Israel's history confirms that, regardless of how far we have backslidden and sinned, our merciful God always hears the prayers of those who confess their sins and commit their lives to Him. Often we are so taken up with condemning ourselves and others when we fall short of being what our heart tells us is right, that we forget that God does love us and never forsakes us. So don't give up, God is with you and He knows you are trying to live righteously, He will forgive you and all you have to do is ask. "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22).

"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." (Romans 8:34).

In today's study Jesus Christ is revealed through Othniel, a deliverer upon whom the Spirit of the Lord rested (Judges 3:9-11). Jesus declared, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised," (Luke 4:18).

Today's Psalm: 85:2
"Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for everything that you have given me throughout my life. Thank you for Your gift of grace that saves me from sin when I call upon Your name. Jesus, I want to praise You, my great Redeemer, for who You are and for Your acts of kindness seen so many times throughout the day. I never cease to praise You because You never cease to work on my behalf. Your mercy and love, Your strength and comfort, Your sustaining power and guiding hand are only a tiny fraction of the many reasons that lead me to praise You. Instead of a murmuring and ungrateful attitude, I want to join with the multitude of believers and sing of my Great Redeemer's praise to everyone, everywhere, all the time. In Jesus' name I pray....Amen.

I pray that you had a blessed Easter. Rejoice! The Lord has risen and in You, He will guide you and lead you to great things.

God Bless,
Christina

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