Judges 11

'Will you not possess whatever Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whatever the LORD our God takes possession of before us, we will possess. (Judges 11:24)

I quite like this verse in the chapter. Jephthah was using reasoning to make his stand firm. And what he said was indeed very reasonable, and very right.

But it made me think a little further.. Do I actually possess whatever the LORD has taken possession of before me? Do I actually proceed with courage and faith to take over what the LORD has given into my hands? Thinking back, perhaps there were many times we had not proceed with such faith to conquer something that God has already given into our hands. I'm thinking about the power to overcome sins.

Didn't God promise that being new man, reborn of the water and the spirit, we would be able to overcome our sinful nature? The old man may have been enchained in sin, but the new man in Christ is free, no longer under the bondage of sins. Jesus had went on before us, to shed His precious blood on the cross, the sinless dying for the sinful. As a result, our sins can be washed away and we are made free.

Jesus was there, before us, and today, through the Holy Spirit, He hands over to us this power to overcome sins. What have we done to this power, this authority? Have we cast it aside? Have we lost it?

We must believe that we have the power to overcome sins. We might be struggling with sin now, but remember that "he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin" (1 Peter 4:1). Many times, when we meet with these struggles, we give up, thinking that it is too hard. If only we endure a little more! If we had persevere a little longer, I believe we can break the chains that sin had put on us.

Can we look beyond the pain and the suffering, and look towards that glorious crown? It really depends on whether we believe that we have been given this power to do away with sin. He has already first went into the land and chased out the inhabitants, we need only to have faith to enter the land and take possession of it. Are we able to say with confidence and faith, "Whatever the LORD our God takes possession of before us, we will possess"?

Judges 10

So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD. And His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel. (Judges 10:16)

Are you able to see the important point being made here?

See, "His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel." God's soul cannot bear to see us suffer. It's so... amazing to me. He will actually be hurt when He sees me in pain. This is one of the things that truly marvels me about God.

BUT. the important point here is the first sentence of that verse. "So they put away the foreign gods from among the and served the LORD." God's heart will beat for us yes, but only when we abide in Him. In other words, we are obeying Him, and doing things that are according to His will. It was only when Israel put away their foreign gods and turned back to God that God's heart also felt the pain that Israel felt.

God likes to see our repentant hearts. And when we are willing to surrender ourselves to God, God's abundant mercies and compassion can carry us through. And His heart, yes, even God's heart, will feel for us.

But when we refuse to do right, and turn away from serving the true God, His righteousness shall burn against our iniquities and consume us on the last day.

Therefore, may this serve as a eternal warning to us.

"Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods. Therefore I will deliver you no more. (Judges 10:13)

I will deliver you no more. Imagine that this is the final words that Jesus says to you on that last day! Please, NO!

How many times then do we want to grieve the Lord? How many times do we need to be delivered before we truly understand the grace within?

God, let this always be in my heart: "Therefore I will deliver you no more." so that I will always be on my toes and be watchful of my ways.

Judges 9 - The King

"The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them.
And they said to the olive tree,
'Reign over us!'

But the olive tree said to them,
'Should I cease giving my oil,
With which they honor God and men,
And go to sway over trees?'

"Then the trees said to the fig tree,
'You come and reign over us!'

But the fig tree said to them,
'Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit,
And go to sway over trees?'

"Then the trees said to the vine,
'You come and reign over us!'

But the vine said to them,
'Should I cease my new wine,
Which cheers both God and men,
And go to sway over trees?'
(Judges 9:8-13)

God was the one who bestows us our gifts and with these, we serve Him and edify men. If I am an olive tree, I would give forth my oil to anoint my dear Lord. If I am a fig tree, I would give off my sweetness and my fruit to the Lord. If I am a vine, I would offer up my new wine for the Lord. The important thing is to know what type of tree we are, then can we offer up the best that we are bestowed with.

My Lord, I don't want to be a king over men. I don't ever want to be king over You! At times, we do that when we command God in our prayers, insisting certain things to be done our own ways. We must remember that only God is King. When our own hearts deceive even ourselves, God have the ability to give us a new heart. When we find ourselves strengthless to move on, God strengthen our hands and feet. Only God has the authority to be ruler over our body and minds. For us to proceed on this heavenly path, we must ask God to be ruler over our hearts and minds.

On our own part, we must also rule over our own hearts and minds. Resist the devil and He will flee from you. We must restrain our hearts and curb our emotions. Don't indulge in emotions because it gives the devil a foothold. We must also restrain our minds and think only about things above which are good and holy.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. (Phil 4:8)

However, while we try to be rulers over ourselves, we often fail if we don't seek the counsel of God. We have to ask Him to teach us how to rule, while at the same time, allowing Him to rule over our body and minds completely.

These are still lessons that I am trying to learn.

If the trees were to come to me and exclaimed, "Reign over us!" What would be my reply?

Should I cease the fruit of the Spirit,
and the sweet aroma of a living sacrifice,
which are pleasing in the sight of God;
forgetting the goodness of the Ruler,
and despising His grace,
And sashay over men?