Today’s reading: Judg 8:1–9:21, Phil 2:12–18, Ps 67:1–7

Today’s theme: Working it out

Today we learn about working out our salvation through faith, obedience and walking in holiness before God and men, rather than the treacherous slope of hypocrisy, compromise and idolatry. God is the one who is working in us to give us the holy energy we need to live faithfully, for the rise of His fame.

Judges 8:1–9:21

Don’t be unmerciful

And he took the elders of the city, and he took thorns of the wilderness and briers and with them taught the men of Succoth a lesson. And he broke down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city. Judges 8:16–17 (ESV)

Gideon, now full of confidence through the victories he has won, has unfortunately forgotten where he is coming from and so has become unmerciful and vengeful.

When he came to the people they refused to help him and his men, making reference to the kings they were pursuing, knowing that if Gideon failed they would come under attack. Gideon should have understood this doubt and fear because he had them too when God first called him, but God was merciful and patient with Gideon.

Jesus spoke about the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18:21-35, as we grow in the Lord, we must not let our victories go to our heads making us puffed up, proud and unmerciful. We should remember that this is a walk of grace and so show grace, mercy and forgiveness to others. See Ephesians 2:5-8 and Ephesians 5:8

The crescent moon god

Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself and fall upon us, for as the man is, so is his strength.” And Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels. Judges 8:21 (ESV)

Despite claims to the contrary, the god of Islam is not the same as Yahweh (The true God of the bible shared by Christianity and Judaism).

One of the major symbols of Islam is the crescent moon. In the Ancient Near East the moon was worshiped by many people, known as “Nannar” (light giver) by the Sumerians or “Sin”(lord of wisdom) by the Akkadians. Crescent ornaments were also symbols of the goddess Astarte.

Allah is another name for these mood gods. The ancient Arabs had many gods, one of their most important deities was the moon-god called Ilumquh by the Sabeans, Wadd by the Mineans, ʿAmm by the Qatabanians, and Sin by the Ḥaḍramautians.

These gods are the root of the Islamic god Allah, the crescent moon god.

Give God the glory

And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family. Judges 8:27 (ESV)

Gideon shows us two pitfalls here, one is hypocrisy, the other is him becoming a stumbling block.

In verse 23, Gideon had his theology (thinking about God) right and he resisted the obvious temptation to rule over the people, but he succumbed to the more subtle temptation of hypocritically not giving God the glory that He deserved. The men said that Gideon delivered them, when it was God. We must always give God glory in all we do and achieve (1 Corinthians 10:31).

In verse 24 Gideon took the next step in stealing God’s glory; he asks the people for monetary contributions, these are not for the tabernacle or society, these are contributions for Gideon himself, he saw an opportunity in the people’s adulation of himself and he took it. We must avoid this type of egocentric manipulation of God’s people (2 Corinthians 2:17).

Finally Gideon takes the final inevitable step of becoming a stumbling block, he sets up his own form of idolatry which becomes a snare to him and the people (1 Timothy 4:16).

Do not compromise

and they did not show steadfast love to the family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in return for all the good that he had done to Israel. Judges 8:35 (ESV)

Hypocrisy and compromise will never bear the fruit of faithfulness, so we should never be hypocritical or compromising in order to bring people to or to keep people with Christ. When the scaffolding of compromise is removed the people will simply fall away.

Philippians 2:12–18

Working it out

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:12–13 (ESV)

“Work out” in verse 12 is the Greek word ‘katergazomai’ which means: working at, and finally accomplishing a task, whereas in verse 13 where it says “God who works in you” is the Greek word ‘energeō’ meaning: to cause to function, grant the ability to do, bring about, produce or cause to be.

Summarising the Greek: God gives us the energy so that we have the energy to work for Him. This passage is encouraging us in our walk of sanctification, we need to humbly serve and grow in grace.

Living out the inner transformation that God has graciously granted. We work because we are saved, not to be saved. This passage is expounded further here

Psalm 67:1–7

Spread God’s fame

that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Psalm 67:2 (ESV)

God blesses us to be a blessing, our ultimate goal should be to spread God’s fame and glory throughout the earth, this is the heartbeat of missions.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Philippians 2

Today’s reading: Judg 6:11–7:25, Phil 2:1–11, Ps 66:1–20

Today’s theme: Play your part

Our God is awesome and His purposes will come to pass. It is important that we use our passion and energy well, by taking God at His word and so playing our part in faith. God has empowered us and clothed us in the Spirit to equip us to do this, to His own glory and our joy.

Judges 6:11–7:25

Use passion for God

And the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” Judges 6:14–15 (ESV)

This Angel was a theophany of God himself, an old testament appearance of Jesus.

In the previous verse, Gideon displays his lack of understanding of God’s word. The oppression came upon the people because they had forsaken the Lord again, but Gideon seemed to blame God.

Gideon’s words may even be perceived as rude, God in His wisdom tells Gideon to take the aggression and might behind his bold (rude) statement and put it to good effect.

We should not waste our God given energy and passion resisting or questioning God, we should take it and use it for His purposes.

Use aggression, boldness, energy and passion for the Lord. This is only possible with a healthy understanding and appetite for God’s word. See Luke 10:27

Clothed with the Spirit

But the Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him. Judges 6:34 (ESV)

God in His amazing grace, appeared to Gideon and gave him the assurance that He would be with him, despite Gideon’s doubt and fear. God  extends His grace to His servant and clothes him with His Holy Spirit.

God also graciously anoints us with His Holy Spirit, for His purposes and work today. God’s gift of the Holy Spirit is a wonderful and necessary grace. See 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 and 1 John 2:27

Immature faith

behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” Judges 6:37 (ESV)

Some see the laying of fleece before God as a good thing, but it displays a fundamental lack of faith in God’s word and Holy Spirit.

Today’s society demands proof for everything, this is a result of the worldviews of naturalism, secularisms and modernity. This refusal to believe God’s word for what it says, has filtered into the church, resulting in a need to see miracles and divine manifestations before God is believed.

This is extremely problematic, the preoccupation with signs, wonders and tangible proofs as a prerequisite for belief and action is a serious spiritual problem. Our work and progression for the Lord can be delayed and inhibited.

This also displays an unwillingness to act on God’s word, which reveals immature faith and our inclination to disobey God’s word, which is why we demand additional assurances.

Let us take God at His word today. See Matthew 12:39

Stand, play your part

When they blew the 300 trumpets, the LORD set every man’s sword against his comrade and against all the army. And the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath. Judges 7:22 (ESV)

God arranged this so that He alone could get the glory. God does not need great armies to accomplish His purposes. We should stand and play our part, God’s purposes will be worked out and will come to pass, to His Glory and our benefit.

As we blow our trumpets of praise today, the enemy will be sent into confusion.

Philippians 2:1–11

The humility of the Incarnation

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5–8 (ESV)

This passage is one of the best to show us the humility of Christ, it speaks of the incarnation where The Word of God, who is eternal and was never created, He was equal with God, yet He emptied Himself of His heavenly glory and privilege and became a man. He was not just a man, but a servant, going as far as to die on the cross for our sins.

This is the great example for all of us, none of us are the eternal Son of God, so if He can humble Himself by thinking of others first, then how much more should we abandon selfish ambition and look to the good of others, seeing them more importantly than we see ourselves.

Humble, self sacrificing service is the mind of Christ we should all have.

Psalm 66:1–20

God is awesome

Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. Psalm 66:5 (ESV)

God is awesome in His deeds, especially in the cross.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Philippians 2

Today’s reading: Judg 4:1–6:10, Phil 1:19–30, Ps 65:1–13

Today’s theme: A public faith

Today we learn that we hold a public faith, not a private opinion. We are called to trust in God openly and to proclaim the message of the Gospel in every sphere of life, to the glory of God. We also learn important lessons about putting our faith in God rather than man, and God’s created order for men and women.

Judges 4:1–6:10

Additional assurances, not needed

Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” And she said, “I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. Judges 4:8–9 (ESV)

God gave Barak assurance that He would deliver the enemy into his hand, yet Barak displayed a serious lack of faith, he was not willing to go and fight unless his condition of the prophetess going with him was met. For this lack of faith, Barak loses out on the glory and it is given to a woman instead.

God in His goodness is always looking to give good gifts to us but because of a lack of faith we can forfeit these blessings. When we do not trust God and demand additional assurances after He has already spoken to us, we may still be used by God but not to the fullest extent.

Barak wastes a lot of time and energy pursuing the glory of capturing the king. We can fall into the same trap, hopelessly trying to make up for our lack of faith when the opportunity has passed.

We must learn from this to be willing vessels to be used by God, responding in faith to His word. We must cast feelings of doubt and inadequacy aside and trust God as we serve Him in faith. see 2 Timothy 2:21

Guard against Feminism

But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died. And behold, as Barak was pursuing Sisera, Jael went out to meet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking.” So he went in to her tent, and there lay Sisera dead, with the tent peg in his temple. Judges 4:21–22 (ESV)

God often uses those that are weak and looked down upon, to accomplish His purpose. Deborah was used by God as a prophetess and judge, while Jael was used to exact God’s judgement on Sisera.

These two women who put their faith in God were both married and did not actively seek to rule over the people, but were chosen and used by God.

Those who believe in feminism may seek to use Deborah and Jael as examples of women breaking society’s shackles. However, Deborah does not fight in the actual battle as a warrior, she pronounces God’s plan to Barrack as a prophetess. All the other Judges fought for themselves as men, there is no example of where God calls women to war, it goes against God’s principles for women to fight in battle, they should be cherished and protected. Jael killed Sisera after the battle, not in the middle of conflict.

We must guard against the influence of feminism in our lives and in the church today, each of us should fulfil our God given role. see 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

Philippians 1:19–30

Live and die for Christ

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 (ESV)

If Jesus is the goal and centre of our lives, our perspective will be the same as Paul’s. We should live in this world as instruments in God’s hands, ambassadors of Christ, carriers of the great message of the Gospel concerning Christ, builders and heralds of His kingdom.

When we die we get the prize we are running after, the greatest treasure, the gift of the Gospel, the essence of the Good news is ours. We have Christ and are held by Him forever.

To die is our gain, we should not fear death. We are secure in Jesus, we will be with God forever in heaven and have rewards and pleasures beyond anything our minds can comprehend… let us live and die for/ in Christ.

…be with Christ

I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. Philippians 1:23 (ESV)

This verse is a simple apologetic against those like  Jehovah Witnesses, who believe in soul sleep. The bible does not teach that our souls/spirits go into sleep or some intermediary state, rather, when we die in the Lord, our soul/spirit goes to be with the Lord immediately. The resurrection is concerning our bodies.

Progression and growth

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, Philippians 1:25 (ESV)

We will have true joy in God as we progress and grow in the faith, do not be content to be a baby in Christ, have a heart that desires progression and growth, this will bring you great joy and be pleasing to God, as your faith is exercised.

A public faith

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, Philippians 1:27 (ESV)

Our faith is not a private matter of opinions and beliefs, it is a public declaration and message to all, a great proclamation that the King and His kingdom has come and all are bid to come and bow before Him.

As ambassadors and heralds of this message, we must live lives worthy of the gospel we proclaim. Live as though Jesus is the King, as though you are a subject in His kingdom, a soldier in His army, a worker in His field, a member of the royal family… live like this because this is the reality.

Psalm 65:1–13

Chosen by God

Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple! Psalm 65:4 (ESV)

We are blessed, God chose to bring us close to Himself, we have been elected, we should live with that in mind. Our satisfaction should be in the gracious God who chose us to be saved. see John 15:16

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on to die is gain

Today’s reading: Judg 2:11–3:31, Phil 1:12–18, Ps 63:1–64:10

Today’s theme: The Gospel is central

Today we learn that the Gospel and our faith devotion to God should be the center of our lives in the same way the sun is central and affective to all that surrounds it.

Judges 2:11–3:31

Do not whore away from God

Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the LORD, and they did not do so. Judges 2:17 (ESV)

The children of Israel went from small compromises and a lack of faith to full blown apostasy. They abandoned the Lord and served Baal (idol of the surrounding people). This unfaithfulness is described as whoring because they were in a love based, covenant relationship with God, like a husband and wife in marriage.

What spurred this unfaithfulness and break of allegiance?

Baal was primarily a storm god, which led to his worship as a fertility god. Fertility cults had concerns with acquiring prosperity for the worshiper in terms of family, flocks, herds and crops.

Today we face this same idol in the form of the prosperity “Health and Wealth” gospel which is spreading like wildfire across the globe, exalting materialism, greed and covetousness.

We must guard against the allure of this false teaching and hold steadfastly to our husband (Jesus), knowing the tempting call of material wealth is a false hope and trap for the unfaithful heart. See Luke 12:15, and Hebrews 13:5.

Be faithful to God

But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. Judges 3:9 (ESV)

Boldness and faithfulness to God seem to run in Caleb’s family. 

Philippians 1:12–18

The Gospel is central

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. Philippians 1:12–13 (ESV)

Because of Paul’s lifelong desire to see the gospel proclaimed, his mind and life was ordered so that every circumstance he found himself in would lead to the advance of the Gospel…. even prison.

If this is the central vocation of our lives, no matter what happens to us in life it will revolve around the proclamation of the gospel.

The gospel should be the big object our lives revolve around. It should have the same, strong pull of gravity that the sun exercises over the earth. In this context it should affect everything in our lives and be the centre of our lives. It should affect everything and every situation (like the sun’s affect and importance to the earth).

The proclamation of the Gospel should be central and our consuming passion. In that way it’s message will affect everything in both word and action.

Psalm 63:1–64:10

Jesus satisfies

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, Psalm 63:5 (ESV)

True satisfaction comes from the Lord alone, He provides living water to the thirsty. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him (not materialism). See Ephesians 5:5 and Colossians 3:5.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Philippians 1

Today’s reading: Judges 1:1–2:10, Phil 1:1–11, Ps 61:1–62:12

Today’s theme: The command of devotion

Today we learn about the law of devotion. We must be fully devoted to the Lord and devote sin to destruction in our lives. We can take confidence in the eternal security that God so graciously provides as we grow in love, knowledge and discernment.

We start two new books today, reading the summary of these books in your Bible will help you to read it in context.

Judges 1:1–2:10

The command of devotion

And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they defeated the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath and devoted it to destruction. So the name of the city was called Hormah. Judges 1:17 (ESV)

The command of devotion was that all inhabitants of the land were destroyed, without compromise. In Hebrew the word is Haram (Herem) and understanding it will help give context to today’s passage.

ḥāram: A verb meaning to destroy, to doom, to devote. This word is most commonly associated with the Israelites destroying the Canaanites upon their entry into the Promised Land (Deut. 7:2; Josh. 11:20)

Single hearted obedience to God

And the LORD was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron. Judges 1:19 (ESV)

After the death of Joshua we begin to see promise in the people’s devotion to the Lord as they seek Him about who should go first. God tells the people that Judah shall go first because God has given His territory into his hand. Judah means praise, this is where we get the idea of praise going up first and being like a weapon of war.

However Judah immediately starts to deviate from God’s plan by inviting his brother Simeon. Now we see a lack of faith in the “God who was with them” and had promised them the land. This resulted in the inhabitants of the plain remaining. Iron chariots are no match for God.

This begins to give us an insight into Israel’s eroding faith in God and their failure to fulfil Gods command of devotion (Haram). Our lesson is to put our trust in God’s word and so fulfil Christ’s command for single hearted obedience to God (Luke 10:27) and the killing of sin, leaving no room for compromise (Luke 9:23).

Avoid compromise

When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completely. Judges 1:28 (ESV)

Again we see more compromise in fulfilling the law of devotion. A compromise is made putting the enemy to forced Labour. God gave the law of devotion (Haram) for a reason. It was not because the culture of the people was necessarily evil but that their religions and spiritual practices were evil and would cause God’s people to compromise their faith.

We need to be mindful of this today, we are in the world but not of the world. We still have the command of devotion on us. It is twofold, we should be devoted wholly to the Lord and we should devote sin to utter destruction in our lives.

Putting the enemy to forced labour speaks of both compromise and the subtle bondage of legalism. Where sin is not eradicated by submission to the grace and power of God, but instead is kept in check with legalistic behaviour (which only serves to bottle up the sin); we are lead in to further bondage and frustration when the temporary reforms of man give way to the power of sin. See Romans 6:14 and Galatians 3:3.

Sin brings bondage

So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.” Judges 2:3 (ESV)

If we do not wholly follow and cleave to the Lord, being totally devoted to His service and devoting His enemies (sin) to destruction, then we will live lives marked by bondage and struggles with sin and compromise.

Sin brings bondage, God desires that we be free (John 8:36) so we should not hold back in our devotion to Him. We should not be lukewarm (Revelation 3:16), we should love Him with all our hearts, trusting Him to drive out the enemy before us.

As Philippians 2:12-13 reminds us we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling. It is God who is at work in us and has energised us to fulfil His good pleasure.

Pass on the baton

And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel. Judges 2:10 (ESV)

It is crucial for every generation of God’s people to pass the baton on to the next generation.

Philippians 1:1–11

Eternal security

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

We do not have a faith dependant on good works like Islam who do not know what Allah will do with them or “Jehovah Witnesses” who need to do works to make it to paradise.

We have confidence in the eternal security God promises us in His word, knowing as Paul reminds the church that He who began the good work of salvation in us will bring it to completion. We can take joy, comfort and hope in that sure promise. Thank God for the amazing promise of future grace.

Love, knowledge and discernment

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, Philippians 1:9 (ESV)

Love, knowledge and discernment are often pitched against each other as opposing forces, but Paul prays that all three will grow together. It is worth noting that love is mentioned first.

Psalm 61:1–62:12

God is our Rock

Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them. Psalm 62:10 (ESV)

God is our rock, not the riches of this world.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition  on Philippians 1