August 30 ▪ Day 242

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 22:9
Judges 1–2
I Corinthians 11–12
Psalms 58

Verse Focus (Proverbs 22:9)

The generous will themselves be blessed,
     for they share their food with the poor.

Meditation

Today’s proverb is yet another commentary on the virtue of generosity. As Proverbs 22:9 says, in the NIV, “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” This brings to mind Proverbs 11:25, which we looked at back on February 22 (Day 53). Proverbs 11:25 says, “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” Those who give will receive. Biblical economics.

The ESV translation of Proverbs 22:9 is a bit closer to the Hebrew wording. It says, “Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.” The word being translated as bountiful is one with a broad meaning in the Hebrew. It means good, pleasant, agreeable, prosperous, cheerful, favorable, best — basically, whatever is truly good and excellent. But I really like the idea of a “bountiful eye.” To me it says that you view the world with charity, with compassion and goodness in your heart. In contrast to the bountiful eye, we’ve all heard of the evil eye — the regard of one who wishes curses to come upon you. So the one with a bountiful eye wishes blessings upon you — and then takes action to do so.

I also like the second half of today’s proverb: “they share their food with the poor.” This is completely practical. It is exactly the kind of action God desires from us. Not simply well-wishes, or holding good thoughts for our neighbors — but sharing basic necessities. Ensuring that the poor have what they need to live.

Granted, even though I talk about being practical, I feel like I still have a very long ways to go to be generous as this proverb describes. See, I give money. I make sure that every time I tithe, part of that tithe goes to food banks or agencies that support the homeless. I believe this kind of giving is what God calls me to do. But I also think that my method of giving is somewhat dispassionate, and I suspect bringing a casserole to a family that’s been struggling financially might have more of the personal touch that is implied in the wording of today’s proverb. I’d like to be able to do both. And I’m confident that one day I’ll get there because God continues to develop my heart and increase my capacity to be generous.

Father God, we pray that you would give us all bountiful eyes. Give us compassionate hearts and the clarity needed for generosity. Do not let us hold so tightly to the income we receive that we neglect to share. Help us honor you with our money, our time, and our resources. Help us share our food with the poor. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today we begin reading the book of Judges. This book is a doozy! When I think about why it’s important to read the Bible with a friend, for me this is the book that comes to mind. There are some stories in here that are just outrageous. The book covers about 330 years, from just after the death of Joshua (whose farewell address is dated circa 1375 BC), until just before the monarchy is established. If you recall back in March when we started reading Exodus (March 7th, Day 66), I mentioned that there were two alternate theories about when the Exodus occurred. The traditional theory is that the Exodus happened in 1446 BC, although a different theory gives the date of 1225 BC. However, when you add in all the different wars and campaigns that the book of Judges covers, you do need a longer time span — which supports the traditional 1446 BC date for the Exodus. (The 1225 BC date would leave only about 100 years for all the different events of the book of Judges. Not enough time!)

According to Jewish tradition, Samuel is the one who wrote — or at least compiled — the book of Judges. Some of the stories of the judges are believed to have been written at the time that the events occurred — the song of Deborah in chapter 5 is one of these fragments, although other stories were written at later intervals. In content, the book has two prologues, followed by the main body of the book detailing the cycles of the different judges, and then concluding with two narrative episodes about the tribes of Dan and Benjamin (both of which occurred chronologically at the beginning of the era of the judges, although their stories are included at the end of the book of Judges).

The judges we learn about in Scripture are not the legal magistrates that we are familiar with. Instead, a “judge” is a military leader or champion who rescues the Israelites from their enemies — although during the time of peace that follows, that same judge might function as the chief magistrate. We see a repeated pattern throughout the book of Judges. The people sin; they break the LORD’s covenant. To punish them for their disobedience, God allows them to fall under the rule of other nations. When oppressed by other nations, they cry out to God for help. So He sends them a judge to rescue them from their oppressors. A time of peace follows, but it is only temporary. The people sin yet again, and the cycle repeats.

Indeed, the book of Judges recounts the stories of 12 different judges, indicating at least 12 different cycles of turning away from God, breaking the covenant, being overcome by their enemies, being oppressed, crying out to God for relief, and then being rescued by a new deliverer. There are six “major” judges, whose stories are told in some detail — Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson. There are also six “minor” judges, who get only the briefest of mentions in the Scripture — Shamgar, Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon.

Some see symmetry in having 12 judges match the 12 tribes of Israel. Although, of course, there were actually 13 tribes (12 brothers, but one brother is replaced by two sons: 13; also 12 tribes inherited land, but one tribe — Levi — did not get land). Some see Abimelech in chapter 9 as the 13th ruler, although he wasn’t really a judge in the sense that the others were. His story is also a continuation of Gideon’s story, and warns us of corruption in the desire for power. Others see Samuel himself as the 13th judge, although, of course, his story is told in 1 and 2 Samuel and not in the book of Judges.

So, Judges chapter 1 contains the first prologue to the book of Judges. In this chapter, we hear of some of the final campaigns of the Israelites. We get a repeat of the story we read just five days ago in Joshua 15 about Caleb, his daughter Achsah, and Othniel her husband. We learn that the Kenites, descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, settled in the land of Judah along with the Israelites. And we get a long list of all the different pockets of Canaanite resistance. Judah and Simeon defeated most of the Canaanites in their territory, but Judah was not able to defeat the “inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron (v. 19).” Benjamin was not able to defeat the Jebusites. Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher and Naphtali were also not able to drive out all the Canaanites in their territories, although most ended up putting the Canaanites to forced labor later on. And Dan had significant trouble with the Amorites in the plains; the tribe was “pressed… back into the hill country (v. 34).”

Judges chapter 2 begins the second introductory passage, in which we get a more thematic look at the time period. It begins with the angel of the LORD declaring that God will no longer drive the enemies of the Israelites out before them. Instead, because of their disobedience, God will allow these enemies to become thorns and snares to the Israelites. The chapter describes the death of Joshua, and of his generation. Verse 10 says, “And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.” This is so reminiscent of what happened in Egypt, when a Pharaoh arose who did “not know Joseph” (Exodus 1:8)!

And so the newest generation of Israel abandons the LORD. They start worshiping the gods of the Canaanites, which, of course, provokes the LORD to righteous anger. God allows plunderers to come against Israel. They lose military battles against their enemies. There are in “terrible distress (v. 15).” And so God starts raising up judges. The people are rescued. However, it is a temporary fix, for soon after the death of the judge the Israelites backslide and become even more corrupt than their fathers were.

The seemingly endless cycles of turning away from God and then repenting only to turn away again can be discouraging to read. And although these cycles are happening on a national scale, we see the same cycles happening in the lives of individuals. Even strong believers will tell you of ups and downs in their spiritual journeys, times of backsliding followed by repentance and renewal. Yet as I was reading chapter 2 today, and remembered the ending of the book of Joshua, what truly struck me was how much influence a single person can have. Joshua influenced his entire generation. The Israelites didn’t start really falling away until after that entire generation was gone. So, too, each judge influenced his own generation for good. True, the Israelites backslid after each judge was gone. But while he lived, he influenced the whole nation for good.

Because we have the gift of the Holy Spirit, we too have this same capacity to influence our generation for good. We may not be called to be a judge, to save our nation in military conflicts, but we are surely called to influence those around us to worship the LORD. Who knows how much impact your faithful influence might have? The possibilities of what God can do through just one person are enormous — think of Billy Graham or Rick Warren or Beth Moore (to name just a few of those who have impacted our society in the past 25 years).

But it’s not about the numbers that we can see. Your faithfulness matters. Every person you touch will also touch others. And there’s just no end to the influence of the Holy Spirit through His saints.

Today we read through 1 Corinthians 11 and 12. Chapter 11 handles some difficult topics that I discussed at length six months ago. Some of the same verses that struck me then continue to strike me now. But I also noted verse 32 today. Paul writes, “But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.” This reminds me of how God worked with the Israelites throughout history. He would discipline them by allowing other nations to gain control over Israel. But this discipline would eventually draw the Israelites back to the LORD. Even when God went so far as to have the Israelites exiled from their homeland, He later called them back. And it was in exile that the Israelites turned back to God.

But one of the reasons verse 32 speaks to me is that we do tend to think that judgment is synonymous with condemnation. And the Scripture is clear that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). So we mistakenly believe that we will not be judged. Jesus’ parables make clear that there is a final judgment that even believers will face. Believers need not fear this judgment, but our actions will be weighed. Those who did not build on the Rock will find their work swept away for naught, but they themselves will be saved.

While we live in this world, however, we should welcome the Lord’s judgment because the discipline serves to make us better and stronger. It’s like the pruning God does to make us more fruitful — painful, upsetting, difficult. But ultimately it will produce an even better harvest.

1 Corinthians 12 covers spiritual gifts. As I read the chapter today I was struck by the repeated use of the word “varieties” in verses 4 through 6. “Varieties of gifts… varieties of service… varieties of activities.” In other words, there’s a whole realm of different sorts of gifts that God distributes to His servants. As verse 7 says, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

Just as each person may have the potential for enormous impact, God gifts each one of us with abilities and talent and training and experience that will uniquely serve Him in the position that He has placed us. You are not going to discover that you have a spiritual gift for something that you would have to go across the world to do. No, your spiritual gifts will be useful where you are right now. That’s not to say that you can’t gain additional gifts and some of those gifts might take you in different directions. But to begin with, your gifts are for making a difference where you are right now.

I also spent some time thinking about verse 26. The whole verse says, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” And usually by the time I read the second half of the verse I’ve forgotten to really think about what the first half means. If one member suffers, all suffer together. Yes, this verse can be seen as metaphorical. We grieve when those in our church family are grieved. But I think this verse has a more literal and physical meaning. When someone in the church is suffering, and has perhaps drifted away from God a bit, the whole body is weaker. More prone to spiritual attack. Using Paul’s metaphor of the body, I remember how a couple of bad teeth made my entire body sick. I felt absolutely horrid; I was weak and sick — all because I had ignored having some teeth extracted. And there was a low-grade infection running unchecked for years until all of a sudden I was ill enough to stop functioning well. This is what it’s like for our church body when one of our members is suffering. We may not realize how much it’s affecting the body… it can go unnoticed for years. But the spiritual decay will add up until the church body is no longer healthy.

The point is, when one member is suffering, you are too even if you don’t realize it yet. So it behooves us to comfort and to minister to those who are suffering. For our own self-preservation if for no other reason!

Psalm 58 speaks of the wicked who “devise wrongs (v. 2)” and “deal out violence (v. 2).” David prays that God will “break the teeth (v. 6)” and “tear out the fangs (v. 6)” of the wicked. He speaks of them vanishing like water, and asks that their arrows be “blunted (v. 7).” I find it interesting that what David is asking for amounts to disarming these enemies. He is not asking God to destroy them, but to make them harmless and ineffective. Perhaps that’s another reason why the inscription has that mysterious note, “Do not destroy.”

Verse 11 caps the psalm by saying, “Mankind will say, ‛Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.’ ” I think I always used to read God’s judgment of the nations as His destruction of these same nations. But with my reflection on 1 Corinthians 11:32 today, I see that judgment can also mean discipline. Not destruction, but discipline — defanging, disarming, defeating. Humiliation, not annihilation.

Father God, thank you that you do judge us not to condemn us, but to correct us. Thank you that even your actions that seem harsh may be found to be quite merciful. Help us to understand the depths of your love for us in Christ Jesus. Transform us into people who are faithful to you and who have an impact on our generation. Let us use our spiritual gifts to build up the church and those in our sphere of influence. Open our eyes to see those who are suffering, and let us to know how best to help. Make our eyes and our actions bountiful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.