Today is resurrection Sunday, when we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. Why do we celebrate this event? Because it speaks to the sovereignty and power of Jesus/God. Not only can God overcome physical death, He overcomes spiritual death as well. God raising Jesus from the dead also brings us ultimate hope – that we too have overcome…
Author: Conqueror in Training
Judges 19
I must admit, this is one of the more disturbing passages I have read in a long time. A Levite and his concubine are travelling and taken in to a stranger’s house for the night. “As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on…
Judges 18
This dense chapter contains the account of 600 Danite families who travel to capture and occupy some land from the Sidonians. On their way, they convince Micah’s Levite priest to come be their priest, and they also take all of the household gods and ephod with them. “When [the Danites] had gone a distance from…
A Prayer for Motivation and Perseverance
Father God, Lord of Heaven and Earth, great and holy is Your name. Father, please help us not to be slow in pursuit of the passions You have placed in our hearts, but to be intensely passionate in serving You. We know that many tasks You require of us are impossible in our own strength,…
Judges 17
This rather odd chapter chapter contains the account of a man named Micah, who steals 1100 pieces of silver from his mother. When he returns them, his mother has an idol fashioned out of 200 pieces of the silver. “And the man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and household gods, and…
Judges 16
“Then Samson called to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.’ And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his…
A Blessing of Encouragement
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of…
A Prayer for the Overwhelmed
Father God, our Shelter and Rock, Creator and Provider, we humbly call upon Your name. You know the storms which we are facing. Even though we may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil, for You are with us; Your rod and Your staff comfort us. Please search…
Judges 15
This chapter continues following Samson, who continues to have escalating conflicts with the Philistines (Israel’s current oppressors). “Then 3,000 men of Judah… said to him, ‘We have come down to bind you, that we may give you into the hands of the Philistines.’ So they bound him with two new ropes… When he came to…
Judges 14
This chapter has the account of Samson’s marriage feast and his famous riddle. I have heard multiple teachings on the shortcomings of Samson, the long list of things he does wrong, yet I’d like to focus on how God works through him, despite his numerous flaws. “Then [Samson] came up and told his father and…