Judges 11 & 12: The Spirit Of The LORD
Verse of the Day: (11:29) Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.

1. Son (11:1-28)
Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah. (11:1)

Everyone including Christians has strength and weaknesses and we will only be perfect when we get to heaven. Though Jephthah was a mighty man of valour, yet he was the son of an harlot and was rejected by his people. However the day came when the Ammonites declared war against them that the elders of Israel pleaded with Jephthah to be their captain. Jephthah agreed to their request provided that they made him the head of Israel if he would succeed in overcoming the Ammonites. Subsequently he led Israel to victory and became the judge of Israel. Indeed, though we are sinners rejected by God, but once we believe in and receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we become His sons. (John 1:12)
    
2. Spirit (11:29-40)
And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel. (11:33)

The Spirit of God was with Jephthah, and he led Israel to completely subdue the Ammonites. However, Jephthah was too rash in making his vow to God as he offered to Him the first individual who would meet him at the door of his house if he would win the war. He never thought that the first person to meet him was his only child instead of his servants. As a result of his vow, his only daughter was offered to God, and she remained single for the rest of her life. Indeed, though we are God’s children, and His Spirit is in us, yet let us be careful of what we vow to Him, otherwise we live to regret. (John 14:15-17)  

3. Shibboleth (12:1-15)
Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand. (12:6)

Pride is the main cause of divorce, church splits and the fall of organisations. There was civil war in Israel as the Ephraimites fought against Israel because they were angry that they were not called to fight against the Ammonites. However, the real reason was their pride. Subsequently, Israel defeated the Ephraimites, only when they would pronounce Shibboleth as Sibboleth, and this was how Israel distinguished them. Indeed, let us humble ourselves before God knowing that without Him, we are nothing. (James 4:1-10)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that Your Holy Spirt dwells in me now and forever.

Judges 13 & 14: Seeing It is Secret
Verse of the Day: (13:18) And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?

1. Secret (13:1-23)
But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink: neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death. (13:7)

Certain things happened to us will always remain a secret to us, until the day we meet God. Though we know all things work together for good to them who love God, yet sometimes we find it hard to accept the loss of our loved ones, just like I lost my younger son through sudden death. God’s angel told Manoah that his name was a secret after he had prophesied that his wife shall have a son who shall be a Nazarite for life, and he shall be the judge of Israel. The Nazarites were never to take strong drink, or eat or touch any unclean thing because their lives were solely dedicated to God. Indeed, let us solely dedicate our lives to God as He is our Saviour, Lord and everything. (Deuteronomy 29:29)
    
2. Samson (13:24-25)
And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. (13:24)

Manoah’s son was none other than Samson, the strongest man in all ages, who was also mentioned in the hall of faith in the Book of Hebrews of the Bible for his faith in God, though he actually failed God many times. Indeed, only by God’s grace are we saved through our faith, and not of ourselves, lest we should boast of it. (Hebrews 11:32-34)

3. Sweet (14:1-20)
And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle. (14:18)

Samson gave the Philistines a riddle when he was about to marry one of their women. He knew from birth that the Philistines were his enemies and this was the great opportunity to mock them with a riddle that they could never solve. However, they went to his fiancé, and threatened to burn her and her father’s house if she refused to tell them the answer. She then wept and pleaded with Samson, and after 7 days, which was the deadline for the riddle, he told her. When they told Samson the answer, he knew that it must be his wife who snitched on him, because he had only told her that the answer that the strong was the lion, and the sweetness was the honey, because he had killed a lion, and subsequently the bees came and produced honey in the carcass of the lion. Instead of Samson mocking them, they mocked him. Indeed, let us trust God as only He never fails us. (Psalms 118:8)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to accept by faith the secret things of my life from You.

Judges 9 & 10: God Reigns!
Verse of the Day: (9:2) Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh. 

1. Reign (9:1-55)
And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. (9:5)

Only God reigns, and no one else! God is indeed the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Gideon knew that only God deserved to reign, and therefore he refused to rule Israel when the people asked him to rule over them. However, Gideon’s son, Abimelech, from his concubine who was in Shechem, eyed the throne of Israel, and with the help of the people of Shechem he killed his 70 step-brothers, except Jotham, the youngest brother, who hid himself. Abimelech then became the judge of Israel for 3 years. However, God spoke to Jotham that Abimelech’s rule shall not be for long, just like the bramble that shall catch fire and be destroyed, he shall be judged and punished. (Revelation 19:11-21)
    
2. Render (9:56-57)
Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren: (9:56)

God is not mocked as we shall reap what we sow. If we sow our belief and trust in God, we shall reap His blessings, however if we sow unbelief and wickedness, we shall reap His judgment. Let us commit everything to God, especially the wicked, because He shall eventually judge them. God judged Abimelech as the people of Shechem who once helped him now fought against him. During the battle, a woman from a tower threw a millstone upon his head, and injured him. Instead of seeking for help, he ordered his armour bearer to kill him as he refused to die in the woman’s hand. (Galatians 6:7-10)  

3. Ride (10:1-18)
And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havoth-jair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead. (10:4)

God desires leaders to lead their people so that they have a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty, yet many times they fail to trust and obey God, and therefore the people experience chaos and conflict because of unbelief and dishonesty. Unlike Jerubbaal, who strayed from God, the next judge, Jair, who had 30 sons riding 30 ass colts, walked with God and judged Israel for 22 years. Let us therefore pray for our leaders that they be godly so that we shall lead a quiet and peaceful life. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for being the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Judges 7 & 8: Faint Yet Pursuing
Verse of the Day: (8:4) And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.

1. Pitcher (7:1-25)
And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. (7:16)

God’s greatest desire is for man who is made in His image to worship Him and acknowledge Him, that without Him, man is nothing. This was why God chose Gideon, an unknown man, to lead Israel against their enemies. God commanded Gideon to reduce his army from 32,000 to 300 men, and to use pitchers, lamps and trumpets, instead of shields, swords and spears, to fight against the Midianites. God wanted them to know that it was never about them or their instruments, but Him who shall defeat their enemies. Gideon chose 300 men who were not just courageous, but vigilant, as they drank water by putting their hands to their mouths looking around for their enemies, instead of the rest who bowed down to drink. Indeed, we must be courageous and vigilant, as we wrestle not just against our flesh and enemies, but against the dark forces of the devil. (1 Peter 5:8-11)
    
2. Pursuing (8:1-21)
And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. (8:5)

Let us not only start well in our Christian race, be it a sprint (some like my beloved son only lived for 16 years) or a marathon, but persevere and finish well, even when there are many challenges along the track. Though Gideon and the 300 men were fainting, yet they kept pursing after the two kings of Midian to eliminate them, otherwise there shall be no peace in Israel. Finally, God gave them the victory as they managed to destroy them. Let us therefore not only start well, but finish well our race with patience and perseverance, and always looking to Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2)  

3. Prey (8:22-35)
And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) (8:24)

Though Gideon was a man of God yet in his last days he led Israel to sin against God when he made an ephod of gold from all the spoils of their enemies. Israel began worshipping the golden ephod which they could see with their eyes, instead of by faith worshipping the invisible and true God who loved and delivered them from their enemies. Indeed, let us worship the true God, who is a Spirit, in spirit and in truth. (John 4:21-24)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to start and finish well my Christian race with You.

Judges 5 & 6: I Will Be With Thee
Verse of the Day: (6:16) And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. 

1. God (5:1-31)
Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel. (5:3)

God has blessed His people made in His image to praise Him, and this is why many, if not all the people, love to sing, and especially, Christians, who are thankful to Him for saving our souls as we believe in Him. Every time when God delivered Israel from their enemies, they sang praises to Him for His deliverance. Deborah and Barak sang the song of praise to God for His deliverance of Israel from the Canaanites. Not only God delivered Israel from their enemies, but He also taught them that He could use the women to be the help meet of men to accomplish His work. Indeed, not only God used Deborah, He also used another woman, Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, to destroy Sisera, the captain of the army of Canaan. Thus Israel overcame the Canaanites. (Colossians 3:15-17) 
    
2. Gideon (6:1-32)
And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. (6:13)

Many times, if not all the time, God uses the most unlikely people for His will and work to prove to man that it is not man, but God, who enables and empowers man to achieve and accomplish His work. God chose and called Gideon, the most unlikely man, as he was the youngest of a poor family of the tribe of Manasseh. However, God encouraged Gideon that He shall be with him to lead Israel to overcome their enemies, the Midianites. Indeed with God we can do everything but without Him we can do nothing. (John 15:1-5)  

3. Ground (6:33-40)
And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. (6:40)

There is nothing that our God cannot do, as He is the Creator and Saviour of the entire world and universe. Though God had called Gideon, yet he doubted Him and tested Him by requesting Him that the dew be on the fleece of wool only, and all the ground be dry, and God answered his request the next day. However, Gideon was not fully convinced, and this time he asked God to have the dew on all the ground only, and the fleece be dry, and again God answered his request the next day. By now, Gideon was fully convinced that God was with him to help him lead Israel to overcome the Midianites. (Luke 1:37)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You are my Saviour who is with me now and forever.

Judges 3 & 4: Deborah, A Prophetess
Verse of the Day: (4:4) And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 

1. Deliverer (3:1-11)
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. (3:9)

God sends crises and challenges to prove and test our faith and trust in Him. Time and again, Israel sinned against God, such as committing immorality, corruption and marrying the unbelievers and worshipping their false gods and idols, and thus straying from Him. However, when Israel repented their sins, immorality and corruption and called upon God, He would send deliverers and judges to deliver them out of their sins and enemies. Othniel was the first deliverer of Israel that God sent to lead them to overcome their enemy, Chushan-rishathaim, the king of Mesopotamia. As a result, Israel and the land had rest for 40 years. Indeed, let us repent of our sins and call upon God, and He shall deliver us, and grant us rest for our souls now and forever. (Matthew 11:28-30) 
    
2. Dagger (3:12-31)
But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh. (3:16)

Though men may think we are great and talented, yet without God who is our Creator and Saviour, we are nothing. Indeed, God’s deliverers were ordinary people, and even their instruments were ordinary ones, such as daggers and goads, and it was God who was behind all their victories and successes over their enemies. Ehud, the next deliverer, used a dagger to destroy Eglon, the king of Moab, and delivered them out of the Moabites. Let us put on God’s armour of His salvation, righteousness, truth, peace, faith and Word, and above all, prayers, to defeat the Devil and all his evil temptations. (Ephesians 6:10-19)  

3. Deborah (4:1-24)
And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. (4:9)

Though the husband is the head of his wife, and man is the leader of the home, yet God, our Creator, treats both men and women with love and grace. In the beginning, God took one of the ribs of the first man, Adam, and not his skull or toe bone, to make the first woman, so that she was equal with him, and a help meet for him, and not his master or his slave. Indeed, God used a woman deliverer, Deborah, a prophetess, to mobilise Barak, the general of the army of Israel to overcome Sisera, the captain of army of Canaan. God then honoured Deborah for her role in taking down Israel’s enemies. (Genesis 2:20-25)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You save and sanctify us regardless of our sex or race.

Judges 1 & 2: Who Shall Deliver You?
Verse of the Day: (1:2) And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand. 

1. Deliver (1:1-18)
Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them? (1:1)

God always deliver us as we trust and obey Him and call upon Him. Though Joshua led Israel to victory over their enemies and possessed the Promised Land, yet he failed to have a leader to succeed him. After his death, Israel cried to God as to which leader or tribe would lead them into battle against their enemies, and He commanded them that the tribe of Judah shall lead them. Though they had victory over the Canaanites, yet they did not completely destroyed them because of unbelief. Indeed, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came from the tribe of Judah, and He shall lead the world in overcoming Satan, our greatest enemy. In the beginning, Satan deceived Adam and Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit and thus sinned against God. However, God’s redemption plan is to send Jesus to die for the sins of the whole world that whoever repents his sins and believes in Him shall never perish in hell but have everlasting life with Him in heaven. (Matthew 1:1-3)
    
2. Drive (1:19-36)
And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. (1:28)

Be careful of the little foxes or sins that will slowly but surely ruin our lives. Though time and again God delivered Israel from their enemies as they called upon Him yet they did not completely destroy their enemies, but allowed a remnant to remain which subsequently grew in numbers and became thorns in their lands even to this day. Let us therefore confess and repent our sins, even the so-called little sins, though they may seem insignificant, but slowly and surely they will destroy our lives. (Song of Solomon 2:15)

3. Distress (2:1-23)
Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed. (2:15)

If God is for us, who can be against us? However, if God is against us, we are in trouble! Israel was in distress as God was against them because they disobeyed and rebelled against Him. Time and again God delivered them as they called upon Him, yet Israel was unthankful and ungrateful to Him. Let us hence be thankful and grateful to God each time as we call upon Him, and He delivers us from all our challenges and crises. (Romans 8:31)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for always delivering me as I trust and obey You.

Joshua 23 & 24: Serving The LORD
Verse of the Day: (24:15) And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. 

1. Souls (23:1-16)
And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof. (23:14)

What matters most is where you will go after you die. You may not believe in God, and you may think that death is final, but what happen if there is a God, and that you have a soul, and your soul will either go to God’s heaven or the devil’s hell. Indeed, there is a God, and when we believe in Him, we shall not die, but our souls shall live forever in glorious heaven. However, if we reject God, our souls will be condemned in hell because of our sins and wrongdoings. Joshua came to the end of his life story, and he truly believed with all his heart and soul that when he would depart from this earth, he shall be promoted to heaven to be with his God forever. In his last words, he encouraged Israel to keep loving and serving God, as His promises never fail, not even once. (Mark 8:34-38)
    
2. Serve (24:1-15)
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. (24:14)

Unless we serve God with sincerity and truth and as living sacrifices, He shall never accept our service. Joshua’s last challenge to Israel was that they must choose to serve God, and put away their idols, including their career and family, or anything that, or anyone who, stood between God and them. Indeed, God desires us to seek Him first and love Him with all our hearts because He first loves us, and gave His only begotten Son to die for our sins, so that we shall have everlasting lives with Him in heaven. (Romans 12:1)
 
3. Servant (24:16-33)
And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. (24:29)

God’s servant is one who serves Him sincerely until the day He calls him home. Joshua was God’s servant as he served Him without wavering to the end. Israel was indeed blessed by his testimony, and they too served God to the end. Let us leave a legacy of service to God so that our next generation will also serve Him like us. (2 Timothy 2:1-2)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to serve You until the day You call me home to heaven.

Joshua 21 & 22: All Came To Pass
Verse of the Day: (21:45) There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

1. Aaron (21:1-42)
And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities. (21:4)

Except for the tribe of Levi, God blessed Israel with the inheritance of the Promised Land. However, there were still 12 lots as God chose to bless Joseph with 2 lots for his 2 sons, namely, Ephraim and Manasseh. Though the Levites had no inheritance yet God blessed them with 48 cities that were scattered over the Promised Land, and of which 6 were the cities of refuge, where alleged murderers took refuge until sufficient evidence had been gathered for their judgment, or they were released upon the death of the high priest. God blessed the descendants of Aaron as His chosen priests, and gave them 13 cities as their inheritance. Today, we, who believe in Jesus, are chosen as God’s priests. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

2. All (21:43-45)
And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. (21:44)

God’s Word and promises shall surely come to pass. God promised Israel that He shall fight for them and grant them rest. Indeed God fought for Israel, and delivered all their enemies into their hand, and grant them great victory. However, Israel failed to possess all the Promised Land, neither did they had rest, because of their unbelief. (Hebrews 4:11)

3. Altar (22:1-34)
And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God. (22:34)

Be sober and vigilant and find out the truth first before jumping to conclusion as the Devil seeks to divide and destroy God’s family and ministry. Israel almost had a civil war when they found out that the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh had erected an altar on the east side of Jordan River, which was their inheritance. Israel assumed that they rebelled against God by erecting another altar for their sacrifices beside the altar at the tabernacle which resided with them. However, they explained to Israel that they erected the altar as a memorial so that their descendants would know that God had blessed them with an inheritance, and that they had helped Israel, their people, to fight against the enemies. Israel was pleased with their clarification, and called the altar, Ed or Witness, as it was a witness to all Israel that the LORD is God. (1 Peter 5:8) 

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that all Your Word and promises shall surely come to pass.
 

Joshua 19 & 20: Too Much For Them
Verse of the Day: (19:9) Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them. 

1. Judah (19:1-48)
And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah. (19:1)

God loves His children so much that He blesses them with much more than they ask from Him. In the allocation of the Promised Land, God gave the tribe of Judah too much that they had to share it with their fellow tribe, Simeon. Indeed, God blessed Judah, because Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, shall come from this kingly tribe. All the 12 tribes gladly received God’s allotment, because they knew that without Him miraculously opening the Red sea and river Jordan, and destroying the walls of Jericho, and overcoming all their enemies, they would never have inherited all the Promised Land. (Ephesians 3:20-21) 

2. Joshua (19:49-51)
According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein. (19:50)

God remembered all His children especially His leaders, and He shall richly reward and bless them. God rewarded Joshua with the city of Timnathserah that he had asked for, because he had victoriously led Israel in overcoming their enemies and possessing the Promised Land. Indeed, let us pray and ask God for all our needs and desires, and He shall fulfil them according to His will, and for His glory and praise. (Matthew 7:7-12)

3. Judgment (20:1-9)
And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled. (20:6)

God is just and fair, and He only punishes those who intentionally sin or rebel against Him. God through Joshua commanded Israel to appoint 6 cities of refuge where those who were accused of murder shall seek refuge in them. They would dwell in these cities until the day when they were called by the people for judgment after they had gathered evidence against them, or upon the death of the high priest. When we believe in God, we must be just and fair in our dealings with others, as one day, we shall appear before His judgment seat, and He shall judge us for our works on earth. Indeed, let us be found faithfully and diligently doing His works for His glory and praise. (2 Corinthians 5:9-10)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You give me everything in abundance for Your glory.