In Gibeah, a Levite’s concubine was tragically abused sexually by the male inhabitants to the point of death one night. At morning, she lay lifeless on the doorstep of the home where they were staying. The Benjamites who abused her were no doubt consumed by their lust and appetite for sexual pleasure, completely disregarding the cultural mores of the Israelite nation. As we shall see in tomorrow’s scriptural passage, there was to be a painful consequence for all.

Last evening I ran into a former TCS student who was obviously living in a perverse relationship. She displayed an empty, haunting demeanor that told me her life was anything but happy. I pray for her … that God will bring her to her senses and seek to be restored to moral purity and uprightness. Her present path can only lead to tragedy.

READ/HEAR: Judges 17-19

Samson was given great strength to be used by God to defeat Philistines. Israel was in captivity to them. Delilah deceived him into revealing the source of his strength … his uncut hair and his vow as a Nazarite. She tricked him, cut off his hair, and saw the Philistines subdue him and put his eyes out.

In his conquered condition, he once again grew his hair renewing the conditions of his vow. With God’s strength, he pulled down pillars of a pagan temple bringing death to himself and several thousand Philistines.

His act of self-sacrifice accomplished God’s purposes in punishing Israel’s enemy. He gave everything. We still talk about him.

READ/HEAR: Judges 15,16

God raised up Samson to be a judge and deliverer for his people. An angel prepared his parents for his birth, much like Jesus. Both of his parents were critical in his raising, each doing their part and providing their insights into the upbringing of this boy. The Spirit of the Lord would come mightily upon him, and would give him supernatural strength to do amazing feats.

Both parents are critical when raising children for God’s glory. They work together, sharing their insights and abilities. At the end of life, they will both find great satisfaction in seeing their children continue to serve the Lord and fulfill His will.

In the case of a single parent, God  Himself becomes the missing  partner and will make up the difference in the all-important process of raising children.

READ/HEAR: Judges 12-14

Jepthah was a mighty warrior. Although he had been an outcast from Israel because his mother was a prostitute, the elders came to him when they needed a strong commander to defend from the Ammonites. He consented and became their leader.

The Spirit of the Lord came upon him. He led Israel to a convincing victory.

When God’s Spirit comes upon us, we are enabled to be victorious in our endeavors.

Seek the Lord. Seek the infilling of His Spirit. Live and extraordinary life for His glory.

READ/HEAR: Judges 10.11

Gideon had been a great deliverer for Israel by defeating the Midianites and their kings. The Israelites asked him to be their leader and rule over them. His answer was a key to great leadership. He declared, “I, nor my sons will be your leader, but the Lord shall be your leader.”

This profound statement reveals a leadership quality that is desirable when identifying leaders. To put God and His ways ahead of our limited wisdom is the safest direction Christian leaders can take. Men and women who seek the Lord’s will through prayer and the study of His Word will have a greater eternal impact upon the Church and Christian organizations.

READ/HEAR: Judges 8,9

God raised up a fearful man, Gideon, to lead the Israelites in battle against a coalition of Midian and other tribes. The process he went through to muster the courage to lead was interesting. The fleece, hearing an enemy soldier around a campfire, tearing down an altar to Baal … God’s preparation in Gideon’s life was patient and thorough.

Yet, he clearly heard and obeyed God’s directives, yielding a resounding victory for God’s people.

Our lives are a process of God selecting us, preparing us, and reassuring us. There are spiritual conquests to be made in our future. God will have us ready right on time.

READ/HEAR: Joshua 6,7

The great Sisera, feared army commander from Canaan who commanded 900 chariots of steel, was brought to his demise by a simple woman with a tent peg. He had fled a great battle where Deborah and Barak had led Israel’s army against his troops. Exhausted, he went to sleep in the woman’s tent where she drove the tent peg through his temple.

God brought the warrior to her door and caused him to all but hand her the weapon of his doom.

You don’t have to go looking for great victories against the Lord’s enemies. He will bring them to you. He knows where you live.

READ/HEAR: Judges 4,5

After the Children of Israel had been in their new land for awhile, the inhabitants still left alive began influencing Israel’s children away from God and His precepts. They learned the wicked ways of the Canaanites, thereby weakening their strength and independence, even becoming subject to such pagan cultures like the Moabites. Faithfully, God raised up Judges who led His people and rallied them against their captors.

Wise parents carefully protect their children from destructive elements of the deviant culture they live in. Too many permissively allow their children to drink in the culture, only to find them damaging their lives and walking away from God.

READ/HEAR: Judges 1-3

Joshua characterized the epitome of Christian manhood when he stated, “As for me and my house, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.”

Mom can keep the house clean, determine what’s for supper, pick out the wall paint and the color of your bedspread … but when a man sets the course of his family to serve the Lord, he has accomplished the lion’s share of his responsibilities.

Why … because failure to do so can reap immeasurable damage to the lives of his children and descendants.

It’s like staying on the right highway to reach your destination / or taking the wrong highway and heading in the opposite direction. Then he asks, “How did we ever get here?”

Hey buddy, it was your decision.

READ/HEAR: Joshua 23,24

Joshua challenged the tribes on the southeast on the other side of the Jordan river to be faithful to the Lord and His precepts. They had joined the other tribes to conquer the Promised Land. Now, they were released to go back to their settlement and begin their new life.

Christian parents place serving the Lord as their highest goal for their children. No amount of worldly success can satisfy the heart of a parent like the knowledge that their children are in a good place spiritually.

Establishing a sincere, Christian culture in the home is probably the greatest factor in insuring children will continue to love God and continue Christian family values.

READ/HEAR: Joshua 21,22