August 22 - Jeremiah 46-48: God Shows the Godless Nations They Need Him

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 46-48

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God would bring punishment on all the nations around Judah as well.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God's message to other nations:
"Egypt! Inside you shake with terror. You will not control the world. Exile will be your new home. Watch out—I'm going to show up your gods.
"Israel, however, I will return from exile. I'm not finished with you yet."
"Doom is coming, Philistines."
"Moab, your glory and your gods will be taken away. You will be an embarrassment to future generations. You laughed at Israel but were equally as bad. I will weep for you while I stop the sacrifices to your gods. Someday I will put things right; but first, punishment."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God would punish these "godless" nations to prove their gods impotent.

God wanted Israel and Judah to be lighthouses to the nations with hopes that they would give up their gods and follow the Creator. Instead Israel and Judah became examples of how not to follow God. Now God comes to each nation independently to prove their gods unable to save, just as Israel's gods were unable to save them. God is not being heartless and killing nation after nation. He is showing them they need a new god and Israel would be a great place to find Him. Everything God does is meant to set things right, even if it requires punishment.

Israel would be returned because God was not finished with them.

God comforts His Exiled People:

I’ll finish off all the godless nations
   among which I’ve scattered you,
But I won’t finish you off.
   I have more work left to do on you.
I’ll punish you, but fairly.
   No, I’m not finished with you yet. (46:28, The Message)

God is never finished with His Chosen People, even when they are finished with Him.

God would set Moab right.

Out of the three "godless" nations, Moab is the only one who receives a comforting message at the end. God would punish them because of their arrogance but he would bring them back in the end. God wants to set things right.

Are you finished with God?

April 4 - Judges 13-15: Samson is Born to Punish the Philistines

Today’s Reading: Judges 13-15

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Samson is to punish the Philistines for dominating Israel.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Israel returned to evil. Punishment? Philistine domination.
Manoah and his wife were childless. The angel of God informed her that her newly-conceived son would be under the Nazarite vow. When the messenger returned the parents were filled with joy. Samson was born.
God gave Samson a Philistine wife to provoke him to punish the Philistines. He gave a riddle which they could not answer until they forced his wife to cheat. He killed thirty men. His wife was given to another man. Samson burned Philistia's crops. The Philistines murdered his wife and her family. He killed 1000 of their men.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God has called Samson from before birth to deliver Israel from Philistine oppression.

Israel has returned to evil. God gave them over to Philistia to rule for 20 years. Now they will be delivered. So God calls Samson to save Israel even before he was born.

God wanted Samson to have a Philistine wife to punish them.

God has warned Israel against marrying outsiders. However, Samson's case is unique because God has a plan for him. God allows His Chosen People to break His Commands—when He has a plan for them. And no, I don't think "someday something good might come from this" is not God's plan.

Samson's strength comes from the Spirit of God.

Samson's strength did not come from his ritual observance of the Nazarite vow. Samson's strength came from the Spirit of God coming with power. The observance of the Nazarite vow allowed God to have a place to fill. Ritual observances do not save us. Ritual observances allow God's Spirit to come upon us in power. That is why we pray, sing, fellowship with others, etc.

Are you a proper place for God's Spirit?