Day 95 of My 4th Bible Study Journey - 4 April 2024 reflections
Day 95, 4 Apr 2024
1) Judges 16, Judges 17, Judges 18
JUDGES 16
Samson and Delilah
1 (Jos 15:47) Samson went to Gaza. There he saw a prostitute
and spent the night with her.
2 (1Sa 23:26; Ps 118:10-12) The people of Gaza were told,
"Samson has come here!" So they surrounded him and laid in wait
for him all night at the city gate. They kept quiet all night, thinking,
"In the morning light we will kill him."
3 Samson lay until midnight, then at midnight he got up.
He grabbed the doors of the city gate and the two gateposts
and pulled them out along with the bar. He put them on his shoulder
and brought them to the top of the mountain near Hebron.
4 After this Samson loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek,
whose name was Delilah.
5 (Jos 13:3; Jdg 14:15) The Philistine rulers came up to her and said,
"Trick him! Find out about how his strength is so great
and how we can overcome him, bind him, and humiliate him.
Each one of us will give you eleven hundred silver coins."
[About 28 pounds, or 13 kilograms.]
6 So Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me how your strength is so great
and how you could be bound in order to be subdued."
7 Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that
have not been dried, then I will become weak and be like an ordinary man."
8 So the Philistine rulers brought her seven fresh bowstrings
that had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
9 They lay in wait in her inner room. She said to him,
"The Philistines are upon you, Samson." Then he split apart the bowstrings
like a single thread is split apart at the touch of fire.
So the source of his strength did not become known.
10 (Jdg 16:13) Delilah said to Samson, "You have deceived me.
You have told me lies. Now, please tell me how you can be bound."
11 He said to her, "If they bind me with new ropes that have never
been used, then I will become weak and be like an ordinary man."
12 So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them.
Then she said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson."
For men were lying in wait, remaining in the room.
But he split apart the ropes on his arms like a thread.
13 Delilah said to Samson, "Up to now you have deceived me.
You have told me lies. Tell how you can be bound."
He said to her, "If you weave seven locks of my hair into the fabric
on the loom and fasten it with the pin, then I will become weak
and be like an ordinary man."
14 So Delilah lulled him to sleep and wove seven locks of his hair
into the fabric on the loom. She fastened it with the pin and said to him,
"The Philistines are upon you, Samson." He awakened from his sleep
and tore away from the loom pin and the fabric.
15 (Jdg 14:16) She said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,'
when your heart is not with me? You have deceived me these
three times and have not told me how your strength is so great."
16 Every day she nagged him with her words and pleaded with him
until he was tired to death.
17 (Jdg 13:5; Nu 6:5) So he told her all his secrets and said to her,
"No razor has touched my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God
from my mother's womb. If I were shaven, my strength would leave me,
and I would become weak and be like all other men."
18 (Jdg 16:5) Delilah saw that he had told her all his secrets,
so she sent for the Philistine rulers, saying, "Come up this time,
for he has told me all his secrets." So the Philistine rulers came up to her
and brought the money in their hands.
19 (Pr 7:26-27) Delilah lulled Samson to sleep on her knees
and called for a man to shave off the seven locks of his hair.
Then she began to humiliate him, and his strength left him.
20 (Jos 7:12; 1Sa 16:14) She said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson."
Then he awakened from his sleep and thought,
"I will go out as before and shake myself free of them."
He did not know that the Lord had left him.
21 (Ex 11:5; Isa 47:2) The Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes.
They took him down to Gaza, bound him with bronze chains,
and he ground grain in prison.
22 Yet after it had been shaven, the hair on his head began to grow back.
Judges 16
[1] Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.
[2] And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they
compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city,
and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we
shall kill him.
[3] And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors
of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and
all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an
hill that is before Hebron.
[4] And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of
Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
[5] And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her,
Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we
may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will
give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.
[6] And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great
strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.
[7] And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that
were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
[8] Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs
which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
[9] Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And
she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the
withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his
strength was not known.
[10] And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me
lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.
[11] And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never
were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
[12] Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said
unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait
abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.
[13] And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me
lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If
thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.
[14] And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be
upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the
pin of the beam, and with the web.
[15] And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine
heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not
told me wherein thy great strength lieth.
[16] And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and
urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;
[17] That he told her all his heart, and said unto her. There hath not come
a rasor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's
womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become
weak, and be like any other man.
[18] And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and
called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he
hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto
her, and brought money in their hand.
[19] And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and
she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to
afflict him, and his strength went from him.
[20] And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of
his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake
myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.
[21] But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him
down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the
prison house.
[22] Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.
The Death of Samson
23 (1Sa 5:2-5) The Philistine rulers gathered to offer a great sacrifice
to Dagon their god and to celebrate.
They said, "Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hands."
24 (Da 5:4) The people saw him and praised their god, for they said,
"Our god has given into our hands
our enemy,
the one who ruined our land
and killed many of us."
25 (Jdg 9:27; 19:6) When their hearts were merry, they said,
"Call for Samson, so he can entertain us." So they called for Samson
from the prison, and he entertained them.
They placed him between the pillars.
26 Samson said to the young man who held his hand,
"Let me rest and touch the pillars on which the temple is set,
then I can lean against them."
27 (Dt 22:8; Jos 2:8) The temple was full of men and women,
and all the Philistine rulers were there. There were about 3000 men and women
on the roof watching Samson entertain.
28 (Jer 15:15) Samson called out to the Lord, "Lord God, remember me, I pray!
Please strengthen me just this once, God, so that I may get full revenge
on the Philistines for my two eyes!"
29 Then Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the temple was set
and leaned against them, one with his right hand and one with his left.
30 Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" He pushed with all
his strength, and the temple fell upon the rulers
and all the people who were in it.
At his death he killed more than he had killed in his life.
31 (Jdg 15:20; 13:2) Then his brothers and all his family came down,
carried him, brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol
in the grave of his father Manoah. He had judged Israel for twenty years.
[23] Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a
great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god
hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.
[24] And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our
god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our
country, which slew many of us.
[25] And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call
for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the
prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
[26] And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that
I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon
them.
[27] Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the
Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand
men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
[28] And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I
pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may
be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
[29] And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house
stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of
the other with his left.
[30] And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself
with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the
people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more
than they which he slew in his life.
[31] Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took
him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the
burying place of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.
JUDGES 17
Micah's Idols
1There was a man from the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Micah.
2 (Ne 13:25; Ru 3:10) He said to his mother,
"The eleven hundred shekels of silver
[About 28 pounds, or 13 kilograms.] that were taken from you, on which you
put a curse, even speaking the curse in my ears-here
is the silver with me. I took it."
Then his mother said, "May the Lord bless my son!"
3(Ex 20:4; 20:23) Then he returned the 1100 silver coins to his mother.
His mother said, "I certainly consecrated the silver to the Lord,
for my son to make a carved idol and a metal idol, so now I return it to you."
4 When he returned the silver to his mother, she took two hundred shekels
of silver [About 5 pounds, or 2.3 kilograms.] and gave them to a silversmith
to make a carved idol and a metal idol.
And they were put in the house of Micah.
5 (Ge 31:19; Jdg 8:27) This man Micah owned a shrine. He made an ephod
and household idols, and he hired one of his sons to be a priest for him.
6 (Dt 12:8; Jdg 18:1I) n those days there was no king in Israel.
Everyone did what was right in his eyes.
7 (Ru 1:1-2; Mic 5:2) There was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah.
He was a Levite from Judah, and he stayed as a resident foreigner there.
8 The man went from the city of Bethlehem in Judah to stay wherever
he could find a place. He came to the hill country of Ephraim,
to the house of Micah, to do his work.
9 Micah said to him, "Where do you come from?"
He said to him, "I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah,
and I am going to stay wherever I can find a place."
10 Micah said to him, "Live with me, and be a father and a priest for me.
I will give you ten silver coins [About 4 ounces, or 115 grams.] a year,
a set of clothes, and food." So the Levite went in.
11T he Levite decided to live with the man, and the young man became
like one of his sons.
12 (Jdg 18:30) Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man
became his priest and lived in the house of Micah.
13 Then Micah said, "Now I know that the Lord will do good for me,
for I have a Levite to be my priest."
Judges 17
[1] And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.
[2] And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that
were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine
ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed
be thou of the LORD, my son.
[3] And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his
mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD
from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now
therefore I will restore it unto thee.
[4] Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two
hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a
graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.
[5] And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim,
and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
[6] In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which
was right in his own eyes.
[7] And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah,
who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.
[8] And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn
where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of
Micah, as he journeyed.
[9] And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am
a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.
[10] And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a
priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit
of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.
[11] And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was
unto him as one of his sons.
[12] And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest,
and was in the house of Micah.
[13] Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I
have a Levite to my priest.
JUDGES 18
The Danites Settle in Laish
1 (Jdg 17:6; 19:1) In those days there was no king in Israel.
And in those days the tribe of the Danites was looking for an inheritance
in which to live, for no territory had come into their possession
among the tribes of Israel up to that time.
2 (Jdg 13:25; Jos 2:1) So the children of Dan sent out from their families
five valorous men from Zorah and Eshtaol in order to spy out
and explore the land. They said to them, "Go, explore the land."
They came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah,
and they spent the night there.
3 When they were at the house of Micah, they noticed the speech
of the young Levite. They turned aside and said to him,
"Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place?
What is your business here?"
4 (Jdg 17:10) He told them what Micah had done for him, saying,
"He hired me, and I became his priest."
5 (1Ki 22:5) They said to him, "Please ask God if we may know whether
our mission will be a success as we go to do it."
6 (1Ki 22:6) The priest said to them, "Go in peace.
The Lord is watching the way you are going."
7 (Jos 19:47; Jdg 18:27-28) The five men went away and came to Laish.
They saw the people who were there, living securely according
to the culture of the Sidonians. There were no rulers in the land
who might put them to shame for anything. They were far from
the Sidonians and had no ties with anyone.
8 (Jdg 18:2; 18:11) When they came back to their brothers
in Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers asked them, "What do you have to say?"
9 (Nu 13:30; Jos 2:23-24) They said, "Get up! Let us go up against them,
for we have seen the land. It is very good. You are silent,
but do not hesitate to go to take the land.
10 (Jdg 18:7; 18:27) When you go, you will come to a secure people
and to an expansive land. For God has given it into your hands:
a place where there is no lack of anything on the earth."
11 So six hundred fully armed men set out from the family of the Danites,
from Zorah and Eshtaol.
12 (Jdg 13:25; Jos 15:60) They went up and set up camp in Kiriath Jearim
in Judah. Therefore they call that place Mahaneh Dan to this day.
It is west of Kiriath Jearim.
13 From there they passed the hill country of Ephraim
and came to the house of Micah.
14 (Jdg 17:5) The five men who went to spy out the land of Laish
said to their brothers, "Did you know that in these houses are an ephod,
household idols, a carved image, and a metal idol? Now think about
what to do."
15 (Ge 43:27) So they turned aside there and came to the house of the young
Levite, to the house of Micah, and greeted him.
16 The six hundred men armed with their weapons of war,
who were the children of Dan, stood at the entrance to the gate.
17 (Jdg 18:14; 17:4-5) The five men who went to spy out the land went in
and took the carved idol, ephod, household idols, and the metal idol.
The priest was standing at the entrance
to the gate with the 600 fully armed men.
18 When these men went into the house of Micah and took the carved idol,
ephod, household idols, and the metal idol,
the priest said to them, "What are you doing?"
19 (Jdg 17:10; Job 21:5) They said to him, "Quiet! Put your hand
over your mouth and go with us. Be a father and priest for us. Is it better
to be a priest for one man's house or for a tribe and a family in Israel?"
20 So the priest's heart was glad. He took the ephod, the household
idols, and the carved image and went among the people.
21 So they turned and left, putting the children, livestock,
and valuables in front of them.
22 They had gone far from the house of Micah, but the neighbors
of Micah assembled and caught up to the children of Dan.
23 They called out to the children of Dan. So they turned and said to Micah,
"What is wrong that have you assembled together?"
24 He said, "You took the gods that I made, and the priest, and then you left.
What do I have left? So what is this that you say to me, 'What is wrong?' "
25 The children of Dan said to him, "Do not let us hear your voice again.
Otherwise bitter men might meet you and you will forfeit your life
and the lives of your family."
26 So the children of Dan went their way. And when Micah saw
that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house.
27 (Jos 19:47; Jdg 18:7) They took what Micah had made and his priest,
and came to Laish to a quiet and secure people.
They struck them down with the edge of the sword
and burned the city with fire.
28 (2Sa 10:6; Nu 13:21) There was no one to save them because the city was far
from Sidon and had no contact with anyone. It was in the valley by Beth Rehob.
They rebuilt the city and lived there.
29 (Ge 14:14; Jos 19:47) They called the city Dan, after their father Dan,
who was born to Israel (Laish was the former name of the city).
30 (Ex 2:22; Jdg 13:1) The children of Dan set up the carved idol
for themselves. Jonathan the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh,
and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan
until the time of exile from the land.
31 (Jos 18:1; Jdg 19:18) So they displayed Micah's graven image
that he had made, for the whole time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
Judges 18
[1] In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe
of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all
their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.
[2] And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts,
men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to
search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came
to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.
[3] When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young
man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought
thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?
[4] And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath
hired me, and I am his priest.
[5] And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may
know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.
[6] And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way
wherein ye go.
[7] Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that
were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians,
quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put
them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no
business with any man.
[8] And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their
brethren said unto them, What say ye?
[9] And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen
the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to
go, and to enter to possess the land.
[10] When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land:
for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any
thing that is in the earth.
[11] And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah
and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war.
[12] And they went up, and pitched in Kirjath-jearim, in Judah: wherefore
they called that place Mahaneh-dan unto this day: behold, it is behind
Kirjath-jearim.
[13] And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of
Micah.
[14] Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish,
and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an
ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore
consider what ye have to do.
[15] And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the
Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him.
[16] And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were
of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate.
[17] And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in
thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the
molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six
hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.
[18] And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image, the
ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto
them, What do ye?
[19] And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth,
and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to
be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe
and a family in Israel?
[20] And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the
teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.
[21] So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and
the carriage before them.
[22] And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that
were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and
overtook the children of Dan.
[23] And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces,
and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?
[24] And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest,
and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say
unto me, What aileth thee?
[25] And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among
us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives
of thy household.
[26] And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they
were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.
[27] And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he
had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and
they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.
[28] And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had
no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Beth-rehob.
And they built a city, and dwelt therein.
[29] And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their
father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at
the first.
[30] And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son
of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe
of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
[31] And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time
that the house of God was in Shiloh.
2) Our Daily Bread for 4 April 2024 titled
In God's Arms
Psalm 91:1-2,14-16
PSALMS 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God in whom I trust."
14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
and I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him My salvation.
Psalm 91
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress:
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him:
I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:
I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him,
And shew him my salvation.
The sound of the drill terrified five-year-old Sarah. She leaped out
of the dentist's chair and refused to get back in. Nodding
understandingly, the dentist told her father, "Daddy, get into the chair."
Jason thought he was meant to show his daughter how easy it was. But then
the dentist turned to the little girl and said, "Now, climb up and sit in
Daddy's lap." With her father now cradling her in his reassuring arms,
Sarah relaxed completely, and the dentist was able to continue.
That day, Jason learned a great lesson about the comfort of the presence
of his heavenly Father. "Sometimes, God [chooses not to] take over what
we have to go through," he said. "But God was showing me,
'I will be there with you.' "
Psalm 91 speaks of the comforting presence and power of God that gives
us the strength to face our trials. Knowing that we can rest in His
powerful arms gives us great assurance, as does His promise to those
who love Him:
"He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:
I will be with him in trouble" (v. 15).
There are many unavoidable challenges and trials in life, and we will
inevitably have to go through pain and suffering. But with God's reassuring
arms wrapped around us, we'll be able to bear our crises and circumstances,
and let Him strengthen our faith as we grow through them.
By: Leslie Koh
Reflect & Pray
What trials are you going through now?
How can you remind yourself that God is always with you?
Gracious Father, thank You for Your reassuring presence
in my circumstances. Please help me through them,
knowing that You're always with me.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 5 Rejoice in Grace - Day 5 Called by Name
Isaiah 43:1
1 But now, thus says the Lord who created you, O Jacob,
and He who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob,
and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not:
for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
Eric, age 4, somehow lost his mother in a large and busy department store.
Found sobbing under a coat rack, the boy tried to tell the security guard
where he was when he got separated from his mother. Finally the guard said,
"what's your name, Son? Who do you belong to?"
The child brightened a bit, gave the guard his name, and within minutes
the frantic mother was reunited with her lost son.
One of the first questions we are asked, both as children and adults, is
"What is your name?" - that is, "Who are you? Who do you belong to?"
Children bear the name of their parents, and most women,
except for professional reasons,
take the name of their husbands when they marry.
Our names are our primary method of identification;
they connect us with our heritage and those we love.
In Isaiah 43:1, God declares that we belong to him.
The Lord who created us and formed us says,
"I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine." God's
right of ownership in our lives extends beyond the bond of family and friends,
of parent, child, or spouse. We belong first to him;
we are called by him into oneness with him.
The Scripture is filled with images of the Lord's care for us;
when we are lost, he does
not wait for us to find him,
but takes the initiative, like a loving parent
to seek us out. That declaration of belonging can give us
a strong sense of security in our lives. God loves us;
he will never let us go.
Application
a) What experiences have I had of being lost of abandoned?
b) How can today's verse help me find security in belonging to God?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Luke 16:10-12
10 (Mt 25:21; Lk 19:17) "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful
also in much. And he who is dishonest in the least is dishonest also
in much.
11 So if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth,
who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man's,
who will give you that which is your own?"
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much:
and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon,
who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's,
who shall give you that which is your own?
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Reconciling Peace
Col 3:12-17
12 (Eph 4:2; Lk 1:78) So embrace, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,
a spirit of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, and longsuffering.
13 (Eph 4:32; Mk 11:25; Eph 4:2) Bear with one another
and forgive one another. If anyone has a quarrel against anyone,
even as Christ forgave you, so you must do.
14 (Eph 4:3; 1Co 13:1-13) And above all these things, embrace love,
which is the bond of perfection.
15 (Jn 14:27; Eph 5:20) Let the peace of God,
to which also you are called in one body,
rule in your hearts. And be thankful.
16 (Eph 5:19; Col 1:28; Ro 10:17 ) Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 (1Co 10:31; Eph 5:20 ) And whatever you do in word or deed,
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have
a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity,
which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye
are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Manitoba
Quick facts on Muslims in Manitoba
Manitoba 2015 population 1 282 000
est Muslim Population 21 349
CNMM Networks: Winnipeg
The Muslim population of Manitoba, understandably centred in Winnipeg, is very
diverse and represents some 48 different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Conservative estimates put their number at 21000 , with some suggesting
it might be twice that size.
Some outreach among Muslims has started, yet in comparison to the size
of this community, there is the need and opportunity for far more engagement.
Continued influx of new immigrants and refugees continues to see the growth
of this Muslim centre in Manitoba.
We rejoice in the Arabic fellowship meeting there and the energetic workers
among Muslims in Winnipeg.
Let us intercede in unity for:
- new Christian workers among Manitoba's growing Muslim population
- new church ministries focused on prayer, equipping and reaching Muslim
communities around them, as well as training new workers
- the Arabic fellowship and their ministries of discipling new Muslim
background believers and for effectiveness in outreach
- for the recent Somali woman who found faith in Jesus and stood her ground
in the face of opposition to her new faith.
- for current workers among Muslims to be blessed, refreshed and encouraged
with great support
Adding further
The Night of Power
Matthew 7:7
7 (Mt 21:22; Mk 11:24) "Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. "
[7] Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it
shall be opened unto you:
There are many historic events which Muslims honour and remember, but none
are more important than the remembrance of the initial revelation of the
Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad. This is the event recalled on the Night
of Power, or Lailat Al Qadr – also known as the Night of Destiny.
It is said that the Prophet Muhammad would frequently retire to a cave
called Hira, on the outskirts of Mecca, where he would spend days
in meditation. He was said to spend this time reflecting on how to
solve the problems faced by the communities around him.
According to Islamic sources, in the month of Ramadan, in 610 CE,
Muhammad was visited by the Archangel Gabriel, who revealed the first verses
of the Qur'an to the Prophet. The Prophet ran home to his wife, Kadijah,
and told her what had happened. She encouraged him and took him to her cousin,
Waraqa, who was a scholar. He advised Muhammad that he had been chosen
as a prophet and was sent by God to call society to worship the One God
and lead a righteous life.
The story of Muhammad's revelation inspires Muslims particularly during the
last 10 days of Ramadan when the Night of Power is said to occur, probably
on the 26th. In the mosque, there will be increased worship, recitation of
the Qur'an and fervent prayer. Many Muslims believe that prayers prayed
on the Night of Power are a thousand times more effective than prayers
prayed on other days.
How to Pray
Many Muslims have had dreams or visions of Jesus on the Night of Power.
Pray that through Jesus many will come to have that revelation of God
that they desire.
Pray for opportunities for Muslims who are seeking revelation to have
encounters with believers who can help them to understand the revelation
we have of God through Jesus.
Pray that on this night of heightened expectation,
many will find what they are seeking.
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
4nd Day of the Month
a) Pray for the preservation of godly values in Canada
(Prov 14:34 - Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:
But sin is a reproach to any people.
)
b) Pray the political leaders will be awakened by God to the right
use of power and the right stewardship of their positions.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to do the Lord's bidding.
Pray to the Lord: "Gracious Father, thank You for Your reassuring presence
in my circumstances. Please help me through them,
knowing that You're always with me."
Pray to the Lord and pray to know you belong to Him.
Pray to the Lord and pray to be a faithful steward.
Pray to the Lord and pray for reconciliation.
Agree in prayer with us for:
- new Christian workers among Manitoba's growing Muslim population
- new church ministries focused on prayer, equipping and reaching Muslim
communities around them, as well as training new workers
- the Arabic fellowship and their ministries of discipling new Muslim
background believers and for effectiveness in outreach
- for the recent Somali woman who found faith in Jesus and stood her ground
in the face of opposition to her new faith.
- for current workers among Muslims to be blessed, refreshed and encouraged
with great support
- Pray for the end of violence and for Christ-
exalting, multiplying house churches in
the 31 languages of Damascus and Noms,
especially in the listed people groups.
- Pray for refugees, the poor. and the broken
to find hope and healing in Jesus's name.
- Pray for the Kingdom of God to advance
through signs, wonders, and power
in military, business, and government
leaders.
Pray for the preservation of godly values in Canada
Pray the political leaders will be awakened by God to the right
use of power and the right stewardship of their positions.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God
1) Judges 16, Judges 17, Judges 18
JUDGES 16
Samson and Delilah
1 (Jos 15:47) Samson went to Gaza. There he saw a prostitute
and spent the night with her.
2 (1Sa 23:26; Ps 118:10-12) The people of Gaza were told,
"Samson has come here!" So they surrounded him and laid in wait
for him all night at the city gate. They kept quiet all night, thinking,
"In the morning light we will kill him."
3 Samson lay until midnight, then at midnight he got up.
He grabbed the doors of the city gate and the two gateposts
and pulled them out along with the bar. He put them on his shoulder
and brought them to the top of the mountain near Hebron.
4 After this Samson loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek,
whose name was Delilah.
5 (Jos 13:3; Jdg 14:15) The Philistine rulers came up to her and said,
"Trick him! Find out about how his strength is so great
and how we can overcome him, bind him, and humiliate him.
Each one of us will give you eleven hundred silver coins."
[About 28 pounds, or 13 kilograms.]
6 So Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me how your strength is so great
and how you could be bound in order to be subdued."
7 Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that
have not been dried, then I will become weak and be like an ordinary man."
8 So the Philistine rulers brought her seven fresh bowstrings
that had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
9 They lay in wait in her inner room. She said to him,
"The Philistines are upon you, Samson." Then he split apart the bowstrings
like a single thread is split apart at the touch of fire.
So the source of his strength did not become known.
10 (Jdg 16:13) Delilah said to Samson, "You have deceived me.
You have told me lies. Now, please tell me how you can be bound."
11 He said to her, "If they bind me with new ropes that have never
been used, then I will become weak and be like an ordinary man."
12 So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them.
Then she said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson."
For men were lying in wait, remaining in the room.
But he split apart the ropes on his arms like a thread.
13 Delilah said to Samson, "Up to now you have deceived me.
You have told me lies. Tell how you can be bound."
He said to her, "If you weave seven locks of my hair into the fabric
on the loom and fasten it with the pin, then I will become weak
and be like an ordinary man."
14 So Delilah lulled him to sleep and wove seven locks of his hair
into the fabric on the loom. She fastened it with the pin and said to him,
"The Philistines are upon you, Samson." He awakened from his sleep
and tore away from the loom pin and the fabric.
15 (Jdg 14:16) She said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,'
when your heart is not with me? You have deceived me these
three times and have not told me how your strength is so great."
16 Every day she nagged him with her words and pleaded with him
until he was tired to death.
17 (Jdg 13:5; Nu 6:5) So he told her all his secrets and said to her,
"No razor has touched my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God
from my mother's womb. If I were shaven, my strength would leave me,
and I would become weak and be like all other men."
18 (Jdg 16:5) Delilah saw that he had told her all his secrets,
so she sent for the Philistine rulers, saying, "Come up this time,
for he has told me all his secrets." So the Philistine rulers came up to her
and brought the money in their hands.
19 (Pr 7:26-27) Delilah lulled Samson to sleep on her knees
and called for a man to shave off the seven locks of his hair.
Then she began to humiliate him, and his strength left him.
20 (Jos 7:12; 1Sa 16:14) She said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson."
Then he awakened from his sleep and thought,
"I will go out as before and shake myself free of them."
He did not know that the Lord had left him.
21 (Ex 11:5; Isa 47:2) The Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes.
They took him down to Gaza, bound him with bronze chains,
and he ground grain in prison.
22 Yet after it had been shaven, the hair on his head began to grow back.
Judges 16
[1] Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.
[2] And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they
compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city,
and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we
shall kill him.
[3] And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors
of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and
all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an
hill that is before Hebron.
[4] And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of
Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
[5] And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her,
Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we
may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will
give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.
[6] And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great
strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.
[7] And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that
were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
[8] Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs
which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
[9] Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And
she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the
withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his
strength was not known.
[10] And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me
lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.
[11] And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never
were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
[12] Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said
unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait
abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.
[13] And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me
lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If
thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.
[14] And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be
upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the
pin of the beam, and with the web.
[15] And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine
heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not
told me wherein thy great strength lieth.
[16] And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and
urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;
[17] That he told her all his heart, and said unto her. There hath not come
a rasor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's
womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become
weak, and be like any other man.
[18] And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and
called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he
hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto
her, and brought money in their hand.
[19] And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and
she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to
afflict him, and his strength went from him.
[20] And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of
his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake
myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.
[21] But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him
down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the
prison house.
[22] Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.
The Death of Samson
23 (1Sa 5:2-5) The Philistine rulers gathered to offer a great sacrifice
to Dagon their god and to celebrate.
They said, "Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hands."
24 (Da 5:4) The people saw him and praised their god, for they said,
"Our god has given into our hands
our enemy,
the one who ruined our land
and killed many of us."
25 (Jdg 9:27; 19:6) When their hearts were merry, they said,
"Call for Samson, so he can entertain us." So they called for Samson
from the prison, and he entertained them.
They placed him between the pillars.
26 Samson said to the young man who held his hand,
"Let me rest and touch the pillars on which the temple is set,
then I can lean against them."
27 (Dt 22:8; Jos 2:8) The temple was full of men and women,
and all the Philistine rulers were there. There were about 3000 men and women
on the roof watching Samson entertain.
28 (Jer 15:15) Samson called out to the Lord, "Lord God, remember me, I pray!
Please strengthen me just this once, God, so that I may get full revenge
on the Philistines for my two eyes!"
29 Then Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the temple was set
and leaned against them, one with his right hand and one with his left.
30 Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" He pushed with all
his strength, and the temple fell upon the rulers
and all the people who were in it.
At his death he killed more than he had killed in his life.
31 (Jdg 15:20; 13:2) Then his brothers and all his family came down,
carried him, brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol
in the grave of his father Manoah. He had judged Israel for twenty years.
[23] Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a
great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god
hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.
[24] And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our
god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our
country, which slew many of us.
[25] And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call
for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the
prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
[26] And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that
I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon
them.
[27] Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the
Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand
men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
[28] And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I
pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may
be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
[29] And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house
stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of
the other with his left.
[30] And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself
with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the
people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more
than they which he slew in his life.
[31] Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took
him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the
burying place of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.
JUDGES 17
Micah's Idols
1There was a man from the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Micah.
2 (Ne 13:25; Ru 3:10) He said to his mother,
"The eleven hundred shekels of silver
[About 28 pounds, or 13 kilograms.] that were taken from you, on which you
put a curse, even speaking the curse in my ears-here
is the silver with me. I took it."
Then his mother said, "May the Lord bless my son!"
3(Ex 20:4; 20:23) Then he returned the 1100 silver coins to his mother.
His mother said, "I certainly consecrated the silver to the Lord,
for my son to make a carved idol and a metal idol, so now I return it to you."
4 When he returned the silver to his mother, she took two hundred shekels
of silver [About 5 pounds, or 2.3 kilograms.] and gave them to a silversmith
to make a carved idol and a metal idol.
And they were put in the house of Micah.
5 (Ge 31:19; Jdg 8:27) This man Micah owned a shrine. He made an ephod
and household idols, and he hired one of his sons to be a priest for him.
6 (Dt 12:8; Jdg 18:1I) n those days there was no king in Israel.
Everyone did what was right in his eyes.
7 (Ru 1:1-2; Mic 5:2) There was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah.
He was a Levite from Judah, and he stayed as a resident foreigner there.
8 The man went from the city of Bethlehem in Judah to stay wherever
he could find a place. He came to the hill country of Ephraim,
to the house of Micah, to do his work.
9 Micah said to him, "Where do you come from?"
He said to him, "I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah,
and I am going to stay wherever I can find a place."
10 Micah said to him, "Live with me, and be a father and a priest for me.
I will give you ten silver coins [About 4 ounces, or 115 grams.] a year,
a set of clothes, and food." So the Levite went in.
11T he Levite decided to live with the man, and the young man became
like one of his sons.
12 (Jdg 18:30) Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man
became his priest and lived in the house of Micah.
13 Then Micah said, "Now I know that the Lord will do good for me,
for I have a Levite to be my priest."
Judges 17
[1] And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.
[2] And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that
were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine
ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed
be thou of the LORD, my son.
[3] And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his
mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD
from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now
therefore I will restore it unto thee.
[4] Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two
hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a
graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.
[5] And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim,
and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
[6] In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which
was right in his own eyes.
[7] And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah,
who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.
[8] And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn
where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of
Micah, as he journeyed.
[9] And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am
a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.
[10] And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a
priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit
of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.
[11] And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was
unto him as one of his sons.
[12] And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest,
and was in the house of Micah.
[13] Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I
have a Levite to my priest.
JUDGES 18
The Danites Settle in Laish
1 (Jdg 17:6; 19:1) In those days there was no king in Israel.
And in those days the tribe of the Danites was looking for an inheritance
in which to live, for no territory had come into their possession
among the tribes of Israel up to that time.
2 (Jdg 13:25; Jos 2:1) So the children of Dan sent out from their families
five valorous men from Zorah and Eshtaol in order to spy out
and explore the land. They said to them, "Go, explore the land."
They came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah,
and they spent the night there.
3 When they were at the house of Micah, they noticed the speech
of the young Levite. They turned aside and said to him,
"Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place?
What is your business here?"
4 (Jdg 17:10) He told them what Micah had done for him, saying,
"He hired me, and I became his priest."
5 (1Ki 22:5) They said to him, "Please ask God if we may know whether
our mission will be a success as we go to do it."
6 (1Ki 22:6) The priest said to them, "Go in peace.
The Lord is watching the way you are going."
7 (Jos 19:47; Jdg 18:27-28) The five men went away and came to Laish.
They saw the people who were there, living securely according
to the culture of the Sidonians. There were no rulers in the land
who might put them to shame for anything. They were far from
the Sidonians and had no ties with anyone.
8 (Jdg 18:2; 18:11) When they came back to their brothers
in Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers asked them, "What do you have to say?"
9 (Nu 13:30; Jos 2:23-24) They said, "Get up! Let us go up against them,
for we have seen the land. It is very good. You are silent,
but do not hesitate to go to take the land.
10 (Jdg 18:7; 18:27) When you go, you will come to a secure people
and to an expansive land. For God has given it into your hands:
a place where there is no lack of anything on the earth."
11 So six hundred fully armed men set out from the family of the Danites,
from Zorah and Eshtaol.
12 (Jdg 13:25; Jos 15:60) They went up and set up camp in Kiriath Jearim
in Judah. Therefore they call that place Mahaneh Dan to this day.
It is west of Kiriath Jearim.
13 From there they passed the hill country of Ephraim
and came to the house of Micah.
14 (Jdg 17:5) The five men who went to spy out the land of Laish
said to their brothers, "Did you know that in these houses are an ephod,
household idols, a carved image, and a metal idol? Now think about
what to do."
15 (Ge 43:27) So they turned aside there and came to the house of the young
Levite, to the house of Micah, and greeted him.
16 The six hundred men armed with their weapons of war,
who were the children of Dan, stood at the entrance to the gate.
17 (Jdg 18:14; 17:4-5) The five men who went to spy out the land went in
and took the carved idol, ephod, household idols, and the metal idol.
The priest was standing at the entrance
to the gate with the 600 fully armed men.
18 When these men went into the house of Micah and took the carved idol,
ephod, household idols, and the metal idol,
the priest said to them, "What are you doing?"
19 (Jdg 17:10; Job 21:5) They said to him, "Quiet! Put your hand
over your mouth and go with us. Be a father and priest for us. Is it better
to be a priest for one man's house or for a tribe and a family in Israel?"
20 So the priest's heart was glad. He took the ephod, the household
idols, and the carved image and went among the people.
21 So they turned and left, putting the children, livestock,
and valuables in front of them.
22 They had gone far from the house of Micah, but the neighbors
of Micah assembled and caught up to the children of Dan.
23 They called out to the children of Dan. So they turned and said to Micah,
"What is wrong that have you assembled together?"
24 He said, "You took the gods that I made, and the priest, and then you left.
What do I have left? So what is this that you say to me, 'What is wrong?' "
25 The children of Dan said to him, "Do not let us hear your voice again.
Otherwise bitter men might meet you and you will forfeit your life
and the lives of your family."
26 So the children of Dan went their way. And when Micah saw
that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house.
27 (Jos 19:47; Jdg 18:7) They took what Micah had made and his priest,
and came to Laish to a quiet and secure people.
They struck them down with the edge of the sword
and burned the city with fire.
28 (2Sa 10:6; Nu 13:21) There was no one to save them because the city was far
from Sidon and had no contact with anyone. It was in the valley by Beth Rehob.
They rebuilt the city and lived there.
29 (Ge 14:14; Jos 19:47) They called the city Dan, after their father Dan,
who was born to Israel (Laish was the former name of the city).
30 (Ex 2:22; Jdg 13:1) The children of Dan set up the carved idol
for themselves. Jonathan the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh,
and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan
until the time of exile from the land.
31 (Jos 18:1; Jdg 19:18) So they displayed Micah's graven image
that he had made, for the whole time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
Judges 18
[1] In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe
of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all
their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.
[2] And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts,
men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to
search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came
to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.
[3] When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young
man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought
thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?
[4] And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath
hired me, and I am his priest.
[5] And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may
know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.
[6] And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way
wherein ye go.
[7] Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that
were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians,
quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put
them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no
business with any man.
[8] And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their
brethren said unto them, What say ye?
[9] And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen
the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to
go, and to enter to possess the land.
[10] When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land:
for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any
thing that is in the earth.
[11] And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah
and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war.
[12] And they went up, and pitched in Kirjath-jearim, in Judah: wherefore
they called that place Mahaneh-dan unto this day: behold, it is behind
Kirjath-jearim.
[13] And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of
Micah.
[14] Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish,
and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an
ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore
consider what ye have to do.
[15] And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the
Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him.
[16] And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were
of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate.
[17] And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in
thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the
molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six
hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.
[18] And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image, the
ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto
them, What do ye?
[19] And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth,
and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to
be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe
and a family in Israel?
[20] And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the
teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.
[21] So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and
the carriage before them.
[22] And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that
were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and
overtook the children of Dan.
[23] And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces,
and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?
[24] And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest,
and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say
unto me, What aileth thee?
[25] And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among
us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives
of thy household.
[26] And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they
were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.
[27] And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he
had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and
they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.
[28] And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had
no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Beth-rehob.
And they built a city, and dwelt therein.
[29] And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their
father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at
the first.
[30] And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son
of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe
of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
[31] And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time
that the house of God was in Shiloh.
2) Our Daily Bread for 4 April 2024 titled
In God's Arms
Psalm 91:1-2,14-16
PSALMS 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God in whom I trust."
14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
and I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him My salvation.
Psalm 91
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress:
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him:
I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:
I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him,
And shew him my salvation.
The sound of the drill terrified five-year-old Sarah. She leaped out
of the dentist's chair and refused to get back in. Nodding
understandingly, the dentist told her father, "Daddy, get into the chair."
Jason thought he was meant to show his daughter how easy it was. But then
the dentist turned to the little girl and said, "Now, climb up and sit in
Daddy's lap." With her father now cradling her in his reassuring arms,
Sarah relaxed completely, and the dentist was able to continue.
That day, Jason learned a great lesson about the comfort of the presence
of his heavenly Father. "Sometimes, God [chooses not to] take over what
we have to go through," he said. "But God was showing me,
'I will be there with you.' "
Psalm 91 speaks of the comforting presence and power of God that gives
us the strength to face our trials. Knowing that we can rest in His
powerful arms gives us great assurance, as does His promise to those
who love Him:
"He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:
I will be with him in trouble" (v. 15).
There are many unavoidable challenges and trials in life, and we will
inevitably have to go through pain and suffering. But with God's reassuring
arms wrapped around us, we'll be able to bear our crises and circumstances,
and let Him strengthen our faith as we grow through them.
By: Leslie Koh
Reflect & Pray
What trials are you going through now?
How can you remind yourself that God is always with you?
Gracious Father, thank You for Your reassuring presence
in my circumstances. Please help me through them,
knowing that You're always with me.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 5 Rejoice in Grace - Day 5 Called by Name
Isaiah 43:1
1 But now, thus says the Lord who created you, O Jacob,
and He who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob,
and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not:
for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
Eric, age 4, somehow lost his mother in a large and busy department store.
Found sobbing under a coat rack, the boy tried to tell the security guard
where he was when he got separated from his mother. Finally the guard said,
"what's your name, Son? Who do you belong to?"
The child brightened a bit, gave the guard his name, and within minutes
the frantic mother was reunited with her lost son.
One of the first questions we are asked, both as children and adults, is
"What is your name?" - that is, "Who are you? Who do you belong to?"
Children bear the name of their parents, and most women,
except for professional reasons,
take the name of their husbands when they marry.
Our names are our primary method of identification;
they connect us with our heritage and those we love.
In Isaiah 43:1, God declares that we belong to him.
The Lord who created us and formed us says,
"I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine." God's
right of ownership in our lives extends beyond the bond of family and friends,
of parent, child, or spouse. We belong first to him;
we are called by him into oneness with him.
The Scripture is filled with images of the Lord's care for us;
when we are lost, he does
not wait for us to find him,
but takes the initiative, like a loving parent
to seek us out. That declaration of belonging can give us
a strong sense of security in our lives. God loves us;
he will never let us go.
Application
a) What experiences have I had of being lost of abandoned?
b) How can today's verse help me find security in belonging to God?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Luke 16:10-12
10 (Mt 25:21; Lk 19:17) "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful
also in much. And he who is dishonest in the least is dishonest also
in much.
11 So if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth,
who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man's,
who will give you that which is your own?"
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much:
and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon,
who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's,
who shall give you that which is your own?
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Reconciling Peace
Col 3:12-17
12 (Eph 4:2; Lk 1:78) So embrace, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,
a spirit of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, and longsuffering.
13 (Eph 4:32; Mk 11:25; Eph 4:2) Bear with one another
and forgive one another. If anyone has a quarrel against anyone,
even as Christ forgave you, so you must do.
14 (Eph 4:3; 1Co 13:1-13) And above all these things, embrace love,
which is the bond of perfection.
15 (Jn 14:27; Eph 5:20) Let the peace of God,
to which also you are called in one body,
rule in your hearts. And be thankful.
16 (Eph 5:19; Col 1:28; Ro 10:17 ) Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 (1Co 10:31; Eph 5:20 ) And whatever you do in word or deed,
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have
a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity,
which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye
are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Manitoba
Quick facts on Muslims in Manitoba
Manitoba 2015 population 1 282 000
est Muslim Population 21 349
CNMM Networks: Winnipeg
The Muslim population of Manitoba, understandably centred in Winnipeg, is very
diverse and represents some 48 different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Conservative estimates put their number at 21000 , with some suggesting
it might be twice that size.
Some outreach among Muslims has started, yet in comparison to the size
of this community, there is the need and opportunity for far more engagement.
Continued influx of new immigrants and refugees continues to see the growth
of this Muslim centre in Manitoba.
We rejoice in the Arabic fellowship meeting there and the energetic workers
among Muslims in Winnipeg.
Let us intercede in unity for:
- new Christian workers among Manitoba's growing Muslim population
- new church ministries focused on prayer, equipping and reaching Muslim
communities around them, as well as training new workers
- the Arabic fellowship and their ministries of discipling new Muslim
background believers and for effectiveness in outreach
- for the recent Somali woman who found faith in Jesus and stood her ground
in the face of opposition to her new faith.
- for current workers among Muslims to be blessed, refreshed and encouraged
with great support
Adding further
The Night of Power
Matthew 7:7
7 (Mt 21:22; Mk 11:24) "Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. "
[7] Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it
shall be opened unto you:
There are many historic events which Muslims honour and remember, but none
are more important than the remembrance of the initial revelation of the
Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad. This is the event recalled on the Night
of Power, or Lailat Al Qadr – also known as the Night of Destiny.
It is said that the Prophet Muhammad would frequently retire to a cave
called Hira, on the outskirts of Mecca, where he would spend days
in meditation. He was said to spend this time reflecting on how to
solve the problems faced by the communities around him.
According to Islamic sources, in the month of Ramadan, in 610 CE,
Muhammad was visited by the Archangel Gabriel, who revealed the first verses
of the Qur'an to the Prophet. The Prophet ran home to his wife, Kadijah,
and told her what had happened. She encouraged him and took him to her cousin,
Waraqa, who was a scholar. He advised Muhammad that he had been chosen
as a prophet and was sent by God to call society to worship the One God
and lead a righteous life.
The story of Muhammad's revelation inspires Muslims particularly during the
last 10 days of Ramadan when the Night of Power is said to occur, probably
on the 26th. In the mosque, there will be increased worship, recitation of
the Qur'an and fervent prayer. Many Muslims believe that prayers prayed
on the Night of Power are a thousand times more effective than prayers
prayed on other days.
How to Pray
Many Muslims have had dreams or visions of Jesus on the Night of Power.
Pray that through Jesus many will come to have that revelation of God
that they desire.
Pray for opportunities for Muslims who are seeking revelation to have
encounters with believers who can help them to understand the revelation
we have of God through Jesus.
Pray that on this night of heightened expectation,
many will find what they are seeking.
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
4nd Day of the Month
a) Pray for the preservation of godly values in Canada
(Prov 14:34 - Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:
But sin is a reproach to any people.
)
b) Pray the political leaders will be awakened by God to the right
use of power and the right stewardship of their positions.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to do the Lord's bidding.
Pray to the Lord: "Gracious Father, thank You for Your reassuring presence
in my circumstances. Please help me through them,
knowing that You're always with me."
Pray to the Lord and pray to know you belong to Him.
Pray to the Lord and pray to be a faithful steward.
Pray to the Lord and pray for reconciliation.
Agree in prayer with us for:
- new Christian workers among Manitoba's growing Muslim population
- new church ministries focused on prayer, equipping and reaching Muslim
communities around them, as well as training new workers
- the Arabic fellowship and their ministries of discipling new Muslim
background believers and for effectiveness in outreach
- for the recent Somali woman who found faith in Jesus and stood her ground
in the face of opposition to her new faith.
- for current workers among Muslims to be blessed, refreshed and encouraged
with great support
- Pray for the end of violence and for Christ-
exalting, multiplying house churches in
the 31 languages of Damascus and Noms,
especially in the listed people groups.
- Pray for refugees, the poor. and the broken
to find hope and healing in Jesus's name.
- Pray for the Kingdom of God to advance
through signs, wonders, and power
in military, business, and government
leaders.
Pray for the preservation of godly values in Canada
Pray the political leaders will be awakened by God to the right
use of power and the right stewardship of their positions.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God
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