Day 93 of My 4th Bible Study Journey - 2 April 2024 reflections
Day 93, 2 April 2024
1) Judges 10, Judges 11, Judges 12
JUDGES 10
Tola
1 (Jdg 2:16) After the death of Abimelek, Tola the son of Puah,
the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, arose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir,
in the hill country of Ephraim.
2 He judged Israel for twenty-three years.
Then he died and was buried in Shamir.
[1] And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah,
the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim.
[2] And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in
Shamir.
Jair
3 After him Jair the Gileadite arose and judged Israel for 22 years.
4 (Nu 32:41; Dt 3:14) He had thirty sons who rode thirty donkeys
and owned thirty cities that are in the land of Gilead.
They are called Havvoth Jair to this day.
5 Jair died and was buried in Kamon.
[3] And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two
years.
[4] 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.
[5] And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.
Jephthah
6 (1Ki 11:5; 11:7) Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight
of the Lord. They worshipped the Baals, the Ashtoreths,
and the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, the Ammonites, and the Philistines.
They abandoned the Lord and did not serve Him.
7 (Jdg 2:14) The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He sold them
into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites.
8 They brutally oppressed the children of Israel that year.
For eighteen years they oppressed all the children of Israel
beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites in Gilead.
9 The Ammonites also crossed over the Jordan to wage war
against Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim, so that Israel was greatly distressed.
10 (1Sa 12:10; Jdg 3:9) Then the children of Israel cried out to the Lord,
"We have sinned against You, for we have abandoned
our God and worshipped the Baals."
11 (Ex 14:30; Nu 21:21-25) The Lord said to the children of Israel,
"Did I not deliver you from Egypt, the Amorites, the Ammonites,
the Philistines,
12 (Jdg 6:3) the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites
when they oppressed you? You cried out to Me, and I saved you from their hands.
13 (Jer 2:13; Dt 32:15) Yet you have abandoned Me and worshipped other gods.
Therefore I will not save you again.
14 (Dt 32:37-38) Go and cry out to the gods that you have chosen.
Let them save you in your time of distress."
15 (1Sa 3:18; 2Sa 15:26) Then the children of Israel said to the Lord,
"We have sinned. Do to us whatever seems good in Your sight.
Please, just deliver us today."
16 (Isa 63:9; Ps 106:44-45) They removed the foreign gods from among them
and worshipped the Lord, and He could no longer endure
the suffering of Israel.
17 (Jdg 11:29; Ge 31:49) The Ammonites had been called out
and set up camp in Gilead. The children of Israel assembled and set up
camp in Mizpah.
18 (Jdg 11:11) The commanders of Gilead said to each other,
" Who is the man who will begin to fight against the Ammonites?
He will be the ruler of all the inhabitants of Gilead."
[6] And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and
served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon,
and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of
the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.
[7] And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into
the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.
[8] And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen
years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the
land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.
[9] Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against
Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that
Israel was sore distressed.
[10] And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned
against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.
[11] And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you
from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and
from the Philistines?
[12] The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress
you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.
[13] Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will
deliver you no more.
[14] Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in
the time of your tribulation.
[15] And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou
unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee,
this day.
[16] And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the
LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
[17] Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in
Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and
encamped in Mizpeh.
[18] And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is
he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head
over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
JUDGES 11
1 (Heb 11:32; Jdg 6:12) Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour,
but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah.
2 Gilead's wife also bore him sons. His wife's sons grew up and drove
Jephthah away. They said to him, "You will not inherit anything
from our father's house because you are the son of another woman."
3 (Jdg 9:4; 1Sa 22:2) So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived
in the land of Tob. Men of ill repute gathered around Jephthah
and went out with him.
4 Some time passed, then the Ammonites waged war with Israel.
5 When the Ammonites waged war with Israel, the elders of Gilead
went to bring Jephthah back from the land of Tob.
6 They said to Jephthah, "Come and be our leader so that we may
fight the Ammonites."
7 (Ge 26:27) Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead,
"Did you not hate me and drive me out of my father's house?
Why have you come to me now that you are in trouble?"
8 (Jdg 10:18) The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah,
"Even so, we have turned to you. Come with us and fight the Ammonites.
You will be ruler over all the inhabitants of Gilead."
9 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me back to wage war
against the Ammonites, and the Lord gives them to me,
then I will be your ruler."
10 (Jer 42:5; Ge 31:50) The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah,
"May the Lord be a witness between us
if we do not act according to your word."
11 (Jdg 10:17; 20:1) So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead.
The people set him over them as ruler and leader.
And Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord in Mizpah.
12 Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king to say,
"What problem is there between you and me,
that you have come to me to wage war in my land?"
13 (Ge 32:22; Nu 21:24-26) The Ammonite king said to the messengers
of Jephthah, "Because when Israel came up from Egypt, they took my land,
from the Arnon to the Jabbok and as far as the Jordan.
Now return it peacefully."
14 Again Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king,
15 (Dt 2:9; 2:19) and said to him,
"Jephthah says this: Israel did not take the land of Moab,
nor the Ammonite land;
16 (Nu 14:25; Dt 1:40_ for when Israel came up from Egypt,
they went into the desert as far as the Red Sea and came to Kadesh.
17 (Nu 20:1; 20:14-21) Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom,
saying, 'Please let us pass through your land.' Yet the king of Edom would
not listen. They also sent messengers to the king of Moab,
but he was unwilling. So Israel stayed at Kadesh.
18 (Nu 22:36; Dt 2:1-8) "They went into the wilderness, around the lands
of Edom and Moab. They went east of the land of Moab and set up camp
on the other side of the River Arnon. They did not cross the boundary
of Moab, for the River Arnon was the boundary of Moab.
19 "Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites,
who ruled in Heshbon. Israel said to him,
"Please let us pass through your land to our home."
20 Yet Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory,
so Sihon gathered all his people and set up camp in Jahaz
to fight with Israel.
21 "The Lord God of Israel gave Sihon and all his people
into the hands of Israel, and they struck them down. So Israel took possession
of all the land of the Amorites who lived in that land.
22 (Dt 2:36) They took possession of all of the territory of the Amorites,
from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the desert to the Jordan.
23 "Now that the Lord God of Israel has driven out the Amorites
from before His people Israel, should you take it?
24 (Nu 21:29; 1Ki 11:7) Will you not take possession of whatever Chemosh
your god gives you? So everything that the Lord our God possesses before us,
we will take possession of it.
25 (Mic 6:5) Now are you really better than Balak son of Zippor,
the king of Moab? Did he ever contend with Israel or wage war with them?
26 (Dt 2:36) Israel has lived in Heshbon and its nearby towns, in Aroer
and its nearby towns, and in all the cities along the banks of the River Arnon
for three hundred years. Why did you not take them back during that time?
27 (Ge 16:5; 18:25) So I have not sinned against you, but it is you who are
doing evil to me by waging war against me. May the Lord, the Judge,
judge today between the children of Israel and the Ammonites."
28 Yet the Ammonite king would not listen to the message
that Jephthah had sent him.
Judges 11
[1] Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the
son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.
[2] And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they
thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our
father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.
[3] Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and
there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him.
[4] And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made
war against Israel.
[5] And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel,
the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob:
[6] And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight
with the children of Ammon.
[7] And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and
expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye
are in distress?
[8] And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to
thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of
Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
[9] And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again
to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me,
shall I be your head?
[10] And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness
between us, if we do not so according to thy words.
[11] Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him
head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the
LORD in Mizpeh.
[12] And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon,
saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to fight
in my land?
[13] And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of
Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt,
from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore restore those
lands again peaceably.
[14] And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of
Ammon:
[15] And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land
of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:
[16] But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the wilderness
unto the Red sea, and came to Kadesh;
[17] Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I
pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would not hearken
thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab: but he would
not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh.
[18] Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the land of
Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab,
and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not within the border of
Moab: for Arnon was the border of Moab.
[19] And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of
Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy
land into my place.
[20] But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but Sihon
gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against
Israel.
[21] And the LORD God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the
hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel possessed all the land of the
Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.
[22] And they possessed all the coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon even unto
Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto Jordan.
[23] So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from
before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?
[24] Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to
possess? So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out from before us, them
will we possess.
[25] And now art thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of
Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them,
[26] While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her
towns, and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three
hundred years? why therefore did ye not recover them within that time?
[27] Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to
war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the children of
Israel and the children of Ammon.
[28] Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words
of Jephthah which he sent him.
Judges 11:29 - 40
29 (Jdg 3:10; Nu 11:25) Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah
and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and passed through
Mizpah of Gilead, and went on to the Ammonites.
30 (Ge 28:20; 1Sa 1:11) Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, "If You will indeed
give the Ammonites into my hands,
31 (1Sa 1:28) then whatever comes out from the door of my house
to meet me, when I return safely from the Ammonites, will surely
be the Lord's, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering."
32 So Jephthah crossed over to the AmmonÂites to wage war
against them, and the Lord gave them into his hands.
33 (Eze 27:17) He struck them down from Aroer to Minnith, twenty cities,
and as far as Abel Keramim. The defeat was very severe, and the Ammonites
were humbled before the children of Israel.
34 (Ex 15:20; Jer 31:4) When Jephthah went to his house at Mizpah, there was
his daughter coming out to meet him, dancing with a tambourine.
She was his only child. Other than her, he had neither son nor daughter.
35 When he saw her, he ripped up his clothes and said, "Alas, my daughter!
You have brought utter disaster to me. You are my undoing,
for I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot take it back."
36 (2Sa 18:19) She said to him, "My father, you have opened
your mouth to the Lord. Do to me what has come out of your mouth,
because the Lord worked vengeance upon your enemies, the Ammonites."
37 (Lk 1:25) Then she said to her father, "Let this be done for me:
Give me two months, and I and my friends will wander the hill country
and mourn over my virginity."
38 He said, "Go," and he sent her away for two months.
She and her friends went and mourned over her virginity in the hill country.
39 (Jdg 11:31) At the end of two months she returned to her father,
and he did to her according to the vow that he had made.
She had not ever slept with a man.
So it became a custom in Israel
40 that the women of Israel would commemorate the daughter
of Jephthah the Gileadite for four days each year.
[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.
[30] And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without
fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,
[31] Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house
to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely
be the LORD's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.
[32] So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against
them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.
[33] 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.
[34] And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter
came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only
child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.
[35] And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and
said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of
them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot
go back.
[36] And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto
the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth;
forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even
of the children of Ammon.
[37] And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me
alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail
my virginity, I and my fellows.
[38] And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with
her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.
[39] And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto
her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and
she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,
[40] That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of
Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.
JUDGES 12
Jephthah and Ephraim
1 (Jdg 8:1) The men of Ephraim gathered together and crossed over to Zaphon.
They said to Jephthah, "Why did you go to wage war with the Ammonites
and not call us to go with you? We will burn down your house right on top
of you."
2 Jephthah said to them, "My people and I were in a very great conflict
with the Ammonites. I called you, but you did not save me from their hands.
3 (1Sa 19:5; 28:21) When I saw that you were not going to save me, I took my
life in my own hands and crossed over to the Ammonites.
Then the Lord gave them into my hands. Now why have you come
up to me today to wage war against me?"
4 (1Sa 25:10) Then Jephthah assembled all the men of Gilead and fought
with Ephraim. The men of Gilead struck Ephraim down, for they had said,
"You Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim, living in Ephraim and Manasseh."
5 (Jdg 3:28; Jos 22:11) Gilead captured the fords of the Jordan River leading
to Ephraim. Whenever an Ephraimite fugitive would say, "Let me cross,"
the Gileadite men would say to him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No,"
6 then they would say to him, "Say, 'Shibboleth'!" Yet he would say,
"Sibboleth," for he could not pronounce it correctly. Then they would
grab him and kill him at the Jordan fords.
During that time 42000 from Ephraim fell.
7 Jephthah judged Israel for six years. When Jephthah the Gileadite died,
he was buried among the cities of Gilead.
[1] And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward,
and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the
children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine
house upon thee with fire.
[2] And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with
the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of
their hands.
[3] And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and
passed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into
my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against
me?
[4] Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with
Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye
Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the
Manassites.
[5] And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites:
and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me
go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he
said, Nay;
[6] 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.
[7] And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite,
and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.
Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon
8 After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
9 He had thirty sons, and he gave thirty daughters in marriage outside his clan;
and he brought thirty daughters from outside for his sons.
He judged Israel for seven years.
10 Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.
11 After him, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel.
He judged Israel for ten years.
12 Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.
13 After him, Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.
14 (Jdg 5:10; 10:4) He had forty sons and thirty grandsons
who rode seventy donkeys. He judged Israel for eight years.
15 (Jdg 5:14) Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried in Pirathon
in the land of Ephraim, in the Amalekite hill country.
[8] And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
[9] And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and
took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel
seven years.
[10] Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.
[11] And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel
ten years.
[12] And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country
of Zebulun.
[13] And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.
[14] And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and
ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.
[15] And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in
Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.
2) Our Daily Bread for 2 April 2024 titled
Psalm 72 Leaders
Psalm 72:1-7
A Psalm of Solomon.
1 Give the king Your judgments, O God,
and Your righteousness to the king's son.
2 May he judge Your people with righteousness,
and Your poor with justice.
3 May the mountains bring well-being to the people,
and the hills, in righteousness.
4 May he judge the poor of the people,
may he save the children of the needy,
and crush the oppressor.
5 May they fear You as long as the sun endures,
and the moon, throughout all generations.
6 May he descend like rain on the mown grass,
as showers dripping on the earth.
7 In his days may the righteous flourish,
and abundance of peace until the moon is no more.
[1] Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the
king's son.
[2] He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with
judgment.
[3] The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by
righteousness.
[4] He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the
needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
[5] They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all
generations.
[6] He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water
the earth.
[7] In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long
as the moon endureth.
In July 2022, Britain’s prime minister was forced to step down after what many
felt were lapses in integrity (the newly appointed prime minister stepped down
just months later!). The event was triggered when the country's health
minister attended an annual parliamentary prayer breakfast, felt convicted
about the need for integrity in public life, and resigned. When other
ministers resigned too, the prime minister realised he had to leave.
It was a remarkable moment, originating from a peaceful prayer meeting.
Believers in Jesus are called to pray for their political leaders
(1 Timothy 2:1-2), and Psalm 72 is a good guide for doing so,
being both a ruler's job description and a prayer to help them achieve it.
It describes the ideal leader as a person of justice and integrity
(vv. 1-2), who defends the vulnerable (v. 4), serves the needy (vv. 12-13),
and stands against oppression (v. 14). Their time in office is so refreshing,
it’s like "showers watering the earth" (v. 6), bringing prosperity to the land
(vv. 3, 7, 16). While only the Messiah can perfectly fulfill such
a role (v. 11), what better standard of leadership could be aimed for?
The health of a country is governed by the integrity of its office-bearers.
Let's seek "Psalm 72 leaders" for our nations and help them to embody
the qualities found in this psalm by praying it for them.
By: Sheridan Voysey
Reflect & Pray
What qualities do you look for in a leader?
How can you pray more often for your local and national leaders?
Father, please empower our leaders
to be people of justice, integrity, and goodness.
Learn more about Psalm 72.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 5 Rejoice in Grace - Day 3 The song of Exaltation
Exodus 15:2
2 The Lord is my strength and song,
and He has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise Him;
my father's God, and I will exalt Him.
2 The LORD is my strength and song,
And he is become my salvation:
He is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation;
My father's God, and I will exalt him.
The world is full of music that communicates human emotion:
love, joy, sadness, separation.
A love song makes us misty-eyed; a song of protest arouses anger; a song
describing loss stimulates feelings of hurt and abandonment.
Music is a powerful force to sway the human spirit.
Exodus 15:2 indicates that God should be the source of the songs in our hearts.
Human emotions vacillate; human relationships disappoint,
but God is our "strength" and our "song".
To exalt the Lord includes many different type of "songs".
"I can't carry a tune in a bucket," one woman complained.
"How can I sing to the Lord anything that will be pleasing to him?"
But the Lord does not delight in the professionalism of our songs,
but in the motivation of our hearts. We can "sing to the Lord"
when we enjoy a Bach organ piece played for his glory.
We can exalt him in the words of Scripture - either remembered or sung.
We can worship him by enjoying the songs of others.
The key to making the Lord our song is exaltation. When our thoughts
lift him up in praise, we are singing a song of exaltation to the Lord.
When God is exalted in our songs, in our hearts, and in our thoughts,
that focus gives strength to our lives. We can face the difficulties
that are an inevitable part of experience,
because God is our "strength and our song".
Application
a) What is the difference between a song that is professionally performed
and one that exalts the Lord?
b) What practical steps can I take to make
my daily life a "song of praise" to God?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Luke 6:38
38 "Give, and it will be given to you: Good measure, pressed down,
shaken together, and running over will men give unto you.
For with the measure you use, it will be measured unto you."
38 give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down,
and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For
with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are Burdened by Doubt
Proverbs 30:5
5 Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
5 Every word of God is pure:
He is a shield unto them that put their trust in 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
Pray for the Fulani of Ghana
John 6:37
37 All whom the Father gives Me will come to Me, and he who comes to Me
I will never cast out.
[37] All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to
me I will in no wise cast out.
The Fulani are nomadic herder people who originate from the area that
stretches from Senegal to Niger. With rapid population growth and increasing
conflict in many West African countries, the Fulanis have been forced to move
south to find refuge and green pastures for their herds.
Over 1 million Fulanis are found in Ghana.
Many Fulanis in Ghana are second or third-generation residents, having built
tents or mud houses and settled in nearby villages. Born in Ghana but
not Ghanaian, the tribal Fulanis face a wide range of harassment,
and they do not easily get access to public services.
This prejudice creates further challenges for the Fulani. Women and children
miss out on public health services and children are not sent to school.
Fulanis are therefore isolated and younger Fulanis are vulnerable
to being persuaded to join Islamic terror groups.
Suleyman, a devoted Fulani Muslim, grew up in Ghana. He attended the
local Koranic school and was offered the opportunity to study Islam in Libya.
In Libya, he was recruited to join an Islamic terror group to fight
Western Christians who he heard were killing Muslims in the Middle East.
One night, Jesus appeared to Suleyman in a dream to warn him not to join
this war, or he would lose his life. Suleyman was scared and told the group
who recruited him that he was sick and could not go.
The angry extremists threatened him until he left the country.
Suleyman traveled through many nations in search of answers and acceptance.
In one of these countries, Suleyman came across Christians who helped him
to understand his dreams. Soon, he accepted Jesus and began to attend
a discipleship program for Fulani believers.
How to Pray
Pray for the Church in Ghana to focus ministry
towards the Fulani in their nation.
Pray for the Fulani people to find acceptance and love in Jesus.
Pray for the few Fulani Christians to grow strong and be bold,
and to be encouraged even when rejected by their families for their faith.
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
2nd Day of the Month
a) Pray for the Church to make the Gospel accessible to all Canadians (
Rom 10:14-15 -
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not
believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?
And how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 I And how shall they preach
unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of
those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring good news of good
things!"
[14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how
shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they
hear without a preacher?
[15] And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How
beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring
glad tidings of good things!
)
b) Pray that Christian Leaders would seek God's heart for vision,wisdom
and direction. (
Jer 33:3
- Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you
great and mighty things which you do not know.
3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee
great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to the Lord for Godly leaders and honourable
people.
Pray to the Lord: "Father, please empower our leaders
to be people of justice, integrity, and goodness."
Pray to the Lord and pray to exalt Him .
Pray to the Lord and pray to be a generous giver.
Pray to the Lord and pray to know His Word.
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 Church in Ghana to focus ministry
towards the Fulani in their nation.
Pray for the Fulani people to find acceptance and love in Jesus.
Pray for the few Fulani Christians to grow strong and be bold,
and to be encouraged even when rejected by their families for their faith.
Pray for the Church to make the Gospel accessible to all
Pray that Christian Leaders would seek God's heart for vision, wisdom
and direction.
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 10, Judges 11, Judges 12
JUDGES 10
Tola
1 (Jdg 2:16) After the death of Abimelek, Tola the son of Puah,
the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, arose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir,
in the hill country of Ephraim.
2 He judged Israel for twenty-three years.
Then he died and was buried in Shamir.
[1] And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah,
the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim.
[2] And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in
Shamir.
Jair
3 After him Jair the Gileadite arose and judged Israel for 22 years.
4 (Nu 32:41; Dt 3:14) He had thirty sons who rode thirty donkeys
and owned thirty cities that are in the land of Gilead.
They are called Havvoth Jair to this day.
5 Jair died and was buried in Kamon.
[3] And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two
years.
[4] 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.
[5] And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.
Jephthah
6 (1Ki 11:5; 11:7) Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight
of the Lord. They worshipped the Baals, the Ashtoreths,
and the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, the Ammonites, and the Philistines.
They abandoned the Lord and did not serve Him.
7 (Jdg 2:14) The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He sold them
into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites.
8 They brutally oppressed the children of Israel that year.
For eighteen years they oppressed all the children of Israel
beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites in Gilead.
9 The Ammonites also crossed over the Jordan to wage war
against Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim, so that Israel was greatly distressed.
10 (1Sa 12:10; Jdg 3:9) Then the children of Israel cried out to the Lord,
"We have sinned against You, for we have abandoned
our God and worshipped the Baals."
11 (Ex 14:30; Nu 21:21-25) The Lord said to the children of Israel,
"Did I not deliver you from Egypt, the Amorites, the Ammonites,
the Philistines,
12 (Jdg 6:3) the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites
when they oppressed you? You cried out to Me, and I saved you from their hands.
13 (Jer 2:13; Dt 32:15) Yet you have abandoned Me and worshipped other gods.
Therefore I will not save you again.
14 (Dt 32:37-38) Go and cry out to the gods that you have chosen.
Let them save you in your time of distress."
15 (1Sa 3:18; 2Sa 15:26) Then the children of Israel said to the Lord,
"We have sinned. Do to us whatever seems good in Your sight.
Please, just deliver us today."
16 (Isa 63:9; Ps 106:44-45) They removed the foreign gods from among them
and worshipped the Lord, and He could no longer endure
the suffering of Israel.
17 (Jdg 11:29; Ge 31:49) The Ammonites had been called out
and set up camp in Gilead. The children of Israel assembled and set up
camp in Mizpah.
18 (Jdg 11:11) The commanders of Gilead said to each other,
" Who is the man who will begin to fight against the Ammonites?
He will be the ruler of all the inhabitants of Gilead."
[6] And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and
served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon,
and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of
the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.
[7] And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into
the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.
[8] And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen
years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the
land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.
[9] Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against
Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that
Israel was sore distressed.
[10] And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned
against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.
[11] And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you
from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and
from the Philistines?
[12] The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress
you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.
[13] Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will
deliver you no more.
[14] Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in
the time of your tribulation.
[15] And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou
unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee,
this day.
[16] And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the
LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
[17] Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in
Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and
encamped in Mizpeh.
[18] And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is
he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head
over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
JUDGES 11
1 (Heb 11:32; Jdg 6:12) Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour,
but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah.
2 Gilead's wife also bore him sons. His wife's sons grew up and drove
Jephthah away. They said to him, "You will not inherit anything
from our father's house because you are the son of another woman."
3 (Jdg 9:4; 1Sa 22:2) So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived
in the land of Tob. Men of ill repute gathered around Jephthah
and went out with him.
4 Some time passed, then the Ammonites waged war with Israel.
5 When the Ammonites waged war with Israel, the elders of Gilead
went to bring Jephthah back from the land of Tob.
6 They said to Jephthah, "Come and be our leader so that we may
fight the Ammonites."
7 (Ge 26:27) Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead,
"Did you not hate me and drive me out of my father's house?
Why have you come to me now that you are in trouble?"
8 (Jdg 10:18) The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah,
"Even so, we have turned to you. Come with us and fight the Ammonites.
You will be ruler over all the inhabitants of Gilead."
9 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me back to wage war
against the Ammonites, and the Lord gives them to me,
then I will be your ruler."
10 (Jer 42:5; Ge 31:50) The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah,
"May the Lord be a witness between us
if we do not act according to your word."
11 (Jdg 10:17; 20:1) So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead.
The people set him over them as ruler and leader.
And Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord in Mizpah.
12 Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king to say,
"What problem is there between you and me,
that you have come to me to wage war in my land?"
13 (Ge 32:22; Nu 21:24-26) The Ammonite king said to the messengers
of Jephthah, "Because when Israel came up from Egypt, they took my land,
from the Arnon to the Jabbok and as far as the Jordan.
Now return it peacefully."
14 Again Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king,
15 (Dt 2:9; 2:19) and said to him,
"Jephthah says this: Israel did not take the land of Moab,
nor the Ammonite land;
16 (Nu 14:25; Dt 1:40_ for when Israel came up from Egypt,
they went into the desert as far as the Red Sea and came to Kadesh.
17 (Nu 20:1; 20:14-21) Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom,
saying, 'Please let us pass through your land.' Yet the king of Edom would
not listen. They also sent messengers to the king of Moab,
but he was unwilling. So Israel stayed at Kadesh.
18 (Nu 22:36; Dt 2:1-8) "They went into the wilderness, around the lands
of Edom and Moab. They went east of the land of Moab and set up camp
on the other side of the River Arnon. They did not cross the boundary
of Moab, for the River Arnon was the boundary of Moab.
19 "Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites,
who ruled in Heshbon. Israel said to him,
"Please let us pass through your land to our home."
20 Yet Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory,
so Sihon gathered all his people and set up camp in Jahaz
to fight with Israel.
21 "The Lord God of Israel gave Sihon and all his people
into the hands of Israel, and they struck them down. So Israel took possession
of all the land of the Amorites who lived in that land.
22 (Dt 2:36) They took possession of all of the territory of the Amorites,
from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the desert to the Jordan.
23 "Now that the Lord God of Israel has driven out the Amorites
from before His people Israel, should you take it?
24 (Nu 21:29; 1Ki 11:7) Will you not take possession of whatever Chemosh
your god gives you? So everything that the Lord our God possesses before us,
we will take possession of it.
25 (Mic 6:5) Now are you really better than Balak son of Zippor,
the king of Moab? Did he ever contend with Israel or wage war with them?
26 (Dt 2:36) Israel has lived in Heshbon and its nearby towns, in Aroer
and its nearby towns, and in all the cities along the banks of the River Arnon
for three hundred years. Why did you not take them back during that time?
27 (Ge 16:5; 18:25) So I have not sinned against you, but it is you who are
doing evil to me by waging war against me. May the Lord, the Judge,
judge today between the children of Israel and the Ammonites."
28 Yet the Ammonite king would not listen to the message
that Jephthah had sent him.
Judges 11
[1] Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the
son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.
[2] And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they
thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our
father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.
[3] Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and
there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him.
[4] And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made
war against Israel.
[5] And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel,
the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob:
[6] And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight
with the children of Ammon.
[7] And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and
expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye
are in distress?
[8] And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to
thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of
Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
[9] And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again
to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me,
shall I be your head?
[10] And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness
between us, if we do not so according to thy words.
[11] Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him
head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the
LORD in Mizpeh.
[12] And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon,
saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to fight
in my land?
[13] And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of
Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt,
from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore restore those
lands again peaceably.
[14] And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of
Ammon:
[15] And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land
of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:
[16] But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the wilderness
unto the Red sea, and came to Kadesh;
[17] Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I
pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would not hearken
thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab: but he would
not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh.
[18] Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the land of
Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab,
and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not within the border of
Moab: for Arnon was the border of Moab.
[19] And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of
Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy
land into my place.
[20] But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but Sihon
gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against
Israel.
[21] And the LORD God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the
hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel possessed all the land of the
Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.
[22] And they possessed all the coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon even unto
Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto Jordan.
[23] So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from
before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?
[24] Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to
possess? So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out from before us, them
will we possess.
[25] And now art thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of
Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them,
[26] While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her
towns, and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three
hundred years? why therefore did ye not recover them within that time?
[27] Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to
war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the children of
Israel and the children of Ammon.
[28] Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words
of Jephthah which he sent him.
Judges 11:29 - 40
29 (Jdg 3:10; Nu 11:25) Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah
and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and passed through
Mizpah of Gilead, and went on to the Ammonites.
30 (Ge 28:20; 1Sa 1:11) Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, "If You will indeed
give the Ammonites into my hands,
31 (1Sa 1:28) then whatever comes out from the door of my house
to meet me, when I return safely from the Ammonites, will surely
be the Lord's, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering."
32 So Jephthah crossed over to the AmmonÂites to wage war
against them, and the Lord gave them into his hands.
33 (Eze 27:17) He struck them down from Aroer to Minnith, twenty cities,
and as far as Abel Keramim. The defeat was very severe, and the Ammonites
were humbled before the children of Israel.
34 (Ex 15:20; Jer 31:4) When Jephthah went to his house at Mizpah, there was
his daughter coming out to meet him, dancing with a tambourine.
She was his only child. Other than her, he had neither son nor daughter.
35 When he saw her, he ripped up his clothes and said, "Alas, my daughter!
You have brought utter disaster to me. You are my undoing,
for I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot take it back."
36 (2Sa 18:19) She said to him, "My father, you have opened
your mouth to the Lord. Do to me what has come out of your mouth,
because the Lord worked vengeance upon your enemies, the Ammonites."
37 (Lk 1:25) Then she said to her father, "Let this be done for me:
Give me two months, and I and my friends will wander the hill country
and mourn over my virginity."
38 He said, "Go," and he sent her away for two months.
She and her friends went and mourned over her virginity in the hill country.
39 (Jdg 11:31) At the end of two months she returned to her father,
and he did to her according to the vow that he had made.
She had not ever slept with a man.
So it became a custom in Israel
40 that the women of Israel would commemorate the daughter
of Jephthah the Gileadite for four days each year.
[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.
[30] And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without
fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,
[31] Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house
to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely
be the LORD's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.
[32] So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against
them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.
[33] 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.
[34] And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter
came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only
child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.
[35] And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and
said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of
them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot
go back.
[36] And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto
the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth;
forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even
of the children of Ammon.
[37] And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me
alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail
my virginity, I and my fellows.
[38] And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with
her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.
[39] And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto
her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and
she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,
[40] That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of
Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.
JUDGES 12
Jephthah and Ephraim
1 (Jdg 8:1) The men of Ephraim gathered together and crossed over to Zaphon.
They said to Jephthah, "Why did you go to wage war with the Ammonites
and not call us to go with you? We will burn down your house right on top
of you."
2 Jephthah said to them, "My people and I were in a very great conflict
with the Ammonites. I called you, but you did not save me from their hands.
3 (1Sa 19:5; 28:21) When I saw that you were not going to save me, I took my
life in my own hands and crossed over to the Ammonites.
Then the Lord gave them into my hands. Now why have you come
up to me today to wage war against me?"
4 (1Sa 25:10) Then Jephthah assembled all the men of Gilead and fought
with Ephraim. The men of Gilead struck Ephraim down, for they had said,
"You Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim, living in Ephraim and Manasseh."
5 (Jdg 3:28; Jos 22:11) Gilead captured the fords of the Jordan River leading
to Ephraim. Whenever an Ephraimite fugitive would say, "Let me cross,"
the Gileadite men would say to him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No,"
6 then they would say to him, "Say, 'Shibboleth'!" Yet he would say,
"Sibboleth," for he could not pronounce it correctly. Then they would
grab him and kill him at the Jordan fords.
During that time 42000 from Ephraim fell.
7 Jephthah judged Israel for six years. When Jephthah the Gileadite died,
he was buried among the cities of Gilead.
[1] And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward,
and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the
children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine
house upon thee with fire.
[2] And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with
the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of
their hands.
[3] And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and
passed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into
my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against
me?
[4] Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with
Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye
Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the
Manassites.
[5] And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites:
and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me
go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he
said, Nay;
[6] 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.
[7] And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite,
and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.
Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon
8 After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
9 He had thirty sons, and he gave thirty daughters in marriage outside his clan;
and he brought thirty daughters from outside for his sons.
He judged Israel for seven years.
10 Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.
11 After him, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel.
He judged Israel for ten years.
12 Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.
13 After him, Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.
14 (Jdg 5:10; 10:4) He had forty sons and thirty grandsons
who rode seventy donkeys. He judged Israel for eight years.
15 (Jdg 5:14) Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried in Pirathon
in the land of Ephraim, in the Amalekite hill country.
[8] And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
[9] And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and
took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel
seven years.
[10] Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.
[11] And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel
ten years.
[12] And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country
of Zebulun.
[13] And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.
[14] And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and
ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.
[15] And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in
Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.
2) Our Daily Bread for 2 April 2024 titled
Psalm 72 Leaders
Psalm 72:1-7
A Psalm of Solomon.
1 Give the king Your judgments, O God,
and Your righteousness to the king's son.
2 May he judge Your people with righteousness,
and Your poor with justice.
3 May the mountains bring well-being to the people,
and the hills, in righteousness.
4 May he judge the poor of the people,
may he save the children of the needy,
and crush the oppressor.
5 May they fear You as long as the sun endures,
and the moon, throughout all generations.
6 May he descend like rain on the mown grass,
as showers dripping on the earth.
7 In his days may the righteous flourish,
and abundance of peace until the moon is no more.
[1] Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the
king's son.
[2] He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with
judgment.
[3] The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by
righteousness.
[4] He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the
needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
[5] They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all
generations.
[6] He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water
the earth.
[7] In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long
as the moon endureth.
In July 2022, Britain’s prime minister was forced to step down after what many
felt were lapses in integrity (the newly appointed prime minister stepped down
just months later!). The event was triggered when the country's health
minister attended an annual parliamentary prayer breakfast, felt convicted
about the need for integrity in public life, and resigned. When other
ministers resigned too, the prime minister realised he had to leave.
It was a remarkable moment, originating from a peaceful prayer meeting.
Believers in Jesus are called to pray for their political leaders
(1 Timothy 2:1-2), and Psalm 72 is a good guide for doing so,
being both a ruler's job description and a prayer to help them achieve it.
It describes the ideal leader as a person of justice and integrity
(vv. 1-2), who defends the vulnerable (v. 4), serves the needy (vv. 12-13),
and stands against oppression (v. 14). Their time in office is so refreshing,
it’s like "showers watering the earth" (v. 6), bringing prosperity to the land
(vv. 3, 7, 16). While only the Messiah can perfectly fulfill such
a role (v. 11), what better standard of leadership could be aimed for?
The health of a country is governed by the integrity of its office-bearers.
Let's seek "Psalm 72 leaders" for our nations and help them to embody
the qualities found in this psalm by praying it for them.
By: Sheridan Voysey
Reflect & Pray
What qualities do you look for in a leader?
How can you pray more often for your local and national leaders?
Father, please empower our leaders
to be people of justice, integrity, and goodness.
Learn more about Psalm 72.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 5 Rejoice in Grace - Day 3 The song of Exaltation
Exodus 15:2
2 The Lord is my strength and song,
and He has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise Him;
my father's God, and I will exalt Him.
2 The LORD is my strength and song,
And he is become my salvation:
He is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation;
My father's God, and I will exalt him.
The world is full of music that communicates human emotion:
love, joy, sadness, separation.
A love song makes us misty-eyed; a song of protest arouses anger; a song
describing loss stimulates feelings of hurt and abandonment.
Music is a powerful force to sway the human spirit.
Exodus 15:2 indicates that God should be the source of the songs in our hearts.
Human emotions vacillate; human relationships disappoint,
but God is our "strength" and our "song".
To exalt the Lord includes many different type of "songs".
"I can't carry a tune in a bucket," one woman complained.
"How can I sing to the Lord anything that will be pleasing to him?"
But the Lord does not delight in the professionalism of our songs,
but in the motivation of our hearts. We can "sing to the Lord"
when we enjoy a Bach organ piece played for his glory.
We can exalt him in the words of Scripture - either remembered or sung.
We can worship him by enjoying the songs of others.
The key to making the Lord our song is exaltation. When our thoughts
lift him up in praise, we are singing a song of exaltation to the Lord.
When God is exalted in our songs, in our hearts, and in our thoughts,
that focus gives strength to our lives. We can face the difficulties
that are an inevitable part of experience,
because God is our "strength and our song".
Application
a) What is the difference between a song that is professionally performed
and one that exalts the Lord?
b) What practical steps can I take to make
my daily life a "song of praise" to God?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Luke 6:38
38 "Give, and it will be given to you: Good measure, pressed down,
shaken together, and running over will men give unto you.
For with the measure you use, it will be measured unto you."
38 give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down,
and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For
with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are Burdened by Doubt
Proverbs 30:5
5 Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
5 Every word of God is pure:
He is a shield unto them that put their trust in 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
Pray for the Fulani of Ghana
John 6:37
37 All whom the Father gives Me will come to Me, and he who comes to Me
I will never cast out.
[37] All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to
me I will in no wise cast out.
The Fulani are nomadic herder people who originate from the area that
stretches from Senegal to Niger. With rapid population growth and increasing
conflict in many West African countries, the Fulanis have been forced to move
south to find refuge and green pastures for their herds.
Over 1 million Fulanis are found in Ghana.
Many Fulanis in Ghana are second or third-generation residents, having built
tents or mud houses and settled in nearby villages. Born in Ghana but
not Ghanaian, the tribal Fulanis face a wide range of harassment,
and they do not easily get access to public services.
This prejudice creates further challenges for the Fulani. Women and children
miss out on public health services and children are not sent to school.
Fulanis are therefore isolated and younger Fulanis are vulnerable
to being persuaded to join Islamic terror groups.
Suleyman, a devoted Fulani Muslim, grew up in Ghana. He attended the
local Koranic school and was offered the opportunity to study Islam in Libya.
In Libya, he was recruited to join an Islamic terror group to fight
Western Christians who he heard were killing Muslims in the Middle East.
One night, Jesus appeared to Suleyman in a dream to warn him not to join
this war, or he would lose his life. Suleyman was scared and told the group
who recruited him that he was sick and could not go.
The angry extremists threatened him until he left the country.
Suleyman traveled through many nations in search of answers and acceptance.
In one of these countries, Suleyman came across Christians who helped him
to understand his dreams. Soon, he accepted Jesus and began to attend
a discipleship program for Fulani believers.
How to Pray
Pray for the Church in Ghana to focus ministry
towards the Fulani in their nation.
Pray for the Fulani people to find acceptance and love in Jesus.
Pray for the few Fulani Christians to grow strong and be bold,
and to be encouraged even when rejected by their families for their faith.
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
2nd Day of the Month
a) Pray for the Church to make the Gospel accessible to all Canadians (
Rom 10:14-15 -
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not
believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?
And how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 I And how shall they preach
unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of
those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring good news of good
things!"
[14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how
shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they
hear without a preacher?
[15] And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How
beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring
glad tidings of good things!
)
b) Pray that Christian Leaders would seek God's heart for vision,wisdom
and direction. (
Jer 33:3
- Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you
great and mighty things which you do not know.
3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee
great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to the Lord for Godly leaders and honourable
people.
Pray to the Lord: "Father, please empower our leaders
to be people of justice, integrity, and goodness."
Pray to the Lord and pray to exalt Him .
Pray to the Lord and pray to be a generous giver.
Pray to the Lord and pray to know His Word.
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 Church in Ghana to focus ministry
towards the Fulani in their nation.
Pray for the Fulani people to find acceptance and love in Jesus.
Pray for the few Fulani Christians to grow strong and be bold,
and to be encouraged even when rejected by their families for their faith.
Pray for the Church to make the Gospel accessible to all
Pray that Christian Leaders would seek God's heart for vision, wisdom
and direction.
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
/ 4 = 8.0 out of 10