Day 7 Reviewed

Joshua 22 - Samuel 5

     The Promise of God is so Huge a theme in Scripture!
     Even this early in the book, we can see that it stands for each generation anew - Praise God!
     This is particularly good news, because there are some promises that I am preparing to stand on right now, and seeing God bring up his promises, and renew them to generation after generation gives me faith that they most assuredly, without doubt or waiver, are just as much for me!
     The generation that entered the Promised Land was a whole new generation that the one that started out in the Wilderness 40 years prior. To this new generation, Joshua speaks for God saying, "And I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and cities you had not built, and you have lived in them; you are eating of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant," (Joshua 23:13).
     Along with these continuing promises, God is constantly having to warn each new generation not to fall into the same transgressions as their fathers. "Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord," (Joshua 23:14). God wasn't being a Dictator...He was showing them the way to be at peace.
    

• Judges

     The first thing I noticed about the judges, is that there was a direct correlation between the leadership of the judge, and the consequences for the people.
     Simply stated, a judge who followed God's commands, and encouraged the people to do the same brought peace on the land. A judge who did not, brought dis-ease, captivity, and shame.
     Quick examples:  
     Othniel. God's Spirit was on him, obeyed God, God gave him his enemies, and "the land had rest for 40 years," until he died and the people again started doing evil and lived under captivity. (Judges 3:9-14)
      Ehud. God raised up Ehud in response to the peoples' cries for help in captivity. Ehud killed the king of their captors, encouraged the Israelites faith in God, and so they were able to defeat their enemy, "about 10,000 Moabites, all robust and valiant men; and no one escaped," (3:29). And God said the land was undisturbed for 80 years...until Ehud died and again, the Israelites returned to doing evil. (Judges 3:15-4:1)

• Ruth 

     Ruth!!! I love this book. Well, of course I hate the fact that three women lose their husbands, but I love the peace, and life of ease Ruth pursues as she doesn't fret, but stays close to her God and her Godly family. That fact is so powerful to me, Naomi is not only her mother-in-law, but her Spiritual mother, a much deeper bond!
     Ruth 3:5 - "All that you say, I will do," Ruth attentively tells her mother-in-law, as Naomi is guiding her into a new romance! What lovely, at-ease, and peaceful women!

• Hannah

     A woman after my own heart. Infertility issues are nothing new, and God was, is, and will remain the sole author of birth.
     Only to be honest, I find Hannah's behavior at the beginning of the book a little off-putting. Mostly because I don't want to look at her and be reminded of my own poor behavior, and lack of faith in God.
     She continues to lament over her desperate situation until God finally says, enough. Eli, the priest seeing her crying in the temple says simply, "Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him," (1 Samuel 1:17).
     I have to believe that peace is the key here. That is the major thing that had to change in Hannah's heart. From being in distress to being at peace.