Judges 9-10

"Go cry out to the gods you have chosen." What a frightening thought. We chase gods that are not really gods at all. And then we fall into the pit that we have dug with our own hands. We cry out to the one, true God. What if He replied like this? Thank You for Your patience, Yahweh! Thank You that You don't treat us as our sins deserve. Read it here ...

Judges 7-8

You might get whiplash. The roller coaster of loyalty toward God from His people is crazy. The stories of Gideon alone tell this story.

When Gideon died, the Israelites turned and prostituted themselves with the Baals and made Baal-berith their god. The Israelites did not remember the Lord their God who had delivered them from the power of the enemies around them.

Read it here ...

Judges5-6

Chpater 5 is a song of praise to God. All is well. God gave victory over enemies. Then you turn to chapter 6. Check out the two verses right next to each other... "And the land was peaceful for 40 years. The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord." Huh? What happened? Our hearts are bent toward evil. The times of peace and prosperity worked to harden the ungrateful hearts of God's people. I hate that it does the same to mine. Read it here ...

Judges 3-4

It really doesn't have to be this way.  This cycle of rejecting God, falling into defeat, crying out for mercy, getting it, growing cold, rejecting God, ...  That's the story of Judges.  God is faithful and passionately committed to His people.  His people conveniently call on Him when their backs are against the wall.  Yet He remains faithful.

God, keep me from this sick pattern that is evident way beyond the pages of Judges.

Read it here.

Judges1-2

Man, do we have slippery hearts.  Just turn one page from the epic victories found in the book of Joshua and you're confronted with hearts that grow indifferent toward God, lives that spiral into moral decay, and the defeat of a nation.

God, help me not to forget You when the trial is over and I am at rest.

Read it here.

Psalm 23

Don't let the familiarity of this psalm dull you to its impact.  Muse on this one.  There's a reason it has become a timeless and global favorite.  Notice the change in imagery in :5?

Read it here.

Psalm 22

Now the king is in very dark times.  The worst of times.  The words he pens here find their way onto the lips of Jesus as He experienced the excruciating pain of the cross.

Ever cry out in pain and hopelessness to God?  You're not alone!

Read it here.