the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 2 of 5
Judges 12:1-15
In Judges 8:2-3, Gideon learned by experience that "a soft answer turneth away wrath". Now Jephthah is to learn to his cost the rest of this verse, "but grievous words stir up anger" (Proverbs 15:1). He clashes with these same men of Ephraim who are easily offended and always ready for an argument (Judges 8:1 and Joshua 17:14). They hope to win the fruits of victory without having to fight and are jealous of others’ success when they should have rejoiced with them in the LORD’s deliverance. They also reproach Jephthah for not having called on them to fight. Notice how many times the words "I", "me" and "my" appear in his reply (vv. 2, 3). This time there is unrestrained war. How sad is war between brothers! Disputes within our own families are no better! The causes are the same – selfishness, jealousy and touchiness. We should think of the Lord’s great commandment, "As I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (John 13:34-35; John 15:12; John 15:17), repeated by the apostle John (1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:7; 1 John 4:11; 1 John 4:21).
In the end other judges are given to Israel, chosen from different tribes. Then there is a time of peace. May we make good use of those times of peace given to us by strengthening ourselves and not falling asleep.
