Day 124- Judges 1-2; Ruth 1

I have to be honest, I had a bad day.  I was tempted not to read today and not to post.  For the first time since I started.  Luckily, I read and I am posting.  Maybe, probably  it has nothing to do with luck.

Here is Henry's summary of Judges 1,

"This chapter gives us a particular account what sort of progress the several tribes of Israel made in the reducing of Canaan after the death of Joshua. He did (as we say) break the neck of that great work, and put it into such a posture that they might easily have perfected it in due time, if they had not been wanting to themselves; what they did in order hereunto, and wherein they came short, we are told. I. The united tribes o Judah and Simeon did bravely. 1. God appointed Judah to begin (v. 1, v. 2). Judah took Simeon to act in conjunction with him (v. 3). They succeeded in their enterprises against Bezek (v. 4-7), Jerusalem (v. 8). Hebron and Debir (v. 9-15), Hormah, Gaza, and other places (v. 17-19). Yet where there were chariots of iron their hearts failed them (v. 19). Mention is made of the Kenites settling among them (v. 16). II. The other tribes, in comparison with these, acted a cowardly part. 1. Benjamin failed (v. 21). The house of Joseph did well against Beth-el (v. 22-26), but in other places did not improve their advantages, nor Manasseh (v. 27, v. 28), nor Ephraim (v. 29). Zebulun spared the Canaanites (v. 30). Asher truckled worse than any of them to the Canaanites (v. 31, v. 32). Naphtali was kept out of the full possession of several of his cities (v. 33). Dan was straitened by the Amorites (v. 34). No account is given of Issachar, nor of the two tribes and a half on the other side Jordan."

As an introduction to and summary of Judges 2, Henry writes,

Here begins that way of God’s dealing with them. When they would not hear Moses, let it be tried whether they will hear the prophets. In these verses we have a very awakening sermon that was preached to them when they began to cool in their religion.I. The preacher was an angel of the Lord (v. 1), not a prophet, not Phinehas, as the Jews conceit; gospel ministers are indeed called angels of the churches, but the Old-Testament prophets are never called angels of the Lord; no doubt this was a messenger we from heaven. Such extraordinary messengers we sometimes find in this book employed in the raising up of the judges that delivered Israel, as Gideon and Samson; and now, to show how various are the good offices they do for God’s Israel, here is one sent to preach to them, to prevent their falling into sin and trouble. This extraordinary messenger was sent to command, if possible, the greater regard to the message, and to affect the minds of a people whom nothing seemed to affect but what was sensible. The learned bishop Patrick is clearly of opinion that this was not a created angel, but the Angel of the covenant, the same that appeared to Joshua as captain of the hosts of the Lord, who was God himself. Christ himself, says Dr. Lightfoot; who but God and Christ could say, I made you to go up out of Egypt? Joshua had lately admonished them to take heed of entangling themselves with the Canaanites, but they regarded not the words of a dying man; the same warning therefore is here brought them by the living God himself, the Son of God appearing as an angel. If they slight his servants, surely they will reverence his Son. This angel of the Lord is said to come up from Gilgal, perhaps not walking on the earth, but flying swiftly, as the angel Gabriel did to Daniel, in the open firmament of heaven; but, whether walking or flying, he seemed to come from Gilgal for a particular reason. Gilgal was long their headquarters after they came into Canaan, many signal favours they had there received from God, and there the covenant of circumcision was renewed (Mic. 6:5 ), of all which it was designed they should be reminded by his coming from Gilgal. The remembrance of what we have received and heard will prepare us for a warning to hold fast, Rev. 3:2, Rev. 3:3 .

Ladies, Mothers in law are not so much this way anymore.  I respect Ruth's dedication and Naomi's respect, 

The good affection which her daughters-in-law, and one of them especially, bore to her, and her generous return of their good affection.1. They were both so kind as to accompany her, some part of the way at least, when she returned towards the land of Judah. Her two daughters-in-law did not go about to persuade her to continue in the land of Moab, but, if she was resolved to go home, would pay her all possible civility and respect at parting; and this was one instance of it: they would bring her on her way, at least to the utmost limits of their country, and help her to carry her luggage as far as they went, for it does not appear that she had any servant to attend her, v. 7. By this we see both that Naomi, as became an Israelite, had been very kind and obliging to them and had won their love, in which she is an example to all mothers-in-law, and that Orpah and Ruth had a just sense of her kindness, for they were willing to return it thus far. It was a sign they had dwelt together in unity, though those were dead by whom the relation between them came. 

So, I have been waiting and waiting to read Ruth and I had no idea we started Ruth today.  I follow day-by-day too.  I am glad I came to read.  Faith in God, reiterated through Judges.

Lord, pleaese forgive me for transgressions today.  I am really trying, but sometimes it is really, really hard.