Judges1:1-2:9, Luke 21:29-22:13, Ps 90:1-91:16, Pr 13:24-25
Today is the 23rd day of April. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It is great to be here with you today as we take the steps into our work week and the steps further into the Scriptures. And today’s step will take us into a new book. We concluded the book of Joshua yesterday, which was a high point because finally, after of such a long journey we got to across the Jordan into the Promised Land. And we just spent our time in Joshua watching the taking and settling of the Promised Land, which brings us now to the beginning of the book of Judges.
Introduction to the Book of Judges:
The book of Judges, there’s no way to know exactly who the author of this book is, but the tradition is that the prophet Samuel chronicled this. Plenty of scholars don’t really feel that’s possible, that Samuel be the sole author of the book. And, so, they assume that there are many sources that collectively made up the stories of the judges. And we’re going to head into some somber territory. The book of Judges is way more somber than the book of Joshua with all of its drama. Judges is what comes next. And we’re going to watch the children of Israel as they fall away and then suffer some of the consequences of that falling away and that back-and-forth that becomes their story. So, the book of judgment, I mean, it’s called Judges, right? But it’s a book of judgment per se. It’s not called Judges because of warnings and judgments that God passes on to the children of Israel. It’s called judges because it’s the story of the 13 judges that led the children of Israel after Joshua. So, you know, Joshua’s the supreme leader of the children of Israel as they came into the Promised Land. Moses had been there leader before that. They didn’t have a king though. So, after Joshua dies, there’s nobody like him. And, so, they were ruled by these judges. And the culminating story in the book of Judges illustrates how one thing builds on another. Each decision, bearing weight on a great outcome. How subtle decisions by seemingly unrelated and really relatively unimportant people ended up bringing on the terrible annihilation of an entire tribe of Israel. But we’ll get to that. The book of Judges was probably composed around 1000 B.C. So, it’s obviously several thousand years ago. And I think the irony is that, although we’re looking back across several thousand years, we’re not going to have any problems finding ourselves in this book. It resonates with all of our stories. We’ve all had the back-and-forth, right? The ebb and flow in our relationship with God. We’ve all fallen away and returned. And we’ve been able to experience some of the repercussions of our decisions. At the same time God’s heart, His love, His heart toward us is never not reaching, it’s never not outstretched, His words are never not return to Me, come home, please come back. And we’ll watch this in the book of Judges. And God’s love is no less profound toward us now than it was then. So, we begin. Judges chapter 1 verse 1 through 2 verse 9. And we’re reading from the God’s word translation this week.
Prayer:
Father, we thank You for Your word. And as we begin the book of Judges and we’ve talked about it and kind of have the lay of the land, we also understand that we’re moving into another era and that we’re going to cover a lot of territory and years. And, so, we invite Your Holy Spirit to show us that over these years the ebb and flow, the changes that happen in the land of Israel, are remarkably and accurately, showing us the pathways of our own hearts. Come, Holy Spirit. We pray in these next days. And instruct and guide us. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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I’m starting to have…I’ve got such a scratchy voice, the last couple of days. I’ve been just fighting some…fighting a cold, but I feel like…like I’m over the top. It’s weird. Some years, some years I don’t get sick at all. Some years back to back to back colds. Probably has a lot to do with what my kids bring to me. I feel like I’ve just gotten over a cold and then gotten another one within a month, man, since just before we went Israel. But I feel like this one’s about…this ones about run its course. I thank you for your prayers, prayers over everything that is the Daily Audio Bible and the community that we share together. Thank you for your prayers.
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And that’s it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.
Community Prayer and Praise:
Hi DAB family. This is Remona calling from Alabama. I want to say that I love you all and I appreciate everyone, those who are in front of the camera and those who are behind and just the entire family. This is such a blessing to me on a daily basis, even the days that I skip and start to catch up, which I don’t feel at all condemned, but I am just so thankful for this community of believers and even nonbelievers. Welcome all. I wanted to call in. I was listening to the April 2nd broadcast. And a lady, she sounded as if she was from the UK, she asked for prayer because she said she’s always done things in her own strength. And how does she allow the Lord to do stuff for her. And I just wanted to let you know that you have not been operating in your own strength even though you think you have. Everything that you have done in your life has been graced to you and it’s actually God. So, just go ahead and start thanking Him. Thank Him for your heartbeat because we don’t make it pump on our own. Thank Him for your lungs. Thank Him for you being able to open those doors for yourself without allowing other people because everything that you do, the strength that you have to have your very being, comes from the Lord. So, you’ve actually already been moving in His strength. So, just go ahead and start thanking, thanking Him for everything that you can think of and then He will, because you ask and we are praying and believing, He will show you. I love you all. Once again Remona from Alabama. God bless.
Hi. This is Melody Faith. I’m calling from Canada. I’m calling today because I heard Prophetic Intercessor from North Carolina pray for those battling depression, suicidal thoughts. The word she prayed caught my attention, resonated with me. Specifically, she said these words, ‘there is hope, God is the lifter of your head, He is the strength of your days, there is purpose and destiny and God has you in the midst of His hands. God is going to give you beauty for ashes, joy is coming in the morning, and know that God is fighting for you, in you, and through you, and that your greatest moments yet are before you and not behind you.’ I’ve been carrying a burden for my son that has really been weighing me down to the point where I find it hard to pray for him. And he needs prayer. He is addicted to drugs in a big way, not just one but many. Because of that he is very depressed and so he continues to self-medicate. We’d seen him last weekend, hadn’t seen him for about 12 weeks. He was very thin. He spent most of his time sleeping. He has a court appearance coming up and yes, my husband and I are very concerned. I’m asking you family, will you help me to pray for this burden. Please pray for Jarrod. He needs Jesus. He used to love the Lord and was a real soul winner. Please pray that the chains will be broken. Also, at this point, it sounds funny, but it’s a big deal to a mom, please pray that he gets a haircut before court. Thank you, family. Thank you, Prophetic Intercessor for being obedient. And thanks to Brian and the team. God, bless.
[singing] There is no shadow you won’t light up, no mountain you won’t climb up coming after me. No wall you won’t kick down, lie you won’t tear down coming after me. Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God. Oh, it chases me down, fights ‘til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine. I couldn’t earn it. I don’t deserve it. Still You give yourself to me. Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God [singing ends]. That was kind of the theme song at the More Gathering and it has permeated my whole body, seeping into my bones. There’s so much more that I could say about More Gathering but words are inadequate to describe the way our God showed up with purpose to heal, to uplift, to educate, just to share love that was on display. You know that are papa was totally present. And when you’ve had that experience you just want to tell everybody about it. I was actually on the phone with my girlfriend for over an hour telling her of my experience. I think I have her on board to come with me next year. And it was so good to meet you Brian and Jill and China, to meet you guys in person. That was really awesome. You guys rock. Hats off to Tyler, who did an amazing job as did everyone on the planning team. And I can’t end without mentioning how wonderful it was to form friendships with so many of my DAB sisters. Rachel in Houston, it was really nice meeting you. I love you sister. Thank you for those kind words. Now, I haven’t called in for a while and I am racing to catch up with my Daily Audio friends but I’m still praying for our children, especially those with addiction and mental illness and for my sister who had a court case on April 11th. That’s all for now because I think I’m running out of time and this is…
Hi. This is Stephanie the Lord’s Chic from Oklahoma and I want to reach out to Prophetic Intercessor who called and prayed for people with depression and suicidal thoughts on the 18th. Sister, I think you saved my life and the life of my marriage. I was at the point where I was going to suicide my marriage. I have been hated and bullied, I guess, by my husband’s grown children for 13 years now and I just reached a breaking point last Sunday. And that spirit of heaviness that you prayed against was so incredibly intense. And I was really considering just leaving the marriage just to preserve my sanity. I was going to give up something, someone, that I loved dearly just to get away. And you’ve given me a renewed sense of hope and I thank you so much. I actually laid the cell phone on my chest on speakerphone and prayed that prayer repeatedly and I could feel that spirit of heaviness lift and I thank you. Bless you sister. Bye-bye.
Good morning Daily Audio Bible family members. This is Abby, Abby calling from Maryland. This is my first time calling this year but I have been staying plugged into the camp, campfire, you know, listening to the word of God and I have been truly blessed. I give God the glory for Brian and Jill and China. What an amazing thing China’s doing. And also just getting a chance to hear Ezekiel the other day. It was just a blessing and just reminded us how we just need to put our total trust in God, knowing that He cares for us and be like little children just like Ezekiel. It was just so awesome listening to his voice. And Brian, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all that you pour into our lives. And God bless you, that He reward you in a way that no man can. I’m calling to encourage people and our friends on the prayer line. I am calling especially for Anne from North Carolina. Please know that there’s value in your life. There is value in your life. Choose to speak right over your life and all will be well with you. May God watch over you, may He grant you the desires of your heart. And every other person also who calls in every day, I lift you all up into the hands of our Almighty God who’s here for you. May He keep you and watch over you. May His peace surround you all. In Jesus’ name. Thank you all. I truly can say that I love you all from the bottom of my heart. And may God continue to keep us all. In Jesus name. Have a wonderful day. Bye.
Good morning Daily Audio Bible listeners. Today is April 21st and I am calling from Dallas Texas. My name is Dammy. I’m a first-time caller. I just want to pray for the lady that called today that said her husband was leaving her. I just want to let her know she’s loved and I’m sending prayer and touch to her. And no matter how hard it gets she’s going to get through this. In Jesus’ name. Amen.