Judges 13:1-14:20, John 1:29-51, Psalms 102:1-28, Proverbs 14:15-16
Today is the 1st day of May welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I am Brian it is wonderful to be here with you today as we greet a brand-new shiny sparkly month. And we’re just kinda getting going in this brand-new week. Today is the 121st day of the year. That’s hard to believe. It really does not seem like we’ve come so far into the year yet but we have and we got here how we get everywhere - day by day, step-by-step. And, so, this is our 121st step of the year out of 365 steps. So, we are well underway. We began the book of John, the gospel of John the yesterday. So, that’s where we’re situated at least when we get to the New Testament, but in the Old Testament, we are continuing our journey through the book of Judges, which kind of gives us an overview of…of those who led Israel between Joshua’s death and the emergence of…of the monarchy, of Kings in Israel. And today we will begin the story of one of the more famous judges, his name is Samson. We’re reading from the English Standard Version this week and today, Judges, chapters 13 and 14.
Commentary:
Okay. So, as we begin this fifth month of the year in our journey through it let’s just kind of recap where we are. We’re working our way through the book of Judges and as we know several centuries go by in the book of Judges. It’s kind of a transitional period between the time that Joshua, who led them across the Jordan River between his time of leading and the time that the children of Israel decided to establish a kingdom, a monarchy and set a king over them. And, so, between that time, the centuries between that time, the judges ruled. And we’re far enough into the book of Judges that we know everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes and a judge would come and restore order and lead people back to God, but they would then pretty much immediately after the judge was gone go back and do what was right in their own eyes, which would lead them into other obstacles and then another judge would rise up. And, so, some of these judges we get to know pretty well and some of…some of them we just have a sentence about. But we’re kind of doing a survey of who led Israel after Joshua. And today we met the judge named Samson, which is a fascinating story. Samson’s parents had no children. His mother was barren. That is a recurring theme as we go through the Scriptures. It’s the backdrop for a number of stories that we encounter in the Bible. And there is an angelic visitation with the promise of a child and the woman tells her husband, whose name is Manoah about it and he basically says if he comes back come to me right away. We need to know what we’re supposed to do. And that’s what happens. And, so, there is a discussion about what’s supposed to happen, and Samson is to be a Nazirite from birth. The spirit of the Lord will be upon him, and we’ll get to see how that plays out as we continue the story forward tomorrow. But as his story does unfold we…we will be able to see, yes indeed the people are doing what is right in their own eyes, and they’re kind of all over the map and it’s a volatile time for the children of Israel, but within the story of Samson is also an embedded mirror that becomes a good hard look into our own lives. And, so, as we continue the story of Samson we have much to learn.
And then as were navigating our way into the final gospel, the gospel of John, we find ourselves again at the Jordan River, which is also a place that we visit a lot as we navigate through the Scriptures. But we are back at the Jordan River and Jesus is beginning His ministry, and a loose group of people are beginning to find their way to Jesus. He’s calling them forward and they’re beginning to band together around Him and it gives us a chance to just look at who Jesus picked to be His closest friends, the people that He was going to invest His earthly life into. I mean let’s think about it for a second. The Almighty God decides to incarnate Himself into human form and become a human being and He has much to do but one of the things that He is going to do is invest in enormous amounts of time into specific human beings lives, that they may carry the story forward. Like you would think, God has His pick of the best of the best of the best of the people and yet we don’t find any depictions where there’s a job interview where Jesus is sitting across a rock from somebody else going over their work experience and education. I mean, these guys, these guys were not even literate, very likely that they were illiterates or just a basic understanding. And He didn’t seem to be looking for the most muscular, the biggest people, who could be His bodyguards or the strongest people. He was looking for the smartest people he could find. He didn’t look at anybody and go, they’re…they would…they would make a great speechwriter for me. He was looking for open hearts, people with eyes to see and ears to hear. Those were the qualifications. And, so, it’s kind of counterintuitive because we look at how Jesus chose to invest His life into, and He chose to equip the ill equipped. And those people went on to change the whole world. And that is our story friends. We’re not equipped for this. No matter what we think, no matter what we think we know, to be an ambassador for the most-high God, same thing is going to hold true. Do we have an open heart? Do we have open hands? Do we have eyes to see and ears to hear? Because we have all been invited to come and follow Him. And, so, may we…we rejoice that He didn’t come to choose the elite he came to choose those who were ready to hear, and may that be us.
Prayer:
Jesus, we invite You into that. It is our intention to do whatever that we can that is in our power to open ourselves to You and Your ways, to learn from You, to be comforted by You, to be disciplined by You, to be directed and guided by You. And the first step is for us to realize that without You we are nothing and we know nothing. We think we know a lot, but it is Your Holy Spirit’s guidance and direction that we need. And, so, as we continue to navigate through the book of John help us to listen and learn as true disciples who are following You. We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
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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:
Hey there from beautiful Cincinnati OH this is Daniel Johnson junior it has been a little while since I’ve reached out here. And brothers and sisters I just…I have not been…I’ve…I’ve felt like I’ve not been doing very well. See, as I'm…as I’m recording this it is Saturday April the 22nd I think it is…yeah Saturday April 22nd and I am…let’s see it has been over a month and a week…by the time that I do wind up getting paid it would have been two months that I have not had any income at all. And that’s messed with my head a lot. You know, I had been unemployed prior to that for six months, nothing coming from it and, you know, not being able to be bring any income into my family. Fortunately, my wife has some money, my daughter she…she has a job, but it’s not been nearly enough for us to live on. I felt a tremendous amount of guilt and I’ve let the enemy oppress me in this area and let me think less of myself in this area even though i do have a job that I’m starting on Monday, and I did…I have done work to get work. I’ve let the enemy oppress me in this area and I just…just think less of myself and I’ve gone to idols to try to comfort what it is that I’m feeling. It’s just not been…it’s not…I’ve not been very healthy in the way that I’ve dealt with this. And I am committed to getting back up every time that I fall. You know, fall down seven times get up eight. So, from beautiful Cincinnati OH, God bless you all. Thank you and make it a great day.
Good morning this is Helen in Durham and…actually in Pennsylvania at the moment visiting our grandson and family and I feel compelled to let you all pray with me please for tomorrow. Our grandson Carter who has shown that he has a real interest in God and actually even has prayed to God and heard His voice. So, I have…really feel the Lord wants to move in his life. He has…he wants to go to church with us tomorrow morning. And I’m also praying that either his dad who we have a long history of difficulty with, or his mom will go with us as well. Anyway Lord, I just want to lift up this family. I just feel like there are things that You really want to do in their lives and that You are poised to do those things. Lord, I have great faith that You really want to build little Carter, seven years old, into a man of God whose already heard Your voice. And Lord, just fills me with expectation for what You could do in his little life. And there’s so many negative issues that have gone on in families, addictions and different things of that sort Lord. I just want to lift up this Young family and pray that You will make end ways, especially through Carter but through my son who knows about You Lord, that You would soften his heart to want to follow You, that You would build greater faith into the mom and this little girl who’s only two that we’re celebrating her birthday, that lord even You will move into her life as well. So, i just really have great hope for this family.
Hi DAB family this is Thankful and Still and I was calling in response to the January 28th community prayer. I heard a mama of a son named Quincy and I just want you to know that I am praying. I’m praying for your son and my son because it sounds identical to what I’m experiencing with mine, my boy. But I’ll just pray for them. Heavenly Father, I thank You. I thank You and I praise You for the blessings of children. I thank You that they are unique in their ways, that You created them for a purpose Lord before You set the foundations of the earth. And we thank You for our children that are…are created in Your image to serve and to do the works that You set up for them that are just so unique to them Lord. I thank You for their walk. I thank You for the experiences they’re having God, even though we as mothers don’t know what’s going on when they’re out. God I just know that You’re there and You know, and You are with them heavenly Father. We pray that You would surround our children with people that are of You with Your angels, with people that will speak wisdom and life and love into them, God, that will spark interest in things of above like things that are beyond them, themselves. Grow them, inspire them Lord to draw near to You. Draw near to them as well. And we just praise You for the victory for salvation and for children that are gonna serve You and do just miraculous things for You God. And give us momma’s peace as we wait for You to do Your will in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Scripture tells us beware when you think you’re standing
lest you fall
now that’s some good scriptural advice that’s applicable to us all
because all of us at times have made plans
and have at times unforeseen circumstances pop up that takes the control
totally out of their own hands
and we find ourselves at the mercy of the wind
not knowing when where how things are going to end
we get so angry at that point that we want to hit something till it cracks
frustration aggravation satanic attacks
driving us till we reach our wits end
and that’s usually the point where we ask the father to step in
because he says many are the afflictions of the righteous
but he also says that out of them all he will rescue us
and he does over and over again
his grace mercy faith love and kindness has no end
Jesus savior please pilot me
take control and set me free
blindtony1016@gmail.com. Like to give a shout out to Michelle from LA and I’d also like to give a shout…shout out to Rebecca from Michigan. Know that you’re both are being prayed for daily and loved thought of often. And once again Brian and the Hardin family thank you for this wonderful podcast for god’s Holy Spirit to flow. Keep it flowing y'all. All right, bye-bye.
Hey, my adorable DAB family, this is Kingdom Seeker Daniel. Wanted to pray for our sister Melissa from Albertville AL concerning your nephew, Elijah. Father, I come on behalf of your daughter Melissa’s nephew Elijah and I plead the precious blood of the lamb Jesus the Christ over his life where the enemy is putting out and assault to ravish this young man’s mind and life. He doesn’t want anything to do with you oh God. And I pray that you would demolish the walls that have been erected to stand in the way of this young man’s life. I pray God that you would surround him on every side and I pray that you would destroy the stronghold and the yoke of bondage that the enemy has been able to gain access into his world. O God set this young man’s mind free and do a mighty work of healing deliverance breakthrough and salvation to the glory of your great name I pray. Amen. Be encouraged sis. God’s got your nephew. Family if you would be so kind to be in prayer for LOV’s daughter, Tanya Gordon. She had a heart attack on yesterday. Today is the 22nd and they had to put two stents and…and they did a blood transfusion this morning. They’re still running tests to determine what’s going on with her blood. There seems to be some issues with her blood And, so, I’m asking that you please lift up LOV’s daughter Tanya Gordon for healing in Jesus’ name. Love you family.