1 00:00:02,670 --> 00:00:13,400 Speaker 1: Life Audio Hello. Thank you for listening to your daily 2 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:17,099 Speaker 1: Bible verse, a podcast that examines one verse each day 3 00:00:17,380 --> 00:00:19,600 Speaker 1: to learn more about God and His will for us. 4 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:22,980 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Jennifer Sattery, and after this short word 5 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:26,710 Speaker 1: from our sponsors, we'll dive into today's Bible verse, Judges 18-17. 6 00:00:39,909 --> 00:00:44,210 Speaker 1: Today's Bible verse is Judges 18, 17. The five men 7 00:00:44,250 --> 00:00:46,550 Speaker 1: who had spied out the land went inside and took 8 00:00:46,590 --> 00:00:49,530 Speaker 1: the idol, the ephod, and the household gods, while the 9 00:00:49,610 --> 00:00:53,229 Speaker 1: priest and the 600 armed men stood at the entrance 10 00:00:53,300 --> 00:00:57,090 Speaker 1: of the gate. Have you ever asked the Lord why 11 00:00:57,220 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: you must learn so many lessons the hard way? I have. Like, 12 00:01:00,940 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: why didn't he stop me before I blew an insane 13 00:01:03,660 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 1: amount of money on stuff that might make me happy 14 00:01:06,060 --> 00:01:10,110 Speaker 1: in the moment, but only leaves me anxious and frustrated 15 00:01:10,370 --> 00:01:14,810 Speaker 1: when an unexpected bill comes? And couldn't he have amplified 16 00:01:14,830 --> 00:01:18,450 Speaker 1: the red flags in that relationship or business deal or 17 00:01:18,670 --> 00:01:25,610 Speaker 1: opportunity before I became entangled in a painful and avoidable situation? Yet, 18 00:01:25,890 --> 00:01:30,070 Speaker 1: when I process through these situations later, the Lord helps 19 00:01:30,130 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: me see that he did indeed provide ample warning in scripture. 20 00:01:35,330 --> 00:01:40,020 Speaker 1: This includes life principles like those recorded in Proverbs and James, 21 00:01:40,700 --> 00:01:44,460 Speaker 1: along with examples of the pain and devastation that occurs 22 00:01:45,100 --> 00:01:50,220 Speaker 1: when people live contrary to God's wise boundaries. This might 23 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:54,370 Speaker 1: be the strongest message conveyed in the chapters surrounding today's verse, 24 00:01:54,570 --> 00:01:57,630 Speaker 1: and really all of Judges. Prior to entering the Promised Land, 25 00:01:57,650 --> 00:02:01,430 Speaker 1: the Lord had provided clear guidelines for successful living, along 26 00:02:01,730 --> 00:02:05,290 Speaker 1: with warning should his people forsake him, as they quickly 27 00:02:05,350 --> 00:02:08,210 Speaker 1: did once Joshua the warrior who led them during the 28 00:02:08,250 --> 00:02:13,140 Speaker 1: conquest died. Recognizing this has helped correct my view of 29 00:02:13,260 --> 00:02:16,420 Speaker 1: Christ a bit. I used to view God's actions in 30 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:19,739 Speaker 1: the Old Testament, like allowing his people to experience oppression 31 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 1: and later exile, as evidence of a harsh punitive nature. 32 00:02:23,940 --> 00:02:28,060 Speaker 1: The more I read biblical history, consider my past experiences 33 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:30,669 Speaker 1: with the Lord, and listen for God's still small voice, 34 00:02:31,430 --> 00:02:34,030 Speaker 1: the more I recognize God's grace, and often in the 35 00:02:34,150 --> 00:02:38,730 Speaker 1: very places that once seemed harsh. As I consider the 36 00:02:38,770 --> 00:02:42,540 Speaker 1: circumstances surrounding today's verse, my mind jumps to 2 Timothy 3.16, 37 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:47,609 Speaker 1: which reads, All scripture is breathed out by God and 38 00:02:47,710 --> 00:02:53,410 Speaker 1: profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training 39 00:02:54,010 --> 00:03:01,030 Speaker 1: in righteousness. All scripture. The sections highlighting God's promises that 40 00:03:01,130 --> 00:03:04,660 Speaker 1: describe the behaviors most apt to result in blessings and 41 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 1: those passages like Judges 18 that provide valuable lessons on 42 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:14,910 Speaker 1: what to avoid. Then there's Hebrews 4.12, which states, For 43 00:03:14,940 --> 00:03:19,470 Speaker 1: the word of God is alive and active, sharper than 44 00:03:19,710 --> 00:03:24,929 Speaker 1: any double-edged sword. It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, 45 00:03:25,169 --> 00:03:29,950 Speaker 1: joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of 46 00:03:30,010 --> 00:03:35,890 Speaker 1: the heart. Alive, timeless. The Holy Spirit awakens our souls 47 00:03:36,010 --> 00:03:40,730 Speaker 1: and makes passages applicable to us today, some 3,000 years later. 48 00:03:40,750 --> 00:03:46,540 Speaker 1: It's active, or closer to the original Greek, energized, meaning 49 00:03:46,740 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: it's much more than an ancient document or even a 50 00:03:49,300 --> 00:03:54,380 Speaker 1: detailed account of human history. It's the life-changing, empowering word 51 00:03:54,500 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 1: of Almighty God, able to penetrate to our depths, exposing 52 00:03:59,920 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 1: our areas of deception and sin, bringing clarity to our confusion, 53 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: and revealing and correcting the attitudes of our heart. That's 54 00:04:09,020 --> 00:04:13,500 Speaker 1: a big deal, because according to Proverbs 4.23, Our hearts 55 00:04:13,620 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 1: determine the trajectory of our lives. Many of us might 56 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:22,270 Speaker 1: not realize that the temptation to sin rarely hits all 57 00:04:22,310 --> 00:04:24,910 Speaker 1: at once. Most people don't wake up one morning and think, hmm, 58 00:04:25,110 --> 00:04:28,610 Speaker 1: I'm going to dishonor Christ today. We tend to drift 59 00:04:28,730 --> 00:04:32,310 Speaker 1: rather than jump from his will and ways, one small 60 00:04:32,380 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 1: compromise at a time. This is another message evident in 61 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 1: the Danite story, and yet an additional example of God's 62 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:45,219 Speaker 1: preeminent grace to you And to me, numerous commentators suggest, 63 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 1: based on verse 5, that these men genuinely wanted God's guidance. 64 00:04:50,140 --> 00:04:54,050 Speaker 1: While that's admirable, if true, they should have sought it 65 00:04:54,150 --> 00:04:59,070 Speaker 1: in the official tabernacle located in a town called Shiloh. Yet, 66 00:04:59,950 --> 00:05:03,669 Speaker 1: Micah's priest seemed so convenient. The people were already traveling 67 00:05:03,710 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: that way, after all. How fortunate that they happened upon 68 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:10,620 Speaker 1: a religious leader along the way, or so it seemed. 69 00:05:11,300 --> 00:05:15,610 Speaker 1: And so, They followed the advice of an illegitimate priest. 70 00:05:16,890 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 1: But that wasn't where their story ended. As David Guzik 71 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:24,700 Speaker 1: points out, Judges 18 shows how these individual sins made 72 00:05:24,820 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 1: entire tribes wicked and rebellious against God. Centuries later, this 73 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:38,990 Speaker 1: ultimately contributed to the nation's exile. the 70 years in 74 00:05:39,010 --> 00:05:41,470 Speaker 1: which they were forced to live as foreigners in a 75 00:05:41,510 --> 00:05:46,070 Speaker 1: foreign land. But even then, there was grace, evidenced by 76 00:05:46,100 --> 00:05:49,099 Speaker 1: the miraculous way God brought his people back to the 77 00:05:49,140 --> 00:05:53,859 Speaker 1: promised land. And for us, the grace extends even further 78 00:05:53,980 --> 00:05:57,620 Speaker 1: to the arrival, death, and resurrection of his son, an 79 00:05:57,660 --> 00:06:01,610 Speaker 1: event that allows me and you into our eternal promised land, 80 00:06:01,990 --> 00:06:05,210 Speaker 1: the new heaven and earth, in which pain and deception 81 00:06:05,430 --> 00:06:09,510 Speaker 1: will be no more. Until then, We have constant access 82 00:06:10,089 --> 00:06:13,730 Speaker 1: to the two best safeguards we'll ever need, God's Word, 83 00:06:13,750 --> 00:06:18,090 Speaker 1: the Bible, and His indwelling Spirit who helps us understand 84 00:06:18,470 --> 00:06:23,810 Speaker 1: and apply what we read. What a precious gift of grace. 85 00:06:24,850 --> 00:06:28,160 Speaker 1: And speaking of gifts, before we pray, fun news. I'm 86 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:32,380 Speaker 1: hosting a massive giveaway for my newsletter subscribers featuring 20 gifts. 87 00:06:33,339 --> 00:06:37,020 Speaker 1: items donated by some fabulous authors. If you're a subscriber, 88 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:40,060 Speaker 1: you're automatically entered. If you're not and want to be, 89 00:06:40,290 --> 00:06:43,089 Speaker 1: subscribe through the link in the show notes. Today, I'm 90 00:06:43,150 --> 00:06:48,190 Speaker 1: highlighting three of my generous contributors. The first is Heidi Main, 91 00:06:48,390 --> 00:06:51,870 Speaker 1: author of The Mistletoe Baby. 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Three heartwarming Christmas romances, 99 00:07:21,130 --> 00:07:24,940 Speaker 1: all part of the incredible collection One Lucky Winter from 100 00:07:24,980 --> 00:07:28,780 Speaker 1: Within the Continental U.S. will receive. Again, enter through the 101 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: subscriber link in my show notes. Giveaway ends December 1st. 102 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: And now, let's pray. Holy Father, first of all, we 103 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:40,340 Speaker 1: want to thank you for the gift of Scripture that 104 00:07:40,380 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 1: you preserved throughout generations for us, that reveals your heart 105 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:48,670 Speaker 1: for us. You so long to keep us walking your good, 106 00:07:48,810 --> 00:07:51,930 Speaker 1: hope-filled path, and we want that as well. Lord, our 107 00:07:51,990 --> 00:07:55,470 Speaker 1: hearts tend to stray. Our pride drives us away. Our 108 00:07:55,550 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 1: selfishness confuses our steps. and our perception. And Lord, we 109 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:04,020 Speaker 1: just ask that you would remove those things within us 110 00:08:04,100 --> 00:08:07,580 Speaker 1: that hinder our faith, that hinder our relationship with you, 111 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 1: that hinder our obedience. We ask that you would increase 112 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: our faith, increase our trust, because we know the more 113 00:08:13,820 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: we trust, the more we know you, and the more 114 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: we trust you, the more we will naturally follow you, 115 00:08:20,170 --> 00:08:24,410 Speaker 1: because your ways are good. Your ways bring hope, and life, 116 00:08:24,690 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 1: and light, and peace, and joy. And we want those things, Lord. 117 00:08:29,420 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 1: Remind us that you are always leading us according to 118 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:38,140 Speaker 1: your love, your power, your brilliance. And so when it 119 00:08:38,220 --> 00:08:42,660 Speaker 1: is difficult to obey, remind us to pause and to 120 00:08:42,780 --> 00:08:48,930 Speaker 1: really consider with you, to prayerfully consider exactly why obedience 121 00:08:48,970 --> 00:08:51,550 Speaker 1: feels hard in that moment. Meet us in that place. 122 00:08:52,070 --> 00:08:55,770 Speaker 1: And begin to break through whatever is hindering our walk 123 00:08:55,809 --> 00:08:58,530 Speaker 1: with you. Increase our love for you. Increase our love 124 00:08:58,550 --> 00:09:01,470 Speaker 1: for scripture. Increase our love for the things of you. 125 00:09:01,590 --> 00:09:06,569 Speaker 1: Increase our ability to sense your presence. Increase our desire 126 00:09:06,929 --> 00:09:10,010 Speaker 1: to come to be with you. And help us to 127 00:09:10,050 --> 00:09:14,180 Speaker 1: carve out time for that. Increase our desire to read scripture. 128 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,980 Speaker 1: And may every word we read sink deep into our souls. 129 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:24,590 Speaker 1: Transform our thinking by your truth. Your word, Holy Father, 130 00:09:25,190 --> 00:09:29,740 Speaker 1: is truth. And again, we thank you for such a 131 00:09:29,900 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: precious gift. May we not take it for granted. And 132 00:09:33,260 --> 00:09:35,540 Speaker 1: it is in the name of your Son, our Savior, 133 00:09:35,580 --> 00:09:37,620 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ, that we pray. Amen.