Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Judges 12 and Psalm 36

Judges 12 is yet another example of the moral failure of God’s people. The Ephraimites had wronged Jephtha by not assisting him in battle, and now they were adding insult to injury by threatening to burn down his house. It’s so illogical it would be laughable – if it wasn’t so tragic. The “people of God” were behaving in a profoundly wicked and ungodly fashion. And then it got worse as Jephtha exacted revenge for the insult and 42 000 people died. It is a clear portrayal of the cycle of violence in which Israel was trapped. As Psalm 36:4 describes this sort of behaviour: “They commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong.”

Yesterday, in our Covenant Service, we comitted ourselves to live Christlike lives of compassionate, gracious and merciful love, even toward those who harm and despise us. May the Holy Spirit grant us the grace and power to do so – lest we fall into the trap we see so clearly played out in Judges 12.

Lord, thank You for being so compassionate, kind, merciful and gracious to me. Please empower me to live that out towards others today; even those who are the “enemies” in my life. Amen!