Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Today’s Scripture
Today’s Author
Rebekah LeMon
When I think of a judge, I picture someone in a black robe, seated on high in a courtroom. In that context, judge is both a title and a task; the person in the role of judge must make judgments—decisions—evaluating the proceedings at hand. In the book of Judges, the context isn’t a judiciary, but the story of God’s people. Rather than serving in court, those who are called judges in the book are rulers and military leaders of Israel who judge their own community’s ways, especially as the people of Israel repeatedly turn away from God’s covenant and worship idols and other gods. When the community is unfaithful to the one God, their God, whose faithfulness delivered them from slavery and provided for their future, God is angry and punishes them. And then, to pull them back into right practice, God raises up leaders to call out the community’s transgressions and remind them of God’s commands. God is with the judges God raises up, but the task is still hard. The people of Israel are still tempted by other gods. They have the good examples of their ancestors who obeyed God, but still, they turn away from what is right. The story of Israel is our story. We forget God’s commands, turn away from the good, and scoff at leaders who call us to faithfulness. And yet, even now, God continues to raise up and walk with leaders among us, always, always calling us back to God.
Summer Devotional
God Goes With Us
This summer’s devotional is a walk through the Bible. Join our pastors and staff for daily reflections on scripture passages from Genesis to Revelation. In the beginning, God said, “I will be your God and you will be my people.” Come and see how this covenant promise changes through time yet remains steadfast from generation to generation.
Each Sunday, Chris Holmes will share a short message on the texts for the week, and written reflections will go out every Monday through Thursday morning.
We wish you blessings and deeper faith this summer!
