TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Judges 17
In those days Israel had no king. - Judges 17:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
After Emperor Nero’s suicide in A.D. 68, Rome found it had no clear leadership. Different generals vied to take control of Rome in this “Year of Three Emperors.” In the end Vespasian won, and most historians agree that he ruled well. But a dangerous precedent had been set. Ultimate control could now simply go to the strongest, and this dynamic contributed to Rome’s instability for centuries to come.

This same sense of appearing to find solutions, while in reality establishing destructive patterns, pervades our reading today. To establish context, we need to understand what sin fully entails. Judges 20:16 states that some Benjamites “could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.” The Hebrew word for “miss” here is frequently means “sin.” Language is flexible, but the concept of sin as “missing the mark,” seems to be the intent. To clarify, this, though, we should not think of sin as specific misdeeds a tad off-center, but rather something that involves our whole being. We do not have bad aim; we orient ourselves in the wrong direction and cannot “hit the mark.” We need continual repentance to find the right path.

Right from the start in Judges 17 things seem strangely amiss. Micah steals silver from his mother, and she blesses him (v. 2). They dedicate the silver to God . . . to make an idol (vv. 3-4). A wandering Levite stumbles into town, and Micah makes him his priest. Verse 13 reveals the extent of Micah’s confusion. Levites served as priests in Israel, but this did not guarantee God’s favor. Aaron, for example was a Levite and he made the golden calf (see Exodus 32). This same Levite later becomes a priest for the Danites, who used him to sanction their brutal conquest of Laish (18:27), and they worshiped the same idol Micah made.

First Kings 12:25-33 indicate that Dan was probably a center for idol worship in the northern kingdom, and idol worship contributed to their conquest by Assyria. Some scholars wonder whether this is part of the answer to the mystery of why Dan is not listed in the twelve tribes of Israel in Revelation 7:4-8. Actions oriented in the wrong direction have disastrous consequences.

APPLY THE WORD
The refrain throughout the last four chapters of Judges, “In those days Israel had no king” (17:6, 18:1, 19:1, 21:25) describes more than political instability. Israel lacked a spiritual center, so actions that seemed to flow from good motives were rotten from the inside out. We need to see ourselves like the Israelites if we want to avoid their fate. We must change the direction of our aim to live in God’s light, according to His plan, not according to what we think is right in our own eyes.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 12
You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD. - 1 Samuel 12:20
TODAY IN THE WORD
Most homes have unwritten rules, including the common precept, “Don’t flush when someone is in the shower.” Most know that when the toilet flushes, cold water flees the shower, leaving the innocent showering one to get scalded. Bible professor Dale Davis recalled an occasion when his son did just this to him, eliciting his yelp of pain. After a hasty apology, his son crowed, “You can’t beat me up, because you’re my dad.” Davis adds, “He meant, ‘Because of who you are, you are committed to act in a certain way’.

Repentance opens us up before God, but our sin also reveals the character of God Himself. First Samuel 12 shows that while judgment accompanies sin, it comes with heavy doses of mercy.

By this point, Israel had already asked for a king, had chosen Saul to be king, and finally anointed him king over Israel (see 1 Samuel 8—10). In chapter 12, Samuel makes it clear that now there is no going back, and the people must fully understand what they have done (v. 7).

Samuel wanted the people to face reality. His speech rehearsed Israel’s unfaithfulness. They “forgot the LORD” (v. 9) and are conquered by various enemies. When pressured again (v. 12) they caved and ask for a king. Even now, the wheat harvest will be ruined as a judgment (v. 17).

But judgment is not the dominant theme here. Two crucial times we see God’s reaction to Israel’s sin in the form of the phrase, “The LORD sent,” (vv. 8, 11). Even in the midst of our sin, God loves His people. He sends deliverance. Israel might have argued that God had no such deliverance at the end of chapter 12, but in fact God’s mercy stood right in front of them in the form of Samuel. He would intercede for the people (v. 23), something hinted at already (v. 11).

In fact, not only does God stay close when we sin, He is especially active. Our transgressions become the platform for the Lord to show who He really is. He simply won’t “beat us up.” He will not let our sin go unnoticed, but He will act consistently with His character of love and mercy.

APPLY THE WORD
As with Israel, so too with us: God never abandons His people. Take a moment to reflect on how God has provided for you in the midst of your sin. How has He gotten you back on track? Perhaps at times it was a friend, an author, an event, or quite possibly, even a sermon. “Shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart! . . . The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy” (Zeph. 3:14-15).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 13
But now your kingdom will not endure. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. - 1 Samuel 13:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
Billy Beane was a “can’t miss” baseball prospect. Tall, athletic, and fast, Beane could on occasion hit mammoth home runs. Scouts drooled over him. Yet, as Michael Lewis relates in his book Moneyball, there was just one problem: Beane couldn’t play. He couldn’t actually do things players need to do, like extend pitch counts, get walks, and hit behind runners. His playing career didn’t last long.

Saul looked like a “can’t miss” king. Tall, handsome (1 Sam. 9:2), having leadership ability (1 Samuel 11), he seemed poised to help Israel prosper. But we know that his rule collapsed, his dynasty ending with his death. What went wrong?

It’s astonishing how quickly it unraveled. Facing a crisis in 1 Samuel 13, Saul decided to offer the sacrifice on the seventh day (cf. 1 Sam. 10:8). It’s easy to sympathize with Saul. He felt anxious, and many of us would feel the same way in his shoes. His whole kingdom seemed to be slipping away. It seems he was trying to do the right thing to gain God’s favor. Why, then, such a harsh judgment (vv. 13-14)?

When confronted, Saul did not repent. He knew he disobeyed but quickly shifted blame to Samuel. As one Old Testament scholar pointed out, the “you” is emphasized in verse 11, so Saul’s words might be translated, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you, yes you, did not come.” This reminds us of a similar Hebrew construction in Genesis 3:12, where Adam stated, “The woman you put here with me, she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

The fourth century bishop John Chrysostom once wrote, “All the variety of God’s commandments can be reduced to the single principle of repentance. . . . We are not condemned for the multitude of our transgressions, but for our refusal to repent.” In verse 14, David’s kingdom is foreshadowed, for he was the “man after his own heart.” Were Saul’s crimes worse than the adultery, murder, and pride of David (2 Samuel 11; 23)? Certainly not! But throughout his life, Saul shifted blame and refused to confess his deeds (cf. 1 Sam. 15:20-21).

APPLY THE WORD
What is closest to God’s heart? How many of us try to manage our relationship with God through our behavior? It is a very common trap. We forget that God looks at the heart, that He desires, “mercy, not sacrifice” (Hos. 6:6; Matt. 9:9-13). Let us seek God’s heart by asking Him to soften our own. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain by simply admitting the truth. He offers us the blessing of His presence when we acknowledge our sin and repent.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Judges 2
For the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed them. - Judges 2:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
Those who have interacted with children know that their reckless behavior can sometimes bring about pain. We warn them, but they do not listen, and sooner or later someone gets hurt. No good parent, however, would refuse to comfort a hurting child simply because it was “their fault.” Today we see that God’s care for us is no different, and how His love should move us toward repentance.

Judges 1:27-36 presents the incomplete conquest of the land. God wanted the occupying nations driven out to protect His people, knowing that they would easily slip back into idolatry if surrounded by them. God had pledged to go before them in conquest, so the fault lay with the Israelites. They were warned (2:2), but they disobeyed (vv. 12-14). In turn, they suffered occupation and oppression from their enemies. God acted as He promised He would, and this is no surprise.

God’s reaction to their suffering may surprise us, however. Out of nowhere He “raised up judges” (v. 16) who delivered them from their enemies. There is no indication that God acted because of any movement back toward God in the text that “earned” them this deliverance. Even in spite of this unexpected gift, the Israelites again “prostituted themselves to other gods” (v. 17). But God did not leave His people.

In verse 18 we see the reason for God’s deliverance. He cannot stand to sit by for long and have His people suffer. Again, we should not assume that verse 28 describes Israel’s repentance, as none of the traditional Hebrew words for “repent” are used here. Simply put, God pities us. One might almost say He looks for excuses to shower us with blessings. True repentance would obviously be best. But crying out, “Daddy, I’m hurt, please help me,” does move the heart of God.

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God will hand us over to the consequences of our own behavior. But such disasters are never what God truly wants for us. If you suffer and are not at the place of repentance, tell God of your suffering. It is a fine beginning. But while we can begin with crying out in pain, we cannot stop there. Without true repentance, the Israelites fell back into destructive habits (v. 19). God hears us in our suffering—how much more will He hear our cry, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 8:1-9:21
It is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people. - Deuteronomy 9:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
If God is good, why do bad things happen? Skeptics have used this question to argue against Christian faith, but genuine seekers ask this as well. Faithful believers, from Job to the present day, know that this question is more than an intellectual puzzle. It impacts our lives all the time on an emotional and spiritual level. We cannot ignore it or explain it away.

Today’s reading certainly does not provide a complete answer to this question, but it may shed some light. We see that bad things happen not only because of our sin, but to remind us to reorient our lives toward our true home.

In Deuteronomy Moses gave the Israelites a summary of the Law and their history as a people. Chapter 8 tells of God’s provision during the forty years of desert wandering and the blessings of the Promised Land they soon will enter. We must see that God’s first impulse and greatest wish is to bless us. He creates and saves us, not to make minions for His bidding but to share the abundance of His love.

But Deuteronomy 8:14-17 both warn and foreshadow what may come. All of these blessings might lead the Israelites to forget the Source, and distort their perception of who they are. God gives gifts in spite of, not because of, our state of purity. Chapter 9 reminds the Israelites that their real danger came not from the enemies they faced in battle (9:3), but in their own hearts. Perhaps this is why Moses rehearsed one of their great failings, the Golden Calf.

Their disobedience here led God to declare that He wished to destroy the Israelites (9:14), but Moses interceded, appealing to the character of God and His faithfulness and mercy. For all the harsh language of chapters 8 and 9, God’s mercy is the dominant theme. He seeks to save us from ourselves (8:3, 16). We need to be reoriented in our walk with Him.

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The theme of God’s mercy extends when Moses stated, “Then I took that sinful thing of yours . . . and ground it to powder as fine as dust” (v. 21). Just as Christ was “crushed for our iniquities” (Isa. 53:5), God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Suffering can be a call for us to repent, a call to realize that God loves us enough not to let us walk away. Let us heed this call “as long as it is called ‘Today’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Heb. 3:13).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 3:7-14
What should we do then? - Luke 3:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
In ancient Persia, no male between the ages of 15 and 50 could escape army service. A man named Pythius approached King Xerxes with a request. Might Xerxes exempt the eldest of his five sons from the military? Xerxes not only denied the request, he took Pythius’s son and had his body hacked in two, so that the departing army could march between his body as they left the city. Approaching the king came with great risk.

With sin comes guilt, and guilt brings fear. Over the next three days we will see that when we approach the King of kings, we have nothing to fear. This is true because of God’s nature, but also because of what God seeks to accomplish through repentance.

In our reading today let’s assume the perspective of those that heard the Baptist’s message. Here we have a fiery preacher who lived in the desert, perhaps alone. He ate locusts. He used strong and vivid language (v. 7). He rebuked Herod, surely knowing what that might mean (3:19-20). One might easily fear this man, not for his anger, but because of his holiness.

This fear may have been heightened by John’s words in verse 7. His words went to “the crowds,” and in verse 8 he seemingly removed the last of their spiritual defenses. Not even membership in the nation of Israel got them a pass.

Having been verbally dressed down, with no leg to stand on, they responded in the only way possible, “What should we do then?” Surely this took great courage. What might this crazy prophet tell them to do? Would it be the modern equivalent of, “Sell everything and be a missionary in Greenland”? What does repentance mean?

John indicated that repentance means that some things must change, but these things are simple, obvious, and straightforward. Share food and resources. Don’t cheat others. Be content. We might even think, “They got off easy!” But to think this is to miss the point. God is not impressed much by what we have done or will do, and John understood this. He does care greatly about who we are. Repentance involves transformation first and foremost, not action.

APPLY THE WORD
Many of us may fear to approach God by baring our souls. We may cringe in anticipation of what God will “require” of us, and so stay away. But we can trust God’s loving embrace. He is not standing by with a cosmic whip, waiting to flog us into submission. Rather, He sent His Son to redeem us and sends His Holy Spirit to transform us. Let us turn to Him today with hope instead of fear.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 5:9-21
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. - 2 Corinthians 5:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
Horatio Alger’s tales of rags to riches through pluck and effort in the late nineteenth century embodied how many saw America. Alger performed countless charitable acts, but guilt over an accusation of sexual molestation lingered with him. Some viewed his charitable acts as a response to this transgression. He once wrote a poem to a monk struggling with sin, and the final stanza reads: Thy guilty stains shall be washed white again / by noble service done thy fellow men. For Alger, even redemption was in reach of those willing to strive for it.

This tragic attitude can infect any of us; it’s tragic because it creates an impossible burden, one that God never intended we bear. Yesterday we saw that repentance may involve something outside our expectations, and today we see how God means for us to be reconciled to Him.

Like yesterday, our text opens with sobering words. Paul seems to create an impossible burden in verse 10, stating that all of us must give and receive our due for what we’ve done, “whether good or bad.” By itself, this statement offers nobody hope, and Paul agrees, referencing the fear of the Lord (v. 11). Death and judgment await.

But the centrality of the gospel message liberates Paul from fear. We have already “died” for our sin—because Christ died for us (v. 15). This death liberates us from bondage to ourselves, and one form this bondage can take is the balance sheet in our own conscience. None of the past matters now because our old selves died in the death of Christ. We are “new creations.” As one commentator states, “We must not look upon [Christians] in terms of what they bring to their relationship with Christ, but in terms of what they have become in Him.”

This new freedom is oriented toward a new end, that of reconciliation. God seeks to bridge the divide between Himself and the world He loves. We should commit to this same ministry (vv. 18-19). It begins with us. Through repentance we reconcile ourselves to God, and make it possible to be reconciled with others. The old bondage has passed away.

APPLY THE WORD
Facing our sin is never easy. But repentance is much, much easier than the impossible task of righting the balance sheet in our favor. Repentance is God’s gift of reconciliation to us. We must embrace it, and this day let us not hesitate to heal the divide between God and ourselves, and with those that we have sinned against. God’s great mercy and forgiveness transform us, making it possible for us to extend incomprehensible forgiveness to others, too.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 4:1-39
Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah? - John 4:29
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Greek philosopher Socrates claimed that he tried to live in obedience to the command, “Know thyself.” For Socrates this meant recognizing his limitations. As Plato’s Apology states, “He among you is the wisest who, like Socrates, knows that his wisdom is really worth nothing at all.”

John Calvin wrote, “Without knowledge of self, there is no knowledge of God.” Failure to understand ourselves will hinder us from knowing God as we might. As we have seen, repentance gives us “great understanding,” whereby we know God better by seeing who we really are.

Much could be gleaned from this chapter, but for our purposes we will focus on verse 29, where the woman declared, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.” These words may strike us at least as hyperbolic. Clearly, in their brief encounter, Jesus did not do exactly this. The passage provides clues for understanding this unusual statement, and her subsequent repentance.

Jesus broke many of society’s barriers in this conversation. Jews and Samaritans did not converse, and neither did rabbis and women. Jesus would not let this stand in the way of His compassion for this woman. Notice how gently He peeled off her masks and misunderstandings before her “self knowledge” in verse 29.

In dropping her guard, revealing her sin, and acknowledging that sin, the Samaritan woman realized she was “known.” Her words contain not just amazement, but also relief. No more pretending! I can be myself! Our understanding deepens when we grasp the cultural context. The gathering at the local well was a prominent social time for women. She came later in the day to avoid people. Her living situation no doubt brought shame to herself and the community (v. 18). Now, however, she was free. She no longer feared her past because Messiah has come. Her first action was extending the good news to the community that had excluded her. We do not receive freedom in order to stand still, but to move forward with our lives joyfully.

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The spiritual pride practiced in John 4 by Jews and Samaritans can easily slip into our own lives. Who is the gospel for? Christianity is not for “good” people. It is not for people who think they have it all figured out. It is “for the sick” (Matt. 9:12). Will we experience the glory of being known by God through repentance? We can experience the relief, joy, and transformation that Jesus brought to the Samaritan woman when we acknowledge who we are and who Jesus is.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Whoever loves God is known by God. - 1 Corinthians 8:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
C. S. Lewis says in his essay “The Weight of Glory” that, while we may recognize beauty, beauty does not recognize us. We cannot have a conversation with a prized orchid or inspiring song. Beauty smiles, but not in our direction. We often sense alienation from the world and long for a response. We want to be acknowledged.

We have seen that part of God’s purpose in repentance is freedom from fear, the past, and the self. Today we see that because God meets our deep need of acceptance, we have freedom in the way we can treat others.

We first note the surprise that greets us in verse three. We expect it to say, “Whoever loves God knows God,” but instead it says, “is known by God.” To grasp the significance of this unexpected reversal, let’s look first at the context. The Corinthians were divided about this issue of eating of food sacrificed to idols. Paul states clearly that this issue is no issue at all (v. 8), as eating or not eating in itself does nothing for our spiritual well being. Instead, Paul uses this dispute to expose a deeper problem.

To be with like-minded people is a powerful way to fill our need for acceptance. These associations can lead to real friendships that bless us wonderfully. Sometimes, however, we use our belonging in one group to feel superior to others, and the Corinthians had done exactly this (v. 2). Verse 3 has nothing to say against friendships with like-minded people. But it does serve as a reminder: you are already “known,” you already belong. “Why then,” Paul seems to say, “do you create these false categories?”

We will make the same mistake as the Corinthians unless we approach God with humility. Now we understand verse 3 more clearly: Our love for God is already evidence that He knows us. We are already secure in His love and knowledge; we don’t need to prop ourselves up with alternative sources of security or power. In John 4 the woman’s repentance gave her true self-awareness; today we see that humility enables us to love God and others. To be loved is to be welcomed into the heart of things, as Lewis says: “The door on which we have been knocking will be opened at last.”

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Paul continues in chapter 8 to show us what we must do with this freedom. The difference between people creates an opportunity for service, not division. Whether weak or strong, when we know that we are truly accepted by God despite our failures, we can put others before ourselves. If you have been squabbling with other believers about an issue, take this opportunity to reflect on your own position as known and loved by God. Then through His grace, extend that love to others.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 9:1-13
It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. - Matthew 9:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
Some of us may recall an old television public service ad where an actress reminded us that, “Playing doctor can kill you.” It seems incredible that such a message would be needed, but in truth we often prefer our own way to the skill and training of medical professionals, and we vastly overestimate our own wisdom, even when it can lead us into error and death. Today we look at howChrist, the “Great Physician,” can use humility to save us from ourselves.

To understand our text, we must realize that the Pharisees were not “bad guys” in the eyes of most people. Unlike the Sadducees, they had not “sold out” to the Romans. They preserved traditional orthodoxy, like belief in the resurrection, and stressed the need for purity in their obedience to God’s law. They resembled conservative believers in many ways, which should make us wonder what their issue was with Jesus.

In the beginning of Matthew 9 we see Jesus miraculously heal a paralytic and proclaim His power to forgive sins. Many rejoiced, and in verses 9 and 10 Jesus reached out in intimate fellowship to hated collaborators with the Romans. At this, the Pharisees objected. Their whole system appeared in jeopardy. They faced a popular healer (v. 8), and their popularity was based partly on standing against the Romans. Jesus threatened to overturn all they had strived for and taught.

In Matthew 9:9-13, Jesus cannot offer anything to the Pharisees. They felt no need for forgiveness. Blind to the truth, they had no hope (cf. 1 John 1:8-9). Those who feel no need for repentance simply feel no need for Christ at all.

Here we see how this text matters to us. Will we prefer our own systems, theologies, and positions of power over Christ Himself? It’s time for us to stop pretending to be doctors, and go to the “Great Physician” as the poor and sick people we truly are.

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We find encouragement in the words of the early church father John Chrysostom: “As often as you sin, repent of your sin. Do not despair. . . . Do not by indifference lose hope of the good things prepared. For here is a physician’s office, not a courtroom; not a place where punishment is exacted, but where forgiveness is granted.” When we experience ongoing struggle with sin, we can still trust that Christ, the Great Physician, will bring healing.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 7:2-12
Godly sorrow leads to repentance . . . but the worldly sorrow brings death. - 2 Corinthians 7:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
In Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II, historian John Dower details Japan’s postwar reconstruction. They faced many physical challenges, such as rebuilding infrastructure. But Japan’s greatest obstacle was their deep psychological despondency, what Japanese observers called the Kyodatsu condition. Originally used as a clinical term for individual patients, now it applied to the whole nation. For many, kyodatsu was the “great enemy that could destroy Japan.”

One cannot repent without admitting fault, but true repentance should never leave us without hope. Our text today warns us of the dangers of wallowing in personal failure without reorienting our lives toward God.

Paul references his former “letter” (v. 8), which many believe to be 1 Corinthians, an epistle where Paul pulled no punches. Divisions, immorality—even turning the Lord’s Supper into a drunken feast—Paul did not hesitate to spell out their sins. Notice that Paul did not relish his prophetic role. He genuinely cared about this church, and woe to any of us who exult in pointing out others’ faults.

Paul makes clear that he did not rebuke them merely because he was angry or disappointed in them. He did not even criticize for the sole reason that they had sinned. As verse 9 tells us, Paul made them “sorry” in the hopes that it might produce repentance.

The context of 2 Corinthians is Paul’s desire to vindicate his apostolic ministry. This is not Paul’s indulgence in a touch of vanity here, for something much greater is at stake, namely, their perseverance in the faith (2 Cor 1:12-24). Paul’s desire for their repentance made him a true apostle of Christ (2 Cor. 7:12).

Our text today reveals not only Paul’s heart but God’s as well. When we sense God confronting us with our sin, we must not focus on our sin alone. We must not think that God is merely angry with us. He seeks to move us beyond the worldly sorrow that leads us toward spiritual death. He wants us to be reborn. He wants us to have hope.

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Japan’s tradition of Bushido called for “honorable” suicide after an ignominious defeat. In the same way, some people think that spiritual suicide is the only response to their sin and failures. This is not what God wants. He is able to bring good fruit from the muck of our defeat. He wants us to deal with our sin, but only because He wants us to be reborn. Godly sorrow “leaves no regret,” for it turns our gaze from our weakness to hope in God’s strength to restore us.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Zephaniah 1—3
Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land . . . seek righteousness, seek humility. - Zephaniah 2:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
Few Christians list prophetic literature among their most-read portions of Scripture. Our images of a prophet probably have a man with a wizened face, wild eyes, and gnarly fingers extended in accusation. Prophets mean judgment, not comfort.

Over the next few days we will look at prophetic literature as it relates to repentance. Hopefully we will see that our familiar image of the prophet needs tinkering. If God sends one, He has our eventual blessing in mind.

We usually think of prophets coming in the midst of evil times, but in verse 1 we see that Zephaniah was commissioned “during the reign of Josiah . . . king of Judah.” Second Kings 23:25 tells us that there was no other king like him. He established right worship in Israel and destroyed many places of idolatry. We may think Zephaniah’s prophetic role was not needed. But 2 Kings and our text today show otherwise. Previous rulers, like Manassah, left deep scars within Judah. Kings after Josiah, like Jehoahaz, went right back to idolatry. We may wonder if Israel’s return to God under Josiah was skin deep. At the very least, repentance must be a continual practice, a way of life (cf. 1 John 1).

Chapter 1 indicates that Josiah’s reign probably fostered economic prosperity, with references to money, merchants, and the complacency of wealth (vv. 10-13). Despite the appearance that all is well, Judah faced judgment (1:4). This is why they needed Zephaniah. They needed a reminder that “the great day of the LORD is near” (v. 14).

When accused we often respond defensively, “Why us? What about other idolaters?” Chapter 2 tells of God’s judgment on other nations. God is not “piling on,” but warning Judah. This should also comfort us. Judah was not singled out, and neither are we when we face judgment. God is adamantly against all idolatry.

A God who did not care would not warn His people. Zephaniah had the long-term view. He looks forward to when we can be glad, when “the LORD has taken away your punishment” (3:15).

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We must not follow Israel’s example (1:12) and believe that God cares nothing for us. Our God cared enough to pour out the judgment for our sin on His own Son to provide a way for us to be in relationship with Him. He cares enough to get our attention, to bring us back into fellowship. If you are trembling in fear at God’s judgment, run instead into His loving arms of safety. Write Zephaniah 3:17 on a note card to remind yourself of God’s great delight in you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Jonah 4
Should I not have concern for . . . Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people? - Jonah 4:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
After the battle of Lake Erie in 1813, U.S. Naval Commander Oliver Perry wrote, “We have met the enemy, and they are ours.” Years later, cartoonist Walt Kelly coined the more memorable, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” Kelly’s words not only summed up the spirit of his comic strip “Pogo,” they also point to an important spiritual truth we often overlook.

Beginning yesterday, and continuing over the next few days, we will look at prophetic literature related to repentance. Today we take a fresh look at the book of Jonah to glean important truths about Jonah and Israel, but also about our own hearts.

Jonah’s call and initial disobedience are familiar to many, but if we are honest, we probably sympathize with him. Nineveh was the heart of the Assyrian empire. With great brutality, the Assyrians had rapidly expanded their territory (around 850-750 B.C.) routinely dismembering, impaling, and flaying their captives. Their cruelty and rapaciousness made them the scourge of nations. No wonder Jonah ran the other direction.

We can also credit him for bringing his situation to God. In the belly of the fish he stopped running, and when rescued he obeyed. And yet, so distraught was Jonah by chapter four that he twice wished for death and revealed the reason for his initial flight. He did not fear what the Assyrians might do to him—he feared God might forgive. Nineveh’s repentance was his worst nightmare, for it meant potential danger for God’s people. We know that eventually, Assyria sacked and scattered the ten northern tribes in 722 B.C.

Time and again God sent prophets to warn Israel of coming trouble. Mostly they foretold of coming disaster, but the people rarely listened. Did Jonah’s sense of entitlement (4:9) mirror that of Israel itself? His refusal to receive mercy put him further away from God than any Ninevite. Jonah was wrong about Assryia. His greatest enemy was his own heart.

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Psychologists use the term projection when we blame other people or things for our failings. It’s a common defense mechanism, and it’s spiritually deadly. If we refuse to face responsibility for our deeds we will, like Jonah, become self-righteous and reject God’s mercy. The Assyrians’ repentance shows us that no one is ever shut off from God’s mercy. But Jonah’s anger shows us another possibility—that as believers we may no longer feel we need it. May God preserve us from Jonah’s fate.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ezekiel 18
For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone! . . . Repent and live! - Ezekiel 18:32
TODAY IN THE WORD
No doubt all of us can remember as a child doing something wrong and our parents finding out. Most likely we heard something to the effect of, “If you confess and tell the truth, this will all be easier.” If we trusted them, and if they were worthy of that trust, we discovered that parents care about their relationship and want to restore it.

Some assume that the prophets portray an image of a God who has an “itchy trigger finger” for judgment. Our study in the prophets, however, shows us a God who cares for His people above all, and today’s passage is no different.

Like all prophets, Ezekiel had the burden of proclaiming coming judgment for sin. What sets Ezekiel apart in some ways from other prophets are the lengths to which he’s called to go in order to give God’s message. In chapter 1 God calls him amidst dazzling visions. We might say that He pulled out all the stops. On a number of occasions, Ezekiel did the same, acting out in pantomime the coming judgment (see chap. 4; 10; 12). God does not want His message missed.

In Ezekiel 18:2, he quotes a common proverb of his time, which casts blame for their current woes on previous generations. But the proverb does more than shift blame to the past. It also accuses God of injustice, of not caring about them. Strikingly, God responds not with an accusation but with a defense. He values dialogue. Most of all, He wanted Israel to know He cared about them.

In verses 4 through 18 God makes it plain that no one faces punishment without sin. If they find themselves judged, they can assume they themselves have sinned, and need to stop blaming their ancestors. In verse 23, God shows His grief over their belief that He exults in judgment. How could you think this of me?, He seems to say.

God finally reveals His heart (vv. 30-32). Judgment comes because He wants them to repent. He sent Ezekiel to get their attention in numerous ways. They did not listen. Maybe judgment would force them to listen. Maybe now they will “repent and live.”

APPLY THE WORD
Facing the reality of our sin will open our hearts to see God as He truly is. Ezekiel 18 may remind you of Jesus’ words in Matthew 23. His heartfelt lament over Jerusalem (23:37) comes after some of His sternest words in all the Gospels (see Matt. 23:33). God wants to bless us, and often does in spite of our sin. But in the end, we must face the truth. We must listen. Neither the people of Jesus’ or Ezekiel’s day did so. Will we?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 32
Many are the woes of the wicked. But the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him. - Psalm 32:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Finding a new friend is always exciting. But friendships usually begin with a period of awkwardness. Are certain topics off limits? Are there rooms in the house I should not see? The stronger the relationship, the more freedom we experience with each other as trust is established.

Today and tomorrow we’ll examine repentance in the psalms. They do teach theology, but as poetic literature they also give us insight into our experience. Psalm 32 provides a great example.

David began by describing the burden of sin and guilt. His hesitancy to confess made him miserable (v. 3). Few things are worse than a guilty conscience. But it goes beyond that. David’s silence severed his relationship with God. We should interpret God’s heavy hand in this light (v. 4). He hounded David not to make him run, but to make him come out of hiding.

Verses 5 through 7 glory in the experience of forgiveness and God’s protection that comes with confession. We don’t know the specific context of Psalm 32 in David’s life, and we can apply David’s descriptions of trouble to the experiences we all encounter (vv. 6-7). The guilt of sin, the broken relationship, not knowing where he stood with God—David knew that this more than anything could destroy him.

Here the text takes an unexpected turn by focusing on God’s instruction, which may seem to have little to do with David baring his soul. Repentance ultimately is about our relationship to God. Brute animals have a limited relationship with us. They must be led with commands (v. 9). Sometimes we reduce God to an automatic rule enforcer. Verse 8 shows that God wants something much more personal than that, as David developed a clear contrast between God’s leading of us, and leading by “bit and bridle.”

Confession does lead to God’s forgiveness. But it also restores the relationship, and we receive back our freedom. We can move forward, confident that God’s “unfailing love surrounds” us. Surely this is great cause to “rejoice in the LORD,” and shout for joy (vv. 10-11).

APPLY THE WORD
The self-imposed exile created by our sin can make us miserable. But it is not our sin that keeps us from God so much as our failure to confess and repent. When we sin or are sinned against, we want to restore broken relationships with friends. How much more does God want us to return to Him, freed from the burden of guilt? You can confess today, and if you have experienced this restored relationship, you can shout and sing with joy!