THE LORD SENT JUDGES TO DELIVER THEM

PROCLAMATION

“And when the children of Israel cried unto The Lord, The Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.  The spirit of The Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war; And The Lord delivered … king of Mesopotamia into his hand …”  Judges 3:9-10 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Prophet Samuel.  This new generation of Israelites, the children of those that Joshua led, did not know The Lord.  The generation that Joshua led to victory after victory did not drive out the Canaanites who were living among them. (Judges 1:27-36)  They not only lived with them but they married their daughters and they gave their own daughters to them to marry.  They also served their god, Baal. (Judges 3:5-6)  They did evil in the sight of The Lord and aroused His anger towards them.  He allowed their surrounding enemies to defeat, raid, and plunder them and take them into captivity for eight years. (Judges 3:7-8)  When they were in great distress, The Lord raised up a judge, Othniel, to save them from their enemies. (Judges 3:9-11)  But when the judge died, the Israelites returned to their evil ways and The Lord allowed Eglon king of Moab to attack and capture Israel.  They stayed in captivity subject to the king of Moab for eighteen years. (Judges 3:11-14)  Again they cried out unto The Lord, and He gave them another judge to be their deliverer, Ehud son of Gera the Benjamite.  Ehud killed king Eglon and led the Israelites against the Moabites and defeated them. (Judges 3:15-30) 

 

APPLICATION

Unfortunately as believers we mess up, we fall back into sin and it interrupts our fellowship and our communication with The Lord God.  Only after bad things begin to happen to us do we call upon The Lord in prayer.  We confess our sins and He forgives us and makes a way out of our bad situation for us.  We are thankful for a while, and then we fall back into our sinful ways again.  However, The Lord God is a good God.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) 

  

ABRAM'S FIRST BORN SON

PROCLAMATION

“So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne.  Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.”  Genesis 16:15-16 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Sarai, Abram’s wife, had bore him no children.  So Sarai told Abram to sleep with her Egyptian slave Hagar and maybe they could build a family through her. (Genesis 16:1-2)  Abram slept with Hagar and she conceived.  However, when she learned that she was pregnant she began to despise Sarai. (Genesis 16:3-5)  This upset Sarai and she complained to Abram.  He said that Hagar was her slave, and she could do with her as she pleased.  Then Sarai began to mistreat Hagar, so much so until Hagar fled from her. (Genesis 16:5-6)  The angel of The Lord found Hagar in the desert and told her to go back to her mistress.  He said that she would have a son and she was to name him Ishmael. (Genesis 16:7-14)  Hagar returned to Sarai and bore Abram a son and he was called Ishmael. (Genesis 16:15)

 

APPLICATION

The Lord God sees our suffering and He hears our cries.  His response to our afflictions may not be the good news that we desired.  Here the slave Hagar was told to go back to Sarai who had mistreated her.  She was also told that every man would be against her son and that he would live in hostility. (Genesis 16:9-12)  This is not what any mother wants to hear.  We are told that God hears our cries and our prayers. (Psalm 34:17, Proverbs 15:29, John 9:31, and 1 John 5:14)  Our problem is that sometimes the answer to our prayers is “No” or “Not now.”  Some of the time we ask for things which are not consistent with the will of God.  Sometimes we bring our suffering upon ourselves.  After she found out that she was pregnant, Hagar was not very nice to Sarai. (Genesis 16:4)  His first born son was the result of Abram trying to help God out instead of being patient and waiting on The Lord.  God always keeps His promises.  His time frame is not the same as ours.  We need to learn to wait on The Lord. ( Psalm 27:14, Psalm 37:34, and Proverbs 20:22)  “… Wait, I say, on The Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)

THE LORD GOD HEARS THE VOICE AND THE CRIES OF HIS PEOPLE

Proclamation:

“The Lord said, ‘I have indeed seen the misery of My people in Egypt.  I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.’”  Exodus 3:7 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of God which were written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After his father, Jacob, died and was buried in Canaan, Joseph returned to Egypt and lived to be 110 years old.  Near the end of his life he made his brothers swear to an oath not to bury him in Egypt but to carry his bones back to the land that God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Genesis 50:22-26)  After Joseph died, a new king rose up in Egypt who did not know Joseph and who was worried about the numerous Israelites.  So he placed taskmasters over them and made their lives bitter. (Exodus 1:8-14)  However, the Israelites continued to increase in number and Pharaoh decreed that all male Israelite babies shall be killed at birth. (Exodus 1:15-22)  One Hebrew mother hid her son for as long as she could, then placed him in a basket and put it in the river.  The child was found by the daughter of Pharaoh, who felt sorry for the Hebrew boy and kept him as her own. (Exodus 2:1-10)  This boy, Moses, was raised in the palace of Pharaoh.  When he was grown, he killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew male.  The next day, he stopped two Hebrews from fighting, and one of them asked him, “Are you thinking of killing me as you did the Egyptian?”  Then Moses became afraid and fled to Midian.  There he stayed, married, began a family, and became a shepherd. (Exodus 2:15-22)  It was there that Moses saw the burning bush which was not consumed and he heard the voice of The Lord God. (Exodus 3:1-10)  God told him that He had heard the cries of the Israelites (Exodus 2:23-24 and 3:7-8) and He was sending Moses to bring His people out of Egypt (Exodus 3:10) and into the land flowing with milk and honey. (Exodus 3:8)

Application:

Believers still suffer and go through trials and tribulations during this earthly journey.  It is comforting to know that The Lord God hears our prayers and cries.  When the time is right, according to His will, He will do something about our plight.  Things are allowed to happen to us for a reason.  Sometimes bad things happen to us to keep us humble, (2 Corinthians 12:7) sometimes they are to keep us focused on Him, (Matthew 14:25-31) and sometimes they are punishment for our behavior. (Numbers 14:26-31)  However, our trouble won’t last always. (Psalm 30:5)  He hears the prayers of the righteous and He sees our situation. (1 Peter 3:12)  We just need to keep the faith and obey His Holy Word, (Deuteronomy 7:9) and know that He hears us.

TRUST IN THE LORD GOD AT ALL TIMES

Proclamation:

“My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty Rock, my refuge.  Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.”  Psalm 62:7-8 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David.  This psalm is a song which was intended to be sung during worship services.  The second verse is a stanza, or refrain, that is repeated, verbatim, in the middle of the song. (Psalm 62:6)  “Truly He is my Rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”  David wanted everyone to know that The Rock upon which the church is built is The Rock that provides his safety, shelter, and salvation.  All of the accolades that he received are due to his being blessed by the righteousness and grace of God.  Here he encouraged the people of God to confess and present the desires of their heart, their cares and concerns, and all of their problems to The Lord for He is also their safe haven.

Application:

As believers we are to trust in The Lord God.  We can tell Him everything that is on our mind, things that are troubling us, and all of our wants, wishes, and desires. (Philippians 4:6)  We know that He hears us and He knows our heart. (Luke 5:22)  He knows what we need. (Matthew 6:8)  We are also to wait patiently for Him and expect that He will keep His word. (Psalm 27:14, Psalm 37:34, Psalm 62:1 and 5)  That which He has promised to us, we will receive. (Psalm 62:12) 

THE LORD GOD IS KING FOR EVER AND EVER

Proclamation:

“The Lord is King for ever and ever; … You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; You encourage them, You listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere mortals will never again strike terror.”  Psalm 10:16-18 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David.  This untitled psalm is thought to be a continuation of Psalm 9.  David begins this psalm on a note of despair. (Psalm 10:1)  He spends most of this psalm focusing on the hostile actions, words, and thoughts of the wicked.  He asks The Lord God to raise up His hand (Psalm 10:12) and break the arm of the wicked. (Psalm 10:15)  Then he offers words of encouragement to the believers telling them that The Lord is in control and that He has heard their cries. (Psalm 10:16-18)  This psalm begins with a statement of despair, but it ends with a statement of faith.

Application:

We live in a world full of atheists. (Psalms 10:4, 10:11, and 10:13)  If we listen to them, we will be discouraged.  We need to understand that The Lord God is The King of kings and that He has all power in His hands. (Matthew 28:18)  We are just passing through this world headed to our home in heaven.  Jesus said that, “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36)  He also said that going to prepare a place for us so that we could be with Him throughout eternity. (John 14:1-6)  We need to know that there will come a time when the heathen and the wicked will be destroyed. (Psalm 10:16 and 1 Corinthians 15:24-26)  When The Lord establishes the new heaven and the new earth, the wicked will no longer exist. (2 Peter 3:13)  The weak and the meek, the fatherless and the oppressed will be avenged.  The Lord knows of our suffering and He has heard our cries.  One day, we will sit at His feet and be blessed.

REJOICE GOD HEARS AND ANSWERS PRAYERS

Proclamation:

"Praise be to The Lord, for He has heard my cry for mercy.  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.  The Lord is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for His anointed one.  Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever." Psalms 28:6-9 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of King David which were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After lamenting about his situation, David prayed for deliverance, then offered praise and thanks to God, even though his situation had yet to change.  David knew that God would hear him, strengthen him, protect him, help him, save him, and bless him, so he was joyful and thankful before anything happened.

Application:

After we pray, we should have faith, believe and behave as if our prayers have already been answered.  Our faith in God should allow us to know that He hears our prayers and that He will bless us because He loves us, not because we deserve it.  Let us exercise a little more faith in God with each passing day.  If we pray for rain, then we should go and get our umbrella because we know that the rain is coming.

WE ARE SPECIAL PROTECTED AND BLESSED

Proclamation:

"I sought The Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and The Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of The Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. Taste and see that The Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Fear The Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing." Psalms 34:4-9 (NIV)

Explanation:
These words were written by King David under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God. David was giving thanks to The Lord for saving him from his enemies. He states that those who encounter The Lord are not the same. And as for protection, Christians have a guardian angel with them. David knows that God is good and that He blesses believers and supplies all their needs.

Application:
Once we meet The Lord, we are never the same. After we accept Christ, we are given special status. We are changed instantly and we become new creatures. (2 Corinthians 5:17) We also get access to God who hears and answers the prayers of His saints when we call upon His name. (Proverbs 15:29 and James 5:16) We are protected by a guardian angel and we are blessed. He will supply all of our needs if we only believe.

WE MUST PRAY AND ASK TO BE FORGIVEN

Proclamation:

“Hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place.  Hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive."  1 Kings 8:30 (NIV)

Explanation:

These written Holy Spirit inspired words were part of King Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the temple which had just been completed.  He asked The Lord God to hear His people when they prayed to Him, and to forgive them when they asked for forgiveness of their sins.

Application:

Christ died on the cross to pay the price for our sins.  However, to be forgiven for our sins we must repent, confess, and ask to be forgiven.  Christ came into this world to die for our sins. (John 1:29)  When Jesus preached, His message was that we should repent. (Matthew 4:17)  Our salvation is based upon our confession and our belief. (Romans 10:9)  The Lord God said that He would hear us and forgive us of our sins if we would humble ourselves, and pray, and seek Him, and turn from our sinful ways. (2 Chronicles 7:14)  If we want to be forgiven, we have to pray to God and ask to be forgiven, but first we need to humble ourselves, confess, and change our behavior, then He will hear and answer our prayer.

We Must Pray And Ask To Be Forgiven

"Hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place.  Hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive."  1 Kings 8:30 (NIV)

As part of his prayer of dedication for the temple which had just been completed, King Solomon asked The Lord God to hear His people when they prayed to Him, and to forgive them when they asked for forgiveness of their sins.

Christ died on the cross to pay the price for our sins.  However, to be forgiven for our sins we must repent, confess, ask to be forgiven, and change our sinful behavior.  Christ came into this world to die for our sins. (John 1:29)  When Jesus preached, His message was that we should repent. (Matthew 4:17)  Our salvation is based upon our confession and our belief. (Romans 10:9)  The Lord God said that He would hear us and forgive us if we would humble ourselves, and pray, and seek Him, and turn from our sinful ways. ( 2 Chronicles 7:14)  If we want to be forgiven, we have to pray to God and ask to be forgiven, but first we need to humble ourselves, confess, and change our behavior.

God Hears And Answers Prayers

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we asked of Him."  1 John 5:14-15 (NIV)

The Apostle John stated that Christians know that they can approach the throne of grace and that they can ask for anything that they want as long as it is according to the will of God.  They know that God hears them and will grant what ever they ask for, as long as the request is within His will.

We are to pray (Luke 18:1), ask for what we want (Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:9; & John 15:7), and know that if we follow His will that He will hear and answer us (2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalms 17:6; & Isaiah 65:24:).  If what we ask for gives God glory, it will be granted.