April 14 – Judges 21:13-25
April 14 – Judges 21:13-25
13 Then the whole congregation
sent word to the people of Benjamin who were at the rock of Rimmon
and proclaimed peace to them. 14 And Benjamin returned at that
time. And they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of
Jabesh-gilead, but they were not enough for them. 15 And the
people had compassion on Benjamin because the Lord had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.
16 Then the elders of the
congregation said, “What shall we do for wives for those who are left,
since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?” 17 And they
said, “There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, that a tribe
not be blotted out from Israel. 18 Yet we cannot give them wives
from our daughters.” For the people of Israel had sworn, “Cursed be he who
gives a wife to Benjamin.” 19 So they said, “Behold, there
is the yearly feast of the Lord at
Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, on the east of the highway that goes up
from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.” 20 And they
commanded the people of Benjamin, saying, “Go and lie in ambush in the
vineyards 21 and watch. If the daughters
of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards
and snatch each man his wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land
of Benjamin. 22 And when their fathers or
their brothers come to complain to us, we will say to them, ‘Grant them
graciously to us, because we did not take for each man of them his wife in
battle, neither did you give them to them, else you would now be guilty.’” 23 And the
people of Benjamin did so and took their wives, according to their number, from
the dancers whom they carried off. Then they went and returned to their
inheritance and rebuilt the towns and lived in them. 24 And the
people of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and
family, and they went out from there every man to his inheritance.
25 In those days there was no
king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Wow! I think verse 25 says it all. Everyone did what was right in
his own eyes. As I look around today, I am amazed at how that word of God is
again playing out. I know that not everyone is guilty of this behavior, and I
ask God to open my eyes to my own behavior that I will daily seek His will for
my day. How about you? Have you been caught up in doing what is right in your
own eyes?
How can you guard against this behavior?
How do you get back on the right track when you find yourself off
track?
Heavenly Father, I know I get off track even if just
with my thoughts or attitude and I need help getting back in the right
mindset. Please help me keep my thoughts
on You because my actions will follow my thoughts. The enemy is working hard to get me
distracted from You onto things that society deems important, but I know in my
head and in my heart, that You are the only one who deserves my attention,
thoughts, and praise. I want to be a
woman after Your own heart. Help me keep
my focus on You. Thank You for loving me
and allowing me the honor of being Your child.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen!
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