Walk in Wisdom – Gleanings from Scripture

Today’s Readings: Mark 5:1-20; 1 Cor. 9:1-12; Ps.
82; Judges 1-3.

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Now the book of Judges is a study in instability. The tendency of God’s people
to run hot and cold. Let God be ever so good to us – ever so gracious in giving
to us riches untold, our love waxes cold so easily. It is not a new problem, but a
perennial one. So it is, we see the resurrected Christ admonishing the Church
at Ephesus before the others, to return to their “first love.” All told, there will
16 “Judges” God raises up in this record. 16 men and women who still sought
the Lord, and who, though many were tragically and greatly imperfect – God
uses nevertheless to rescue His people time and time again. So while on
Israel’s side we see gross instability and such a mercurial fidelity as to test all
reasonable patience – against this dark backdrop, we see the patience of our
God in almost inexpressible glory. Who can continue to love in the face of such
repeated adultery? Whose heart can be so tender in the aftermath of one
treacherous rebellion and betrayal after another? How is it that God raises up
Othniel, then Ehud and Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan,
Elon, Abdon, Samson, Eli, Samuel, Joel and Abijah? Is God just stubborn,
unable to admit defeat? Is He spineless and willing to be treated like dirt no
matter what? Does He fear the loss of man’s allegiance and worship? Is He so
needy for people to like and serve Him that He casts all reason to the wind?
None of these could EVER be! No beloved, this is nothing less than the unfolding
of divine love. A love so deep, so rich, so transcendent that unrequited for
thousands of years by millions of His creatures – cannot be broken by anything
in man Himself. A love that will culminate one day in the Cross of Calvary –
though all will turn their backs and flee. A love that has so conspired to love in
spite of all that sin and Satan can possibly produce, that it will nevertheless
secure the souls of lost men and bring them to the saving knowledge of His
Son – and make of them sons of God as well. It is this love that stays the
soul of believer’s in our darkest hours – in the face of our most grievous
failings. O that all would come to know this love as the Redeemed do.