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Weekly Guide：2024-2025 Week 23
June 09, 2024
Week 23 Day 1: A Private Shrine ⇧ ⇩
Question
Where did the Levite from Bethlehem become a priest?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Israel had no King. Everyone did as they see fit. (17:6)
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Micah made an ephod, built a shrine, and installed his own son as priest.
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The young Levite from Bethlehem stayed at Micah’s and became his priest.
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The tribe of Danite was seeking land of their own instead inheriting from what Moses and Joshua had drawn out for them when they took the idols and ephod they saw at Micah’s shrine and lured the young priest as their own.
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The Danites attacked savagely and burned the peaceful people at Laish, took their land, changed its name to Dan, and installed Jonathan, a descendant of Moses, and his sons as their priests.
Meditation: My Story
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Integrity - Although Micah and his mother claimed to worship God, they did it in their own way and turned it unknowingly into idol worshiping. Let me examine myself: do I worship God with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind? Or, do I worship in my own convenience, at a place, time, and in ways that I see fit?
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Fidelity - That young Levite did not serve at a place God had predetermined for him. Instead, following his own desires and never once consulted with God, became a priest for Micah then for the Danites. Do I humbly offer myself to God and obey His command when I serve or do I serve to satisfy my own desires and for my own benefit?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 23 Day 2: Wicked and Immoral ⇧ ⇩
Question
How far would the Israelites fall, being away from God?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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An Ephraim old man took in a Levite who was on his way home with his concubine near Gibeah in Benjamin.
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They met unexpectedly in this land of Benjamite by an evil act that had happened only in Sodom (Gen. 19), the city God had destroyed: some wicked men wanted to have sex with the Levite. The old man was willing to substitute his own daughter for the Levite but those wicked men refused. The Levite sent his concubine instead and she was raped overnight to death.
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The Levite cut up the concubine’s body into pieces and sent to all areas of Israel. All who saw it were shocked and wanted to do something about it.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - It took just two generations for God’s chosen people, the tribe of Benjamite, to fall from the most God obeying people who defeated Jericho to the most immoral that was comparable only to those of the Sodom. To see such a drastic change in so short a time when there’s no king and everyone did as they see fit may seem surprising and yet it’s an eye-opening warning for us. We might believe we are good enough that we don’t feel the need for God to discipline us. But without discipline from God, we can fall easily on the slippery paths of the world.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 23 Day 3: The Great Punishment ⇧ ⇩
Question
What was the result of Benjamites’ evil and wickedness?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Seen such unspeakable crime committed by the Benjamites, all Israelites gathered together wanting to punish those wicked Benjamites. The Benjamites refused to give up those wicked men and sent army instead. The Benjamites killed forty thousand Israelites. After consulting with God, Israelites scored complete victory over the Benjamites and left with them only six hundred alive.
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Israelites realized that one of the tribes would be cut off. They began to regret and attempted to find wives for the remaining six hundred Benjamites. We can see how far the Israelites have fallen when the Book of Judges ends with “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.”
Meditation: My Story
- Walking with God - In the entire book, the Israelites inquired of the Lord in front of the ark of the covenant only once, when they were beaten by the Benjamites. Their rebellion and immorality came because they did not see God anymore. Let me not treat God, Christ Jesus, as an addition to my life, as my trophy. Rather, let me live my life centered around Him, “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1b)
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 23 Day 4: Full to Empty ⇧ ⇩
Question
What faith did Ruth display?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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During the age when everyone did as they fit, Elimelek fled famine with wife Naomi and two sons for he had little faith. They left Bethlehem in “full” to Moab, a land God despised. God brought suffering to them and Elimelek and his two sons died in Moab. One of the daughter-in-law left Naomi and went back to her home and the Moabite god. The other determined to stay with Naomi and God.
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The famous quote of Ruth, a true display of faith: “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth became the ancestor of David, an important member in Jesus’ lineage.
Meditation: My Story
- Walking with God - Elimelek’s weak faith caused him to leave the promised land into the seemingly plenty of Moab because he loved the world more than God’s promise. Naomi was saddened but never complained about her suffering. She displayed great faith with her life right in front of her two Gentile daughters-in-law. Orpah could not uphold what she had started, left God and went back to the world of idols where she had come from. Ruth, envy of Naomi’s God, was determined to follow Naomi and became a great testimony of faith. What do these people remind me of? Where do I stand in the journey of my life right now?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 23 Day 5: Covered with Grace ⇧ ⇩
Question
What life testimony did the Gentile Ruth live out?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Ruth gleaned in the field for mother-in-law Naomi and herself and was protected by the gracious Boaz.
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Ruth was richly rewarded just as Boaz’s blessing for her: “May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - Ruth, a Gentile woman, her love for Naomi and faith for God became a great testimony to the Israelites. God’s grace covered the Moabite woman Ruth aplenty even though the law dictates that the Moabites are not chosen as His. It is by God’s election that changes our identity. What is my identity before and after I have come to know God? How do I identify myself and my value now?
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Integrity - What Boaz saw in Ruth was not lust but her faith in God. From what can I see Boaz’s tenderness and respect toward Ruth? How should I view those who are in need?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 23 Day 6: A Guardian Redeemer ⇧ ⇮
Question
How did Boaz fulfill his responsibility as a guardian-redeemer?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
- When one dies, according to the law, a close relative is obligated to redeem his family, marry his wife, and buy his land to maintain the inheritance. Naomi followed this law to find a home for Ruth. Ruth obeyed Naomi’s will and Boaz obeyed the law to fulfill his obligation.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - God’s grace was realized through Naomi’s love, Ruth’s obedience, and Boaz’s faithfulness. Through me, God’s grace may also come to others. What can I learn from Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz’s integrity in love, obedience, and faith and apply that to my service to the Lord?