Weekly Guide：Week 22
June 24, 2018
Question
What did Samson do with his great strength given by God?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Israelites were in the hands of Philistines for forty years for they again did evil acts.
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God commanded the once infertile parents of Samson to dedicate him to God for life as Nazirite.
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The Spirit of the Lord came to Samson and gave him great strength that he teared the lion into pieces. Samson acted absurdly ignoring the law and his status as Nazirite.
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Samson ignored the law and married a Philistine woman.
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Samson planned to take advantage of his companions with a riddle but leaked the answer to his wife. He had to give away his wife and give them cloths from thirty Philistines he then killed.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - Samson could have done great things for God with the great power God had given him. But he chose to follow his own will. Although he powered over the Philistines and displayed much personal glory, he paled in comparison to Gideon. Let me learn from Samson’s example to put God’s will first, obey His commands, and live to glorify God.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What situation was Samson in when he killed the most enemies?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Samson left his father-in-law’s in anger. When he came back, his wife was already given away. Samson avenged against the Philistines and caused the death of his wife and father-in-law.
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The people of Judah gave Samson up to the Philistines under pressure. God’s spirit came upon Samson and he killed a thousand Philistine with a donkey’s jawbone. God opened up a spring to save Samson from thirst.
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With lies and God given strength, Samson was able to escape from Philistines’ attacks number of times. His lust for women caused him to give away his secret and cost him strength. Philistine captured Samson and gouged out his eyes. After regaining his strength, Samson pulled down the temple’s pillars. Samson perished together with all Philistines under the temple roof. Samson killed many more when he died then when he lived. He led Israel for twenty years.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - God had given Samson great strength but he relied on himself. He prayed to the Lord only twice in duress and ultimately could not realize his God given talent. Am I often blinded by my talent or advantage and unable to see my weakness? Let me come in front of God to pray and ask Him to help me see myself.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Scripture Reading
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Forward
We continue the reading on the Book of Judges this week.
In Judges, we see that the Israelites’ evil behaviors seemed to get passed on from generations to generations and the judges’ rescues continued to repeat. Why didn’t the Israelites change and repent despite all these judges? The root cause of sin comes from selfish desires that replace God in our heart. Satisfying our desires without repentance only covers up the sin in our hearts. Mankind’s self-reliance and Godlessness made us the center of the world.
Self-expression, self-development, and self-realization are ubiquitous in the society now-a-days. In popular culture from news publications to school education, our value seems to be defined as self-discovery. The social norm emphasizes self-elevation above everything and encourages us to satisfy our personal desires through any means. This self-idolizing through self-envying and self-pitying can only lead us into a vicious cycle of self-worshiping and causing us not to see nor speak the truth as anyone who manufactures idol. It is, however, more meaningful to glorify God and His truth than to realize ourselves. Realization of truth is a life centered around God. To escape from the vicious cycle of generational evil behavior requires turning focus away from ourselves to God.
May God’s word renew you all each day!
Question
How did the fifth judge battle the huge army of Midianites and won with only three hundred men?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Israelites again behaved sinfully after a time of peace and were put in the hands of Midianites.
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The angel of God came to Gideon and burned all offerings as proof that he was called upon by God. Gideon built an altar and called it “The Lord is Peace.”
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Gideon, obeyed God regardless of the danger, demolished the altar his father had built to Baal then built an altar to God. Baal was not able to defend for himself.
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Before fighting the Midianite army, God showed Gideon twice that He was in control with dry/wet wool fleece.
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God cut down the number of Gideon’s already small army to just three hundred men. God enabled them to defeat the Midianite army and killed one hundred twenty thousand. (Judges 8:10)
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - Gideon disregarded the danger of being stoned to death to destroy Baal’s altar. We may also face misunderstanding, disrespect, insults, and even personal danger when testifying for our Lord. Pray and ask God to strengthen my faith and help me to live out a holy life.
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Fidelity - Gideon obeyed God’s command to cut his already small army to just a mere three hundred while the Midianite army was one hundred thirty five thousand in number. God did this to show that it was He made possible the impossible. If we rely on ourselves, we’d move forward only when we have an apparent advantage but retract otherwise. Let God help me to focus on Him, the rock that never fails.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How was the later generations influenced by the ephod Gideon built for the victory over the Midianites?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Ephraimites complained because they weren’t called to fight the Midianites. Gideon comforted them by being humble.
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Gideon and the three hundred men kept pursuing the remaining fifteen thousand Midianites. The two Midianite kings were killed and their entire army fled.
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Gideon punished the men of Sukkoth and Peniel for their refusal to help Gideon’s men.
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Gideon refused to rule over the Israelites but with the Midianite gold he built an ephod which became a snare.
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After Gideon’s death, Israelites turned away from God to worship Baals and failed to show any loyalty to Gideon’s family.
Meditation: My Story
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Integrity - After winning the war over Midianites, Gideon did not build an altar to God but an ephod to commemorate his victory. Have I remembered to glorify God for the victories I experienced or did I steal the glory for myself?
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Fidelity - The Sukkoth and Peniel may not have believed that three hundred men could defeat fifteen thousand and thus refused to help Gideon. When choosing between the seemingly weak side of God and the seemingly strong side of the world, is my choice based on my fear in going against the popular culture? Pray and ask God to help me and strengthen my heart so that I can live out a life that pleases God.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What happened after Abimelek, a son of Gideon, was crowned king?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Gideon’s son Abimelek crowned himself as king. He murdered his seventy brothers and only the youngest, Jotham, escaped. Jotham shouted to citizen of Shechem to warn them that they would be consumed by fire.
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Animosity came between Abimelek and citizen of Shechem. Three years later, Abimelek was killed by a millstone dropped by a woman on a tower while attacking Thebez.
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After Abimelek, God raised up Tola and Jair as judges.
Meditation: My Story
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Integrity - We all wish God to punish as soon as possible the evil doers such as Abimelek. However, God gave him three years. We are all sinners, under God’s patience. Let me be grateful to God’s patience and face my own weakness and sins in earnest.
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Fidelity - Gideon appeared to be very successful with his victory over the Midianites. But, he was a complete failure in raising his son Abimelek. What have I been lacking in raising my children to walk God’s path?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What did Jephthah of lowly birth do when the Ammonites attacked?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Eighteen years after they turned away from God and were repressed by the Philistines and Ammonites, the Israelites repented and gotten rid of foreign gods. The Israelites needed someone to lead them when the Ammonites attacked.
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Jephthah the mighty warrior was driven out of the family because of his lowly birth. The elders asked him to come back to lead them in their fight against the Ammonites.
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Jephthah told Ammonites the three hundred years of history that God had given Israelites the land and that God will judge the dispute. King of Ammon paid no attention.
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Jephthah vowed to God that whoever came out to meet him first when he returned in triumph would be devoted to the Lord. Unexpectedly, his daughter, the only child came out first. However difficult, Jephthah kept his vow.
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The Ephraimites were going to burn down Jephthah’s house because they weren’t called to fight the Ammonites. Jephthah called together the men of Gilead to fight Ephraimites. Forty two thousand Ephraimites were killed.
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Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon became judges after Jephthah.
Meditation: My Story
- Community - Despite of his lowly birth, God had an important mission for Jephthah. Are there people around me whom I look down on? Let me care about them to give them the opportunity to see how God values them.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did God tell the Israelites three months out of Egypt?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Three months after coming out of Egypt, the Israelites received the ten commandments and the instructions for the altars.
+ God established covenant with the Israelites on the foot of Mount Sinai to remind them that they were to remember God brought them out of Egypt, they were to serve Him, to keep His commands, to worship Him, and to be His people and to purify themselves as His priests.
+ God gave the Israelites ten commandments. The first four were about God, the rest were about relationship between men. Once again, we realize the law can be summarize as love God and love each other.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - God brought the Israelites out of slavery so they could become His people and priests. I am chosen by God to receive His salvation. Do I know that I am also His priest, to be purified, and belong to Him?
+ **Integrity** - God wanted the Israelites to live faultless lives with the ten commandments. The essence of the ten commandments is to love God and love each other. Am I living out a life that loves God and others?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What laws did God give after the ten commandments?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ God gave Israelites the civil laws.
+ God set out great details in the civil laws regarding slavery, punishment for violence, compensation for livestock, theft, human rights, justice, festivals, and everything else. From the civil laws, God established a covenant with the Israelites and promised to be with them to enable them to conquer Canaan.
+ God wanted to make the Israelites holy before Him, not to conform with the Gentiles, to practice obedience, and to learn the holy nature of Himself.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - God cares about all our lives. With the civil laws, Israelis could gain a deeper understanding of God's holy nature. Do I often consider the holy nature of God in my journey with Him and aim to live out the holy life on daily basis?
+ **Community** - The promulgation of the civil law is for the specific needs of Israel at the time. From the laws, we can see that God provided protections for human life and property. God wants people to be fair to each other, respectful and compassionate. How do these understandings help me to get along with others?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did God do after giving the ten commandments and the civil laws?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The last segment of the covenant ceremony on Mount Sinai to complete the process started in Exodus 19.
+ God made covenant with Israelites to help them learn to experience His glory and assurance through worship and ceremony.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - They said, "Everything the Lord has said we will do." God's covenant with people is precious. Do I treasure His word and faithfully obey His commands?
+ **Community** - They ate and drank. This was the banquet at the covenant ceremony. It was an indication that the Israelites had great relationship with God. Do I often experience close relationship with God and able to share the great wealth from Him?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did Moses go up to the Mount Sinai for?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Moses went up to Mount Sinai to receive the laws and commandments from God. God told Moses to accept offerings from people to build a sanctuary. This passage contains detailed instructions on materials and construction.
+ God wanted to dwell among the Israelites in the sanctuary they build. God loves His people and wants to live with them.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - God told Moses, "Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give." God wants us to give willingly. Am I giving willingly? What's my attitude toward offering tithe to God?
+ **Fidelity** - God reminded Moses, "Exactly like the pattern I will show you." It is important to keep obedience in mind when serving. Do I obey to God's will when I serve?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What were the details in the instructions for building the Tabernacle?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The detailed instructions in building the Tabernacle. Including the curtain, tent, frame, altar, courtyard, lampstands, etc.
+ God does not dwell in what man has made. But with such detailed instructions, God wanted His people learn to live an obedient life and to set apart their best as holy and offer to God.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - God wanted to dwell among man and gave detailed instructions to build the Tabernacle. We can see how God wants us to live. Can I offer the best of myself to God in my journey with Him?
+ **Fidelity** -The intricately detailed instructions require great patience and attentions. Do I serve God with great patience and pay great attentions?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What are the instructions for priests?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ God's instructions for priests. Including the priest's garment, the priest's duty, and the sacrifices.
+ The purpose of priests is to be holy, to serve God, and to serve His people. In the Old Testament, God chose Aaron and his descendants to become priests. In the New Testament, God wants every believer to be His priest, to serve Him, to preach Him.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - The identity of priest is glorious and magnificent. "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9) How do I understand the meaning of this? How do I identify myself with this knowledge?
+ **Fidelity** - The duty of a priest is to serve God and His people. We are told in 1 Peter 2:9 that we are of the Royal Priesthood. That we may declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light. How should I proclaim God's truth?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
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### Question
How are God's priests ordained?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The second part of the Book of Leviticus. Records the regulations on ordination of the priests and their service. Chapter 8 and 9 are about Aaron and his sons being ordained as well as the first offering.
+ Everything followed God's regulation when Aaron was ordained.
+ God showed His glory and His fire consumed the offering when Aaron the high priest completed the first offering. The people shouted for joy as God was pleased.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - The process of ordaining the high priest is long and complex. The high priest needs to be cleaned, consecrated, wait for 7 days and makes a sin offering for himself before he can serve. Nowadays, Jesus Christ is our high priest. What are the differences between Aaron and Jesus Christ? How does this help me understand the salvation of Jesus Christ?
+ **Identity** - The people shouted with joy when they saw God was pleased with Aaron's offering. This shows that God had accepted Aaron as high priest. God showed His pleasure numerous times when Jesus came to earth in the New Testament. Pray to God to help us shout in joy with Jesus Christ's offering!
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How important are the responsibilities of priests in God's eyes?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Not long after Arron and his sons Nadab and Abihu served as high priest and priests, the two sons were killed as they did not obey God's command. The priest's responsibilities are to obey what God commands and not do anything God did not command. The holiness of God cannot be taken lightly.
+ God's priests need to focus completely on Him. They cannot drink wine and lose self-control. This is so that they can set apart the holy from unholy, the clean from unclean, and teach the people.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - We are royal priests chosen by God. God wants us to be holy because He is holy. What does Nadab and Abihu's incident tell me about being holy?
+ **Identity** - It must have been extremely shocking and painfully sad for Aaron that his two sons were killed on the job. Yet, Aaron "remained silent." Moses was satisfied with Aaron's explanation when he was angry with Aaron's remaining sons for not eating the sacrificial meat. This indicated Aaron's attitude was pleasing to God. Think about Aaron and what he said. What satisfied Moses?
+ **Community** - Moses commanded Aaron's relatives and all Israelites to mourn for Nadab and Abihu while Aaron and his sons must keep proper attire and remain on the post. What should our attitude be when fellow Christians or Christian leaders have sinned? What does Moses' command remind me of?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What cleanliness is acceptable to God?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The requirements for cleanliness regarding food and childbirth.
+ Key verses, 11:44-45: "I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy."
+ These regulations helped Israelites their sanitation and health after the formation of their nation.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - These regulations are not applicable today and we don't need to follow to the letters. However, it is important to note that the fine details of these regulations were God's way to help the Israelites differentiate what was pleasing to God and what was not. In today's world, how do I differentiate the right and wrong with the help of God's word?
+ **Integrity** - God said to the Israelites, "Be holy, because I am holy", "I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt." God still wants us to be holy today because He who brought us out into light from darkness is holy. He does not want us to isolate ourselves to stay away from the unclean. So, how do I ask God for the wisdom to keep me clean and be holy?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What were the regulations on taking care of the Israelites' skin?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Continued with regulations to keep Israelites holy in order to worship God.
+ Skin diseases such as the horrible leprosy are easily transmitted. The priests took great care when examining skin diseases. Anyone contracted skin diseases needed to go through a long and elaborative cleansing and offering process.
+ Israelites not only had to keep their skins clean, their clothes and houses also needed the same attention.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Transmittable skin diseases such as leprosy often being assimilated to man's sin. Cleansing and offering are assimilated to reconciling with God. Putting blood on ear lobe, hand, toe, and thumb are likened to the consecration of the priests. Jesus had already redeemed us through His blood and completely satisfied all necessary cleansing and offering. His sacrifice was complete and perfect. Let me pray and thank Him for everything He had done for me.
+ **Integrity** - The source of skin diseases is not limited to skin but the cloth we wear and the house we live in, as well. Same can be said about sin. It may come from anything around us. How does the cleansing process in these two chapters remind me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What are the other regulations to keep the Israelites holy?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ More regulations to keep the Israelites holy so they may worship God.
+ Chapter 15 is about bodily discharges. It was aimed to keep the Israelites "separate from things that make them unclean." This is so that "they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place."
+ Chapter 16 is the regulation for the Day of Atonement. During this day, all Israelites need to keep sabbath, deny themselves, cleanse, and atone for all their sins.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - All offerings and cleansing were to help the Israelites to become a nation of holiness. It was to separate them from the unclean. The holy God promised to walk with me and asks me to be holy. What does this remind me?
+ **Integrity** - God established the annual Day of Atonement. Israelites could restart from a new beginning with their sins forgiven. But this did not mean that they could take their sins lightly. My sins were forgiven because of Jesus Christ. How do I view my own sins?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What behaviors does God forbid?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ God told the Israelites that in order to be holy, they need to behave holy.
+ Chapter 17 was about blood. Blood is holy. In the covenant God made with Noah, animal's meats were edible "but you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it" (Genesis 9:4) "for the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar." (Leviticus 17:11)
+ Chapter 18 is about adultery. Marriage is holy. "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral." (Hebrews 13:4) God warned the Israelites not to defile themselves by conforming to the unclean culture of the Canaanite in the land they were to enter.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - God said, "For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar." The blood of animal can only clean a man's sins temporary. Only Jesus Christ's blood can cleanse forever. We have to atone our sins in front of God in order to receive the cleansing blood. How should I live to show my respect to Jesus' precious blood?
+ **Community** - God established marriage and we all need to respect that and keep it holy. God warned Israelites not to conform to the Canaanites. Nowadays, marriage is currently being attacked from all fronts in the world we live in. How do I keep myself holy within my marriage and not conform to the society?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
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### Question
How did the fifth judge battle the huge army of Midianites and won with only three hundred men?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The Israelites again behaved sinfully after a time of peace and were put in the hands of Midianites.
+ The angel of God came to Gideon and burned all offerings as proof that he was called upon by God. Gideon built an altar and called it "The Lord is Peace."
+ Gideon, obeyed God regardless of the danger, demolished the altar his father had built to Baal then built an altar to God. Baal was not able to defend for himself.
+ Before fighting the Midianite army, God showed Gideon twice that He was in control with dry/wet wool fleece.
+ God cut down the number of Gideon's already small army to just three hundred men. God enabled them to defeat the Midianite army and killed one hundred twenty thousand. (Judges 8:10)
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - Gideon disregarded the danger of being stoned to death to destroy Baal's altar. We may also face misunderstanding, disrespect, insults, and even personal danger when testifying for our Lord. Pray and ask God to strengthen my faith and help me to live out a holy life.
+ **Fidelity** - Gideon obeyed God's command to cut his already small army to just a mere three hundred while the Midianite army was one hundred thirty five thousand in number. God did this to show that it was He made possible the impossible. If we rely on ourselves, we'd move forward only when we have an apparent advantage but retract otherwise. Let God help me to focus on Him, the rock that never fails.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How was the late generations influenced by the ephod Gideon built for the victory over the Midianites?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Ephraimites complained because they weren't called to fight the Midianites. Gideon comforted them by being humble.
+ Gideon and the three hundred men kept pursuing the remaining fifteen thousand Midianites. The two Midianite kings were killed and their entire army fled.
+ Gideon punished the men of Sukkoth and Peniel for their refusal to help Gideon's men.
+ Gideon refused to rule over the Israelites but with the Midianite gold he built an ephod which became a snare.
+ After Gideon's death, Israelites turned away from God to worship Baals and failed to show any loyalty to Gideon's family.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - After winning the war over Midianites, Gideon did not build an altar to God but an ephod to commemorate his victory. Have I remembered to glorify God for the victories I experienced or did I steal the glory for myself?
+ **Fidelity** - The Sukkoth and Peniel may not have believed that three hundred men could defeat fifteen thousand and thus refused to help Gideon. When choosing between the seemingly weak side of God and the seemingly strong side of the world, is my choice based on my fear in going against the popular culture? Pray and ask God to help me and strengthen my heart so that I can live out a life that pleases God.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What happened after Abimelek, a son of Gideon, was crowned king?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Gideon's son Abimelek crowned himself as king. He murdered his seventy brothers and only the youngest, Jotham, escaped. Jotham shouted to citizen of Shechem to warn them that they would be consumed by fire.
+ Animosity came between Abimelek and citizen of Shechem. Three years later, Abimelek was killed by a millstone dropped by a woman on a tower while attacking Thebez.
+ After Abimelek, God raised up Tola and Jair as judges.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - We all wish God to punish as soon as possible the evil doers such as Abimelek. However, God gave him three years. We are all sinners, under God's patience. Let me be grateful to God's patience and face my own weakness and sins in earnest.
+ **Fidelity** - Gideon appeared to be very successful with his victory over the Midianites. But, he was a complete failure in raising his son Abimelek. What have I been lacking in raising my children to walk God's path?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did Jephthah of lowly birth do when the Ammonites attacked?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Eighteen years after they turned away from God and were repressed by the Philistines and Ammonites, the Israelites repented and gotten rid of foreign gods. The Israelites needed someone to lead them when the Ammonites attacked.
+ Jephthah the mighty warrior was driven out of the family because of his lowly birth. The elders asked him to come back to lead them in their fight against the Ammonites.
+ Jephthah told Ammonites the three hundred years of history that God had given Israelites the land and that God will judge the dispute. King of Ammon paid no attention.
+ Jephthah vowed to God that whoever came out to meet him first when he returned in triumph would be devoted to the Lord. Unexpectedly, his daughter, the only child came out first. However difficult, Jephthah kept his vow.
+ The Ephraimites were going to burn down Jephthah's house because they weren't called to fight the Ammonites. Jephthah called together the men of Gilead to fight Ephraimites. Forty two thousand Ephraimites were killed.
+ Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon became judges after Jephthah.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Community** - Despite of his lowly birth, God had an important mission for Jephthah. Are there people around me whom I look down upon? Let me respect them to give them the opportunity to see how God values them.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did Samson do with his great strength given by God?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Israelites were in the hands of Philistines for forty years for they again did evil acts.
+ God commanded the once infertile parents of Samson to dedicate him to God for life as Nazirite.
+ The Spirit of the Lord came to Samson and gave him great strength that he teared the lion into pieces. Samson acted absurdly ignoring the law and his status as Nazirite.
+ Samson ignored the law and married a Philistine woman.
+ Samson planned to take advantage of his companions with a riddle but leaked the answer to his wife. He had to give away his wife and give them cloths from thirty Philistines he then killed.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - Samson could have done great things for God with the great power God had given him. But he chose to follow his own will. Although he powered over the Philistines and displayed much personal glory, he paled in comparison to Gideon. Let me learn from Samson's example to put God's will first, obey His commands, and live to glorify God.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What situation was Samson in when he killed the most enemies?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Samson left his father-in-law's in anger. When he came back, his wife was already given away. Samson avenged against the Philistines and caused the death of his wife and father-in-law.
+ The people of Judah gave Samson up to the Philistines under pressure. God's spirit came upon Samson and he killed a thousand Philistine with a donkey's jawbone. God opened up a spring to save Samson from thirst.
+ With lies and God given strength, Samson was able to escape from Philistines' attacks number of times. His lust for women caused him to give away his secret and cost him strength. Philistine captured Samson and gouged out his eyes. After regaining his strength, Samson pulled down the temple's pillars. Samson perished together with all Philistines under the temple roof. Samson killed many more when he died then when he lived. He led Israel for twenty years.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - God had given Samson great strength but he relied on himself. He prayed to the Lord only twice in duress and ultimately could not realize his God given talent. Am I often blinded by my talent or advantage and unable to see my weakness? Let me come in front of God to pray and ask Him to help me see myself.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
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