Before Reading.
- Centering prayer— Pray for illumination, “Lord, open my heart and mind by the power of the Holy Spirit,” and remain in silence.
Reading.
- Read slowly, keeping any words or phrase that come to your mind, and mark on them.
- Close eyes and meditate on what you read.
- Take a note if you have question, inspiration.
Read Judge 10
Overview
Judges Tola and Jair
Tola became a judge after the time of Abilelech, and ruled Israel for twenty-three years.
Jair became a judge after Tola and ruled Israel for twenty-two years.
The Israelites again did evil in the eyes of the Lord, idolatry worshipping various gods in their region. This provoked God to anger and God brought the Philistines and the Ammonites. For eighteen years the Israelites were suffered from them. The Israelites cried out to God, repenting their sins, getting rid of the foreign gods among them, and they served the Lord. “And God could bear Israel’s misery no longer.” (v.16)
Here we know two characters of God, righteousness and compassionate. God’s righteousness shall not ignore idolatry among God’s people, and God send an oppressor to teach them. God also is merciful and compassionate for the misery of God’s people, and God raises judge to save God’s people from the hands of their oppressors. This is overarching story in the book of Judges.
1. What does this passage tell you about God?
2. What does this passage tell you about people.?
3. What does this passage tell you about yourself and God’s will for you?
