Monday, April 13 Judges 9-11; Psalm 17; Luke 23

Judges 9: Who was Abimilek and who was Jotham? Why were they at odds? How did Abimilek die?

Judges 10: & 11:  Who was Jephthah?

Luke 23: How many times did Pilate tell the Jewish leaders that he didn’t find any guilt in Jesus?

Journal Prompt: As we read through the book of the Judges what pattern do you see emerging? What correlation can you make with contemporary times? What about your life?

Judges 9:  Jotham was one of Gideon’s 70 sons (and most likely as many daughters) and Abimilek was the son of Gideon with a prostitute.  Just imagine how many wives Gideon must have had, and he still had time to sleep with prostitutes.  I would say that though Gideon may have started out as a timid and fearful young man, he certainly let his success (actually the Lord’s success) go to his head.

Abimilek killed all 70 of his father’s legitimate sons, but Jotham escaped by hiding. 

Abimilek died when he tried to set fire to a tower with people locked inside and a woman dropped a huge weight on his head and cracked his skull. He had his underling kill him so he wouldn’t have the reputation of being killed by a woman.

Judges 10 & 11:  Jephthah was the illegitimate son of Gilead and a prostitute.  He was a great warrior and he trusted God to the point of killing his daughter because of a stupid vow he made.  The moral of this story is do not make vows.  Jesus said it’s better not to make a vow to God. Matthew 5:34-35.

Luke 23: At least three times, Pilate told the chief priests and elders that he found no guilt in Jesus.