Thursday, April 9 Judges 4-6; Luke 21

Judges 4: What do we know about Deborah?  Who was Heber the Kenite? How was Sisera, the commander of the enemy killed?

Judges 5: What do you find interesting about Deborah’s song?

Judges 6: Who conquered Israel?  What was Gideon doing when the angel of the Lord came to him?

Luke 21: what does Jesus say will happen before the coming of the Son of Man?

Journal Prompt: The pandemic we are now in the midst of should not surprise us as we read Jesus’ words in Luke. Many people are ‘prophesying’ that because of all that is happening the kingdom is near. What kind of feelings does this stir up in you? Are you perplexed (v. 25)? Fearful (v. 26)? Anxious (v. 34)? What can you do to prepare for Jesus’ return? Pay special attention to verses 14-15, 19, 28 and 36.

Judges 4:  We know that Deborah was a prophetess, she was the judge ruling Israel and she received God’s directions and was obedient. Heber the Kenite: these were distant descendants of Israel, through Jethro, the priest of Midian and the father-in-law of Moses, back to Abraham and his second wife Keturah (Genesis 25:1-4). Heber’s wife Jael lured him into their tent and gave him a glass of milk then drove a tent peg through his head.

Judges 5:  Deborah seems to have written or at the very least sung this song with Barak.  She extols Jael and she gives glory to God.

Judges 6: The Israelites were conquered by the Midianites.  Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress which indicates that he was hiding in fear.  A winepress was probably the worst place to try to thresh wheat. I remember watching a video about threshing and you need a lot of open space.

Luke 21:  Jesus says the Temple will be destroyed (v. 6), there will be wars and tumults (v. 9), battles between nations and kingdoms, earthquakes, famine, pestilence (v. 10-11), persecution of the saints (v. 12), parents and families will turn against those who believe, Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies (v. 20), signs in the sun, moon and stars, as well as the roaring of the sea (v. 25).