Under Gods Command
Proverbs 24:26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
A kiss on the lips was a sign of true friendship. People often think that they should bend the truth to avoid hurting a friend. But one who gives an honest answer is a true friend. To be entrusted with the truth even at the risk of offense, says this proverb, represents a gesture of high honor.
Under Gods Command
Read Judges 19:1-21:25 (A Levite and His Concubine)
What is the significance of this tragic story? When the Israelites’ faith in God disintegrated, their unity as a nation also disintegrated. They could have taken complete possession of the land if they had obeyed God and trusted him to keep his promise. But when they forgot him, they lost heir purpose, and soon “everyone did as he saw fit”. When they stopped letting God lead them, they became no better than the evil people around. When they made laws for their own benefit, they set standards far below God’s. When you leave God out of your life you may be shocked at what you are capable of doing.
Under Gods Command
Proverbs 20:23 – The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.
Differing weights refers to the loaded scales a merchant might use in order to cheat the customers. Dishonesty is a difficult sin to avoid. It is easy to cheat if we think no one else is looking. But dishonesty affects the very core of a person. It makes him untrustworthy and untrusting. It eventually makes him unable to know himself to relate to others. Don’t take dishonesty lightly. Even the smallest portion of dishonesty contains enough of the poison of deceit to kill your spiritual life. If there is any dishonesty in your life, tell God about it now.
Under Gods Command
Judges 18:31 They continued to use the idols Micah had made, all the time the house of God was in Shiloh.
The true worship of God should have been maintained through the Levitical priests scattered throughout the land and the influence of the tabernacle in Shiloh. This shows how pagan influences and moral depravity had crept into every corner of Israelite culture. Although 300 years had passed since they entered the Promised Land, they still had not destroyed the idolatry and evil practices within it.
Lets Bring it Home: There may be a tendency in your life to allow “harmless” habits to have their own small corners, but they can become dominating forces. The values, attitudes, and practices you have adopted from the world’s system can be exposed by applying the light of God’s truth to them. Once you see them for what they are, you can begin to uproot them.
Under Gods Command
Proverbs 19:08 – He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers.
Is it good to love yourself? Yes, when your soul is at stake! This proverb does not condone the self-centered person who loves and protects his or her selfish interest and will do anything to serve them. Instead it encourages those who really care about themselves to seek wisdom.
Under Gods Command
Judges 18:30-31 – There the Danites set up for themselves the idols, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priest for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land. They continued to use the idols Micah had made, all the time the house of God was in Shiloh.
The tribe of Dan had stolen Micah’s idols, and now they set them up in Laish. Although the Danites were actually denying God by worshipping these images (Exodus 20:1-5), they probably assumed they were worshiping God through them. Worshiping images of God is not worshiping God, even if it resembles true worship in some ways.
Lets Bring it Home: People repeat the same mistake today when they claim to be Christians without really believing in God’s power or changing their conduct to conform to his expectations. Godliness cannot be merely a claim. It must be a reality in our motives and in our actions.
Under Gods Command
Proverbs 18.8 – The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.
It is as hard to refuse to listen to gossip as it is to turn down a delicious dessert. Taking just one morsel (piece) of either one creates a taste for more. You can resist rumors the same way a determined dieter resists candy-never even open the box. If you don’t nibble on the first bite of gossip, you can’t take the second and the third.
Under Gods Command
Judges 18:25-27 – The Danites answered, “Don’t argue with us or some hot-tempered men will attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives.” So the Danites went their way, and Micah, seeing that they were too strong for him, turned around and went back home. Then they took what Micah had made, and his priest, and went on to Laish, against a peaceful and unsuspecting people. They attacked them with the sword and burned down their city.
Did the tribe of Dan have the right to kill the citizens of Laish? No, God had commanded Israel to clean out and destroy certain cities because of their idolatry and wickedness, but Laish did not fall under that judgment. It was not within the assigned boundaries of Dan,, and its people were peaceful in contrast to the warlike Canaanites. But the tribe of Dan had no regard for God’s law. God’s law said to destroy a city for idolatry. The Danites themselves were guilty of this sin. This story shows how far some of the tribes had wandered away from God. Just because the Danites successfully defeated Laish doesn’t mean their actions were right. Their idolatry show that God was not guiding them.
Lets Bring it Home: Today many justify their wrong actions by outward signs of success. They think that wealth, popularity, or lack of suffering is an indication of God’s blessing. But many stories in the Bible indicate that evil and earthly success can go hand in hand (See, for example, 2 Kings 14:23-29). Success doesn’t indicate God’s approval. Don’t allow personal success to become a measuring rod of whether or not you are pleasing God.
Under Gods Command
Proverbs 13:10 Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
“I was wrong” or “I need advice” are difficult phrases to utter because they require humility. Pride is an ingredient in every quarrel. It stirs up conflict and divides people. Humility, by contrast, heals. Guard against pride. If you find yourself constantly arguing, examine your life for pride. Be open to the advice of others, ask for help when you need it, and be willing to admit your mistakes.
Under Gods Command
Judges 18:18-21 When these men went into Micah’s house and took the carved image, the ephod, the other household gods and the cast idol, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?” They answered him, “Be quiet! Don’t say a word. Come with us, and be our father and priest. Isn’t it better that you serve a tribe and clan in Israel as priest rather than just one man’s household? Then the priest was glad. He took the ephod, the other household gods and the carved image and went along with the people. Putting their little children, their livestock and their possessions in front of them, they turned away and left.
Through this entire incident, no one desired to worship God; instead, they wanted to use God for selfish gain. Today some people go to church to feel better, be accepted, relieve guilt, and gain business contacts or friends.
Lets Bring it Home: Beware of following God for selfish gain rather than selfless service.
Under Gods command 