Readings for the Week of March 26, 2017

This story is told once and referenced once in the bible.  It is told in Judges and referenced in Hebrews 11, where Barak is in a group of ‘heroes of the faith’, but Deborah is not mentioned.  That is a very interesting consideration. The first interpretation is that the writer does not like women, but Rahab is singled out in the verse before.  But consider the list, not singled out for particular faithfulness: Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel.  So we will look at pieces of their stories.  God did not pick them because of their faith, but despite their human weakness.  Deborah was chosen for her faith and stands above this list.

Sun., Mar. 26: Judges 4-The narrative story of Deborah is told in this passage.  Take note again of Barak’s need of Deborah to believe.  

Mon., Mar. 27: Judges 5-A song of Deborah is told, essentially the same story. Biblical scholars believe that the ‘song’ versions of the text are the bases for the prose versions of the passages.

Tue., Mar. 28: Hebrews 11-The writer looks back to the Old Testament for heroes of faith.  What is interesting is, in verse 32, Barak is mentioned, but NOT Deborah.

Wed., Mar. 29: Judges 6: 11-27 Gideon-look how he tested God before he was ‘faithful’.   

Thu., Mar. 30: Judges 11 Jephthah-resorted to human sacrifice to appease God.

Fri., Mar. 31: Judges 16 Samson-God’s ‘superman’, visiting Delilah, a prostitute, who, even in death, in his ONLY prayer, asked for vengeance. 

Sat., Apr. 1: 2 Samuel 11 David-Israel’s greatest king is an adulterer, liar, and a murderer.

The one person from the list not listed for a daily reading is Samuel.  Consider 1 Samuel 8:1-3.  When Samuel because old, he made his sons judges over Israel.  The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of the second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.  Yet his sons did not follow in his (Samuel’s) ways, but turned aside after gain; they took bribes and perverted justice.”  Good judge, questionable father, he obeyed God in the anointing of kings, but not in the appointment of judges.