Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 12: Year 2
Morning, Psalms 61 and 62, Evening, Psalm 68;
Judges 2:1-5,11-23; Romans 16:17-27; Matthew 27:32-44
“Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord would be moved to pity by their groaning because of those who persecuted and oppressed them. But whenever the judge died, they would relapse and behave worse than their ancestors, following other gods, worshipping them and bowing down to them. They would not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.” (Judges 2: 18 – 19)
Perhaps judges were prophets of sorts but they seem to take on more of a military role in many cases. God was with them for the good of the people. But what’s important here is that the judges were raised by God for the well being and direction of the people.
I think it was through the feelings of the judges that God could feel what the people were going through. This would be kind of a pre-Jesus experience for God where the Creator felt a little of what the people were feeling.
There is a timeless truth at work with the book of Judges. There was no School of Theology or Seminary for human- selected young ones to attend, or a human crafted degree of certification. God graced who God raised up as a judge. I believe this is still true today. There are God-selected people, men and women, in our midst like Deborah and even Samson, who are graced by God for the strategic purpose of moving us to where God wants us to be. Denomination or religious tradition notwithstanding, God will choose who God will choose. God always has, God always will. According to the words that our Lord Jesus gave us to pray, “God’s will be done.” You might be such a person. No person can say that he or she is not good enough. Such thoughts and words are not limiting who you are; such thoughts and words attempt to limit the ability of God: for which, there is no limit and for Whom nothing is impossible. Pray to discern if God is raising you up for the purpose of Leadership. It is entirely possible and it matters not who you are to this point in your life. God will choose who God will choose, and nothing is impossible for God.
I pray for more good leaders to help President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine with the leadership and rebuilding of Ukraine.
As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
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