March 26
Read Judges 10 - 11
In Today's Reading:
Israel forsakes the Lord and worships idols; Israel oppressed by Ammonites for 18 years; Jephthah's daughter dedicated to God
After much suffering because they worshiped false gods (see Judges 10:8), the children of Israel said to the LORD, We have sinned. . . . And they put away the strange (foreign) gods from among them, and served the LORD (10:15-16). And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead. . . . said to Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon (11:5-6).
Jephthah prayed: If You shall without fail deliver the children of Ammon into my hands, Then it shall be, that whatsoever comes forth of the doors of my house to meet me . . . shall surely be the LORD's, and I will offer it up for a burned offering (11:30-31). God arranged that Jephthah's daughter should be the first to meet him. Jephthah knew the Scriptures well and human sacrifices were condemned by God (see Leviticus 20:2-5; compare Deuteronomy 12:29-31; 18:10-12). How could one imagine that this man of God would cut the throat of his daughter to offer her as a burned offering? To do that would have made God, as well as this man of faith, responsible for a vile murder, since it was the Spirit of the LORD who gave Jephthah his victory (Judges 11:29,32).
How he fulfilled his vow becomes clear as we consider all the facts. She was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter (11:34). The Lord had declared that the firstborn were to be "sanctified" (dedicated to Him) - not sacrificed: It is Mine (Exodus 13:2; Numbers 3:13). And Jephthah's daughter's response to his vow made the outcome unmistakably clear. She asked for two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail (lament) my virginity (Judges 11:37) - meaning to "bewail that I will never marry." Undoubtedly, in lifelong chastity, she became one of the servants of God in the Tabernacle.
Because he did not waver, Jephthah was highly honored as one of the heroes of faith: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises . . . turned to flight the armies of the aliens (Hebrews 11:32-34).
Word Studies:
11:3 vain men = worthless renegades; 11:37 fellows = virgin female companions; 11:40 lament = commemorate.
Christ Portrayed:
By Jephthah's only child as she wholly submitted to her father's will (Judges 11:34-40) even as Jesus wholly submitted to His Father's will. On the night He was betrayed, Jesus prayed: Not as I will, but as You will (Matthew 26:39).
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Government Officials: Sec. Elaine Chao (Department of Labor), Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr. (UT), Justice Sandra O'Connor, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (CA), and Sen. Lincoln Chafee (RI) · Country: Sao Tome and Principe (155,000) two larger and several smaller islands in the Gulf of Guinea, 125 miles off the western coast of Africa · Major language: Portuguese · Religious freedom is fairly new · 83% Roman Catholic; 3% Protestant; 2% animist · Prayer Suggestion: Pray and rejoice in the Lord for all His spiritual blessings (Isaiah 61:10).
Optional Reading: John 17
Memory Verse for the Week: Colossians 2:10