Day 118

Judges 8:18–9:21; Luke 23:44–24:12; Psalm 99:1-9; Proverbs 14:9-10

AFTER THE DEFEAT of Midian, the Israelites attempted to formalize Gideon’s leadership, but he refused. Gideon did not want to be their ruler, but his influence as judge lasted the final forty years of his life, as did the peace the victory had created. Unfortunately —and true to form —the Israelites did not honor all that God had done among them:

As soon as Gideon died, the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshiping the images of Baal, making Baal-berith their god. They forgot the LORD their God, who had rescued them from all their enemies surrounding them. Nor did they show any loyalty to the family of Jerub-baal (that is, Gideon), despite all the good he had done for Israel.

Gideon had seventy sons, and once Gideon died, his son Abimelech stepped into the leadership vacuum. “Ask the leading citizens of Shechem whether they want to be ruled by all seventy of Gideon’s sons or by one man. And remember that I am your own flesh and blood!” he said (Judges 9:2).

Abimelech then instigated the mass killing of all his brothers. Only the youngest escaped, and a new season of chaos began.

Injustice was also before us in Luke’s Gospel —in the form of the cross. Jesus’ followers were heartbroken as they watched Him die (Luke 23:48). The benevolence of an influential follower gave Jesus’ body a resting place, which was much more favorable than leaving Him hanging from the cross through the Sabbath or throwing the body in the Hinnom valley, where the trash was collected and criminals’ remains were disposed of.

But before anyone could arrange proper care for the body, the Sabbath began, and no one following Jewish tradition could touch the body or do any work until it had passed. Jesus would lay lifeless and cold in the tomb while women loyal to Him waited for the holy day to conclude.

Once the Sabbath ended, the women went to Jesus’ tomb to properly honor the dead, but rather than applying spices and ointments to a lost loved one, they had an encounter that would forever change them —and the course of human history.

“Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?” two men in dazzling robes asked. And then they spoke the words that reverberate to this very day:

“He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!”

Meditate on that reality today. Imagine the hope that it brought to Jesus’ friends. Reflect on the hope it has brought to the world over the last two millennia. Discover the hope available to your heart this very minute, and worship the One who rescued you from darkness.

WORSHIP:

Let them praise your great and awesome name. Your name is holy! Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established fairness. You have acted with justice and righteousness throughout Israel. Exalt the LORD our God! Bow low before his feet, for he is holy!