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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center">"<font size="3"><b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><font size="3"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><b><font size="3">Tel:
253.874.4265 -- Email: <a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><b><font size="3">Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/">www.2rbetter.org</a></font></b></p><p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><b><font size="3"><a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/">2008-11-15<br></a></font></b></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><font size="3"><u><b>JUDGES
- T1801R - A PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY</b></u></font></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<font size="3"><b>1. 3:7 (1:1-3:11, ASV '01) PROLOGUE: EXPLANATION
AND OTHNIEL. "And the children of Israel did that which was evil
in the sight of Jehovah, and forgot Jehovah their God, and served the
Baals and the Asheroth." </b><span style="">Here
starts the beginning of the sequence of judgment and deliverance, the
theme of this entire book. Through it all we see Your Sovereignty,
Father, and submit. </span><b><i>Hallowed be your :name.</i></b></font></p>
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<br>
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<font size="3"><b>2. 3:31 (3:12-31) EHUD AND THE MOABITES. "And
after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who smote of the Philistines
six hundred men with an ox-goad: and he also saved Israel." </b><span style="">Your
deliverers Father, are raised up from unexpected sources, and often
use strange methods. But we accept whatever person and manner You are
pleased to work deliverance. </span><b><i>Your :kingdom come.</i></b></font></p>
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<br>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<font size="3"><b>3. 5:9 (4-5) DEBORAH, BARAK AND CANAANITES. "My
heart is toward the governors of Israel, That offered themselves
willingly among the people: Bless you Jehovah." </b><span style="">This
is quite a woman you raised up, Father! When Your people cry unto You
in time of desperate need, You are </span><u><span style="">well
able</span></u><span style=""> to raise up
effective and willing leaders to give victory. Yes, and You do it in
</span><u><span style="">mercy</span></u><span style="">!
</span><b><i>Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.</i></b></font></p>
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<br>
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<font size="3"><b>4. 7:14 (6-9) GIDEON AND MIDIANITES. "And his
fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of
Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: into his hand God has
delivered Midian, and all the host." </b><span style="">What
a dream, and how unexpected! You arranged all of this, Father, that
Your servant should have added confirmation in his time of need. We
should not ever doubt Your ability or willingness to help us fulfill
Your Word! </span><b><i>Our :daily :bread Give us this day.</i></b></font></p>
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<font size="3"><b>5. 11:35 (10-12) JEPHTHAH AND AMMONITES. "And it
came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said,
Alas, my daughter! you have brought me very low, and you are one of
them that trouble me; for I have opened my mouth unto Jehovah, and I
cannot go back."</b><span style=""> How sad!
Father, teach us the danger of foolish vows. May our words be wise,
and according to Your Spirit and Word. May we not speak
presumptuously. O keep us back from presumptuous sin. </span><b><i>And
forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.</i></b></font></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<font size="3"><b>6. 16:28 (13-16) SAMSON AND PHILISTINES. "And
Samson called unto Jehovah, and said, O Lord Jehovah, remember me, I
pray you, and strengthen me, I pray you, only this once, O God, that
I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes." </b><span style="">And
You answered his prayer Father, abundantly: though he lost his life
as a result. But through it all Your purposes were accomplished. </span><b><i>And
bring us not into temptation.</i></b></font></p>
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<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<font size="3"><b>7. 21:25 (17-21) EPILOGUE: ILLUSTRATION. " In
those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which
was right in his own eyes." </b><span style="">What
a poignant ending and epitaph to this book, Father! We repent, and
crown </span><u><span style="">King Jesus</span></u><span style="">,
Your Son, as our King and Savior. </span><b><i>But deliver us from
the evil </i><span style="font-style: normal;">one.</span></b></font></p>
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<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font size="3"><u><b><span style="font-style: normal;">NOTE:</span></b></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
Samuel was the last of the Judges, and the most outstanding of them
all. So God gave a whole book to this last of the Judges! He groomed
David and mentored him in a special way. David prepared for the
Temple that his son built - in 7 different ways. The Temple worship
was prepared for by both Samuel and David, and is perhaps the acme
for all that the Temple stood for. Worship is the manifestation of
our intimacy with God. True worshipers who worship in Spirit and in
Truth - </span></span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">they</span></span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
are the ones most pleasing to God.</span></span></span></font></p>
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</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font size="3"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Samson
is a Judge that causes us to scratch our heads. How do we explain
him? One preacher from Mississippi entitled his Sermon on Samson: "A
Saved Man in the Hands of Sin." Unfortunately, we have many
preachers today who model themselves after Samson rather than Samuel.</span></span></span></font></p>
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</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font size="3"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Gideon
is a Judge who intrigues us. The times in which he grew tended to
make him a timid man. But through fleeces and dreams God brought this
man up to a conquering spirit. It is good for us to remember this.
Our times need not cripple us from achieving God's goals through us!
He can take us like a timid Timothy, and use us mightily in our day.
Soak yourself in those parts of the Word that clearly assert what God
can do through </span></span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">any</span></span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
man or woman who will yield themselves fully to Him! </span></span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">Nothing</span></span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
is impossible! </span></span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">All</span></span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
things are possible!</span></span></span></font></p>
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</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font size="3"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">We
can learn much through the lives of these Judges.</span></span></span></font></p>
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</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font size="3"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">And
note - after the death of Joshua and the elders of his day, Israel
slipped back into idolatry, sin, self service, and deliberately
neglected their God! Then God in mercy allowed enemy nations to arise
and severely mistreat His chosen people. Then in their desperation
they turned and cried unto the Lord, and He raised up deliverers -
Judges - 7 times! Did Israel deserve such deliverance? </span></span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">No</span></span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
- but in </span></span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">mercy</span></span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">,
because of his covenant and for His Name's sake, He moved in. Henry
Blackaby has a whole course based on these 7 cycles. It is
invaluable. It can instruct us today. We in America have listened to
an untrustworthy media and leadership, and have like Israel neglected
God. He in His wisdom has let us have a leader who in the next 4
years will purge and cleanse the church. </span></span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">Then</span></span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
when we call upon Him, He will again raise up a leader to deliver
us. And His Son - our Lord and Savior - the son of David - will
triumphantly lead us into the Millennial Kingdom! Jim Watt</span></span></span></font></p>
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