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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
<a href="tel:253-517-9195" target="_blank">253-517-9195</a> - Email:
<a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/" target="_blank">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">July 16, 2012</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
<br></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
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<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><b>WEEK 18 - APR
29-MAY 5 - JUDGES - A PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY</b></font></font></p>
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</p>
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<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">APR
29</font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">. 3:7 (1:1-3:11, ASV
'01) PROLOGUE: EXPLANATION AND OTHNIEL. </font> “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><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-weight:normal">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></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i>Hallowed
be your :name.</i></font></b></font></font></p>
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<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">APR
30</font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">. 3:31 (3:12-31) EHUD
AND THE MOABITES. </font> “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.” <font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">
</font></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-weight:normal">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></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i>Your
:kingdom come.</i></font></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">MAY
1</font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">. 5:9 (4-5) DEBORAH,
BARAK AND CANAANITES. </font> “My heart is toward the governors of
Israel, That offered themselves willingly among the people: Bless you
Jehovah.” </b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-weight:normal">This
is quite a woman you raised up, Father! When Your people cry unto You
in time of desperate need, You are </span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">well
able</span></u></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-weight:normal">
to raise up effective and willing leaders to give victory. Yes, and
You do it in </span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">mercy</span></u></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-weight:normal">!
</span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i>Your :will
be done, As in heaven, so on earth.</i></font></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">MAY
2</font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">. 7:14 (6-9) GIDEON
AND MIDIANITES. </font> “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><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-weight:normal">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></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i>Our
:daily :bread Give us this day.</i></font></b></font></font></p>
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<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">MAY
3</font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">. 11:3</font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">5</font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">
(10-12) JEPHTHAH AND AMMONITES. </font> “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="font-weight:normal">
</span><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-weight:normal">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></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i>And
forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.</i></font></b></font></font></p>
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<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">MAY
4</font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">. 16:28 (13-16) SAMSON
AND PHILISTINES. </font> “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><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-weight:normal">And
You answered his prayer Father, abundantly: though he lost his life
as a result. But through it all Your purposes were accomplished. </span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i>And
bring us not into temptation.</i></font></b></font></font></p>
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<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">MAY
5</font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">. 21:25 (17-21)
EPILOGUE: ILLUSTRATION.</font> “ In those days there was no king
in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
</b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-weight:normal">What
a poignant ending and epitaph to this book, Father! We repent, and
crown </span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">King
Jesus</span></u></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-weight:normal">,
Your Son, as our King and Savior. </span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i>But
deliver us from the evil </i></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal">one.</span></font></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><u><b><span style="font-style:normal">NOTE:</span></b></u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
</span></span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Between
Joshua and the Kings - a period of about 400 years passed, during
which God ruled by judges. It was not a perfect system, yet great
deliverances and some effective judging by the Word took place.</span></span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">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="font-weight:normal">they</span></span></u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
are the ones most pleasing to God.</span></span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">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.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">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="font-weight:normal">any</span></span></u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
man or woman who will yield themselves fully to Him! </span></span></span><u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">Nothing</span></span></u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
is impossible! </span></span></span><u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">All</span></span></u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
things are possible!</span></span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">We
can learn much through the lives of these Judges.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">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></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">No</span></span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
- but in </span></span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">mercy</span></span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">,
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></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">Then</span></span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
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! </span></span></span></font><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal"> </span></span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">What
can we conclude as a present day application from this book?
Certainly God still honors trust in His Word, obedience to His Word,
and proclamation of His Word. When God’s Word remains in our mouth;
when we </span></span></span><u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">meditate</span></span></u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
upon it; when we obey it: then through Jesus Christ we walk in God’s
blessing.</span></span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Memory
Verse: </span></span></span><b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">
21:25 - </span></span><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">“</span></span></font><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">In
those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right
in his own eyes.”</span></span></font></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal"> </span></span></span></font></font></p>
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<br>
</p>
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<br>
</p>
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