Survey Bible Reading Plan Day 9

Yesterday we read Judges 1-4 and 13-16 and you can click here to read it if you missed it.  Today's reading assignment is Ruth 1-4 just click here to read it. 

In Judges 1-4 it talks about Israel fighting the remaining Canaanites, and the Israelites doing evil in the sight of the LORD after Joshua dies and the generations grew up without knowing the LORD.  We also read about Deborah, the birth of Samson, his marriage, his vengeance on the Philistines, and of course Samson and Delilah.

It is interesting how the Israelites continued to do evil in the sight of the LORD even after all He did for them, time and time again.  In Judges Chapter 2:14 it says...In his anger against Israel the LORD handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold them to their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist  Also in vs. 20 it says...Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel and said, "Because this nation has violated the covenant that I laid down for their forefathers and has not listened to me...as well as in Chapter 3:8 it says...The anger of the LORD burned against Israel so that he sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, [k] to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years.  You would think that they would learn, but they were a stubborn people.  Kind of reminds me of...me! Slow to learn.

Next we read about the birth of Samson and how he had extraordinary strength because of how he was brought up.  It is amazing how 3,000 Philistines were able to bind him and how he was able to slay them with just a donkey's jawbone.  That is some strength.  We then read how he saw Deborah and fell in love with her, and how she betrayed him.  Surprisingly she was able to convince Samson to tell her how he got his strength, actually the Bible says it this way...vs. 16,With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death. In another translation it says his soul was annoyed to death.  You know what happened next, the Philistines were able to get him and they actually gouged out his eyes, but he got his revenge by killing more at his death than he did the whole time he was alive. That is pretty amazing isn't it. 

Today's Inspirational quote is...

If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes.
St. Clement of Alexandra