We had an ice storm in Michigan last night, but today's newsletter is full of springtime ideas. I couldn't help it. You can call it spring fever. You might need to bookmark some of these ideas to refer to when spring actually arrives. However, incorporated with all the springtime ideas, there are lots of practical tips you can use today, too.
https://archive.aweber.com/awlist6425868/5mc4w
Something modern believers want to change is the way we understand the Bible. Unless we do our best to understand it the way the people it was written to would have, we lose the meaning of the instructions. 2 Samuel 7:28, “And now, O Lord GOD, You are God! Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant.”
LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells.
#psalm 26:8 #bible #psalms #verseoftheday #dailybread #scripture #scripturepictures #scriptureart
https://alittleperspective.com..../welcome-to-scriptur
#goodmorning and #happythursday! February 23 #biblestudy links to readings and study resources:
https://alittleperspective.com..../february-23-bible-r
Today’s Hebrew Testament chronological reading is in Exodus 15 and 16.
The Psalms/ Proverbs reading is in Psalm 54.
The Greek Testament reading is in Mark 11.
Links to essential studies.
(Bible for Beginners and all other previous studies are at the above link.)
Exodus 16:11-36, Strong theme
https://alittleperspective.com..../exodus-1611-36-stro
Psalm 54, Chiastic structure
https://alittleperspective.com..../psalm-54-chiastic-s
Mark 11, The lesson of the fig tree
https://alittleperspective.com/mark-11-2016/
February 2023 Bible Reading Schedule
https://alittleperspective.com..../february-2023-bible
#bible #dailybread #ThankfulThursday
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Our internet has been down all day, and it's half way working now. Between the high winds and random weather, we've barely been able to maintain a connection.
Anyone else outside of Texas experiencing Internet trouble?
Thought for Today: Thursday February 23:
Seek to please YHVH above all else. Let that goal be our focal point as we go through this day. Such a mind-set will protect us from scattering our energy in the wind. The free-will YHVH gave us, comes with awesome responsibility. Each day presents us with a choice after choice. Many of these decisions we ignore and thus make by default. Without a focal point to guide us, we can easily lose our way. That is why it is so important to stay in communication with YHVH Elohiym, living in thankful awareness of His Presence. We inhabit a fallen, disjointed world, where things are constantly unravelling around the edges. Only a vibrant relationship with Him can keep us from coming unravelled too.
SERIES H --- THE JUDGES --- LESSON 21
A WAR OF PUNISHMENT
THE BATTLE AGAINST BENJAMIN
From Judges 20:1-23
From all over the land of Israel they came; north to south, Dan to Beersheba and from across the Jordan River in the land of Gilead, meeting with one purpose at Mizpah. The army of Israel was armed and ready for battle against the tribe of Benjamin and word of this great assembly soon reached the people of that tribe. Before going to battle, the chiefs of the tribes summoned the dead woman’s husband and asked him, ‘how did this evil deed happen?’ The Levite husband of the dead woman told them about the incident. ‘My concubine and I came to the city of Gibeah, in the land of Benjamin, to spend the night,’ he said. ‘But some men in Gibeah surrounded the house and made plans to kill me. They molested my concubine all night until she died. When I took her body home, I cut it into pieces and sent it throughout Israel. Now this is a wicked thing that these men have done, so people of Israel, tell me what you think!’ The people spoke as one voice. ‘No one will go home until we have punished Gibeah,’ they said. ‘We will choose a tenth of us; one of ten, ten of each hundred, a hundred of each thousand, a thousand of each ten thousand; to carry the supplies while the rest of us march against Gibeah to punish those men for their wicked deed.’ That day all Israel united against the city of Gibeah. Soon messengers were sent out into the territory of Benjamin. ‘Do you realize what has happened in your land? Surrender the guilty men so that we may put them to death and remove this sin from Israel.’ But the people of Benjamin ignored the messengers. They sent twenty-six thousand men to Gibeah to help the seven hundred men of that city. All were skilled fighters, but the seven hundred were left-handed, so skilled with the sling that they could hit a hair without missing. But the Benjamite soldiers faced more than four hundred thousand swordsmen in the army of Israel! As the time for battle neared, the men in Israel’s army went to Bethel to seek YHVH’s guidance. ‘Which tribe shall go first to fight the Benjamites?’ they asked. ‘Judah,’ Adonai answered. Early the next morning the army of Israel arose, set up camp near Gibeah and arranged a battle line against the city. But the army of Benjamin rushed from Gibeah and killed twenty-two thousand men of Israel. The survivors went to seek YHVH’s guidance, weeping before Adonai until evening. ‘Shall we go again to fight our brothers the Benjamites?’ ‘Go!’ Adonai answered. The next day, the army of Israel returned to the same place.
COMMENTARY
ISRAELITE WEAPONS
The Levite, whose concubine was killed by the Benjamites, sent word of that evil deed to all Israel. The Israelites gathered for a conference. They determined to punish the Benjamites, even if it meant a terrible civil war. Though the Israelites were often in battle against Philistines and Canaanites, they were unskilled and badly equipped at this time for warfare. Israelite men had almost no training and their weapons were few and simple. Those who owned stone or metal farming tools used them both in the fields and in battle. Hammers, axes, saws and the metal points from ploughs were among the farming tools used as weapons. They fought with small bows, sticks and the slings used by shepherds to protect their flocks. They sometimes carried hunting knives or nets. Many of their tools and weapons were made of soft copper, which quickly dulled with use. The Canaanite armies fought with weapons made of the more durable bronze. The Philistines used iron; the strongest metal available at that time. But the Philistines kept the technique of casting iron to themselves. They made certain there was not one smith among all the Israelite tribes. What little iron the Israelites possessed they acquired from the Philistines during peacetime. Often the only real weapons many Israelite soldiers had were those they had managed to take from slain or captured enemies. They must have grown expert at wrestling swords and spears from warriors during battle. They did manage to stockpile a fairly large number of weapons for use in close combat; daggers, swords, spears and short wooden staves. Canaanite and Philistine soldiers wore armour on their bodies and helmets on their heads; their feet were covered with metal-fronted boots; they carried sturdy shields. The Israelite soldier went into battle wearing the clothes he wore every day; a cloak of coarse cloth belted at the waist and simple leather sandals on his feet; a few had the sad protection of a poor wooden shield covered in leather. Only their leaders; and not always all of them; could afford metal body armour like their enemies wore. At times the Israelites were so unequipped and unprepared for war that they could do little more than hide in caves, wells and ravines while the Canaanites destroyed their homes and farms, this happened most often during the time of the judges. Faced with such overwhelming odds, the Israelites learned to use tactics rather than brute force against their enemies. In a sense, intelligence became their best weapon. Foot soldiers lured the heavy and awkward chariots of the enemy onto marshy ground where their wheels were trapped in mud or fought their battles in the hills where the chariots were not able to manoeuvre. The Israelites discovered that a large and disorganized army did less good than a small disciplined one with precise plans. Small groups of lightly armed men could move much more easily and quickly than the Philistine and Canaanite warriors, who were weighted down with metal helmets, shields and armour. With tactics such as these and with YHVH’s help, the Israelites were able to survive the many long years of war.
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