Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Ruth 2:20 (ESV).

And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.”

The book of Ruth presents a concept we have heard from the law in Leviticus and Numbers, the idea of a “kinsman redeemer”, in action. The children of Israel followed a system where the eldest male heir received a double share inheritance to act as the new patriarch, responsible under the law to provide aid to relatives in distress. Here is a double lesson for us in this concept – first, Ruth is one from outside who has come seeking God and caring for her mother in law Naomi. Boaz is not her kinsman, but due to her love for his relative Naomi and her faith in God, he treats Ruth kindly. This shows how Israel is to be a light to other nations, and how a world under God’s love works.

Heavenly Father, You sent Jesus as our ultimate kinsman redeemer, willing to die for our failures. Forgive and strengthen us in faith that we may go to share Your redeeming love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture today is Ruth 1:16 (ESV).

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”

Ruth is a relatively short book that teaches much. Like the story of the fall of Jericho (Joshua 2), someone from outside the children of Israel shows faith in the one true God. In this instance Ruth wants to remain with Naomi, her mother-in-law as she goes back to the land of her people. Times have been difficult but rather than abandon Naomi to fend for herself, Ruth accompanies her. Later we will see that Ruth, like Rahab in the Jericho story, becomes part of the genealogy of the Messiah, as Jesus comes to be one of us.

Loving Lord, thank You for the examples of faith we find in scripture from people of all kinds and all nations. Bless us to continue to share Your word and Your love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Judges 21:25 (ESV).

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

The last verse in Judges gives a pretty bleak assessment of the situation into which the people have fallen. Sadly, there is a king in Israel – the Lord – but the people don’t obey Him. It is tragic that we will give allegiance and absolute power to earthly rulers while ignoring the God of all things. We need to trust His love and care for us more than our own desires. When we do only what is right in our own eyes, we miss the blessings of a relationship with Him.

Heavenly Father, forgive us for our selfish way of living. May we know the joy of a connection to You and share Your love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Judges 13:24 (ESV).

And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him.

The story of Samson is a cautionary tale of pride, thinking we deserve credit when it is only through God’s gifts that we are successful. If we are honest with ourselves we know this is always true, nothing that exists was created by us. Samson’s parents dedicate him to the Lord, but Samson unfortunately trusts in his “own” strength and basks in the glory it brings him. Eventually Samson is brought down by his pride and lust. His enemies prevail over him and in his last act he repents, but then takes vengeance on them. God wants to give us things to be used for his purposes, not our own.

Loving Lord, we know that all good gifts are from You. Please help us to see the intent behind the wonderful things You give, and seek to use them in ways that benefit Your creation. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Judges 10:6 (ESV).

The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. And they forsook the Lord and did not serve him.

Are you getting tired of hearing “the people did what was evil in the sight of the Lord”? Imagine how the Lord must feel! However, our patient God has not given up on the ones He made in His own image. He continues to reach out to us, even through the difficulties we often cause ourselves. God uses all our experiences to bring us closer to Him, even unpleasant ones. Just as with the people of that time, we still have a ways to go.

Gracious God, even when we stray and wind up in distress through our own fault, You are there with us. May we learn Your lessons and share them with all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Judges 10:10 (ESV).

And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against you, because we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals.”

The people have been here before, in a tough situation and with a spotty track record of faith. Still they call on the Lord, and they name their sins. God loves His children but He is not a “get out of jail free card” we can pull out whenever we want to avoid the outcome of our actions. God holds us responsible for our behavior and there are consequences. However, when we come to Him in honest repentance, we will always receive His forgiveness.

Loving Lord, we don’t always appreciate the lessons in difficult times, but we know You are with us always. Bless us to be aware of the effect our words and behavior have on the world, and live according to Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Judges 8:34 (ESV).

And the people of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side

God created us with free will to choose our actions and beliefs in the hope that we would connect with Him. Unfortunately, we often choose our own way instead of His. Becoming self-sufficient has made Israel proud of themselves, instead of thankful for what God has helped them accomplish. We must remember what the Lord told us: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you” (Jeremiah 1:5). God knows all about us because He made us, and He made us each with a purpose.

Loving Lord, we are amazed that You are willing to not just forgive us, but to welcome us and make us part of Your plan. Bless us to go in Your name to share Your love everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Judges 6:1 (ESV).

The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian seven years.

The people of Israel are in a very human cycle of sin and repentance…until they sin again. They have an on again-off again relationship with God: off when things are good but crying to Him when things are bad. If we are truly repentant we can receive His forgiveness and mercy. What should follow is consistent praise and worship and lives that are changed by the experience. We’re not there yet, but by sharing His word and His love, we can help everyone move closer to Him.

Gracious God, You offer us forgiveness for our sins when we accept Christ as our Savior. Bless us to learn and grow as Your children, bringing the Good News to the world. Amen.

Our scripture today is Judges 2:10 (ESV).

And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.

Joshua passes away and there is no clear leader to follow him. Sadly, the people begin to ignore what God had done for them, just as Moses warned: “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today” (Deuteronomy 8:11).  We have a habit of doing things our own way and even though God is there to guide us, we choose to do it alone. This is not what He intends for us, but He gave us free will and it is up to each of us to choose His way and His love over our own selfish desires.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for our stubborn behavior that doesn’t honor You or Your creation. Forgive us and bless us to be strong in faith, sharing the Good News with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture today is Joshua 23:6 (ESV).

Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left

Joshua has reached the end of his mission and as he goes to be with God, he reminds Israel to be faithful. They have accomplished much, but not all that God had for them. Joshua says not to turn to the right nor to the left, which sounds similar to Jesus teaching us about the narrow gate: “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:14). There have been missteps and backsliding along the way, but the God of Hope is still with us, willing to receive us when we come in honest repentance.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we turn aside from Your will for us. Forgive us and send us to tell the world of Your amazing love. Amen.