Daily Devotion March 21 Judges 4–6 Spiritual Delinquency “Gilead abode beyond Jordan; and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches [harbors].” (Judges 5:17) During the period of the judges, Israel defeated a strong foe whose capital was in Hazor. In celebration of the victory, Deborah, the prophetess, composed a song. In the song was some stanzas about the dedication of some of the tribes and some revealing stanzas about the delinquency of other tribes. We look at the delinquency reported in the song, for it is the same delinquency seen today in our churches about the Lord’s work. Home, business, and pleasure were the causes of delinquency in our verse, and they are three of the major causes we see so often in delinquency at church. Home. “Gilead abode beyond Jordan.” Gilead is the land east of the Jordan River where several tribes of Israel had settled. These tribes would not go to battle against Israel’s oppressor. They preferred to stay at home in ease. They forgot that if Israel’s oppressor is not defeated, they would eventually lose their homes. Many today prefer the ease of their home to worshiping and serving the Lord. But this can cost them their homes in judgment. Business. “Why did Dan remain in ships?” This refers to the commercial business of the Danites. Their business was more important to them than fighting the enemy. But if the enemy is not defeated, their business could come to a halt. So it is regarding worship and serving the Lord today. If business is more important than the Lord’s work and worship, you will only hurt your business. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33) is still in the book. Pleasure. “Asher continued on the sea shore.” Asher liked the sea shore and the harbors of the sea. So when duty called, they “continued” there instead of serving the Lord. They remind us of those who miss church because of their boating and fishing pleasure pursuits. Many folk are “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:4). But such people will one day lose both their earthly and heavenly pleasures because of their spiritual delinquency.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 11:45:10 +0000
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