March 21 / I Samuel 1-3

I Samuel 1-3 Today we meet a tremendously important figure: Samuel. He is the last — and I daresay, best — of the Judges. Though this book and the next are named for him, Samuel is not really the central character, David is (aside from the LORD, of course). But I’m getting ahead of myself… …

March 18 / Judges 17-18

Judges 17-18 Are you beginning to get dizzy from the downward spiral? Do you smell the stench of decay? Do you see the pervasive perversion of worship? About the only positive noble act in our entire reading today is Micah’s confession of having stolen his mother’s silver. (Jg. 17:2) After that, it is all down …

March 13 / Judges 3:7-5:31

Judges 3:7-5:31 Straightaway we see the cycle from yesterday’s reading play out, first with Othniel (Judges 3:7-11), then Ehud (Judges 3:12-30), and Shamgar (though in very abbreviated fashion! Judges 3:31). Then we come to the story of Deborah. The mention of a woman in leadership should immediately wake us up, since that is clearly not …