READ Judges 2
The Israelites begin worshipping Baal, a god of Canaan.

INSIGHT
There is a distinct pattern of events that begins to unfold in Judges. The children of
Israel fall into sin and begin worshiping other gods. Sin is followed by servitude. The
Lord causes other nations to rise up in judgment and enslave Israel. Israel cries out to
God for deliverance, and the Lord delivers them by raising up a judge to lead them to
victory. Then the land has rest until that judge dies and the cycle begins again: sin,
servitude, supplication, salvation, and silence. Sin is always followed by bondage.
Repentance frees.

PRAYER
Because God always honors our obedience to Him, we praise Him:
My soul, bless the Lord!
Lord my God, you are very great;
You are clothed with majesty and splendor.  
He wraps himself in light as if it were a robe,
Spreading out the sky like a canopy
May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
May the Lord rejoice in his works.
May sinners vanish from the earth
And wicked people be no more.  
My soul, bless the  Lord! Hallelujah!
(Psalm 104:1-2, 31, 35).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
There is certainly no one righteous on the earth
Who does good and never sins (Ecclesiastes 7:20).

For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said:
“You will be delivered by returning and resting;
Your strength will lie in quiet confidence.
But you are not willing.” (Isaiah 30:15).

Pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
For our momentary light affliction  
Is producing for us an absolutely
Incomparable eternal weight of glory.    
So we do not focus on what is seen,  
But on what is unseen. For what is seen
Is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal
(2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

• Greater wisdom for living
• The needs of your family
• Your activities for the day

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May the words of my mouth
And the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable to you,  
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer
(Psalm 19:14).