When one has looked to self and not God

  

Judges 21:16-25

 

February 16, 2021

 

Then the elders of the congregation said, “What shall we do for wives for those who are left since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?”    And they said, “There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, that a tribe not be blotted out from Israel.   Yet we cannot give them wives from our daughters.” For the people of Israel had sworn, “Cursed be he who gives a wife to Benjamin.”   So, they said, “Behold, there is the yearly feast of the Lord at Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, on the east of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.”   And they commanded the people of Benjamin, saying, “Go and lie in ambush in the vineyards and watch. If the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards and snatch each man his wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.   And when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, we will say to them, ‘Grant them graciously to us, because we did not take for each man of them his wife in battle, neither did you give them to them, else you would now be guilty.’”   And the people of Benjamin did so and took their wives, according to their number, from the dancers whom they carried off. Then they went and returned to their inheritance and rebuilt the towns and lived in them.   And the people of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and family, and they went out from there every man to his inheritance.

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

If you desire to be a seeker of Truth, one of the first things one must do is answer the question that was asked many years later by a Roman leader named Pilate.  When he asked Jesu what is truth?  But if you desire to be a follower of Christ you must become a seeker of Truth, and as you study the Scriptures from Judges 17-25 you will see in Judges 17:6, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”  And in the last chapter of Judges 21:25, the very last verse.  What one understands is that each tribe down to each person was their own authority, each making decisions, on what was true and what was not.  God had allowed them the be seekers of a delusion, and that took them away from God’s authority to self-rule, 

As one who has studied the history of mankind, it becomes very clear that dad gave me some great advice, when he said, “We do not learn from history, if we did it would not be repeated.  If you have noticed more than haft of the USA population does not put any trust, in the leadership in Washington, they have become puppets of powerful people and truth is whatever they think.  But for those few of us who have chosen to follow Jesus, He alone is truth.  So, look to him not the media, not Washington D.C. only to Jesus, if you choose to be a Truth-seeker.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Wives Provided for the Tribe of Benjamin

Judges 21:1-15

February 14, 2021

 

 Wives Provided for the Tribe of Benjamin

Now the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah, “No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin.”   And the people came to Bethel and sat there till evening before God, and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly.   And they said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that today there should be one tribe lacking in Israel?”   And the next day the people rose early and built there an altar and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.   And the people of Israel said, “Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to the Lord?” For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah, saying, “He shall surely be put to death.”   And the people of Israel had compassion for Benjamin their brother and said, “One tribe is cut off from Israel this day.   What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them any of our daughters for wives?”

And they said, “What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah?” And behold, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly.   For when the people were mustered, behold, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was there.   So, the congregation sent 12,000 of their bravest men there and commanded them, “Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, also the women and the little ones.   This is what you shall do: every male and every woman that has lain with a male you shall devote to destruction.”   And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead 400 young virgins who had not known a man by lying with him, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

 

Then the whole congregation sent word to the people of Benjamin who were at the rock of Rimmon and proclaimed peace to them    And Benjamin returned at that time. And they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead, but they were not enough for them.   And the people had compassion for Benjamin because the Lord had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

We've all been to that family reunion where someone you were expecting to see is missing.  In the case of the twelve tribes, we see that all but one answer the call to fight with their brothers the tribe of Benjamin.  But it became clear that no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly.   For when the people were mustered, behold, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was there.   They sent 12,000 of their bravest men with orders to kill everyone but the virgins, and they returned with 400 virgins, that they gave to the 600 men of Benjamin who were at the rock of Rimmon.  But it became apparent they were 200 women short.  So, they came up with a plan to allow them to steal more virgins from them without breaking the oath they had taken.

Once more chapter 20 and 21 will not fit into many of our understanding, but it did restore the tribe of Benjamin, and yes evil action often has ramifications that brings harm to good people who were not involved.  All we have to do is look at World War 11 to see the millions that died from the action of a few evil men.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

  

It is Your Choice

 

Judges 20:27-36

         February 13, 2021

 

•  And the people of Israel inquired of the Lord (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days), saying, “Shall we go out once more to battle against our brothers, the people of Benjamin, or shall we cease?” And the Lord said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand.”

So, Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah.   And the people of Israel went up against the people of Benjamin on the third day and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.   And the people of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city. And as at other times, they began to strike and kill some of the people in the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel.   And the people of Benjamin said, “They are routed before us, as at the first.” But the people of Israel said, “Let us flee and draw them away from the city to the highways.”   And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place and set themselves in array at Baal-tamar, and the men of Israel who were in ambush rushed out of their place from Maareh-geba.    And there came against Gibeah 10,000 chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was hard, but the Benjaminites did not know that disaster was close upon them.   And the Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel, and the people of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day. All these were men who drew the sword.   So, the people of Benjamin saw that they were defeated.

A great lesson for many of us who are followers of Christ, this time the people had the high priest Phinehas ask God if it was or to go against their brothers, but also would He give them victory.  How the modern church wants victory with no loss of lives, but God did not say that did He, just that He would give them the victory.  About thirty men of Israel lost their lives that day.  But did you see the Lord defeated Benjamin on that day and Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin?

Today our nation is overall a godless place with God-haters in the ruling class, some of them even religious and have made a god in their own image, a god who hates and does evil.  As a member of the Christian Army, who has been in the service of the US military, and has a deep love for the Constitution of the United States of America, I am torn between two kingdoms.  One is of this world, and the apostle John makes clear in 1 John 2:17,  ^“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”  Yet many of us who are a follower of Christ has yet to understand this world is not home, we are just passing through.  Many have taken more interest in this worldly kingdom and have gone AWOL from their post in the Army of Christ.  They have lost their first love, and have chosen to no longer have their identity in Christ but as a Republican or Democrat.  Not much has changed since the leadership of Israel told Peter & John to no longer teach or preach in the name of Jesus, do you recall their answer?  Acts 4:19-20, “But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”   They were called to be Ambassadors for Christ; do you understand that the call of all who are followers of Christ.

 

There are two kingdoms, one is of the world and it is passing away, the other is eternal, and one is worth fighting for the other, well it is a choice each of us must make.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

When evil is defended many are harmed

 Judges 20: 12-21

 

February 12, 2021

 

 And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What evil is this that has taken place among you?   Now, therefore, give up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel.” But the Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel.   Then the people of Benjamin came together out of the cities to Gibeah to go out to battle against the people of Israel.   And the people of Benjamin mustered out of their cities on that day 26,000 men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who mustered 700 chosen men.   Among all these were 700 chosen men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.   And the men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered 400,000 men who drew the sword; all these were men of war.

The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, “Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?” And the Lord said, “Judah shall go up first.”

 Then the people of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah.   And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin, and the men of Israel drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah.   The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites

The people of Israel just wanted to punish the evil men who had done the act, that sounds to any person of reason as the right thing to do, but the Benjamite allow pride and maybe the culture to control their judgement.  No other tribe was going to tell them what was evil. The Benjamite was going to protect the men who were evil, because they were of the tribe of Benjamin, with no regard for the evil they had done.  My dad often said history repeats it’s self in that we never learn from our history.  You also will recall I told you that if you have God all like you want Him in a little box, you should not read chapter 20, it is going to mess with you.

 

Now if you go by the title Christian, and study your Bible what did Israel do wrong, they ask of God who was to go first and He said the tribe of Judah, but did they ask of God if that was the way He wanted to punish those evil men of Gibeah?  Also, you will recall that the older man who took the Levite, his servant and concubine and did all he could to save them.  It was not all the people of Gibeah that were evil, but when judgement came, they also suffer.  Note: “The USA is headed for God’s judgement and the righteous will suffer alongside the ones who are evil.”

They did not ask if God was going to use them as His instrument for punishing the city of Gibeah.  And that day and the next they lost many men to the Benjamite.

 

Could the lesson each of us needs to gain from this is to be still, seek God’s face and listen to what He wants us to do?

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Israel's War with the Tribe of Benjamin

 

Judges 20:1-13

 

February 11, 2021

 

 

Israel's War with the Tribe of Benjamin

Then all the people of Israel came out, from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, and the congregation assembled as one man to the Lord at Mizpah.   And the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 men on foot that drew the sword.   (Now the people of Benjamin heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the people of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this evil happen?”   And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night.   And the leaders of Gibeah rose against me and surrounded the house against me by night. They meant to kill me, and they violated my concubine, and she is dead.   So, I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they have committed abomination and outrage in Israel.   Behold, you people of Israel, all of you, give your advice and counsel here.”

And all the people arose as one man, saying, “None of us will go to his tent, and none of us will return to his house.   But now this is what we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot,  and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, to bring provisions for the people, that when they come they may repay Gibeah of Benjamin for all the outrage that they have committed in Israel.”   So, all the men of Israel gathered against the city, united as one man.

And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What evil is this that has taken place among you?   Now, therefore, give up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel.” But the Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel.

If you are one of those very smart highly intelligent people that have God in a box and you understand His ways, maybe this would be a chapter of the Bible you would be better off not reading.  Now when it comes to people, it is easy, we and I use the “we” to be all-inclusive, in that we allow pride, arrogance, ignorance, and fear to control much of our lives.  The Benjamites were going to protect the men who were evil, because they were of the tribe of Benjamin, with no regard for the evil they had done.

 

Let me ask you a question, has that not happened in our country, bad men, who broke the law were held up as saints, because of their color skin, and evil was done in their names.  But evil is evil no matter if it is now or in the time of Judges 20.

As stated above we allow many abominations to take place in our nation, one such is the unconstitutional actions taking place in Washington D.C. by the evil leadership of the Democrat party.  The Constitution of the United States of America, in Article II, Section 4 states very clearly that only a sitting President can be impeached.  So why are we in amazement of the men of Benjamin?  Could it be time to get on your face before a holy God, and confess the sins that are many of this nation, and the Church?

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

Gibeah's Crime

 Judges 19: 22-30

 

 

 

Gibeah's Crime

As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, “Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.”   And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not do this vile thing.   Behold, here are my virgin daughter and his concubine. Let me bring them out now. Violate them and do with them what seems good to you, but against this man do not do this outrageous thing.”   But the men would not listen to him. So, the man seized his concubine and made her go out to them. And they knew her and abused her all night until the morning. And as the dawn began to break, they let her go.   And as morning appeared, the woman came and fell down at the door of the man's house where her master was, until it was light.

And her master rose up in the morning, and when he opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way, behold, there was his concubine lying at the door of the house, with her hands on the threshold.  He said to her, “Get up, let us be going.” But there was no answer. Then he put her on the donkey, and the man rose up and went away to his home.   And when he entered his house, he took a knife, and taking hold of his concubine he divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel.   And all who saw it said, “Such a thing has never happened or been seen from the day that the people of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt until this day; consider it, take counsel, and speak.”

The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA has moved over many years to an immoral godless country, with no regard for the authority of Scripture. In Leviticus 18:22, 
“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.”  And also, in Leviticus 20:13,  ^“If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.“  Words mean something, and the fear of the Lord is no longer in the hearts of the people of the USA.  I am concerned if it is in the heart of many that goes by the title of Christian.  Words mean things, and when God addresses a subject, His word is the final authority on all matters.

 

But we like the people of Gibeah's crime was allowing this to happen, it was just a few worthless men, who did the act, but as you will see judgment came on all the people of

Gibeah.  The people of the USA  also have allowed a few worthless men and women to take over our nation, they are called Congressmen and women, the same in the Senate and in the White House.  And our nation is not going to be no; it is under the judgment of a holy God.  I am not a prophet, no I a follower of Jesus the Christ, and if we do not turn back to calling evil what God calls evil we will not be a nation of free people much longer.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

Do You ask God Questions?

 February 5, 2021

 

Judges 18: 27-31

 

But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, and they came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.   And there was no deliverer because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. Then they rebuilt the city and lived in it.  And they named the city Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor, who was born to Israel; but the name of the city was Laish at the first.   And the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan the son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.   So, they set up Micah's carved image that he made, as long as the house of God was at Shiloh.

 

Do you ask questions of God as you read the holy Scriptures, I do often, like why would the people of Dan take a carved image to worship?  And no more than that question came into my mind, it seemed as if the Spirit of God put this thought in my mind.  Why does the church of today bow down to the latest program thought up by a man?  Why does the Church put trust in man, in government, in science, 401K’s, and not in God?

 

Why does the church bow down to the evil that is happening and not preach and teach that it is an abomination to their God?  Why do they expect the term to be placed on them and others, such as white privilege or black privilege, when we have God's privilege, we are God’s children, His family, He is our Father.  Why would anyone that has Christ living in them want or desire anything else?

 

Yes, questions are good, and God is not going to get upset at your questions, but you must be willing to listen and test the answer against the word of God.

 

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

No King in Israel

 

February 6, 2021

 

Judges 19:1-9

 

In those days, when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite was sojourning in the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, who took to himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.   And his concubine was unfaithful to him, and she went away from him to her father's house at Bethlehem in Judah and was there some four months.   Then her husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to her and bring her back. He had with him his servant and a couple of donkeys. And she brought him into her father's house. And when the girl's father saw him, he came with joy to meet him.   And his father-in-law, the girl's father, made him stay, and he remained with him three days. So, they ate and drank and spent the night there.   And on the fourth day, they arose early in the morning, and he prepared to go, but the girl's father said to his son-in-law, “Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and after that, you may go.”   So, the two of them sat and ate and drank together. And the girl's father said to the man, “Be pleased to spend the night, and let your heart be merry.”

 

 These verses brought up a question in my small mind; what is the difference between a wife and a concubine, so this is from Wikipedia, “Wives brought a dowry to a relationship, but concubines did not. ... The position of the concubine was generally inferior to that of the wife. Although a concubine could produce heirs, her children would be inferior in social status to a wife's children, although they were of higher status than illegitimate children.”

 

Webster dictionary, “one having a recognized social status in a household below that of a wife.”  More than likely the Levite had a wife back home, the girl from Bethlehem, who was not seen as a wife but of a lower social status.

 

It seems that the concubine was a daddy’s girl and ran back home to her dad and after a while, the young Levite missed her and wanted her back she seems happy to see him when he arrives at her dad’s home, and so did her dad.  This looks like a happy ending, but it soon becomes apparent dad does not want his little girl to leave and is trying everything to keep both of them at his home.  But after many days the Levite tells the dad, we are leaving, and they go, but only make it to Gibeah.  Tomorrow we will have the rest of the account of the young Levite and his concubine.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Are we as Christ filler that much different than the people of Dan?

 

 

Judges 18: 27-31

 

But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, and they came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.   And there was no deliverer because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. Then they rebuilt the city and lived in it.  And they named the city Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor, who was born to Israel; but the name of the city was Laish at the first.   And the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan the son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.   So, they set up Micah's carved image that he made, as long as the house of God was at Shiloh.

 

Do you ask questions of God as you read the holy Scriptures, I do often, like why would the people of Dan take a carved image to worship?  And no more than that question came into my mind, it seemed as if the Spirit of God put this thought in my mind.  Why does the church of today bow down to the latest program thought up by a man?  Why does the Church put trust in man, in government, in science, 401K’s, and not in God?

 

Why does the church bow down to the evil that is happening and not preach and teach that it is an abomination to their God?  Why do they expect the term to be placed on them and others, such as white privilege or black privilege, when we have God's privilege, we are God’s children, His family, He is our Father.  Why would anyone that has Christ living in them want or desire anything else?

 

Yes, questions are good, and God is not going to get upset at your questions, but you must be willing to listen and test the answer against the word of God.

 

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

A Class Discussion

•  Yesterday 

 

We as a class came close to the answer of who God built His Church on, some said the Confession of Peter, and others show Scripture that it was built on the Prophet and the Apostle.  We came close to being correct, both groups, but as I awoke earlier than I wanted to, this thought began to fill my poor pea sides brain.

 

Who were the Prophets and Apostles, were they perfect, no but they were Chosen by God?  And they had one thing in common, they fear God more than men, and most of the time, there were a few acceptations.  One example would be the great prophet Elijah when he fears for his life and ran from Jezebel.

 

But if we are going to have a clear understanding it all goes back to one person, we call Him Jesus, Master, Mighty God, the Prince of Peace, the King of King, and John gospel sum it up in John1:1- 5, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.   He was in the beginning with God.   All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.   In him was life, and the life was the light of men.   The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

 

So is it not the Father, who Jesus said gave Peter the insights to make his confession, in Matthew 16:16, “Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

 

Did not the Prophets speak as the Spirit of God moved them, you will find that in 2 Peter 1:21, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”  Jesus testified to this in Luke gospel chapter 24:25-27, “And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!   Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”   And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”  And Luke 24:44-45, “Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”  Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

 

Is not the answer, it was built on the Testimony of the Prophet and Apostles of Jesus is the Word, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He is Messiah, He is the Son of God?  Today I’ve read this statement, “that the Old Testament is “Jesus Christ concealed,” and the New Testament is “Jesus Christ revealed.  From beginning to end—Genesis to Revelation—the plotline of Scripture anticipates, spotlights, and finds its ultimate resolution in God’s redeeming Son.” 

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

A Nation that needs the Church

 A Nation that needs the Church

And

A Church that needs to be AWAKEN

 

It has been now two months since I have done a back porch, I’ve was tested positive for Covid on January 22, on the 24 I got Monoclonal Antibodies and on the 26^th my brother called the house and ask how I was doing and I told him not good and he said get to a hospital.  We went to Christus Santa Rosa in New Braunfels.  They took blood and my Sodium was below 100.  I did not know that a person should not be alive with those numbers, but the doctors put me in ICU and began very low amounts of sodium for six days.  Then the hospital four days sent me home taking sodium pills every day.

 

Home for 14 days and then having trouble breathing and back to the hospital with what they are calling Covid Pneumonia in both lungs.  At some point, I was put on a respirator for three days and the doctor told my wife and daughter they needed to give me to the Lord, for he was not sure I would make four days.  Not sure when they remove the tube from my throat, but I was breathing with oxygen and had no scaring in my throat.  My lungs were also the same, but it has been a long time in ICU watching these heroes called nurses to save lives and work 12-hour shifts, and they need your prayers, it has been 2 1/2 years and they are very tired.

 

] am now in Sundance skilled nursing and Rehabilitation and getting stronger still on oxygen but hope to be off by the time I go home.

 

So, you now understand why “The Back Porch” stops for a while.

 

But tonight, I not sleeping and as I was reading Psalm 5, I came across these verses I want you and me to ponder on, verses 8-10.

 

ICU gave me a better understanding of the grace and mercy that God desires for His Church, and this verse gives us an understanding that many in our government are God-haters, they do as their father the devil leads them, but God's word is clear; they will fall by their own counsel.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice