Jephthah’s life was starting to unravel. Because of his rash vow, his daughter was dead and his family was broken. Jephthah was wrong to make that vow, and he was wrong to keep it. Because he was called into leadership by men instead of being raised up by God, he was man’s solution to a problem that can only be solved by God. And then, after a seemingly great victory over the Ammonites, the Ephraimites were pounding at his door and threatening to burn his house down over a ridiculous tiff.
Ironically, Jephthah’s house was really already on fire by the time the Ephraimites came for him, sharpening their flints. And the fire that burned was kindled by Jephthah’s very own hands and lips. It was the destructive fire of his sin. And he couldn’t keep the smoldering smoke a secret for long.
The Ephraimites had no good reason to pick a fight with Jephthah. They were angry because he didn’t summon them to help fight the Ammonites. Since he had been called to leadership by the Gileadites, Jephthah really had no authority to summon the tribe of Ephraim to war in the first place. But once they saw that Jephthah was victorious over the Ammonites, they wanted a piece of that juicy victory and to rise up against Jephthah.
In Shakespeare’s epic tragedy, Hamlet, Claudius groans to Queen Gertrude, “When sorrows come, they come not as single spies, but in battalions.” In the same way, as Jephthah’s sins piled up, he continued to trudge forward in his own strength, his wrongs and sorrows compounding. Before he knew it, his own house was in shambles. A threat from foreigners to burn his house down was laughable because he had already burned what was valuable with his own actions. No amount of water could douse the flames ignited by the murder of his own daughter. This sin that was closest to his heart ended his career. His time as a judge was over. Jephthah was so burned by the evil that cauterized his family, he could not recover.
Our darkest and most burning sins damage us in profound ways. But hope is never lost. As Zechariah 13:9 says, “I will put this third through the fire; I will refine as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’” Even if the house of your heart is on fire, call on His name and He will answer you.
GramsieSue Acupuncture should help. Also have him drink 2 cups of soursop tea a day.
@GramsieSue- I pray also, and agree with Teresa’s prayer for you! Love ya!
@Tina-Prayers for your great grandson and congratulations!
@Lexi- Good to see you back, I did missed you! Keep persevering! Owning a business is challenging, but you can do it through Him who strengthens you!
I enjoyed the Proverbs and Romans scripture today. I agree Mercy, we should be giving our time and energy to the things of the Lord, and trying to be led by the Spirit. That also means not gloating when our enemies fail, but praying for them.
I thank you all for your prayers for my back and leg pain! (and neck!) I had a rough day yesterday, but I feel the prayers lifting me and strengthening me! I felt much better today!
Amen I hope you all have a blessed and safe week prayers for all
Amen I hope you all have blessed and safe week prayers for all
Good afternoon ladies! It’s morning for me as I work the night shift. Haha.
MERCY thank you for sharing. TINA congratulations. Will be keeping Lorenzo and the family in prayer.
A reminder today to speak what the Lord is saying, not what we come up with.
Have a blessed week Sisters. I am keeping you and yours in prayer.
GRAMSIESUE – I’m so sorry to hear of Steve’s residual health issues from chemotherapy. I am glad to see you are exploring options for home healthcare. You definitely need a break, and time to be a loving partner to Steve instead of his caregiver. I’m praying for his neuropathy and Bells Palsey to be resolved so he is not in so much constant pain. And I’m praying he is able to make the trip to his MRI without so much pain. I’m praying for good news from the results of his MRI. I’m remembering you in prayer, asking God to provide you with respite from full time caregiving, and for God’s Presence and Strength to be with you as you walk this road with your husband.
TINA, congratulations on your new great-grandson! What a wonderful blessing. I am praying for Lorenzo that he will be well very soon, and able to go home with his parents.
Thank you all who brought some clarity to the reading on Friday and today. Tina congratulations and hope the little guy feels better soon. Praying for each of you as I read.