Day 138 - Judges 3:7 - 5 & Psalm 138

 Julie

This reading focused mostly on the judge Deborah. She seemed to be trying to get the Israelites to change their ways and follow God. Her hymn in chapter 5 was a praise to God for saving the Israelites, again. I did have to go back and read about this a little and is said that she was the godliest of all the judges. 

I think from this psalm we can continue to see that his steadfast love endures forever. I think it's interesting that we keep seeing that over and over in the psalms. This psalm is specifically praising God for be a faithful and loving God and for still loving and protecting even when we don't always make the best decisions. It seems to show that they understand his forgiveness. 

 

Michelle

I think your assessment is accurate.  She did seem to be trying to get them all back in the Lord's favor and trying hard to get them to have faith and follow God's commands.  This passage does go thru a few other judges/leaders and it seems that once they find peace and are following God's commands, the judge dies and then they quickly turn back to evil deeds.  The devotional attached to this says that Deborah is the only female judge discussed in this book.  But it seems her story is significant over the others.  There is a part when she is telling Barak to follow God's instruction and go overtake a group and he doesn't want to go without her, so she says she will go but he will not be the one to overtake the other leader and that it will be a woman who Sisera falls to.  There are 2 devotionals attached to this one passage of Deborah.  The first talks about how she is like a prickly pear, covered in spikes and toughness but sweet on the inside.  It says her name literally translates to wasp and in reader her story reveals that she was willing to sting if need be, even leading the army, but she also blessed those that followed the Lord.  The other talks of her being a spiritual mother to the Israelites as described by her.  She does not speak of herself as a leader but as a mother in Israel.  She had many roles;  prophet, ruler, mediator, and warrior.  

I agree with your assessment of this Psalm.  It does speak of his steadfast love for us and repeats that in vs 8.  Verse 7 stood out and says, "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life", which is similar to other verses we have read.  God is with us in all times of good, bad, praise, trouble, all things and his love endures forever.