Judges 14-15 ; Proverbs 11:29-12:7 ; John 7:14-44 "Cactus Forest" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Ink Woodcut on Paper Yesterday in Judges 13, we read about the birth of Samson. Today, in Judges 14-15, we learn that Samson is a self-centered individual whose exploits as a judge over Israel under Philistine domination were amazing but heartbreaking. Actually, many parallels and contrasts exist in Samson’s life and the life of Jesus Christ, but Christ’s lived under the fu

Judges 12-13 ; Psalm 59:9-17 ; John 6:60-7:13 "Turbulent Beach Grasses" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Watercolor & Gouache on Paper Coming today to Judges 12-13, we observe Israel’s continuing national sin together with its weak, ineffective judges. Judges 12 continues the account of Jephthah and his struggle with the men of Ephraim. Later, in Judges 13, we will see the story of Samson. Our previous readings have revealed the recurring, contentious nature of the Ephr

Judges 10-11 ; Psalm 59:1-8 ; John 6:25-59 "Trees" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Pen & Ink Sketch on Paper Our readings for today begin with Judges 10-11. In this section, we read about three judges – Tola , who led Israel for twenty-three years, (verses 1-2); Jair , who led Israel for twenty-two years (verses 3-5); and Jephthah , who led Israel for six years (Judges 10:6-12:7). Other than providing the number of years of their service to Israel, Scripture records pra

Judges 9 ; Psalm 58 ; John 6:1-24 "Still Life with Bowl" (Unfinished) © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Acrylic on Canvas We come today to Judges 9, where we see Gideon’s son, Abimelech, claim what his father rejected (cf., Judges 8:22-23; 9:1-2). Moreover, in this person of Abimelech, we see happen that which God foretold earlier when the Israelites would enter into a confederation with the Canaanites – disobedience to the Word of God, compromise , and idolatry (cf., De

Judges 7:8-8:35 ; Proverbs 11:19-28 ; John 5:31-47 "Deutsche Bauernkunst, III" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Acrylic on Wood In Judges 7:8-8:35, we see how God used Gideon to overcome the Midianite oppressors of Israel. A strange character, Gideon has another name – “Jerubbaal” (Judges 7:1) – which means “contender against Baal.” This name indicates that Gideon is zealous for God and for His purposes in opposition to this heathen deity. Apparently, Gideon seems to th

Judges 6:1-7:8 ; Psalm 57:7-11 ; John 5:16-30 "Deutsche Bauernkunst, II" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Acrylic on Panel Today we come to Judges 6:1-7:8. The content of this book is becoming repetitious, for we read “ again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and for seven years He gave them into the hands of the Midianites” (Judges 5:1). It is the same behavior – just a different judge and a different oppressor. This time, God raised up Gideon to judge

Judges 4-5; Psalm 57:1-6; John 4:43-5:15 "Deutsche Bauernkunst, I" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Acrylic on Panel In Judges 4, we see that “the Israelites once again did evil in the eyes of the LORD, so the LORD sold them into the hands of Jabin, a king of Canaan” (verses 1-2). In the book of Judges, we will see this as a pattern that recurs over and over again. After twenty years of Jabin’s oppression, the Israelites “cried to the LORD for help” (verse 4). We wonder