Judges 21:25 - Summer of Scripture

When you walk into a Burlington, you're walking into amazing prices and great gifts. That's main character energy. Because at Burlington, the holiday savings aren't the only things turning heads. Discover quality finds and perfect presents for everyone on your list, even those who are hard to shop for. Toys and jewelry to new beauty brands and styles. These gifts go seamlessly from our stores to under your tree. Seriously, with these savings, why shop anywhere else?

Burlington Deals, brands Wow.

Welcome to Summer of Scripture on the Naked marriage podcast. For 66 days in a row, we are releasing a daily devotional episode for your marriage. And over these 66 days, we're going to pull out one scripture from each of the 66 books of the Bible and talk about how it applies to your marriage. So if you listen to every single one of these episodes, you're going to have a comprehensive understanding of God's plan. And for your marriage, we encourage you to listen to everyone. Let's dive into today's scripture. Welcome to day seven, friends. We're wrapping up the first week. We've loved this. I'm so excited about this whole summer. So glad that you're joining us. The Book of Judges is really a unique one in scripture, and it's one that has a lot of great stories. The story of Samson, where he was a guy with a lot of dysfunctional relationships. You know, Samson and Delilah, one of the most dysfunctional relationships in scripture. It tells us a lot of what not to do, but it has a lot of heroic, heroic characters. Deborah. Deborah, you know, one of the strongest women in the Bible. She was a warrior leader with wisdom and courage, and there's a lot in there. But during the time of the Book of Judges, there was a lot of anarchy, really. And here's why. Here's the verse for today. Judges 21:25. In those days, Israel had no king. All the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. And during the time of the Judges, there was a lot of chaos. There wasn't centralized leadership, and people were just doing whatever felt right to them. They were following their truth, which is something we still hear a lot today. But just like today, it created a lot of chaos and turmoil and people abusing one another and justifying it, because to them, it seemed right to be able to abuse other people. And what we see in this book and in this verse in particular, is when we get away from God's standards and instead just do what feels right to ourselves, we're gonna end up harming ourselves and others. And in so many marriages, I think this is the key issue. We've gotten away from God's standard of doing what he says to do. And we've trusted our own feelings and we've said, well, this feels right to me. This seems right to me, so I'm gonna do it. And we end up harming our spouse, harming our marriage, and harming others as well.

Absolutely. And you guys, I recently. I'm not gonna say the title of this movie. Cause I don't wanna completely be like, spoiler alert, but I was watching a recent film where it was playing this out, like. And we just talked about this. And it was a husband and wife. They've been married at least 20 years, had three kids. Sweet, sweet family. But it came to light that the mother had been really having an emotional affair with the father's best friend for many years. And it had never gone physical, but it was definitely inappropriate and definitely emotionally tying. And, you know, it came to light and they tried to work on their marriage. And then there comes this tipping point where the mother tells her son, which just makes me cringe too. This poor kid is having to take on this. He's only a teenager at the time. She says, you know what? I'm gonna leave your father. And I have to. This is about. She said, this is a life or death situation for me. Because she said. And this is her advice to him. She said, sweetie, whatever you do, follow your heart wherever it takes you, because you don't owe your life to anyone. And as I was listening to that, it sounds all sing songy and beautiful and like, yeah, you know, like, in our world, they're probably cheering that line.

Oh, yeah, that's. Yeah. Your truth, your heart.

And as I was watching this unfold, I was like, it's judges.

And it's chaos.

It's chaos. This poor family was in church.

It wrecks the families apart. And then, you know, usually you yourself end up miserable down the road after you realize, oh, wow, that was a temporary feeling, not based on, like, permanent principles or commitments. And so many marriages have ended because somebody in the marriage started feeling that way. Like, you know, my heart's pulling me to this person. And so I've fallen out of love with my spouse.

Because you're focusing on that person, the other person, right?

And it's gonna lead to chaos. It's gonna lead to Black Friday.

Savings are here at the Home Depot, which means it's time to add new cordless power to your collection. Right now, when you buy a select battery kit from one of our top brands, Like Ryobi or Milwauke, you get a select tool from that same brand for free. Click into one of our best deals of the season and stock up on tools for all your upcoming projects. Get Black Friday Savings happening now at the Home Depot. Limit one per transaction exclusion supply full eligible tool list in store and online.

To, you know, just harming yourself, others and ripping. Ripping families apart. And even for the marriages that stay intact, living with this mindset, like, I'm going to just give my spouse what I think they should have. I'm going to treat them only as good as I feel like treating them. I'm only going to do the things that I feel like really need to be done. Instead of submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ, the Bible says, instead, it's like, no, I want to serve you. I want to blow your mind as your spouse by how much I'm serving you and going above and beyond to show you my love and commitment and my adoration for you. And even on the days I'm not necessarily feeling it, because love isn't just a feeling. Love is a commitment that's rooted in action. And when we remind ourselves of that, we free ourselves from just the fickle trap of having these standards that lead us down the wrong road.

Well, because if we're just doing whatever's right in our own eyes, you guys, that is literally like a moving target. You know what I'm saying? Things are changing all the time. And what the culture as a whole sees as acceptable. And we are living in a time more than any other time. I mean, I believe, I know this has always been. I mean, we've always had cultural issues and moving targets, so to speak. But I think right now it's seen as like, it's celebrated, right? It's celebrated that there is no truth is what they're trying. They don't necessarily always say that, but that's technically what our world is trying. It's screaming, there is no truth. Do whatever you want. As long as you're not technically hurting someone, like physically is usually what they're referring to, then just do whatever you want. I mean, that's essentially what with the kind of flag that's being kind of waved right now, so to speak, in our culture is you do what makes you feel good, what makes you feel happy. Don't worry about the rest. Live your truth. And you guys, we can't drink the Kool Aid. I mean, it is. And it's so toxic. And people who've seen that all the way out. They've let it play all the way out in their lives. And we've known people in the church and outside of the church who've done this. And they will come back and say, what in the world was I thinking? I got so wrapped up in this, I thought it would bring me happiness and wholeness, and I can't find it anywhere. More confused than I ever was.

And God doesn't want you to have a spirit of confusion. He wants you to have a sound mind. He wants you to have peace. He wants you to have a legacy that extends for generations through faith and through fidelity. And even if you've blown it, like we all have sinned, just embrace God's grace right where you are and start fresh. Say, God, listen, I've done things my own way, and it hasn't worked. And it won't work. I heard a preacher one time say that old Frank Sinatra song, My Way is probably the theme song in hell. And it was kind of like half joking when he said it. But there's some truth in that. Like, when we do things our way, it leads us into a path of rebellion away from God instead of towards more dependence and faith in God. And so instead we say, God, I want to do things your way. I want to repent, which means to turn from my way, my selfish, broken way of doing things, and turn to your way, Lord. And as I do that, that's where I'm gonna find my true identity, Lord. Cause you're the one who made me. So how could I ever find my identity apart from you? You're the one that's gonna guide me toward being the husband or wife I'm meant to be, to be the person I'm meant to be. And so start right where you are today and either commit or recommit to that. And I think it could create a renewal in your heart and in your marriage like nothing else could and no one else could. Because we're designed to need God and to be in dependence on him.

It's so true, sweetie. Good word. Thank you guys so much for joining us today and for completing your first full week of Summer of Scripture. Congratulations, you guys. I mean this. I hope you feel like you're growing in the Lord and growing in your marriage. I know we've learned a lot like this.

We have learned a lot.

Yeah.

And tune in tomorrow. We'll be in the Book of Ruth, and we're gonna share a scripture that's one of the most famous wedding scriptures ever read at a wedding. Even though this scripture itself had nothing to do with a wedding or even with marriage. And yet it has a lot of practical application for your marriage. So tune in tomorrow.