In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. *Judges 21:25
Now these things happened to them (Israel) as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. *1 Cor.10:11
Scripture Challenge: Read the Historical Narrative of Judges 17-21; Ruth 1-4; 1 Samuel 1-4
Focus: Ask the question “In the midst of the low watermark, how is God redemptively working through these difficult days of Israel? In my lowest seasons in life, how have I seen God work deep in my heart and in the lives of those around me that I influence for better or worse?
Recently, I read through the above particular narrative of Israel’s experience. Judges 21:25 is the dirty “bathtub ring” of Israel after the times of the Judges (300 years)and before the Monarchy. The water was pretty dirty, but God did not throw Israel out with the dirty water. This period was one of the darkest in Israel’s history. The destruction of Jerusalem (400 years later) had to have been the lowest of lows for Israel. The Hebrew Scriptures are divided into 3-sections. The Torah (Genesis-Deuteronomy), the Nevi’im ( Former Prophets of Joshua, Judges, Samuel & Kings and the Later Prophets of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel & the Twelve Minor Prophets) and the Ketuvim (the Writings). The Nevi’im Scriptures are important because the Jews see a single historical prophetic narrative from the acquisition and occupation of the Promised Land under Joshua to the eventual exile by the Assyrians (722 B.C) and the Babylonians (586 B.C.). Interestingly, in the final chapter of the Nevi’im in 2 Kings 25:27-30, the prisoner king of Judah, Johoiachin is granted favor in Babylon by the king. Jerusalem is a smoldering pile of rubble and in Babylon the king of Judah is finding favor with his enemies. The church of Jesus Christ is to learn from Israel’s example.
Allow me to pivot to the personal application…No matter how “low we go” there is ALWAYS the hope of redemption by God’s gracious intervention, compassion and mercy! There is a “silver lining” in clouds of darkness! Naomi, after the death of her husband and sons, was given a wonderful daughter-in-law who married Boaz who would be the distant grandfather of David! God raised up the prophet Samuel to transition Israel from the rule of charismatic judges to the rule of a king. The Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines, yet God was raising up a man after his own heart who would faithfully shepherd Israel. Unfortunately, this desire for a “king” like the surrounding nations was a rejection of God as King in the midst of Israel (1 Sam.8:4-9). God allowed this governmental “transition” which through king David would become a shadow of the eventual millennial rule of Yeshua, Jesus as the King of kings!
Lake Mead is formed by the Hoover Dam and filled by the Colorado River. Lake Mead is the largest man-made reservoir in the USA. We used to take our children there in the 1990’s for vacation. Lake Mead, water for 25,000,000 people, is at its lowest point (33% capacity) since it was originally filled in the 1930’s. The Hoover Dam Hydro-electric plant is down 25% (power for 8,000,000 people) due to the flow rate of the river. Las Vegas receives 90% of its water from Lake Mead. The “dead pool” level (can’t flow through the dam) is 863’, current level is at around 1070’. With present evaporation and usage trends, the ‘dead pool’ level would be achieved by 2040 CE. Imagine the staggering crisis of no water for 25,000,000 and no power for 8,000,000 people? The “bath ring” of minerals left on the shoreline is the height of the Statue of Liberty! Hoover Dam was built nearly a century ago. Hydrologists warned the Colorado River and the projected growth of the Southwest US would exceed what the river could deliver…the hydrologists were correct…the powerful elite and the politicians did not listen to scientific facts!
This picture prompted me to ponder the seasons in my life when I was “filled” to capacity and overflowing in the Holy Spirit…the “high watermark(s)”? Certainly, surrendering to the Lord Jesus Christ November of 1980, water baptism, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, marriage, the birth of my children etc. all qualify for ‘high watermark’ moments or seasons! The myriad of opportunities to serve the Father in prayer, teaching, preaching, serving and missions are countless! Vice versa, what was the lowest point in my life…the “low watermark”? The ‘dead pool’ moments of stagnation? For sure, loss of employment, the disappointment of children, personal failure and rebellion, bankruptcy, losing houses, cancer etc., all qualify for “low watermark” or “dead pool” seasons. At times, I remember sincerely being “so low”, I would never recover the “fullness of the Spirit” the Father intended for my life and the corresponding flow of the fruit and gifts…I was a perpetual “dead pool” no longer able to walk, talk or serve in the POWER and LOVE of the HOLY SPIRIT. But thanks be to God, He delivered me from my ‘wretchedness’ or “wanderings” and the “wilderness” and lifted me to a Rock higher than I could climb to in my own strength. He stirred me again by His Spirit in my captivity and gave me a mission to “strengthen my brethren ” and a song to sing and prayers to pray along the narrow path of life! He refilled me to overflowing with the precious gifts of marriage, family and friends!
King Jesus can do the same for you!
A final thought…the Israelites lacked a king. The result was “everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” THE GOOD NEWS IS we have a King in Jesus, the Messiah! We are called to “fix our eyes” on Jesus who fully demonstrated the life of a man of God (Heb.12:1-4). He is our example of total surrender to the will of the Father, a full capacity Spirit-empowered lifestyle and missional purpose! As earthen vessels, we all slowly leak, thus, we need to be filled again and again with His Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). At some point, we must take our eyes off ourselves, off our dirty bathtub ring, off of those around us, off social media and the ‘breaking news’ of the day. The sooner we bow to King Jesus the better we run our race for His glory.
