Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 56, Judges 3

“And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth.

Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.

But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.”

Judges 3:7-9 ESV

My weight has fluctuated by twenty or so pounds for the past two decades. Gradually, I put on weight, filling my plate with more calories than I can burn and indulging in too many sweets. Then, finally, one day, I look down at the scale and think, “What happened?!?”  In the years leading up to that epiphany, there were plenty of signs: aches, pains, bloating, not sleeping well, in addition to the obvious problem of not fitting into my clothes. And yet, I kept going down that road until suddenly, one day, the realization that things had gone too far. Twenty pounds? I’ve got to do something!

I see this same phenomenon in our own Christian life. One day we’re tired, sick, or busy, so we skip reading the Bible that day. A few days later, we have another crazy day, and we miss our time with the Lord again. After a few weeks or months of that, we finally awake to the fact that we’ve abandoned our times of communing with Him already.

The Israelites had wandered away from God. In His mercy, He was bringing them back … Through the pain of slavery, followed by the joy of deliverance.

Have you wandered away? Have you seen the Lord’s hand of discipline on your life? Are you ready to return to Him? He’s calling you. He’s already sent a deliverer, and His Name is Jesus. Come back to Him. His arms are open wide.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Jesus, our Great Deliverer. I pray that our nation would return to You, that we would remember the heights from which we have fallen and cry out to You, TODAY. Forgive us, Father, for we have wandered away from You, the One True God. We have chosen to serve gods of our own making, God’s made by human minds and human hands. Forgive us, Father. Save us, please! Deliver us! Turn our hearts and minds back to You! We need You! It is in the matchless, Almighty Name of Jesus that we bring these requests to You. Amen.