Today's passage is Judges 1:22-36.
The house of Joseph successfully defeated Bethel because the Lord was with them. But Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali all failed to drive out the Canaanites, who were also too strong for the Danites who had to stay up in the hills.
Why do half the tribes fail to drive out the Canaanites?
Just as the tribes can’t drive out the Canaanites, I can’t dislodge my sins.
Like the attackers of Bethel, though, I was able to give my testimony to three people today.
And I went to the Good Friday worship service where I heard a moving sermon by Kim Yang Jay on the crucifixion.
She said that whenever I am insulted or embarrassed or mocked, I participate in the mockery and shame of Jesus naked on the cross.
But his pain and suffering are beyond what I endure.
What is my cross? she asked. No one likes to carry their cross.
We are like Simon of Cyrene who was pulled from the crowd to carry Jesus’ cross. We don’t choose our cross. It’s given to us.
Today’s passage and today’s sermon share some points in my life.
Trying to dislodge the Canaanites in my life is my cross.
I’m stuck in the hill country instead of inhabiting the rich valleys because I complain about others and judge them, particularly people in my church family.
I’ve managed to stop most of my judging of those outside of church, but it’s my brothers in the church that I most need to tolerate, accept and love.
And I don’t.
I caught myself doing it during the worship service tonight.
It’s not a nice feeling, and it’s a wicked sin. I’m a Pharisee.
Application: repent; speak compliments and encouragement instead; give no ear to others’ complaints.
Lord, give me your heart to love those you have put in my life. Let not complaints and criticism of others escape from my mouth.
