In the book of Judges, we see both sin and salvation - “The people of
Israel did what the Lord considered evil” (Judges 3:7,12); “Then the
people of Israel dried out to the Lord for help” (Judges 3:9,15); “The
Lord sent a saviour to rescue them” (Judges 3:9,15). Viewed from the
point of view of human sin, this was a bad time in the history of
Israel. They were a wayward people. They were prone to wandering away
from the Lord. Viewed from the point of view of divine grace, there is
the great encouragement that God continues to love His people.He puts
into their hearts a desire to return to Him. He responds to their cry
from the heart. He sends His blessing. This is His way of showing us
that His love for us remains constant, even when our love for Him has
grown very weak.
“At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem”, the keynote of the service was joyful thanksgiving. They gathered together “to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving” (Nehemiah 12:27). “On that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy” (Nehemiah 12:43). They sang “songs of praise and thanksgiving to God” (Nehemiah 12:46). This joyful thanksgiving is only a foretaste of the greater joy and thanksgiving of heaven: “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). In the city of God, “the glory of God” will be shining with everlasting brightness (Revelation 21:23). The Church of God will be “prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). The beautiful picture of the godly wife in Proverbs 31 gives us an outline of what God is seeking to do in His people. It is summarized in Proverbs 31:30: “A woman who fears the Lord is to be ...
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