Personal Devotions
Notes from Mark's personal Bible reading and meditation
With a goal to apply one truth from each day's reading to my life that day
Feb 7, 2026, 9:20 AM
Passage Read: Judges 18-21
Meditation Verse: 21:3
Thought
There is so much wrong in this tragedy, yet no one seems to have a clue. The Levite, the concubine, her father, the Gibeonites, the men of Benjamin, even all Israel. They are right to finally ask why this tragedy has come upon them, but do they really look for the answer? God has many ways to discipline an unfaithful people.
Feb 6, 2026, 6:58 AM
Passage Read: Judges 14-17
Meditation Verse: 15:11
Thought
The men of Judah in effect rebuked Samson for causing trouble to the Philistines. The Philistines ruled over them, therefore, they should submit to them. But Samson was empowered by God to harass the Philistines. How much better it would have been for the people if they had joined with Samson to throw off the Philistines, perhaps even to finish the Lord's command to destroy them all!
Feb 5, 2026, 6:54 AM
Passage Read: Judges 10-13
Meditation Verses: 11:12-15
Thought
History repeats itself. Israel today had reclaimed land that belonged to it long ago, and retook it in response to the attacks of others, not in a deliberate attempt to take former land. The Lord gave it to them and allowed them to succeed in the battle. Then someone else comes along and says to give it back.
Feb 4, 2026, 7:04 AM
Passage Read: Judges 6-9
Meditation Verses: 9:56-57
Thought
While it is good to desire the repentance of those who do evil, it is also true that the Lord delights in justice. Though it was clear that Abimelech had done wrong, Jotham didn't directly condemn him, but said, "If you have dealt with Gideon's sons with truth and integrity, then.... But if not, then...."
Feb 3, 2026, 9:08 AM
Passage Read: Judges 2-5
Meditation Verses: 2:1-3
Thought
The Lord promised that He would not break His covenant with Israel, but they broke it by turning to other gods. God then said He would not drive out the Canaanites from the land, but let them remain so as to become thorns and snares to them. He would withdraw His help and let them go their own way and suffer the consequences of their disobedience.
Jan 28, 2025, 7:23 PM
Passage Read: Judges 18-21
Meditation Verse: 19:25
Thought
There is so much carnage in these last chapters of Judges, not just war, but rape and idolatry. It's like Israel has learned nothing. How far they have fallen! These are not the times or the practices to build a theology on.
Jan 27, 2025, 8:51 PM
Passage Read: Judges 14-17
Meditation Verses: 16:30-31
Thought
What was God thinking when He chose Samson as judge? Was Israel so clueless at this point that Samson was the best He could find? God uses him and blesses him with great strength, but he is no paragon of virtue.
Jan 26, 2025, 8:53 PM
Passage Read: Judges 10-13
Meditation Verse: 10:16
Thought
The Israelites had sinned against the Lord again, abandoning Him to worship the idols of the nations around them. So the Lord allowed the Ammonites and Philistines to oppress them eighteen years!
Jan 25, 2025, 11:46 AM
Passage Read: Judges 6-9
Meditation Verse: 9:57
Thought
The Lord hears the curses we proclaim against others, especially if they have done evil in God's sight. Abimelech killed his brothers and so Gideon's line was almost completely wiped out.
Jan 24, 2025, 11:47 AM
Passage Read: Judges 2-5
Meditation Verses: 2:12-15
Thought
How could a generation arise that didn't know the Lord? Because they dwelt among people who worshiped other gods, and those gods didn't demand obedience, but only gifts, and allowed and encouraged fleshly desires be satisfied in worship of them.