Judges 1

One generation is gone, and the next continues on. There is still good work to be done. What will we do today for the glory of God? Will we have the will and the courage to do what God has provided for us by His good grace that saved us?

Joshua and his generation ran the race that God had for them. Now the tribe of Judah, the tribe of the Messiah, would begin to take the place that God had ordained for them as the leader of the remaining conquest. This is our tribe too, since our adoption into the household of God is through the line of Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the long-expected Son of David, the King of Israel. We are more than His subjects. We are sons of God in Him. We cannot do the works that God has prepared for us with yesterday's experience of conquest joy. We need to be abiding in Christ, the Lord of all, in order to renounce ungodliness and pursue works of righteousness with the strength of heaven.

The remaining lords that war against us in the land may demand our allegiance, but we cannot serve two masters. We have One Lord, Jesus, who saved us from sin and death. The remaining powers that come against us in the conquest of holy love may seem frightening, but they are no match for Immanuel, God with us.

The first judge in this book, Othniel, does His deeds of courage and wins a bride. This is what Christ has done for the church as well. He loved us, and won us through His great works of salvation. Like Othniel's bride, we know that we cannot survive in a dry land forever. She asked for and received springs of water. We need the Spirit of God, the renewing stream of heavenly water, in order to go forward in the service of our Husband. What is His instruction for us? “Ask, and you will receive.” The Lord will give us His Holy Spirit, that our joy may be full. With the Spirit of God we will be able to pursue the good works of grace that God has given for us, that we may walk in them today.

Judah did not complete the conquest entirely in those days. Neither did Joseph or the other tribes. Some had more success than others, but none were lacking work to do for the Lord in the pursuit of His commands.

Each of us needs to consider what we are supposed to be doing in the service of the King. Would we rather just rest and have nothing to do? We do need to rest in Christ, but He will move us forward in the conquest of love. There is someone who will be blessed today by the grace that God supplies through you. This is our conquest. We need to stay near the Leader who was willing to get up from the anguish of Gethsemane and to face the cross for us. We are His bride.

This conquest of love for the New Testament church is far greater in every way than the conquest of judgment that remained to be completed in the days of the judges. There is much good work remaining for the church to do. Rejoice in the Lord always. Drink the refreshing water of heaven, His good supply for His bride. Rest in your royal Husband, the Resurrected Jesus, and follow Him by the grace that He supplies.