King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: A Vessel Of Honor
Date: Tuesday March 13, 2012
Today's Chapters: Judges 4-5

Hello My Friend,

The word virtuous means morally good, the practicing of moral duties, and abstaining from corruption. It's being honest, chaste, pure, respectable, and trustworthy. There is nothing more encouraging to God than people of virtue, it is an honor to Him to see people who love Him practicing moral duties. While we hear quite a bit about honorable men we do not hear so much about honorable woman, mostly in part because they have been titled as the weaker vessel since Eve fell into temptation first. However, God loves and honors a virtuous woman just as much as a He does a virtuous man. “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies...Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness...Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” - Proverbs 31:10,25,26,30,31.

Israel fell away from God once again after Ehud died, this time God gave them into the hands of the king of Canaan, Jabin, who oppressed them severely for twenty years with a powerful army leader named Sisera. This time God chose a woman to judge Israel.

“And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?..And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh...And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.” - Judges 4:4-6,8,9,14.

Deborah was a prophetess, meaning she received counsel directly from the Spirit of God and related it to the people. While women should not be in authority over men, God will allow it in some cases, which was the case here. By God's direction, Deborah ordered Barak to raise an army to attack Jabin's forces, but Barak insisted upon her presence before he would go. She was eager to help, though reminding him that she would be the one honored, whom was the weaker vessel. However, Barak valued the satisfaction of his mind, and the good success of his enterprise, more than his honor. God created the woman to be a help meet for the man, to encourage him and be there for him, sometimes she is stronger in her faith, but God will not give us a task that we cannot handle, even if that means her strength has to help strengthen his. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.” -Romans 15:1-3.

After their victory, Deborah and Barak gave thanks to God and praising Him with song, “Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves. Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel...The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel...So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.” - Judges 5:1-3,7,31.

No time should be lost in returning thanks to God for His mercies, graces, and victories; for our praises are most acceptable, pleasant, and profitable, when they flow from the heart. By this, love and gratitude would be more excited and more deeply fixed in the hearts of believers and the events would be more known and longer remembered. Whatever Deborah, Barak, or the army had done, the Lord must have all the praise. Since the will, the power, the skill, and the success were all from Him. Jesus Himself said, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” - John 5:30.

God is in search of God fearing, virtuous men and women, to be used for His glory, in return for their faithfulness is not only eternal life through Jesus Christ, but honor, respect, and trustworthiness from God. Are we going to mess up sometimes? Sure we will, but God is faithful and just and will use us as long as we are willing to be used of Him. All throughout the Bible we read of men and women, some murders, cheats, adulterers, all sinners, used by God when they willingly offered themselves to Him. My class motto in my Sunday school class is, “Little kids can do big things for God too.” If God can use a five year old to reach someone, He can use anyone. We are all sinners saved by grace, all God needs is a few good men and women willing to be a vessel of honor. “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” - 2 Timothy 2:21,22.

Today's Psalm: 91:15 - “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.”

Today's Proverb: 4:8 - “Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.”

Today's Prayer: God, I want to be a vessel of honor for You. I know that I am nothing without You and that everything in my life, good, bad, and the challenges too are allowed to mold me into that vessel of honor. Lord, purge me from the things that prevent me from being a vessel of honor, lead me and guide me and help me to find strength to stand before You as a virtuous vessel and to also be strong for someone who may need a helping hand. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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