Week 1 Judges Re-Verse Sheets

Fall 08

Re:Verse Prayer Guide for Judges 1:1-2,8-13,20 (Week of May 31-June 4)

Here is yet another way to meditate on the Re:Verse passage.

Prior to reading the passage, please set yourself up to be in conversation with the Lord. Find a location and time that allows for focus on Him. You’ll need a pen or pencil and although the passage is written here for you, you may also want your own copy of God’s Word. Do what will make your heart most open to hear from the Lord.

The Re:Verse passage has been reprinted in a different version/translation each day for 5 days for meditation and prayer. We use the New International Version, the New Living Translation, The Voice, The New American Standard Bible, and The Message. With a pen or pencil in hand, read the daily portion, underlining anything that speaks to you as you do. To the right of your underlined passage, write down what you observed – what got your attention. Do not dwell on the things that you don’t understand. Instead, concentrate on things that you do. Don’t rush past them. This is where your conversation with God will begin. Lastly, ask what your observation or observations prompt you to say back to God in prayer and write that prayer down.

Judges 1:1 (NIV) My Observation My Prayerful Response

1 After the death of Joshua, the Joshua had set an example of seeking the Lord, help me to demonstrate my Israelites asked the LORD, “Which Lord before the Israelites. dependence on You so those who come after tribe should go first to attack the me will do the same. Canaanites?”

Some verses may have multiple things you underline and pray about. Sit still long enough to find at least 1 thing about God or about humanity that you can prayerfully respond to. This technique of Bible Study and prayer is taught by Anne Graham Lotz in The Daniel Prayer, Prayer that Moves Heaven and Changes Nations. Daniel Henderson refers to this as “scripture led, spirit fed, worship-based prayer”. Re:Verse Prayer Guide for Judges 1:1-2,8-13,20 (Week of May 31-June 4) My Observation My Prayerful Response Judges 1:1-2,8-13,20 (NIV)

Judah and Simeon Conquer the Land

1 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the LORD, “Which tribe should go first to attack the Canaanites?” 2 The LORD answered, “Judah, for I have given them victory over the land.”

8 The men of Judah attacked Jerusalem and captured it, killing all its people and setting the city on fire. 9 Then they went down to fight the Canaanites living in the hill country, the Negev, and the western foothills. 10 Judah marched against the Canaanites in Hebron (formerly called Kiriath-arba), defeating the forces of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. 11 From there they went to fight against the people living in the town of Debir (formerly called Kiriath-sepher). 12 Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the one who attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher.” 13 Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz, was the one who conquered it, so Acsah became Othniel’s wife.

20 As Moses had promised, Hebron was given to Caleb, who drove from it the three sons of Anak.

A.C.T.S. A - adoration of God; C - confession to God; T- thank God; S - supplication (humbly request God’s help for self and others) Day 1 Re:Verse Prayer Guide for Judges 1:1-2,8-13,20 (Week of May 31-June 4) My Observation My Prayerful Response

Judges 1:1-2,8-13,20 (NLT)

Judah and Simeon Conquer the Land

1 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the LORD, “Which tribe should go first to attack the Canaanites?”

2 The LORD answered, “Judah, for I have given them victory over the land.”

11 From there they went to fight against the people living in the town of Debir (formerly called Kiriath-sepher). 12 Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the one who attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher.” 13 Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz, was the one who conquered it, so Acsah became Othniel’s wife.

20 The town of Hebron was given to Caleb as Moses had promised. And Caleb drove out the people living there, who were descendants of the three sons of Anak.

A.C.T.S. A - adoration of God; C - confession to God; T- thank God; S - supplication (humbly request God’s help for self and others) Day 2 Re:Verse Prayer Guide for Judges 1:1-2,8-13,20 (Week of May 31-June 4) My Observation My Prayerful Response Judges 1:1-2, 8-13,20 (The Voice)

Modern readers wrestle with the violence in the Old Testament. In the wake of events like the holocaust, when the Jews were slaughtered by the millions, many do not see God as a protecting God or as a God of might.

But in Judges we learn about a God who fights for His chosen people or empowers champions to protect them. This was certainly the way the people of God in the time of Judges thought about God, as defender and protector, and the way people in the ancient Middle East understood faith, worship, and divinity. But the Lord is different from all the other gods. He is jealous, so when His people abandon Him, all that power is turned against them in the form of invading armies. The Israelites have need of judges who can lead them in their military exploits and who can keep them faithful to the mighty God of Israel.

1 After Joshua died, the people of Israel asked a question of the Eternal One.

Israelites: So now who will lead us in our wars against the armies of Canaan? Eternal One (to the leaders of Judah): 2 Judah will go and fight. See, I am giving the land into their hands.

8 Then the people of Judah attacked Jerusalem; and when they had captured it, they killed many, burned the city, and destroyed it. 9 After that the people of Judah swept down upon the Canaanites remaining in the highlands and in the lowlands and in the southern desert. 10 Judah campaigned against the Canaanites of Hebron (formerly Kiriath-arba), where they defeated Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, 11 and then they went out in battle against the people of Debir (formerly Kiriath-sepher). 12 It was about this battle that Caleb had made a vow.

Caleb: Whoever attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher will receive my daughter Achsah as his wife.

13 Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz, captured the city, so Caleb gave Othniel his daughter Achsah to marry. 14 When she came to Othniel, she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. As she dismounted from her donkey, Caleb approached her.

20 Caleb received the land of Hebron, as Moses had promised many years earlier, and he drove out the three sons of Anak.

A.C.T.S. A - adoration of God; C - confession to God; T- thank God; S - supplication (humbly request God’s help for self and others) Day 3 Re:Verse Prayer Guide for Judges 1:1-2,8-13,20 (Week of May 31-June 4) My Observation My Prayerful Response

Judges 1:1-2,8-13,20 (NASB)

Jerusalem Is Captured

1 Now it came about after the death of Joshua that the sons of Israel inquired of the LORD, saying, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?” 2 The LORD said, “Judah shall go up; behold, I have handed the land over to him

8 Then the sons of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire. 9 Afterward, the sons of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites living in the hill country, and in the Negev, and in the lowland. 10 So Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron (the name of Hebron was previously Kiriath-arba); and they struck Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

Capture of Other Cities

11 Then from there he went against the inhabitants of Debir (the name of Debir was previously Kiriath-sepher). 12 And Caleb said, “Whoever attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give him my daughter Achsah as a wife.” 13 Now Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, captured it; so he gave him his daughter Achsah as a wife.

20 Then they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had promised; and he drove out from there the three sons of Anak.

A.C.T.S. A - adoration of God; C - confession to God; T- thank God; S - supplication (humbly request God’s help for self and others) Day 4 Re:Verse Prayer Guide for Judges 1:1-2,8-13,20 (Week of May 31-June 4) My Observation My Prayerful Response Judges 1:1-2,8-13,20 (MSG)

1 A time came after the death of Joshua when the People of Israel asked GOD, “Who will take the lead in going up against the Canaanites to fight them?”

2 And GOD said, “Judah will go. I’ve given the land to him.”

8-10 The people of Judah attacked and captured Jerusalem, subduing the city by sword and then sending it up in flames. After that they had gone down to fight the Canaanites who were living in the hill country, the Negev, and the foothills. Judah had gone on to the Canaanites who lived in Hebron (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba) and brought Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai to their knees.

11-12 From there they had marched against the population of Debir (Debir used to be called Kiriath Sepher). Caleb had said, “Whoever attacks Kiriath Sepher and takes it, I’ll give my daughter Acsah to him as his wife.”

13 Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, took it, so Caleb gave him his daughter Acsah as his wife.

20 They gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had directed. Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak.

A.C.T.S. A - adoration of God; C - confession to God; T- thank God; S - supplication (humbly request God’s help for self and others) Day 5