God's Strength 神的力量
Dexu Xia
The Spirit of the Lord came on him. Judges 3:10
Today's Scripture Judges 3：7-11
Today's Insights Judges 2:10-19 describes a pattern throughout the book of Judges. When the people no longer “acknowledge[d] the Lord” or “remember[ed] the mighty things he had done for [them]” (v. 10 nlt), they descended into apostasy (abandoned their faith). So God would side with Israel’s enemies to defeat them (v. 15). Then He’d respond to the Israelites’ “groaning” (v. 18) by raising judges to save them. They were given safety while the judge was alive (v. 18), but once the judge died, the pattern would repeat itself (v. 19).
Judges 3:7-11 describes an example of this pattern. God’s anger led to the Israelites being under subjection for eight years (v. 8). When they cried out to God, He raised up Othniel to rescue them through the power of the Holy Spirit (vv. 9-10). As God gave strength to Othniel, we also can rely on His strength to do through us what He alone can do.
Today's Devotional Her husband’s death began a period of transition for Nora. She took over his hardware business and cared for their three children on her own. “Be strong,” friends often told her. But what does that mean? she’d think. That I must deliver without fail in my responsibilities?
God gave great responsibilities to Othniel in a time of transition for the people of Israel. As discipline for the nation’s idolatry, God had given them “into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim . . . to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years” (Judges 3:8). Under the cruel king of Mesopotamia, the Israelites “cried out to the Lord,” and “he raised up for them a deliverer” (v. 9)—Othniel, whose name means “God’s strength.”
As the first judge of Israel, Othniel had no predecessor to help him. This military leader had to guide the Israelites back to living out their covenant relationship with God and defend them from their enemies. But because “the Spirit of the Lord came on him” (v. 10), he succeeded. With God’s strength sustaining Othniel’s leadership, “the land had peace for forty years, until [he] died” (v. 11).
How can we truly “be strong”? It’s by knowing we’re not strong and by trusting God to give us His strength. His “grace is sufficient for [us], for [His] power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). God’s strength works through us, doing things only He can do.
Reflect & Pray
How have you tried to “be strong”? How does Othniel’s story impact your understanding of strength?
Father God, please enable me to rely on Your strength.
By Karen Huang
神的力量
耶和华的灵降在他身上。士师记 3:10
今日经文：士师记 3章7-11节
今日洞见 士师记 2章10-19 节描述了贯穿士师记的一个模式。当人们不再“认识耶和华”或不再“记念他为他们所行的大事”（10 节）时，他们就陷入了背道（放弃了他们对至高神的信仰）。因此，神会站在以色列的敌人一边，击败他们（15 节）。然后，祂会回应以色列人的“叹息”（18 节），兴起士师来拯救他们。士师在世时，他们得到庇护（18 节），但是一旦士师去世，同样的模式就会重演（19 节）。士师记 3:7-11 描述了这种模式的一个例子。背道导致神的愤怒，以致以色列人被奴役了八年（8 节）。当他们向神呼求时，神兴起俄陀聂，借着圣灵的能力拯救他们（9-10节）。正如神赐力量给俄陀聂，我们也能倚靠祂的力量，这样，神可以藉着我们去成就，唯有祂才能成就的事。
今日灵修 丈夫的去世开启了诺拉的一段转变期。她接管了丈夫的五金生意，独自照顾三个孩子。朋友们常对她说：“要坚强。”但她会想，这是什么意思呢？意思是我必须尽职尽责，绝不失败？
在以色列民的转变时期，神赋予俄陀聂重大的责任。为了惩戒以色列人的偶像崇拜，神将他们“交在古珊利萨田的手中,以色列人服事他八年”（士师记3:8）。在残暴的美索不达米亚国王统治下，以色列人“呼求耶和华”，耶和华就“为他们兴起一位拯救者”（9节）,俄陀聂，他的名字意思是“神的力量”。作为以色列的第一位士师，俄陀聂没有前任可以协助他。这位军事领袖必须引导以色列人重新履行与神的约，并保护他们免受敌人的攻击。但因为“耶和华的灵降在他身上”（10节），他成功了。俄陀聂依靠神的力量掌权，“国中太平四十年，直到他死了”（11节）。
我们如何才能真正“刚强”？就是认识到我们并不刚强，并信靠神赐给我们祂的力量。祂的“恩典够我们用的，因为他的能力是在人的软弱上显得完全”（哥林多后书12:9）。神的力量通过我们运行，成就只有祂才能成就的事。
反思与祷告 你曾如何努力“变得坚强”？俄陀聂的故事如何影响你对力量的理解？ 天父，求祢使我能够倚靠祢的力量。作者：黄凯伦