Scripture Union Daily Guide 21 June 2025 (Saturday) Devotional Message
Today’s Daily Guide 21st June 2025 Reading By Scripture Union
TOPIC: God Does Not Reject Anyone
OPENING PRAYER: Oh Lord, grant me spiritual insight into the truth of your word as I study it.
SCRIPTURE READING – Judges 11:1-28(NASB)
11 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a [a]valiant warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. And Gilead had fathered Jephthah. 2 Gilead’s wife bore him sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You shall not have an inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.” 3 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob; and worthless men gathered [b]around Jephthah, and they went [c]wherever he did.
4 Now it came about, after a while, that the sons of Ammon fought against Israel. 5 When the sons of Ammon fought against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob; 6 and they said to Jephthah, “Come and be our leader, that we may fight against the sons of Ammon.” 7 But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and drive me from my father’s house? So why have you come to me now when you are in trouble?” 8 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “For this reason we have now returned to you, that you may go with us and fight the sons of Ammon, and become our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”
9 So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me back to fight against the sons of Ammon and the Lord gives them up [d]to me, will I become your head?” 10 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The Lord is [e]witness between us; be assured we will do [f]as you have said.” 11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and leader over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord at Mizpah.
12 So Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon, saying, “What conflict do you and I have, that you have come to me to fight against my land?” 13 And the king of the sons of Ammon said to the messengers of Jephthah, “It is because Israel took my land when they came up from Egypt, from the Arnon as far as the Jabbok and the Jordan; so return them peaceably now.” 14 But Jephthah sent messengers once again to the king of the sons of Ammon, 15 and they said to him, “This is what Jephthah says: ‘Israel did not take the land of Moab nor the land of the sons of Ammon.
16 For when they came up from Egypt, and Israel went through the wilderness to the [g]Red Sea, and came to Kadesh, 17 then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, “Please let us pass through your land”; but the king of Edom would not listen. And they also sent messengers to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel remained at Kadesh. 18 Then they went through the wilderness and around the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and came to the east side of the land of Moab, and they camped beyond the Arnon; but they did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.
19 And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, “Please let us pass through your land to our place.” 20 But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory; so Sihon gathered all his people and camped in Jahaz, and fought with Israel. 21 And the Lord, the God of Israel, handed Sihon and all his people over to Israel, and they [h]defeated them; so Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country. 22 So they possessed all the territory of the Amorites, from the Arnon as far as the Jabbok, and from the wilderness as far as the Jordan. 23 And now the Lord, the God of Israel, has driven out the Amorites from His people Israel; so should you possess it?
24 Do you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whatever the Lord our God has dispossessed before us, we will possess it. 25 Now then, are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend with Israel, or did he ever fight against them? 26 While Israel was living in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, three hundred years, why did you not recover them within that time? 27 So I have not sinned against you, but you are doing me wrong by making war against me. May the Lord, the Judge, judge today between the sons of Israel and the sons of Ammon.’” 28 But the king of the sons of Ammon [i]disregarded the message which Jephthah sent him.
QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION:
► Q2: Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
► Q5: Is there any warning for me to heed?
► Q7: What truth is God revealing to me in this passage?
Scripture Union Daily Guide 21 June 2025: OUTLINE
This is a great reminder that God does not discriminate or reject anyone. He actually takes the reject of the society and accomplishes something great through them. Compare this with 1 Corinthians 1:26-27. While Jephthah’s siblings would not share their father’s estate with him because of his position in the family, they did not realise that God would work through their action to produce a hero in the brother they had rejected. This is one of the lessons for those with polygamous tendencies.
Jephthah’s wilderness time turned out to be a training ground for him (Judges 11:5). Notice that he did not reject himself (Judges 11:9). Instead, he turned that to a positive thing as he gathered troops around him and formed a formidable army. Now they reckoned with him because he had successfully led this group. Notice how God turned the rejection he experienced into a national gain. When we are open to God, he can turn round our terrible situation and produce something good out of it (Romans 8:28).
Similarly, God presents an example of a godly response to rejection (Isaiah 55:3-5). Ultimately, God’s purpose was fulfilled in David. We learn from his example that we can be strengthened through rejection. God can also prepare us to accomplish His purpose for our lives through the seemingly bad situation if we allow Him. Remember, Jesus was once rejected (John 1:11).
Food for Thought:
Rejection can be damaging but God heals and restores.
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Closing Prayer:
Pray for healing for those who have suffered rejection many times and in many ways.
Prayer for the Week:
1. Pray for our law enforcement agencies, that they will carry out their duties with the fear of God.
2. Pray against every form of wickedness being perpetrated by some of these uniformed men
3. Pray that they will stop to misuse their power to victimize the citizens.
One Year Bible Reading Guide:
2 Chronicles 26-28; Ecclesiastes 4.
One Year Bible Reading Guide, Hard Copy Version:
1 Kings 10-11; 2 Chronicles 9
National Prayer Bulletin – Saturday Jun 21, 2025
PRAYER FOCUS
DISCIPLESHIP
Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching every one with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. Col. 1:28
THANK GOD FOR:
* The word of God that shows us how to live lives that glorify him • The grace to follow-up converts from our programs
PRAY FOR:
* For us in Scripture Union to be more intentional and committed to true discipleship, teaching, training children, youths and families to live lives that will glorify God • Our lives to increasingly become Christ- like in all we do.
Scripture Union is an international, interdenominational, evangelical Christian organization. It was founded in 1867, and works in partnership with individuals and churches across the world. The organization’s stated aim is to use the Bible to inspire children, young people and adults to know God. (Scripture Union Daily Guide 21 June 2025)