Scripture Union Daily Guide 23 June 2025 (Monday) Devotional Message
Today’s Daily Guide 23rd June 2025 Reading By Scripture Union
TOPIC: A Family At War With Itself
OPENING PRAYER: Dear Lord, I pray that you order my steps today through your word as I meditate on it.
SCRIPTURE READING – Judges 12:1-15(KJV)
1 And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire.
2 And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of their hands.
3 And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the Lord delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?
4 Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites.
5 And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay;
6 Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.
7 And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.
8 And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
9 And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.
10 Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.
11 And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.
12 And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun.
13 And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.
14 And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.
15 And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.
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?
Scripture Union Daily Guide 23 June 2025: OUTLINE
Jephthah is fighting a double battle here. First his brothers and then the half tribe of Ephraim. They were meant to unite and fight a common enemy but now they turn against each other. Do you celebrate with others during their victorious moments, or you become envious?
What would Ephraimites have lost had they accepted Jephthah’s victory as a collective achievement and joined others to celebrate? Instead, they created unnecessary problem similar to their reaction to Gideon’s victory in Judges 8:1-3. They appear to specialise in dodging responsibility while desiring to be the main recipient of the glory. Do we not read the same story in our society? People who fail to participate in a project are the first to criticise and castigate the leader.
A soft answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1). Instead of being patient with his brothers like Gideon, Jephthah responded with a big fight. With the results of the subsequent war in Judges 12:5-6, would you rather have been another Gideon or a Jephthah? Today, the slightest provocation, sometimes without any basis, have resulted in civil war with loss of millions of innocent lives.
Closing Prayer:
Pray that our leaders would always seek peaceful ways to resolve conflicts.
One Year Bible Reading Guide:
2 Chronicles 31-32; Ecclesiastes 6.
One Year Bible Reading Guide, Hard Copy Version:
1 Kings 12-14
National Prayer Bulletin – Monday Jun 23, 2025
PRAYER FOCUS
HODS TOUR OF REGIONS/GD’S FAMILIARIZATION TOUR OF BENIN REGION. (23RD – 29TH) HOD SCHOOLS’ TOUR OF LAGOS REGION HOD SUCF’S TOUR OF ENUGU REGION HOD PILGRIMS’ TOUR OF PORT HARCOURT REGION HOD CHILDREN’S TOUR OF ONITSHA REGION GD’S FAMILIARIZATION TOUR OF BENIN REGION
“So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty”. Luke 17:10
THANK GOD FOR:
* The lives of our GD and these HODs • The grace, zeal and commitment with which they’ve carrying out their assignments • His preservation and successes being recorded in their past tours • Journey mercies throughout this tour and beyond
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 22 June 2025)