The Word for Today with Ray

Friday, September 4, 2026

Lifting Up Their Voice and Weeping - Judges 2:4

In the book of Judges we learned about Israel how, “an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I swore unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. And you shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; you shall throw down their altars: but you have not obeyed my voice: why have you done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you”, and in chapter two and verse four of Judges, we learn how, “the people lifted up their voice, and wept”,, where we read,

And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spoke these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

The verse reads, “And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spoke these words unto all the children of Israel, …” The writer began with the words, “and it came to pass” which means “and the following happened and occurred”, “when the angel of the LORD” or “at the time and moment that the messenger or envoy belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “spoke these words” which means “uttered, declared and proclaimed the previous utterances and declarations” “unto all the children of Israel” or “to each, every, the whole and everyone of the offspring and progeny belonging to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”. The writer shared how the following happened at the time and moment the messenger of Jehovah God uttered His previous declarations to the offspring of Israel.

The verse continues, “… that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.” The writer added the words, “that the people” which means “that the human beings who belonged to Israel” “lifted up their voice” or “raised, sustained and exalted their, the people of Israel’s, noise and sounds of uttered words” “and wept” which means “and bewailed, shed tears and cried”. The writer shared how the human beings of Israel raised the sounds and noises of their “voices”, shed tears and cried aloud.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover how the “children of Israel” responded to the “angel of the LORD’s” words concerning their disobedience. God’s question, “why have you done this?” causes us to know God did not initially want to leave the pagan people among them. God cares about them and us, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be raised from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the ability to take heed to God’s instructions and never have need for regretful remorse because we did not obey Him and His words. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; 1 John 1:9)

Next time we see how, “they called the name of that place Bochim”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".

I Will Not Drive Them Out - Judges 2:3

In the book of Judges we learned about Israel how, “an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I swore unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. And you shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; you shall throw down their altars: but you have not obeyed my voice: why have you done this?”, and in chapter two and verse three of Judges, we learn how the angel said, “I will not drive them out from before you”, where we read,

Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you;

but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

The verse reads, “Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you;” The writer began with the words, “wherefore I also said” which means “therefore, then and on this account I, Jehovah God, even so and indeed uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “I will not drive them out” or “I, Jehovah God, shall in no way or manner expel, thrust, cast or toss away them, the pagan inhabitants of the promise land” “from before you” which means “separate and apart from the presence and front of you, the people of Israel”. The writer shared how Jehovah God indeed declared that He would in not in any manner expel or thrust away the pagan people from the presence of Israel.

The verse goes on to say, “but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.” The writer continued with the words, “but they shall be as thorns” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover they, the pagan inhabitants of the promise land, will exist as prickly barbs” “in your sides” or “within your, the people of Israel’s, sides of their bodies”, “and their gods” which means “and their, the pagan inhabitants’, deities” “shall be a snare unto you” or “will exist as a lure, bait, noose and trap to you, the people of Israel”. The writer shared how Jehovah God declared that the pagan people within the promise land would exist as prickly barbs in their “sides”, and their deities would be like a noose or trap for the people of Israel.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God made a decision based upon the disobedience of the people of Israel. God said He would allow the pagan people who lived in the promise land to remain living among them. They would be as prickly barbs in their sides, and their deities would be like traps for them. God knows what is best for our lives, and allowing any area of sin and it’s influences in our lives will become as a prickly barb and trap for us. God loves us, and when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days, He made the way through faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord” to be forgiven our sins, granted everlasting life and equipped with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and help us to completely avoid the “thorns and snares” that are in the world.

Next time we see how, “the people lifted up their voice, and wept”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

No League with the Inhabitants - Judges 2:2

And you shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; you shall throw down their altars: but you have not obeyed my voice: why have you done this?

The verse reads, “And you shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land;” The writer began with the words, “and you shall make no league” which means “and you, the people of Israel, are not to form, fashion or cut any alliance, covenant, pledge, oath or agreement” “with the inhabitants” or “accompanied by the dwellers, abiders and people who live” “of this land” which means “within this territory, region or district”. The writer shared how the “angel of the LORD”, Jehovah God, instructed the people of Israel not to form an alliance or agreement in any manner with the people who lived within the promised territory.

The verse continues, “you shall throw down their altars: but you have not obeyed my voice: why have you done this?” The writer added the words, “you shall throw down their altars” which means “you, the people of Israel, are to cast, break, destroy and beat down their, the people of the land’s, sacrificial place or torrent of slaughter and worship”: “but you have not obey my voice” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover you, the people of Israel, have in no way or manner listened to, perceived, understood or given heed to my, Jehovah God’s, sound and noise of uttered words”: “why have you done this” which means “for what reason and cause have you, the people of Israel, performed and produced this, not obeying God’s voice”? The writer shared how Jehovah God instructed the people of Israel to destroy the sacrificial places of worship of the pagan inhabitants’ , however, they did not listen nor take heed to what He said.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God gave instructions to the people of Israel as they entered and occupied the promise land. They were in no way to form alliances with the people there, and they were to destroy all their sacrificial places of worship. The people of Israel did not obey Him. In like manner, God wants an exclusive personal relationship with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead after three days. When we surrender to Him completely, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and to equip us to remove all other gods and implements of worship other than Him from our lives. (See John 3:16: Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8)

Next time we see how the angel said, “I will not drive them out from before you”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

An Angel Came from Gilgal - Judges 2:1

In the book of Judges we learned, “the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley. But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries. And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward”, and in chapter two and verse one of Judges, we learn how, “an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim”, where we read,

And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I swore unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.

The verse reads, “And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt,…” The writer began with the words, “and an angel” which means “and a messenger or envoy” “of the LORD” or “belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name of the One True God” “came up from Gilgal” which means “arose and ascended apart from Gilgal whose name means ‘a wheel or rolling’ and was the first site of an Israelite camp west of the Jordan, east of Jericho, here Samuel was judge, and Saul was made king; later used for illicit worship” “to Bochim” whose name means ‘weeping’ and was a place near Gilgal (or Bethel), where sons of Israel wept”, “and said” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “I made you to go up” or “I, the angel of the LORD, caused you, the people of Israel, to arise and ascend”, “out of Egypt” which means “from Egypt whose name means ‘land of the Copts’ and is a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows”. The writer shared how a spiritual messenger from Jehovah God and most likely Jehovah God Himself arose from the city of “Gilgal” to “Bochim” and told the people of Israel that He was responsible for causing them to ascend and depart from “Egypt”. (See Exodus 3:2-6)

The verse goes on to say, “… and have brought you unto the land which I swore unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.” The writer continued with the words, “and have brought you” which means “and have led and carried you, the people of Israel” “unto the land” or “to the territory, region district and country” “which I swore” which means “that I, Jehovah God, took an oath and promised” “unto your fathers” or “to your, the people of Israel’s, male progenitors and ancestors”; “and I said” which means “and I, Jehovah God, uttered, declared and proclaimed that”, “I will never break my covenant” or “I, Jehovah God, shall not in any way or manner shatter, violate and make ineffectual my, Jehovah God’s, alliance, treaty, agreement, league and pledge” “with you” which means “together and alongside you, the people of Israel”. The writer shared how the angel of the LORD told the people of Israel that He led them to the territory that He promised to their forefathers, and He would not in any way or manner violate His pledge and alliance with them.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how the “angel of the LORD”, more than likely Jehovah God Himself, was involved in bringing the people of Israel to the promise land. God told their forefathers He would lead them there, and He would not abandon His oath with them. God desires to have a personal relationship with all of us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and grant us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the ability to live according to that truth so we too are led by Him as we live as His witnesses in this world. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11)

Next time we see how the angel said, “you shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Amorites Going Up to Akrabbim - Judges 1:36

In the book of Judges we learned, “the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley. But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries”, and in chapter one and verse thirty-six of Judges, we learn how, “the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim” where we read,

And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.

The verse reads, “And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim …” The writer began with the words, “and the coast” which means “and the edge, border and boundary” “of the Amorites” or “belonging to the Amorites whose name means ‘a sayer’ and were one of the peoples of east Canaan and beyond the Jordan, dispossessed by the Israelite incursion from Egypt” “was from the going up” which means “existed as separate and apart from the ascending and arising” “to Akrabbim” or Maaleh-acrabbim whose name means ‘ascent of scorpions’ and was a pass on the southern border of Palestine known as scorpion-pass”. The writer shared how the boundary of the “Amorites” was to the ascension of “Akrabbin” or “scorpion-pass”.

The verse continues, “… from the rock, and upward.” The writer added the words, “from the rock” which means “separate and apart from the crag or cliff which was a stronghold” “and upward” or “and above or higher”. The writer shared how the boundary of the “Amorites” also ascended to the crag and a higher place which was a stronghold.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn more about the location of the pagan “Amorites” who were living among the people of Israel in the promise land. The tribes of “Dan and Joseph” attempted to remove them, but they remained in their territory. We are reminded of areas of sin and influence that may be left in our lives that can only be removed by Jehovah God and His Holy Spirit. “God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life” (See John 3:16), and when we yield our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and help identify and remove the “Amorite” like sin that remains within us. (See Acts 1:8; Romans 6:7, 18, 22; 1 Peter 4:1)

Next time we begin a new chapter and learn how, “an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Thursday, September 3, 2026

Amorites Dwelling in Aijalon - Judges 1:35

In the book of Judges we learned, “the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley”, and in chapter one and verse thirty-five of Judges, we learn, “the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon”, where we read,

But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim:

yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries.

The verse reads, “But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim:” The writer began with the words, “but the Amorites” which means “however, notwithstanding, nevertheless and moreover the Amorites whose name means ‘‘a sayer’ and were one of the peoples of east Canaan and beyond the Jordan, dispossessed by the Israelite incursion from Egypt” “would dwell in mount Heres” or “were to live, inhabit and abide within the rising above the plain known as Here’s whose name means ‘the sun’ and was a mountain inhabited by Amorites in Moab and the place where Gideon turned back from chasing the Midianites” “in Aijalon” which means “within Ajalon or Aijalon whose name means ‘field of deer’ and was a Levitical city in Dan, fourteen miles or twenty-five kilometers NW of Jerusalem, later ruled by the Amorites, then the Benjamites of Judah, then by the Philistines”, “and in Shaabim” or “and within Shaabim or Shaalabbin whose name means ‘place of foxes’ and was a town in Dan occupied by the Amorites”. The writer shared how the “Amorites” were to live within the rising above the plain known as “Heres” which was located within “Aijalon and Shaalbim”.

The verse goes on to say, “yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries.” The writer continues with the words, “yet the hand of the house of Joseph” which means “still the power, might and authority pertaining to the dwelling place, habitation and abode belonging to Joseph whose name means ‘Jehovah has added’ and was the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel and the progenitor of the tribe of Joseph which was divided into the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh” “prevailed” or “became heavy, weighty, honorable and glorious”, “so that they became tributaries” which means “which caused them, the Amorites, to exist as forced laborers, task-workers, servants and taxpayers”. The writer shared how the power and might pertaining to the dwelling place belonging to “Joseph” was weighty and glorious, and this caused the “Amorites” to live as servants and taxpayers.

When we think through the words in this verse, we see how the “Amorites” were determined to live in the risings above the plain known as “Heres” within “Aijalon and Shaalbim”, however, the tribe of “Joseph” opposed them and made them servants and taxpayers. God gave the promise land to the people of Israel, and “Dan and Joseph through Ephraim and Manasseh” were to inherit their portion of the land. They faced enemies and foes who desired to keep them from their inheritance, however, their effect was minimal. God wants everyone to be in a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days, and when we surrender our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and empower us to live according to that truth while we resist the devil and the people who are opposed to God. (See James 4:7)

Next time we learn, “the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Amorites Forcing Dan - Judges 1:34

In the book of Judges we learned, “Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob, but the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out. either did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them”, and in chapter one and verse thirty-three of Judges, we learn, “the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain”, where we read,

And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain:

for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:

The verse reads, “And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain:” The writer began with the words, “and the Amorites” whose name means ‘a sayer’ and were one of the peoples of east Canaan and beyond the Jordan, dispossessed by the Israelite incursion from Egypt” “forced the children of Dan” or “squeezed, pressed and oppressed the offspring and progeny belonging to Dan whose name means a judge and was the fifth son of Jacob and the first of Bilbao who was Rachel’s handmaid” “into the mountain” which means “to the rising above the plain or mound”. The writer shared how the “Amorites” oppressed the offspring of “Dan” to the rising above the plain.

The verse continues, “for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:” The writer added the words, “for they would not suffer them” which means “because, since and on account that they, the Amorites, would not allow or permit them, the offspring of Dan” “to come down to the valley” or “to descend to the vale, lowland or open country”. The writer shared how the “Amorites” did not allow the offspring of “Dan” to descend into the lowland and open country.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how the “Amorites” became an obstacle and problem for the “tribe of Dan”. They inhibited “Dan” from descending to the lowland area or vale, and this became one of the attempts of “Israel’s” enemies to keep them from God’s promise land. We to have an enemy against our souls, Satan, who desires to keep us from a personal relationship with God’s Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. Satan desires to inhibit us from receiving Jesus as our personal “Savior and Lord” because He knows our sins will be forgiven, we shall inherit eternal life and receive His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and teach us to put away all sin and it’s hindrance in our lives. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; James 4:7)

Next time we learn, “the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…