The Spirit of the LORD Came Upon Othniel - Judges 3:10

In the book of Judges we learned how, “the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgot the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years. And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother”, and in chapter three and verse ten of Judges, we learn how, “the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel” where we read,

And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.

The verse reads, “And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war:” The writer began with the words, “and the Spirit of the LORD” which means “and the mind, courage and vivacity belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “came upon him” or “took place, arose and happened to him, Othniel”, “and he judged Israel” which means “and he, Othniel, governed, vindicated and executed judgment over Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”, “and went out to war” or “and dispatched, proceeded forth and departed to battle and fighting”. The writer shared how Jehovah God’s “Spirit” descended upon “Othniel”, and he vindicated “Israel” by going forth to battle and fighting. 

The verse continues, “and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.” The writer added the words, “and the LORD” which means “and Jehovah who is the existing One” “delivered Chushanrishathaim” or “gave, put, set and entrusted Chushanrishathaim whose name means ‘’twice-wicked Chushan” “king of Mesopotamia” which means “the royal ruler and leader belonging to Mesopotamia or Aram or Arameans whose name means ‘exalted’ and was the Syrian or Aramean people” “into his hand” or “over to his, Othniel’s, power, might and strength”; “and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim” which means “and his, Othniel’s, power, might and authority was stronger, more firm and stout in opposition to Chushanrishathaim whose name means ‘twice-wicked Chushan’”. The writer shared how Jehovah gave “Chushanrishathaim” who was the royal ruler belonging to “Mesopotamia” over to “Othniel”, and “Othniel’s” power and might was stronger than “Chushanrishathaim’s”. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God was involved in rescuing “Israel” from “Chushanrishathaim” through “Othniel”. God empowered “Othniel” through His Spirit, and he as the deliverer and judge of “Israel” was able to overpower their foe. God loves the people of “Israel”, and He loves us. When we yield to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days 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 so we are victorious over our foes when they rise up against us. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Romans 8:37)

Next time we learn how, “the land had rest forty years”, 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".