Judges 11:11 “Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord.”
Observation: Jephthah didn’t have a promising beginning. He was the offspring of Gilead’s affair with a prostitute and had been driven away from the family by his half-brothers. Still, his heart was apparently right, and he must have had a reputation as a courageous man, because it was to him that the leaders of Israel turned when the nation was in trouble. In Judges 11:11 he demonstrated his worthiness by “speaking all his words before the Lord.”
Application: Everything Jephthah said to the enemies of Israel was truthful. He understood their history, and he knew his position was right. So he was willing and able to speak all his words before the Lord. In other words, he laid himself open to being critiqued both by the people and by God.
As I read this phrase, I wondered how willing I would be to say all my own words before the Lord. Of course, the reality is that He not only hears all of them, but He also knows intimately all the heart-stuff behind my words. He knows when what comes out of me is righteous and uplifting and encouraging. He also knows when I am motivated by jealousy, anger, or pride.
I cannot keep these things hidden from God even if I were struck dumb and never spoke words again. What a powerful reminder of my need to always be aware that my words do have an audience. There is One Who hears and sees and knows everything about me.
Prayer: Father, thank You for this reminder that nothing remains hidden from Your sight. You are a righteous judge, always fair. I’m so thankful that, having accepted Christ as Savior and Lord of my life, all You see and hear from me has been filtered through the cleansing blood of Your dear Son. I pray for increased wisdom, that day by day I would better learn to weigh my words, and to examine my heart motivations. Purify me, Lord, and make me more like Jesus.