Judges 20

QUESTION: Revenge/Sensationalism - 1

ANSWER:

Judges 20 – Part 1

by Pastor Nathan Shepherd (Dive Chapel, Candle Key, Florida)

The house band at the Dive Chapel in Candle Key, Florida finished a very worshipful song that they’d written entitled, “Wide Open Wonder”. Pastor Nathan Shepherd stepped up onto the stage and thanked the band. Then he turned to the 200-person congregation.

“Praise God for this beautiful, sunny day in the Florida Keys, huh. Today, gang, we are in Judges 20. But before we go there, I want to give you an update on Reef Restoration Ministries’ lawsuit. I know that virtually all of you have been praying for RRM in this.

“The short answer is that the lawsuit has been dismissed by a Judge in Miami. In addition, the state of Florida has rejected any claims of the rogue lawyers who have been trying to raise the remains of the ‘Queen Eileen’.

“As most of you know, the ‘Queen Eileen’ is a private submarine that sunk in 1924. The wreckage sits in 17 feet of water, a little over a quarter mile from here. Eleven months ago, we found the wreck with a very diverse mini-reef thriving in the stern of her. For decades, we called the place where it sits the ‘snapper hole’ because it was a great place to catch yellowtail and mangrove snapper.

“RRM is in the process of completing a 22-minute film about the history of the sub and the cool, diverse reef that her disintegrating hull has fostered. We’ll actually be showing the film here at the Dive Chapel in a few weeks.

“Having said all that, our efforts to nurture and protect this little reef continue, but we don’t know what these nasty lawyers might do. The RRM team is concerned about possible revenge tactics, so please continue your prayers. We need them.”

A young lady in the second row raised her hand. She was dressed in jeans, a bright yellow “7-mile Bridge Run” T-shirt, and a Boston Red Sox hat. Nate nodded at her.

“Nathan, can I pray about all of this right now?”

“Absolutely, Fenway, go for it.”

“Kind Father, we are just so blown away by Your creation that you allow us to live in, to revel in. Thank You. Father, we need your wisdom, guidance, protection, purpose, and love as we move forward in defending the ‘Queen Eileen’ reef and other reef beds around our region. Help us to be salt and light as we deal with these misguided lawyer guys who would destroy Your creation as they’ve done in other locales. Bless them, Lord, and help them to see the error of their ways and turn to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“Amens” and “right ons” echoed throughout the warehouse where the church met.

“Thanks Fenway. I so appreciate your and Billy’s leadership at RRM. To have a young couple so engaged in our work and so tuned into the Word of the Lord is awesome. You guys rock.

“Well, again, keep the prayers coming for everything going on at Reef Restoration Ministries. We’ve got a new group of interns coming down in a few weeks and that’s always an adventure.

“Okay, gang, let’s turn to Judges chapter 20. Remember last week when the Levite cut up the body of his abused and murdered concubine and sent a piece to each of the twelve tribes? I compared the act to the sensationalism we are fed by the news media today.

Judges 20 – Read Part 2!