Dark Days and the Divine Light: Judges 18–19 and John 8 (Day 134)

How dark can things get when everyone does what is right in their own eyes? Today we enter one of the most difficult and graphic portions of the Old Testament. In Judges, we see the tribe of Dan abandon their God-given inheritance to steal a priest and an idol, followed by the harrowing account of a Levite and his concubine in Gibeah. These stories serve as a visceral reminder of what happens when a society abandons its moral compass. In the Gospel of John, we find the remedy for such darkness. Jesus stands in the Temple and declares, "I am the light of the world," promising that whoever follows Him will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.Today’s Scripture:📖 Judges 18–19 – The tribe of Dan, seeking a territory of their own, steals Micah’s carved image and his priest before destroying the peaceful city of Laish. Chapter 19 records a dark turning point for Israel: a Levite and his concubine are met with extreme wickedness in the city of Gibeah—an event so shocking that it mirrors the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah and shakes the entire nation.📖 John 8:12–30 – In the Treasury of the Temple, Jesus continues His teaching during the Feast. He identifies Himself as the Light of the World and warns that those who do not believe He is "I Am" will die in their sins. Despite the mounting tension, many who hear Him begin to believe.📖 Psalm 60:5–12 – David appeals to God's ownership of the land, listing the regions that belong to Him. He concludes with a powerful prayer for help against the foe: "With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes."RESOURCES & READ-ALONG 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYKi8-_5xHGL_nFAZOthHtZhcb4CqW4ZF 📖 Follow the Text (LEB): https://biblia.com/books/leb/ 🗓️ Download the Full Plan: https://www.biblica.com/resources/reading-plans/CONNECT & SUPPORT 📧 Questions? Reach out to Scott: [email protected] 🎁 Partner with our Ministry: https://huttobible.churchcenter.com/giving/to/go-pastor-support 📩 Get Ministry Updates: https://scott-purcell.epistle.org/subscribeCREDITS & LEGAL The Lexham English Bible is used by permission. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software. Music: "Be The Hero" by Pumpupthemind via Free Music Archive (CC BY 4.0).Keywords: bible in a year, daily bible reading, Judges 18, Judges 19, John 8, Psalm 60, Tribe of Dan, Levite's concubine, Gibeah, Light of the World, I Am, Treasury of the Temple, moral decay, daily devotional, audio bible.