Promised to barren parents by an angel of the Lord. Prophesied to be set apart for the Lord all the days of his life. Sent as a judge to save the Israelites from the hand of the Philistines. This was Samson. However, Samson had one fatal flaw all along – his lust drove him after forbidden women. This lingering sin proved to be his downfall!
The story of Samson and Delilah would not be too hard to comprehend if it were not preceded by the story of Samson and the woman from Timnah! Samson was determined to marry this woman even though she was a Philistine, a foreigner, a worshipper of false gods. Even though this was forbidden by the Lord and discouraged by his parents, he was determined. Why? He thought she was really attractive! 14:3, 7 – “she is right in my eyes . . . she was right in Samson’s eyes.” In the end, she was loyal to her people over her husband. However, instead of learning from this, it became a pattern for Samson’s life.
We would be wise to take two lessons from the life of Samson. First, loyalty is what holds a marriage together, not looks! Marriages built on allegiance to God and loyalty to one another will stand the test of time. If our hearts belong to idols or others, the marriage is over as soon as it begins! Give your heart to the Lord and faithfulness to your mate!
Second, let us beware of those lingering sins that we continue to justify and accommodate! They need to be slain not indulged! Catering to one sin in our lives leads to more sin (14:8-9). Eventually, the very thing we thought would make us happy, the very thing we thought we could control, the very thing we thought was so enjoyable, that very thing will bring us down!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Back to Idols !?! - Judges 8-10
The book of Judges is startling! It is astounding how quick the Israelites turn from God after he brings them victory and peace. No sooner than the present judge passes away the Israelites forsake the Lord and turn to foreign gods, which is exactly what got them into trouble to begin with! Have they no memory? And the answer is “yes!” They do have a memory of serving other gods, and they are fond of those memories! The problem with the Israelites is that they have no heart – no new heart for God! (I am speaking here about the majority of Israel. There were always within the majority a small believing minority.) After Gideon had defeated Midian, and Zeba and Zalmunna, he does a most outlandish, ridiculous thing. He collects gold and fashions an ephod, which ends up being an idol! Soon after Gideon dies, Israel turns back to Baal worship! God delivers them; they worship other gods! It makes no sense! It is astounding!
There is an equally startling reoccurrence in the book of Judges. No matter how many times the people turn from God, when they groan under judgment, he delivers them! That’s more amazing than their repeated idol worship – God repeatedly delivers them! He is faithful to His people, His covenant, His name!
Now here is the really amazing wonder of it all. When we read Judges, we are really looking into a mirror aren’t we? Let’s be gut level honest and just admit that hardly a day goes by that we do not prefer, adore, or worship something/someone other than the Lord! And let’s give him the glory because there is not a day that goes by in which he doesn’t not lavish us with undeserved grace! Thank God for His faithfulness to His covenant with His people for the glory of His name!
There is an equally startling reoccurrence in the book of Judges. No matter how many times the people turn from God, when they groan under judgment, he delivers them! That’s more amazing than their repeated idol worship – God repeatedly delivers them! He is faithful to His people, His covenant, His name!
Now here is the really amazing wonder of it all. When we read Judges, we are really looking into a mirror aren’t we? Let’s be gut level honest and just admit that hardly a day goes by that we do not prefer, adore, or worship something/someone other than the Lord! And let’s give him the glory because there is not a day that goes by in which he doesn’t not lavish us with undeserved grace! Thank God for His faithfulness to His covenant with His people for the glory of His name!
Monday, March 29, 2010
For the Lord and for Gideon - Judges 4-7
Each time I read the story of Gideon I remember the first time I heard this story in Sunday School. (Teachers, you really do make a long lasting impact on young minds!) I remember my teacher acting out the narrative and explaining the events. I also remember how she missed the point. (I’m not disrespecting her at all, and teachers, do not dare get discouraged. All teachers, including me, miss the point at times!!)
My teacher explained to us that the reason why the Lord selected the 300 men from the 10,000 was because the 300 were trained and alert. The reason why they cupped the water in the their hands and brought it to their mouths was so that they could keep looking around them for the enemy. The other men who laid down and drank the water were unaware of what was happening around them. So the 300 were the men for the job. That totally misses the point of the narrative. (To be fair, my teacher was just following the curriculum. They actually missed the point!)
The point of the narrative is that God will bring about this victory for Israel in such a way that only God can do. God will be glorified in this victory! That is the reason Gideon is chosen for job because he comes from the weakest clan and is the least in his father’s house (6:15). That is the reason God gives Gideon the sign of the fleece twice to prove that He is going to win this battle (6:36-40). That is the reason why the Lord reduces the army from 32,000 to 300 so that victory must be credited to God (7:2-8). That is the reason why an entire army of warriors fled when they heard breaking jars and trumpets (7:21)! 7:22 – “When they blew the 300 trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword against his comrade and against all the army.” The Lord fought this battle and won; that’s the point!
My teacher explained to us that the reason why the Lord selected the 300 men from the 10,000 was because the 300 were trained and alert. The reason why they cupped the water in the their hands and brought it to their mouths was so that they could keep looking around them for the enemy. The other men who laid down and drank the water were unaware of what was happening around them. So the 300 were the men for the job. That totally misses the point of the narrative. (To be fair, my teacher was just following the curriculum. They actually missed the point!)
The point of the narrative is that God will bring about this victory for Israel in such a way that only God can do. God will be glorified in this victory! That is the reason Gideon is chosen for job because he comes from the weakest clan and is the least in his father’s house (6:15). That is the reason God gives Gideon the sign of the fleece twice to prove that He is going to win this battle (6:36-40). That is the reason why the Lord reduces the army from 32,000 to 300 so that victory must be credited to God (7:2-8). That is the reason why an entire army of warriors fled when they heard breaking jars and trumpets (7:21)! 7:22 – “When they blew the 300 trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword against his comrade and against all the army.” The Lord fought this battle and won; that’s the point!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
What Went Wrong - Judges 1-3
The book of Judges is basically a history of how everything went wrong after Israel entered the Promised Land. It is a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. Israel turns from the Lord, the Lord judges them through their enemies, Israel groans for deliverance, the Lord hears and has mercy, the Lord sends them a deliverer, they serve the Lord during the days of the deliverer, and then the cycle begins again.
Why this endless cycle? Why do the Israelites time and time again turn from the Lord after he delivers them through a judge? There are two answers for their constant return to sin found in the opening chapters.
First, they never completely removed the foreigners from the land. As discovered in chapter one, most of the tribes stopped short of total conquest. Once they had the majority control of their territory, they would settle. They were tired of war and figured they could use some servants anyway. However, inevitably the Israelites would become infatuated with foreign gods and begin to serve them. This would not have happened, at least not as easily, if they would have removed all foreigners and false places of worship! They settled, and as a result, they turned from God!
Second, they neglected their God-given responsibility to train and teach their children about God. Family worship disappeared, and with it, so did faith in God! 2:10 – “And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.” Deut 6:7 is a clear mandate for parents to teach their children. No wonder Israel continued to turn from the Lord! They tolerated false gods and they neglected family worship! May we not do the same!
Why this endless cycle? Why do the Israelites time and time again turn from the Lord after he delivers them through a judge? There are two answers for their constant return to sin found in the opening chapters.
First, they never completely removed the foreigners from the land. As discovered in chapter one, most of the tribes stopped short of total conquest. Once they had the majority control of their territory, they would settle. They were tired of war and figured they could use some servants anyway. However, inevitably the Israelites would become infatuated with foreign gods and begin to serve them. This would not have happened, at least not as easily, if they would have removed all foreigners and false places of worship! They settled, and as a result, they turned from God!
Second, they neglected their God-given responsibility to train and teach their children about God. Family worship disappeared, and with it, so did faith in God! 2:10 – “And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.” Deut 6:7 is a clear mandate for parents to teach their children. No wonder Israel continued to turn from the Lord! They tolerated false gods and they neglected family worship! May we not do the same!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
The Gospel Prevailing - Acts 17-20
Everywhere Paul went on his journeys, people came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! Paul would enter into discussion with Jews in the synagogue or Gentiles in the marketplace. He would turn the conversation to Christ and the good news of salvation in Him. Many would marvel at hearing “strange things.” Many would oppose and argue and threaten. However, there were always some who would believe!
17:12 – “Many of them believed.” 17:34 – “But some men joined him and believed.” 18:8 – “Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord...many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed.” 19:20 – “So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.”
Again, none of this came without opposition. Paul was mocked in Athens and a riot occurred in Ephesus over the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Nevertheless, Paul continued going from place to place sharing the Gospel, and as a result, more people would believe.
Paul had a confidence in the word of the Lord that enabled him to continue ministry in the face of troubles and persecution. He witnessed firsthand how the Word would triumph over hard hearts. He also had a word from the Lord that the Gospel would be victorious. 18:10 – “for I have many in this city who are my people.” Paul also knew that faith was not dependent upon man’s reason but upon the grace of God. 18:27 – “who through grace had believed.” For these reasons, we can also take comfort and courage in sharing the Gospel! (1) The Gospel will awaken dead hearts. (2) The Lord is still saving people today. (3) As long as there is grace, there will be faith!
17:12 – “Many of them believed.” 17:34 – “But some men joined him and believed.” 18:8 – “Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord...many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed.” 19:20 – “So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.”
Again, none of this came without opposition. Paul was mocked in Athens and a riot occurred in Ephesus over the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Nevertheless, Paul continued going from place to place sharing the Gospel, and as a result, more people would believe.
Paul had a confidence in the word of the Lord that enabled him to continue ministry in the face of troubles and persecution. He witnessed firsthand how the Word would triumph over hard hearts. He also had a word from the Lord that the Gospel would be victorious. 18:10 – “for I have many in this city who are my people.” Paul also knew that faith was not dependent upon man’s reason but upon the grace of God. 18:27 – “who through grace had believed.” For these reasons, we can also take comfort and courage in sharing the Gospel! (1) The Gospel will awaken dead hearts. (2) The Lord is still saving people today. (3) As long as there is grace, there will be faith!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Paul's Tribulation View - Acts 13-16
No, I’m not thinking of end times, or eschatology, here. Paul understands firsthand that tribulation is not something reserved for the very last days, but rather tribulation is an experience that every believer will encounter to a degree. As the Gospel grows, so does its opposition! In Acts we find the Gospel literally exploding! 13:12 – “the proconsul believed...he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.” 13:48 – “The Gentiles...began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” 14:1 – “...a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.” 16:5 – “the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.” And of course, chapter 16 records the great conversions of Lydia and the Philippian jailor. Everywhere the Gospel went, conversions were occurring and the church was growing!
It is no surprise then that opposition grew rapidly as well! The enemy does not welcome the take-back of his occupation! In chapter 14, Paul is actually stoned! (In ch 16 he is beaten with rods!) Then he is left for dead because he appeared to be dead. By grace, he revived and guess what he did? This is really amazing – he went back into the town where he was just stoned and encouraged the church! His words of encouragement, “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (v22). How was that encouraging? Because the church members were hearing these words from a man bloody and blue! They concluded, “If Paul can stand firm after being stoned, surely we can stand firm as well!” And so they did. Persecution never accomplishes the goal of its proponents. In fact, it accomplishes the very opposite. Instead of silencing Paul, his stoning served to greatly strengthen a huddled, probably frightened, group of new believers to live out their faith with courage!
It is no surprise then that opposition grew rapidly as well! The enemy does not welcome the take-back of his occupation! In chapter 14, Paul is actually stoned! (In ch 16 he is beaten with rods!) Then he is left for dead because he appeared to be dead. By grace, he revived and guess what he did? This is really amazing – he went back into the town where he was just stoned and encouraged the church! His words of encouragement, “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (v22). How was that encouraging? Because the church members were hearing these words from a man bloody and blue! They concluded, “If Paul can stand firm after being stoned, surely we can stand firm as well!” And so they did. Persecution never accomplishes the goal of its proponents. In fact, it accomplishes the very opposite. Instead of silencing Paul, his stoning served to greatly strengthen a huddled, probably frightened, group of new believers to live out their faith with courage!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Repentance is a Gift - Acts 9-12
Repentance, along with faith, is required for the new birth. This is the message John the Baptist preached (Mark 1:4). This is the message Jesus preached (Mark 1:15). This is the message Peter preached at Pentecost (Acts 2:38). Surprisingly, there are some evangelicals who deny this even in the light of such texts as sighted above! It is nevertheless true though, when one comes to faith in Christ, he also necessarily repents.
Repentance means simply “to change the mind” and broadly “to change direction.” Repentance is a turning of one’s life from self and sin and false faith to total trust, reliance, and submission to Christ! Repentance is to let go of this world and cling to the Savior! This is exactly the kind of conversions that we witness in the book of Acts. 9:35 – “And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.” 11:21 – “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.” Conversion involves belief in the Lord and a turning to the Lord!
How does this happen? How does one repent or turn from self to the Lord? The Bible teaches that repentance does not come from within ourselves based on our own decision or will, but rather repentance comes to us as a gift from God, as does our faith (Eph 2:8). 5:31 – “God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” 11:18 – “And they glorified God saying, ‘Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” God gives and grants repentance! Now this is surely a blessed truth worthy of great praise to the Lord: the two things God requires for the new birth, he also gives to us! Bless his holy name!
Repentance means simply “to change the mind” and broadly “to change direction.” Repentance is a turning of one’s life from self and sin and false faith to total trust, reliance, and submission to Christ! Repentance is to let go of this world and cling to the Savior! This is exactly the kind of conversions that we witness in the book of Acts. 9:35 – “And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.” 11:21 – “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.” Conversion involves belief in the Lord and a turning to the Lord!
How does this happen? How does one repent or turn from self to the Lord? The Bible teaches that repentance does not come from within ourselves based on our own decision or will, but rather repentance comes to us as a gift from God, as does our faith (Eph 2:8). 5:31 – “God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” 11:18 – “And they glorified God saying, ‘Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” God gives and grants repentance! Now this is surely a blessed truth worthy of great praise to the Lord: the two things God requires for the new birth, he also gives to us! Bless his holy name!
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