Month: May 2016

Re:Verse reading–Judges 13:1-5, 14:1-9, 16:1-30 (day six) 

But his wife said to him, “If the Lord wanted to kill us, he would not have accepted the burnt offering and the grain offering from us. He would not have shown us all these things, or have spoken to us like this just now.” Judges 13:23

A very astute argument from Monoah’s wife, “If God wanted us dead, He wouldn’t have accepted our offering or SPOKEN to us at all.” This truth is clothed in glory! Consider the ways that God speaks to us. He speaks to us through His creation (Psalm 19:2), He speaks historically and presently to us through the Word, Jesus (John 1:1-4), and He speaks through his written Word, the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16). As of 2014 the Bible has been translated into 531 languages and counting, with over 2000 other languages having a portion translated. This is in stark contrast to any other “holy” book; the Qur’an, for example, is technically forbidden to be translated from the Arabic, although translations exist. Not only has God spoken, but he is sovereignly making His revelation known to all peoples and nations. He is casting a wide net; He desires that every tribe and tongue hear His voice. Why?

We must come to the same joyous conclusion, as did Monoah’s wife, God speaks because he wants us to have life and purpose. He wants us to live! Jesus said it like this in John 17:13, “I am saying these things in the world, so they may experience my joy completed in themselves.” By knowing that God speaks, we can also know that He desires for us life, purpose, and eternal joy! What glorious news!

Re:Verse reading–Judges 13:1-5, 14:1-9, 16:1-30 (day five) 

Judges 16:20- “But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him”.

Questions that come to mind are: 1) I thought God was omnipresent, How can He leave someone? 2) Hasn’t God promised He would never leave us?

We must distinguish between is the Omnipresence of God, the Covenant Presence of God, and the Manifest Presence of God.

The omnipresence of God never changes. He is present and therefore near to everyone and everything for all of time.

The covenant presence of God never changes, for those who have a covenant relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. God is faithful to His Covenant promises to never leave or abandon His children.

God does withdraw is His sweet fellowship (Manifest Presence), which is accompanied by a conscious sense of His power and nearness. Often (as is the case with Samson, Israel, and us), the cause is sin and rebellion against God.

So maybe the Prayer of David in Psalm 51 helps us understand, “Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

 

Re:Verse reading–Judges 13:1-5, 14:1-9, 16:1-30 (day four)

Verse 13:1 – “Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord…”  It was a vicious and constant cycle…Israel would do evil, they would be oppressed, they would cry out to God, and He would send a deliverer.  They would serve God for a short while and then they would again do evil…and the cycle repeated.  Over and over, God demonstrated His grace and longsuffering.  Israel did not deserve forgiveness, but God gave it.

Often, our lives are the same.  We make promises to God for righteousness, we sin and fail to keep those promises, our circumstances of life go sour, and we cry out to God.  Again, we make promises if He will only deliver us, and our cycle continues.  How can we have victory over this cycle of sin?  It can only come by surrender…we must surrender control of our life and draw on the power of the Holy Spirit to deliver us.  Work from obedience rather than circumstance!

Re:Verse reading–Judges 13:1-5, 14:1-9, 16:1-30 (day three)

“[The Lord] was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines.”  What is this “seeking an occasion” business?  He’s the Lord.  Why doesn’t he just blow things up to get done what he wants to get done?  A pagan deity–one that springs from the mind and desires of man–will crush the world when he doesn’t get his way.  The actual God–the God who is–will seek, woo, stir, call to account, punish, confront, give generously, wait patiently.  He’s at work in history and through people in order that he might redeem all who will believe him.  God has nothing to prove to men, but he knows what it takes to save them.  When he confronts you, it is that you might turn from evil.

Re:Verse reading–Judges 13:1-5, 14:1-9, 16:1-30 (day two)  Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have deceived me these three times and have not told me where your great strength is.” 

Who was more deceived in this story Samson or Delilah? Samson had been toying with her by not revealing the source of his strength, but where was his gaze fixed. He was a man who certainly followed his eyes. If he saw a thing of beauty, particularly women, he pursued her. He knew that he was consecrated to the Lord, but he was focused on satisfying his own desire. Three times a trap was set for him. Surely he understood that this woman that he was being seduced by was not on his side, but he was blinded. It is fitting then, isn’t it, that they gouged his eyes out. Those things that led him astray would not deceive him again. It was then that he saw most clearly God’s purpose for him.

Don’t be so seduced by your own lusts that you completely miss the trap you are falling into. Be consumed with what the Lord wants for you, not what pleases you at the moment.

Re:Verse reading–Judges 13:1-5, 14:1-9, 16:1-30 (day one)  

“The boy shall be a Nazirite to God”–v 13:7

The Nazirite vow was given to Israel by God in Numbers 6.  It was a voluntary offering of self to God.  No alcohol meant that the Nazirite would seek God over the pleasures of the world.  Not cutting the hair symbolized that he would seek God over appearance and acceptance in polite society.  Not touching dead bodies meant that he would keep himself ceremonially pure at all times.  Taken together, they symbolized a life totally devoted to God.

Samson was a Nazirite from birth.  Like Israel, he had power only so long as he guarded this single devotion.  Drifting from it, he had no power.

Jesus was also a Nazirite from birth.  Not the outward code (the Lord drank wine for an example) but the inward reality.  Wholly dedicated to God, He became the Savior of world and called us to a life like His.

Re:Verse reading–Judges 11:1-6, 28-40 (day seven)

“Jephthah was a valiant warrior, but he was the son of a harlot.”–v 1

He was a mixed bag.  Who isn’t?  Mighty warrior.  Strong and courageous.  Part of his drive, I suspect, came from his early childhood trauma.  Rejected by his family, he worked the rest of his life for achievement and approval.

Sometimes unconscious and unhealed wounds make a person unstable.  One day, in a very unwise moment, Jephthah foolishly risked his family in pursuit of the success he so desperately craved.  He vowed to sacrifice whatever or whoever came out of his tent on his victorious return.  What was he thinking?

We are all mixed bags.  Spiritual and fleshly.  Healed and still healing.  Wounded warriors. “Who will set me free from the body of this death?” said Paul one day in the midst of his own mixed-bagness.  “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord”–Romans 7:24-25.

I’m a mixed bag.  Christ isn’t.  Reminds me to always walk in His Spirit.

Re:Verse reading–Judges 11:1-6, 28-40 (day five)

What are the lessons you’ve learned from scripture? How has scripture shaped your character and heart? How does scripture guide you through decisions, choices, and commitments?

Fast forward in the story of Jephthah. When word came back from the king of the Ammonites, Jephthah’s response was a retelling of Numbers 20. In fact, it was 100% accurate. HE KNEW THOSE SCRIPTURES.

Let me suggest 3 evidences that the scripture shaped Jephthah’s life and heart. 1) Jephthah extended mercy to the elders (probably included his brothers) of Gilead by his willingness to help and lead them. 2) Jephthah upon being made leader, intentionally spends time in prayer and conversation with God. 3) Jephthah’s first response (as a mighty warrior) was to seek a peaceful resolution with the Ammonites.

Ps 119- Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!
You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.
Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!

Re:Verse reading–Judges 11:1-6, 28-40 (day four)

Verse 29 – “Now the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah.”

We are told that Jephthah was a valiant warrior.  He had a reputation for his prowess as a soldier.  When he was driven away from Gilead, even the worthless men of Tob recognized him as a leader to be followed.  (Fast forward in history to a time when the Ammonites were again attacking Israel.  They hired 12,000 mercenaries from Tob to attack King David of Israel.  This time they were not led by a God-fearing man.  The results were much different.)  Even with his great strength and skill as a warrior though, the true key to his victory is given here in verse 29.  The Spirit of the Lord rested on Jephthah and he was victorious over the sons of Ammon.

In our lives…our position, our reputation for greatness, or our support of thousands will make no difference if we are not abiding with the Lord.  When God’s Spirit directs our lives, there is victory!