Re: Verse reading–Judges 16:4-30 (day one)
“So the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes.” (v 21) “A man who hardens his neck after much reproof will suddenly be broken beyong remedy.” (Proverbs 29:1) It is easy to say. “It will never happen to me.” Easy to deceive ourselves into thinking that God’s mercy will cover continued sin without consequence. The scripture denys this naive confidence. Playing with fire and getting burned are synonymous. Ask Sampson! How many of God’s commandments did he disregard? Sexual sin. Falling in love with a person who did not love God. Missing the connection between purity and power. It was a painful lesson. One, sadly, that many of us are close to repeating. Deep Mercy? Yes. Unbending justice? Yes. Both are parts of the character of God. The Ninevites repented and were saved. (Jonah 3:10) Sampson did not repent and lost his life and ministry. How foolish to miss God’s mercy by saying, “It will never happen to me.”
