Under Gods Command
Proverbs 20:24 A man’s steps are directed by the LORD, How then can anyone understand his own way?
We are often confused by the events around us. Many things we will never understand; others will fall into place in years to come as we look back and see how God was working. This proverb counsels us not to worry if we don’t understand everything as it happens. Instead, we should trust that God knows what he’s doing, even if his timing or design is not clear to us.
Under Gods Command
Samson
Judges 15:18 Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the LORD, “YOU have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?”
Samson was physically and emotionally exhausted. After a great personal victory, his attitude declined quickly into self-pity. “Must I now die of thirst?” Emotionally, we are most vulnerable after a great effort or when faced with real physical needs. Severe depression often follows great achievements; so don’t be surprised if you feel drained after a personal victory.
Lets Bring it Home: During these times of vulnerability, avoid the temptation to think that God owes you for your efforts. It was his strength that gave you victory. Concentrate on Keeping your attitudes, actions, and words focused on God instead of your self.
Under Gods Command
Samson
Judges 14:1-4 Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. When he returned, he said to this father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.” His father and mother replied, “isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.” (His parents did not know that this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines, for at that time they were ruling over Israel.)
Samson’s parents objected to his marrying the Philistine woman for several reasons:
(1) It was against God’s law (Exodus 34:15-17; Deuteronomy 7:1-4). A stark example of what happened when the Israelites married pagans can be found in 3A:A5-7.
(2) The Philistines were Israel’s greatest enemies. Marriage to a hated Philistine would be a disgrace to Samson’s family. But Samson’s father gave into Samson’s demand and allowed the marriage; even through he had the right to refuse his son.
(3) He was supposed to be plotting the demise of the Philistines, but instead he was planning a wedding. Imagine getting measured for a tux when you’re supposed to be planning an attack against your bride’s family!
When his parents did try to raise the issue of the girl’s spiritual heritage, Samson reacted harshly, nipping the discussion in the bud. In essence, he said, “Who cares if she’s a pagan? She’s hot and that’s all I care about” There was absolutely no consideration of the spiritual ramifications of romancing the girl.
Lets bring it home: The next time you feel a twinge of sexual desire toward someone or something illicit, stop and remind your self of a simple but important truth that Samson obviously forgot: that the primary difference between and an animal is that a man has the ability to act according to reason rather than instinct. Let those two words settle in your mind.
Reason and instinct. A man has the ability to reason his way through a situation, weighing the pros and cons, evaluating the risk and rewards, and considering the spiritual ramifications, while animals act entirely according to instinct. This means that when you throw reason to wind and act solely according to the impulses of your flesh, you become no different than your dog or the old tomcat that prowls the alley behind your house.
Under Gods Command
Jephthah
Jephthah’s rash vow brought him unspeakable grief in the heat of emotion or personal turmoil it is easy to make foolish promises to God. These promises may sound very spiritual when we make them, but they may produce only guilt and frustration when we are forced to fulfill them. Making spiritual “deals” only brings disappointment. God does not want promises for the future, but obedience for today.
Judges 11:30-31, 34-35 And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, what ever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”
34-35 Then Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of tambourines! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried. “Oh! My daughter! You have made me miserable and wretched, because I have made a vow to the LORD that I cannot break.
Under Gods Command
Proverbs 24:10 If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength.
Times of trouble can be useful. They can show you who you really are, what kind of character you have developed. In addition, they can help you grow stronger. When Jeremiah questioned God because of the trouble he faced, God asked how he ever expected to face big challenges if the little ones tired him out (Jeremiah 12:5). Don’t complain about your problems. The trouble you face today is training you to be strong for the more difficult situations you will face in the future.
Under Gods Command
Judges 11:1-2 Jephthah the Giledite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute. Gilead’s wife also bore him sons, and when they were grown up, they drove Jephthah away. “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family,” they said, “because you are the son of another woman.”
Jephthah, an illegitimate son of Gilead, was chased out of the country by his half brothers. He suffered as a result of another’s decision and not for any wrong he had done. Yet in spite of his brother’s rejection, God used him. If you are suffering from unfair rejection, don’t blame others and become discouraged. Remember how God used Jephthah despite his unjust circumstances, and realize that he is able to use you even if you feel rejected by some.
Under Gods Command
Book of Judges
Judges 10:10-16 Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, “We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals.” The LORD replied, “When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you and you cried to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? But you have forsaken me and served other gods, did I not save you from their hands? But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will not longer save you. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!” But the Israelites said to the LORD, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.” Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the LORD. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.
These verses show how difficult it can be to follow God over the long haul. The Israelites always seemed to forget God when all was well. But despite being rejected by his own people, God never failed to rescue them when they called out to him in repentance.
Lets bring it home: God never fails to rescue us either. We act just like the Israelites when we put God outside our daily events instead of at the center of them. Just as a loving parent feels rejected when a child rebels, so God feels great rejection when we ignore or neglect him. We should strive to stay close to God rather then see how far we can go before judgment comes.
Under Gods Command
Jephithah
Judges 10:6-9 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD. They served the Baal and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines. And because the Israelites forsook the LORD and on longer served him, he became angry with them. He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, who that year shatter and crushed them. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites. The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin and the house of Ephraim; and Israel was in great distress. Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, “We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals.”
Once again the Israelites suffered for many years before they gave up their sinful ways and called out to God for help. Notice that when the Israelites were at the end of their rope they did not look to their pagan gods for help, but to the only One was really able to help.
Lets bring it home: In your last resort? So much unnecessary suffering takes place because we don’t call on God until we’ve used up all other resources. Rather than waiting until the situation becomes desperate, turn to God first. He has the necessary resources to meet every kind of problem.
Under Gods Command
Proverbs 12:16 A fool show his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
When someone annoys or insults you, it is natural to retaliate. But this solves nothing and only encourages trouble. Instead, answer slowly and quietly. Your positive response will achieve positive results. Remember Proverbs 15:01: A gentle answer turns away wrath.
Under Gods Command
Proverbs 11:27 He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it.
What are your goals? What is your reputation? How does your life affect others? If the answer to all three questions is doing good and helping others, you will obtain the blessed favor of God and men. If the answer is to serve yourself and cause trouble for others, then certain punishment is coming from God and men.
This proverb offers blessing or trouble. Which will you choose? The key is how you treat others. If you are good to men, you will be blessed. David and Peter wrote, “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no deviousness: Let him avoid evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil”.
If you are selfish or hurtful to others, if you are critical or negative, if you are bitter or envious, or if you sow discord or irritate others, then you are in for a painful and troubled life. It is that simple. As the saying declares, “What goes around comes around
Under Gods command 