Posts Tagged ‘religion’


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

 Proverbs 9:1-5 Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars.  She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.  She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city.  Let all who are simple come in here! She says to those who lack judgment. Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. 

The banquet described in this chapter has some interesting parallels to the banquet Jesus described in one of his parables (Luke 14:15-24).  Many may intend to go, but they never make it because they get sidetracked by other activities that seem more important at the time.  Don’t let anything become more important than your search for God’s wisdom.


Under Gods Command
Samson

Judges 15:1-3 Later on, at the time of wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat and went to visit his wife.  He said, “I’m going to my wife’s room. “But her father would not let him go in.  “I was so sure you thoroughly hated her,” he said, “that I gave her to your friend.  Isn’t her younger sister more attractive? Take her instead.”Samson said to them, “This time I have a right to get even with the Philistines; I will really harm them.

Judges 15:8-11: He attacked them viciously and slaughtered many of them.  Then he went down and stayed in a cave in the rock of Etam.  The Philistines went up and camped in Judah, spreading out near Lehi.  The men of Judah asked, “Why have you come to fight us?” “We have come to take Samson prisoner, “they answered, “to do to him as he did to us.”  Then three thousand men from Judah went down to the cave in the rook of Etam and said to Samson, “Don’t you realize that the Philistines are rulers over us?  What have you done to us?” He answered, “I merely did to them what they did to me.”

Samson’s reply in 15:11 tells the story of this chapter;  “I merely did to them what they did to me.” Revenge is an uncontrollable monster.

Lets bring it Home:  Each act of retaliation brings another.  It is a boomerang that cannot be thrown without cost to the thrower.  The revenge cycle can be halted only by forgiveness.


Under Gods Command

Proverbs 7:1-5 My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “you are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman; they will keep you from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words.

Sons often neglect their father’s instructions and warnings. If they forget them, they will not be ready, when temptation is in their eyes, ears, heart, and loins. And the temptation here is dangerous and powerful – a beautiful and skilled adulteress (7:5-27). The same lesson applies to young women, when they are infatuated with a handsome man. Solomon begins and ends his warning with appeals to remember his advice (7:1-4,24).

The dangers of not remembering are great. How will a young man resist, when his eyes are full of her beauty, his ears full of her flattery, his heart full of her offered love and submission, and his loins full of desire (5:3;6:24-25; 7:13-21)? How will a young woman resist, when her eyes are full of his manliness, her ears full of his flattery, her heart full of his attention and affection, and her body craves his full embrace (Gen 34:1-3)?

By nature, a son does not value his father’s warnings. He deceives himself to believe that his father is out of touch with the world, that his father overstates the danger, that his father wants to deprive him of pleasure, that his father never met a desirable woman, that his father did not have sexual lusts, or that he can escape the consequences his father describes. All these are damnable lies from a foolish youthful heart and the father of lies.
Sons must trust fathers and esteem their advice and warnings. Every father was once a young man with the same desires and temptations. But a father has survived youth and reflected much on what is best for his son. He has long-term success in mind, not short-term pleasures that will ruin his life! Fathers love their sons more than any woman will ever love them, even a virtuous wife! Young man, keep your father’s commandments!

Young men must resist the attraction and temptation of a whorish woman by having their minds firmly established in their fathers’ commandments long before they encounter this very dangerous creature. Once they are even slightly captivated by the appearance, flattery, or offers of a seductress, it becomes almost impossible to recall any warnings. But what will a young man do, whose father does not teach or warn him about such a woman? He will be helpless before the drawing power of her body and wiles. Such fathers are accomplices in the destruction of their sons! Though he may have advised and warned about many dangers, he neglected the most harmful. Fathers, save your sons!

Reader! God your Father has given His commandments and law to you. Do you keep them as the apple of your eye? Do you read them daily? Do you meditate upon them? Do you tremble before their warnings and rejoice at their instruction? Or do you deceive yourself that you can forget or neglect them and survive? Do not be a fool!


Under Gods Command
Samson

Judges 14:19 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power.  He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of their belongings and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle.  Burning with anger, he went up to his father’s house. 

Samson impulsively used the special gift God gave him for selfish purposes.  Today, God distributes abilities and skills throughout the church (1 Corinthians 12:1).  The apostle Paul states that these gifts are to be used “that the body of Christ may be built up,” that is, to build up the church (Ephesians 4:12).

Lets bring it home: To use these abilities for selfish purpose is to robe the church and fellow believers of strength.  As you use the gifts God has given you, be sure you are helping others, not just yourself.


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

Proverbs 6:1-5 My son, if you have put security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge for another, If you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor!  Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.  Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. 

These verses are not a plea against generosity, but against overextending one’s financial resources and acting in irresponsible ways that could lead to poverty.  It is important to maintain a balance between generosity and good stewardship.  God wants us to help our friends and the needy, but he does not promise to cover the costs of every unwise commitment we make.  We should also act responsibly so that our families do not suffer.


Under Gods Command
Samson
 
Judges 13:24-25 The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson.  He grew and the LORD blessed him, and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.  

God’s Spirit began preparing him for his role as judge and leader against the Philistines.

Lets bring it home: Perhaps there are things that stir your heart.  These may indicate areas where God wants to use you.  God uses a variety of means to develop and prepare us: hereditary traits, environmental influences, and personal experiences.  As with Samson this preparation often begins long before adulthood.  Work at being sensitive to the Holy Spirit leading and the tasks God has prepared for you.
Your past may be more useful to you than you imagine. 


Under Gods Command
Proverbs 3:21  My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight. 
 
What is the difference between sound judgment and discernment? Discernment (or discretion) is the ability God gives to many people to think and make correct choices.  Sound judgment, however, he gives only to those who follow him.  Sound judgment includes discernment, but goes beyond it.  It also includes the knowledge that comes from instruction, training, and discipline, and the insight that results from knowing and applying God’s truths.


Under Gods Command

 Proverbs 2:11  Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you. 

 Discretion is the ability to tell right from wrong.  It enables the believer to detect evil motives in men and women.  With practice it helps us evaluate courses of action and consequences.  For some it is a gift; for most it is developed by using God’s truth to make wise choices day by day.  Hebrews 5:14 emphasizes that we must train ourselves in order to have discretion.