Judges chapter 17
I want to put a some things out there about this chapter. First, the Danites are still looking for their portion of land in Canaan. Given that, this part of Judges is not in chronological order, and these events happened earlier in the history of the Jews before the events of the last chapter about Samson. I believe that all scripture is for our Godly education and use. These particular chapters feel out of place with the previous stories in Judges about judges who rose up to be a good or false leader. I think these chapters are important and have a purpose, but the type of story that is told differs enough that it is a noticeable departure from the rest of Judges.
Reading these next chapters, it is a story of what not to do when serving God or trying to follow his commandments. I don't know how you feel reading the final chapters of Judges, but I keep thinking 'that's not right', and 'that's not wise', and 'isn't that exactly what God said not to do'? I can sit here these hundreds and thousands of years later and cast judgment with the hindsight of the Holy Scriptures. Before I get too high on my wobbly horse, I'll remind myself that it is easy to fall into these traps and I'm guilty of some of them no doubt. How many times in my life have I held up a hobby, task, job, or even another person ahead of my relationship with Christ Jesus. No, I've never bowed down before a graven image, but I've spent countless hours in front of the TV or on the Internet doing literally nothing, when I could have given God just a portion of that time and been better for it. I've spent time in recreation and play when there are far more serious matters to pray about. Should we spend every spare moment in prayer and communication with our Lord through his word? When someone actually goes that far to neglect their more worldly endeavors and forgets to bath and other mundane matters, I'll be the first one to warn them they've gone too far. I've never had to warn anyone that they are spending too much time in prayer, and I don't think I'll ever have to do that either. Rehab clinics aren't full of people who devote too much time to God, not that I'm aware of.
Back to this chapter in Judges, we meet a young man named Micah. Micah steals a bunch of money from his mother and she rightly is upset. She doesn't know it is her son, but after seeing his mother upset, his conscience causes him to reveal the matter to her. Instead of being enraged with her son, she is just happy to have the money back. His mother then vows to take the money and have a graven image made in honor of her son. If this all sounds bad, it is because it is bad. This story has wrong written all over it. This is in clear violation of God's laws and commandments to his people. In the third verse they are talking about breaking the first two of God's commandments, and by the fifth verse they are breaking them.Then after all of this, he takes one of his own son's and makes him a priest, which just in case you're wondering, is another violation of God's laws.
The sixth verse explains some of what is going on here. Everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes. People were their own God's, judges, leaders, and spiritual men. They didn't want or seek help from God's laws, but wallowed in their own sin. Now here comes a Levite wondering about. The only thing right with this part of the story is that the Levites were supposed to be priest by God's law. That's it, after that, nothing else is right about the story. Micah asks the Levite to stay for a small offering and salary. This Levite was so happy for something, that he doesn't seek any other higher calling or purpose of God. Be careful that you are satisfied with doing just so much for the Lord when you know you are capable of doing so much greater for him.The story ends with Micah just giddy with himself that he has done this thing and then just can't wait for how the Lord is going to bless him. We need to seek God in prayer to make sure that the path we are on is one given and chosen by him.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Saturday, August 18, 2012
3rd Week of August 2012 Sunday School Brief, Judges Chapter 16
Judges Chapter 16
As I start this new chapter I want to say that the story of Samson is one of my favorite stories in the Bible as I'm sure the story speaks to most people. Samson was a man that was on fire for the Lord and eager to do what he could to take the yoke of the Philistines off God's people. A trait of mine is to want my heroes to be perfect. I like Alexander Hamilton and I read half way through Ron Chernow's book on Hamilton and quit reading when it got to the part about the affair Alexander had. I like my heroes to be as flawless as possible. I know this is silly, and no one is perfect except Christ Jesus.
Now we are at the part of the story where Samson flirts with the devil one too many times. You can see his slip into immorality in the things he says. This part of the story is a warning but by the end of the chapter it is inspiring at the same time. Samson journeys down to Gaza, and we don't know why. We know once he was there, he saw a harlot and decided to go in unto her. He doesn't seem to go just for that reason, but whatever the reason was, he decided to take a sinful opportunity while he was there. The Philistines, who by this time are always looking to get the upper hand on Samson, lie in wait to catch him. Samson awakes, either by distress of his sin, warning of God, or wanting to leave before he is caught by the shame revealed in the sunlight, decides to take the doors off the gate of the city as he leaves. It was a warning to the Philistines that he was onto them and their plans.
Now we see where Samson meets another woman who catches his eye. The bible does not expressly say that she is a prostitute, but we quickly find out that her loyalty can be bought for a price. The Philistines approach her with an offer she can't refuse and she begins to temp Samson into telling her his secret of secrets. Of course at first, Samson loving a game, doesn't give her the answer she seeks. Odd that Samson never thinks to himself that if he does give up the answer, his life is in jeopardy. I refuse to believe he doesn't know about the Philistines plan to take him. He may be blinded by sin and a little by love, but he already went down this road with his espoused bride, and that ended horribly. He keeps playing her game and keeps getting further away from where God wants him. Samson doesn't give up his secret overnight, and we usually don't give up our walk with God overnight. We let it slip away day by day, hour by hour until we turn around one day and we're far, far away from the light of home.
Samson does the unthinkable, he gives away his special place before the Lord. It goes downhill fast after that, the Philistines pluck out his eyes and throw him into prison with hard labor. The Philistines also suffer from short memory disease. They forget what gave Samson his strength (you and I know that his strength is from God and his relationship with God. Put a blind man on a grindstone all day and he has nothing but time to ask for God's forgiveness), and they let his hair grow back.
Some might argue that what Samson does next is suicide; I heartily disagree. Israel was not the country it would later become under David and Solomon, but it was still this loose set of tribes that many considered one people. They were, or the tribes closest to the coast, at war with the Philistines. What happens when Samson cries out to God and asks for one final victory it just that, a victory in a war against a vowed enemy of God's people.
After this great hall comes down and kills most everyone in it, Samson's brothers come down and get his body to bury it with his father and their people. The way this happens leads me to believe that the Israelites had peace from the Philistines at least for a little while, or his family wouldn't be able to retrieve his body. The story of Samson is tragic, but also uplifting. How many of us, if we let our lives drift away from God, would like to have a great victory for Jesus at the end of our lives?
As I start this new chapter I want to say that the story of Samson is one of my favorite stories in the Bible as I'm sure the story speaks to most people. Samson was a man that was on fire for the Lord and eager to do what he could to take the yoke of the Philistines off God's people. A trait of mine is to want my heroes to be perfect. I like Alexander Hamilton and I read half way through Ron Chernow's book on Hamilton and quit reading when it got to the part about the affair Alexander had. I like my heroes to be as flawless as possible. I know this is silly, and no one is perfect except Christ Jesus.
Now we are at the part of the story where Samson flirts with the devil one too many times. You can see his slip into immorality in the things he says. This part of the story is a warning but by the end of the chapter it is inspiring at the same time. Samson journeys down to Gaza, and we don't know why. We know once he was there, he saw a harlot and decided to go in unto her. He doesn't seem to go just for that reason, but whatever the reason was, he decided to take a sinful opportunity while he was there. The Philistines, who by this time are always looking to get the upper hand on Samson, lie in wait to catch him. Samson awakes, either by distress of his sin, warning of God, or wanting to leave before he is caught by the shame revealed in the sunlight, decides to take the doors off the gate of the city as he leaves. It was a warning to the Philistines that he was onto them and their plans.
Now we see where Samson meets another woman who catches his eye. The bible does not expressly say that she is a prostitute, but we quickly find out that her loyalty can be bought for a price. The Philistines approach her with an offer she can't refuse and she begins to temp Samson into telling her his secret of secrets. Of course at first, Samson loving a game, doesn't give her the answer she seeks. Odd that Samson never thinks to himself that if he does give up the answer, his life is in jeopardy. I refuse to believe he doesn't know about the Philistines plan to take him. He may be blinded by sin and a little by love, but he already went down this road with his espoused bride, and that ended horribly. He keeps playing her game and keeps getting further away from where God wants him. Samson doesn't give up his secret overnight, and we usually don't give up our walk with God overnight. We let it slip away day by day, hour by hour until we turn around one day and we're far, far away from the light of home.
Samson does the unthinkable, he gives away his special place before the Lord. It goes downhill fast after that, the Philistines pluck out his eyes and throw him into prison with hard labor. The Philistines also suffer from short memory disease. They forget what gave Samson his strength (you and I know that his strength is from God and his relationship with God. Put a blind man on a grindstone all day and he has nothing but time to ask for God's forgiveness), and they let his hair grow back.
Some might argue that what Samson does next is suicide; I heartily disagree. Israel was not the country it would later become under David and Solomon, but it was still this loose set of tribes that many considered one people. They were, or the tribes closest to the coast, at war with the Philistines. What happens when Samson cries out to God and asks for one final victory it just that, a victory in a war against a vowed enemy of God's people.
After this great hall comes down and kills most everyone in it, Samson's brothers come down and get his body to bury it with his father and their people. The way this happens leads me to believe that the Israelites had peace from the Philistines at least for a little while, or his family wouldn't be able to retrieve his body. The story of Samson is tragic, but also uplifting. How many of us, if we let our lives drift away from God, would like to have a great victory for Jesus at the end of our lives?
Friday, August 10, 2012
2nd Week of August Adult Sunday School Class
Judges chapter 15
Samson after allowing things to cool down decides he will take a calf for a customary offering and take his wife. I don't know about Philistine law but Jewish law about engagements were very close to the actual vow of marriage. Regardless of time passed and things that transpired, Samson expected his wife to be there when he returned. He finds that his wife has been given to another and to make matters worse, the 'other' is his friend.
The father realized that Samson was not the one to cross. The father was probably hoping that Samson wouldn't return, but this didn't turn out this way. In a panic the father offers the brides little sister. So Samson, in his justified indignation, takes to catching foxes, tying a firebrand to their tails and burning many crops of the Philistines.
Not surprisingly the Philistines get upset by Samson's actions and seek to kill him. First they set on his would be father-in-law and burn his house down with his family inside it. After this they seek out revenge against Samson. They find Samson, but he smites them to avenge the murder of his fiance.
All of this catches the attention of the entire Philistine people. They make a camp around the camp of Judah so the Hebrew people will cast Samson out. Even the Israelites seem to be afraid of Samson, so they send three thousand men to bring him back to the Philistines. Samson makes them promise not to harm him and the men of Judah agree.
Samson breaks the ties that bind him as soon as he is put into the midst of the enemy. He wages war against them in what is only a miracle of God. One of my favorite sayings appears again, when the 'Spirit of the Lord' comes on Samson, great things happen. It is no different in our lives and in our church; when the Spirit of the Lord comes on the scene, souls will be saved and lives changed.
Samson, after such a great battle, is thirsty, he cries out to God and God gives him what he needs. God didn't send his son to die for our sins to turn around and not give us what we need to persist in living for him. God is with us before, during and after the battle to refresh us in our time of need.
Samson after allowing things to cool down decides he will take a calf for a customary offering and take his wife. I don't know about Philistine law but Jewish law about engagements were very close to the actual vow of marriage. Regardless of time passed and things that transpired, Samson expected his wife to be there when he returned. He finds that his wife has been given to another and to make matters worse, the 'other' is his friend.
The father realized that Samson was not the one to cross. The father was probably hoping that Samson wouldn't return, but this didn't turn out this way. In a panic the father offers the brides little sister. So Samson, in his justified indignation, takes to catching foxes, tying a firebrand to their tails and burning many crops of the Philistines.
Not surprisingly the Philistines get upset by Samson's actions and seek to kill him. First they set on his would be father-in-law and burn his house down with his family inside it. After this they seek out revenge against Samson. They find Samson, but he smites them to avenge the murder of his fiance.
All of this catches the attention of the entire Philistine people. They make a camp around the camp of Judah so the Hebrew people will cast Samson out. Even the Israelites seem to be afraid of Samson, so they send three thousand men to bring him back to the Philistines. Samson makes them promise not to harm him and the men of Judah agree.
Samson breaks the ties that bind him as soon as he is put into the midst of the enemy. He wages war against them in what is only a miracle of God. One of my favorite sayings appears again, when the 'Spirit of the Lord' comes on Samson, great things happen. It is no different in our lives and in our church; when the Spirit of the Lord comes on the scene, souls will be saved and lives changed.
Samson, after such a great battle, is thirsty, he cries out to God and God gives him what he needs. God didn't send his son to die for our sins to turn around and not give us what we need to persist in living for him. God is with us before, during and after the battle to refresh us in our time of need.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
1st Week of August Adult Sunday School Class
Judges chapter 14
Starting out, we have Samson going to Timnath to take a wife out of the Philistines. This is normally a sign of bad things to come, but this is one of the rare cases where God is going to use the situation to prove a point or to deliver Israel. We know of at least one other case in Hosea where God has someone marry someone else that seems contrary to what God would have his people do. It is something that only Samson is aware of, it is hidden from his parents, his people and definitely the Philistines.
On Samson journey down to the take a wife he performs one of his many miracles of physical strength that he becomes known for; he kills a lion with his bare hands. God has given him this strength and we notice that Samson is good at keeping secrets even from those close to him. He doesn't seem to be a braggart or like to talk. Interesting considering too much talking is something that eventually plays a part in his downfall.
Samson likes his future wife, which will add salt to the wound that the Philistines give him later. He returns to take her for a wife and on the way he returns to his kill and finds the bees have made honey there in the carcass. After he shares the honey with his parents he starts the seven day celebration that is customary in his time. They bring along some 30 'companions' to the celebration, so Samson offers them a riddle. If they solve the riddle he will give them garments, if they do not solve the riddle, they will give him garments.
After some time the guests threaten Samson's future bride and and her father with death unless she gives them the solution for the riddle. She bugs Samson's to no end, (which later is his weakness and downfall) and he relents and gives her the answer. She then takes the answer to the inquirers, but Samson is wise to what has happened. He goes and takes the lives and garments from other Philistines to complete his vow. Notice that it says the 'Spirit of the Lord' came upon him; oh that that would be said about us and our Christian lives.
Starting out, we have Samson going to Timnath to take a wife out of the Philistines. This is normally a sign of bad things to come, but this is one of the rare cases where God is going to use the situation to prove a point or to deliver Israel. We know of at least one other case in Hosea where God has someone marry someone else that seems contrary to what God would have his people do. It is something that only Samson is aware of, it is hidden from his parents, his people and definitely the Philistines.
On Samson journey down to the take a wife he performs one of his many miracles of physical strength that he becomes known for; he kills a lion with his bare hands. God has given him this strength and we notice that Samson is good at keeping secrets even from those close to him. He doesn't seem to be a braggart or like to talk. Interesting considering too much talking is something that eventually plays a part in his downfall.
Samson likes his future wife, which will add salt to the wound that the Philistines give him later. He returns to take her for a wife and on the way he returns to his kill and finds the bees have made honey there in the carcass. After he shares the honey with his parents he starts the seven day celebration that is customary in his time. They bring along some 30 'companions' to the celebration, so Samson offers them a riddle. If they solve the riddle he will give them garments, if they do not solve the riddle, they will give him garments.
After some time the guests threaten Samson's future bride and and her father with death unless she gives them the solution for the riddle. She bugs Samson's to no end, (which later is his weakness and downfall) and he relents and gives her the answer. She then takes the answer to the inquirers, but Samson is wise to what has happened. He goes and takes the lives and garments from other Philistines to complete his vow. Notice that it says the 'Spirit of the Lord' came upon him; oh that that would be said about us and our Christian lives.
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