Month: May 2015

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Samson’s Fatal Weakness

19th May

“Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.”

2 Timothy 2:22

Paul’s advice to Timothy, as shown in today’s verse, is not only a lesson for the early church, but a lesson we can implement in our own lives. Today’s story of Samson’s final fall, highlights the importance of running away from situations that make us vulnerable and surrounding ourselves with God fearing companionship, so we may encourage one another when we are weak and pursue righteous living together.

In verse 4 of chapter 16, we read that Samson again falls in love with a philistine woman, whose name this time was Delilah. This is probably the most famous story of Samson’s life and one which we should take extra care to learn from. In exchange for 1,100 pieces of silver, Delilah is enticed by the Philistine rulers to find the secret to Samson’s strength. However, instead of realising Delilah’s conniving schemes and running away from temptation, his lustful and sinful nature again dictated his lifestyle and decisions.

So Samson decided to play a game with Delilah. Rather than reveal the truth to her, he deceived her three times and told her lies about the reason he was so strong. After the third time of being deceived, Delilah finally gets what she wanted, the secret to Samson’s strength.

“She tormented him with her nagging day after day until he was sick to death of it. Finally, Samson shared his secret with her….” (verse 16-17a)

Samson, instead of running away from Delilah’s crafty plan (although it seems like quite an obvious plan to today’s reader), decided to stay in the situation where his weakness and vulnerabilities were exposed. He had so many opportunities to run away, yet because he thought he was indestructible, he ended up being caught out and the secret to his strength finally revealed.

When we are faced with situations that lead us to temptation, we shouldn’t stick around to see if we can outwit it, but instead run away. Moreover, it is better not to even put ourselves in situations whereby we can we tempted. Let us repeat the words of our Lord Jesus, in His model prayer for our lives, “lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”

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Going Back To Old Ways

18th May

“One day Samson went to the Philistine town of Gaza and spent the night with a prostitute. Word soon spread that Samson was there, so the men of Gaza gathered together and waited all night at the town gates…”

Judges 16:1-2b

The writer of proverbs wisely warns, that temptation might be as “sweet as honey” but “in the end…its as bitter as poison and as dangerous as a double edged sword.” Today’s passage gives another important example of how giving into temptation only leads to problems.

Samson was a judge of Israel for 20 years. During his time, he had extreme lows and acted foolishly and irresponsibly. None more so than in the story found in chapter 16. Yet again, Samson decided to live a lifestyle contrary to the way he had been dedicated into as a young boy. Instead of keeping pure and holy, as an act of submission to God Almighty, he again allowed his lustful and selfish nature to dictate his life and again feel for a pagan Philistine woman.

However this time, not only did he make himself spiritually vulnerable by sleeping with a prostitute, he also made himself physically vulnerable, by allowing his location to be revealed. Hence why verse 2 of chapter 16 tells us that an angry Philistine mob were waiting to capture him in the morning. Yet Samson’s strength came to the rescue again and saved him from the morning ambush. During the night, Samson dramatically ripped the doors of the town gate, carried them on his shoulders and escaped up the hill to Hebron. The consequence of Samson’s sins could have been fatal, yet because of the grace of God, he survived another day.

Samson’s neglect of his responsibilities as the judge of Israel, only damaged his walk with God and further highlighted his weaknesses. It is a lesson we too can learn when faced with temptation. When we allow ourselves to give into temptation, it opens the door for the enemy into our lives. However, there is good news. James tells us that if we “resist the devil, he will flee.” Resisting does not come in our might (as proven with Samson), but comes from the power of the Holy Spirit and through the Name of Jesus Christ.

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Revenge Never Ends (Do Not Pay Back Evil For Evil)

16-17th May

Weekend Edition

“Samson said, “This time I cannot be blamed for everything I am going to do you Philistines.””

Judges 15:3

It’s so easy when we have been angered, to get caught up in the emotion of the situation, that you don’t realise what you are saying or doing. It is no coincidence that a fruit of a Spirit filled believer is self-control. When our lives are fully submitted to God, if we are squeezed then only goodness should come out. Yet so often this is not the case, as seen in todays passage.

A few days later, Samson returned to Timnah see his wife again. Upon arriving, he realised his wife had been given to his best man in his absence, and was offered the more beautiful sister instead by her father. Obviously Samson was outraged. In a moment of fury, he caught 300 foxes, tied their tails together in pairs, fastened burning torches to their tails and sent them to run wild in the Philistine fields. In doing so, their fields of grain, vineyards and olive groves were completely destroyed. In retaliation to Samson’s act of destruction, the Philistines, ordered Samson’s wife and her father to be executed.

This angered Samson even more, and as expected, he took revenge by killing 1000 Philistines with the jaw of a donkey. Whats more, he showed a complete lack of remorse by celebrating with an arrogant victory song about himself, in verse 16.

We too can learn a very important and valuable lesson from today’s passage: There is no end to retaliation and revenge. It goes on and on and on. If we are to show Christ to the nations, then we should strive to live like Christ in all we do. Jesus, when being accused of blasphemy and beaten by the Roman guards, did not strike back in revenge but acted as “a sheep being led to slaughter”. This did not show weakness, moreover, it took more courage, humility and self discipline for Jesus not to react than to strike back in revenge. Revenge will have its day, but that is for God to decide and not us. Submit in all things to the will of our Father and reap the benefits of His blessings, even in persecution.

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Samson’s Greed And Unsolvable Riddle

15th May

“”All right,” they agreed, “let’s hear your riddle.” So he said:

“Out of the one who eats came something to eat;

Out of the strong came something sweet.””

Judges 14:13b-14a

During Samson’s wedding preparation party to the Philistine woman of Timnah, he decided to challenge his new “companions” to a riddle. In exchange for solving it, the winner was to receive 30 garments of fine linen robes and 30 sets of festive clothing. However Samson knew his riddle was near impossible to solve. It is clear that he had ulterior motives. His greed for wealth and possession continued to dictate his lifestyle and decisions.

As expected the young men could not get the riddle, even after the fourth day of trying to figure it out. So the young men forced Samson’s wife, by threatening to murder her and her family, to deceive Samson and reveal the riddle to them. It seems like Samson’s plans for riches were quickly backfiring. Samson finally told his wife the answer to the riddle due to her persistent “nagging” and she in turn told the young men, who correctly answered Samson’s riddle.

Samson was outraged. He had been tricked by wife, lied to, deceived and whats more, he didn’t get the robes and linen that he thought he would rightfully receive. So he took revenge on the people of Ashkelon, killing 30 of their men, taking their robes and giving it to the young men, he had lost the competition to. In the space of a few days, Samson who thought he could gain riches, wealth and a wife, ended up losing everything.

How often to we get caught up in the spur of the moment, making wrong and selfish decisions that more often than not, have disastrous outcomes. Greed never wins as was proved in today’s story. It is only when we are fully submitted to the will of God, that we find His blessings in abundance. Greed is a deceiver. It ends up dictating our lives and always has an unquenchable thirst for more. We must be content with what we have, knowing all we do have is a gift from God.

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Going Back To The Dead

14th May

“As Samson and his parents were going down to Timnah, a young lion suddenly attacked Samson near the vineyards of Timnah. At that moment the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he ripped the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands…..”

Judges 14:5-6b

Against their wishes, Samson’s parents reluctantly travelled with him to the city of Timnah to meet the Philistine woman he had fallen in love with. As they were heading to the city, a lion jumped out to attack Samson. He ripped the lions jaws apart with his bare hands as if, the bible tells us, “it were a young goat.” Verse 6 of chapter 14 also tells us that his parents were not aware of this incident, so most likely Samson got separated from them en-route to Timnah.

Yet what is most interesting to note is that Samson’s supernatural strength came from God and not from himself. God gave him the power to defeat this lion…

Samson and his family returned to Timnah for the wedding feast. On the way there he purposefully left the path to look for the carcass of the lion that he had previously killed. In doing so, Samson the Nazarite, defiled himself by coming into contact with a deceased body (see Numbers 6). Yet not only did he come in contact with the body, he also found a bee’s nest in the carcass, scooped out their honey and shared it with his innocent parents. Not only did he personally sin but caused his parents to sin too as he didn’t tell them “he had taken the honey from the carcass of the lion.”

Even in the midst of God’s blessings we can also act like Samson. Samson, even at this early age, seemed to be abusing the grace of God and abusing the gift that God had given him to defeat the Philistines. However, unlike Samson, we should take a stand against defiling ourselves, against disobeying God and against abusing the grace He so freely gives us. We must not let our hearts become so deceitful that we become insensitive to our sin and abuse the grace of God. Strength to withstand temptation is only found in relying on God and not in our strength.

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The God-Fearing Household Of Samson…

13th May

“When her son was born, she named him Samson. And the Lord blessed him as he grew up. And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him…”.”

Judges 13:24-25a

At the time of Samson’s birth, the nation of Israel were in persecution from the Philistines due to their rebellion against God. Yet through the birth of Samson, things looked like they might change.

Samson grew up in what was probably one of the few God-fearing households in Israel. His parents had received a divine message from the Angel of the Lord and they were making sure to obey His instructions for the birth and life of their son.

However one day, his parents worst nightmare came true. After visiting the Philistine city of Timnah, he came across a young Philistine woman, whom he fell in love with and wanted to marry. He approached his parents in what seems as an act of arrogance and defiance, showing the opposite God-fearing attitude his parents had, “A young Philistine woman in Timnah caught my eye. I want to marry her. Get her for me.” Of course his parents objected to this as they didn’t want Samson to marry outside of their tribe and more importantly didn’t want him to marry a pagan woman. Yet in a reply of sheer pride and arrogance, Samson showed no respect for God or his parents, “Get her for me! She looks good to me.”

How often in our own lives, even though we are surrounded by Godly people, Godly attitudes and even have experienced God for ourselves, do we disobey Him by the temptations of our eyes and the weaknesses of our desires. Samson’s parents most assuredly did their best to raise Samson with a fear and reverence of God, yet it seemed to no avail. However, even in Samson’s rebellion and even in ours, God always has a plan to glorify Himself, “His mother and father didn’t realise the Lord was at work in this…”

God never stops being faithful, even in our deepest rebellion. He is always ready to welcome us back and in the midst of our sin, He’s making a way out.

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Manoah’s Visit From The Angel Of The Lord

12th May

“Then Manoah asked the angel of the Lord, “What is your name? For when all this comes true, we want to honour you?” “Why do you ask my name?” the angel of the Lord replied. “It is too wonderful for you to understand.”

Judges 13:17-18

It is very seldom that that the Bible makes it so clear about who the angel of the Lord is. Although we cannot read into the text what is not there, is seems very clear that this was no ordinary angel. Why?

First of all, not only does the angel of the Lord accept a burnt sacrifice but actually suggests that Manoah can prepare one. Sacrifice’s where only presented to God and many times angels have refused to be worshiped or have sacrifices offered to them. Secondly, the angel would not reveal his name to Manoah and his wife, for fear it was too wonderful to say or understand. Although we cannot speculate what that name was, it was clear that it really was to wonderful to utter. Finally, the ascension of this angel back to heaven through the flames of the burning sacrifice, indicates that this was no normal angel. In fact it was such a holy moment, both Manoah and His wife fell to their faces in worship.

Manoah and his wife clearly had their priorities right. They knew how to host and honour a heavenly being. They may not have known at the time that it probably was God, however their humility, faith and thankfulness before the angel of the Lord and their sacrifice to him, indicated their understanding of presence of God.

How do we understand God’s presence in our lives? Do we even recognise when God talks to us, do we understand His voice? Are our reactions in humble adoration to a Holy and Awesome God? When God speaks to us, we must also recognise His voice and have the same adoration and humility to obey and follow His instructions. The great thing is that God always speaks to us in love and His words are always a comfort to our hearts and souls… (even if they are disciplining words).

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The Promise Of Samson’s Birth

11th May

“In those days a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was unable to become pregnant and they had no children. Then the Angel of the Lord appeared..”

Judges 13:2-3a

So often in the book of judges, we read of Israel’s rebellion and God’s faithfulness and mercy in providing them with a new ruler to rule over them. It seems every time the ruler passes away, they return to their rebellious ways and start worshiping idols and others gods again. So it was at the start of chapter 13. As soon as Abdon, son of Hillel dies, Israel rebel against God again and return to doing “evil” in the sight of the Lord.

It so often seems like a lifestyle pattern in our lives too. One day we enjoy the blessings of God and the next we forget them and live our lives far away from God’s best intentions for us. Yet although we are forgiven, there is often consequences to our rebellious behaviour, as proved in today’s passage. In verse 1 of chapter 13, we read that the Lord allowed the Philistines to capture Israel and hold them in captivity for 40 years.

Yet in spite of all their “evil” behaviour, God still showed His merciful nature when he saw the needs of a baron couple, Manoah and his wife. The Angel of the Lord, appeared to them on two separate occasions, prophesying that they would conceive a child and the requirements of keeping him holy (I.e not cutting his hair, not drinking wine or eating any forbidden food).

It is so interesting to note that this promise was at a time of the nations rebellion against God and their captivity by the Philistines. In spite of the whirlwind around them, God still showed He cared about the needs of this couple. No matter what is around us, our merciful and faithful Lord still wants to shower us with His blessings. If that is a child to the baron mother, or hope the hopeless father, then God will continue to provide. He is our provider despite of the circumstances that may be around us. Let us be faithful in our obedience and prayers towards God and wait to see His provision fulfilled.

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The Commissioning Authority

9-10th May

Weekend Edition

“Jesus called His twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.”

Matthew 10:1

Yesterday we talked about the harvest being God’s work of salvation through lives being saved and the fields being God’s world that we live in. We looked at our responsibility in partnering with God to bring about His Kingdom and see lives being transformed by the love, grace, power and mercy of Almighty God.

In today’s passage Jesus calls His disciples together to put that mandate into practice. Jesus wasn’t talking about a hot air gospel but a pro-active and alive gospel that has the power to change people instantly. He wanted the fields to be harvested immediately. He wanted to see lives radically transformed by the power of His Holy Spirit through His disciples. He wanted to see “the Kingdom of God preached”, the sick healed, the dead raised, leprosy gone, and demons fleeing (verse 7). In fact these are some of the miracles performed through the life and ministry of Jesus Himself.

These needs are as true today as they were when Jesus was alive on Earth and commissioned His disciples to go out to share, heal and bless. Our responsibility doesn’t lie in selfish individual Christianity but in putting Jesus’ words in practice into our every day lives. Imagine a world where the Christians were not afraid to pray for their sick colleagues at work, to take a stand against the demonic and to heal sickness and disease.

However, notice that the disciples couldn’t do anything in and of themselves. All power and authority was given to them by Jesus Christ. It is because of this, when faced with opposition and persecution, they could preserve and continue in the call God had given them. So it is with us today. On our own we can do nothing, yet with the power and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, we become more than conquerors living to bring glory to the Name above all Names. It is only in His power that we can also fulfil His call to share, heal and bless.

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“The Harvest Is Plentiful”…..That’s A Missionary Job Right?

8th May

“He said to His disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest: ask Him to send more workers into His fields.”

Matthew 9:37-38

Today’s verse is a verse that has almost become an exclusive “missionary” mandate. So often when people read it, they disassociate themselves with the passage and lay the burden of evangelism (actually being the light in the darkness) on those who feel they have a call to serve God abroad or in a full time capacity. Should this be the case?

Jesus, in address to His disciples, tells us two important things. What God’s responsibility is and what our responsibility is. If we are to understand the “harvest” as people making a commitment to serve and follow the Lord (…in charge of the harvest) and the “field” the world we live in (..into His fields), then this passage makes in very clear that both salvation and this world are His. Does this negate our responsibility in working in partnership with God, to bring about a harvest of souls? Absolutely not!

Jesus Himself said, pray to the Lord for more workers. This does not mean that we should exclusively pray for more people to go out across the lands and spread the gospel as missionaries (although we should pray for more people committed to doing that!). This means that we should pray that everyone Christian would take up their responsibility as missionaries to this world.

We are called to be the salt and light to a dark and lost land. We are all called to share the good news of Jesus Christ. We are all called to go into the fields and work for Christ, whether that be working in a secular employment, parenting your children in a Godly way or working in a small rural village in the heart of East Asia. Whatever we do, we are God’s ambassadors, working in partnership with Him to extend His Kingdom.