I’m so excited, as I always am, to get into the Word tonight. We have been in the book of Judges for the past couple of months. It’s been a tough but glorious study as we’ve seen the utter depths of human depravity as the Israelites have come to settle in the Promised Land. Rather than wiping out the enemy who lives in the land as God has commanded, the Israelites instead moved in with them, and we have seen the amazing troubles that it has caused for them.
Rather than being a holy people set apart for God’s glory among the Canaanites, instead, the Israelites have adopted some of the practices of the pagans. They have integrated into their society, allowing the cultural norms and beliefs of the Canaanites influence their own beliefs and practices. This is exactly why, by the way, God commanded the sons of Israel to utterly destroy them…but anyway…what we’re going to start tonight is not completely a new study…we still have 5 more chapters to cover in Judges…but we’re going to just step out of Judges with 1 foot while keeping 1 foot in!
We pick up the story of Samson in Judges chapter 16 and while this is not the last chapter in the book of Judges, it is the last that we will read on Samson.
So what we see in verse 1 is no surprise…once again we see Samson being led by his eyes… ‘he saw a woman’ but not just any woman, a harlot, a prostitute, a woman of the evening. And so he has relations with her, and he’s such a gentleman that he doesn’t even bother to stay until morning so he takes off at midnight.
But his activities are not going unnoticed. There are Gazites, so these are Philistines, realize that Samson is there and they decide that when morning comes, they’re going to kill him. And while that plan does not work, they do noticed two things: They notice both Samson’s strength and his weakness! His strength is, of course, just that. It’s his physical strength. As he departs the city, he literally rips the doors and posts right out of the ground and carries them on his shoulders all the way to Hebron, which is about 40 miles up the mountainside! And by the way, we sort of get this image of Samson carrying this tremendous weight all the way to Hebron and just tossing it to the ground, I almost picture him spitting on the ground when he does this, because Hebron is in Judah. You might recall, it was the men of Judah who, rather than fighting alongside Samson against the Philistines, brought 3,000 men to capture Samson and turn him over to the Philistines.
I get to stand up here each week and share not just from God’s Word, and not just my thoughts on what’s going on in the world around us, but I also get to share some of my own personal stories…those that I share with a glad heart and then those that I share with some embarrassment. So let me share a story of something that happened recently and it’s not one that I’m proud of but in the spirit of transparency and acknowledging my own failures before you, here goes…
So with The Lion, the Trips and the Proposal, we heard about the trips earlier. So let me share with you about The Proposal, specifically my marriage proposal to Pilar and then we’ll get to the lion in just a little bit. Let me start by saying that if I were to go back in time to when Pilar and I were dating, the proposal would be so different than what it was back then!
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. ~ Rom 8:14-17
God as Father
The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved ~ Ps 93:1
Role of Earthly Fathers
Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, and sound in faith, love, and perseverance" ~ Titus 2:2
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake. 13I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. 14I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one ~ 1 Jn 2:12-14
Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. ~ Col 3:21
Role of Children
Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you ~ Deut 5:16
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; 2For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you. 3Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. 6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 8It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones. ~ Prov 3:1-8
