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March 16 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 75

Here's a question to ask yourself (or others) as you begin to bring the book of Judges to a close: What did the judges do for the people?  

We're finishing reading about Samson today.  He is the last judge written about in the book.

Image result for samson suicide wikimedia commons

DAILY READINGS

Judges 16-18 & Psalm 75

DAILY NOTES

Judges 16:1-3

  • The Philistine elders seek to kill Samson while he is with a prostitute.  Yep, that's your Bible!
  • He performs a feat of strength and they are unable to defeat him.
Judges 16:4-22
  • Samson falls in love with Delilah.  There's no indication the love is reciprocated.  Quite the opposite, she willingly, repeatedly works to have him given over to the Philistine leaders.
  • Perhaps Samson just likes jokes.  Remember his riddle at his last marriage?  Maybe he feels as if he is joking around with Delilah when he gives her several false answers to her question.
    • What makes her believe the final time?  Is it the inclusion of his vow to God?  Did his attitude change?
    • I apologize, but Verse 16 is just hilarious! 
  • Samson is captured, bound and has his eyes gouged out.
    • Notice that his hair begins to grow again.  If I'm an Israelite, I'm smelling a come back!
Judges 16:23-31
  • Samson is put on display for the Philistine people.  He calls upon God for one last feat of strength.  In doing so he kills 3,000+ people.  The text says he killed more people that day than he did all the other days he was alive--but who's counting?
Judges 17
  • This chapter sets the scene for what will happen in Chapter 18 concerning the tribe of Dan.
Judges 18
  • The tribe of Dan make their way to their own land.  Along the way, they encounter the Levite who settled with Micah in Chapter 17.  They take the Levite as their priest (and his silver idol) and settle in a land they have conquered.
Psalm 75
  • The first word of this psalm is important: we.  
  • This is a communal reminder of God's power and our praise of God.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

From what we read, Samson prayed to God twice.  Once he asked the Lord to keep him from dying by giving him something drink after a battle.  The other time he asked God to allow him to die as a way to defeat his Philistine captors.

Such can be our prayer life.  One day we ask for one thing.  Another day we ask for the opposite.  It's funny because we want God to answer each time.  Where's the lesson in that?  I'm not sure.  God answers Samson both times.  He gives Samson water that helps his spirit return; Samson is able to continue to serve as judge of Israel.  But God also answers Samson's prayer to kill the Philistines, along with himself.  Is that bravery, heroic or suicide?  Samson wasn't asking to bring honor to God.  He wanted to revenge for losing his eye(s).  

I sure hope you weren't expecting me to give you a perfect answer to a question I gave.

Stay blessed...john

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