April 2, 2006 - Judges 16-18 and Luke 7:1-30
This morning I want us to focus on a few of the verses that the Lord used to speak to me. I am sure He spoke to you in many ways through this passage. What verses stuck out to you? Many times a verse of Scripture will leap off of the page and touch your heart, because the Spirit is applying it to your life or teaching you something through it. Let's always be quick to hear what the Spirit is saying to us.
God used Judges 16:30 to put Samson's life and death in perspective for me today. Often, I have heard this verse given as a victory. Samson killed more enemies in his death than in his life. However, is that really a positive statement? Was that God's will? I do not think so. I think that was God's way of using his poor choices to make something out of his life, but He would have used Samson in a much greater way, if he had been faithful to Him. It would have been much better to read of all of the enemies Samson killed in his life than in his blinded, weakened condition at his death. He is a pathetic shell of what he could have been. I pray that all of us will learn from this and not get to that place in our lives, where we have to pray a prayer like Samson's, because we have messed up our lives so much.
Then, chapters 17 and 18 can be summed up in one verse, too. Look at Judges 17:6. Israel came to the place where everyone did what was right in his own eyes. What a terrible state of affairs for the nation that was to be ruled by God's authority and His Word. They left His Word, and lived as their own authority. When this happens, sin abounds, as it did at this time. A man steals from his mother. A mother makes idols for her son. The son hires a priest for his idolatrous worship, and the priest is happy to come for the pay. The priest then goes to the Danites, because there is more of them. Then, they set up the idols for the whole tribe to worship at Shiloh, and they remain there until the Exile. How could those things happen in Israel? They did what they thought was right. How do the things happen today that are so terrible? Believers do what they think is right. Remember, our thoughts are not God's thoughts. We must follow His Word or we will fall deeper and deeper into sin.
Luke 7 is about authority, too. The centurion has faith in Jesus to heal his servant, because he is a man under authority. (v.8) It does not say he is a man "of" authority. He knows that since he follows the orders of his officers, the plans can be carried out. In this case he knows that Jesus is the authority, so if He gives the Word, the orders will be carried out. I want to ask you a question. Are you a person under authority? Do you live under God's authority? Do you realize that He can bless you, if you are a person under authority? If you realize this truth it will increase your faith, too. Faith is only effective when it is placed in the right person. Jesus is Lord of Lords, so faith in Him is very effective. He has the authority to raise the dead, heal the sick, and to save the soul. Let's trust Him completely.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Judges 19-21 and Luke 7:31-50.
God used Judges 16:30 to put Samson's life and death in perspective for me today. Often, I have heard this verse given as a victory. Samson killed more enemies in his death than in his life. However, is that really a positive statement? Was that God's will? I do not think so. I think that was God's way of using his poor choices to make something out of his life, but He would have used Samson in a much greater way, if he had been faithful to Him. It would have been much better to read of all of the enemies Samson killed in his life than in his blinded, weakened condition at his death. He is a pathetic shell of what he could have been. I pray that all of us will learn from this and not get to that place in our lives, where we have to pray a prayer like Samson's, because we have messed up our lives so much.
Then, chapters 17 and 18 can be summed up in one verse, too. Look at Judges 17:6. Israel came to the place where everyone did what was right in his own eyes. What a terrible state of affairs for the nation that was to be ruled by God's authority and His Word. They left His Word, and lived as their own authority. When this happens, sin abounds, as it did at this time. A man steals from his mother. A mother makes idols for her son. The son hires a priest for his idolatrous worship, and the priest is happy to come for the pay. The priest then goes to the Danites, because there is more of them. Then, they set up the idols for the whole tribe to worship at Shiloh, and they remain there until the Exile. How could those things happen in Israel? They did what they thought was right. How do the things happen today that are so terrible? Believers do what they think is right. Remember, our thoughts are not God's thoughts. We must follow His Word or we will fall deeper and deeper into sin.
Luke 7 is about authority, too. The centurion has faith in Jesus to heal his servant, because he is a man under authority. (v.8) It does not say he is a man "of" authority. He knows that since he follows the orders of his officers, the plans can be carried out. In this case he knows that Jesus is the authority, so if He gives the Word, the orders will be carried out. I want to ask you a question. Are you a person under authority? Do you live under God's authority? Do you realize that He can bless you, if you are a person under authority? If you realize this truth it will increase your faith, too. Faith is only effective when it is placed in the right person. Jesus is Lord of Lords, so faith in Him is very effective. He has the authority to raise the dead, heal the sick, and to save the soul. Let's trust Him completely.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Judges 19-21 and Luke 7:31-50.