The Gracious Messiah

2 Samuel 1:1-2:11; Psalm 118:19-29; Proverbs 15:27-28

 

Saul was David’s enemy. But they had something very important in common. They were both messiahs – the LORD’s anointed ones.

 

So when Saul was killed in battle, David did not rejoice over him. He did not take the opportunity to search out all the people who had supported Saul and fulfill some desire for revenge against Saul by punishing them or threatening them. Instead, he honored those who honored Saul. Why? Because Saul had been the LORD’s anointed king.

 

The men of Jabesh Gilead, after the Philistines killed Saul and took his body into Philistine land to celebrate, showed kindness to Saul even after his death. They formed a raiding party, snuck down into Philistine territory, and brought Saul’s body back to Israel for an honorable burial. David could have taken their allegiance to Saul as a sign that they would not be faithful to him. After all, Saul had been against David throughout the end of his life.

 

But this is how David responded to the men of Jabesh Gilead:

When David was told that it was the men of Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, he sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead to say to them, "The LORD bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. May the LORD now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them." – 2 Samuel 2:4b-7

 

God’s anointed one blesses those who honor God’s anointed one, even if they honor him in death. This is how David saw things. He treated the men of Jabesh Gilead as if they had been faithful to him, not because he had directly benefited from their kindness but because he counted their kindness to one of God’s anointed ones as kindness to all God’s anointed ones, including him. Because God lives forever, He is always able to establish a Messiah. In this case, there were two successive messiahs – first Saul, then David. But now we have a Messiah who is actually God Himself – the King Jesus Christ.

 

He is even more gracious than David. David graciously loved men who had loved another of God’s anointed ones. But Jesus loves men who have rebelled against God and His Anointed One. He allows them to repent of their rebellion. He died on a cross, but Jesus was raised from the dead and lives forever to bless those who love their Messiah. Let’s be among those who faithfully love God’s Messiah. He will graciously care for us forever.

 

Father, thank You that Your Anointed One, Jesus Christ, is willing to receive us. He does not take vengeance on us for the times we did not serve Him, but instead offers us a chance to pledge allegiance to Him. And those who are His receive His blessings, including eternal life with You. You are so good. Thank You for giving us such a gracious Messiah.

 

Unearned Victory Spoils

1 Samuel 29-31; Psalm 118:1-18; Proverbs 15:24-26

 

Hard work should be rewarded with hard cash. Right? And if that’s true, then easy work or rest should not be rewarded, right?

 

David and his men returned to Ziklag, where they were staying, after a three day trek. Arriving, they found that Amalekite raiders had burned their town and had taken their families away. They were physically tired. They had been marching for three days. And now they were emotionally tired: “David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep.” – 1 Samuel 30:4

 

But God led David to pursue the Amalekites. Two hundred of the men soon had to drop out of the chase because of exhaustion (1 Samuel 30:9-10), but four hundred others pursued and fought the Amalekites. They won their families back and made off with loads of plunder.

 

Plunder that they weren’t willing to share with the two hundred exhausted men. Why? “Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered” (1 Samuel 30:22). These men had fought, and the other men had not. So the fighters did not want to share the benefits of the fight.

 

David would have none of it. He insisted that the spoils of victory be divided not according to the kind of work done, but on the basis of being a member of the team:

 

The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike. – 1 Samuel 30:24

 

In saying this, David set the pattern for Israel from that day on (1 Samuel 30:25). Fortunately for us, this is the same pattern that Jesus has followed. None of us has been able to do anything to overcome Satan, sin and death. Essentially, while we stayed with the supplies, Jesus Himself went into battle. Alone. And alone, Jesus won the victory as He suffered on the cross and then rose from the dead. We did not fight. He did.

 

And yet Jesus includes us in the victory. He sees us as being on His team, though we have done pretty much nothing but confess that He is the Lord and King (Romans 10:10). Like David (thank goodness), Jesus offers the spoils of victory to us, even though we did not do the hard work that made the victory possible. But thanks be to God. He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 15:57!

 

Father, thank You for the victory. Thank You for giving me the victory – a victory I did not earn. May many others share in our victory.

 

You're As Good As Dead If You're Consulting the Dead

1 Samuel 26-28; Psalm 117; Proverbs 15:22-23

 

There’s only one God of life. So if He’s against you, you’re hopeless. Really.

 

That’s essentially what the dead Samuel says to Saul when the king has a medium bring Samuel up from the grave for a consultation:

 

Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy? The LORD has done what he predicted through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors--to David. Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this to you today. The LORD will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. – 1 Samuel 28:16-19

 

If the LORD – the true God – is your enemy, then what good will a session with the dead do you? There are debates over whether this was really Samuel’s spirit or not, but the Scriptures just seem to assume that Saul actually got his wish to encounter Samuel. Whatever happened, raising the dead or consulting with spirits is surely a powerful experience. But there is no power among the dead, or even among the spirits, that is powerful enough to save God’s enemies from His hand. Even if Samuel had wanted to help Saul, Samuel could have done nothing for him. God was against Saul, and Samuel could only pass on this chilling prophecy: “… tomorrow you and your sons will be with me.”

 

Why do we ever look for some alternative route to safety besides a secure friendship with the God of Creation? How can we ever fool ourselves into believing that any power can be even remotely as beneficial as His? What makes us dare to disobey Him, to turn away from Him, to anger Him? Every blessing is in God’s hand. All other powers are shallow and illusory, no matter how impressive they are. They simply can do us no good. The only security worth seeking is the security God offers us through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection – the faith that confesses that Jesus is Lord!

 

Father, many of us today would not consult with spiritists and mediums, but we still find sources of security and safety outside of your hands. We put our hope in security systems, weapons, walls, locks, and the kind of protection our money can buy. We feel safe so long as we have high enough approval ratings from the people around us. May we stop seeking security in anyone else besides You. You alone are God. If we put our hope in anyone or anything but You, we are as good as dead.

 

When God Says Go and Men Say No

1 Samuel 22-23; Psalm 115; Proverbs 15:18-19

 

What are you supposed to do if you’ve heard from God, you have His direction, you have his guidance… and the people you lead aren’t sure whether they want to follow you in that direction?

 

Do you yell and shout and insist on your way – God’s way? I mean, you heard from God, after all!

 

Do you go off by yourself, obeying God alone and leaving your followers behind?

 

Do you give in to the followers and just not go in God’s direction?

 

Do you go back to God and say, “Which would you prefer that I do? Abandon the followers you’ve given me or abandon this plan?”

 

As God’s servant, you can’t abandon God’s assignments. As a leader of God’s people, you can’t just ditch the people you’ve been given by God. What do you do?

 

Here’s what David did. I find it amazing!

 

When David was told, "Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors," he inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?"

 

The LORD answered him, "Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah."

 

But David's men said to him, "Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!"

 

Once again David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him, "Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand." So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. – 1 Samuel 23:1-5

 

David was both a bold follower of the LORD and a gentle leader of his men! He knew what God had said the first time, and he was not willing to stop obeying God. But he also listened to his men’s concerns, and he was not willing to ride roughshod over them. So David responded neither by abandoning the LORD nor by abandoning his men. Instead, David asked God a second time what he should do.

 

It’s not as though David mis-heard God the first time. But he still went back humbly to ask again.

 

And when God gave the same response as before, David was able to go back to his men saying, “God Himself has promised to guard us and give us the victory not just once, but twice! Let’s go!” In the process, he reaffirmed both his commitment to following God and his commitment to responding appropriately to his men’s needs and concerns. And in the end, he was still able to lead the men to follow God.

 

Father, why do we so often feel tempted to choose between You and the people You have given us? Why do we so rarely reaffirm our commitment to both of You the way David did here? Help me to listen to You as a servant should, ready to obey. And help me also to listen to those under my care the way a leader should, with genuine concern for their ideas, feelings, and needs. When the two seem to be in conflict, help me to respond as David did. Help me to reassure the people You have given me to care for that I am concerned for them by willingly saying, “I’ll check with God again.” And help me to always be faithful to Your commands and direction as I hear from You. Thank You for David’s wonderful example here.

 

Christy's video trailer - starting to play everywhere!

If you haven't already seen the video trailer to Christy's new release, Behind Every Illusion (www.behindeveryillusion.com), you should check it out! One of the best places to do that - and a site where you can find book trailers galore to whet your book appetite - should soon be www.watchthebook.com. So check it out!

Get a Life! No, Not That Kind of Life!

When you hear the words, “Get a life,” what pops into your imagination? Do you imagine having nicer clothes, the latest gadgets and conveniences, a sporty car, an enormous house? Do you imagine fame, or power, or entertainment?

 

I do. At least, pretty often I do.

 

But Paul doesn’t. Listen to what he says to Timothy:

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. – 1 Timothy 6:17-19

 

Did you catch that? Paul just contrasted a life of riches and conveniences with a life that doesn’t depend on them at all, but rather depends on God and generously gives wealth away! In the end, a life of godly goodness is worth more than a life of wealth, conveniences, power and entertainment.

 

So which life is truly life? And when people say, “Get a life,” which life will you pursue?

 

God-Based Peace

1 Samuel 20-21; Psalm 113-114; Proverbs 15:15-17

 

People often say that religion is the cause of many wars. While not denying that many wars throughout history have had religious motivations behind them, there is also something to be said for religion as the basis for peace.

 

Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, `The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.' " Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town. – 1 Samuel 20:42

 

Jonathan stood to inherit the kingship of Israel. His father was king. Yet he had sworn an oath of friendship and peace with David – the very man whom God had anointed to replace Jonathan’s father as the next king. Jonathan and David, apart from their common God, should have been enemies. But their friendship under God united them in peace.

 

There is only one true God. The claims by various religions that there are true gods other than the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – competing gods who oppose Jesus Christ – is a basis for wars. One day, when Jesus returns, there will be one last war as he defeats all the demonic gods who oppose him and all the men who have followed other gods in rebelling against the One True King. But there will also be peace. There will be a peace unlike any peace ever experienced among men since the Fall at the Garden of Eden, because all humanity that remains will once again be in unity. They will once again be united by the Only True God, and there will be peace.

 

That peace has begun already for those from all nations and former religious affiliations who have been brought under the kingship of Jesus Christ: For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. – Eph. 2:14-18

 

Father, thank You that those of us who have confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord have already begun to experience a peace that will last forever with one another, the kind of peace that only comes by sharing the same God. Thank You that we are still living in the days when we can invite others to share that peace. It is so good to be able to bring others the good news that You are withholding Your wrath against rebels, patiently giving everyone more and more time to realize that You are King and that You are willing to grant merciful pardons because of Jesus’ sacrificial death for us on the cross. May I go out today, ready to extend the peace of Jesus Christ to everyone I meet.

 

God and Evil

1 Samuel 18:5-19:24; Psalm 112; Proverbs 15:12-14

 

“An evil spirit from God” (1 Samuel 18:10). What does that mean? How does that happen? Isn’t God good?

 

Let’s remember the context. Saul had rejected the word of the LORD, so God had rejected him as king (1Sam. 15:26). Despite all that God had done to raise Saul up and bless him, Saul had disobeyed and ignored God’s commands. He had dishonored the One who honored him, and God had now rejected Saul.

 

The first time we’re told about this evil spirit is in 1 Sam. 16:14 – Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. While it’s a bit disturbing that God can even send an evil spirit at all, the clear point that comes out of this verse is that this evil spirit is not God’s Spirit. They are distinct from one another.

 

Another thing we have to remember is that having God’s Spirit was a great blessing for Saul. God’s Spirit gave Saul the capacity to serve as Israel’s king, to defeat their enemies, to rule. These good things came as Saul was in a close relationship with God. So God is good, and it is good to know and love Him.

 

But Saul had rejected God’s words, in effect rejecting God and denying that He is God. So God had left Saul. He had withdrawn His presence, His Spirit. And God now opposed Saul.

 

Some people suppose that God directly sent a demon to Saul. Others suppose that God merely allowed a demon to torment Saul. The troubling thought with both these ideas is that a demon could come from God. By this point, demons served Satan, not God. Right?

 

Some suggest that the word “evil” should be translated “harmful” here. Or perhaps “injurious.” In other words, perhaps the spirit is not an evil spirit (demon) at all. Perhaps it is a spirit loyal to God who afflicts God’s enemies with harm and injury. The spirit was there to torment Saul and, perhaps, to push him to demonstrate his own wickedness, inability to keep control of his own life, and utter lack of righteousness apart from God’s help (1 Sam. 16:14-15; 18:10-12; 19:9-11). I think sometimes we see all the evil things Saul does after this “evil spirit” from God comes upon him and we assume that the evil spirit forces Saul to do them. It may well be that the spirit was simply tormenting Saul by helping him to see how fully God had left him and how fully God was with David, and that Saul’s own rage and evil intentions were the actual reason he tried to pin David down with a spear.

 

But in the end, God is good. Saul had been unfaithful, rebellious, and disobedient despite all God’s blessings. This “evil spirit” from God should not make us conclude that God is evil. Instead, it should remind us that God is God. As God’s servants, we should take our God seriously and seek to obey Him with all our hearts. Rebellion does not receive God’s blessing, but His curse.

 

Father, may I respect You fully and help others to see that their opposition to You will not go unpunished. “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). May I warn as many people as possible that they need to love and respect You, before it’s too late!

 

A Man Who Lives Life to the Full

Ruth 2-4; Psalm 105:16-36; Proverbs 14:26-27

 

Guys (girls, too, but especially you guys): Do you live life hard? Do you set worthy goals? Do you chase them down, get things done?

 

Boaz did. Then Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today." – Ruth 3:18

 

And he didn’t rest. He tracked down the man he needed to track down, made sure there were witnesses to their discussion, and forced a conclusion to the question, Who will function as kinsman-redeemer for Naomi’s daughter-in-law Ruth? He wanted to marry her. But still he honored another man’s prior right to claim her. He did not sneak around. He did not pause or stop. He decided to pursue Ruth, and he worked his tail off until he had achieved the right to marry her.

 

In the book of Ruth, Boaz is portrayed as a man who is more than just decisive and persistent. He is kind, honorable, alert, and fair. He loves the Lord and notices even foreigners who honor his God. In other words, Boaz was the kind of man was so righteous that he could afford to live life to the full. No matter how hard he worked, no matter what decision he made, he was the kind of man who would be deciding and working toward something that pleased the Lord. With the Lord’s blessing, he had no reason to hold back.

 

Father, may I live life so fully for You that I, too, walk and even run forward with confidence. When I make decisions, I want to be so focused on pleasing You that I am excited about pursuing the goals I choose—because I know that the goals I have chosen fall well within Your will. You are good. Thank You for showing us how a righteous man call live life to the full.

 

Good news from the Harners!

Good evening,

My wife Christy just published her first book, Behind Every Illusion. We’re self-publishing, so even if you can’t buy the book yet, we need your help to spread the word. Please read the following article and consider sending it to your friends and acquaintances. Behind Every Illusion is a fantasy novel especially intended for teens and young adults – but we all know some of them, right?

Thanks so much,

Matt

***

A new book by Christina Harner, Behind Every Illusion, just hit the market. She’s a young author whose novel has already begun generating excitement on the internet due to her enticing video trailer .

Behind Every Illusion is the first book in an exciting series about the extraordinary ways the earth has evolved in a desperate attempt to save itself from the destruction caused by humankind. This first novel focuses mainly on a soft-spoken 18-year-old named Tatiana who begins changing in ways she never thought possible. Amidst tragedy, unimaginable transformations and an unexpected friendship, she has to learn both to reveal the girl hidden behind her illusions and what it means to face the world in order to preserve not only the forest, but her very existence.

The cool thing about this book is that the word is being spread entirely via the internet! Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, email, blogs, forums, you get the picture. This means if each person tells their friends, the word gets spread exponentially.

So, please help! First, check out the promo video. If this captures your interest, go to her website at http://www.behindeveryillusion.com (also, an online community with forums, e-commerce, competitions, and more will be launching later this summer). If you like what you see, tell someone! Easy ways to share about Behind Every Illusion are listed below.

Again, if you can do nothing else, please at least spread the word one time. Oh, and if you’re intrigued enough to go ahead and pre-order the book before its June 6^th launch date, you get an exclusive Behind Every Illusion bumper/laptop sticker as well as a SIGNED copy of the book! If you get 20 others to buy the book, you get $20 for our coming online store. How can you go wrong there? So, check it out and let’s spread the word together!

Ways to spread the word. Pick one or more (if you want to help a lot, you can do one a day until they’re done… and then start over):

1.      Email links:

a.        to YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS9-fMlSSiY

b.      to website: http://www.behindeveryillusion.com

c.       to synopsis: http://www.behindeveryillusion.com/downloads/BehindEveryIllusionCover8.5by5.5.pdf

2.      Twitter posts (copy and paste):

a.       Video trailer for @christinaharner book, Behind Every Illusion. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS9-fMlSSiY

b.      Intriguing book, Behind Every Illusion, being released by @christinaharner. See the website: http://www.behindeveryillusion.com

3.      Facebook status posts (copy and paste):

a.       I just heard about a new book, Behind Every Illusion by Christina Harner, that some of you will probably like. http://www.behindeveryillusion.com

b.      Here’s a book trailer video about Behind Every Illusion by Christina Harner. Worth seeing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS9-fM1SSiY

4.      Join the Behind Every Illusion facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t=78021709628#/pages/Behind-Every-Illusion-A-New-Novel-by-Christina-Harner/166125880236?ref=ts

5.      Simple plug in, works just about anywhere (facebook, myspace, blogger, etc.): http://seed.sproutbuilder.com/HABnWIfgFX5LwwaY

6.      Email/Facebook this message to all your friends, or at least the ones you think will be most interested: Copy and paste the whole thing, or retrieve it from http://www.behindeveryillusion.com/downloads/sendtofriends.html

7.      Until June 6^th, you can buy a signed pre-release copy of the book (or save money and buy a downloadable version) through the website if you are willing to join the promotional campaign. You will receive 2-3 emails each week asking you to help promote the book in specific and manageable new ways. Note: If 20 people buy the book and say you told them to buy it, you’ll receive a $20 gift certificate to be spent at the very soon to be launched Behind Every Illusion online store!

 

Behind Every Illusion - A New Novel by Christina Harner

Heroes Don't Necessarily Beget Heroes...

Judges 17-18; Psalm 104:1-23; Proverbs 14:20-21

 

… But God does.

 

Moses was pretty amazing, right? So you’d think that his children and grandchildren, at least, would be amazing, too. Wouldn’t they want to maintain the family reputation? Wouldn’t they understand that the only way to do that would be by staying faithful to the Lord?

 

Well, in Judges 17-18, there’s this convoluted story where certain Israelites begin to mix idol worship in with their supposed love for the Lord. And a certain young man, a Levite, comes into the story and gets hired as one man’s personal priest. He’s supposed to be a priest of the Lord, but he’s serving as a priest among idols, too. Eventually a group of warriors from the tribe of Dan comes along and recruits him to be their priest. So he goes with them to their new home in Laish and serves as their priest.

 

Here’s the shocker of the story:

There the Danites set up for themselves the idols, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land. They continued to use the idols Micah had made, all the time the house of God was in Shiloh. – Judges 18:30-31

 

This young man was Moses’ grandson! And he was willing to serve both the Lord and idols! If Moses’ grandson can fall away from the faith, anyone can!

 

Father, protect us from such a twisted life. Protect us from thinking we can be unfaithful to You and get away with it. Protect us from being so foolish that we don’t see how good it is to be Your servant, Your friend, Your child – and Yours alone! Drive unfaithfulness out of our hearts, our children’s hearts, our grandchildren’s hearts, and our descendants’ hearts. Please. Please. Introduce Yourself to each of us so that we know You firsthand. We need You.

 

Hair as a Measurement

Judges 15-16; Psalm 103; Proverbs 14:17-19

 

Did Samson have magical hair? Why did it matter that the hair on his head began to grow back again after it had been shaved (Judges 16:22)?

 

It mattered because Samson was a Nazirite, not because his hair had any special qualities of its own. When Samson finally told Delilah how to subdue him, he said, “No razor has ever been used on my head because I have been a Nazirite set apart to God since birth.” – Judges 16:17

 

Nazirites were people who made a special vow, a vow of separation to the LORD (Numbers 6:2). Whatever vow they made, they had certain rules to follow. The most constantly visible mark of being a Nazirite was their hair. Here’s why:

 

Numbers 6: 5-8 During the entire period of his vow of separation no razor may be used on his head. He must be holy until the period of his separation to the LORD is over; he must let the hair of his head grow long. Throughout the period of his separation to the LORD he must not go near a dead body. Even if his own father or mother or brother or sister dies, he must not make himself ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of his separation to God is on his head. Throughout the period of his separation he is consecrated to the LORD. …

 

Numbers 6:18-21  … Then at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that he dedicated. He is to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering. After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair of his dedication, the priest is to place in his hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and a cake and a wafer from the basket, both made without yeast. The priest shall then wave them before the LORD as a wave offering; they are holy and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine. This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the LORD in accordance with his separation, in addition to whatever else he can afford. He must fulfill the vow he has made, according to the law of the Nazirite.

 

The hair was an exact physical representation of the number of days that a Nazirite had been devoted to the LORD. Nazirites turned their hair in at the end of their vows as a statement that they had been faithful to God for as long as the vow was in place. So what happened if, like Samson, a Nazirite lost his hair? Did that kill the vow? Was he doomed to failure?

 

Numbers 6:9-12 - If someone dies suddenly in his presence, thus defiling the hair he has dedicated, he must shave his head on the day of his cleansing--the seventh day. Then on the eighth day he must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. The priest is to offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to make atonement for him because he sinned by being in the presence of the dead body. That same day he is to consecrate his head. He must dedicate himself to the LORD for the period of his separation and must bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. The previous days do not count, because he became defiled during his separation.

 

So getting a Nazirite’s hair shaved off didn’t mean his vow was over. It didn’t mean God was done with a him. Instead, it was a time to start over, to re-commit to one’s vow and to God all over again. For Samson, it meant another chance to fulfill God’s plans for his life. What were those plans?

 

No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines. – Judges 13:5

 

So God had given Samson a lifelong vow to keep. Yes, most people get to make their own vows. But God had given Samson his lifelong vow before he had even been conceived. And that vow was that Samson would begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.

 

When Samson lost his hair to the Philistines, it was evidence at the most basic level that he had broken his vow. But Samson served the same God we serve today, a God who has built grace into His system so that, even when we fail, we can look forward to serving Him another day. When Samson’s hair was shaved off, it showed that Samson had been unfaithful to God. And when Samson’s hair grew back, it showed that God was still faithful to Samson and would still give him a chance to fulfill his designated vow. Samson did more to deliver Israel from the Philistines after his hair had begun to grow back than he had ever accomplished while he still had his eyes and his braids as long as life.

 

God does not forsake His children forever.

 

Father, thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for Your forgiveness, and for Your willingness to show me how fully I break Your commands while still giving me the chance to repent and call on You again. I am like Samson and like Paul; when I am weak, then I am strong, because Your power is made perfect in weakness. As I see my limitations and sinfulness in any and every area of my life, may I repent and start over with You as the constant source of all the wisdom, love and talent in my life.

 

God: The Reason for Despair, the Reason for Hope

Judges 13-14; Psalm 102; Proverbs 14:15-16

 

When you think of God, do you tremble or laugh? Do you cower or dance? Samson’s parents give us an example of both.

 

First, Samson’s dad: "We are doomed to die!" he said to his wife. "We have seen God!" – Judges 13:22.

 

This is a legitimate response. God is so immense, so powerful, so holy, that we ought to realize when we encounter the living God how comparatively worthless we are. His perfections highlight our deformities. We realize that our very lives offend His righteous standards, and that He has every right as God – the Creator, King and Judge of the universe – to strike us dead for our lack of obedience. If God did not exist, we could applaud ourselves as the highest, most intelligent, most creative, most thoughtfully moral creatures in the known world. But God is alive. And an encounter with Him shatters our lofty self-conceptions. We are not wise, good, or strong. Before God – when we compare ourselves with God, up close and personal – we see our twisted, weak, shameful, sinful selves. And despair makes sense.

 

But then there was Samson’s mom. I love her response: "If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or now told us this." – Judges 13:23.

 

Although despair is a legitimate response before our holy God, ultimately hope just makes more sense. Why? Precisely because in God’s presence we deserve so much to die that the only reason that we can have an encounter with the living God and still be alive is that He loves us. God has good plans for us. God has every right to be disgusted with us, but He cares about us and still wants a relationship with us. Have you thought about that recently? God exists, and you are not dead! There’s a reason for hope!

 

And what’s more, what Samson’s parents did not know, is that God loves us so much that He sent to us His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, so that whoever trusts in Him will never die, but will have life forever (John 3:16)! Jesus died for us! God would so much rather take care of us than destroy us for our sins that His own Son suffered!

 

God has come down among men. Jesus lived among us. And through His life and death and resurrection, we learned two enormous truths: 1) We deserve to die, and 2) God wants us to live.

 

Father, thank You that You love us so much! We definitely don’t deserve Your love. I know I don’t. Sometimes I want to obey You, but I fall short because I’m too exhausted to make the effort. Sometimes I get discouraged and become apathetic; I stop even caring about pleasing You. And sometimes I go so far as to decide that my needs, or even wants, are more important than people; I neglect others so that I can be comfortable. No, I certainly don’t deserve Your love. But I am so grateful that I’ve met You, that I’ve heard You speak, and that You’ve given Yourself to me rather than killing me off. You are my life! Forever! Thank You!

 

Just Plain Dumb. Period.

Judges 11-12; Psalm 101; Proverbs 14:13-14

 

Did he have a bad relationship with his wife? Was he hoping that some relative who had overstayed his welcome would be the first to walk out the door of his house? What was Jephthah thinking?

 

Things were going well. The elders of Gilead had promised to make Jephthah their ruler if he could lead them to victory against their enemies. This was settled before the LORD (Judges 11:8, 11). The king of Ammon was clearly in the wrong; he had no good basis for attacking God’s people (Judges 11:12-28), so Jephthah was standing on solid ethical ground. And the Spirit of the LORD was on him (Judges 11:29)!

 

Everything was lining up. God seemed poised to honor Jephthah and overcome the Ammonites through him. So why did he make this vow? If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD’s and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering. – Judges 11:30-31.

 

God hadn’t asked for this! He was already blessing Jephthah! He was already blessing Israel through Jephthah! Surely God knew that Jephthah’s daughter would be the first person out of the house to greet her dad! Why did God allow this vow? Why did God allow it to be fulfilled? What was God supposed to do—let the Israelites be defeated so that Jephthah’s daughter could be saved?

 

It is utterly important that we choose to worship God in the ways that He asks for worship! Otherwise we make destructive, terrible mistakes. We harm each other when we try to make an offer to God – as though anything we have to offer, besides our own faithful service (or even that!) is impressive enough to get God to do something He doesn’t want to do! God was already planning to defeat the Ammonites. Jephthah’s vow didn’t change that. Jephthah could have saved everyone a lot of pain if he had just responded to God with thankful, faithful praise and service.

 

Father, help me to follow You. Help me not to think that anything I have to offer can pique Your interest enough to make You do what I want. Instead, may I follow You in what You want done. And may I worship You as You ask me to. I trust You to keep me from Jephthah’s harmful ways.

 

Yesterday - Michael's 2nd Birthday!

I just have to take a moment to brag on my little boy. He’s smart, he’s cute, he laughs all the time, he’s speaking in rather long sentences that he shouldn’t be able to use for another 6+ months. He’s cunning and subtle, and he’s a load of fun. And now Michael’s two years old!

 

Amazing!

 

Ouch! So close!

Judges 8:18-9:21; Psalm 99; Proverbs 14:9-10

 

We need a better leader than Gideon. He has an impressive résumé, but not impressive enough.

 

Personally recruited the angel of the LORD. Check.

 

Be graced by nifty miracles that prove God is with me—fire burst from a rock, selective placement of dew twice in a row. Check. Check. Check.

 

Survive after demolishing father’s idols. Check.

 

Send 31,700 soldiers away. With the LORD’s help, still defeat the Midianites with only 300 men. Check.

 

Get invited to rule Israel. Humbly turn down the offer. Check.

 

Take a share of the plunder, melt it down, make an ephod. Worship it. WHAT WAS GIDEON THINKING? (Judges 8:27)

 

David sinned and was forgiven. But the story of his repentance is recorded for us. We don’t have that story recorded in Gideon’s case. Maybe it happened. I hope so. But here we have yet another story—from our own Scriptures—demonstrating that God’s grace is able to flow to His people even through deeply flawed men. During Gideon's lifetime, the land enjoyed peace forty years. – Judges 8:28. What a good God we have.

 

Father, I don’t even know where Gideon is now. He was a hero of the faith (Hebrews 11:32). But this is how his story ends—worshiping the plunder rather than the warrior God who captured the plunder—living in idolatry. Is he with You now? Is he crying out in misery? Father, be gracious, please. Lead us not into temptation. We are weak and stupid. We need your wisdom, your faithfulness, your strength. Thank You for being so gracious, even when You choose to work through such weak men as Gideon. How much more grace You have poured out through Your perfect, sinless, ever-faithful Son, Jesus Christ! Keep me in Your grace throughout His eternal life. Thank You for Jesus!

 

How to Stop an Attacker

Judges 7:1-8:17; Psalms 97 and 98; Proverbs 14:7-8

 

Fight or flight, right? Those are the only two alternatives when someone runs your way shouting, nostrils flaring, red-in-the-face. We prepare to rage or run.

 

But not Gideon. He had just finished a battle against Israel’s enemies. At the end, this is what he hears: Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, "Why have you treated us like this? Why didn't you call us when you went to fight Midian?" And they criticized him sharply. – Judges 8:1

 

But believe it or not, there is an alternative way to stop an attacker, a way that demands neither fight nor flight. It requires courage and humility. And it requires a real concern for peace.

 

Gideon answered them: "What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren't the gleanings of Ephraim's grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer? God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?" – Judges 8:2-3a

 

He honored them. He refused to defend himself, but he also refused to run away. No flight. No fight. But he stopped his attackers in their tracks: At this, their resentment against him subsided. – Judges 8:3b

 

Father, may I have the humility, love, and courage to absorb attacks and still respond with grace. May I care more about maintaining good relationships than about maintaining my own honor in the eyes of my family, friends, and community. Teach me how to stop an attacker the way Gideon did.