Judges 15-16
When you read all this about Samson today, you have to wonder what he would have been like if he had been fully devoted to God.
Judges 15
There's a lot here for you, so I'll only make a few observations.
V. 1 Although Samson, like all men, was driven by the need for one-ness, like most men, he only saw this one way, "in the chamber."
Vs. 4-5 Think about this. Not only is the creativity pretty high-end, but what kind of skill and speed and strength was required to do this in a short period of time? This is amazing. Foxes are not known for being slow, stupid and being found in crowds. And they bite (I hear). And then, how do you tie their tails together with a torch in between? This guy was like superman.
V. 8 If Samson's intent above was "X" rated, the violence here was "R" rated. The expression "hip and thigh" meant vicious, deadly violence. Samson was a one-man horror, like the Terminator. Given all of the evidence, I think he also had a sort of invulnerability. If bees couldn't sting him and foxes couldn't bite him, I'll bet spears, swords and arrows didn't do much either, adding to the terror of fighting him. Samson fought by hand. I'm sure someone got close enough to land a blow with a sword. Imagine how discouraging it would have been to slash him, to no other effect than to get him really mad?
Just a note here: Some of David's mighty men must have had similar fighting abilities, but Samson is in a class of his own.
Vs. 14-20
V. 15 Obviously a fresh jawbone was preferred over an old, dried, brittle one. What is sort of interesting is that, in the course of human affairs, God had it right there at the right time.
According to the Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC) there is a word play here, the word for "heap" being similar to the word for "donkey." In essence, Samson the poet is saying he used the jawbone of a donkey to make donkey heaps. I wonder if he put that to some popular melody and hummed it as he killed these thousand guys.
V. 17 Where he threw the jawbone was thereafter called the "hill of the jawbone." I say this because in some translations it looks like the water comes out of the hollow place in the jawbone. Not so.
Vs. 18 Notice the faith and familiarity with God that Samson had. He knew that God was with him. This guy is a complete contrast in faith and following the flesh.
Judges 16
Vs. 1-3 This is definitely not a story for your kids. What stands out to me is Samson's willingness to live in conflict, and his confidence in the presence of the enemy. He walks into one of the Philistines' major cities, in plain view and then bides his time. Since these gates would have been huge, not to mention heavy, for Samson they must have been feather light. This is obviously supernatural and beyond what we can imagine.
Vs. 4-22 Samson was not seduced. He was just arrogantly stupid. He knew what she was after. There was no real trickery. He was magnificently over confident. He didn't imagine the Lord would leave him. Also, he didn't realize that the root of his need would betray him. What I mean, is that Samson really wanted a "one-flesh" companion. We'd say, "a wife." But all of this would have to be according to God's plan and how He made us. Unfortunately we don't follow His plans very well. Samson really wanted someone to trust, but breaking down and getting all vulnerable and honest with the object of his hormonal affections, didn't get him the person he wanted or was seeking. God left Samson and the Philistines put out his lights.
Vs. 23-31 This event gives you the sense of how great a relief it was for the Philistines to defeat Samson. It was almost like Christmas for them. In a final stroke of victory, God lured all of the leaders of the Philistines to Gaza to see what Dagon had done.
In contrast to the movie, Samson doesn't tell the kid (who shows him where the pillars are) to run. You would have thought, with the way Samson asks for help identifying the pillars, that the "young man" would have been smarter.
I just think it is sad to think what might have been if he had been a godly man. I think for any of us who feel that we've messed up "what could have been" by our own disobedience, the answer is in God's grace. Paul, a murderer, began to follow, and look what God did. Even King Manasseh began to follow. Regardless of lost time and opportunities missed, today we follow. The next decision we make, we decide to honor God, and the one after that and the one after that. Following Christ in the harvest, despite our past failures, gives us a future and brings glory to the Father as we labor to bear fruit for Christ. Satan focuses us on the past, God focuses on the present and future.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
John 2
Vs. 1-12 This is sort of a funny event in Jesus' life, but also His first miracle in front of His disciples. Since John was there for this, he mentions its impact on the disciples in verse 11.
The third day is not only a good name for a Christian band, but it is probably the time measured from the last event: The calling of Philip and Nathanael.
There is no way for us to know the family dynamics going on here. I mean, I think there was some sense that Jesus was sent by God. No one really understood, but you see Mary pressing the issue here for Him to reveal Himself and Jesus' brothers taunt Him later to declare Himself publicly. Whatever was happening here with Jesus talking to Mary like this, I think it is playfully meant and is building off of some of what was known about Jesus in the family. Besides, here Jesus was as this single son without a job. He quit his job, stopped supporting the family (He had four brothers and sisters to carry the load now), he was bumming around teaching, and now He had these merry men. Maybe Mary was just wanting Him to get the ball rolling.
V. 5 indicates she knew he could and would do something.
V.7 We are so conditioned by what we know of Jesus to miss what this would have looked like to the servants and the disciples as Jesus did this. It would have looked like the world's stupidest practical joke gone bad. This wasn't a place for a joke. There was no way that this could be wine. There was no place to hide. Was this some sort of political statement against wine or weddings or something?
V. 10 indicates that this was good, potent wine, not the diluted kind. It was the kind that one usually brings out first, dulling the senses of the guests so they will not notice the poor wine.
V. 11 Jesus didn't just do a trick or a sign, He manifested His glory. He created. Remember the words in the first chapter of John. All things were made through Him.
Vs. 13-25 Jesus will appear at four Passovers during His three years of ministry. This is the first of those Passovers, kind of inaugurating the beginning of His ministry.
The selling of animals and changing of money could have been done in the city, away from the temple. There was a practical need since many Jews came from all over the Roman empire. They needed animals and they needed to change their currency. This was all understandable. But that they did it in the temple in the court of the Nations (Gentiles), was not only racism (the hating of Gentiles which would invade the church in Acts) but it is in denial of God's plan of redemption for man, the promise to Abraham, and God's design for Israel. This wasn't just some little noise Jesus was making in protest to the corruption of the priest. He, as the Savior of all men, was coming to the place all nations were to gather to receive forgiveness from Him. Someday, all men of all nations will come to the temple in Jerusalem and meet Jesus. So, Jesus had a right to do what He did.
Notice that the order of oxen and sheep is inverted. It would have been easier to get the oxen out of the temple by scaring the sheep. Then the oxen would have moved too.
Notice that Jesus doesn't throw over the tables of those selling pigeons. He tells the sellers to take them away. No animals were hurt in the performing of this cleansing.
V. 17 The six disciples thought of this verse. The Holy Spirit was helping out.
Vs. 18 This is Jesus' first confrontation. In this sense, Jesus was like Samson. He invited hostility.
Jesus cleansed the temple on His first visit and on His last visit to Jerusalem during the Passover. What He said to the Pharisees here was cryptic, but the disciples remembered it later and believed. Also, the priests and Pharisees eventually got the point too, that's why they demanded to have the garden tomb guarded. They believed in the way that sin and hate believes and still irrationally tries to defeat the truth.
Vs. 23-25 Jesus understood the deep deadly sickness of sin in the people and understood not to entrust Himself to them. This was in Samson, and it's in us too. It is good for us as disciples to remember that we also have a deep irrationality because of sin. If not for the Spirit, I don't think we'd stand a chance to ward it off. Imagine what it is like for people who don't know Christ. We need to be wise, humble and understanding.
Psalm 103
This seems like the psalm that launched a thousand songs. I found allusions to at least 6 songs in it.
There is not only strength of hope for His people, but the confirmation of salvation for those who seek Him. You'll find plenty to underline, like the word "love."
Just for fun, here are some songs I thought of when I read it through. The first is German and probably one of the first songs we learned back in the day. This brings back memories and even though it's not a great song, it's one of those that once you learn it, it sticks. It is sung by almost everyone, young and old, in all confessions, and usually it is done in a group as a "round." Here it is done as a kids' song and they left out the verses, but you'll get the idea. As I look at this, it's sort of a "flashback" and I see a lot of German culture going on. Don't listen to the whole thing, but the song is basically verses 1-3 of Psalm 103.
Then, there is the allusion to "eagles," and since I like Hillsong, it made me think of this:
And then, of course, the most obvious and meaningful allusion of all. How far does He remove our sin?
Proverbs 14:17-19
The thought of God's steadfast love makes a person prudent and slow to anger. Since He is in control, even to the place of making sure the fresh jawbone of a donkey is where it can be gotten to when needed, we who are loved by Him can wait patiently as the storm rages around us and look for what the Lord is doing.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.
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