Read Judges 16: 1-20
Samson and Delilah; who has not heard of the lovers? "Delilah" means the vine of grapes. (Aren't grapes one of the things Samson was not suppose to eat?) She was bribed by the Philistine lords with 1100 pieces of silver to find out the secret of his strength.
First he told her that if she bound him with 7 new cords that hadn't been dried. (A Nazarite can't eat new grapes or dried.) But that didn't work. Next he told her to bind him with new ropes that have never been occupied. (A Nazarite can't eat anything made of the vine tree, from the inside of the unripe or new grape to the outside peel.) He broke these off like threads. She's still whinning... so he tells her to weave the 7 locks of his head with the web. (If a Nazarite accidentally come into contact with a dead person he has to shave his head on the 7th day.) Is Samson trying to give her subtle hints? When this didn't work she resorted to pure female manipulation: "How can you say you love me...when you haven't told me where your great strength lies?" She nagged him and nagged him till she finally wore him down and he told her. He could have told her about breaking any law of the Nazarite, but he chose the one about the hair. In the Nazarite laws (Numbers 6:7) it says, "that the consecration of his God is upon his head." Christ is our head and we are the body.
When Delilah saw that Samson had told her all his heart, she sent for the Philistine lords. She made him sleep in her lap and had his hair cut. They tormented him and watched as his strength left him. I wonder what that looked like? "Tormented" in the Hebrew means "to brow-beat". So they spoke curses over him. Words are powerful. Then she woke him up telling him that the Philistines were upon him. He got up like always and didn't even realize his strength had left him. He had gotten so caloused to the presence of God that he didn't recognize he had lost it.
Samson flirted with sin till he finally got swept away by it. How many times do we stay in situations where we are being whittled down by the world or Satan and just continue to stay there thinking we can be strong. Samson's pride blinded him to Delilah's deception. They say, "Sin will take you further than you meant to go, keep you longer than you meant to stay, and cost you more than you meant to pay." How true. In the end his discernment was so weak, he didn't even know God had left him.
Lord, show us where we are tempting evil. Give us a glimpse of your holiness to bring us back to the light. Let us be quick to turn and repent. We love you.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Wed Devo - From Death to Life
Wed. Devo
Read Judges 13
"And the children of Israel did evil AGAIN in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines 40 years....not again!?! So there is this man named Manoah and his wife who is barren. Ever notice how so many of the women in the Bible are barren women? Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, (the wives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). Then Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist in the New Testament. It is like being barren is a prerequisite for having a son that will be used greatly of God. As I meditated on this I realized that we are all barren before God visits us with His spirit and gives us life. Before that we cannot reproduce life. Once He is in us we give forth life everywhere we go.
This angel appears to Manoah's wife (apparently her name was not of significance) and told her she was going to conceive a son who was going to be a Nazarite from birth. He would deliver Israel from the Philistines. A Nazarite is a person separated unto the Lord. He can't drink wine or liquor, or eat grapes, raisins or anything unclean. He can't cut his hair, or come near a dead body, even if it is someone in his immediate family. He is to be holy to the Lord. (Num. 6)
Manoah missed the meeting with the angel so he asked for another one because he had some questions. God's angel came back and answered all his questions. Then, Manoah offered a sacrifice and the angel consumed it with fire and disappeared in the fire. How is that for the dramatic!
His wife got pregnant and conceived Sampson which means "a ray of sunlight". Then in the last verse it says , "And the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol. "Zorah" means a stinging hornet and Eshtaol means "intreaty". So it looks to me like God is saying that in between the times of his judgement (the stinging hornet) and their calling out (intreating) to Him that God began to move in their midst.
Lord, you saw us in our barrenness and put life in us through Your son, Jesus. We are so grateful. Let all that we do birth life to those around us. Let us be a ray of sunlight in someone's life today.
Read Judges 13
"And the children of Israel did evil AGAIN in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines 40 years....not again!?! So there is this man named Manoah and his wife who is barren. Ever notice how so many of the women in the Bible are barren women? Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, (the wives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). Then Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist in the New Testament. It is like being barren is a prerequisite for having a son that will be used greatly of God. As I meditated on this I realized that we are all barren before God visits us with His spirit and gives us life. Before that we cannot reproduce life. Once He is in us we give forth life everywhere we go.
This angel appears to Manoah's wife (apparently her name was not of significance) and told her she was going to conceive a son who was going to be a Nazarite from birth. He would deliver Israel from the Philistines. A Nazarite is a person separated unto the Lord. He can't drink wine or liquor, or eat grapes, raisins or anything unclean. He can't cut his hair, or come near a dead body, even if it is someone in his immediate family. He is to be holy to the Lord. (Num. 6)
Manoah missed the meeting with the angel so he asked for another one because he had some questions. God's angel came back and answered all his questions. Then, Manoah offered a sacrifice and the angel consumed it with fire and disappeared in the fire. How is that for the dramatic!
His wife got pregnant and conceived Sampson which means "a ray of sunlight". Then in the last verse it says , "And the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol. "Zorah" means a stinging hornet and Eshtaol means "intreaty". So it looks to me like God is saying that in between the times of his judgement (the stinging hornet) and their calling out (intreating) to Him that God began to move in their midst.
Lord, you saw us in our barrenness and put life in us through Your son, Jesus. We are so grateful. Let all that we do birth life to those around us. Let us be a ray of sunlight in someone's life today.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
A Little with God is a Lot!
Tues. Devo -
Read Judges 7:1-25
In verse 1 they camped by the well of Harod. Interestingly "Harod" means fountain of trembling. It was here that God told Gideon to tell the ones that were afraid to go home. Out of 32,000; there remained 10,000. God then told Gideon to come down to the water and He was going to weed out more. God only wanted 300 which is probably just enough to encircle the Midianite camp. God knew none of these men were going to have to fight, but they were going to need great courage to trust God to do what God was going to ask them to do.
I can't imagine what was going through Gideon's mind at this time... 300 against millions!!! How was God going to do this? God was so merciful to Gideon and knew he needed another "word" to encourage him. He told him to go down to the Midianite camp that night and just listen to what was being said. He did and heard a man talking about a dream he had dreamed. A piece of bread tumbled down into the Midianite camp and destroyed the camp. They knew that this was Gideon, to whom God was going to give victory over them. That piece of bread was the word of God, the bread of life that God sent down to defeat them.
Gideon went back, full of God's strength and called an attack. He gave each man a trumpet, a clay jar and a torch to go inside the clay jar. They surrounded the camp. Gideon blew his trumpet which probably woke them up then the rest of them blew there trumpets. What a sound!!! I bet they were scared spitless! Then they heard a huge bang as all the men broke their pitchers then a huge blast of light. I bet they thought aliens had landed. They jumped out of bed and ran around killing themselves. Gideon's army pursued them and the rest of the soldiers that were not with Gideon chased them and killed them.
Read Judges 7:1-25
In verse 1 they camped by the well of Harod. Interestingly "Harod" means fountain of trembling. It was here that God told Gideon to tell the ones that were afraid to go home. Out of 32,000; there remained 10,000. God then told Gideon to come down to the water and He was going to weed out more. God only wanted 300 which is probably just enough to encircle the Midianite camp. God knew none of these men were going to have to fight, but they were going to need great courage to trust God to do what God was going to ask them to do.
I can't imagine what was going through Gideon's mind at this time... 300 against millions!!! How was God going to do this? God was so merciful to Gideon and knew he needed another "word" to encourage him. He told him to go down to the Midianite camp that night and just listen to what was being said. He did and heard a man talking about a dream he had dreamed. A piece of bread tumbled down into the Midianite camp and destroyed the camp. They knew that this was Gideon, to whom God was going to give victory over them. That piece of bread was the word of God, the bread of life that God sent down to defeat them.
Gideon went back, full of God's strength and called an attack. He gave each man a trumpet, a clay jar and a torch to go inside the clay jar. They surrounded the camp. Gideon blew his trumpet which probably woke them up then the rest of them blew there trumpets. What a sound!!! I bet they were scared spitless! Then they heard a huge bang as all the men broke their pitchers then a huge blast of light. I bet they thought aliens had landed. They jumped out of bed and ran around killing themselves. Gideon's army pursued them and the rest of the soldiers that were not with Gideon chased them and killed them.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Monday's Devotion - Repentence Precedes Deliverance
Read Judges 6:27-40
In verse 26 God told Gideon to build an altar out of the wood from the grove he was to cut down. This grove was the altar of Baal and Ashtorah. He did it at night because he was afraid of his own people. When they woke up the next day and found out who did it his father is the one who stepped up to defend him. He doesn't sound like a "might warrior" yet... still a little timid, afraid of man.
In order for God to be able to deliver the Israelites He dealt with their sin first. Repentence precedes deliverance. Their sin was following other gods. Once Gideon cut them down by the root, God was able to do His part, which is the miraculous part. And Gideon emerged a different man.
It verse 34 we find a different Gideon because the "Spirit of the Lord" came upon him. He blew a trumpet (he made a sound with his mouth) and Abiezer was "gathered after him." "Ezer" is a word that describes the Holy Spirit. It means our "helper". "Gathered after him" means the Holy Spirit cried out for him. He had his back. Gideon called for men out of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali. That is he took with him Asher: joy and righteousness. Zebulun: his intimacy with God. Naphtali: his warrior spirit.
Then he asks for confirmation. He always gets a bum wrap for his fleeces but I don't think we have understood this correctly. God never got mad at him for asking for a sign. God is patient and honors his request. I think it is always wise to seek counsel, confirmation, etc. when God has given us an assignment. Gideon's decision was going to affect many lives and he wanted to be sure before he leaped. Proverbs has a lot to say about seeking counsel. Gideon didn't go to his friends for counsel, he went straight to God for his answer. God loves this. It is all about the relationship and Gideon was developing an intimate trust in God.
If you can't seem to defeat your enemy, maybe you left out the stage where you cut down your idols and repented. Or maybe you need to gather the strength of the Holy Spirit around you. Have you girded yourself with joy, intimacy with God, and the confidence to use the Word of God? If you have done all this and you are still afraid, ask God for a sign. He is with you and will hear your request and answer you.
In verse 26 God told Gideon to build an altar out of the wood from the grove he was to cut down. This grove was the altar of Baal and Ashtorah. He did it at night because he was afraid of his own people. When they woke up the next day and found out who did it his father is the one who stepped up to defend him. He doesn't sound like a "might warrior" yet... still a little timid, afraid of man.
In order for God to be able to deliver the Israelites He dealt with their sin first. Repentence precedes deliverance. Their sin was following other gods. Once Gideon cut them down by the root, God was able to do His part, which is the miraculous part. And Gideon emerged a different man.
It verse 34 we find a different Gideon because the "Spirit of the Lord" came upon him. He blew a trumpet (he made a sound with his mouth) and Abiezer was "gathered after him." "Ezer" is a word that describes the Holy Spirit. It means our "helper". "Gathered after him" means the Holy Spirit cried out for him. He had his back. Gideon called for men out of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali. That is he took with him Asher: joy and righteousness. Zebulun: his intimacy with God. Naphtali: his warrior spirit.
Then he asks for confirmation. He always gets a bum wrap for his fleeces but I don't think we have understood this correctly. God never got mad at him for asking for a sign. God is patient and honors his request. I think it is always wise to seek counsel, confirmation, etc. when God has given us an assignment. Gideon's decision was going to affect many lives and he wanted to be sure before he leaped. Proverbs has a lot to say about seeking counsel. Gideon didn't go to his friends for counsel, he went straight to God for his answer. God loves this. It is all about the relationship and Gideon was developing an intimate trust in God.
If you can't seem to defeat your enemy, maybe you left out the stage where you cut down your idols and repented. Or maybe you need to gather the strength of the Holy Spirit around you. Have you girded yourself with joy, intimacy with God, and the confidence to use the Word of God? If you have done all this and you are still afraid, ask God for a sign. He is with you and will hear your request and answer you.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Friday's devo - God's Economy
Friday Devo -
Read Judges 6:11-26
The Midianite armies came in like locusts, killing all their livestock, eating or burning all their fields so that they were reduced to poverty. Gideon is hiding oout in the winepress threshing his grain, which is not where you would normally thresh grain. A winepress is underground and hidden. This is where the angel finds him. The angel calls him a "mighty man of valor". I'm sure Gideon did not feel like he was a mighty man in any way. He was a hungry, scared, lonely man with little hope for his people or his family. God always sees us as what He can do through us; not as we are in ourselves. He is mighty and can be mighty through us. All we have to do is obey. Gideon's response is so typical: "Who am I? My family is poor and I am the least of my family." Notice how God loves to choose the least likely. Remember when Samuel was looking for the next king of Israel and God sent him to Jesse who brought out his 7 sons. God told Samuel not to look on the outward appearance because God looks at the heart. After all 7 had passed in front of Samuel and God said "no" to each of them. He asked Jesse if he had another son. Jesse remembered David, the youngest who was out tending the sheep. Samuel told him to go get him. When he saw him God said, "Arise, anoint him for this is he."
Look at who Jesus chose for his disciples: most of them were the lowest of society. This should encourage us. If we think we are worthy, we need to humble ourselves. If we think we are unworthy, we need to put our confidence in God and GO.
In vs. 19 when Gideon perceived that he was talking to the angel of God he went and killed a goat and made unleavened bread and prepared broth. A big sacrifice seeing they were starving. Later in vs. 25 he kills a young bull. God always asks of us what we think we need. They needed food. But most of all, they needed to be free from their enemy. A sacrifice needs to cost us something for it to be a sacrifice. God was going to give them back much more than they lost.
What do you need God to do for you? What is he asking from you? Our church is going through a building program in the midst of financial disaster in our country. I love it!!! Whose economy are we a part of? I am in God's economy and have invested in His savings program. He never, never, never runs out of money, oil, land, food, gas, or anything. He is my banker and I will not let the world's economy rob me of my peace.
Lord, give us your vision of our future. Let us see "the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."
Read Judges 6:11-26
The Midianite armies came in like locusts, killing all their livestock, eating or burning all their fields so that they were reduced to poverty. Gideon is hiding oout in the winepress threshing his grain, which is not where you would normally thresh grain. A winepress is underground and hidden. This is where the angel finds him. The angel calls him a "mighty man of valor". I'm sure Gideon did not feel like he was a mighty man in any way. He was a hungry, scared, lonely man with little hope for his people or his family. God always sees us as what He can do through us; not as we are in ourselves. He is mighty and can be mighty through us. All we have to do is obey. Gideon's response is so typical: "Who am I? My family is poor and I am the least of my family." Notice how God loves to choose the least likely. Remember when Samuel was looking for the next king of Israel and God sent him to Jesse who brought out his 7 sons. God told Samuel not to look on the outward appearance because God looks at the heart. After all 7 had passed in front of Samuel and God said "no" to each of them. He asked Jesse if he had another son. Jesse remembered David, the youngest who was out tending the sheep. Samuel told him to go get him. When he saw him God said, "Arise, anoint him for this is he."
Look at who Jesus chose for his disciples: most of them were the lowest of society. This should encourage us. If we think we are worthy, we need to humble ourselves. If we think we are unworthy, we need to put our confidence in God and GO.
In vs. 19 when Gideon perceived that he was talking to the angel of God he went and killed a goat and made unleavened bread and prepared broth. A big sacrifice seeing they were starving. Later in vs. 25 he kills a young bull. God always asks of us what we think we need. They needed food. But most of all, they needed to be free from their enemy. A sacrifice needs to cost us something for it to be a sacrifice. God was going to give them back much more than they lost.
What do you need God to do for you? What is he asking from you? Our church is going through a building program in the midst of financial disaster in our country. I love it!!! Whose economy are we a part of? I am in God's economy and have invested in His savings program. He never, never, never runs out of money, oil, land, food, gas, or anything. He is my banker and I will not let the world's economy rob me of my peace.
Lord, give us your vision of our future. Let us see "the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thursday's devotion - Vicious Cycles
Read Judges 6:1-10
The children of Israel are repeating their vicious cycle: they turn away from God, God sends enemies and hard times to drive them back to him, they call out to God, he delivers them. What a tragedy.
Why can't they just stay close to him? Why do they have to turn to Baal and Ashtorah all the time? You would think they would learn their lesson.
This sounds a little too familiar. I can find myself sidetracked by my schedule, worries about my kids, you know: those little foxes. Song of Solomon talks about the little foxes that spoil the vines. I don't have to fight turning away from God completly, I just have to fight the distractions like the temptation to worry or get stressed. Jesus said, Don't worry about tommorrow because tomorrow has enough to worry about. There has to be a road we can travel on that is above all this. There is! It's called "walking in the spirit and not fulfilling the desires of the flesh". Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. When we get busy in our routine of stress: look up! There is a higher road. Jump up on it. It is the road of peace, joy, and fulfillment. Jesus walks on that road and is a constant companion.
Lord, grow us beyond the cycle of the Israelites. We want to consistently walk with you, putting all our cares on you because you care for us. Make us like little children in our faith, but men in our strength. We love you.
The children of Israel are repeating their vicious cycle: they turn away from God, God sends enemies and hard times to drive them back to him, they call out to God, he delivers them. What a tragedy.
Why can't they just stay close to him? Why do they have to turn to Baal and Ashtorah all the time? You would think they would learn their lesson.
This sounds a little too familiar. I can find myself sidetracked by my schedule, worries about my kids, you know: those little foxes. Song of Solomon talks about the little foxes that spoil the vines. I don't have to fight turning away from God completly, I just have to fight the distractions like the temptation to worry or get stressed. Jesus said, Don't worry about tommorrow because tomorrow has enough to worry about. There has to be a road we can travel on that is above all this. There is! It's called "walking in the spirit and not fulfilling the desires of the flesh". Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. When we get busy in our routine of stress: look up! There is a higher road. Jump up on it. It is the road of peace, joy, and fulfillment. Jesus walks on that road and is a constant companion.
Lord, grow us beyond the cycle of the Israelites. We want to consistently walk with you, putting all our cares on you because you care for us. Make us like little children in our faith, but men in our strength. We love you.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Wed. Devo - We win!!!
Read Judges 5: 19-31
We have a lot to cover today! This battle is fought where the very last battle: the Battle of Armaggedon will be fought. Let's look at the similarities:
1. vs. 19 - the enemy gets to take no spoils. In the last battle the enemy will be thrown into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:9-10.
2. vs. 20 - this is a spiritual battle that will be fought in the heavens and also in the earth. In the last battle fire will come down from heaven and devour the enemy. Rev. 20:9.
3. vs. 24-27 - WE WIN!!! Jael acts as God. She nails Sisera's temple to the ground. "Temple" means "evil". She puts to death evil and sin with a nail. Rev. 20: 14 says that Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.
Back to our story: Sisera's mother is waiting for him to come home. When he doesn't, she decides it is because he is busy dividing the spoil among his men. She dreams of when he will walk in and adorn her with beautiful robes. She is deceived. The devil is the biggest deceiver. He promises us things he never intends to deliver. He has no friends and is loyal to noone, even his own demons. He will tempt you to hold on to a dream that he never intends to fulfill. God is the exact opposite of that. He promises something then moves heaven and earth to fulfill it. What has God promised you that has not come to pass? Hold on to it. Find a promise in God's Word and hold on to it.
I love the last verse. "May all those who love you rise like the sun in all its. power." Lord, help us to shine the fullness of your light today.
We have a lot to cover today! This battle is fought where the very last battle: the Battle of Armaggedon will be fought. Let's look at the similarities:
1. vs. 19 - the enemy gets to take no spoils. In the last battle the enemy will be thrown into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:9-10.
2. vs. 20 - this is a spiritual battle that will be fought in the heavens and also in the earth. In the last battle fire will come down from heaven and devour the enemy. Rev. 20:9.
3. vs. 24-27 - WE WIN!!! Jael acts as God. She nails Sisera's temple to the ground. "Temple" means "evil". She puts to death evil and sin with a nail. Rev. 20: 14 says that Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.
Back to our story: Sisera's mother is waiting for him to come home. When he doesn't, she decides it is because he is busy dividing the spoil among his men. She dreams of when he will walk in and adorn her with beautiful robes. She is deceived. The devil is the biggest deceiver. He promises us things he never intends to deliver. He has no friends and is loyal to noone, even his own demons. He will tempt you to hold on to a dream that he never intends to fulfill. God is the exact opposite of that. He promises something then moves heaven and earth to fulfill it. What has God promised you that has not come to pass? Hold on to it. Find a promise in God's Word and hold on to it.
I love the last verse. "May all those who love you rise like the sun in all its. power." Lord, help us to shine the fullness of your light today.
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