Judges 15 - Samson Avenges Himself on the Philistines

Judges 15

Then Samson said,

“With the jawbone of a donkey,

Heaps upon heaps,

With the jawbone of a donkey

I have killed a thousand men.”

Message: Samson Avenges Himself on the Philistines

Time: Judges covers about 250 years from death of Joshua to birth of Samuel (1360-1110 BC). The people of Israel largely divided with different local triable judges. It was a period of stirring interventions by the Lord and also great disobedience on the part of the Israelites. Without a king, everyone did right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). 

What the Lord is Saying: As I continue to study Joshua and now Judges, one thing that stands out is while God used these men and worked his will through them, many of the men he used were not necessarily men of piety that I am to emulate. It also makes sense that in the last 20 years, there have been biblical like TV shows chronicling these individuals and to good reason, they lived sordid lives. They had difficulty often with temptations from women that we have today. They did not stay true to God's ways but entered into relationships with people of the world. On one level, their imperfect ways is encouraging for me, for I am far from perfect. Somewhere in Joshua I recorded that certain leaders from tribes allowed the non-Israelites to remain in the land. 

The Philistines are one of those groups that remained. Samson's first wife, Timnah, was a Philistine, though he later abandons her. 

This chapter begins with a back and forth of fighting fire with fire. It starts with Samson approaching the abandoned wife, Timnah, bringing a gift of a young goat, and wanting to sleep with his wife. But the father intercedes with the idea, "That ship has sailed but I can offer her younger sister." Samson doesn't like that idea. He therefore plans an attack, grabbing foxes, torches between the tails, end to end, lighting fire to the torches and releasing the foxes to run and burn themselves and the all of the crops. Naturally, the people did not like this. They find out the reason for him doing this is vengeance toward his wife and her father for not getting what he believes is his. The Philistines then kill the father and daughter. Samson did not like that and responded by striking many people and then hid in a cleft of a rock (1-8). Samson's remark, "As they did to me, so I have done to them" (v. 11). 

The Philistine go to Judah but Judah shows up to Samson wondering why the Philistines have been come to them with anger when the Philistines rule over them. Samson agrees to allow Judah to tie him up and hand him over to the Philistines. But the Lord was not done with Samson. His death probably loomed so the Spirit of the Lord came upon him (v. 14) and used a jawbone from a donkey to kill a thousand men. He goes to the Lord for provision of water and the Lord makes a way for him to have water and his strength returned to him. 

There is a good way to serve the Lord and a not so good way. I am not to emulate this episode in Samson's life. There is also the reminder, that God's will is to be done, no matter what the circumstances appear. God is in control. I think he obviously prefers Godly people, but either way he will carry out his purposes. His plan is bigger than we can see. 

Summary: Samson and the Philistines fight fire with fire. Eventually, Samson prevails, but only because of the Spirit of the Lord giving him the power. 

Promise: The Lord redeems us and uses us despite our sin. 

Prayer: You are Lord of All, God. I believe we need to be a people that honors you at all times, but your ways will occur whether we are faithful in all the areas we need to be. You choose your people to be your people. You have a purpose in that. I admit, it is not always clear. Maybe it seems clearer today amongst many because of the morality of the day, but there continue to be men of God that falter - struggling with sexual sin and/or other types of vices in their lives that often cause hurt and pain to many around them. I am not to condone that behavior and yet the work you have done through them is not null and void. Our culture does get caught up in cancelling them and everything they did and have done, but you still do great deeds through people who sin. I pray that people would see that your will is to be done. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 7:37-39 - Rivers of Living Water

John 7:37-39

37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, "From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water." 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 

Message: Rivers of Living Water

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus is still in Jerusalem and the Feast of Booths is happening and this verse mentions the last day of that festival or the 8th day. This means we can think of Chapter 7:10 till now to be 8 days. On this last day Jesus says words that he has spoken previously from John 4 about being the living water but He also seems to quote from Scripture. And John comments in verse 39 that Jesus is speaking of the Spirit, the Spirit that was coming to indwell in people. 

As a reminder, the Feast of Booths celebration was focused on remembering God's faithfulness in sheltering the people of Israel while in the wilderness. In Numbers 11, God promises through Moses that the Spirit will come upon the people of Israel. And the provision of water was also characteristic of God's work with the Israelites. 

And so Jesus, as He has spoken before, declares that the provision of water or the source of water is He Himself. One is to believe in Jesus. The quote that Jesus gives here is nowhere found in Scripture. And yet the thought is present in the Old Testament:

• Exodus 17:6 - “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
• Numbers 20:11 - Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank.
• Psalm 114:8 - Who turned the rock into a pool of water, The flint into a fountain of water.
• Isaiah 44:3 - For I will pour out water on the thirsty land And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants;
• Isaiah 55:1 - “Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost."
• Isaiah 58:11 - “And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.
• Joel 2:23 - So rejoice, O sons of Zion, And be glad in the LORD your God; For He has given you the early rain for your vindication. And He has poured down for you the rain, The early and latter rain as before.
• Joel 3:18 - And in that day The mountains will drip with sweet wine, And the hills will flow with milk, And all the brooks of Judah will flow with water; And a spring will go out from the house of the LORD To water the valley of Shittim.
• Ezekiel 47:1 - Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar.
• Ezekiel 47:12 - “By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”
• Zechariah 13:1 - “By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”
• Zechariah 14:8 - And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter.

And so it is fitting that Jesus calls Himself the living water and yet He shows that He is the source of the living water. Water that everyone needs and wants and provides for us. And yet today, maybe it is hard for us to be affected by these words, especially in the western world, in which we have water in abundance and perhaps take it for granted. Because of that provision that is already overflowing, do we struggle comprehending the full meaning of this or maybe we miss the full impact because of all that we have? I wonder. 

The Rivers of Living Water is the abundant provision that will not come about until the Spirit descends into people's lives following Jesus' ascension. And it speaks in verse 38 that this provision of living water will be from his innermost being. Or in King James, from his belly. As such there will be spiritual blessings that will flow forth from the believer in Jesus. There will be good works of abundance coming from this person in Christ. We will be a people full of blessings, overflowing generosity. We will be a people helping other people in many ways, providing for their needs, their health and well-being. As in birthing hospitals and aiding people when disasters hit. While Christ is the source, the people of God will be the conduits. The people of God will be the working on this earth of all of this flowing river. Rivers are incredible to me because they are constantly in flow. The source is not always apparent but under the ground and yet it keeps coming. 

Summary: Jesus is the source of living water, providing life to those who believe in Him and the waters will flow in the form of blessings to many people, continually. 

Promise: We ourselves are not sources of living water, but Christ empowers us by His Spirit and works through us to bless others. 

Prayer: Lord, I want to be eager for You to use me in this way, blessing others, from the source of living water that You provide. I see rivers and streams and waterfalls that flow with power and flow continually and it reminds me of the power of giving and helping those in need. And providing others what they need. You are the source of giving and life and all that is good. Even as my atheist friend shares of the way he helps a young man with learning difficulties, you are still the source of all of this. Our spirit enjoys this and is impacted by this. Help him to realize the source of this giving. You work God, not only in believers, but continually in people's lives. May more people recognize You as the source of Life and believe in You. 

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John 3:21 - Doing the Truth

John 3:21 

But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.

Message: Doing the Truth

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Nicodemus has come to Jesus realizing that for Jesus to do signs and wonders He must be from God. Jesus quickly points him the past signs and wonders and tells him the real focus of why He is on this earth - to show people that they must be born again and to be born again is a move of the Spirit in people's lives. Jesus has come from heaven to earth to lift people and what people must do is believe in Him. And in this belief they will have eternal life. Jesus is here on this earth to save people from their darkness. He is the Light. But most people are concerned about being exposed for who they are so so they resist the Light because they can't see past themselves. 

And now we move to today's verse which seems to be the culmination of the thought. Christ followers are those who are born again by the act of the Spirit (born of the Spirit) and this is seen by other people in how they practice truth. It reminds me of the words of James. We are "show me" people. We show people our faith by our works (James 2:18). It is those that practice truth which come to the Light. And it is in these deeds that people will see we are wrought from God. Again, this is not how we are saved. Saving is done by Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross and resurrection through His Love (John 3:16). But people get to that point by the Spirit of God and being born by Him. And all of these deeds that we do don't give us glory, but rather they give God the glory. 

It is so clear. If people can look past themselves and practice truth then they will see that exposing themselves will actually free themselves. They need to see that they are totally accepted by God. 

Practicing the truth is wrapped up in love. Romans 13:8-10, "8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT COVET” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

It is not practicing truth alone. It is practicing the truth and coming to the Light. Jesus sacrifices. The Spirit awakens. We practice truth. And we got toward the Light. 

This is a phenomenon to me. We are not saved by our works. Our works show that we are saved and that God has done a good work in us. We must never get wrapped up in works based righteousness for it can't be about us. Throughout this body of Scripture, it has never been about us. It is about Him. He creates. He lives. He is the one to get the Glory. Once we recognize that this is what we are about, seeing ourselves as sinner, life is never more free. "Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner." Oh, for us to really embrace this. For all people to embrace this simple fact that they are sinners. 

It is interesting we often think that people must voice the sinners pray. Actually, they are already saved and this prayer simple helps us know the work that God has already done in this person. Praise God. 

Summary: We must expose ourselves to God, admitting we are sinners and run to the Light, believing, and we are saved and God gets all the glory. 

Promise: Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior.

Prayer: O God, Wow! Your word is so amazing. Thank you for John and bringing amazing clarity to the Word of God and truth and what salvation is and looks like. Lord, no idea why you did it but you get all the glory in saving me. You have shown me the light. Just keep working in me to get out of the way helping me to accept more and more each day that I am a sinner. Thank you for the joy of being your laborer. Get me off my butt and speaking truth to others. Expose people. I pray more and more would admit they are sinners. And then keep on repeating this all the way to Glory. 

Jesus Calling: January 23

It's all right to be human. When  your mind wanders while you are praying, don't be surprised or upset. Simply return your attention to Me. Share a secret smile with Me, knowing that I understand. Rejoice in My Love for you, which has no limits or conditions. Whisper My Name in loving contentment, assured that I will never leave you or forsake you. Intersperse these peaceful interludes abundantly throughout your day. This practice will enable you to attain a quiet and gentle spirit, which is pleasing to Me.
     As you live in close contact with Me, the Light of My Presence filters through you to bless others. Your weakness and woundedness are the openings through which the Light of the knowledge of My Glory shines forth. My strength and power show themselves most effective in your weakness. 

Deuteronomy 31:6
English Standard Version
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

1 Peter 3:4
English Standard Version
4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. 

2 Corinthians 4:6-7
English Standard Version
⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

2 Corinthians 12:9
Amplified Version
⁹ but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me.

My Prayer
Lord, help me to realize that often getting distracted when I pray is okay and normal and the important thing is to keep going and just get back on track. Thank you that you are always focused on me. That you look at me without any distractions. This is hard for me to fathom that you know me like that and you know all people, throughout eternity in the same way. This reminds me Lord how you are infinite while I am finite. I have limits. You do not. 

I can rest in You. You can work through me, no matter what. You don't need in me, a fully functioning vessel that is healthy and has no deformities. You can work through any vessel and you do. You are the potter, we are the clay and it is your glory that reminds us that you work through all different types of vehicle. Thank you for that beautiful picture. Thank you for showing me that and help me to praise You continually. 

I can be strong and courageous. Not because of my own ability, but because the Lord goes with me and he will not leave me nor forsake me. The beauty of me is that you are in me. The light can shine through any vessel. You are there, no matter the situation. It is in my weakness that your power shows forth the most. So keep me humble. Keep me aligned with you. Help me to not be trained like this world is trained thinking that survival of the fittest is the ideal and the success and money and health are what brings rest and peace. Peace is only found in You. 


Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author. 

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Romans 8:10-11 - The Life-Giving Spirit

Romans 8:10-11 - 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Message:The Life-Giving Spirit

Time: This book was probably written between 56 and 57 B.C. Paul was in Greece, probably Corinth when he wrote. It was sent to Gentile believers, but also believers with a strong Jewish element.

What the Lord is Saying:

Review and Reflection
I continue to look at and examine the Spirit of God in my life. Sanctification has been the theme in Chapter 6-8. Sanctification being the process of Christ making us holy and separate from the world and our flesh. In Christ, we are new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:21), but that doesn't mean that we always act like new creatures. The challenge in my life is to live in the same way that God now sees me. I have been freed from sin, so I should live free from sin. The Law has no more dominion over me so I should live like the Law has no more dominion over Me. I still have sinful tendencies and still have the Law of sin and death tendencies, but the Spirit of God is alive in me and I need to submit to it so as to live in the way I have been intended to live.


I have been watching my daughter wrestle with this of late. She is living in two different worlds. On the one hand, as a believer in Christ, she loves and enjoys time with her friends that share her faith. She likes to grow in knowledge of God. She reads verses and has a thirst for it. And yet she still has her friends and boyfriend that don't share her beliefs. She enjoys her time with them and feels the love and acceptance from them, that sometimes I think she sees is missing from those at church. Church people often evaluate us and watch us to make sure we are aligned with truth, and when we aren't, they put up their guard and begin to sort of judge us. The judging is not bad. We need it. But, it is difficult nevertheless. It is hard to live in two different worlds. And I can see that my daughter is wrestling with this. It is kind of like a tennis match in her life, not so much like the one mentioned at the end of Chapter 7, but sort of similar.

The Spirit is Alive
The Spirit is Alive in the life of those who are in Christ. Romans 3:22 and 3:30 mention that righteousness is imputed to people by believing; by having faith. This is how Christ becomes in me. When I have faith and believe in what Christ has done from me, then sin is dead, but the spirit is alive.

And yet, do I live dead to sin all the time? No. Do I live alive in the spirit all the time? No. Yet, by being in Christ I am dead to sin and I am alive. Why? Because Christ is in me. Christ is my righteousness. I am alive because of righteousness being imputed to me.

The Spirit Dwells in Us
"If the Spirit of Him who raise Jesus" is a reference to the Father. It was God the Father who raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:24; I Corinthians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 4:14). The Spirit does not simply make a visit in the life of a believer but dwells or takes up residence in the life of the believer. The resurrection confirms two truths: (1) the resurrection of Christ and (2) The indwelling of the Spirit.

Promise: From Tabletalk, June 9, "The absence of the Spirit proves that the Lord has not justified us, and without justification, there is no life. But if we have been justified, then we do have the Spirit, and though our physical bodies still die, this death is no longer for our transgression as it is for the unbeliever; rather it serves to evidence the fact that God has not yet removed the presence of sin from us."

Romans 8:9 - The Indwelling Spirit of God

Romans 8:9 - However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Message: The Indwelling of the Spirit of God in Me

Time: This book was probably written between 56 and 57 B.C. Paul was in Greece, probably Corinth when he wrote. It was sent to Gentile believers, but also believers with a strong Jewish element.

What the Lord is Saying:

Review
The end of chapter 7 seemed to show a contrast being the Law and the Mind. That, as new creatures in Christ, we want to fulfill the Law, but we still have sinful tendencies. Chapter 8 seems to be contrasting a life lived in the flesh versus a life lived according to the Spirit.

If the Spirit Dwells in You.
Obviously, one of the more contentious applications in the Scripture is whether the Spirit of God is immediately a part of the believers life upon believing in Christ for our salvation or if there is some separate act whereby the influence of the Spirit comes into our life. That there is some type of indwelling that must take place.

Up to this point, there has been nothing about Paul's words to make it sound like there is some separate act. Romans 8:2 mentions "the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death." Romans 7:6 states that I have been released from the Law and serve in the Spirit. It is the Spirit that produces righteous living in my life. In reading chapter 7, verses 14-25 it speaks of this conflict between two natures. Verse 14, "The Law is spiritual, I am of flesh." When I don't do what I want, sin dwells in me (verse 20). So, even in the life of the Christian, there can be an indwelling of sin. And it culminates in verse 25 by reminding me that I am new in Christ. And because of being new I have a new mind. And I can serve the Law of God. But, I still have sinful tendencies.

So, what do I learn from chapter 7. I learn that I was made to die to the Law. I was made to be released from the requirements of the Law. I was made to be joined to Christ. And when I am joined, I might bear fruit for God. I don't like that word "might" because might is not definite but infers an option. The King James Version uses the word "should" which doesn't take on that much of a different meaning. I am to bring forth fruit and I can't bring forth fruit when I entwined with the doing the Law. Verse 6 seems to be clear that I have been released from the requirement of the Law, namely that I have been released from the Law being the judge and jury in my life. And now, I am to walk in newness of the Spirit. The rest of chapter 7 shows me two things: The importance of the Law to show me I'm a sinner and therefore, show me the need for a Savior. And also that in the life of a Christian there are two natures. Again, have I done anything to answer the question of whether or not the Spirit dwelling in me is automatic or a separate act? I don't think so. Not in chapter 7.

What happened in the previous chapter? Chapter 6 showed me that in Christ I am freed from sin (verse 7). In Christ my old self or ways have been crucified. But in 6:4 I see something familiar in the wording, "That i might walk in newness of life." So might could also mean a choice. I have a choice as to how I will walk. Consider myself dead to sin (verse 11). I have a choice as to how I live. Even though God sees me as dead to sin (verse 10, 11). God wants me to see myself the same way he sees me.

So, don't give sin the light of day (verse 12). Don't choose sin. In Chapter 6, the Spirit is not mentioned. The Flesh is mentioned one time to remind us that we are weak in the flesh (verse 19). People of grace are not to let sin be master over them for grace is contrary to sin. Obedience to the Law results in sin. But, people of grace are different.

But, I go back to my question, is there something separate about having a spirit dwell in me? Is there some separate act or is the indwelling of the spirit automatic? I don't know. I still don't see an answer to this in chapter 6 and 7. Again, Romans 8 speaks of living in the flesh versus living in the Spirit. A person is new in Christ but that doesn't mean a person lives in the Spirit. That's what I'm wondering.

In Chapter 5, I do have peace with God (verse 1). But, justification is definitely different from sanctification.

No Spirit, then you are not in Him
The end of verse 9 is therefore the part that confused me more, maybe. It says, "if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him." Clearly, I belong to Him. That has been established in the previous chapters upon my belief in Christ at the end of chapter 3. So, I do belong to Him. So, therefore, I have the Spirit of Christ. But, is having the spirit of Christ different from the indwelling of the Spirit. And if so, how does one, have this indwelling? Clearly, this is something I want so that I am not living in the flesh. The flesh cannot please God. So, I don't want the flesh. I don't want to serve the flesh. I don't want to obey sin. 

I don't think I have a conclusion at the moment. I have confused myself a little. 

One thing that does seem to be clear is that there is a new way of living. Don't let sin reign in me (chapter 6). I have peace with God (Chapter 5). The Law has no hold on me (chapter 7). Non-flesh living is Spirit living. So, if I have the Spirit of God do I also have the indwelling of the Spirit? It seems true that i have the Spirit of God upon conversion. I don't want sin. I don't want to be in the flesh. I want to live according to the Spirit.

Promise: The Spirit in Me is important for living not in the flesh.