For The Love of...

To be in but not of

Judges (Reflections: Samson and Culture Wars, Then and Now)

The people of God have always been tempted to reflect culture instead of transforming it, but perhaps the temptation is greater in North America today than at any other time or place in the history of God’s people

Jerry McCann Jr Interpretation Commentary: Judges

In our desire to transform our world/culture we must guard against unintentionally reflecting the values and traits of it.

Our call is to be faithful.

This is the task of all of us. The book of Judges serves as a reminder of the struggle the people of God have always had with this calling and task. The book fo Judges also helps us to see where we may lose our faithfulness and not know it.

Judges 17:6

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did what was right in their own eyes.

Samson was to be different.

This is the essence of his Nazirite vow. We are called to be different. This is no easy task. Samson was called to be faithful to Yahweh alone.

The lure of sin.

Yet sin is very tricky. Throughout chapters 14-16 we see the subtle tricks of sin. This is especially true in regards to sex and sexuality. For you young kids, the things you can see online may promise secrecy, relaxation and enjoyment but it will only end up leading to imprisonment. Porn/Internet addiction is as real today as it was for Samson.

God’s grace is greater than sin.

In our devotions this week, www.fbcstparis.com/devotion, we will read the great passage of Romans 6 and how Paul states the greatness of God’s grace but reminds us to not sin just so grace will be shown.

I believe that Samson squandered God’s gift, call, and power. Yet in spite of this we read in Judges 14.4; 19; 15.14; 16.28.

For the love of self.

This was the motto of Samson. Personal wants, desires triumph over others. He constantly saving himself but never saving others. Personal vengeance over seeking God’s justice. This is the way of the world and our culture, especially western culture.

For the love of security.

This was the motto of the tribe of Judah. Judges 15.11 gives us this concept. They remark:

Judges 15:9–11 NIV

The Philistines went up and camped in Judah, spreading out near Lehi. The people of Judah asked, “Why have you come to fight us?” “We have come to take Samson prisoner,” they answered, “to do to him as he did to us.” Then three thousand men from Judah went down to the cave in the rock of Etam and said to Samson, “Don’t you realize that the Philistines are rulers over us? What have you done to us?” He answered, “I merely did to them what they did to me.”

We cannot thwart God’s plan.

This is the truth of Samson’s story. God will always accomplish what He desires. It is because God is faithful and gracious that we do not thwart His plan.

But we can squander His grace.

The challenge for us is that we do not minimize nor squander the great grace of God. We may have a great calling, great natural abilities, knowledge and intellect greater than any other but if we do not rely on the grace of Christ we will miss it.

For the love of Christ alone.

Above all else we must submit to Christ and Christ alone. This is not an easy task at times. In fact it requires we die to self every single day.