DAY 1 – November 9, 2009

TITLE: “DESIRES”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 14:1-6 & 15:11-19

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 14:1-3

KEY VERSE: “…I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.” Judges 14:2

Samson was overcome by desire. Having seen a young Philistine woman in Timnah, he told his father to get her for him to be his wife. His parents did not see her as acceptable and urged him to find a woman from among the relatives or his people. However, his desire won out.

Desire can be a powerful influence in our lives. James wrote, “But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:14-15

Years ago now, Major V. Gilber, in the book, The Last Crusade, gave an account of the British Liberation of Palestine. It is a story of duty overcoming desire. Driving up from Beersheba, a combined force of British, Australians, and New Zealanders, were pressing on the rear of the Turkish retreat over Arid Desert. The attack outdistanced its water carrying camel train. Water bottles were empty. The sun blazed pitilessly out of a sky where the vultures wheeled expectantly. 

"Our heads ached," writes Gilbert, "and our eyes became bloodshot and dim in the blinding glare...Our tongues began to swell...Our lips turned a purplish black and burst." Those who dropped out of the column were never seen again, but the desperate force battled on to Sheria. There were wells at Sheria, and had they been unable to take the place by nightfall, thousands were doomed to die of thirst. "We fought that day," writes Gilbert, "as men fight for their lives... We entered Sheria station on the heels of the retreating Turks. The first objects which met our view were the great stone cisterns full of cold, clear, drinking water. In the still night air the sound of water running into the tanks could be distinctly heard, maddening in its nearness; yet not a man murmured when orders were given for the battalions to fall in, two deep, facing the cisterns." 

He then describes the stern priorities: the wounded, those on guard duty, then company by company. It took four hours before the last man had his drink of water, and in all that time they had been standing twenty feet from a low stone wall on the other side of which were thousands of gallons of water. 

If duty and the instincts to survive can give victory over the desire for water, how much more can surrender to the Lord give power and victory over the desires in our lives. Everyone has desires. These desires must be laid at the cross and surrendered to the Lord. It is in surrender to the Lord that we can find victory over those desires that lead us down the wrong path. Surrender your desires to the Lord today so you can say with the poet, “All to Jesus I surrender.”

DAY 2 - November 10, 2009

TITLE: “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 14:1-6 & 15:11-19

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 14:4-6

KEY VERSE: “The Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat…” Judges 14:6

Picture the scene. Samson is walking to Timnah, when suddenly a young lion comes raring toward him. Imagine what he might have felt. Many of us at one time or another have been startled by something. Imagine what you might feel if you were approached suddenly by a lion.

The scripture tells us that Samson tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. Wow! What a display of power that was. Personally, I have trouble tearing a phone book, let alone a lion. Remember, this was probably a lion that did not want to be torn apart.

How could this be? The scripture gives us the clear answer. It says, “The Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands…” The source of strength was the Spirit of the Lord. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power. The Hebrew verb means to be rushed into, or penetrated powerfully. The Spirit of the Lord was on time, providing the power that he needed. The story points out the ease with which he performed the deed of tearing the lion apart. This is a reminder of the power that the Spirit of the Lord provided for him on that day.

As we reflect upon the exploits of Samson, we must never forget the source of his strength. He had the strength when the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. It was the Spirit of the Lord that provided the power to do what Samson could have never done in his own strength.

God is still the source of strength in the issues and challenges of life we face. The Psalmist said, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped…” Psalm 28:7. You can trust Him to be your strength, shield, and source of help today. The apostle Paul said, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13. The Lord can give you strength today to live and speak for Him. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you: and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8. When we open ourselves to the power of the Spirit of God in surrender and allow His Spirit to work in us and through us, amazing things can happen in our lives for God’s glory.

“Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me. Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.” Daniel Iverson

DAY 3 - November 11, 2009

TITLE: “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO US”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 14:1-6 & 15:11-19

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 15:11

KEY VERSE: “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?” Judges 15:11

Dr. J.B. Gambrel tells an amusing story from General Stonewall Jackson's famous valley campaign. Jackson's army found itself on one side of a river when it needed to be on the other side. After telling his engineers to plan and build a bridge so the army could cross, he called his wagon master in to tell him that it was urgent the wagon train cross the river as soon as possible. The wagon master started gathering all the logs, rocks and fence rails he could find and built a bridge. Long before day light, General Jackson was told by his wagon master all the wagons and artillery had crossed the river. General Jackson asked, “Where are the engineers and what are they doing?” The wagon master's only reply was that they were in their tents drawing up plans for a bridge. 

Some people are action people. When there is something to do they step up and get it done. Samson was a man of action. He had taken vengeance out on the Philistines. However, his actions had impacted the people of Judah. The Philistines had camped near Judah and were ready to fight, because three thousand men went to Samson with the question, “What have you done to us?”

Jean Kerr observed, “Some people have such a talent for making the best of a bad situation that they go around creating bad situations so they can make the best of them.” Samson had created a bad situation from the perspective of the men of Judah. His actions had made matters worse. This story is a reminder that our actions can impact others. In other words, our actions have consequences.

There is an old fable that exposes our possible blindness to the consequences of our actions. The fable is of a pig who ate his fill of acorns under an oak tree and started to root around the tree. A crow remarked, "You should not do this. If you lay bare the roots, the tree will wither and die." "Let it die," said the pig. "Who cares as long as there are acorns?"  The pig just did not get it. Our actions have consequences that impact not only our own lives, but the lives of others.

Sin in our lives can impact the people around us. Unholy living, gossip, and a host of other things can turn others off from Christ and Christianity. The testimony of our lives can influence others to look to Christ as we let our lives shine for Him. The good works we do and words we speak can influence others for Christ. Earnest prayers for others can make a difference. Remember that your actions will impact others today. I pray all of our actions represent Christ well and point people to Him today.

DAY 4 – November 12, 2009

TITLE: “A FRESH JAWBONE”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 14:1-6 & 15:11-19

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 15:12-17

KEY VERSE: “Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.” Judges 15:15

Samson had three thousand visitors that day. However, these men of Judah did not come for a friendly visit. Neither did they come to protect Samson or to help him escape from the Philistines. They came to tie him up and hand him over to the Philistines. Missing their opportunity to rally around their hero and march against the Philistines, they meekly bowed to the wishes of the Philistines and surrendered Samson into their hands.

Samson agreed with their commitment that they would not kill him, but only tie him up and hand him over to the Philistines. The men took two new ropes and led him up. As the Philistines came towards Samson they sensed victory over their foe. They came shouting expecting victory. However, God had a different plan. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson in power and the ropes became like charred flax dropping from his hands. Free from the bonds and with the Spirit of the Lord upon him, he was able to defeat his enemy that day.

Samson’s weapon was perhaps not the weapon of choice. He did not use a sword or spear. Picking up a fresh jawbone he single-handedly struck down a thousand of the enemy. This victory resembled the method and results of Shamgar, who according to Judges 3:31, had slain six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad.

To most of us, a jawbone would not seem like a great weapon to use in a battle against a thousand men. However, with the Spirit of the Lord upon him, what seemed like an unlikely weapon became a victorious weapon. This story serves as a reminder that the victory was not in the weapon used, but in the power of God behind the weapon.

When David later went against the giant Philistine, he did not go with a sword or with armor. Instead, he stepped up to the battle, in the power of the Lord, with a sling shot and five stones. God’s man was able again to do God sized things with a small weapon.

When Moses led the people out of Egypt in obedience to God, he used his staff to perform many miracles. The power was not in the staff, but in the God who stood behind Moses and the staff. Again, we are reminded God can use weak instruments and unlikely tools or people to fulfill His will and do God sized things.

The apostle Paul reminds us of the power of God to use weak or unlikely people or things to accomplish His will. In his letter to the Corinthians it says, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” I Corinthians 1:27-29

Take a few moments to prayerfully reflect on the power of God and what He can do with people and things that others might discard or perceive as unusable.

DAY 5 – November 13, 2009

TITLE: “THEN GOD”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 14:1-6 & 15:11-19

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 15:18-19

KEY VERSE: “Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it…” Judges 15:19

Samson was in trouble. He had just won a great victory, but now he was a man in need. Weary from the battle, Samson acknowledged that God was responsible for the victory and cried out to God for help. Physically drained from the conflict, he was very thirsty and had nothing to drink.

God responded to Samson’s need and cry for help. The scripture says, “Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it.” Samson did not just stumble upon a stream of water. God intervened and opened up the hollow place and water came out.

In Exodus 17:6, we read how the Israelites were thirsty in the wilderness when God provided water from a rock. Again, God intervened and provided what was needed. It was another, “Then God,” moment for the people of God. It was a time when they had reached the end of their ability and resources only to discover the unlimited ability and resources of God.

We serve a God who can minster to us in our time of need when we call out to Him. As Samson found the help he needed when he called out to God, so can we. The scripture instructs us, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrew 4:16

As I write this today, I am thankful for the, “Then God,” moments in my life. The many times that God has intervened in a clear and powerful way in my life. The times in my life when I had reached the end of my own resources only to discover that God was there to refresh my heart and meet my need. The, “Then God,” times when doors seemed closed that God opened a door and made a way when it seemed that there was no way. The, “Then God,” times when God surrounded me with perfect peace in times of storms and difficulties. The, “Then God,” times when God embraced me with His comfort in times of tears and loss. The, “Then God,” moments when I was weak and tired and God refreshed and renewed my heart.

I would like to invite you to take a few moments to reflect on the, “Then God,” moments in your life and give God thanks. Ask God to remind you today that He is enough and that He has all the resources that you need.