Judges 16
Samson was morally weak when it came to women. He is with a
prostitute 1, which allows his enemies an opportunity to overtake
him 2. He escapes carrying the gates of the city on his shoulders
3. He 'falls in love with Delilah' 4. She tries to find the secret
of his strength. He plays right into her hands. (was he dumb or
'blinded by love') He is toying with temptation as he gets closer
to revealing the source of his strength 5-15. Apparently he can not
handle 'nagging' 16 because he gives in and subdued. 17-19. His
unshaved head was a symbol of his being 'set-apart' to the Lord as
a Nazirite 17. Once shaved, he did not realize that the Lord had
left him 20b. Note: Christians who fail to live a 'sanctified life'
find that they are living a powerless life apart from the Lord. And
we may not even know it. The Philistines gouged out his eyes (blind
him), then bind him, then set him to grind in prison 21-22. Note:
This is a sad picture of the outcome of sin and a one who fails to
live the life God intended. Sin allows leads to bondage and mocks
us in the end. The Philistines made him perform, as a way of
mocking him 23-25. Note: When a Christian fails the world will find
fault and mock. Can we blame them ? Samson among the
pillars, prays 26-28. This is the only time you hear him pray a
sincere heartfelt prayer, yet even in this there is a hint of
selfishness 'revenge for my eyes' 28. The Lord grants him the
strength and Samson 'brings the house down' upon himself and the
3,000 who were gather there. 29-30. Thus he dealt a fatal blow to
the Philistines since all their rulers were there 27. In this
Samson did fulfill God's purpose and 'begin the deliverance
of Israel from the hands of the Philistines (13:5). Samson is
buried in his father's tomb 31. A sad ending to a very confusing
life. Note: One can almost feel the heartbreak and disappointment
when a life, so full of God given potential, is wasted with
selfishness and a disregard for the Lord.
Judges 17
In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit v 6.
This is a summary of the time of the Judges in general and of these
next chapters in particular. Micah makes idols and a system of
worship (religion) of his own making. 1-6. In other words, he made
it up himself mixing truth from the God of Israel with idols and
ideas he picked up from those around him. Note: How many people
today make up their own religion and approach God on their own
terms ? The unnamed Levite is wandering (looking for work possibly
?) and is 'hired' to be Micah and his family's personal priest.
7-13. This violated so many of the Lord's commands and shows the
spiritual bankruptcy of this time when even the Levites did as they
pleased. Note: We should never assume that God will bless us
because what we are doing somehow wins His favor (see verse
13).
Judges 18
The tribe of Dan was looking for a place to settle. The
Danites failed in possessing the land God had allotted to them so
they come against the people of Laish (who were safe and
unsuspecting), an easy target 7. As they come upon Micah's house
they hire away the Levite whom they recognize 3 as their priest and
steal Micah's idols 8-21. Micah pursues them and tries to get them
back but is threatened and gives up 22-26. Note: It is not God's
holy law that settles these matters but the use of force 'makes the
law'. The "might makes right" principle". Some one likened this
time to the 'old west' in American history. The tribe of Dan
destroys the city of Laish and then rebuilds it and renames it Dan
27-30. They continue in their idolatry 31. Note: When one does not
submit to God's law as revealed through His Word, the only thing
left is one's own ideas and agenda. Human nature being fallen,
corrupt, and depraved, will always spiral downward until what comes
out is evil and sin. The Lord is only mentioned in a passing sort
of way. Can we be guilty of the same thing in our own lives ?
Judges 19
A Levite (different from previous accounts) has a concubine who is
unfaithful and returns to her home 1-2. The Levite is delayed by
his 'father in law' several times (for five days in fact) 3-8 and
then presses to leave 9-10. When near Gibeah they are invited to
stay in the house of an old man 11-21. While 'enjoying themselves'
22, wicked men of the city surround the house (much like the men of
Sodom - Genesis 19) and sex with these men. The owner of the house
offers his own daughter and the concubine to these men to do as
they desire with them 23-24. The concubine is sent out and raped
and abused all night. She dies as a result 25-28. The Levite takes
her body to his home and cuts her in twelve parts and sends her to
all the tribes of Israel 29. The shock factor of this causes the
tribes to question what should be done 30. Note: We see in this
account the utter depravity that was among the people of Israel.
God is totally defied by the men of Gibeah and His law is ignored
by the Levite and the people of Israel who fail to take the action
God commanded them to in such cases. Should we be surprised when we
hear of these types of things happening in our country or in other
places in the world. How can this have happened ? The answer is the
sinfulness of the human heart. Another case and point from
Scripture that each of us need a savior, who is Jesus Christ.
Judges 20
All Israel gathers at Mizpah (400,000 soldiers) to investigate the
matter 1-3. The Levite tells what occurred and asks for a verdict
4-7. They unite as one man to go up against the city of Gibeah to
get the men who did this and put them to death 8-13a. The tribe of
Benjamin does not listen and stands against the rest of Israel to
defend Gibeah with 26,000 swordsmen 13b-15. Israel inquires of the
Lord what to do 18-19. Civil war breaks out and 22,000 of Israel
die 20-21. They again inquire of the Lord who tells them to go up
against Benjamin and 18,000 Israelites die in battle 22-24. After
weeping, fasting, and offering sacrifices the Lord assures them of
victory this time 25-27. Gibeah is attacked, the Benjamites are
struck down loosing 25,100 in battle. We are told the Lord defeated
them in battle 35. The casualties are recorded 39-46. All the
valiant men died in battle 46
600 Benjamites escape as the rest of the tribe of Benjamin was put
to death 47-48 and the towns were set on fire. Note: I do not know
what to make of this account considering that the Lord is directing
Israel on some level and they are fighting and destroying one of
their own (the tribe of Benjamin). All I can conclude is that sin
makes a mess of things and sin is what we all choose to do. We can
see that the promises of God to bless are forfeited and His promise
to bring curses on the rebellious are fulfilled. Apart from the
Lord, each of us individually and the world as a whole suffer from
the consequences of sin. Though not seen in this context, we should
ever praise God that He not only is just in judging sin, but also
offers us forgiveness out of His grace to us in Jesus.
He came to fulfill all righteousness on our behalf so that we could
be restored to God the Father and come under His eternal blessings
once again.
Judges 21
After the war with the Benjamites, the rest of Israel makes a
pledge to not give any of their daughters to the survivors 1.
Because of this they face 'extinction' 2-9. They decide to attack
Jabesh Gilead and kill all the inhabitants except for the 400
virgin women found there. They were given as wives to the
Benjamites, however they still needed 200 more women for those
without wives. 10-15. They come up with a plan for the men of
Benjamin to capture a wife from the girls who dance at the annual
festival in Shiloh 16-23. It seems this is a way of getting around
their own oath and the curse on those who would give their
daughters 18,22. Each 'caught a wife and carried her off' 23 (how
romantic, right ?) The tribes all return to their own inheritance
and settle there 24. The summary of the book and this time is found
in the last verse 'In those days Israel had no king; everyone did
as he saw fit'. Note: Total and absolute freedom to do as one
pleases is not a blessing but a curse. Just look at the results
seen in Israel during this period in their history. It was not a
lack of the knowledge of God that brought them so low, but it was
their purposeful disregard of Him. How sad that this was among the
chosen ones (i.e. His people). We would do well to heed the warning
their example provides for us lest we follow in their steps (1 Cor.
10:6)