READING FOR FEBRUARY 11, 2025: JUDGES 14, MATTHEW 7, PSALM 5:7-12 JUDGES 14 Samson gains and loses a wife, makes and loses a bet, kills a lion and 30 men.
The map at left shows Zohar, the city of Samson’s birth. When Samson visited Timnah, he saw a Philistine woman he liked. He asked his parents to arrange his marriage to her. They disapproved. Remember marrying such a woman was prohibited because it led to idolatry: “They took their daughters for themselves as wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods. So, the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and they forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth” (Judges 3:6-7). This time, God used this evil for good: “His father and mother did not know that this was of the Lord, for He was seeking an occasion against the Philistines” (Judges14:4).
While Samson and his parents traveled to Timnah to fetch the woman, a lion attacked Samson, unbeknownst to his parents. Samson, being empowered by God with super strength, had no problems ripping it up. On their return, Samson noticed bees had settled in the lion’s carcass. So, he helped himself to some honey, likely feeling he earned it. During a feast, apparently in honor of the wedding couple, there were 30 men present. Samson proposed this riddle for them to answer within 7 days: “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” The stakes were 30 outfits of clothes. Not able to figure it out, but too cheap pay for the clothes, the men asked Samson’s wife to get the answer from him. She succeeded using the still-successful technique of crying.
When the men gave Samson the right answer, he immediately knew how they got it. At this time, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson. He traveled to Askelon, on the Mediterranean Coast, and killed 30 Philistines. He took their clothes and gave them to the guests at the feast in a heat of anger. Further complicating the story is while away in Askelon, Samson’s wife was given to his friend. With all the unusual strands of this story, let’s see how this weird plot unfolds before attempting to make a spiritual application for us now, other than the fact that God is always in control. It can be impossible for us to see how at any one point in time.
MATTHEW 7 Many point to Matt. 7:1 for not worrying about/judging bad life choices others make. Yet, earlier in this same sermon (Matt. 5), Jesus gave higher standards of conduct than the Old Testament law for his followers. How can both be true? Jesus gives a process for dealing with our [Christian] brother’s sinful behavior that is effective and not hypocritical:
- Realize that we all will be judged by God, particularly by the standards we judge others. Rom. 2:1 makes this same point.
READINGS FOR FEBRUARY 11 CONTINUED: MATTHEW 7, PSALM 5:7-12
- Thus, before we consider approaching others, we need to seriously examine ourselves to see if we are guilty of similar behavior or something much worse.
- Then after confessing our own sin and with the motivation of helping our brothers/sisters improve, we are in a position to address this person’s issue personally—not through the grapevine (Matt.18:15)!
Verse 6 portrays quite a gory image: someone throwing pearls to pigs. The pigs then trample the pearls and tear up the thrower into pieces Possibly Jesus gets at his meaning even more later in the book: “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore, I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (Matt.13:12-13). Those who have already rejected basic truths about Jesus, will not receive higher-level pearls of spiritual wisdom. They may become more hostile to God and to whomever is communicating with them.
God invites us to proactive with Him: ASK, SEEK, KNOCK. He says even evil fathers give their children good gifts. Thus, our heavenly Father will even more certainly give us good (from His perspective) gifts if we ask. This begs the question, what is a good gift? At least we know for certain from the prayer Jesus taught of some great gifts: His Kingdom, meeting daily needs, deliverance from evil, forgiveness, and His will. Regarding this last one, an excellent prayer request is to pray parts of God’s Word for oneself or a friend. Consider the prayer found in Phil. 1:9: “I pray, that (fill in the blank) love may overflow still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment.” Maybe we could pray this now for ourselves or someone close to us.
Matt. 7:13-23 presents a realistic view about eternal life: most people will not experience it. Also, some who present themselves as conveyers of spiritual truth are false prophets with selfish motives. Jesus tells us to beware (Matt. 7: 15). It is not what we or others say that makes a Christian, even when using religious language. Do we or others have a personal relationship with Jesus, and do we or others obey His Word (Matt.7:23)?
Jesus closes His sermon talking about two foundations: sand and rock. He suggests whether we build our house (meaning life) on the sand or rock, we will experience storms—no escape. He promises that if we wisely build on rock, our house (life) will weather the storm well. He promises that if we foolishly build on sand, our house (life) will totally collapse. What is the foundation for a successful life according to Jesus? HEARING and OBEYING HIS WORDS! Remember He said most people don’t do this. This Bible-reading plan seeks to aid that effort.
PSALM 5:7-12 David, in this time of great pain, consciously chose to seek God and His righteousness (good). He honestly expressed his feelings (good), and asked God to allow his enemies to fall (good and maybe bad). It’s good that David didn’t take vengeance himself and that his concern was their opposition to God. It might be challenging because Jesus just taught in His sermon to love and pray for our enemies. David’s prayer for his enemies doesn’t seem what Jesus had in mind. Remember, though, that Jesus raised the standards of behavior from Old Testament Law. We, as Christians indwelt with the Holy Spirit post-Acts 2, have the obligation and the capability to live at this highest standard. What would Jesus do (WWJD) is better than WWDD. Having unburdened himself totally to God, David ends the Psalm with a joy and trust that is indeed a great model for us when we are experiencing trials. Let’s do the same!
