In today’s reading we see that revenge only escalates the issue but it doesn’t deal with the core problem. Samson’s emotions get the better of him again, but this time it ends in tragedy for the Philistines.
Judges 15: Samson Defeats the Philistines
1 After some days, at the time of wheat harvest, Samson went to visit his wife with a young goat. And he said, "I will go in to my wife in the chamber." But her father would not allow him to go in.
2 And her father said, "I really thought that you utterly hated her, so I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please take her instead."
3 And Samson said to them, "This time I shall be innocent in regard to the Philistines, when I do them harm."
4 So Samson went and caught 300 foxes and took torches. And he turned them tail to tail and put a torch between each pair of tails.
5 And when he had set fire to the torches, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines and set fire to the stacked grain and the standing grain, as well as the olive orchards.
6 Then the Philistines said, "Who has done this?" And they said, "Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion." And the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire.
7 And Samson said to them, "If this is what you do, I swear I will be avenged on you, and after that I will quit."
8 And he struck them hip and thigh with a great blow, and he went down and stayed in the cleft of the rock of Etam.
9 Then the Philistines came up and encamped in Judah and made a raid on Lehi.
10 And the men of Judah said, "Why have you come up against us?" They said, "We have come up to bind Samson, to do to him as he did to us."
11 Then 3,000 men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, "Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?" And he said to them, "As they did to me, so have I done to them."
12 And they said to him, "We have come down to bind you, that we may give you into the hands of the Philistines." And Samson said to them, "Swear to me that you will not attack me yourselves."
13 They said to him, "No; we will only bind you and give you into their hands. We will surely not kill you." So they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.
14 When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands.
15 And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men.
16 And Samson said, "With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps, with the jawbone of a donkey have I struck down a thousand men."
17 As soon as he had finished speaking, he threw away the jawbone out of his hand. And that place was called Ramath-lehi.
18 And he was very thirsty, and he called upon the LORD and said, "You have granted this great salvation by the hand of your servant, and shall I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?"
19 And God split open the hollow place that is at Lehi, and water came out from it. And when he drank, his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore the name of it was called En-hakkore; it is at Lehi to this day.
20 And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.
Things to think about…
1. Samson’s father-in-law was not only fickle, but very undiscerning, Jdgs 15:2. Don’t go giving your daughters away too easily dads. Make sure the suitor loves Jesus more than your girl’s looks.
2. Jdgs 15:6 is a lesson in how to anger a strong man in one easy step. A good lesson in short-sightedness right here.
3. Samson’s revenge involves the ‘Spirit of the LORD’, Jdgs 15:14. The Philistines were being judged and Samson was the Lord’s instrument. Samson’s heart of revenge seems more to keep the honour of his name rather than the Lord’s name yet Samson is still used. The Lord uses His people even though their hearts are not always as faithful as they should be. If the Lord is the One who owns the instrument He will use it for His glory even when the instrument’s motives aren’t always upright.
4. Samson strikes down 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey at Ramath-lehi which means ‘hill of the jawbone’. This of course sets up the scene for a mighty showdown between this man and the Philistines who ruled over Israel at the time.
5. God even allows Samson’s prayer to be heard by miraculously providing water to him from a rock, Jdgs 15:19 at a place called En-hakkore, which means fountain of the crier. This is obviously reminiscent of the Israelites being miraculously provided for by water which came from the rock in the wilderness. Samson is listed as one who is an example of faith in Hebrews 11. Remember it is our faith that saves us, not our actions. Christ is both our Rock and the Water within the rock. He sustains us through the battles of life. Though our actions should honour Christ, they will always fall short. Praise God for the faith He has given you today. What bold prayer are you wanting Him to answer?
6. Samson “judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years”, Jdgs 15:20. One wonders what sort of judge he was, whether he honoured the Lord in righteousness or whether he allowed people to live freely as he did. Possibly the latter. In any event those in spiritual leadership should be openly accountable with their faith and their failings while seeking to honour the Lord by being obedient to His Word.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Sermon and reading topic for this week – Sermon “Don’t judge me”
Reading – Judges 2:1-19
1. The period of the Judges was cyclical in nature. They would fall into idol worship, they would be oppressed by Canaanite rulers, they would cry out for a Judge, God would raise up a Judge who would deliver them, they would live in prosperity, then fall back into idolatry and the cycle would repeat. This was because the Israelites did not get rid of the Canaanite inhabitants which caused Israel to turn their hearts towards idols. Discuss some of the idols in Australia. Which ones is the Australian Christian church struggling to fight against?
2. We are often told that we shouldn’t judge others. As Doug mentioned on Sunday the verses quoted to justify such a position are found in Mt 7:1-7. What is your understanding of these verses and what right judgement looks like? Are we in a position to Judge anyone? If so, how?
3. Doug mentioned the Apostle Paul’s words in 1Cor 5:9-13 regarding judgement that occurs in the church and those who are outside the church. Essentially we are called to judge those who name the name of Christ in the church, we are not even meant to eat with someone who claims to be a Christian yet continues to live an immoral lifestyle, 1Cor 5:11. How do you understand these verses and how should we apply them as a church that wants to show the love of Christ?
4. Discuss some prayer points of the group. Church prayer points.
Prayer Points
1. Recharge youth and Kids@Church ministries. Pray for Maddison and Melinda as they Coordinate Kids and Youth ministries.
2. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
3. Church finances to meet our new staff and to put a roof over our café.
4. Getting drawings into council.
5. Sunday’s message from Judges 12 - “You’re not saying it right” – Pastor Jay.
Praise Points.
1. More visitors to church on Sunday.
2. Two cell groups starting up this term.
3. Praise and worship – pray for continued growth and blessing.
4. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
Announcements
1. Members meeting 23rd May after the morning service.
2. Recharge on this week all high schoolers – 6:30pm-8:30pm Friday at church. $2 coin donation. Melinda Fourie heading up this ministry.
3. Kids Church for all primary schoolers. Maddison Willey is the ministry contact. Parents please check your rosters. Remember to sign your kids in and out.
4. Working bee – Saturday 5th June, 8:00am start at the church.
5. Outdoor service in the morning 6th June followed by lunch on “the common”
6. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
