SCRIPTURE: Judges 15
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
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.” [Judges 15:11]
This chapter again shows the weakness of Samson’s character, along with the corruption of society in general.
Violent, self-indulgent, demanding, vengeful, cruel.
This is what the world is like when we follow the sinful nature.
Note the words of Samson, “I merely did to them what they did to me.”
The perfect epitaph for the world.
Do to others as you would have them do to you. [Luke 6:31]
Jesus turns this around: not ‘do to others as they have done to you’ but ‘do to others as you would have them do to you’.
We cannot solve the worlds problems by repeating them.
Violence will not end violence, neither will hate or revenge or unforgiveness.
Jesus shows us that the only way to overcome evil is with good.
Samson may have defeated the Philistines, but he did not end violence, injustice, revenge.
He just carried the cycle on.
The way of Jesus, the way of God, is not violence, revenge, immediate justice.
The way of Jesus, the way of God, is mercy, forgiveness, personal sacrifice for the sake of others.
It may seem contradictory, but the way to the crown (victory) is through the cross (humility, self-denial, compassion).
This needs to be applied personally, practically.
How would mercy, self-denial and compassion work out in your relationship with your employer, someone who has hurt you, someone who is taking advantage of you.
Or looking at it another way, how is anger, unforgiveness, revenge working?
Have these responses helped you, or them, or others?
We cannot defeat evil by doing something evil.
How do we wish those people treated us?
That is how Jesus tells us we should treat them!
PRAYER:
Lord, easier said than done. The sinful part of me does not want to be nice to them. Show me better, help me see that Your way is the best way!
Violence begets violence.
The Philistines threatened Samson’s wife – to burn her and her father if she did not help with the riddle. She betrayed Samson to save herself and yet was burned by her own people.
3,000 men of Judah came to Samson and blamed him for what was happening to them by the Philistines. They bond him and handed him over to their enemy but the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he delivered his people from their captives. What a miracle! And yet Samson cried out to the Lord because of thirst after the battle. How ironic that the man they handed over to their enemies became their saviour/redeemer/judge for 20 years.
Christ did not fight the way of Samson. I am reminded of the text – as far as it depends upon me, I must live at peace with all mankind. Christ’s way was the cross and I must be Christ like and follow Him. All for Jesus.
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands.
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands.
For it’s only in Your will that I am free,
For it’s only in Your will that I am free,
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.