Samson's riddle unriddled!
(Charles Spurgeon)
"As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward Samson. 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. Some time later, he turned aside to look at the lion's carcass. In it was a swarm of bees and some honey, which he scooped out with his hands and ate as he went along." Judges 14
Conflicts come to us when we are least prepared for them. Samson was walking in the vineyards of Timnath, thinking of anything but lions, and "Suddenly," says the Scripture, "a young lion came roaring toward him!" Fresh and furious, a young lion is the worst kind of beast that a man can meet with. Let us expect, as followers of Christ, to meet with strong temptations, fierce persecutions, and severe trials, which will lead to stern conflicts.
What a type we have here of our Divine Lord and Master, Jesus, the conqueror of death and Hell. He has destroyed the lion that roared upon us and upon Him. To me, the comparison seems wonderfully apt and suggestive. I see our triumphant Lord laden with sweetness, holding it forth to all His brethren--that we may have our lives sweetened and our hearts filled with joy.
All this is clear to the eye of faith, which unriddles the riddle. Alas, when under deep depression, the mind forgets all this, and is only conscious of its unutterable misery--the man sees the lion, but not the honey in its carcass. But faith finds honey in the lion!
(Charles Spurgeon)
"As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward Samson. 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. Some time later, he turned aside to look at the lion's carcass. In it was a swarm of bees and some honey, which he scooped out with his hands and ate as he went along." Judges 14
Conflicts come to us when we are least prepared for them. Samson was walking in the vineyards of Timnath, thinking of anything but lions, and "Suddenly," says the Scripture, "a young lion came roaring toward him!" Fresh and furious, a young lion is the worst kind of beast that a man can meet with. Let us expect, as followers of Christ, to meet with strong temptations, fierce persecutions, and severe trials, which will lead to stern conflicts.
What a type we have here of our Divine Lord and Master, Jesus, the conqueror of death and Hell. He has destroyed the lion that roared upon us and upon Him. To me, the comparison seems wonderfully apt and suggestive. I see our triumphant Lord laden with sweetness, holding it forth to all His brethren--that we may have our lives sweetened and our hearts filled with joy.
All this is clear to the eye of faith, which unriddles the riddle. Alas, when under deep depression, the mind forgets all this, and is only conscious of its unutterable misery--the man sees the lion, but not the honey in its carcass. But faith finds honey in the lion!
"This riddle may be an emblem of those sweet blessings of grace which come to the people of Christ through His having destroyed Satan the roaring lion, and all his works." (John Gill)
"This riddle may be viewed as referring to the blessed results of affliction to the Lord's children." (Arthur Pink)
"Temptations, when we meet them at first, are as the lion that roared upon Samson. But if we overcome them, the next time we see them, we shall find a nest of honey within them!" (John Bunyan)
"Temptations, when we meet them at first, are as the lion that roared upon Samson. But if we overcome them, the next time we see them, we shall find a nest of honey within them!" (John Bunyan)
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An elastic promise!
(George Everard, "Help on the Way to the Better Land!")
Very rich and full is the promise, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9
It has been spoken of as an elastic promise. The word "sufficient" may not sound very great, but itstretches according to a man's necessity.
A Christian's need may be great today--and the word "sufficient" reaches it.
It may be ten times as great tomorrow--but the word "sufficient" reaches it still.
The grace is still sufficient for the greater need--as for the lesser.
The promise shows also that not until we are weak--does the Lord bestow His strength. We may be too strong for the Lord to help us. Gideon's army must be brought almost to nothing, before the Lord will use it to overthrow the Midianites. And until we are brought low in our own thoughts, until the discipline employed has thoroughly emptied us of all high imaginings as to what we can do, or we can effect, or we can bear--we cannot be strong in the Lord.
"When I am weak," and not before, "then am I strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10.
When I have learned experimentally . . .
that I am a bruised reed,
that I have in myself no power to endure affliction,
that left to myself I shall assuredly rebel against the rod, and murmur against the gracious Hand that holds it
--then the Lord draws near by the Spirit, and gives a joy and a peace that nothing can destroy!
(George Everard, "Help on the Way to the Better Land!")
Very rich and full is the promise, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9
It has been spoken of as an elastic promise. The word "sufficient" may not sound very great, but itstretches according to a man's necessity.
A Christian's need may be great today--and the word "sufficient" reaches it.
It may be ten times as great tomorrow--but the word "sufficient" reaches it still.
The grace is still sufficient for the greater need--as for the lesser.
The promise shows also that not until we are weak--does the Lord bestow His strength. We may be too strong for the Lord to help us. Gideon's army must be brought almost to nothing, before the Lord will use it to overthrow the Midianites. And until we are brought low in our own thoughts, until the discipline employed has thoroughly emptied us of all high imaginings as to what we can do, or we can effect, or we can bear--we cannot be strong in the Lord.
"When I am weak," and not before, "then am I strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10.
When I have learned experimentally . . .
that I am a bruised reed,
that I have in myself no power to endure affliction,
that left to myself I shall assuredly rebel against the rod, and murmur against the gracious Hand that holds it
--then the Lord draws near by the Spirit, and gives a joy and a peace that nothing can destroy!
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Today's reading: 1 Kings 22:1-12
After Ahab repents before God, Israel enters a three year period where there is no conflict or war with surrounding nations. But at some point during this peaceful time, Ahab becomes discontent and irritated that Syria still controls Ramoth-gilead. So much so that he wants to go to war to regain it. Now seeing that Ahab had recognized God and repented to Him, you'd think that he would want to seek God's direction about going to war. But that's not what we see. In fact, Ahab wouldn't have sought God at all if it hadn't been for Jehoshaphat (the king of Judah who followed God) insisting that God be consulted.
The phrase "old habits die hard" came to my mind as I took in and tried to imagine this scenario. While Ahab had repented of his sinful ways three years earlier, there is no evidence that he did anything to grow or nurture his relationship with God after that point. As a result, we see a turning back to old ways of self-focused thinking and behavior.
Is getting to know God better and cultivating your relationship with Him a priority for you? Why is this important?
~Tami~
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Victory Over Unforgiveness
Immediately after teaching His followers to pray, Jesus gave a warning about allowing unforgiveness to reside in the heart. He said that those who refuse to forgive others won't be forgiven by the Father.
Do not misunderstand Jesus' meaning here. Believers don't lose their salvation when they refuse to forgive. Rather, they break fellowship with God because their unrepentant attitude gets in the way of regular confession and repentance. The Lord cannot ignore sin, and His Spirit will bring wrong behavior to the believer's attention until he or she deals with it.
Forgiveness is an act of the will more than an act of the heart. Often people don't feel like being merciful to someone who has wronged them. But a resentful spirit grows into a terrible burden. The Lord knows that forgiveness is best, even when it is difficult.
You won't deal with a sin until you see it as God does. So assume full responsibility for your unforgiving attitude, and acknowledge that it is a violation of His Word. Claim the divine mercy He offers, and ask Him to enable you to lay aside anger and resentment against the other person(s). As part of the decision to move forward in grace, make a habit of praying for those who hurt you. And if God so leads, seek their forgiveness for your wrong attitude.
A bitter and resentful spirit doesn't fit who we are in Christ. Nor is it healthy to carry an angry attitude through life. That's why Scripture emphasizes the need to forgive. Choose to be liberated from your burden--Jesus promised to make us free when we release our sins to Him (John 8:36).
~Dr. Charles F. Stanley~
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Once for All!
As we have been learning in the last few devotionals, the new covenant is better than the old covenant. Hebrews 9:18-24 shows us another way it is better,
Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you." Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
The old covenant was based on the blood of animal sacrifices; but under the new covenant, we are cleansed by the blood of Christ and His sacrifice.
Jesus went into that heavenly Holy of Holies with His own blood. And the Father declared that the blood of Jesus satisfied the payment for sin for all eternity.
Oh, thank you, Jesus! That is why the Scripture declares we are accepted in the Beloved. When God accepted that blood sacrifice in heaven, He accepted all of us who believe, because Jesus went as our representative.
Praise God today for the provision of the sacrifice of Jesus…once for all!
~Bayless Conley~
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Hungry for God
BIBLE MEDITATION:
“With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” Psalm 91:16
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
One day I was eating in a cafeteria in New York when the door of the restaurant opened and a man ran in. He rushed to a table that had been abandoned by patrons just shortly before. He began to stuff his mouth with the leftovers when the management discovered him. He rushed out like a squirrel scurrying to safety. No pride. He didn’t care what people thought.
A man who is starving is dead serious about the matter of getting food. He’s focused. He’s only got one thing on his mind—where is his next meal? He’s not concerned about popularity, position, or possessions.
What are you hungry for today? Is Jesus enough to satisfy your appetite?
ACTION POINT:
When a person is thirsty or hungry enough, he will pay any price.
“With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” Psalm 91:16
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
One day I was eating in a cafeteria in New York when the door of the restaurant opened and a man ran in. He rushed to a table that had been abandoned by patrons just shortly before. He began to stuff his mouth with the leftovers when the management discovered him. He rushed out like a squirrel scurrying to safety. No pride. He didn’t care what people thought.
A man who is starving is dead serious about the matter of getting food. He’s focused. He’s only got one thing on his mind—where is his next meal? He’s not concerned about popularity, position, or possessions.
What are you hungry for today? Is Jesus enough to satisfy your appetite?
ACTION POINT:
When a person is thirsty or hungry enough, he will pay any price.
~Adrian Rogers~
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A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven -John 3:27
After six months of marvellous ministry, in which the Baptist had seen the whole land at his feet, had gathered a band of disciples, and introduced the Messiah to the Jewish people, he found the crowds dwindling. His disciples viewed with feelings of chagrin the transference of popular interest from their master to Him of whom he had borne witness.
What John the Baptist meant by it. - He realized that the crowds, the hushed attention, the swift response, the power of speech, the message, the deep repentance, the office of morning star heralding the Dayspring from on high, had been the gift of God. He had nothing which he had not received; he would have received nothing, except God had given it to him. Whether these things went or came was a matter altogether beyond his control. His part was to receive and use what God gave; and then return to Him, at His bidding, the saved talent. This forbade alike pride and despondency.
What we may learn by it. - Humility and peace. Humility. Is this the time of your prosperity? Crowds wait on your words; mighty movements circle around you; glorious results follow on your plans! Do not be puffed up. Boast not yourself. "Who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" Peace. If it is not due to your lethargy or sloth that the crowds have ebbed away, and that the tide of conversions has dropped below its former level, be at peace. These are things which the Holy Spirit worketh, dividing to each one severally even as He will.
~F. B. Meyer~
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