Pastor Billington's Blog

Judges 20

Finally, something that draws most of the nation together! After the Benjamites refuse to turn over the men who engaged in the sexual deviancy that caused the death of the woman, the rest of the tribes engage them in war. There were three attacks, with Judah going first. The first two times the attackers were repelled, but the third time resulted in the tribe being destroyed. Why did God allow such destruction? Why didn’t he ensure the victory on the first attack? Maybe he was looking for something? It’s not until the second attack fails that we see them weeping and fasting before the Lord (20:26). Perhaps they were trusting entirely too much on their own strength and prowess (as 20:10 may indicate), rather than relying on God.

Thought for the day: “All the people arose as one man.” “Knit together as one man.” Unfortunately, it often takes a tragedy of momentous proportions to get this type of unity.

Nehemiah 4:4-6 (WEB) “Hear, our God, for we are despised. Turn back their reproach on their own head. Give them up for a plunder in a land of captivity. Don’t cover their iniquity. Don’t let their sin be blotted out from before you; for they have insulted the builders.’ So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”

Judges 19

“No king” — the people have shown repeatedly that they refuse to follow God and accept His rule over them. God raises up judges to help, but they don’t want temporary help. The book of Judges reveals how they continually rebel, sin, and sink further and further into depravity until they eventually ask for a king (1 Samual 8:5). In our chapter today we see immorality, infidelity, rape, murder, and mutilation. We don’t need to go over it all again, but this last sin is used to provide a rallying cry to make all Israel understand how bad things have gotten in Gibeah.

Thought for the day: There have been plenty of bad times that the nation of Israel experienced, just as there have been plenty of bad times throughout the history of the world. At one of these points in the future God will finally say, “Enough is enough!”

Revelation 18:1-5 (WEB) “After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory. He cried with a mighty voice, saying, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality, the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of her luxury.’ I heard another voice from heaven, saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you don’t receive of her plagues, for her sins have reached to the sky, and God has remembered her iniquities.’ “

Judges 18

The tribe of Dan had been given an allotment in the land (Joshua 19:40-47), but they failed to capture it (Judges 1:34-35). They were essentially homeless and looking for a place to settle. When spying out some land to the west of Jerusalem, they sought the advice of Micah’s priest. He blessed their endeavors, so they went and ended up approving of the land. When they came back to subdue and settle it, they also took Micah’s household idols and his priest and made them their own. However, the priest was more than happy to get more power and prestige!

Thought for the day: Micah learned the hard way that just having a shrine and some idols was no real help. Many others still make that same mistake today.

Romans 1:22-25 (WEB) “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, four-footed animals, and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored amongst themselves; who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

Judges 17

Chapter 17 starts a new section of the book. While chapters 2–16 of Judges describe the external threats to Israel that come from other nations (but as a result of their own sin), chapters 17–21 describes the internal chaos that results from their increasing depravity. Stealing from family. Household gods. Ongoing idolatry. Priests for hire. The most sordid and tragic stories in the book are found here, for the ultimate depths of Israel’s apostasy have now been reached.

Thought for the day: “Everyone did what was right in their own eyes” led to chaos and despair, and we can see the same thing happening in society today.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (WEB) “But know this: that in the last days, grievous times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, not lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding a form of godliness but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also.”

Judges 16

Samson continues to allow his desires to lead him astray until they finally destroy him. He knows what Delilah is doing, and he knows who she serves, but he still tells her the secret to his strength. As we noted two days ago, who we allow into our lives has a profound effect on how we live.

1 Kings 11:1-4 (WEB) “Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites, of the nations concerning which the LORD said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not go amongst them, neither shall they come amongst you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.’ Solomon joined to these in love. He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines. His wives turned his heart away. When Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father was.”

Was it really the hair that gave Samson his strength, or what the hair represented? Once he told Delilah about his vow and how it could be nullified, he essentially betrayed God. Once he was attacked he understood his betrayal, and it was only when his hair grew back that he recommitted himself to God. God did give him the victory, but at the cost of his life, which he was more than willing to pay.

Thought for the day: It’s never too late to turn back to God. There may be consequences from disobedience, but returning to him is always a spiritual victory.

2 Samuel 12:11-14 (WEB) “This is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he will lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did this secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.’ David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’ Nathan said to David, ‘The LORD also has put away your sin. You will not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the LORD’s enemies to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you will surely die.’ “

Judges 15

Here we see Samson’s marvelous strength (supplied by God), and we also have hint at his authority. Chances are he used his position as judge to have others catch the foxes (or jackals) for him. We also see that Samson is petty, proud, fleshly and foolish in our passage. Does that surprise you? Just because he was chosen for a task by God doesn’t mean that he was perfect. Here is a significant warning: even when someone is in a position of power and they appear to be God’s instrument, it doesn’t mean that everything they do is proper or righteous.

Thought for the day: When God brings His power to bear, He can’t be stopped, no matter what the circumstance!

Jeremiah 32:27 (WEB) “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?”

Judges 14

Chosen by God doesn’t mean perfect. Samson makes a poor choice for a spouse, and his parents are distressed. But this actually has a part to play in God’s plan (4:4). Samson’s wife proves to be more loyal to her own people than her spouse, which causes the rift between them.

Thought for the day: When we give into the world and its ideals, we can find ourselves controlled and betrayed, especially with our relationships. That’s why we’re warned about it in Scripture.

2 Corinthians 6:14-16 (WEB) “Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever? What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, ‘I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they will be my people.’ “

Judges 13

The Israelites rebel again and end up oppressed for 40 years by the Philistines. But God does something different this time. This time he chooses a child from the womb, and the parents are a part of the preparation process. We first learned about a Nazirite vow in Numbers 6:1-8. A person under such a vow is completely dedicated to God, and refrains from alcohol and unclean foods. Samson’s mom essentially takes the vow for him initially, and then both parents make sure that he is pure from the womb forward. Samson, Samuel and John the Baptist are the only “Nazarites for life” that we find in the Bible.

Monoah understood that something very special was happening, makes a sacrifice to God, and the Angel of the Lord ascends to heaven on the flame! Was Manoah right? Did he really see God? Was he in danger? Rather than seeing God the Father, some believe that he saw a temporary manifestation of the LORD Jesus Christ in a preincarnate form (a “Christophany”).

Thought for the day: Christians are also supposed to dedicate themselves to God every day!

Romans 12:1-2 (WEB) “Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

Judges 12

Jephthah judged Israel for six years, Ibzan for seven, Elon for ten, and Abdon for eight. Ephraim caused trouble because they felt the Israelites left them behind for the battle with Ammon. Jephthah accuses them of cowardice and then defeats them in battle.

Thought for the day: Ibzan and Abdon have a few random facts mentioned about their families, but Elon doesn’t have that. It doesn’t matter, because acclaim shouldn’t be our concern. What matters is serving God in whatever way possible.

Luke 17:10 (WEB) “Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’ “

Judges 11

Jephthah is illegitimate, and he is driven from home. However, when the Ammonites go to war against Gilead, his family comes calling. They agree that he will be their ruler if he is victorious. As acting head, he reaches out to the king of the Ammonites to find out why they are attacking. They claim that Israel attacked first, but Jephthah gives them a history lesson. When they refuse to back down, the Spirit of the Lord comes on him and he defeats them. Unfortunately, he makes an ill-advised vow.

Some think that Jephthah didn’t really sacrifice his daughter, and that her weeping and statement meant that she was a virgin who served at the temple for the rest of her life. However, the tenor of the text argues against that: “I will offer it up for a burnt offering.” If he did the former rather than the later it would be to his credit, since oaths or vows that violate a moral law of God should not be kept.

Thought for the day: Vows in general are problematic. We always need to be careful what we say and what we promise.

Matthew 5:33-37 (WEB) “Again you have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’ but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.”