Consequences of Self Gratification 03.28.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Friday March 28, 2008 and today we are continuing our study on the book of Judges. Please read Judges 15-17 in your Bible or Click Here to Read. In today's study we will read and learn about Samson losing his wife; 1,000 Philistines are slain; Delilah; Samson is defeated, blinded, and dies with the Philistines; and Micah's idols. Today's message focuses on the importance of learning that there are consequences when choosing self gratification over God.

There is no record that Samson ever expressed a desire to be used by the Lord to deliver the Israelites from the Philistine's oppression. So it is not a surprise that he neither prayed for guidance nor protection. He also chose the enemies of God for his friends.

Early in life, Samson disregarded the spiritual significance of his Nazarite dedication by marrying a Philistine woman. He became deeply involved in sin as he made friends with Delilah, another Philistine woman. When Samson saw Delilah, he should have thought of his sacred Nazarite vow and his high calling as a judge. But sin had blinded him to the reason he had been gifted with great strength. And, as always, with each person who presumptuously believes that God's mercy and long-suffering will continue indefinitely when we ignore His will, we see Samson yielding to Delilah's schemes and falling into the hands of the Philistines. "And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver....And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand. And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him." (Judges 16:4-5,16-19).

Consequently, the Philistines took him and not only did he suffer the gruesome torture of having his eyes gouged out, he was forced to take the place of an animal and spend his time turning a mill to grind corn into meal. "But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house." (17:21). The story of Samson should send a strong message to every Christian who has fallen into the treacherous web of sinful pleasures. Samson is not the only servant of God who ever lost his power through worldliness and self-indulgence, but by faith God is able to turn all things around to give strength to overcome all consequences.

When accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord of our lives, our chief concern becomes, "How will this particular situation affect my relationship with my Savior and Lord? How will His new life within me react to my thoughts and actions?" Some conform only to what would be right in his own eyes or acceptable to their friends, forgetting that every one of us shall give account of himself to God. "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (Romans 14:11-12).

In today's study Jesus Christ is revealed through the strength God gave to Samson for his last victory over the Philistines (Judges 16:28-30). "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13).

Today's Psalm: 18:1
"I will love thee, O LORD, my strength."

Today's Prayer (Written from Psalm 18)
Dear Lord,
You are my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon You LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. In Jesus' name, I pray....Amen.

Have a fantastic Friday and weekend.
God Bless,
Christina

Visit A Spiritual Guide
www.aspiritualguide.net