And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth. Judges 16:6.
The Israelites made Samson judge, and he ruled Israel for twenty years. But one wrong step prepares the way for another…. He continued to seek those sensuous pleasures that were luring him to ruin. “He loved a woman in the valley of Sorek,” not far from his own birthplace. Her name was Delilah, “the consumer.” … The Philistines kept a vigilant watch over the movements of their enemy, and when he degraded himself by this new attachment, they determined, through Delilah, to accomplish his ruin.
A deputation consisting of one leading man from each of the Philistine provinces was sent to the vale of Sorek. They dared not attempt to seize him while in possession of his great strength, but it was their purpose to learn, if possible, the secret of his power. They therefore bribed Delilah to discover and reveal it.
As the betrayer plied Samson with her questions, he deceived her by declaring that the weakness of other men would come upon him if certain processes were tried. When she put the matter to the test, the cheat was discovered. Then she accused him of falsehood, saying, “How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me?” … Three times Samson had the clearest evidence that the Philistines had leagued with his charmer to destroy him; but when her purpose failed, she treated the matter as a jest, and he blindly banished fear.
In the society of this enchantress, the judge of Israel squandered precious hours that should have been sacredly devoted to the welfare of his people. But the blinding passions which make even the strongest weak, had gained control of reason and of conscience….
Samson’s infatuation seems almost incredible. At first he was not so wholly enthralled as to reveal the secret; but he had deliberately walked into the net of the betrayer of souls, and its meshes were drawing close about him at every step.
Conflict and Courage p. 133
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray that God will overrule and that that which is intended to hurt B will help instead. L
—–Stenio Gungadoo, who died this past Sabbath just before he was to preach. What sad news to receive. Please pray for Stenio’s wife, Maryse, his son Daryl and his family.
—–Pray for the people on the other side of the river where the fire is raging. On one site it said over 5,000 acres were already burned and it’s going fast because of these high winds. Debbie
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago when we had our van. Ron and I were driving along, one day, when, suddenly, we heard something hit our van. We wondered where it had hit, but soon forgot all about it. Later, we noticed that a crack had formed from the very top of the windshield. Then we remembered the incident of a few weeks earlier. Because it was blocked by the large, multilane rear view mirror that we had in it, we did not see the crack in time to get it repaired, so we had to replace the whole thing.
As I was driving along after it was fixed, I couldn’t help but notice the new windshield. It was so clean and new that it seemed like it was not there at all. There were no little nicks from errant rocks thrown by passing cars, no splashes from unfortunate insects, nothing but clearness.
On my way home, however, I was facing the sun which was about an hour from setting. I was very surprised to find that the windshield was not clean at all. In the light of the sun, I could see where the installer had attempted to wipe the dust from it with a damp rag. What had looked so clean and perfect when driving away from the sun’s rays, looked badly smeared and streaked and in need of a good washing when facing them.
How much like that windshield we are. Although we might appear to be outwardly righteous, “the LORD seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Sam 16:7 Indeed, we may think that we are righteous and in need of nothing as did the rich, young ruler who “asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.” Luke 18:18-23 It was only by the sunlight of the Ten Commandments that this young man’s “dirty windshield” was visible.
So it is with us. Paul explains that the law is our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ. Yet, the law cannot cleanse us: it has no power to save us. It shows us our “dirty windshield,” our lack of obedience, our great need of God’s amazing grace, our great need of a Saviour from sin. “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Rom 7:12 David tells us, “the law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” Ps 19:7-11
Moreover, it was prophesied that our Dear Saviour would “magnify the law, and make it honourable.” Isa 42:21 So He did. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Matt 5:17 The word, “fulfil,” means “to make full, fully preach.” Our Great Redeemer taught us, that keeping His law was more than just an outward compliance, it was an inward keeping of it that was important to Him. He declared, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill, and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. . . . Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. . . . It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.” vs 21-32
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Heb 4:12 This is why we need the new covenant experience so much. Our Great Redeemer promises, “I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them, And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” 10:16,17 Praise the Lord! He has promised, “new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Eze 36:26,27
May we keep God’s Holy Word, not to be saved, but because we are saved is my prayer.
Rose