The Timidity of Gideon

Thinking about Judges 6.27 and how much like Gideon I am. God told him to tear down the monuments to Baal. Gideon obeyed. However, he tore down the monuments and built an altar to God at night because he was afraid of his father and the men of the city. I take from this that it is good to obey God even when we struggle with out own timidity and fear. Down the line, Gideon became a mighty warrior for God, here he is an exercise in timid obedience.

On Being a Judge

The Lord gives instructions to Jehoshaphat concerning how judges are to judge in 2 Chron. 19-6,7. It's a good list for any judge at anytime, anywhere.

1. Consider what you do because...

2. You judge for the Lord, not on behalf of men

3. The Lord is with you as you pass judgment

4. Let the fear of the Lord be upon you

5. Be careful what you do

6. Let the fear of the Lord be upon you

7. Be careful what you do

8. No injustice

9. No partiality

10. No taking bribes

Samson's Death

In Judges 16.28 this morning where Samson brings God's judgment on the Philistines when they bring him to a giant party to mock him. One commentator points out that this is the only time we ever see him praying before he uses his superhuman strength, so the gouging out of his eyes and the time in prison, enslaved, have—we think—brought him to repentance. Did he have his own motives for vengeance in addition to bringing God's judgment? It's certainly possible. He wouldn't be the first follower of God to act by both God's direction, and personal motives, nor the last.

The things that stand out to me here are:

1. God accepts his prayer and answers it, so whatever else we can conclude, the event was God-ordained to bring exceptional judgment on the Philistines.

2. In the process, it is clear from the incident that Dagon did not bring about Samson's capture and humiliation, God Almighty, the God of Israel brought it about for his own sovereign purposes.

3. This is the only time we see Samson praying before he uses his greath strength.

4. When God's judgment falls, it is often swift and immediate.

5. As Matthew Henry puts it: That strength which he had lost by sin, he recovers by prayer. That it was not from passion or personal revenge, but from holy zeal for the glory of God and Israel, appears from God’s accepting and answering the prayer.

6. The Lord acts in response to prayer by his people.