Samson states, “As they did to me, so have I done to them” (Judges 15:11). He makes this statement because he goes home to be with his wife and finds that his father-in-law has given her away to another man (Judges 15:1-2). Samson’s anger defeats the Philistines. A similar statement was used by the Canaanite king Adoni-bezek who was known for cutting the thumbs and big toes off of his enemies to keep them from ever fighting again (Judges 1:7). We see within Samson a polarity between love for women who in the end betray him and yet he goes to their aide in an attempt to avenge them or save them. What is even more interesting is that maybe Samson is experiencing what God has had to go through. All throughout Judges, we have seen the cycle of sin by Israel. Israel does evil, and God sends an enemy in punishment. Israel cries out in distress, and God sends a deliverer to save them. As Israel’s sin and disloyalty have increased over the course of the judges era, however, God’s love and generosity have been strained to a near breaking point. On one hand, God proclaims to Israel, “I will never break my covenant with you” (Judges 2:1). On the other hand, God threatens to end the relationship and let Israel receive its just punishment: “Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will save you no more” (Judges 10:13). Is this not the story of the Bible that man has sinned against God and God still wants a relationship with us. In order to regain our relationship with God, we need a savior. God saves us again by the blood of Christ that atones and restores our relationship with God. I am thankful that God has not ended our relationship with Him and that in Christ we have not received our just punishment.
Archive for the ‘Judges’ Category
Day 112: Judges 15:1-20 — Samson
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010Day 110: Judges 10:6-18 — “Oops!…I did it again.
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010Oops!
… I did it again.
I played with your heart.
Got lost in the game.
Oh, baby; baby.
Oops!
… You think I’m in love.
That I’m sent from above…
I’m not that innocent.
I was reading the story of Israel’s continued disobedience in Judges 10:6-18 and the immortal words of Brittany Spears popped into my head, “Oops!… I did it again.” I didn’t know the words, just the title, so I googled the song and found the lyrics and a theological parallel to our text. I think we are a lot like Brittany, we are not that innocent. We play with God’s heart. He loves us, He cherishes us, that much is clear as we look at the cross. We like to look at God’s Word from our point of view. What we can and cannot do. If we don’t like one of the commands, we just justify it away and change it to fit our needs. In Judges 10:6, we see that oops! … The Israelites did it again. They did evil in the sight of the Lord. In Judges 10:7, we see that God’s anger was kindled against them. People claim a text like this shows God’s wrath and meanness. I see His grace. God is angry because we have damaged our relationship with Him. Think about it from God’s point of view. His anger rises from our disobedience. How many times would you women folk listen to your man say, “Oops!… I did it again,” I cheated on you honey? I am sure all of you women will say thats Ok, I love you and there is no problem (just to be clear, I am being sarcastic). There is a problem! Our disobedience to God deserves an angry response. God is Holy and our cheating on Him is not acceptable because it breaks our relationship with Him. It was not acceptable for Israel, nor, for us. Brittany is right, we are not that innocent. At least, I know I am not. I see the grace and innocence of God that He sends His innocent Son to die for us!
By the way, I can’t believe I made a theological argument using Brittany Spears.