SHCOC Daily Bible Reading

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.