Hello, today I read Judges 16-19.
I have been reading about the different judges that ruled Israel, or parts of it, so far. I just finished reading about Samson, who was a judge for 20 years. He was born after the angel of the LORD told his parents that he would be born and to dedicate him as a Nazirite for God. What is so interesting to me about Samson is that he wasn’t a great guy. He married a woman who was a Philistine, decided he didn’t like her, went to a prostitute’s house, wreaked a bunch of havoc by destroying grain, vineyards, and olive trees. He killed a bunch of people with the jawbone of a donkey and then fell in love with a lady named Delilah. She was bribed by money to find out how Samson was so strong. So when she asked him he told her lies and she tied him up each time believing the lie. He must have been really stupid because he finally told her the secret was in his hair, so she had his hair cut off while he slept and she called for the Philistines. They captured him, gouged out his eyes and kept his as some sort of spectacle. We are told his hair began to grow back and he prayed to God for one last powerful moment. He pushed on some pillars causing them to fall and crush him but also 3000 or more Philistine people at the same time. The odd thing is it says that the Spirit of the LORD entered him time and time again to give him great power. He also prayed to God saying he was really thirsty and God opened up a hole in the ground and water came out for him. Also, when Samson wanted to marry the Philistine woman his parents asked him if he could marry someone from Israel. We know from reading all of the scriptures so far that they were not supposed to marry outside of Israel. My bible has verse 14:4 in parenthesis, it says, “(Samson’s parents did not know that the LORD wanted this to happen because he was looking for a way to challenge the Philistines, who were ruling over Israel at this time.)”
So so interesting. Again I am reminded that God is God and he does things the way he wants to in order to bring on the result he wants.
Chapters 17, 18, and 19 also have confusing stories about a guy named Micah, a Levite, and the Levite’s wife. I am not sure why this story is in here. It is very confusing.
I sure do miss the other reading plan. I enjoyed being in different areas at the same time with the other plan. With this plan it starts in Genesis and goes straight through. I do read the Psalms everyday too as outlined in the plan though. I do like that there is a video for each book, or section of a book, that I can watch. Thing is I haven’t been watching them as recommended on the schedule so far. I guess it is like any new thing, I just gotta keep on with it. I’m thinking of adding the old plan back in along with the new plan but I dunno.
Alrighty. Have a good day and if anyone has any clues about the stories in Judges 17-19 I wouldn’t mind hearing yer thoughts.
🙂
Good Morning God 