So, I’m teaching the Wednesday Evening Adult Class this month. The scripture for tonight is Judges 14 – and I just thought I would run a few things by everyone before tonight.
The main character is Samson – well it’s always God – but the focus of the story is Samson at this time. I confess that I have the same struggle reading Samson’s story as I do when reading several other stories in the Bible, or consider my own life for that matter. You just can’t read the story and not think of what could’ve been, if only he had been more committed to God. I mean, because of God this guy had an amazing gift of strength! With God on his side nothing was impossible for him. Right?!
The problem? Samson was #1 to Samson, for most of his life. So much of what he did was for himself. He took the amazing gift of God and used it for practical jokes or to get himself out of the trouble he had gotten himself into. It seems like such a waste of talent.
But the beauty of the story is…that after Samson had squandered God’s gift for so long and things had backfired on him, God still heard him and gave him another chance. But this time things were different, with God’s help Samson took full advantage of it by killing more uncircumcised Philistines when he died then the whole time he lived.
I can totally see myself in the story of Samson – so often using the wonderful gifts God has given me for only myself, instead of using them for others and to His glory. How about you? Has God blessed your life in amazing ways? How are you using the gifts He has blessed you with?
The story of Samson is full of excitement and disappointment. It also has several good lines like…
1. “Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?”
2. “I have seen a Philistine woman.”
and everyone’s favorite…
3. “If you had not plowed with my heifer you would not have solved my riddle."
Please pray for Sunshine and all her teachers (myself included). What a blessing, honor, and responsibility to attempt to teach/share the awesome word of God with each other.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Wednesday Evening Bible Class -- The Story of Samson...
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6 comments:
Samson has some very interesting things is his story, for sure. I particularly like the example of how he treated his new wife,
Then Samson's wife threw herself on him, sobbing, "You hate me! You don't really love me. You've given my people a riddle, but you haven't told me the answer."
"I haven't even explained it to my father or mother," he replied, "so why should I explain it to you?"
Really puts her on a pedestal doesn't he.
And what of this quote,
"Isn't there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?"
But Samson said to his father, "Get her for me. She's the right one for me." 4 (His parents did not know that this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel.)
Is the Lord asking Samson to go directly against his law? Samson does all this stuff and God keeps blessing him right in the middle of it.
It'll be interesting to see what we can make of this in class tonight. I'm praying for you brother.
Jamie - God has blessed my life in so many different ways that it would be hard to name all of them. I am so thankful for everything and every opportunity God has given me. My husband, my children, my grandchildren and my beautiful great granddaughter. All my friends and family and my church family. You could go on and on.
I have people ask me how I come up with so many ideas for the flower arrangements at church. I said that God has a hand in that and I am thankful that I can use that work for our church and not just my own personal enjoyment. God gave us all those beautiful things of nature and said "make youself useful". I really believe it is sinful not to use your talents for the Lord - not that I consider this work a talent - but it does add beauty to our services.
Good luck in teaching your class the next month. You always do a great job teaching and you use your talents for the Lord.
LOVE ONE ANOTHER
Jamie, I must say I haven't laughed that hard in class in a long time. Thanks.
I do have a question for anyone out there. If Samson was not to be around or touch dead bodies, how did he get the clothes that he took from the 30 men he killed, (to give the outfits to the ones that solved the riddle)? Did he strip them first and then kill them? heh! If anyone has a theory, I'd love to hear it. I know, in your class you said God gives us rules to follow, but does not have to follow them Himself. Maybe I should just leave it alone. Just wondering.
GREAT CLASS! I'm looking forward to next week.
The fourth and fifth graders liked the line of "plowing with my heifer".
It always amazes me how I can take God's gifts and mess them up. When I get this gift I am "like Jojo the idiot circus boy with a pretty new pet. The pet is my (gift). Oh , my pretty little pet, I love you. So I stoke it, and I pet it, and I massage it, hehe I love it, I love my little (silly) pet, you're (silly). Then I take my (silly) pet and I go
[makes ripping noises as (I) tear apart the roll]
Aaron: Uuuuuuh. I killed it. I killed my (gift). That's when I blow it."
Long story short, God is perfect and I am not.
Aaron, your comment scares me....hahaha! It was like I had just entered the twilight zone or something....hahaha!
I get your point though. I just wanted to tease you. :D
Hey guys thanks for reading and commenting on the post...
Gamppy - you make some very good points. There are several stories in the Bible that can really mess with your faith and leave you wondering what's going on.
I think that's kind of what God want's to do with this, mess with our faith a little to make sure it's where it's supposed to be - in Him. I think He want's us to totally trust that He knows exactly what needs to be done and when it needs to happen. As for us, we just need to keep trusting and following what He has told us, and not just have an "I believe faith." But instead have an "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief" kind of faith.
Irmalee - thank you for sharing some of your blessings with us. And thank you for encouraging me as well. I really appreciate your heart, and you really do have a gift with flower arrangements, as well as many others.
Stephanie - I had a blast teaching class last night, God really blessed us. Sunshine is such a wonderful church family - thank you for the encouragement. As for how Samson got the clothes from the dead men -- he had his buddy do it for him. I'm not sure what his name was, but that's my theory.
Kristin - good comment! I understand how you feel, though I know you and I think you are a great servant. I also think you're pretty!
Doc Kallner - excellent Tommy Boy impersonation, and very fitting comment. I often feel the same way, when I try to do something in my strength alone it usually ends in a mess.
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