Village Schools of the Bible

RASCALS USED BY GOD
A Devotional Study of Judges
by Max Frazier, Jr.

DO YOU HAVE EYE TROUBLE?
Judges 14

I have always loved being with children and listening to them talk about life. I also enjoy reading collections of stories about children. Their philosophy of life is so timeless. Listen to some of what children have said about sin:

A lively six-year old boy, when corrected by the teacher as his class marched into the church sanctuary, presented this original alibi: "Well, that old devil is so fast that he has me doing the wrong thing before I know it." (Perhaps we might use that same excuse).

Then there is this story from a third grader in Mississippi: The children were discussing how difficult it is sometimes not to tease, not to argue, not to be sassy. For a week they had kept track of things they had done which they really should not have done. Although the lists were private and not even to be brought to school, Robert had none. "I didn't really do anything," he explained, "things just kept happening to me." (Don't you feel that way at times?)

Finally, there is this story which relates to today's study in the life of Samson. One evening my neighbor's little boy was sent to bed because of being so naughty. The little boy knelt to pray and his mother said he should ask God to make him a better boy. He prayed accordingly, and near the end he said, "But don't worry if you can't, God, because I'm having a good time the way I am."

I think that applied to Samson. Samson seemed to be always getting into trouble with his eyes, and it never seemed to bother him. You will remember that God has chosen Samson to be the deliverer of Israel from the hands of the Philistines. So, what do we read about him in Judges 14: I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife (verse 3). Samson had been set apart for God's work and for God's glory. Now his desire was to marry one of those who was part of that group of people oppressing Israel. Although his father tried to dissuade him, Samson persisted until the arrangements were made for the wedding to occur. I believe this act marked the beginning of the downfall of Samson.

The Apostle John warns us about the lust of the eyes when he writes, Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world (1 John 2:15-16). How we need to carefully guard our eyes that what we view and take into our minds might be worthy of giving praise to God. Samson's focus was upon his desires rather than upon those of God.

Father, we live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with the glamour which comes from the world. We view it and can be so easily enticed by its lusts. Lord, guard what we see with our eyes, that we might see the world, not in its glamour, but in its darkness even as You see it. Then stir our hearts so that we might act with boldness and love. We will give You all the praise in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Judges 12-13 Return to the Table of Contents Judges 15