As you read the book of Judges, you can’t help but notice how the messiness of sin seems to be spiraling out of control. If Gideon and Abimelech weren’t bad enough, the ugliness of Jephthah’s outcome and now Samson’s selfish immoral addiction begins to create this feeling that all is lost. Was Samson really the best there was? How can God use such a perverted and spiritually weak individual? Surely there was no hope for the one observing Samson’s actions at the time. Not only did he demonstrate reckless rage in the early years of his life, but his promiscuous lifestyle only got worse. We are told in chapter 16 that Samson commits adultery with a harlot, discloses the secret of his strength, and serves as a slave and a form of entertainment for the Philistines. It’s easy at a distance to point out the foibles and failures of this leading character of Judges but lest we think too highly of ourselves, be reminded that the apostle Paul points out that, “Such were some of you” (1 Cor 6:11). Yet, by God’s grace we were “washed, sanctified, and justified.” This can only be the case if God is sovereignly at work to bring about life-transformative change. Paul goes on to tell us that we can be confident in the fact that, “He who began a good work in you, will bring it to completion” (Phil 1:6). It’s a humbling thing to know that God not only saves us but chooses to use us despite our depraved past and present flaws. The work He began in the life of Samson was eventually brought to completion. God humbled Samson and ultimately used him to judge the Philistines through an act of faith and sacrifice. Samson is a reminder that God remains sovereignly in control, designing circumstances, events, and outcomes that humble us and show us how much we need Him. Like Samson, we don’t understand what it means for God to be our strength until we’ve come to the end of ourselves. You may feel lost, forgotten, and alone, but the truth is, God is nearer than you know and faithfully working His wise and sovereign plan for your good and His glory. –Pastor Nate
Sunday at Liberty
9AM: Ezra Returns to Jerusalem–Ezra 7
10AM: Pastor Rory–A Whispered Secret–Judges 16 (sermon notes)
6PM: Evening Gathering–For Good?–Romans 8:18-30
Leave a Reply