Chronological Reading Plan for April 4. Judges 16-18

Today's readings are Judges 16-18. Tomorrow's are Judges 19-21. 

Samson, with all his flaws and failings, teaches a lesson to Israel. As the temple falls, crushing the Philistines (some significant ones but not all of them), Samson brings about his own demise as well. Ironically, more Philistines die in this event than Samson has killed in his entire career. Here's the lesson: Samson's death is more valuable to Israel than his life. Many years later, Caiaphas would say of Jesus, "It is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish."

Another lesson we can learn from Samson is that, in spite of his weaknesses and failings, he was blessed. God used Samson in a mighty way. His flaws reveal his humanity. His victories, because of his flaws, can only serve to give glory to God. None of the credit for his supernatural strength can go to Samson. Samson was not worthy of such blessings and he certainly did  not earn them. Samson's power was a gift of grace. Many believe flawed people cannot receive blessing or will not gain victory. Samson is God's beautiful example of how He uses unexceptional people in an exceptional way.

Judges 17 chronicles Israel's ongoing downhill slide. Micah creates his own shrine, priesthood and god. The Tribe of Dan (Danites) take them from Micah and capture Laish, a city in the far North of the kingdom, setting up an altar there and worshiping the idol. Micah's priest, a descendant of Moses, gives us another snapshot symbolic of Israel's slide when he starts serving in a pagan capacity. Even the priests are turning away from God. 

"A little leaven spoils the whole loaf!" Israel let sin creep in slowly and quietly until it began to gain more and more control over them. Early compromises that seemed good or inconsequential at the time had long term impact on Israel's walk. They drifted far from what the word of God said. They began to "do what was right in their own eyes" instead of what God said was right. God tells us to be vigilant in our walk, resolute in our discipline and uncompromising in striving for holiness. If we devote ourselves to these things, our own backsliding will become less likely. 

The lesson of the leaven works both ways. Those wise choices we make, even though some of them may be relatively small, can yield great blessings further down the road. For instance, committing to reading our Bibles for 15 minutes a day, over the long run, will make us more familair with the Scriptures. The more diligent we remain to that commitment, the more familair we become with the Scriptures, the character and nature of God and the overall narrative of the Bible. As time passes, it becomes easier to make godly decisions. Furthermore, when crises arise, we are better equipped to navigate them and less likely to live in fear and doubt. Small, godly decisions can have huge impact further down their road.