Bible Reading Plan | Devotion for the week of February 6, 2022

Weekly reading: Judges 11-15; Psalm 89-90
Passages referenced: numbers 6; judges 13:1; 14:3,6; 15:8; 16:6,17; proverbs 11:2; Ephesians 4:1-2

In the Book of Judges, we see 12 God-appointed judges over Israel. In this week’s readings, we are introduced to the 12th judge, Samson. Even before reading this week, you may already know Samson for tearing a lion into pieces (Judges 14:6), his great strength (Judges 16:6), and that his hair was never to be shaved (Judges 16:17). On the surface, these attributes of Samson paint a glorious picture of who he was – a powerful man filled with valor and strength, right? Eh, maybe not as much as we think. We see an ongoing thread in the book of Judges that each judge becomes worse than the one before. Samson’s story is a climactic moment that shows the utter decline of Israel in the period of the judges.

Before Samson was born, we see in Judges 13:1, “the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.” This idea has already been repeated eight times earlier in the book and sets the stage for the behaviors about to occur when Samson becomes a judge. God brought Samson into this world by a miracle through a barren woman. From the start, Samson was set apart to be a Nazirite to God (this is explained in Numbers 6). However, we see Samson begin his downfall. In Judges 14:3, Samson desires a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines. This type of marriage was against God’s Law, but he wanted her because she was right in his eyes. Sound familiar? Once again, we have a judge doing what they think is right, not what God says is right. Going further into the passage, we see Samson tearing a lion into pieces. A few days later, Samson returns to the carcass of the lion and scrapes honey from it to eat. The act of touching an unclean animal is against God’s Law, but that never seems to faze Samson. He did what was right in his eyes. In Chapter 15, we finally see a military victory from Samson – Israel defeats the Philistines! However, the episode finishes with Samson grumbling and complaining to the Lord. In Judges 15:18, Samson says to the Lord, “You have granted this great salvation by the hand of your servant, and shall I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” Even after the Lord delivered the Israelites from the Philistines, Samson returns to an arrogant mentality that he deserves additional blessings and provisions from God. This is all so backward from how we should approach God!

There is no doubt that Samson was gifted and set apart to be holy to the Lord, but his pride took priority over God in his decision-making. Instead of trusting in God’s ways, Samson made up his own ways in hopes that God would be okay with them. In next week’s readings, we will come to find that God was not okay with Samson’s arrogance, and God will ultimately leave him.

This week, I encourage you to meditate on these verses:

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” – Proverbs 11:2 (ESV)

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility.” – Ephesians 4:1-2a (ESV)

Ask God to reveal the prideful desires of your heart. Then, ask Him to help you replace pride with humility. The one and only thing we should be boastful about is the Lord! – Madison Murphy

• Check out The Bible Project’s overview video of Judges. It is an excellent source for background information and context that walks through the book’s sections and themes. It can be really helpful for those who appreciate some visuals while learning.

• Do you have questions about this week’s Bible reading? We’d love to help! Rather than relying on the first thing you find on the internet, email us at biblequestions@warsaw.cc. We are more than happy to answer that nagging question you have, provide you with some clarity, or point you in the right direction for further study.