2020-1-6

Psalm 58:1-11

The battles between the goods and evils are not new. This is a common topic for movie makers and book writers. We are all glad to see the final ending that the wicked will get punished and the righteous will get vindicated.
In Psalm 58, the psalmist cried out to God to punish the wicked, so that the righteous will be glad. He did not want to take revenge with his own hand. Indeed, the Bible tells us that God is the ultimate judge. He will execute judgment at the great white throne in the final day.
In Det. 32:35, God said: Vengenance is mine, I will repay. Even though we still see the wicked rules; but it is only temporarily. Wait upon our Lord, He will bring us power to renew our strength as long as our dependence is on Him.

Judges 15:1-20

Similarly, Samson took vengeance on the Philistines. In the beginning of chapter 14, Samson disobeyed his parents and God by picking a Philistine’s woman as his wife. Then, he gave her up to his bestman because she betrayed him by giving away the answer of his riddle. In chapter 15, However, he decided to ask for her again but with no success. He meticulously raise 300 foxes/jackals to burn down the Philistines’ standing grains and vineyard. It really took quite a planning to catch and feed 300 foxes/jackals!

His anger lead to the murder of his father in law and his wife by the Philistines. Now, Samson hide in the cave. The Philistines asked the people of Judah to hand him over or else the Philistines would shed innocent blood in Judah.

Samson, a judge and imperfect savior for his people; being turned over by his people to avoid the raid by the Philistines. You may say Samson’s life mission was supposed to save his own people.  Instead, he almost brought destruction to his people because of his anger. In the end, we saw the Spirit of the Lord gave Samson power to escape from his enemies. He struck down one thousand Philistines. Later, we read the first Samson’s prayer. He began to see the Philistines as uncircumcised v.18. God, finally came into his picture. We also fall into the same mistakes. When our lives go well, we do not think we need God. We think we can handle things by our own hands. Only when we find ourselves helpless and no way out, we will turn to God in prayer. At the end of this chapter, we see Samson judged Israel for 20 years and he delivered them from the Philistines. God uses an imperfect Samson to fulfill His will. We may not understand our current circumstances especially when things turn bad; but we trust in our merciful God who works all things together for the good of those who love Him. Romans 8:28.        —- Alan Yam