DAILY DEVOTION - 31 OCTOBER 2020.

Good morning. Peace be with you all. Rejoice in the Lord always. "Then 3,000 men of Judah … said to Samson, 'Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?'” in Judges 15:11 NASB. Insight Although uniquely called by God, Samson appears ill-disciplined and dominated by carnal desires. We see this after he married a Philistine woman. During the wedding ceremony, he posed a riddle, but the Philistines could not find a solution. Then, they coaxed Samson’s new bride into drawing the answer from him. Later he learned that her father had given his wife to one of Samson’s friends. Angered, Samson caught three hundred foxes, set them on fire, and released them, burning the Philistine fields. Determined to avenge these actions, the Philistines marched on Judah, demanding that Samson be turned over to them. Afraid, 3,000 of these men of Judah went to find Samson. They reminded him, “the Philistines are rulers over us.” They convinced him to cooperate and to let them bind him with ropes to appease their rulers. When he arrived in the presence of the Philistines, “the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily” in verse 14. He broke the ropes and attacked the Philistines. He stood up to Israel’s oppressors and brought victory when everyone else was prepared to accept defeat. Challenge Samson was flawed, but, unlike others of that time, he was willing to fight, no matter what the odds. He was a man of boldness when all around him were weak. Ask God to give you boldness, to deliver you from fear and worry. Don’t be intimidated, but stand strongly for God’s kingdom. Prayer Father, fill me anew with Your Spirit. Give me boldness to stand for You. Keep me from compromise or being intimidated. In Jesus mighty name. Amen.