Daily Bible Reading for April 5, 2020

Today my Bible reading plan covers Judges, Chapters 16-18.

In Chapter 16, we can see that Samson has a thing for women, and one woman will be his downfall. For his weakness, Samson gives up his secret to his strength to Delilah and does not recognize that this weakness caused God to leave him.

“And he awoke from his sleep and said, ‘I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.’ But he did not know that the LORD had left him.” Vs.20b

But God does answer Samson’s last prayer, and Samson kills more in his final act than he killed before.

In Chapter 17, Micah, an Ephraimite confesses to his mother that he had stole her money, and returns it to her. She took some of the money and had a carved image and metal image made that was in Micah’s house. Micah ordains one of his sons to be his priest, and later meets a Levite who he ordains to be his priest. Israel was without a king and apparently had lost their way.

“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Vs. 6

In Chapter 18, it opens up with what is becoming a theme: “In those days there was no king in Israel.”  The tribe of Dan, who did not take the land allotted to them because the Amorites pushed them back, are seeking land. (See Judges 1:34) (Remember God said he would give them the land, but they must fight for it. They did not.) They discover a land, Laish, of a quiet people that they took over and rebuilt. They also came upon the Levite whom Micah had ordained to be his priest, and made an offer to him to be their priest, and he accepts. They also make the sons of  Jonathan, Moses’ grandson priests.

Without leadership, everyone does what is right in his own eyes.

My Thoughts On This:  Samson’s weakness reminded me of Hebrews 12:1b where we are told to “lay aside every weight,  and the sin which doth so easily beset us.” We must do the same, putting to death what is earthly in us. We have the word of God to guide us, and his Spirit to empower us to obey what it says.

Let’s read the Book!