John 14:27-31 ~ Peace

John 14:27-31

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

If you Google peace images, wow, so many of the symbols look like violence is going to happen next; sort of a militant peace. Like my dad used to say on car vacations, " Oh, Yes, You are Having A Good Time." Worldly images of peace, look a little bit like half-time between events.

When we think about Jesus before His death, we remember He really prayed for the cup to pass from Him. This sacrifice was terribly difficult for Him. What Jesus said at the Last Supper, before His death, was John 14 to chapter 18, & Jesus had a lot to say. When Jesus tells us about peace, He isn't speaking from a peaceful place in His own life, the night before his betrayal & death. Jesus is telling us God's peace isn't temporary and it doesn't have to do with happy events. Jesus is telling us, regardless of events, He has a place for us. Regardless of events, we are loved. Regardless of events, God has not forgotten, His will is being accomplished.

I think God's peace can present the Christian with guilt. No.... Guilt. If we aren't in our happy place, then we aren't letting God's Holy Spirit work in us. That isn't it. Jesus was in relationship with His Father; He didn't pretend to grit his teeth, look supreme & aloof, and march to His death. Jesus was able to live His life with Joy. Jesus could have dinner with the people Jesus declared were his mother, brother & sisters doing God's will and let the New Covenant be a celebration. Sure, the disciples were confused, but Jesus knew exactly what He was saying about Peace, then telling Peter about desertion and the rooster crowing 3 times.

Imagine the joyful celebration of the new covenant. Jesus is telling them a supreme message of hope. He tells them... He will never leave them orphaned. Jesus would cry out to God in just hours that He felt forsaken. Peace isn't about the stiff upper lip, peace is being rescued by God even when it is faith - the substance of the unseen.

My maternal grandmother lived a hard life with a lot of gratitude. She had God's Peace. She used to say," You have to rise above it." Not the grit your teeth, look supreme and aloof, and march forward type. The Rise, let us go from here variety Jesus lived.

May God bless and comfort the people looking careworn. Let the Peace of God give them times of rest and assurance. To find a blessing in each day, to be assured of God's love. That the Helper might lift them and guide them. In Jesus' name. Amen.



Reposted Scripture for Today Blogspot
May 4, 2010

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Mark 1:40-45 ~ stretched out His hand and touched him

Mark 1:40-45

⁴⁰ And a leper ^{[a term for several skin diseases]} came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” ⁴¹ Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” ⁴² And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.

⁴³ And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, ⁴⁴ and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” ⁴⁵ But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.

Moses. Son of Pharaoh. Shepherd for God's people. Miracle Maker.
The First Plague (Exodus 7:14-24) water turned to blood.

The Second Plague (Exodus 8:1-15) Frogs infestation.

The Third Plague (Exodus 8:16-19) Infestation of swarms of gnats

The Fourth Plague (Exodus 8:20-32) Flies and disease.

The Fifth Plague (Exodus 9:1-7) Disease of Egyptian horses, donkeys, camels, livestock. Children of Israel are untouched in the plagues.

The Sixth Plague (Exodus 9:8-12) Boils on people and animals.

The Seventh Plague (Exodus 9:13-35) Hail destroying the crops, people, animals killed.

The Eighth Plague (Exodus 10:1-20) Locusts complete starvation pattern ahead.

The Ninth Plague (Exodus 10:21-29) Darkness for Egyptians.

The Tenth Plague (Exodus 11:1-10, 12:1-42) Death passes over Children of Israel. Death of firstborn Egyptians.

Miracles of Cloud by Day and Pillar of Fire by night. Parting the Red Sea.

How many people would have approached a leper, much less healed by stretching out a hand and touched? Not even Moses. When Moses met the LORD, he was given a sign to use - to throw down his staff and it would become a snake.

Exodus 4:1-9
¹ Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you.’” ² The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” ³ And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. ⁴ But the LORD said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— ⁵ “that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” ⁶ Again, the LORD said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. ⁷ Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. ⁸ “If they will not believe you,” God said, “or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. ⁹ If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”

Moses never did perform the second sign. It must have shaken him up a bit. Even more than meeting the Lord God Almighty.

Hebrews 3:1
Therefore, holy brothers and sister, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, ² who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. ³ For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. ⁴ (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) ⁵ Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, ⁶ but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

When has God so stretched out his hands for us? When He willingly became our atonement. Our Advocate. Each time we speak to Him in prayer.

1 Peter 5:7
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.


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Matthew 8:18-27 ~ follow Me

Wind Mitigation

Matthew 8:18-27


David Cochran, English Standard Version

The Cost of Following Jesus

¹⁸ Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. ¹⁹ And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” ²⁰ And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” ²¹ Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” ²² And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

Jesus Calms a Storm

²³ And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. ²⁴ And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. ²⁵ And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” ²⁶ And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. ²⁷ And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

In the Christian life, coincidence collides as God's planning causing both wonder and consternation. Our last priest, Allen Hughes, left a message for his good friend Dusty Bryant to come and be our Worship Leader. Dusty returned Allen's message and said he didn't want to move to Houston and he told Allen, "No." Allen started to wonder where he would find a Worship Leader and his co-pastor Mike told him to call Mike Breen, who is sometimes referred to as the U.K. version of Billy Graham. Mike Breen said he had an American interning with him and he'd get him to take the job. Mike Breen had a staff conference and told his staff they'd be traveling to The Woodlands and the Worship Leader position would be filled by the American intern because the visit idea came from the Worship Leader position phone call. The American intern said he had a friend who'd offered him a job, but he'd turned him down. A few questions later, Mike Breen was putting his feet up and telling Dusty with the LORD, there are no coincidences, just marching orders.

Neither Dusty, Allen, Mike McDonald or Mike Breen knew at the beginning of the phone calls they were all connected by the Holy Spirit leading the way. Allen never knew Dusty was in the UK, he thought he was returning a phone call left in SC. Dusty was our awesome Worship Leader for over 4 years.

In serving the Lord, there is a cost. We serve a Living God. Who has opinions and makes His way known.

We had a great time with the Brits. The discussion that stays with me - the beginning of the end of the Church of England. It seems during the bombing in WWII, people attended Church the way they always had. But they were angry. Under the fear. And they asked as the regular liturgy was read Sunday after Sunday, why didn't the Church address the fear, the need, instead they continued to read the liturgy and people felt their needs were not met. And being people, they probably felt it more than they communicated it.

So when the war was over, the people began to stay home.

An important aspect of God was ignored.

1 John 1: 6-10- 1 John 2:1
⁶ If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 John 2

¹ My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.


The aspect is this - Jesus lived his life in the center of the storm. Jesus did not live His life in comfort like King Solomon, the life God chose was to really live in the middle of the storms created by people.

So much so that Peter.....

Luke 5:8
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"

So many times when the famous quote of Jesus' not having His own place - we think Jesus was talking about a physical place and Jesus' poverty by choice. But there is a deeper aspect here.

Mark 2:1
And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home.

Jesus is saying He is an Advocate for others and their storms; And Jesus is saying He Knows what it is to feel Tossed About. Unsettled. All of Jesus' ministry is all about Mercy. For others. At great cost to Himself.

We always say to ourselves after not-the-best-events occur - it could have been worse. And we are right. No one ever asked us to be their personal sacrifice. It is amazing to remember what Jesus' ministry was ..... and to be grateful. There are larger storms out there. And a free gift of salvation offered by One who only came for Good.



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Titus 2 ~ all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

Christmas Day Lunch group in Melbourne

Titus 2

¹ But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. ² Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. ³ Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, ⁴ and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. ⁶ Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
⁷ Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, ⁸ and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. ⁹ Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, ¹⁰ not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹² training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ¹³ waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

¹⁵ Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Pierre Auguste Renoir's Luncheon on the Boating Party, in 1861

One of the interesting points of reading the Scripture is - the people around you are constantly teaching you something. Applying the Scripture, "Seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened" means..... fruit from the tree identifies the tree. Or to go non-biblical - birds of a feather wing together.

My son is experiencing his 5th (ugh) year of college, came home for the Christmas break & was doing what he does best - meeting and greeting - and he met two new females. After a date with the first one, he became interested in finding out about the other one and several opinions of her were easily found. The word 'hipster' appeared causing every one to leave the subject of "that girl" to have a different opinion of the word hipster. ( Try explaining to the younger generation who Marlo Thomas is and ... it becomes a glum deal.) Some people use it casually and some people are offended by it. My husband said it meant with it and fun to be with. My oldest son said it is defined musically to personality and hipster people are offended by it. My younger son said some people enjoy being hipster. Trevor said hipster describes itself.

Being the seeker sort, I looked it up in the Urban Dictionary - and voila - what is old is new again. Anti-establishment isn't always a bad thing - it is forging a new path. And ha, ha - this is found in each generation. My grandmother's generation would have said "hep cat" and people would have been offended by that sometimes. My childhood generation would have them wearing earth shoes and work shirts. And maybe a VW bus would be involved.

I enjoyed hearing the Scripture today and I encourage you to listen to it. With the listen button.

Of course it applies today. And the bottom line isn't 'fuddy-duddy'. Or dry and staid. But, but, but, but.... it can be. It really depends on what we are looking for in people. People have so many facets, like a diamond. It is up to us to Want to See the Best in Them - With Truth and it's inseparable component - Mercy. My son decided 'hipster' was great to be with if time and opportunity allow. My son is growing up. He had a prior romance where the heart lead first and the brain followed later. None of the common sense guidelines were followed and we still discuss "the last one" in tones of wistfulness and anger.

There is a principle to Titus 2 - Hipsters can be Titus 2.

Kind, Love, Self-controlled, Good Works, Integrity, Dignity, Not Argumentative - you understand the list and it explains - doctrine of God our Savior
You have to love the media... sometimes. Several recent movies have Christians actually cast as the "good guy" relief. I enjoyed the last Pirates of the Caribbean Movie - recently Christians are getting good press and why? We saved the Roman Empire to give it another, extra 200 years. Christians are worth the effort to cultivate and know. You know what you are getting. Treat Others the Way You Want to Be Treated. Titus 2 is good for us. Prayer is great for those unmarried children.

God knows.
Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

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Psalm 132:6-10 ~ we found it in the fields of Jaar

Psalm 132:6-10

6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;
we found it in the fields of Jaar.
7 “Let us go to his dwelling place;
let us worship at his footstool!”

8 Arise, O Lord, and go to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,
and let your saints shout for joy.
10 For the sake of your servant David,
do not turn away the face of your anointed one


Bethlehem "house of bread" is a town, near which Jacob buried Rachel, then known as Ephrath (Gen 35:19; 48:7). It is also called Bethlehem, Ephrathah (Micah 5:2)


Micah 5:2
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days

Daniel 7:22
until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.


When my oldest son was in preschool, we sent him to a very expensive parochial school. They sent home letters saying children learn, not just from musical lessons, language lessons & sports, but from free time.

The Psalms are unique. It isn't just the history of the Scriptures, but David expressing how close he became to the Father. David spent his 'free' time looking out for his flocks in the fields of Bethlehem and Jaar. Plenty of time to think. He became anointed of God. In our culture, we need to remember to have time when the TV, computer, phone are shut down. We need time to think, pray and cultivate our own 'people' flock.

1 Samuel 16: 7
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."

When we compare the First and Second Temple - we see important similarities, but vast differences. There isn't a lot of archaeology left of the First Temple, but we have the descriptions of Solomon's Temple from the Bible. No description of a Temple mound.

Amazingly, the Temple Tools were the same built at the time of Moses. 3 different kings reigned over Babylon during the Babylonian captivity, but the Temple Tools returned with the now free slaves back to rebuild the Second Temple, for about 600 years.


Notice the walls around the First Temple are built on the level ground.



The Temple was always beautiful. Below - Court of Priests with Sacrificial Altar.
Look at the size of the Menorah. Built by the Temple Institute waiting for the 3rd Temple.

The Second Temple was almost always, for 600 years, in a state of improvement. See how the walls are now a complex mount.

Alec Gerrard, a 78 year old retired farmer, from the United Kingdom, spent 3 years researching his 1:100 scale model of the Bais Hamikdash, 33,000 hours to date and measures 20' x 12'. Mr Gerrard hand painted every clay brick and tile and sculpted all of the 4,000 half inch, correctly dressed figures to populate his creation.

'It's now recognised as the most authentic version of the temple in the world." His version is so impressive that some of the world's top archaeologists and experts from the British Museum have come to view it.

The Second Temple with 600 years of building, re-building, becomes a more impressive architectural building. The Second Temple always was missing the Ark of the Covenant. Probably because God's sorrow over people who'd lost their genealogy were excluded and the Samaritans, the remnant keeping the services worshiping God, were excluded. DNA studies later proved the Samaritans were 3 of the 12 tribes of Israel. The Ark of the Covenant was hidden by Jeremiah, recorded in 2 Maccabees 2:4-9.

Yet God's Son only visits the Temple during His lifetime to worship and teach. God could have chosen His child to be born anywhere, He chose the tiny town of Bethlehem.
We can see Jesus' point that we are God's Temple.

Israel had the same formidable enemies during the reign of David as the problems ending the 1st Temple and the 2nd Temple. The same problems facing Israel today with the revolt in Egypt. God deals with all of mankind in Jesus. Not just the building, the politics, the majesty of the Temple. It is far more important to God -the grass roots of existence.

Isn't it interesting to our faith - God chose the Shepherd boy with faith. Over the Temple. The boy who grew in the Lord. Same problems with different variations for each generation; with faith there was - and is - a different result.

Isaiah 7:9
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.




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Psalm 113 ~ Who is like the LORD our God, Who is seated on high

Psalm 113

David Cochran, English Standard Version

¹ Praise the LORD! Praise,
O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD!

² Blessed be the name of the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore!
³ From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the LORD is to be praised!

4 The LORD is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
5 Who is like the LORD our God,
who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the LORD!


The year is still New. Ball drop in Time Square... wouldn't it make more sense if the ball went up to the New Year. It makes sense to me. Still .... we should have Expectation for this Year.

If you have a good party, you want to have another one. We are starting again. It was wonderful. With unexpected memories.

Our Church Family started the New Year off this time last year with gathering with 28- 30 Jesus Christ honoring, Bible believing, different denomination Churches in our area for a get together. One of the Pastors said he hoped about 40 people would show up. We thought it would last about two hours & we all stayed past 3 hours with 600 chairs filled and the room overflowing to standing room. More than 700 people in our 220 + Church home. It was one of the most memorable evenings in my Christian faith journey since I was 16 years old.



There was a repeat saying - One of the phrases drawing laughter was the phrase, "All is not right behind the trees." Living in The Woodlands, referred to as 'the bubble', there is a certain pressure to appear to always have our perfection on. To strive, to achieve, to be perfect. Not to be lonely, or worried, or afraid. Church should be the place your real self reaches out to the Living God. Come as you actually are.

Father God has a unique way of using words for His beloved ones. We all could empathize with the emotional needs of an upwardly mobile community - we live here. But we had no way of knowing we would experience amazing sunsets from the worst drought, forest fires seen in recorded history for our area of Texas.

Three of our area, bordering counties - here in Texas - drew fire fighters from all over the USA. The wind can be like tornadoes and a spark can float for many, many feet and start another fire.

One of the most amazing things were the number of homes saved. Sure the walls were marked and scorched. But God Almighty, how the wind didn't carry away so many of the homes. I, personally, attribute this to prayer and the January effort of 30 Churches praying for our community in January of 2011.

So... with that much love in one place and so many hearts touched - we are beginning this celebration again. 21 days of fasting and prayer. Fun huh? Fasting can be lots of different aspects. Clark, our priest, is giving up two of his favorite television shows. Fasting can be missing a meal. Or giving up a food item. Adding exercise into life. Prayer is for the Christian Community or any other thing that moves you.

We, as the Bride of Christ, the Christian Community - did not show up unprepared. Last year we fasted and prayed for 21 days. Let me tell you, after our praying group prayed for all of the Pastors by name and the Churches and the parents and the children - I think that our Deacon Lisa and Karen and I were just about like the ink blot tests, because finally prayer just becomes a mind wandering to pray. Not a bad prayer conversation - I know it blessed me.

This year - the party is bigger. Each Wednesday will be a different Church gathering together to pick up momentum for the Big Sunday Night 21 days from now. And a Thursday night covered dish. And like last year, this will not be any newspaper or television show. I asked Clark why and he said the media draws too much negative attention. This is purely for the joy of honoring Jesus.

Why tell you this? This isn't a secret event, if you went to these 30 Churches you'd hear of it. This is your New Year. Expectation. Hope. Faith. Love. Join us. Wherever you are. Believers are the Body of Jesus Christ. Look up to Him.



Revelation 19:6

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns."

MIDWEEK WEDNESDAY WORSHIP SERVICES

for the next three weeks

ONE MISSION

is worshiping together

7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at these locations:

January 11th

at The Church at Alden Bridge

January 18th

at HopePointe

January 25th

at Faith Bible Church

ONE MISSION

21 DAYS OF PRAYER AND FASTING

January 09 - 29th

Join Christ-honoring congregations in the greater Woodlands area

in 21 Days of prayer and fasting for a "consecration process" in our region.

The prayer and fasting is for "committing ourselves to His purposes"

and "walking in the fullness of His Spirit" in three areas:

Our Personal Lives

The One Church in Our Area

Reaching Our Community for Christ

A guide and devotional available at One-Mission.net

COMMUNITY-WIDE WORSHIP SERVICE

January 29th at 6:00 p.m.

at WoodsEdge Community Church

Hallelujah - Alleluia - Michael W. Smith. So beautiful, quiet and sincere.

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Prayer Request - my son Alexander & I are having a lot of dental work today. We both had our front teeth repaired over Christmas twice. And we both were twins, missing part of our front teeth for the Christmas holidays. So today is the beginning of the big fix. 6 caps and veneers for me and one for Alexander. I've had 6 years of orthodontia work & I know I'd really appreciate your prayers for healing, lack of soreness, appearance for the temp teeth and lasting endurance, beauty of the new teeth. Blessings for the Christian dentist and his staff. General bravery. Well, you get the idea. Prayer would be appreciated. Thank you.






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1 Corinthians 7 ~ For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband

1 Corinthians 7

David Cochran, English Standard Version

1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you [us] to peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a slave [bondservant] when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 So, brothers, [brothers and sisters] in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

25 Now concerning [Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1 ] the betrothed, [virgins ] I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the present [impending] distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman [virgin] marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, [virgin] if his [her] passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 38 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.

39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

When my younger son came home from the hospital, I wanted to write something wonderful about brothers in my older (by 2.5 years) son's baby book, with a photo of them both. I looked for about an hour and a half, in the Scriptures, for a quote on brothers who love each other. Finally I found Paul, in Philemon, saying that his brother had refreshed his soul. Not his biological brother.

Norman Rockwell believes it turns out all brothers love each other. The Scriptures take a more limited view. Peter and Andrew were brothers. James and John- sons of Zebedee, were all biological brothers and they followed Jesus.

What does this tell us? Families have bumps and bruises.

I've heard people look at this chapter as an archaic viewpoint on chastity. This, my friends, is the Good News about peace. It is an absolutely fabulous Chapter!

Do you feel husbands should not beat their wives? Or wives not beat their husbands? Or verbally abuse a family member?

God feels that way too!

15b God has called you [us] to peace.

Families, good families have years where the children are little; the children are visions of hope and wonder. Suddenly, they are teenagers exploring the world. What happens to them? Praying parents shouldn't give up hope on the "cave years". (Like yesterday's reading in Job 8:4-6) Look at this ... God's Promise:

14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

Remember when people believed that marriage was for two people (male and female) who were bound spiritually in sexual relations? Yeah, it was believed that sex actually made them bound by their souls together... God remembers it, because He invented it and wrote it. He likes the idea so much it is actually a huge "loop hole." We would call it a loop hole, God would say Love is the fulfillment of the law. He still believes it. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow - as He breathes out Scripture. 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Samuel 23:2


The promise is:,
For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband.

Of course there are ways to give up your salvation. But God believes so much in the unification of souls, He says one married soul can offer salvation to the other soul. That is a flat out astonishing idea given Hollywood standards of purity. And this chapter indicates God - who had the idea in the first place - thinks there should be abundant sexuality within marriage.

God is generous.

32 I want you to be free from anxieties.

So, if we honestly look at the entire Bible for loving families - we are honestly going to find people struggling to get on with life and irritating and feuding with each other. God knows this and He wants us to be at peace. He's got us covered.

Blessed be You, Father God Almighty. You give in amazing abundance. In Your love we are blessed and fulfilled. And blessed be Your son, Jesus. Amen.

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1 Timothy 4:11-16 ~ Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress

White Mountain Photography of Napa

1 Timothy 4:11-16

¹¹ Command and teach these things. ¹² Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. ¹³ Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. ¹⁵ Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. ¹⁶ Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Luke 13:19
It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.

Which Bible verse to choose.... to symbolize growth and progress. The mustard tree or the vine....

John 15:1-11

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ⁹ As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.


There is a unique change in vineyards today.

Vineyard owners plant mustard for beauty and practicality - making a perfect cover crop for the dirt between rows. It improves water penetration, fertilizes by capturing nitrogen out of the air and contributing to the soil once plowed under. Best of all, functioning as a "biofumigant" warding off nasty pests.

What Biblical analogy are we drawing here: Set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity - - - Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching

Galatians 5
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

In a word - to act with Love


Galatians 5
4 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word:
“You shall Love your neighbor as yourself.”




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A Blog Started from a Bible Study about 5 Years Ago

Edward & I have been part of a Couples Group at our Church for the last 11 years. A few years ago, our Pastor asked the group leaders to take a book called "100 Most Important Stories/Chapters from the Bible" and to create Bible Studies from the Chapters. One of the draws was because we all do Bible Studies and it was interesting to see how people create different Bible Studies from the Chapter.

I found out I loved creating the Bible Studies - so we have, 5 years later, Scripture for Today Blogspot. Each day, sitting down to write the blog, is an "I get to do this..." moment!

Here is one of the Bible Studies I wrote. The answers are not provided, it is meant to think and discuss your way through it. I re-did this Bible Study tonight with my Daughters service group and it really goes better as a discussion, so I'll do the study backwards providing the questions up front, for this blog, for you to think of the questions as you read the passage. Here we go:



Questions - this is not the Samson of kiddie Sunday School but so much more and so much less....

1. How many centuries before the birth of Christ?
2. What are Samson’s 3 fatal flaws? Why would Samson have been included in the Bible?
3. How many births in the bible fit into the fantastic category of being foretold by a messenger of God?
3.5 Samson is the bad mirror twin of King David - how? How does Samson compare to Solomon?

4. How does Samson fit into the Biblical theme of Israel's Judges time period where everyone self-governed and it was sort of like today's decisions of right and wrong for our own lives. Samson is very much like the war we are experiencing in the Middle East today. How is Samson a hero and why does God pick him to be a 'hero'?


5. Bible studies on Samson fit him into: 1 the category of flawed leader,2 God using the weakest side of a strong man, 3 Someone who turned to God in His weakest moments and found strength, 4 Poor parenting example of Samson's parents 5. Example of intermarriage 6. Relationship anti-paragon 7. Pornography example 8. Co-habitation example BUT given this verse:

• The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. (Daniel 11:32 NKJV)

• Who and what would you say Samson is?





The Bible tells an episode about Ashkelon in the story about the hero Samson (Judges 13-16). Ashkelon is mentioned in Judges 14, where Samson kills 30 men in revenge for the Philistines having given his (Philistine) wife to another man. Samson himself came from Timna, an Israelite town. After the 13^th Century, Ashkelon disappeared from the map, until this century when it became again a sizeable city, which lies outside of the excavations.

Judges 13-16

The Birth of Samson

13:1 And 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.

2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. 3 And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 4 Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, 5 for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” 6 Then the woman came and told her husband, “A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name, 7 but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”

8 Then Manoah prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born.” 9 And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field. But Manoah her husband was not with her. 10 So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, “Behold, the man who came to me the other day has appeared to me.” 11 And Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, “Are you the man who spoke to this woman?” And he said, “I am.” 12 And Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what is to be the child's manner of life, and what is his mission?” 13 And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful. 14 She may not eat of anything that comes from the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, or eat any unclean thing. All that I commanded her let her observe.”

15 Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “Please let us detain you and prepare a young goat for you.” 16 And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “If you detain me, I will not eat of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the Lord.” (For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the Lord.) 17 And Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that, when your words come true, we may honor you?” 18 And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?” 19 So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it on the rock to the Lord, to the one who works [1] wonders, and Manoah and his wife were watching. 20 And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the Lord went up in the flame of the altar. Now Manoah and his wife were watching, and they fell on their faces to the ground.

21 The angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the Lord. 22 And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.” 23 But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these.” 24 And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him. 25 And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Samson's Marriage

14:1 Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 Then he came up and told his father and mother, “I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah. Now get her for me as my wife.” 3 But his father and mother said to him, “Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.”

4 His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.

5 Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. 6 Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done. 7 Then he went down and talked with the woman, and she was right in Samson's eyes.

8 After some days he returned to take her. And he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. 9 He scraped it out into his hands and went on, eating as he went. And he came to his father and mother and gave some to them, and they ate. But he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey from the carcass of the lion.

10 His father went down to the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, for so the young men used to do. 11 As soon as the people saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him. 12 And Samson said to them, “Let me now put a riddle to you. If you can tell me what it is, within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes, 13 but if you cannot tell me what it is, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes.” And they said to him, “Put your riddle, that we may hear it.” 14 And he said to them,

“Out of the eater came something to eat.

Out of the strong came something sweet.”

And in three days they could not solve the riddle.

15 On the fourth [2] day they said to Samson's wife, “Entice your husband to tell us what the riddle is, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you invited us here to impoverish us?” 16 And Samson's wife wept over him and said, “You only hate me; you do not love me. You have put a riddle to my people, and you have not told me what it is.” And he said to her, “Behold, I have not told my father nor my mother, and shall I tell you?” 17 She wept before him the seven days that their feast lasted, and on the seventh day he told her, because she pressed him hard. Then she told the riddle to her people. 18 And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down,

“What is sweeter than honey?

What is stronger than a lion?”

And he said to them,

“If you had not plowed with my heifer,

you would not have found out my riddle.”

19 And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty men of the town and took their spoil and gave the garments to those who had told the riddle. In hot anger he went back to his father's house. 20 And Samson's wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.

Samson Defeats the Philistines

15:1 After some days, at the time of wheat harvest, Samson went to visit his wife with a young goat. And he said, “I will go in to my wife in the chamber.” But her father would not allow him to go in. 2 And her father said, “I really thought that you utterly hated her, so I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please take her instead.” 3 And Samson said to them, “This time I shall be innocent in regard to the Philistines, when I do them harm.” 4 So Samson went and caught 300 foxes and took torches. And he turned them tail to tail and put a torch between each pair of tails. 5 And when he had set fire to the torches, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines and set fire to the stacked grain and the standing grain, as well as the olive orchards. 6 Then the Philistines said, “Who has done this?” And they said, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion.” And the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire. 7 And Samson said to them, “If this is what you do, I swear I will be avenged on you, and after that I will quit.” 8 And he struck them hip and thigh with a great blow, and he went down and stayed in the cleft of the rock of Etam.

9 Then the Philistines came up and encamped in Judah and made a raid on Lehi. 10 And the men of Judah said, “Why have you come up against us?” They said, “We have come up to bind Samson, to do to him as he did to us.” 11 Then 3,000 men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, “Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?” And he said to them, “As they did to me, so have I done to them.” 12 And they said to him, “We have come down to bind you, that we may give you into the hands of the Philistines.” And Samson said to them, “Swear to me that you will not attack me yourselves.” 13 They said to him, “No; we will only bind you and give you into their hands. We will surely not kill you.” So they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.

14 When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands. 15 And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men. 16 And Samson said,

“With the jawbone of a donkey,

heaps upon heaps,

with the jawbone of a donkey

have I struck down a thousand men.”

17 As soon as he had finished speaking, he threw away the jawbone out of his hand. And that place was called Ramath-lehi. [3]

18 And he was very thirsty, and he called upon the Lord and said, “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?” 19 And God split open the hollow place that is at Lehi, and water came out from it. And when he drank, his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore the name of it was called En-hakkore; [4] it is at Lehi to this day. 20 And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.

Samson and Delilah

16:1 Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her. 2 The Gazites were told, “Samson has come here.” And they surrounded the place and set an ambush for him all night at the gate of the city. They kept quiet all night, saying, “Let us wait till the light of the morning; then we will kill him.” 3 But Samson lay till midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that is in front of Hebron.

4 After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5 And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.” 6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.”

7 Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” 8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she bound him with them. 9 Now she had men lying in ambush in an inner chamber. And she said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he snapped the bowstrings, as a thread of flax snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.

10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “Behold, you have mocked me and told me lies. Please tell me how you might be bound.” 11 And he said to her, “If they bind me with new ropes that have not been used, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” 12 So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And the men lying in ambush were in an inner chamber. But he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread.

13 Then Delilah said to Samson, “Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me how you might be bound.” And he said to her, “If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web and fasten it tight with the pin, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” 14 So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his head and wove them into the web. [5] And she made them tight with the pin and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he awoke from his sleep and pulled away the pin, the loom, and the web.

15 And she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies.” 16 And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death. 17 And he told her all his heart, and said to her, “A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.”

18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. 19 She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. 20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” 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. 21 And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison. 22 But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

The Death of Samson

23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.” 24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god. For they said, “Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.” [6] 25 And when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. 26 And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” 27 Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.

28 Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. 30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life. 31 Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years.

Footnotes

[1] 13:19 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew Lord, and working

[2] 14:15 Septuagint, Syriac; Hebrew seventh

[3] 15:17 Ramath-lehi means the hill of the jawbone

[4] 15:19 En-hakkore means the spring of him who called

[5] 16:14 Compare Septuagint; Hebrew lacks and fasten it tight . . . into the web

[6] 16:24 Or who has multiplied our slain

Straining all his nerves, he bowed:
As with the force of winds and waters pent,
When mountains tremble, those two massy pillars
With horrible convulsion to and fro
He tugged, he shook, till down they came, and drew
The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder
Upon the heads of all who sat beneath,
Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priests,
Their choice nobility and flower.” ~
Written by Milton, Samson Agonistes


A major turning point in Israel's war against the Philistines was Samson's death. Two Philistine temples have been uncovered by archaeologists. One at Tel Qasile, in northern Tel Aviv, and one in Tel Miqne, ancient Ekron, 21 miles south of Tel Aviv. Both temples share a unique design -- the roof was supported by two central pillars! The pillars were made of wood and rested on stone support bases. With the pillars being about six feet apart, a strong man could dislodge them from their stone bases and bring the entire roof crashing down. The archaeological findings match the Biblical story perfectly and attest to the plausibility of the account.

Questions - this is not the Samson of kiddie Sunday School but so much more and so much less....

1. How many centuries before the birth of Christ? The answer is 14 generations
2. What are Samson’s 3 fatal flaws? Arrogance, Self-centeredness even foreshadowing the Temple Pharisees of entitlement. Sexually mis-centered conduct.

Why would Samson have been included in the Bible? Proving no one in the Scriptures is perfect and can accomplish godly living without Christian community and accountability, godly leadership. Plus Bible Study discussion always has a good laugh or too. And someone always has a good and un-thought of point to make.

3. How many births in the bible fit into the fantastic category of being foretold by a messenger of God? I thought it was four, but I was incorrect and you'll have to figure it out yourself. There are more.

3.5 Samson is the bad mirror twin of King David - how? How does Samson compare to Solomon? How does he compare to your life & does that make you feel a bit smug? Aren't comparisons grand, but think of the comparisons - it is a great learning tool.

4. How does Samson fit into the Biblical theme of Israel's Judges time period where everyone self-governed and it was sort of like today's decisions of right and wrong for our own lives. Samson is very much like the war we are experiencing in the Middle East today. How is Samson a hero and why does God pick him to be a 'hero'?

Here is a plug to join a Bible Study - it is good for what ails you and iron sharpens iron in human relationship.

5. Bible studies on Samson fit him into: 1 the category of flawed leader,2 God using the weakest side of a strong man, 3 Someone who turned to God in His weakest moments and found strength, 4 Poor parenting example of Samson's parents 5. Example of intermarriage 6. Relationship anti-paragon 7. Pornography example 8. Co-habitation example BUT given this verse:

• The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. (Daniel 11:32 NKJV)

• Who and what would you say Samson is? Would you have included him in the Bible - why and why not?






Some Historical facts going along with the Bible Narrative:

Gaza
called also Azzah, which is its Hebrew name (Deut. 2:23; 1 Kings 4:24; Jer. 25:20), meaning: strong

a city on the Mediterranean shore, remarkable for its early importance as the chief center of a great commercial traffic with Egypt

It is one of the oldest cities of the world (Gen. 10:19; Josh. 15:47). Its earliest inhabitants were the Avims, who were conquered and displaced by the Caphtorims (Deut. 2:23; Josh. 13:2, 3), a Philistine tribe. In the division of the land it fell to the lot of Judah (Josh. 15:47; Judg. 1:18). It was the southernmost of the five great Philistine cities which gave each a golden emerod as a trespass-offering unto the Lord (1 Sam. 6:17). Its gates were carried away by Samson (Judg. 16:1-3). Here he was afterwards a prisoner, and "did grind in the prison house." Here he also pulled down the temple of Dagon, and slew "all the lords of the Philistines," himself also perishing in the ruin (Judg. 16:21-30). The prophets denounce the judgments of God against it (Jer. 25:20; 47:5; Amos 1:6, 7; Zeph. 2:4). It is referred to in Acts 8:26. Philip is here told to take the road from Jerusalem to Gaza (about 6 miles southwest of Jerusalem), "which is desert", i.e., the "desert road," probably by Hebron, through the desert hills of Southern Judea.



Philistines
(Gen. 10:14, Revised Version; but in the King James Version: "Philistim")

Philistinism is a derogatory term used to describe a particular attitude or set of values. A person called a Philistine (in the relevant sense), is said to despise or undervalue art, beauty, intellectual content, and/or spiritual values. Philistines are also said to be materialistic, to favor conventional social values unthinkingly, and to favor forms of art that have a cheap and easy appeal (e.g. kitsch).

A tribe allied to the Phoenicians. They were a branch of the primitive race which spread over the whole district of the Lebanon and the valley of the Jordan, and Crete and other Mediterranean islands

Some suppose them to have been a branch of the Rephaim (2 Sam. 21:16-22). In the time of Abraham they inhabited the southwest of Judea, Abimelech of Gerar being their king (Gen. 21:32, 34; 26:1). They are, however, not noticed among the Canaanitish tribes mentioned in the Pentateuch. They are spoken of by Amos (9:7) and Jeremiah (47:4) as from Caphtor, i.e., probably Crete, or, as some think, the Delta of Egypt. In the whole record from Exodus to Samuel they are represented as inhabiting the tract of country which lay between Judea and Egypt (Ex. 13:17; 15:14, 15; Josh. 13:3; 1 Sam. 4).

This powerful tribe made frequent incursions against the Hebrews. There was almost perpetual war between them. They sometimes held the tribes, especially the southern tribes, in degrading servitude (Judg. 15:11; 1 Sam. 13:19-22); at other times they were defeated with great slaughter (1 Sam. 14:1-47; 17). These hostilities did not cease till the time of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:8), when they were entirely subdued. They still, however, occupied their territory, and always showed their old hatred to Israel (Ezek. 25:15-17). They were finally conquered by the Romans.

The Philistines are called Pulsata or Pulista on the Egyptian monuments; the land of the Philistines (Philistia) being termed Palastu and Pilista in the Assyrian inscriptions. They occupied the five cities of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath, in the southwestern corner of Canaan, which belonged to Egypt up to the closing days of the Nineteenth Dynasty. The occupation took place during the reign of Rameses III. of the Twentieth Dynasty. The Philistines had formed part of the great naval confederacy which attacked Egypt, but were eventually repulsed by that Pharaoh, who, however, could not dislodge them from their settlements in Palestine. As they did not enter Palestine till the time of the Exodus, the use of the name Philistines in Gen. 26:1 must be proleptic. Indeed the country was properly Gerar, as in ch. 20.

They are called Allophyli, "foreigners," in the Septuagint, and in the Books of Samuel they are spoken of as uncircumcised. It would therefore appear that they were not of the Semitic race, though after their establishment in Canaan they adopted the Semitic language of the country. We learn from the Old Testament that they came from Caphtor, usually supposed to be Crete. From Philistia the name of the land of the Philistines came to be extended to the whole of "Palestine." Many scholars identify the Philistines with the Pelethites of 2 Sam. 8:18.




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Other Scripture for Today Blogspot readings on Samson:
September 28, 2011

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