Passage Read: Judges 14-17
Meditation Verse: 15:11
Thought
The men of Judah in effect rebuked Samson for causing trouble to the Philistines. The Philistines ruled over them, therefore, they should submit to them. But Samson was empowered by God to harass the Philistines. How much better it would have been for the people if they had joined with Samson to throw off the Philistines, perhaps even to finish the Lord's command to destroy them all! Samson had incredible power, but he didn't think to use his time as judge to organize the people into an army to destroy the Philistines. And the people didn't recognize the possibility either! Instead, they wanted Samson to quiet down and not trouble their foreign masters! They were willing to make the best of the situation, rather than get their freedom.
Application
How easily we submit to subjugation if we can just have peace and be mostly left to do or own thing! Our struggle now is not against flesh and blood, but against Satan, his servants and sin. In that battle, every believer has the supernatural strength of Samson to defeat their enemy, the same Holy Spirit that empowered him lives in us. I shouldn't think there is no hope of conquering sin or getting free of Satan, because then I'll just find a way to live with it, as long as I don't poke the bear and the bear mostly ignores me. I don't need to fear sin or Satan and his horde! I don't need to hide from them and hope they leave me alone. I need to drive them out of my life, and help others get freedom too! I need to call sin what it is and cast it out. I need to recognize Satan's ploys and lies, and cast them down with the truth of God's Word. I need to be on a war footing, not in peace mode.