96 - Continue crying out to the LORD

Samson Destroying the Temple of the Philistines.
Maerten van Heemskerck

Chareen's Thoughts

• The Ark of the Lord with the unyoked cattle returned by themselves back to Israel. It stopped in Bethshemesh where those people took the cart cut it up and used that as wood for an offering of the two cattle and the sin offering from the Philestines. 
• 70 men from Bethshemesh died because they looked inside the Ark. As a result of this they sent a message to Kiriath-jearim to come and fetch the Ark.
• The Ark was taken to the Abinadab's house and his son Eleazer was consecrated to be it's caretaker.  It remained here for 20 years until the house of Israel began to seek the Lord.
• The 12th judge of Israel was Ibzan. He had 30 sons and 30 daughters and he judged Israel for 7 years.
• Samson was angry over his wife being given to another man so he captured 300 foxes tied torches to their tails and when they ran through the Philistine grain, olive orchards and vineyards and burnt them down. In turn the Philistines burned his wife and father in-law which upset Samson even more so he took his vengence upon them.  Because of this the men of Philistine went to war against Israel. Israel handed over Samson to the Philistines and the Spirit of the Lord took control of him and he killed 1,000 men with the jaw bone of a donkey.
• Samson then stayed at Gaza and escapes from their with the two doors of the city.
• Saul had married and has children(Jonathan, Ishvi and Malchishua) and an army with Abner as it's commander.
• Thirteenth judge of Israel is Elon. He judged for 10 years.
• Samson fell in love with Delilah.  The leaders bribe her with 1,100 pieces of silver each. She nagged him to find the source of his power which he then tells her.  His hair is shaved and the Lord leaves him and he is captured. The Lord helps him push down the pillars of the temple and he and all the people there die. He had judged Israel for 20 years.
• The people sought the Lord and Samuel encouraged them to get rid of their idols and seek the Lord with their whole hearts.
• Samuel prayed and sought the Lord on their behalf. The Philistines heard that they were seeking the Lord and pursued them. Israel continued to cry out for deliverance.

As I read today I realised that it's that way with us. At times we walk away from Him and when we return and seek Him our enemy hears this and pursues us. Just as  Israel said to Samuel: "Don't stop crying out  to the LORD our God for us, so that He will save us from the hand of the Philistines."   so we need to continue crying out to the LORD our God for deliverance.

Blessings
Chareen.