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.

93 - For the Lord is a God of knowledge

Samson Slays a Lion.

Chareen's Thoughts

• And the woman [in due time] bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child grew and the Lord blessed him. Judges 13:24-25. Did you know the name Samson means like the sun ?
• Jephthah was a great warrior who had been kicked out by his brothers because he was the son of another woman. As a result of this Jephthah fled to the land of Tob where some lawless men joined him.
• During the time when Eli's two sons: Hophni and Phinehas were the LORD'S priests Elkanah and his family would make an annual pilgrimage to sacrifice and worship the Lord.  
• Now Hannah was barren and deeply loved by Elkanah.  At this time she was deeply hurt and went to the temple: And [Hannah] was in distress of soul, praying to the Lord and weeping bitterly. She vowed, saying, O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid and [earnestly] remember, and not forget Your handmaid but will give me a son, I will give him to the Lord all his life; no razor shall touch his head. 1 Samuel 1:10-11 In fact her distress was so deep that Eli the priest thought she was drunk! But Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I was pouring out my soul before the Lord.  ... Then Eli said, Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.
• The Lord blessed Hannah with a son within the year and she named him Samuel [heard of God], Because, she said, I have asked him of the Lord. She did not go with her husband to worship but stayed home to nurse Samuel till he was weaned.
• When Samuel was three years old and weaned Hannah kept her word to the Lord and took the boy to Shiloh and dedicated him to the Lord and said: For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted my petition made to Him. Therefore I have given him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is given to the Lord. And they worshiped the Lord there.
• Hannah then prayed. 
• HANNAH PRAYED, and said, My heart exults and triumphs in the Lord; my horn (my strength) is lifted up in the Lord. My mouth is no longer silent, for it is opened wide over my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.1 Samuel 2:1 Talk no more so very proudly; let not arrogance go forth from your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed. 1 Samuel 2:3 The Lord slays and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. 1 Samuel 2:6 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and He lifts up. 1 Samuel 2:7 He will guard the feet of His godly ones, but the wicked shall be silenced and perish in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. 1 Samuel 2:9
• Due to Israel's sin of idol worship and not doing as He had commanded they were oppressed by the Ammonites and Phillistines. Psalm 106:34-46
• After this time the Israelites repented and got rid of their foreign gods and worshiped the Lord and cried out to Him for deliverance.
• Now Samson had been down to Timnah and seen a beautiful Philistine woman and wanted her for a wife.  He asked his father to get her for him. His father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord, and that He sought an occasion for assailing the Philistines. At that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel. Judges 14:4

Today I was impacted with Hannah's Prayer.   Her words are beautiful and you can see a little more of the Heavenly Father and His character in her prayer.
Talk no more so very proudly; let not arrogance go forth from your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed. 1 Samuel 2:3


May you be blessed with a sense of who He is.
Blessings
Chareen

92 - God repaid

The Death of Abimelech.

Chareen's Thoughts

• Jotham Gideon's youngest son set forth a rebuke to the Shechemites and then hid from Abimelech.
• After Abimelech had been on the throne for three years God sent an evil spirit between him and the Shechemites who in turn formed a conspiracy against him.
• Eventually Abimelech realises what's going on and he destroys Shechem.
• From here Abimelech goes to Thebez to attack it but as he approaches the tower he is killed. Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech which he had done to his father [Gideon] by slaying his seventy brothers; And all the wickedness of the men of Shechem God repaid upon their heads and caused to come upon them the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal. Judges 9:56-57 (Amplified Bible)
• After Abimelech, Tola son of Puah, son of Dodo became judge and began to deliver Israel. He judged Israel for 23 years.
• The eighth judge of Israel was Jair. He judged Israel for 22 years.
• At this time the Angel of the Lord appeared to the wife of Manoah and told her she would conceive a son and she was not to drink any alcohol or eat any unclean food.  She was not to cut the child's hair for he will be a Nazirite.
• So Manoah prayed and asked the Lord to please teach them how to raise the child. The Lord graciously answers his prayer and sends the Angel and Manoah prepares a sacrifice and the Lord accepts it.

It is true in His time He will bring about and repay the evil done before him. 

Blessings
Chareen.