March 12th

March 12th -- Judges 15 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%2015&version=NLT)

Samson's vengeance on the Philistines.

So Samson comes home one day with a goat as a present for his wife (can I just say I'm glad the version of a good gift has changed since those times?) and says he's going to go sleep with her. His dad stops him and explains that he married her off to the best man, thinking Samson hated her (for the riddle incident) and he tells her to marry the sister, instead. Samson, being mad, I guess, says he can't be blamed for this, but takes 300 foxes, tied their tails in pairs and puts a torch on each, lights the torches and sends them running through the Philistine fields, burning all the crops as they go. When the Philistines figure out Samson did it bc the woman's father gave her to the best man, they go burn both the woman and her dad. They then go down to Samson's town, looking for Samson. The men of the town go to Samson and ask why he's done this while knowing the Philistines rule them. Samson basically says they deserved it for what they did to him, so he merely paid it back. The men and Samson reach an agreement Samson will be tied up, but not killed, and given to the Philistines. When they get to them, though, Samson breaks free because the Lord's Spirit comes upon him. He then finds a donkey's jawbone lying around and uses it to kill 1,000 men. Then Samson's thirsty, so he cries out to God, and a spring gushes out of the ground. Samson judgd Israel for 20 years during this period.

I find this cool. God just comes upon Samson so strongly he wipes out 1,000 men singlehandedly with a jawbone. Like, that's epic, honestly! Although, the onw thing that makes me wonder is why Samson was allowed to wreak such havoc among the Philistines... normally that wouldn't be acceptable. God works in myterious ways, though, so it's almost like he set it up so that they'd come for Samson, who would wipe them out, demonstarting God's power.

Well, that's all. God bless! Shalom!

(P.S. Yes this post was a day late. I had a friend sleep over last night, so I couldn't very well just leave them to entertain themself for a good 20-30 mins while I did this)