#DailyDevotion The Lord God Plays The Long Game
July 14
Judg 14:1–20
Jdg 14:4 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…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…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.
The Philistines, whom the Israelites were supposed to have wiped off the face of the earth because of their sinfulness but did not because of their own faithlessness, were ruling over Israel. The Israelites has cried out to the Lord and the Lord sent them Samsun as a judge. Now the Lord is setting into motion how he would have Samsun overrun the Philistines and relieve Israel from their rule.
The Lord had placed upon Samsun this ruse in order to bring about the ruin of the Philistines. Yet it will not happen in this chapter. Samsun puts a riddle to the wedding guests and it is only with the threats to her family the bride presses Samsun to get the answer to the riddle. Having lost the game to the wedding guests the Spirit of the Lord comes upon Samsun to take the debt owed from them (none Israelites whom the Israelites were to wipe out from the land in the first place). In his anger though, he leaves his bride to go back to his father’s house and the family gives the woman to wife to his companion (he is a Philistine who stood as best man from the village since Samsun did not bring any companion of his own there).
So what can we learn from this? One, the Lord works the long plan often. It will still be a while before Samsun ultimately brings judgment upon the Philistines and this will be one factor in bringing it about. Secondly, the Lord uses fallen human beings to accomplish his work. He does not always use the best, the brightest, the wisest and the like to bring about what he wants.
Jesus, our very own Samsun, brings about our victory over the devil and death by dying on the cross. And does he, our Lord Jesus Christ, set about immediately wiping off evil from the earth? No. What does he do? He sets the Church to preach the good news and the Spirit of the Lord through that good news to convert people to faith in Christ Jesus. He gives pastors to the Church who are fallen men, men who are weak, not the wisest nor the smartest, men who are the not the most winsome and men who not those who generally attract others to themselves, to bring the good news of salvation to the fallen world and gain a kingdom for Himself. And the Lord Jesus has done this now for a couple of millennia. We always look at the world and think, He has to be coming soon! But our Lord Jesus Christ plays the long game. He expects to be faithful to him until all his purposes come to pass.
Lord Jesus Christ, continually give us your Spirit that we may with patience wait your return and see your ultimate victory over sin death and the devil. Until such time, grant us pastors who will faithfully proclaim your victory so our hearts may ever be strengthened by your Word and Spirit. In your name we pray. Amen.