BIAY - Gifts used badly
Judges 16-18, Proverbs 19:1-14
Welcome to the Bible in a Year for 2025. Intro to this series and resource links available here, plus here’s how I’m approaching this year.
Scriptures for Today:
Reflection:
Strong Gifting ≠ Good Judgment (16:15-22) - This could also be called “character = destiny.” Samson shows how weak character overcomes a strong body. He was gifted by the Lord with strength, with a few stipulations—no wine, no haircuts, no eating something unclean. This feels similar to me to the Garden of Eden. As a preacher has said, “Lots of ‘yes’ trees, only one ‘no’ tree.” Samson’s casual disregard for the Lord’s command, poor judgment, and weak character are his undoing. One wonders what sort of judge/ruler a wise and godly Samson could have been!
Idolatry permitted, then incorporated (17-18) - This longer narrative introduces the inclusion of idolatry in one man’s household, then incorporated into the beliefs and workings of a whole tribe. At first, it seems like something that is permitted but contained. As the two chapters unfold, however, the influence of the idol only expands.
“In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” (17:6, 18:1) - This sentence will become a steady refrain throughout the rest of the book. The older translation of “everyone did as they saw fit” is “each man did what was right in his own eyes.” This is a way of saying that no one considered anyone or anything besides themselves as having authority over them, including God. Every person was a law unto themselves. The problem with this system is moral chaos, which will be evident in the final chapters of Judges.
Proverbs from today:
Questions:
How are strength and wisdom different giftings? What might help each be stewarded well in a way that honors God?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, help me grow in grace, wisdom, character, so that I may steward the strengths and gifts you provide well. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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