But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. – Psalm 59:16

Today's Scripture Reading (May 31, 2025): Psalm 59

I admit that I love loud music. I have often commented that if you can't feel the bass in your chest, the music just isn't loud enough. I also know that I am often in the minority. So, I am learning to keep quiet when I am playing. I would often like to hear the music much louder than I do; however, especially in a worship situation, it just isn't about me.

Many years ago, I went to a youth function with the teens from my church. The weekend event was planned with times for relaxation, recreation, worship, and teaching. We were in one of the worship situations when a teen from my group got up and screamed at the stage, "Come on, it is louder than this at home in church." It was a proud moment for me, one of the guitar players on the team at home.

I like loud music, but not every sound is meant to be played at full volume. Growing up, I was a KISS fan, and from their "Destroyer" Album, the song "Detroit, Rock City" is meant to be played at a much higher volume than the piano and string-dominated "Beth." I am old enough to remember when Destroyer was released, and I had a friend who purchased the album before I did. We listened to the album together, and when we came to "Beth," my friend thought the band had lost their minds by including the track. In fact, it is the only KISS song that is performed with none of the members of the band playing any instruments, instead just using a piano and strings. Today, both pieces are often listed in the top five songs of the band, but they are very different musical compositions, and are intended to be played at very different volumes.

Unfortunately, we miss something in the translation of this verse. In a moment of stress and trouble, David writes this Psalm as a bare expression of his emotions at the time. As with many expressions of emotion, parts of the Psalm might make us uncomfortable. Then he comes to this passage. I am unsure if it is just artistic license or something else, but he uses different words to portray the songs that emerge from the core of his being. As he writes, "I will sing of your strength," he uses the word "sir" (pronounced sheer), which means to sing. But when he writes "in the morning I will sing of your love," he changes his word choice to "ranan" (pronounced raw-nan), meaning to shout, ring out, or express loudly. It might be just an artistic change, but it might also be something more substantial. I believe that David's choice of words might indicate that while God's power is critical, it doesn't measure up to the essential character of God's love. As a result, David shouts out the message of God's love because it is in his love that he finds his fortress and a place of safety.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 21

And do not ever cut off your kindness from my family—not even when the LORD has cut off every one of David's enemies from the face of the earth." – 1 Samuel 20:15

Today's Scripture Reading (May 30, 2025): 1 Samuel 20

What are the significant life events that you remember? One of the ones that I remember clearly is the night my paternal grandfather died. He was the first of my grandparents to pass away. I was an adult with two small children then; the oldest of my kids was four, and the youngest had just turned one. Grandpa died as a result of a fall. He had just had surgery on his eyes and wasn't supposed to be doing anything, but he had always been a very active man. He decided to climb a ladder in his garage on this day, something he had been told not to do. We think he might have suffered from a bout of dizziness and had fallen from the ladder and down a set of concrete stairs. Grandpa died as a result of the brain bleed he had received from that fall.

It was an incredible night. My wife and I had visitors when we received the call about the accident. My brother-in-law and his wife were visiting from the West Coast. At the time, we were living in a small town and had to drive a couple of hours to get to the hospital to which grandpa had been taken. And then we spent a long night, basically waiting for grandpa to die. At some point in the evening, my grandmother had a stroke. With everything else that was going on, we missed it. And by the time we left to get some sleep, both of my grandparents were in the hospital fighting for their lives. Grandpa passed away that night. Grandma lived for almost another three decades, but on this night, as a result of her stroke, she started to use a cane to move around. All of my grandparents are now gone, but even though decades have passed, I still remember that horrible night.

Another of my many favorite stories in the Bible involves a man named Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth was Jonathan's son and the grandson of King Saul. On the day Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle, Mephibosheth was a child in the care of the family's nurse. With the death of the King and the heir apparent on the battlefield, as much as the family might have been stuck in grief, some things needed to be done. And one of those things was escape. The palace of the King would no longer be a safe place for those who had once lived there. It was common for a new King to come in and kill anyone connected with the previous King, and that especially applied to family and close family servants. So, along with the grief that accompanied the news that Saul and Jonathan had died, there was also a sense of panic and a rush to get away to some far-flung hiding spot.

In the process of the escape, Mephibosheth was dropped. It seems likely that his legs were broken and there was no time or expertise to set the bones properly. Therefore, Mephibosheth was lame in both feet for the rest of his life. Due to his status as a descendant of King Saul, those around Mephibosheth took great pains to hide him from David. Many believed that it was only because of this effort that Mephibosheth lived to become an adult and even have a son of his own.

But one day, David asked about Jonathan's son and discovered he was still alive. I am sure most believed that the new King had finally decided to kill the last of Saul's descendants. However, that wasn't David's motivation. His motivation returned to the promise David had made to his friend Jonathan on a horrible day in the new King's past. Jonathan had pleaded with David never to cut off his kindness to the prince's descendants. David sent for Mephibosheth to come to him, and I am sure that Jonathan's son thought this was the last day of his life.

When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.

David said, "Mephibosheth!"

"At your service," he replied.

"Don't be afraid," David said to him, "for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table." (2 Samuel 9:6-7).

For David, it was a kindness that he had promised to Jonathan and that he would keep in memory of his friend.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalm 59

Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. – 1 Samuel 19:4

Today's Scripture Reading (May 29, 2025): 1 Samuel 19

There are some conversations that I just want to avoid. The problem, at least from my point of view, is that while I love the conversation, I find that disagreements on these subjects can too often end a relationship. So, unless I am asked a specific question, I forego the conversation in favor of the relationships. Maybe I lack the courage of my convictions. If you want to talk about Donald Trump, our responsibility as Christians to the least of these and the stranger living in our midst, prophecy, separatist movements in various parts of the nation, or even the LGBTQ community and the Christian Church, I would love to have the conversation as long as we can agree to disagree before the conversation without destroying our relationship. But too often these topics, and many more, seem to carry an emotional reaction that we demand an agreement with our point of view if we are to remain friends. And if that is the reaction, sometimes I would rather sit the conversation out than risk hurting the relationship. And yet, I keep writing on some of these complicated subjects because I think they are part of essential conversations we must have.

The time will always come when we have to stand up and be counted on the crucial issues of life. I do believe that we have a responsibility toward the least of these and that there needs to be a balance of the world's finances. For all of the haves, and I am counted among that group, there is a time coming, and it might not be that far away, when people from the middle latitudes of the earth are going to swarm to the north and the south because the climate in that part of the world has become unlivable. Many of you doubt that, but I am convinced it is a possible future. The human race has done such a bad job at the task that God gave us to "care for the earth" that climate refugees are going to become more common as the next few years go by. We can defend the environment now or lament over the significant coming changes later. You might not share these ideas with me, but they are important enough for me to feel the need to share.

Jonathan has a conversation with his dad. The subject was David. Jonathan knew that this was going to be an uncomfortable conversation. It was likely a discussion Jonathan would have preferred to avoid, but he knew he couldn't afford to keep silent. Maybe we can't lose sight of why this was a meaningful conversation into which Jonathan had to wade. The growing division between Saul and David was going to hurt both men. David was going to have to go into exile and make some deals with Israel's enemies that he would prefer not to make. He would also be separated from his family for their protection. None of this would be good for David.

Saul needed his top general. Even though God had already decreed that David would take Jonathan's place on the throne, Saul still needed David. And David had already committed not to raise his sword against the current King of Israel.

Sometimes we need to have the conversations we would rather not have. It is part of being an adult. If only we could learn to receive these messages and see them for what they are, efforts to encourage us. But even that was beyond what Saul could do.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 20

From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. – 1 Samuel 18:2

Today's Scripture Reading (May 28, 2025): 1 Samuel 18

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) is often called the father of modern political philosophy and political science. His best-known book is the political treatise "Il Principe" (The Prince), which some have called the definitive primer on how to be a dictator. Maybe the best-known quote from "The Prince" is that you will always want to "keep your friends close and your enemies closer." The first part of Machiavelli's quote seems quite apparent. We all need friends, but a friend who is close by and can be depended on for help and support is even more essential. I have friends all over the continent, and all of them, at some point in my life, have had a significant impact on me, but the ones who are close at hand continue to have a substantial impact on who I am. I am indebted to all of the people I have called friends, and often if they are far off physically, emotionally, and psychologically, I have moments where my heart aches because they are not in my life. There are too many on that list. These are the friends I have not been able to keep close.

 

The second part of the quote seems to be a bit of a paradox. Why would I want to keep an enemy close enough to sabotage everything I want to do? I want them kept as far away as possible. However, an enemy who is kept close is someone you can keep an eye on. And maybe, because they are close, they will be unable to act freely to hurt you. But even if they do act to cause you harm, you might also be able to contain the damage.

 

What is missing in the Machiavelli quote might be the most critical part of the process. We need to be able to distinguish between a friend and an enemy. Making this discernment is where we often fail (and maybe describes the current relationship between the United States and the rest of the world). Keeping a friend close who is actually an enemy is disastrous, and so is keeping an enemy closer who is really a friend. Being unable to differentiate between friends and enemies is incredibly important to who we are.

 

Samuel says that, from this point forward, Saul kept David close. Israel's King seemed to vacillate between the opinion that David was a friend he wanted to keep close or an enemy he needed to keep closer. As we read Samuel's text and, by extension, the entire story of Saul and David, maybe David was a bit of both. There was no question that David respected Saul as the King God had given Israel, and he had no intention of causing Saul harm. But David also knew that, somehow, he would be the next King of Israel. And that alone made him a threat in Saul's mind. And so, Saul decided to keep his adversarial friend as close as possible, as long as he could.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 19

Personal Note: Happy Birthday to my wonderful wife, Nelda. I hope you have a great day!

For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand. – 1 Samuel 17:16

Today's Scripture Reading (May 27, 2025): 1 Samuel 17

Forty is one of those numbers we need to note when we see it in the Bible. Does it mean forty, a number between thirty-nine and forty-one? I don't know, and the reality is that we need to hold loosely any interpretation because forty is one of those numbers that has a meaning beyond being just a number.

Consider just some of the places where we see the number forty in the Bible. It is present in the story of Noah and the Ark, where we are told that it rained for forty days and forty nights (Genesis 7:12). Does that mean that rain fell on the earth for forty days? Maybe, but it might mean something else.

The story of the life of Moses is filled with the number forty. When the lawgiver went up on the mountain to meet with God, Moses was there for forty days and forty nights. "Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments" (Exodus 34:28). We know it is possible to go without eating for forty days, but without water? We are reminded that God can do anything, but that might not be the message Moses intended to convey to the reader in the number forty.

When exploring the Promised Land, Moses sent twelve men into the land, one from each tribe. "At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land" (Numbers 13:25).

And how long did Israel wander in the desert? "The Lord's anger burned against Israel and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone" (Numbers 32:13).

The list could go on. There are many examples in the Bible of something happening for forty days or years. Sometimes the number could be multiplied by ten and become 400. It might be noted that the time of silence between the end of the Tanakh or Old Testament and the Christian Testament (New Testament) is 400 years, and while that is close, it isn't exact.  

Forty in the Bible is more about the idea of testing than it is about the number. Whenever we read forty, we need to exercise a modicum of caution. Maybe it is true, but more often the number is symbolic of a time trial. Perhaps we could say the COVID-19 pandemic reigned for forty weeks. Technically, it lasted much longer than that, but regardless of what side you were on, it was a time of testing and trial.

So, we need not get hung up on the concept that Goliath came out and stood against Israel for forty days. That might be true, but the real message was that this was a time of testing for Israel, and by doing nothing, Israel was failing the test.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 18

Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. – 1 Samuel 16:14

 Today's Scripture Reading (May 26, 2025): 1 Samuel 16

We think that Aristotle introduced the concept of "horror vacui." The Latin phrase's translation is often given as "Nature abhors a vacuum." It is a concept that still rings true in science, but the Greek philosopher's assertion also holds in many other areas of life. Aristotle believed that "horror vacui" was why a water pump functioned; the mechanism created a vacuum through which water was pulled through the pump.

But nature always abhors a vacuum. Regardless of the subject of our discussion, the emptiness will always be filled unless considerable work is done to counter that effect. Always. It is that way in life, and the concept is mirrored in fiction. As a Science Fiction fan, maybe the most memorable example comes from the Star Trek Universe. In Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, a title which finds its origin in William Shakespeare's "Hamlet," the concept of "horror vacui" is placed on the lips of Mr. Spock. Spock comments, "This will be my final voyage on board this vessel as a member of her crew. Nature abhors a vacuum. I intend you to replace me."

Samuel tells us that God's Spirit had left Saul. But nature abhors a vacuum; what is empty will always be filled by something. This filling of a vacuum has always been the rationale for why meditation for the Christian needs to be entered into with caution. We need to make sure that we are meditating on something. For Christians, meditation often centers around a passage of scripture and what God requires us to understand. Traditional meditation frequently concentrates on self-emptying. The problem with that concept is that it allows something else to take its place. Possibly, something less edifying.

God leaves Saul empty, but it doesn't take long for something else to take up residence inside of the King. Samuel says it was an evil spirit that found its home inside the King and that it tormented him. But once God had left Saul, or maybe we should say that once Saul had evicted the will of God from his life, Saul could no longer act as a godly King because, to truly be godly, always requires God's presence in our lives.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 17

But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed. – 1 Samuel 15:9

Today's Scripture Reading (May 25, 2025): 1 Samuel 15

I admit that I struggle with this entire passage. I will always struggle with the killing of innocents, and I wonder if the message here might be corrupted. I also admit that the seeds of my sin are also found in this passage. The seed of pride that strikes Saul in this passage also strikes me. Sin says that I know better; my timing is better than what God is offering. Part of our response is to reply, "I know God said to do this, but he didn't mean that." As a result, we trade what should be important for what is less critical because of our bias.

Saul and I share the same sin here, but it is interesting where we draw the line. For me, it is killing the innocents; for Saul, it is destroying things that have monetary value. Both exhibit a sin that says that we know better. My only defense is that I am responding with what I would see as the love of Jesus to the less fortunate. As I said, this is an area of struggle for me.

I had a discussion, not long ago, with a man that I greatly respect and still do, even though I disagree with him on this one point. The subject of our discussion was gossip. I am convinced that we (all of us, including me) are addicted to gossip. My friend disagreed and asserted that gossip was just part of the church and that I needed to get used to it. Again, my friend seemed to argue that he knew better than God. I still maintain that one of the significant threats to the church is how we disseminate information about each other and those with whom we are in a relationship. Gossip can potentially tear down the 21st-century church, and it really comes down to selfishness; who I am and what I am are more important than who or what you are. It is a sin against community. Just read some of Paul's responses to this sin.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29 - NIV).

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice (Ephesians 4:31 - NIV).

For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group.  They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Titus 1:10-11 (NIV)

I won't go on. We have sin in our midst that is out of control. Why do we struggle to love one another? We may not agree with each other, but we often react with venom over the beliefs of the other. All of us. Where is the point where we allow God's Prophet to come to us and ask, "What did God say to you?"

In his book "Congregational Megatrends" Jeff Woods talks about some of these issues. He says that a lot of what we term to be Christian behavior (and here is talking about extra-biblical regulations) finds its roots in a North American culture that is primarily religious but not necessarily Christian. As a result, we exhibit the pride of being real Christians apart from those who are just Christian in name. 

Pride is the root of Saul's problem; pride was the root of the Pharisee's problem, and pride continues to be our problem. What is God asking us for? I don't think we need an audible voice. Our repentance is required, which is found in the concept that we know better than God, and we need to stop trying to tell God what he should do.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 16

Jonathan said, "Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us. If they say to us, 'Wait there until we come to you,' we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, 'Come up to us,' we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the LORD has given them into our hands." – 1 Samuel 14:8-10

Today's Scripture Reading (May 24, 2025): 1 Samuel 14

There is a scene in an old M*A*S*H episode where the guys are having a locker room moment, and their conversation becomes a little sexually explicit, with Father Mulcahey standing among the group. One of the men notices that the Father is standing in the group, and he apologizes to the priest for the discussion content. I love Father Mulcahey's response. The good Catholic Priest replies, "Oh, that's okay. I just translate that kind of talk into Latin, and it sounds better."

It is the same idea that I want to use in this post. It sounds better to say that Jonathan was a "Kciyl" (which is Hebrew and not Latin) than to say what I want to say, which is that Jonathan was a fool. But that is the reality. Here is the definition of a Kciyl; a fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one. I want to be clear; this passage does not use the word Kciyl. It is just me that is using it. The Bible uses the word Kciyl, but it is not used here.

So why do I insist on insulting a good young boy like Jonathan? Here's why. His battle plan makes no sense. First, he anticipates going to battle against a well-armed opponent with no weapons. But that is only the tip of the stupidity in this passage. Not only are the Philistines better armed, but they have the high ground, and as any battle tactician will probably tell you, in a battle, you want the high ground. The high ground gives you the advantage. 

So, Jonathan's enemy has the weapons and the position. Next, Jonathan's strategy makes no sense. He tells his armorbearer that if they come down, we will wait for them. I'm really not sure why. If they come down, my advice would be to run as if your life depends on it because it does. Not only that, Jonathan says, but if they invite them up, then they will know that God has given them into their hands. Okay, let me try to explain this. Jonathan and his armorbearer have only one sword between them. The Philistines are well-armed. And the Philistines are standing at the top of the cliff while Jonathan and his friend are at the bottom. Have you ever tried to climb a cliff? I have. It usually involves foot holds and grabbing onto whatever you can with your hands as you climb. So, if you need your hands free to climb, where is the one sword? The reality is that it is probably stuck in a holder either on his waist or on his back, but either way, when they arrive at the top of the cliff, out of breath from the climb, the one sword that Jonathan and his friend have will be useless. 

Jonathan's plan is not built on a sound military strategy. If the Philistines chose to come down off of the cliff, maybe that would allow Jonathan and his armorbearer to at least be ready, and the Philistines would be the ones who would have to get prepared as they reached the bottom. But the idea that climbing the cliff to get to the top is "God is giving the Philistines into the hands of Jonathan and his armorbearer" is ridiculous.

Ah, but that is also often the way it is when we walk with God and trust in him.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 15

Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand were with him at Mikmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. The rest of the men he sent back to their homes. – 1 Samuel 13:2

Today's Scripture Reading (May 23, 2025): 1 Samuel 13

Sargon the Great (c. 2334 - c. 2279 BCE) is the first Emperor of recorded history. His Empire was the Akkadian Empire, although what that looked like is an open question. Sargon was the first to rule over an area rather than just a city. He was a conqueror and went out and actively defeated the city-states in the known world. The areas that Sargon ruled over today are parts of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey, and Kuwait. 

The method Sargon used to take over this area was through another first. Sargon was the first King to possess a professional army. All armies up until this point had been made up of conscripted soldiers. These men were farmers and men of other occupations who were drafted into an army during times of crisis. But Sargon changed that idea. He developed a standing army of men who would be trained in the art of war. For these men, being a soldier became their job. One of the problems of a standing army in ancient times was that the only way to develop the necessary skills was to send the army into battle. Sargon developed his professional army and paid for it by sending his soldiers into war with the various city-states in the area. One inscription reveals this reality during the reign of Sargon the Great. 

Sargon, King of Agade, was victorious over Ur in battle, conquered the city and destroyed its wall. He conquered Eninmar, destroyed its walls, and conquered its district and Lagash as far as the sea. He washed his weapons in the sea. He was victorious over Umma in battle, [conquered the city, and destroyed its walls]. [To Sargon], lo[rd] of the land the god Enlil [gave no] ri[val]. The god Enlil gave to him [the Upper Sea and] the [Low]er (Sea).

Sargon lived about 1300 years before Saul. One of the things Saul did when he became the King of Israel was to follow Sargon's example and build his professional army. Until now, like the army before the reign of Sargon, Israel has depended on a conscripted army. These soldiers wore other hats in times of peace. But when a crisis arose, they answered the call of a leader and went to fight against the enemy who was threatening Israel.

Saul changed this idea. He took 3000 soldiers, kept 2000 with him at Mikmash, and sent 1000 to his son Jonathan in his hometown of Gibeah. This was the army that Saul intended to use to accomplish the aims of his reign and to defend the nation from the Philistines and whoever else was out there intent on causing Israel harm.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 14

Samuel said to all Israel, "I have listened to everything you said to me and have set a king over you." – 1 Samuel 12:1

Today's Scripture Reading (May 22, 2025): 1 Samuel 12

"Be careful what you wish for." The phrase is often used as a caution to understanding the implications of what you want. A great case in point might be the Canadian Federal Election in 2025. There is little doubt that President Donald Trump was the most important politician involved in the Canadian Election. It became apparent early in the election period that President Trump had been successful in uniting the country, something that only the game of hockey had been able to do for decades in Canada. Despite the many political problems the nation was fighting, the unifying problem was President Trump and his threats to make Canada the 51st state. In the fight, whether right or wrong, Canadians felt that they were quickly becoming Ukraine and that the United States had become their Russia. Canadians woke up to the realization that the relationship between the two national neighbors had changed.

Both major Canadian parties, the Liberal and the Conservative Parties, believed they were the answer to what had become known as "The Trump Problem." To a certain extent, they both went after a third party, the New Democrats (a left-leaning party), hoping that the seats would go their way. The New Democratic Party was decimated primarily because of the threat of President Trump over the nation, but it was the Liberal Party that picked up the seats. The Conservative Party got what it wanted, but it didn't make the difference they had hoped for because not enough seats went their way.

Samuel has crowned Saul as King of Israel. Samuel is not retiring from his position as Judge over the nation. 1 Samuel reminds us that "Samuel continued as Israel's leader all the days of his life" (1 Samuel 7:15). But now he would have to be careful not to overshadow the King. Samuel would take on the role of a national advisor to the King, and as long as Saul heeded the advice of Samuel, which came from God, everything would be okay. It would only be when the King disobeyed what God had told Samuel that there would be problems. 

However, I hear a bit of "be careful what you wish for" in Samuel's response to the people after Saul is made King. He reminds them that they wanted a king. And now they would have to put up with both the good and the bad that would come with the new Royal Family. There would be consequences of having a King that the people hadn't considered. They had focused on the good and overlooked the bad. But now that a King was in place, they would get both. 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 13

When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. – 1 Samuel 11:6

Today's Scripture Reading (May 21, 2025): 1 Samuel 11

An unknown Buddhist believer argued early in the days following the life of Buddha that "Anger is like grasping a hot coal to strike another; you are the one who Is burned." It is a great image and describes the effect of anger on us well; at least, it describes the impact of anger most of the time. However, sometimes, our anger is needed.

Jesus was angry when he cleared the Temple. As John tells the story, he says,

So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a market!" His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me" (John 2:15-17). 

I think the Apostle Paul would agree. His admonition is not "Don't be angry." It is "In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry" (Ephesians 4:26). Sometimes, our anger is justified. But we can admit that this is not the case in most instances when we become angry. Most of the time, our anger causes us more harm than the person that has elicited the response. 

The Ammonites have surrounded the Israelite city Jabesh of Gilead. The inhabitants of Jabesh try to make a deal with their attackers to save themselves. We need to note that while Saul will be crowned as King, this is still a moment when Israel does not have a unified outlook, and each city still has to defend itself without the nation's help. The population of Jabesh asks for a treaty, and as a result of the treaty, they agree to become subjects of the Ammonites. The only other option is that the Ammonites slaughter the people of the town. The people of Jabesh chose life subject to the Ammonites over death.

But this was a moment of transition. News reaches Saul, and God allows him to show some righteous anger against the actions of the Ammonites. This kingly anger is a new reaction, a moment when Israel can react as a nation against anyone who dares to infringe on the rights of the nation's people. Even in the Transjordan, where Jabesh of Gilead was located, Israel could respond to a threat against its sovereignty with a unified response. Having a king would have many drawbacks, but this kind of national response to enemies with designs on Israelite territory was one of the strengths. As Israel embarked on its national dream, Saul's response to the Ammonite invasion was essential to the nation's dream.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 12

After that you will go to Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost. As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, timbrels, pipes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying. – 1 Samuel 10:5

Today's Scripture Reading (May 20, 2025): 1 Samuel 10

Sometimes, a place gets identified by a disaster. Mount St. Helens is the first volcano that comes to my mind, even though I have visited other volcanoes and have never seen Mount St. Helens up close. The reason why Mount St. Helens is the first active volcano that I think of is because I remember the 1980 eruption, which killed an estimated fifty-seven people in 1980. I wasn't living close to the mountain at that time, but I was living close enough that the news of the eruption dominated the news cycle. As I write this, we are waiting for Mount St. Helens to erupt again. Hopefully, we have learned something from the 1980 eruption that will help us this time. However, the eruption of any volcano in a populated area is a problem, and there are more volcanoes in populated areas than we probably want to know. 

Another place that I remember because of a disaster is Waco, Texas. I recently looked at the history of Waco, partially because the city seems to have returned to the news cycle for various reasons. I discovered Waco has been the site of several horrors throughout its history. In 1905, Sank Majors, an African American man, was hung by a white mob, and another man, Jim Lawyer, was whipped because he objected to the lynching. But maybe the most horrific story to come out of the Waco of that time happened on May 15, 1916. It was another lynching, but this time, it was a lynching with a difference. The victim was an African American man named Jesse Washington. Washington had been convicted of rape and murder, and the crowd took matters into their own hands. They hung Washington over a fire and lowered and raised his living body into the flames. Washington died because of the burns he received in the process, and it was an excruciating way to die. 

Even with all of this, I still remember Waco, Texas, for the confrontation between law enforcement and a radical cult called the "Branch Davidians." As a result, over eighty people died, most in a fire at the home of the cult members, which they called the "Mount Carmel Center." Every time I hear the name Waco, I remember that standoff and fire, which again was stressed by the news cycle at that time.

Samuel speaks about the "Gibeah of God." Gibeah means hill, and there were a lot of hills in Israel. Specifically, Gibeah is usually used for one of three places. Still, this mention is likely referring to Gibeah in Benjamin, also known as Gibeah of Saul, because this was Saul's hometown, or sometimes, as is true here, Gibeah of God. All of these names probably try to cover Gibeah's negative past. It was here that the rape and murder of an unnamed concubine of a Levite caused a civil war that almost wiped out the tribe of Benjamin. 

What is impressive is that this city could be rebranded and that a town with that kind of past could become known more as the hometown of Israel's first king than because of the crime that happened there. And yet, that is what happened, and Gibeah became better known as the hometown of Saul than the horror that had taken place there in its distant history.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 11

Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed this to Samuel – 1 Samuel 9:15

Today's Scripture Reading (May 19, 2025): 1 Samuel 9

God told me. There might not be a phrase that I dislike more than that one. For one thing, it is a discussion ender. What do you say in reply? No, he didn't. Are you crazy? It also stops the necessity of talking to each other. I have people who won't speak to me because I think we need to discuss things they consider a done deal. They believe there is no room for conversation; in fact, some seem to think the conversation itself is a sin. I remain unconvinced.

The truth is that I think God speaks to us all the time. He talks to all of us and uses several different methods to get his message through. In speaking to Saul, God used the language of lost donkeys. God needed Saul to go somewhere, so he used donkeys to lead Saul there. Some have argued that God used these donkeys because Saul didn't have a relationship with him. That might be true, but it doesn't have to be. God uses whatever language he can to get our attention. For Saul, that language happened to be donkeys.

Samuel was a little more sensitive to the voice of God. This sensitivity became evident when Samuel was a child living with Eli. Then, he heard the voice of God, and the child thought Eli was calling him. Then, it was Eli who helped Samuel listen to the voice of God and find out what God needed to share with him. But that wasn't the last time God shared something with Samuel; the priest had learned that God could share a message with him in many different ways. In this case, the original text says God "uncovered his ear." It is a phrase used when someone wants to tell another something with a whisper, and they have to push aside the headdress so that the whisper can be heard comfortably. For some, this means that Samuel heard God's "still, small voice," just as Elijah would later on the Mountain of God. Others think that it means that Samuel had not heard God's voice as he had as a child but that God revealed his message to him in some other way. Nevertheless, Samuel was sensitive enough to hear the message and know that God was talking to him. There was nothing obvious about the voice, but at the same time, Samuel heard it.

Today, I am convinced that one of the languages God uses is our interaction with other people. God has placed certain people in our lives for a reason, and we can hear God's quiet voice somewhere in our discussion. God continues to speak through our interactions with each other and his scripture. If you want to hear God speak, these discussions, sometimes outside our comfort zones, become essential. But if you don't want to hear God, all you have to do is run from Christians who might want to speak to you. 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 10

But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. – 1 Samuel 8:3

Today's Scripture Reading (May 18, 2025): 1 Samuel 8

Political scandal is nothing new to modern politics. Scandal often seems to be epidemic. In fact, I think we have come to expect it. I am convinced we wouldn't know what to do with an honest politician. We grow blind to the inconsistencies of the politicians we agree with and are hypercritical of the ones with whom we disagree. I recently asked a Social Media friend why he believed one politician over another, and the answer I received was a version of "Because he (in this case, it was a he) is honest and has no reason to lie." I disagreed, but I know that if we define something that way, we will ignore any statements that are untruths so that our politicians remain honest, even if it is only in our sight. 

It shouldn't be that way. If I had any advice for politicians, it would be this: Be hyper-ethical. In a world where every person seems to be a fact checker, build a reputation for telling the truth. It might be hard in the short term, but it will set you apart positively in the long run. Invite your audience to fact-check you rather than complain about it. If you are caught saying something untrue, admit it, apologize, and move on. Become known as the one that can be trusted. You might be amazed at where that might take you.

It was the reputation that Samuel had achieved in Israel. He had dealt with the people honestly, and the people knew that if Samuel said it, you could depend on it. Samuel had been the Judge Israel needed and, in many ways, a more dependable Judge than some of the more recent Israelite leaders, especially Eli and Samson. 

But then, late in his career, Samuel made a colossal mistake. He elevated his sons, Joel and Abijah, to the position of Judge. The problem was that being a Judge had never been a hereditary office. In fact, the position had not been an office which always needed to be filled. There had been times in Israel when there wasn't a Judge leading the nation, and there had been times when multiple Judges had risen to take care of different problems. No Judge had ever tried to appoint the next Judge, whether or not the candidate was related to them. Gideon's son had tried to become King, but he did so without his dad's support. What Samuel was doing had never been done, and God didn't ordain it.

However, as good as Samuel had been, his sons did not have the same moral character that Samuel had exhibited while he led the nations. His sons accepted bribes and did things that made real justice impossible. All of which was evidence that God had not called these men to lead the nation. Samuel's error led to a renewed request on the part of the people for a King who could lead them.   

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 9

When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. – 1 Samuel 7:17

Today's Scripture Reading (May 17, 2025): 1 Samuel 7

In March 2020, my church stopped holding services because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not everyone agreed with the decision. Some would rather have flouted the local health regulations and taken the consequences, or maybe more precisely, would rather have had me take the consequences, but most seemed to understand that drastic measures were needed. It was an unprecedented time. Nothing in our living memory had ever had to deal with anything resembling it. Regardless of our opinions, in hindsight, we were all unsure what we should be doing.

When we shut down, the decision was made midweek, so there was no time to say goodbye and stay safe. It reminded me of a story about Dwight Moody and the Great Chicago Fire. According to the story, Moody was in the middle of his Sunday evening service when the fire alarms started to ring. Moody ended the service early and sent the people to discover what was happening. What Moody didn't know was that by the time the flames were put out, many of the people who had gathered in the church on that night would be killed by the fire. And it was with great regret that Moody realized he hadn't taken the time to ensure the people were ready for death. It was something he lamented for the rest of his life. 

I felt the same way as we shut the church down. By the time the health regulations were relaxed and we reopened the church, I had lost six friends, although none of them had died as a direct result of the pandemic. There are still other faces missing from the congregation, and I can't tell you how much I miss every one of them. 

Israel gathered at Mizpah, at the instructions of Samuel, for a moment of national repentance. If Israel wanted to be delivered out of the hands of their enemies, it was repentance that would be the first step to that kind of deliverance.

The Philistines heard about the gathering and probably believed that Israel was gathering for war. So, they decided to strike first. They were confident that since they had been able to best Israel before, they could do it again. And if they caught word that Israel was in a moment of national repentance, they might have even equated that as a time of national weakness. Now might be the time to take care of the Israelite problem forever.

Some argue that Israel should have reacted with more confidence, knowing that their God was on their side and that they would win the battle. However, Israel was very confident during the earlier conflict (1 Samuel 4) and lost the battle. Israel recognized that it would be another loss if the struggle were left up to them. Only if God stepped up did they have a chance at winning. On this day, Israel would learn an important principle that Paul would write about later. "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 8

When the ark of the LORD had been in Philistine territory seven months … 1 Samuel 6:1

Today's Scripture Reading (May 16, 2025): 1 Samuel 6

I have a fairly extensive record collection. Yes, records. I also have a large CD collection. I rarely listen to any of them. Most of what I listen to now I find on Spotify, both music I have purchased and recordings I don't have but wish I did. My Spotify library has a mixture of old and new music. If I want to listen to something, I can just search for it and listen. It wasn't always that way.

Music has always been essential for me. I have spent many hours listening and playing music in my life. When I was younger, long before Spotify, the only music I could listen to was the radio, which I frequently had dialed into the local rock stations or the music I purchased in the form of records, then cassettes, and finally compact discs. At one point, I started to try to replace my records with CDs, but then Spotify began the digital dominance of the music industry.

At one point in my teens, there was a push that all secular music, but especially the rock that dominated my collection, was of the devil. Some recording artists of that time, including Larry Norman, wrote songs titled "Why Does the Devil Have All the Good Music." The argument about what was right for Christians to listen to began emphasizing throwing out or burning rock records. Crusades created bonfires for the destruction of the "devil music," which was contrasted to the beautiful music of which God approved. 

I have a fairly extensive record collection, and there were times when I considered destroying it because these people seemed to think I should. Even the most innocuous of my records was judged to be decidedly evil. ABBA seemed to rate up on the evil scale with KISS and Alice Cooper. But somehow, the arguments fell short. 

I didn't destroy my record collection. Some would argue that was a mistake. Maybe. But the truth was that music was important to me, and I had invested significantly in it. And that I could find Jesus even in the writings of an asthmatic preacher's kid named Alice Cooper, who seemed to speak to an asthmatic descendant of a Baptist preacher, for some, was unbelievable. 

Some wonder why it took seven months for the Philistines to get rid of the Ark of the Covenant. All that the ark brought to the Philistines was pain and trouble. But the truth was that, at least to the Philistines, the ark was a lot like my record collection. They had invested in the ark and were proud of that investment and that such a valuable artifact was in their possession. They spent seven months trying to see if there was any way that they could keep it until it was finally made clear that they had to return it to Israel. And with a heavy heart, they decided to give their prize back to the people to whom it belonged.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 7

After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. – 1 Samuel 5:1

Today's Scripture Reading (May 15, 2025): 1 Samuel 5

The Battle between the Philistines and Israel was fought around a place called "Ebenezer." Maybe, for most of us, when we hear the word "Ebenezer," it is not a place we think of; it is a person or, more precisely, a fictional Christmas character. I sometimes wonder where Charles Dickens got his inspiration for his protagonist's name. "Ebenezer" means "stone of help," and I have wondered if Dickens's choice of a name was possibly a foreshadowing of who his "The Christmas Carol" character would become by the end of the story. However, I don't know if this is true.

Another story argues that Dickens was in the middle of imagining his story when the writer ran across the grave of a man named Ebenezer Scroggie. Scroggie had been a grain merchant, and his grave summarized that occupation as a "Meal Man." According to the tale, Dickens misread the epitaph and thought it said that Ebenezer was a "Mean Man." However, there is no evidence that this story is true; if the gravestone had existed, it would have long since been lost, and there is no evidence anywhere Ebenezer Scroggie ever existed. 

The author of Samuel says that the Ark was taken from Ebenezer, the site of the battle where the Ark was captured, to Ashdod. The reason for the choice of Ashdod was that this is where the Temple of Dagon stood. We must understand that the Philistine intended to honor the Ark by placing it in Dagon's Temple. A second temple was built to honor Dagon in the city of Gaza, but Samson had destroyed that Temple.

Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, "Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands."… Then Samson prayed to the LORD, "Sovereign LORD, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes." Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the Temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the Temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived (Judges 16:23, 28-30).

Since the Temple in Gaza had been destroyed, the place to take the Ark was to Ashdod, and the Temple that still stood there. But once again, the God of Samson was about to prove that he was more potent than even Dagon, the god of the Philistines. 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 6

The Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. – 1 Samuel 4:7

Today's Scripture Reading (May 14, 2025): 1 Samuel 4

Officially, it is called the "Oski Yell." Essentially, it is a battle cry that is thought to have first appeared at the University of California-Berkeley games that originated from the school's mascot "Oski the Bear" during the late nineteenth century. Although, that assertion needs to be amended with a huge maybe. We know the "Oski Yell" was used at the University of Illinois in 1899. However, the most common form of the "Oski Yell" I am familiar with has been used by Hamilton Tiger-Cats fans in the Canadian Football League since the 1920s. I also remember Tom Hanks leading a Hamilton crowd in the "Oski Yell," although trying to remember what the circumstances were escapes me. Maybe I just imagined that event. The Tiger Cat version of the Oski Yell is;

Oskee Wee Wee

Oskee Waa Waa

Holy Mackinaw

Tigers ... Eat 'em RAW!!

Maybe sports is the last refuge of the battle cry. Traditionally, the battle cry has had two functions. First, it raised the soldiers' courage, reminding them they did not go into battle alone. Soldiers have always moved into battle with their brothers; It has never been a solitary act. 

But the second purpose of the battle cry was that it was intended to instill fear in the enemy. A large cry meant a confident warrior class was on their way to fight. And if there was any doubt in the opposing army, it could be multiplied by a loud cry. 

The Ark of the Covenant has come into the Israelite Camp, and the people let out a yell. The importance of the Ark was known to Israel. The fighting men of Israel believed that their God had come into the camp. It was a battle cry unlike any that Israel had used before. They felt the elation that came with knowing Yahweh was with them. They understood, even if that understanding was faulty in several ways. 

Over in the Philistine camp, they also heard the Israelite cry and wondered what was happening. They received the answer that "a god" (Elohim) had come into the camp. Some experts have credited the Philistines with understanding the theological significance of the Ark of the Covenant. But that might be overthinking the situation. The reaction of the Philistines is not that they knew they were coming against the one true God, but simply a god. Elohim is used in the Bible to indicate Yahweh, but that is not necessarily how the Philistines used the word here. It is simply that one of the many gods the Philistines knew about that had come into the camp. And apparently, the Philistines had never had to go up against a god in battle before. 

But what shook Philistine to the core was probably not the god, but the battle cry that the god had elicited from the people was important. It meant that the soldiers they met on the battlefield the next day would be confident and ready for the battle. If the Philistines were going to win, they would need to match the energy and enthusiasm that Yahweh had elicited from their enemy.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 5

One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. – 1 Samuel 3:2

Today's Scripture Reading (May 13, 2025): 1 Samuel 3

How is your sight? Many years ago, I lost my glasses. I was on a four-hour flight going to visit some family. At the time, I only needed my glasses for seeing distances, which meant I wore them when I was driving or watching television or other long-distance activities, but when it came to reading, I didn't need them, so it had become my habit to take them off. When I fly, I read. Shortly after takeoff, I removed my glasses and placed them in a case and in the seat pocket in front of me. Then, I became engrossed in my book. When the plane landed at its destination, I reached into the pocket in front of me, but there were no glasses. 

I admit, there was a moment of panic. I was scheduled to be in the area for a few weeks but needed glasses. So, I waited until the plane was empty, and then, with the help of the flight attendants, I started to search for my glasses. But they were not there, anywhere. The glasses had disappeared. Luckily, I had a pair of prescription sunglasses, so for the rest of my stay, they were what I was wearing. I wore my sunglasses regardless of whether there was enough sun to need them (Cue Corey Hart's "[I wear my] Sunglasses at Night"), even if what I was doing was watching television in my room during the evening.

What came out of that experience was that I decided to get eye surgery. I now have monovision, which just means that I use my right eye to see distance and my left eye to read. Enough years have passed, that sometimes I am starting to struggle a little with reading. I now have a pair of trifocal glasses, but to be honest, I find them fairly useless. When I need to read, sometimes a cheap dollar store pair of readers works much better than my expensive trifocals. My worsening eyesight seems to be just another part of getting older.

Eli was getting older, and his sight was beginning to fail. It happens to many of us. However, a bigger problem for Eli was that his spiritual sight had failed. Israel's penultimate Judge and High Priest must have had a close relationship with God at one point, but that relationship had stalled. The failing point for Eli seems to have come over the issue of his family. Eli had refused to discipline his sons when they had violated the laws of God. Now, it has reached the point where God has chosen to speak to a boy living with Eli instead of Eli himself.

It is incredible how quickly our spiritual sight can begin to fail when we consistently say no to God. It was a reality for Eli and a continual warning for us. If we want to hear God's voice, we must be willing to allow our hearts to soften and show a willingness to listen to his still, small voice, even when it goes against what we want to hear. 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 4

Then Samson prayed to the LORD, "Sovereign LORD, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes."– Judges 16:28

Today's Scripture Reading (May 12, 2025): Judges 16

Samson never totally understood what a Judge was designed to be. He did better after the fiasco with Deliah, but even in death, he never really understood why God had gifted him with his strength. In that lack, he joined many kings and prominent people in Israel who didn't get it either. As a result, Samson's final prayer is that God will allow him to "get revenge on the Philistines" for his eyes. Even as Samson prepares to give up his life for a victory against the Philistines, everything in his life is about him and not the people of Israel. 

Contrast this with John the Baptist. As he approaches his death, John sends his friends to Jesus to ask, "Are you the one, or should we expect someone else?" John got it; this moment wasn't about him. John didn't hope for revenge. All he wanted to know was that God's plan was moving forward.

With all of his advantages, Samson still didn't get that it was all about God. Here, we are struck by Samson's immaturity in the faith. Samson couldn't get by the belief that this was all about him. And we sometimes struggle with the same belief. We make God decisions based not on what is best for God but on what will make us more comfortable. However, as we mature, we should find ourselves more often pointing to him because he is the basis for everything we have and do. Everything!

I believe two things. God has gifted us with the ability to make a difference, not just to those inside our fellowship groups or even those inside the Christian Community, but to the larger community where God's Holy Spirit is already working. The second thing I believe is that God has placed everything we need to accomplish his vision within our reach. Everything! God's power extends beyond the limits of what we see. It can't be about me. I have to point to Jesus.

So, let me ask: What are you allowing God to do with everything you do? This is not about whether God is in your life; I know he is! How much of your life are you allowing him to touch?

We sometimes sing a song in church, and at one point, the lyrics of the song say this;

I wasn't made to be tending a grave

I was called by name

Born and raised back to life again

I was made for more

So why would I make a bed in my shame

When a fountain of grace is running my way

I know I am Yours 

And I was made for more (Blake Wiggins, Jessie Early, Jonathan Smith, and Josh 

Baldwin).

Is that your testimony? Do you get what Samson missed? You are made for more than just revenge. You are created for so much more because the Holy Spirit is with you, gifting you in incredible ways to make a difference for him. 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 3

When the Philistines asked, "Who did this?" they were told, "Samson, the Timnite's son-in-law, because his wife was given to his companion." So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death. – Judges 15:6

Today's Scripture Reading (May 11, 2025): Judges 15

I recently read a short article written by Travis W. Lyon (I know nothing about Travis beyond the article). What attracted my attention was the article's title, "A definitive list of all the times when violence was the answer." The subtitle of the article identified the parameters of the piece. The subtitle read, "Those times when violence just solved all the problems." After reading the title, my initial thought was that this would be a very short list. And I was correct. Lyon's list included exactly zero entries. It is not that violence is never the answer. Sometimes, we are forced into violence. But violence never brings with it a positive change. In the words of Lyon in his short article, 

        While it is sometimes true that violence becomes necessary to end the psycopathic (sic) evil being         perpetrated elsewhere (Nazi Germany), violence rarely achieves its intended goal and always                creates broad collateral damage (Travis W. Lyon; A definitive list of all the times when violence            was the answer.)

Sometimes, violence is necessary, but it never has a positive effect. Instead, violence often escalates the response. Recent wars have proven this point. And unless someone decides not to respond with violence, the escalation continues without an end. 

The escalation within this part of this story in Judges begins with an ill-advised marriage between Samson and a Philistine woman. It involved a bet and someone cheating on the bet, Samson's anger and his rejection of his wife, the marriage of Samson's rejected wife to another man, Samson burning the fields of the Philistines, and now the murder by burning of Samson's former wife and father-in-law. At every stage, a form of violence has raised a notch to something even worse. 

The unfortunate reality is that, like so many events in our world, these events weren't necessary. There could have been another way to solve the problems. Biblical experts often remark that even as negative as all these reactions are, God still used them to accomplish his purposes. The experts are right. But sometimes, what we miss is that this story could have ended with Solomon being blessed; instead, it will close with a series of losses that the Bible's original strongman will suffer at a tremendous personal cost. 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Judges 16

Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. – Judges 14:1

Today's Scripture Reading (May 10, 2025): Judges 14

*Warning – This post uses Politically Incorrect images that might offend the delicately formulated.

The Northern Pikes are a band out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, who made a splash with the song "She Ain't Pretty." And, yeah, I have to admit that I kinda like the track. The premise is pretty sexist, so I apologize on their behalf, especially if it is misunderstood. "She Ain't Pretty" talks about a woman who looks good (which is sexist and politically incorrect, I understand) but who acts like (you can probably fill in the blank). I have known these kinds of people of both genders throughout my life. Their looks and personality are a mismatch. Okay, maybe there are a lot of these people out there. 

The second verse of "She Ain't Pretty" kind of sums up the entire song.

        We made a date to go for a drink.

        I wore my jeans, and she wore a mink.

        There was this misconception all over town.

        That she ate lonely guy heart by the pound

        She said, "Take me home; there won't be no fuss."

        I said, "Sure, you got some change for the bus?"

        Watching her leave, I heard the bartender say

        She ain't pretty; she just looks that way.

Remind you of anyone in your life. They look good, but their personality is a disaster. There is another song by a band out of Vancouver, so maybe this kind of thought pattern is a Canadian thing. For that, I apologize to any delicate Americans out there. The band is Trooper, and they sang a song entitled "A Three Dressed up as a Nine." Again, it is a sexist song that puts women on a scale between 1-10 (hopefully, my previous apology is still in force). Trooper actually takes a lot of heat, even in Canada, for its misogyny and prejudicial lyrics. However, here is how they describe the woman in their song.

        Hey, wait a minute

        Who do you think you are

        Comin' on, comin' on

        Just like you're some kinda movie star

        Well, you can say what you like

        Be what you wanna be

        You can suit yourself, baby.

        But you don't suit me.

        

        You're just a three dressed up as a nine.

        You're only wastin' my time.

        A three dressed up as a nine.

The story of Samson has always seemed to be a bit of a strange one. He is a judge, but he lacks a sense of morality. He never seems to leave his childhood and grow up. He is immature and petulant and complains if he doesn't get his own way. He seems to live like that kid in the supermarket who screams until mom buys him that chocolate bar he wants. Samson sees something, and he wants it; he has no concept of delayed gratification, and in this case what Samson wants is a Philistine woman. Maybe the truth is that this couple probably deserved each other. If I can paraphrase the Northern Pikes, I would argue that "Samson wasn't pretty, he just looked that way," and this unnamed Philistine woman was nothing more than "a three dressed up as nine." 

So, it shouldn't be surprising that the marriage doesn't work out. Nothing that is born out of our immaturity ever does, which fundamentally sums up Samson's entire existence. 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Judges 15

So Manoah asked him, "When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule that governs the boy's life and work?" – Judges 13:12

Today's Scripture Reading (May 9, 2025): Judges 13

I played a game with myself back when I was in university. It usually happened when the stress was high and I was struggling with a paper or an exam. In those moments, I tried to picture my life on the other side of the stress. I imagined what I might be doing in a decade or so when all this had passed. What would I be doing when I received that coveted degree? I admit that my dreams changed over the years as my academic dreams changed from Physician to Psychiatrist to, eventually, Theology (which simply means "talking about God"). There were also dalliances with Philosophy and English at various times, but regardless of the matter of study, I hoped there would also be a future in the field.

Many of those self-imposed visions didn't pan out for me. I know many people who knew for sure what it was that they wanted to do at a much younger age than I did. It might have been nice to have a clearer view of my future, and maybe I could have accomplished more if I had a better prophetic view of my future. However, I probably wouldn't have taken some of the courses that have influenced my life, and I wouldn't have read and studied as widely as I have. As a result, I wouldn't have become the person I am. 

The unnamed wife of Manoah has a meeting with an angel. God comes to this woman with a promise; she and Manoah might have been unable to conceive in the past, but that time was coming to a close. The angel promises that she will conceive a son, and this son will live as a Nazirite, a life dedicated to God. The woman immediately tells her husband what this angel told her.

Manoah immediately prayed that the angel would come back and confirm the message. God grants him his request, and the angel returns to speak to Manoah. But Manoah has a second question: what exactly will my son do with his life? He will be a Nazirite, but is there more that Manoah should know? Maybe at the heart of the request is what kind of a career a man would be able to have who could not cut his hair or do anything that would make him ceremonially unclean.

God gives Manoah his request for confirmation but refuses to give him a look into the future. What his son would do would remain a mystery until history unfolded its answer. Sometimes, the path we take is supposed to have twists and turns rather than the direct path we might take if we knew what we were supposed to be doing from the very beginning. 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Judges 14

Jephthah answered, "I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn't save me out of their hands. – Judges 12:2

Today's Scripture Reading (May 8, 2025): Judges 12

Many years ago, I had a person in my circle who was difficult for me to get my head around. For this person, everything seemed to be an imposition. He would ask for an appointment with me or maybe even invite me to lunch with him, and my response was often, "Let me check my schedule and see when we can do it." I would go and check my schedule and get back to him with a time and place and receive a response that was something like, "Well, if we have to meet, I guess that works." Sometimes, I wanted to lay hands on him in an unspiritual way and say, "You were the one who wanted to meet with me. If that time isn't good for you, we can try another time; if you don't want to meet, that works too." Some people will never be satisfied, and others seem to want to be the ones who can complain that you are being an imposition. And I guess the job for the rest of us is to look past the behavior and try to accept them as they are.

And then there are the chronic complainers. Enter the Ephraimites. They seem to be people who enjoyed complaining. The Ephraimites came to Jephthah, upset that the warrior had not called on them to help against the Ammonites. But Jephthah reminds them that when he needed them, he did call, but the tribe didn't come. So, why should they blame him if it was their decision not to come?

It was a good question. However, it seems the leaders of this tribe were men with whom it was hard to get along. It is like they are saying if you need us, we won't come. But we will blame you for our absence if you win without us. It reminds me a little of my friend who wants to meet with me, but only if he is the one who can claim he has been inconvenienced in the process. Theologian Arthur E. Cundall sums up this thought perfectly. 

The fact that a victory had been gained over their common enemy appears to have been overlooked. Accusation and counter-accusation followed in bewildering succession; the claim that they had been passed over was met by the charge that an appeal had been made to them to which they had not responded (Arthur E. Cundall).

So, don't blame Jephthah; if Ephraim didn't come, that was on them.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Judges 13

So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a gang of scoundrels gathered around him and followed him. – Judges 11:3

Today's Scripture Reading (May 7, 2025): Judges 11

Sometimes, we are defined by our past. However, we often seem very comfortable with our old roles. It is who we are; for good or bad, it is how we are defined. In the Star Wars saga, Obi-Wan Kenobi becomes a hermit named Old Ben Kenobi. However, he is still Obi-Wan, but Obi-Wan doesn't fit into the New World Order. Obi-Wan might hide as Old Ben, but Obi-Wan has never changed. He is still exactly who he used to be.

Jephthah grows up hated by his own family and becomes a warrior. Can you imagine being Jephthah? What if you were chased away from your family so that they wouldn't have to share their inheritance with you? You go and live your life differently and in a different place. But when trouble comes, those who chased you away because you didn't fit into their plans run back to you and ask you to come and lead them. What would you say?

Part of our problem, I believe, is that we live our lives with this image of who people think that we are. It is why we work so hard to play the game. We feel we have to fit into someone else's reality. Psychologically, it is a powerful shaper of personality. Social Scientists have long discussed the idea that so much of who we are is defined by what someone else thinks of us. We are often  defined not by what we write in our figurative notebooks but by what others write in theirs.

Here is an interesting reality. Some of our personality is shaped by the things we are caught doing. If we are caught doing something positive, we will be encouraged and continue doing those things. In those instances, we can rewrite our notebook with a positive view of ourselves. However, the opposite also works; if we are caught doing something negative and are disciplined for it, the hope is that we will stop the behavior. Unfortunately, what actually happens is that we rewrite the notebook with a negative view of ourselves, and we come to believe that we can't do anything better.

Jephthah is forced to leave home. The translation here is unfortunate. The men that he joins up with are not necessarily criminals. They were likely young men who lived in poverty and did not possess property or jobs. Some commentators believe they might have existed much like David and his friends did in the days when Saul was King. Their work might have protected the people living in Israel, and they received pay from those they protected. Or, again, like David, they might have plundered the villages of those who stood as enemies to Israel. In the process, he became the unofficial protector of the nation. 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Judges 12

Personal Note: Happy Birthday to my Son, Craig.

Then Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. – 1 Samuel 2:1

Today's Scripture Reading (May 6, 2025): 1 Samuel 2

It was a dark period in Israel's History. The people had taken the Promised Land, but it seems that Joshua had one major drawback as a leader: he had no vision of what needed to come next. Because of this, Israel was completely rudderless in the politics of the Middle East. They occupied a fertile space between the empires in the North and Egypt in the south. It was like trying to live on a freeway between two cities and hoping that no cars would come by and interrupt your peace.

Israel was now placed at this busy intersection in the ancient world. And there was no end to the nations that wanted to drive the country out. At this point, Israel existed as a single nation. The time would come when Israel would exist as two nations: Israel and Judah. But before the reign of Saul, Israel existed as twelve loosely connected tribes, held together by a belief in the same God and a reverence for the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was this belief that united the tribes. And in the desert, that unity was demonstrated by the Tabernacle. While it was illegal to approach the Tabernacle, go in, or even come near this place of meeting, people often gathered around it during times of trouble. When the desert wanderings were over, the Tabernacle came to rest in a place named Shiloh, a town located within the tribal land of Ephraim.

However, there was no human leader, partially because God was their leader. There was no human rudder to guide the nation because God was the rudder. There were some national leaders who held sway over Israel, beginning with people like Moses. And while the people didn't always agree with Moses, they followed him. Moses had set Joshua and Caleb up to be the next leaders. But when Joshua and Caleb died, no one had the presence within Israel to call them to God. Yes, they had the priests, but you probably wouldn't even know they were there unless you went to Shiloh. The priests spent most of their time doing the same thing as everyone else. When their time came, they would serve in the Tabernacle, but the rest of the time, they took care of their flocks and raised grain just like everyone else.

Judges 21:25 sums up this dark period of Israel's history. "In those days, Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit" (Judges 21:25). But they had the judges, who were periodic leaders who rose to help Israel.

Hannah may not have realized it, but she had become a prophet, at least for this moment. She speaks of her horn, and the horn is an image of strength and power. Hannah had probably been called strong by many well-meaning people over the years. She was strong as she dealt with the disappointment of not having any children. But Hannah is willing to trade that strength for a child. So she says that her strength is lifted high. 

Hannah doesn't realize that her child will be the last of the Judges. He would be the link between the Judges of Israel and the Kings that would follow. Not only would Hannah's child be the last of the judges, but he would also be the greatest of the judges. No one would wield the horn of power quite like Samuel in the ancient world. Samuel would lead a stubborn people well. He would be insulted when the people would cry out for a king and would install the first two Kings, Saul and David. Even the Kings understood the power of Samuel, the strength of the man, which began with the horn of his mother, Hannah. 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Judges 11