Shake yourself from the dust and arise. Loose the bonds from your neck.
Judges 19 recounts the horrific account of a Levite's concubine being brutally gang-raped to death by a mob of Benjaminites in Gibeah. Judges 20 details the vengeful response by the rest of Israel against the tribe of Benjamin. Brother fought against brother, tribe against tribe, in a civil war that united Israel against the injustice… Continue reading Contend for the Faith
Pictured is an illustration of Judges 19 from a 13th century French Gothic picture Bible. Introduction Judges 19 is a difficult text to write on, let alone preach on. And in these times when reason gives way to passions, I find myself timid like Gideon. This won’t be the nicest thing you’ll read today, but… Continue reading Sons of Belial: How Worthless Men Are Killing You
Before Dale was a beloved father and grandfather, a doting husband, and an enthusiastic servant of the church, he was a philanderer and a deadbeat. He gave his wife herpes from sleeping with prostitutes while in the Navy and often neglected his family. His frequent absences led one of his sons toward gang involvement, and his… Continue reading Samson’s Victory
And he told her all his heart, and said to her, 'A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.' Judges 16:17 ESV Cutting Samson’s hair was like shooting Superman… Continue reading Samson’s Downfall
And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith. And Samson said, ‘With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.’ Judges 15:15-16 KJV Ah, the famous story of how… Continue reading War Crimes
Samson is the most famous of all the judges. Whether it's his superhuman strength or his dalliance with Delilah, everyone seems to know about the big, violent, herculean ox who is really, really good at killing things. For example, in Judges 14 he fights a lion and rips it apart. Not a kitty. A lion. “Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed… Continue reading What Controls You?
Pastor Al provided the thesis statement for this article last Sunday: “A parent’s first priority is to obey Jesus. If you want your kids to obey Jesus, then you need to obey Jesus. You have an obligation to raise your kids under God’s will, Word, and ways. Not the culture’s, not yours, God’s.” Samson’s mom was barren, but then the pre-incarnate Jesus appeared… Continue reading Our First Responsibility
People hate labels. It’s part of society’s post-modern suspicion of establishments and institutions. They make us feel caged up and boxed in. And as the chaos around gender identity has shown us, people don’t want to be mislabeled. However, labels exist because identity exists: What you want to be known for is what you will… Continue reading Under Whose Banner?
Muhammad’s tomb is known. It’s even on Google Maps. We think we know where Moses is buried. They may have found the cremated remains of Buddha. We know where the bodies are. Or, at least we know that there were bodies that remained dead and buried. Where is Jesus? Jesus was buried, and we have a decent idea… Continue reading We Know Where The Bodies Are
And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, 'Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!' So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, 'He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let… Continue reading Who Mocked Jesus on Good Friday?
