Today’s reading

Judges 15-17; Luke 10:1-24

Selected Verses

Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.” Judges 16:23

In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. Luke 10:21

Reflections

God sovereignly reveals or hides truth according to His will. The effect is that two parties see the same things but draw opposite conclusions.

After Samson’s repeated foolish decisions, the Lord abandoned him, and Samson fell into the hands of the Philistines. They were sure that their god, Dagon, had been responsible for this victory. They did not take into account that it was the God of Israel who gave Samson his power and that Yahweh was using the Philistines to discipline His wayward servant. The Dagon worshipers misinterpreted the meaning of their victory and failed to see the glory of the true and living God.

When Jesus sent out His disciples to preach and heal in His name, He issued a warning to the surrounding towns that had shown resistance to the display of the coming of the kingdom of God. They saw great miracles, but they understood nothing. They failed to draw correct and true conclusions of what was plainly happening in their times.

Think about it

It was not the worldly wise or the politically powerful that understood the times but the “little children” who got it. So it is today. Do you see the hand of God in both the advances of the gospel as well as the setbacks to Christ’s Church? He reigns and all His will is being fulfilled.

Rejoice in Him no matter how the outward circumstances seem to be going. Look for His hand in all that happens. Pray for a childlike spirit and clear vision. Flee from spiritual blindness to the light of God’s truth.

© 2017 John A Carroll Used by permission