Are You Christ's Choice Vine?

Today's Daily Reading Is Judges 16:

Is Samson any different than the Judges of Israel before him who had "many" wives? (v.1)

Judges 8:30 (NKJV)

30 Gideon had seventy sons who were his own offspring, for he had many wives.

Does that political "custom" excuse them from the same evil eye that was in Samson?

Matthew 5:27–30 (NKJV)

27 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Samson was looking for only one woman to gratify him, according to chapter 15, but now having been betrayed, does he continue to be a one-woman man?

1 Timothy 3:2 (NKJV)

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;

Also, how is this narrative to be understood over the course of 20 years in conjunction with chapter 15? (v.31)

Samson is never mentioned as marrying again throughout his twenty years of judging Israel. Therefore consider his desperation to gratify his sinful inclinations by risking capture in the heart of the devil's territory just for a Philistine whore. (v.2)

1 Timothy 5:9 (NKJV)

9 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man,

Also, there is nothing of "the Spirit of the LORD" mentioned here that comes upon him to deliver himself from the snare of the Gazites. Therefore this was all out of Samson's own strength by which he evaded the enemy of his life. (v.3)

Galatians 3:3 (NKJV)

3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

There is a deep mystery as to how and how far apart the following events unfold, but now he turns to the valley to avoid the snare of the city. (v.4)

It seems to me, therefore, that Samson was indeed a "one-woman" man, but he also had a grave weakness for the beauty of man-made things that were designed to veil the beauty of holiness. Therefore why does this story continue to unfold in the Sorek valley? Was it because he beheld Delilah as "his" choice vine? Therefore is this given to define his love for her at all?

1 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV)

12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

And since it is not mentioned that he had other wives, is it fair to say that his love was singular for her, even though it was an eye of pride trapped in darkness?

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 (NKJV)

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

And how was it that the Philistines were able to know it was Samson who was courting her since they were the ones who approached Delilah to deceive him? (v.5)

Why was Samson worth 1100 pieces of silver from "each" Philistine lord when Jesus was betrayed for only 30 pieces of silver by Judas? Imagine the ratio of that apart from inflation. Delilah would have been a very wealthy woman, enough to retire on for the remainder of her life.

What does this say about the mystery that is unspoken concerning Samson's work in the background of these events with Delilah over a period of 20 years since it was probably all 5 of the Philistine lords who wanted Samson's head?

Joshua 13:1–3 (NKJV)

1 Now Joshua was old, advanced in years. And the Lord said to him: "You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed. 2 This is the land that yet remains: all the territory of the Philistines and all that of the Geshurites, 3 from Sihor, which is east of Egypt, as far as the border of Ekron northward (which is counted as Canaanite); the five lords of the Philistines—the Gazites, the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites;

Judges 3:1–3 (NKJV)

1 Now these are the nations which the Lord left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan 2 (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it), 3 namely, five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath.

1 Samuel 6:16–17 (NKJV)

16 So when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day. 17 These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned as a trespass offering to the Lord: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron;

Therefore what was Delilah's motivation to entertain Samson for so long, assuming that this sexual charade began sometime after Samon's victory over the Philistines with the jawbone of the ass?

Matthew 6:21–24 (NKJV)

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Were Delilah's questions really that straightforward? And aren't these questions very superstitious? And doesn't Samson believe his press a tad too much by thinking the secret to his strength was truly in these external things? (v.6-14, 17)

And would his strength have been taken away if he had just told her the truth? Was his strength really in the likeness of his hair? And yet though it was weak, Samson still had faith. (v.17)

What about his God? Wouldn't this have been a good opportunity to declare his God rather than a Nazirite vow that he never made? Therefore wasn't the power to his strength in God's sovereign grace from the very beginning?

In what way then had the LORD left him, and at what point had the LORD left him if it wasn't when he took his eyes off of him? (v.20)

Hebrews 12:1–2 (NKJV)

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Was "what was in his heart" God's heart concerning the Nazirite vow? (v.18)

Hebrews 12:4–11 (NKJV)

4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Again, wasn't "what was in his heart" a heart of pride that made him believe that his strength was in keeping the vow exclusively in association with his hair since that is all he had left of himself to offer God because he had given the rest of the vow away to the love of this world in exchange for "the honey" in the belly of the beast? (v.19)

1 John 2:15–17 (NKJV)

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

But isn't the real question: did the LORD ever forsake him regarding the sovereign grace of planting a measure of faith in him from his conception, knowing the beginning and end of Samson's life? Therefore isn't the Christian life all of grace? And does God ever give the gift of faith without his Providential hand of discipline? (v.20-21)

2 Timothy 1:8–9 (NKJV)

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

Does God's loving discipline cause faith to cease or to grow? (v.22)

2 Peter 3:14–18 (NKJV)

14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Does one battle lost mean that the war is over? (v.23)

Mark 9:47–50 (NKJV)

47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire—48 where 'Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.' 49 "For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."

Isn't what God takes away intended to give us the heart that sees as God sees so that we may proclaim only what is in God's heart? (v.24)

Ezekiel 36:26 (NKJV)

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Therefore what can the devil take from us that belongs exclusively to God? (v.25)

Matthew 10:28 (NKJV)

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 22:21–22 (NKJV)

21 They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.

Why is it important to view the world as God does? (v.26-27)

2 Corinthians 5:14–21 (NKJV)

14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Therefore what does Samson's ministry represent but the destruction of the flesh in the shadow of Christ crucified? (v.28)

Luke 23:11 (NKJV)

11 Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.

Colossians 2:13–23 (NKJV)

13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. 20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Therefore why did Samson need justice for his two eyes since he already got justice for gluing them to his choice vine? (v.29)

John 1:14 (NKJV)

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

What were his eyes now beholding if it wasn't the beauty of God's holiness? And in what way could he get justice for his eye of faith and for his eye of sin? (v.30)

Luke 23:39–43 (NKJV)

39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." 40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." 43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

Romans 7:14–25 (NKJV)

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

Therefore in a great house, the pillars that hold up the roof that shields from God's wrath matter, for it will not sustain if it is built with materials that are of pride of this world. And so Samson was buried with the fathers of faith in the heart of Israel. (v.31)

2 Timothy 2:19–26 (NKJV)

19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.