The Lifter of My Head
Psalm 3:3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
We will be studying Judges 15 today, go ahead and read the chapter and I will give a brief overview.
It is at the time of wheat harvest and Samson goes to acquire his wife the Timnite and brings a young goat. The young goat is a customary gift and dates back to Genesis 38:17, remember the story of Tamar and Judah? The young goat has been very instrumental and symbolic with the Israelites, remember the Passover in Egypt?
His father says, "Huh, you can't go to her, she is now with your friend. You didn't want her anymore."
Samson is full of rage and frustration, and we know enough about his character so far, do you think he has good anger management skills?...nuh uh. Who can he blame, who can he direct his anger toward....the Philestines. Did I mention already it is wheat harvest. Can you forsee the trouble ahead. We can now add another character trait to Samson, trouble maker.
You may be thinking right now, Melissa, why are you being so hard on Samson, focusing on all his negetive behavior traits? I am really building a case so when we finish the lesson, you will see the Man of God, just work with me here.
He acquires three hundred foxes, ties their tails together, sets them on fire, and they run through the wheat fields at full harvest, setting ablaze the Philiestines food. It also burns down the grape vineyards and olive groves. The Philestines are so upset, who could of done such a thang?
In my house, we know not to mess with Daddy's olive jar and we sure don't touch his cheese. Samson got into the olive jar of the Philistines.
Judges 15:6 Then the Philistines said, “Who has done this?” And they said, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion.” And the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire.
The poor Timnite woman, she continues to get the short end of the stick relentlessly.
The Philistines have no choice but to go up to Judah and fight. The men of Judah inquire why they are camped out to fight them and they find out about Samson. The Philistines demand Samson as prisoner, "to do to him as he has done to us."
Three thousand men of Judah get together, wow, that is alot of men to grab one man, to find Samson and deliver him into the Philistines camp. They find Samson in a cave at the rock of Etam and let him have it. Samson makes three thousand men swear that they will not kill him, so they agree and only tie him up.
Judges 15:14-15 As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. 15 Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.
I told you already he was Bad to the Bone!!!
The place would be called Ramath Lehi where he slew the men with a donky jawbone. He is so thirsty at this time, he cries to God, "You have given me this great victory, must I die of thirst?"
God opens up a hollow ground in Lehi and water comes out. When he dranked the water, his strenghted returned and he was REVIVED and Samson led the Israelites for 20 years against the Philistines.
This chapter to me reminded me of the beginning verse of the study, Psalm 3:3, God is the lifter of my head. During this time, he lifted up Samson. His living water had strength to return to Samson and it revived him.
I don't mind sharing this, last year my husband and I needed counseling, so we sought a Christian counselor. We didn't have to see him very long, he was so discerning, our problems were recognized from the first two sessions. My problems in the marriage surfaced because I was drawing from Brian like a well, money and time, and all his money and all his time would never be enough and I need to draw from the living well that will give me that contentment.
The living well you might ask? Yes, the same well that sprung up for Samson out of the ground. John 7:38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
Isaiah 55:1 Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
Who is lifting you up today and giving you strength? What are you depending on to give you life and sustenance? Draw from the living well that has a never ending supply, that can deliver in times of trouble, revive in times of thirst and famine, bring strength in times of weakness. He is the lifter of my head and your head and those that believe, Samson called out to God and he answered him.
We will be studying Judges 15 today, go ahead and read the chapter and I will give a brief overview.
It is at the time of wheat harvest and Samson goes to acquire his wife the Timnite and brings a young goat. The young goat is a customary gift and dates back to Genesis 38:17, remember the story of Tamar and Judah? The young goat has been very instrumental and symbolic with the Israelites, remember the Passover in Egypt?
His father says, "Huh, you can't go to her, she is now with your friend. You didn't want her anymore."
Samson is full of rage and frustration, and we know enough about his character so far, do you think he has good anger management skills?...nuh uh. Who can he blame, who can he direct his anger toward....the Philestines. Did I mention already it is wheat harvest. Can you forsee the trouble ahead. We can now add another character trait to Samson, trouble maker.
You may be thinking right now, Melissa, why are you being so hard on Samson, focusing on all his negetive behavior traits? I am really building a case so when we finish the lesson, you will see the Man of God, just work with me here.
He acquires three hundred foxes, ties their tails together, sets them on fire, and they run through the wheat fields at full harvest, setting ablaze the Philiestines food. It also burns down the grape vineyards and olive groves. The Philestines are so upset, who could of done such a thang?
In my house, we know not to mess with Daddy's olive jar and we sure don't touch his cheese. Samson got into the olive jar of the Philistines.
Judges 15:6 Then the Philistines said, “Who has done this?” And they said, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion.” And the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire.
The poor Timnite woman, she continues to get the short end of the stick relentlessly.
The Philistines have no choice but to go up to Judah and fight. The men of Judah inquire why they are camped out to fight them and they find out about Samson. The Philistines demand Samson as prisoner, "to do to him as he has done to us."
Three thousand men of Judah get together, wow, that is alot of men to grab one man, to find Samson and deliver him into the Philistines camp. They find Samson in a cave at the rock of Etam and let him have it. Samson makes three thousand men swear that they will not kill him, so they agree and only tie him up.
Judges 15:14-15 As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. 15 Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.
I told you already he was Bad to the Bone!!!
The place would be called Ramath Lehi where he slew the men with a donky jawbone. He is so thirsty at this time, he cries to God, "You have given me this great victory, must I die of thirst?"
God opens up a hollow ground in Lehi and water comes out. When he dranked the water, his strenghted returned and he was REVIVED and Samson led the Israelites for 20 years against the Philistines.
This chapter to me reminded me of the beginning verse of the study, Psalm 3:3, God is the lifter of my head. During this time, he lifted up Samson. His living water had strength to return to Samson and it revived him.
I don't mind sharing this, last year my husband and I needed counseling, so we sought a Christian counselor. We didn't have to see him very long, he was so discerning, our problems were recognized from the first two sessions. My problems in the marriage surfaced because I was drawing from Brian like a well, money and time, and all his money and all his time would never be enough and I need to draw from the living well that will give me that contentment.
The living well you might ask? Yes, the same well that sprung up for Samson out of the ground. John 7:38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
Isaiah 55:1 Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
Who is lifting you up today and giving you strength? What are you depending on to give you life and sustenance? Draw from the living well that has a never ending supply, that can deliver in times of trouble, revive in times of thirst and famine, bring strength in times of weakness. He is the lifter of my head and your head and those that believe, Samson called out to God and he answered him.
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