In Judges 16 we read of Samson, the judge set apart for service to God. Whenever he was called on, the Spirit of God came upon Samson and he defeated the enemy. But Samson took this for granted. He thought that he could live as he pleased and still be used by God when the need arose.

Believers today do the same thing and mistake God’s grace and mercy for license to do as we please. We live a worldly life six days a week and then expect God to use us and bless us on Sundays.

The crunch came for Samson when Delilah had nagged him for the secret of his strength. Samson rose up and said to himself: “I will go out as at other times..” But he didn’t go out! Enough was enough and God left him to himself. Samson had forgotten that the gift of the Spirit was by God’s grace and for God’s glory.

We need to be aware that God is primarily concerned with his name and his glory, and that the gift of the Spirit to those who serve him is for service not for our pleasure. We cannot live one way during the week and then expect God to rise to the occasion when we put on our Sunday suits.

The gift of leadership given to the judges was a postion of service, both to God and to the people. Let us thank God for it, and seek to walk worthy of the calling to which we have been called, that God might be pleased to use us to serve him.

“So now I say, I will not drive them out before you; but they shall become adversaries to you, and their gods shall be a snare to you.” Judges 2:3

The children of Israel had been given the victory over the promised land – complete victory, but they had chosen to do things their own way and had failed to completely conquer the Canaanites. They had compromised their faith by intermarrying with the local people and had begun to worship their idol gods.

This was an affront to the God who had led them from Egypt and he announced that he would no longer give them the victory. That which they had been unwilling to overcome would become a snare to them. And so it was – the story of the Judges is one of compromise, repentance and more compromise!

As believers today we compromise our faith by our pursuit of that which we know is contrary to God’s will. If we continue to pursue these things God will allow them to become a snare to us. They will hinder our peace and enjoyment of our new life in Christ.

Each time the Israelites cried out to God he sent a judge to set them free. So too, when we cry out he sends his Spirit to help us.

The focus of Joshua chapter 1 is generally placed on God’s command to Joshua to be strong and courageous. This is right – it is repeated three times in one chapter because it is important.

But there is a reason for the command. It is not merely for Joshua’s benefit. God tells Joshua that Joshua will put ‘this people in possession of the land …’

The goal for Joshua being strong and courageous was to bring the people into their possession. When God deals with individuals his purposes are for the whole people of God and his greater glory. Just as it was too small a thing that Jesus be for the Jews only, but rather for all the nations, so, when God works in our lives it is to the eternal benefit of the whole body of Christ.

Joshua’s strength and courage were needed for the particular task God had for him: leadership. But not only did Joshua have the goal in sight, he also had the promise of God’s presence – just as Jesus promised to be with his disciples (Matthew 28:18-20).