Bible Studies for Life
An Outward Focus
1 Corinthians 10: 23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
Paul began the chapter by reminding the Corinthians of all the ways God had provided for the Israelites after He freed them from slavery in Egypt. In verses 14- 22, Paul specifically instructed the Corinthians not to eat meat or drink in pagan temples. He said that doing so would mean participating in worshiping demons.
1 Corinthians 10: 25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: 26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. 27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 28 But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: 29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? 30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
After instructing the believers not to eat meat in pagan temples, Paul wrote that they could eat “whatsoever” vendors sold in the meat market. The Old Testament is full of teachings that the whole world belongs to God (Deut. 10:14; Ps. 50:12). The fact that God is the Creator of all things is a reality that Paul could not overstate. God’s status as Creator makes Him worthy of all praise. It also makes Him the owner of everything in the world. Nothing comes into existence or continues to exist outside of God’s sovereignty.
1 Corinthians 10: 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
The specific context is whether a Christian was willing to eat meat that had been previously sacrificed. All things even things as ordinary as eating and drinking-can and should be done for the glory of God. The glory of God is a common theme in the Bible. We glorify God when we make His attributes- the unique characteristics of God that make Him God- known to and among His creation. When God in Christ is honored as He should be by His creation, He receives His glory. Paul’s contention that eating and drinking, or not eating and drinking, can be done for the glory of God is instructive for us. Since believers can glorify God in simple things like eating and drinking, surely the bigger parts of one’s life, also can be done for His glory.
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Compromise
Judges16: 16 And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Naz a rite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand. And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.
Judges 16:4 states that Samson, a judge called to deliver Israel from the Philistines, fell in love with a woman named Delilah. Three times, Delilah asked Samson about his strength. Each time he toyed with her. Over time, though, her persistence won out. He shared the “whole truth” with her. Samson’s strength came from his relationship with God as a Nazirite. As part of the Nazirite vow, his hair was not to be cut. It was a sign of his special calling from God. Samson slept on Delilah’s lap, a man came and shaved his head. When Delilah woke Samson, he did not realize the Lord had left him. Without God’s favor, he no longer had his physical strength.
Judges 16:s 21 But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house. 22 Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven. 23 Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand. 24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us. 25 And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
Without God’s favor on his life, the Philistines easily seized Samson. They gouged out his eyes, bound him, and put him in prison. Meanwhile, God was still working in Samson’s life – his hair began to grow back. The Lord was restoring Samson and completing the work He had begun in him. The Philistines served Dagon as their primary god. Believing Dagon had delivered Samson to them, they gathered to celebrate in their temple. As part of their festivities, they called for Samson to be brought from prison. They wanted to amuse themselves at his expense.
Judges 16: 26 And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them. 27 Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport. 28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. 29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. 30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. 31 Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty year.
Samson called on God to strengthen him once again, and the Lord honored his prayer. When Samson pushed against the supporting pillars of the Philistine temple, the temple collapsed. The writer of Judges stated that Samson killed more Philistines at his death than he had while he was alive. His family came, carried his body home, and buried him in the tomb of his father.
Summary Statements
Samson’s physical strength could not save him from the consequences of his weak moral character.
-Believers should avoid putting themselves in situations that will tempt them to sin.
-Believers who compromise their faithfulness to God will eventually be put to shame.
-Believers can be confident that God does not abandon them, in spite of their sin.
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