Month: February 2025

“Now therefore give up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel.” But the Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel. Judges 20:13 Like most of us, I’m pretty good at identifying bad behavior in others, often…
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And as morning appeared, the woman came and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her master was, until it was light. Judges 19:26 In my opioid addiction, I became someone I didn’t much like or even recognize. Looking back, it’s hard to believe that it was me who lied, cheated, and…
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In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 17:6 I’ve often said that drug use hasn’t been my primary life problem. Drugs have just the most obvious manifestation of my primary problem which is this – I do what I want. This has always…
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And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. Judges 16:30 When I went off to treatment for my drug addiction, I left a disaster at home, and I honestly wasn’t sure…
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And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years. Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her. Judges 15:20-16:1 I once saw my faith as a supernatural insulation against life-wrecking failure. I thought that since I believed in God, I simply couldn’t tear my…
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On the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband to tell us what the riddle is, lest we burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you invited us here to impoverish us?” Judges 14:15 Early on in our marriage, on separate occasions, my wife and I both committed this offense…
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And the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.” Judges 13:3 Back when I first began learning addiction medicine, I took several online courses, during which the instructors made it sound like all…
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But his father and mother said to him, “Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.” Judges 14:3…
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After him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel, and he judged Israel ten years. Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun. Judges 12:11-12 Growing up in a church of an evangelical tradition, we celebrated transformation, applauding dramatic stories of changed lives. I was a gang member until I…
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The men of Ephraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire.” Judges 12:1 Last year my wife and I were visiting…
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