Pentecost 7

July 12 - 18

Judges, 1 Samuel, Galatians

Pentecost 8

July 19 - 25

1 Samuel, Book of Acts

The once mighty Samson, now blind and weak, slouches in his shackles between two stone pillars. His Phillistine captors subject him to great tests of strength, erupting in laughter and taunts when he inevitably fails. It is a grotesque celebration in honor of a false god, and it looks like a humiliating end for the man who had been set apart to save Israel. In this seemingly hopeless moment, Samson prays to the true God to regain his strength, just this once, to save his people.

Sadly, “just this once” is a phrase we commonly use to justify our sin. It is also an ironic display of weakness. Our bold in insistence that the sin is okay, just this one time, is only a thin cover-up of our submission to the chains. Bound tightly to sin, there would appear to be no escape.

But here is the good news: “just this once” also describes our salvation. Jesus pulled down the heavy stones of sin upon himself to destroy death and rise again, one time, for all people. One baptism buries our sinful flesh and raises up a new person in service to God.

Still, on this side of heaven, the flesh and Spirit militate against one another. St. Paul’s astonishment at the Galatians’ straying faith is characteristic of us, too. It may seem easy to go back to our old, doomed spiritual ways. But our echo of Samson’s prayer for strength against sin is true and effective. Even if that prayer is our last, we can make it boldly, just one time, confident in the redemption won for us in Jesus.

This week, lessons in unchecked zeal. In these readings, there is no shortage of energy or desire to do the Lord’s work, but the sinful flesh gets in the way. The people of Israel carry the Ark of the Covenant into battle without the LORD’s command. They demand a king over the objections of the prophet Samuel. In the New Testament, the Jews in Jerusalem would rather cooperate with their Roman oppressors to punish Paul than actually hear the Gospel he is sent to preach. Others try to poach power from his ministry to cast out demons.

In this kind of church, God’s grace and mercy aren’t seen as gifts to be received, but commodities to be used. The Ark, the Word, the power of the Spirit all belong to God, and their misuse turns holy things into idols. The Scriptures show us the result: God’s people crumble before pagans. The crown and lineage they demand are ultimately cut off. Confusion and false teaching set in like a thick fog. The glory of the LORD departs. His treasure is in the hands of the wicked, leaving the self-righteous and unrepentant to arm themselves with their false purity and fend for themselves in a violent world.

And yet, our Lord sends faithful prophets, missionaries and ministers into the heart of this greed and chaos. There, the glory of the Lord is revealed - not in crowns, authority, ritual, or worldly esteem - but in ridicule, beatings, and martyrdom. In their apparent humiliation, Jesus’ servants reflect his glorious work by sharing in his suffering, continuing to declare his resurrection, and living by faith.

This is the church the Lord sustains and cares for, where malnourished souls are filled by his Gospel, and ministers swayed by false teaching submit to correction by the Word. His Holy Spirit is at work, and all that the church has is turned over to the Lord’s purpose and glory. May we all be guided by the Holy Spirit to direct our efforts and energy to the will and glory of our Lord.