Best Block…

One day when Samson was in Timnah, one of the Philistine women caught his eye. (Judges 14:1)

Read: Judges 13:1-14:20, John 1:29-51, Psalm 102:1-28, Proverbs 14:15-16

Relate: In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war… David stayed behind in Jerusalem. Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. (2 Samuel 11:1-2)

When the kings go to war, David was on the roof. When the kings… was not David a king? Why on earth did he stay at home and lounge around? When he saw Bathsheba, he had already failed. If he was where should have been, he would not have seen what he shouldn’t be seeing. Taking a midnight stroll on the palace roof in the springtime was not a kingly thing to do. A real king would have been sleeping in his campaign tent with the soldiers out on the battlefield.

One day when Samson was in Timnah.. wait a minute, Timnah was Philistine territory. They were the enemy. Why on earth was Samson hanging out in Timnah? He was called and commissioned by God to bring freedom to the Israelites from the Philistines. That freedom doesn’t come when you’re sleeping with the enemy. A real man would never have found himself in Timnah to be snared like that.

React: In Karate Kid 2, Mister Miyagi teaches Daniel a very important lesson. To quote the master: “Best block… No be there.” The best defense against our opponent is to not be where he is going to hit us. I have learned that my most effective writing time is from about 5-8PM. However, there is a quick downhill slide from there. Bitterness, depression, lust, pride, anger… all of these hit me worst after 10PM. I am far and away more likely to be doing what I shouldn’t be doing, seeing what I shouldn’t be seeing, and saying what I shouldn’t be saying lat at night than any other time of the day. Hands down. No question.

The best way for me to avoid this sin? Avoid this time. If I get up when my alarm first goes off in the morning, I am tired and asleep long before that opportunity to sin is ready to attack. My best block from the enemy’s biggest attack… don’t be there. This lesson could have saved David and Samson both a world of hurt. Let us learn from their mistakes. When the Devil wants to take a swing at us… just don’t be around.

Respond:

Dear God,
For all those times I have been where I should not be, forgive me. For all those times I have seen and thought and said and done what I should not, forgive me. You have promised that You will always provide a way out, help me to realize that sometimes… most of the time that way out is to never even walk into the room in the first place. Help me to be aware of when my weakest and most susceptible moments are. Help me to be aware of those places I should not be if I am to live the holy life You have called me to. Then help me to not be there. Help me to live the life of purity and integrity that You have called me to live.
Amen

14 thoughts on “Best Block…”

Well stated. God always gives us the tools needed to stay 2 steps ahead of Satan…….love the audio

I think this is so good. It really confirms what I was thinking and praying about. We can be intentional about seeking God, we also need to be intentional about refusing to enter compromising situations that may lead to sin. Great post. Thanks.

Reblogged this on His Glory Blog.

So true. One thing Ive repeated over and over to my kids is, “You don’t circle the doughnut shop when you are on a diet.” Works for anything … we are on a diet from this world whether it be illicit sex, drinking, drugs, pornography, gossip … just don’t go there. Awesome read … t.y.

Beejai says:

May 1, 2016 at 12:48 PM

You don’t circle the doughnut shop when you are on a diet…

I love it.

Reply

Many years ago I lived with Mrs. Beasley, the elderly matriarch of Fairlington Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia. (On Mrs. Beasley’s living room wall was a 5×7 black and white photograph of a small group of people sitting in a circle praying. One was a young Mrs. Beasley. Another was a very young Billy Graham. They were praying about the launch of his proposed ministry.). Mrs. Beasley was very wise. One piece of advice I have always remembered and often pass on is that nothing good is said after 11pm.

This is such a good post! It addresses many of my own shortcomings and another perspective to aware of.

Chocolate cake in the fridge? I go in the kitchen and somehow need something from the fridge, just one swipe of my finger won’t hurt… ok just one little sliver… one slice wow how did that plate get empty? Don’t even open the fridge door.

Thanks for the reminder – I get complacent and think I can withstand temptation, there’s enough temptation where I am without going looking for it.

Reblogged this on ChristianBlessings and commented:
Know thyself. Do you know yourself enough to avoid the temptations that lurk at your points and places of weakness? There is a roaring lion who seeks to devour us at our weakest points. Don’t let him have the advantage.