Ahhh, September; football season; Saturdays with the
Michigan Wolverines and Sundays with the Chicago Bears have arrived at the
Niswonger house. We gather, watch the
game; I listen to commentary both from the television and the sofa. Learn what plays should have been called;
find out the plays that we can’t believe they called and which team has the
toughest defenses or strongest Offense and always, always root for our team and
against the team (no matter which) that can hurt our team's chances for a championship. Once
the game is over, our weekly routine continues but it doesn’t end for the
team. There are practices, plays to
design and learn and game films to review.
The coaches and players review their own team’s films, correcting
mistakes and searching for weaknesses that can be strengthened by practice or
personnel changes. Game films from next
week’s rival team are also viewed and studied.
The strengths are noted, but the most important search is for the
opponent’s weaknesses. No matter how strong
a team, if a weakness can be identified and a game plan constructed to attack
at the point of weakness, a rival team has a great chance of victory.
Judges 16 records the well known story of Samson and Delilah. In an earlier chapter, we learn that Samson
was to follow a Nazarite vow from his birth and throughout his life. Even during her pregnancy, Samson’s mother
was commanded by God to eat nothing unclean, to not drink wine and once he was
born, Samson was to never cut his hair because God was going to use him to
deliver the people of Israel from the Philistines. As we read the story of Samson, we find out
that Samson was disobedient to the counsel of his parents and to the command of
God throughout his life. In Judges 16,
we find Samson has fallen in love with a Philistine woman and she is determined
to learn the source of his strength so she can sell the information to her
countrymen and gain an advantage. To
learn this valuable information, Delilah attacks Samson at his weakest, most
vulnerable point, his lack of discipline and lust for women. Eventually, Delilah’s tears and feminine
wiles weaken Samson’s defenses, he tells her the source of his strength, she
cuts his hair and he is taken into slavery by the Philistines.
Satan will search for the source of your weakness to steal your
strength. He has a whole arsenal
of “fiery
darts” which he is constantly launching at us from every angle. If they hit the “Shield of Faith” in one
area, he will fire into another area of life.
Satan is constantly on the lookout, loaded and ready to fire at any sign
of weakness. The enemy of our soul is not so concerned with attacking us in the
areas we have overcome through the Blood of Jesus Christ, but he is very
focused on attacking us with the things our flesh is still battling. If he can successfully strike us at our
weakest point, he can gain an advantage over our strengths and eventually take
us captive.
God has provided us with a strong defense that will protect
us even at our weakest moments. Prayer
is our “game film,” through which the Holy Spirit can reveal our
weaknesses and give us the necessary exercises to strengthen our commitment and
desire for the things of God. He
forgives our past mistakes and teaches us how to overcome and avoid
pitfalls. Then because He is such a
merciful and gracious God, He gives us another opportunity to get in the
game. The Word of God is our “game
plan;” study it. Studying,
knowing and practicing the “game plan” is the best defense
against the attack of Satan. Through Prayer, the Word and the Blood of
Jesus, Satan cannot steal our strength by searching out our weaknesses.
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