Meaning of life

The meaning of life is to give life meaning.

To look inward

For just this moment, stop seeing the world through the physical realm and see within. Life is not about the things we possess, but about inner joy and peace. Look inward to see what brings you joy, and find it there.

Balac

[Bā'lăk,Bā'lăc] — waster, emptying ordestroys. The King of Moab, and son of Zipper who hired Balaam to curse Israel when, toward the end of their wilderness journeyings they were in Balak’s territory
Num. 22:23: – ²³ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road.

Num. 22:24: – ²⁴ Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides.

Judg. 11:25: – ²⁵ Are you any better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever quarrel with Israel or fight with them?

Micah 6:5: – ⁵ My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.

Like Balaam, Balak also lives to the end of the Bible.Balac is the Greek form of Balak (Rev. 2:14: - ¹⁴ Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality). Revealing the superstition of the human mind, Balak had recourse to supernatural help and sought out Balaam, the soothsayer of Pethor—a man of divination with power to bless and curse, the Simon Magus of his day. How deceived Balak was when he thought he could sow the air with curses which would work where his sword could not reach!

The purpose of life

The purpose of life is not to be happy. The purpose of life is to matter, to be productive, to have it make some difference that you lived at all.

The beauty in the world

It is important to take time to see the beauty in the world that surrounds you. Watch a sunrise or sunset, observe the vibrant colors of nature’s changing seasons, or count the stars on a moonless night. Enjoy the gift you have been given of life on this earth and all it has to offer.

Hosea

[Hōzē'ă, Ō shē'ă, Hō shē'ă] — jehovah is help or salvation.

1. The son of Beeri and first of the so-called Minor Prophets (Hosea 1:1: - ¹ The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahazand Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel).

The Man with a Sorrowful Heart

Little is known of Hosea’s history beyond what we find in his writings. He has been called the first prophet of Grace and Israel’s earliest evangelist. He was a native of the Northern Kingdom, the iniquities and idolatries of which weighed heavily on his heart. He bore the same name as that of the last king of Israel (2 Kings 15:30: - ³⁰ Then Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked and assassinatedhim, and then succeeded him as king in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah). In Jewish tradition, he is identified with Beerah of Reuben (1 Chron. 5:6: - ⁶ and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria took into exile. Beerah was a leader of the Reubenites). Christian tradition, however, relates him to the Hosea of the tribe of Isaachar.

The home tragedy overtaking him earned him the title of “The Prophet of a Sorrowful Heart.” Through the wrongs he suffered he came to realize the sins committed by Israel against God, and the long history of unfaithfulness to Him. The accounts of Hosea’s marriage, the birth of his children and his wife’s unfaithfulness and restoration make sad reading. Hosea was called to express God’s message and to manifest His character.

Gomer, his wife, was immoral; hence the word of the Lord came to him amid much personal anguish; his home life was destroyed. Society was corrupt and God’s law spurned, and Hosea came to see in his own suffering a reflection of what the sorrow of God must be, when Israel proved utterly unfaithful.

Three children were born to Hosea and Gomer:

I. Jezreel, recalling the deed of blood, and by it a knell was rung in the ears of Jeroboam. The name of this child was an omen of coming judgment.

II. Lo-ruhamah, meaning, “one who never knew a father’s love.” This expressive name pointed to a time when, no more pitied by Jehovah, Israel would be given over to her enemies.

III. Lo-ammi, signifying “one not belonging to me.” Israel had turned from a father’s love and deserved not to belong to God. Thus this third child’s name prophesied the driving out of the children of Israel from their land to exile.

Gomer, the erring wife, is received back

Hos. 3:1: – ¹ The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes. ”

Hos. 3:2: – ² So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley.

the price of her redemption being paid by Hosea. So the prophet was not only God’s messenger of grace—he reflected God’s character and foreshadowed ultimate redemption through the Messiah and Israel’s reestablishment as a nation.

The four lessons we learn from the broken heart and the Book of Hosea have been fully expounded by Dr. Stuart Holden:

Anguish quickens apprehension.

Iniquity inspires moral indignation.

Suffering begets sympathy.

The divine character sanctifies human conduct.

2. Joshua’s earlier name — changed by Moses

Num. 13:8: – ⁸ from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun.

Num. 13:16: –  ¹⁶ These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. (Moses gave Hoshea son of Nunthe name Joshua.)

Deuteronomy 32:44: – ⁴⁴ Moses came with Joshua son of Nun and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people.
gives Hoshea.

3. The son of Azaziah and prince of Ephraim in David’s reign (1 Chron. 27:20: - ²⁰ over the Ephraimites: Hoshea son of Azaziah; over half the tribe of Manasseh: Joel son of Pedaiah).

4. A son of Elah, the last king of the Northern Kingdom (2 Kings 15:30: - ³⁰ Then Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked and assassinatedhim, and then succeeded him as king in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah).

5. A chief under Nehemiah who with others signed the covenant (Neh. 10:23: - ²³ Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub).

A man is a success

A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do.

Every day is important

Learn from the past and plan for the future, but keep your focus on making the most of the gift that is today.

Samson

[Săm’son] — distinguished, strong or sun-man.

The Man of Contrasts

One of the most renowned of the Hebrew judges, Samson was a son of the Danite, Manoah, who judged Israel for twenty years. He was unique in that his birth and manner of life were foretold. Supernaturally endowed, he killed a lion, thirty Philistines and one thousand men. He broke the strongest bands, carried off the gates of Gaza and pulled down the Temple of Dagon

Judg. 13:24-25: – ²⁴ The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the Lord blessed him,
²⁵ and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Judg. 16:30: – ³⁰ Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.

He is found among the illustrious in Faith’s Hall of Fame (Heb. 11:32: -³² And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah,about David and Samuel and the prophets).

As long as Samson remained a Nazarite he was unconquerable. He only of all the judges of whom we have any history, does everything single-handed and alone. Samson never called the armies of Israel together; he asked no assistance. What he did, he did alone in his own unconquerable strength. We are not told how he managed his court, nor about the wisdom of his judgments, nor about the manner of Israel’s life for a whole generation under her gigantic judge.

The complex story of Samson teaches us the evils of mixed or foreign marriages (Judg. 14:3: -³ His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife? ” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me”), the laxity of sexual relations and of playing with temptation. C. W. Emmet says that Samson “teaches us that bodily endowments, no less than spiritual, are a gift from God, however different may be our modern conception of the way in which they are bestowed, and that their retention depends on obedience to His laws.”

But if Samson stands as an example “of impotence of mind in body strong,” he also stands, in Milton’s magnificent conception, as an example of patriotism and heroism in death, to all who “from his memory inflame their breast to matchless valour and adventures high.”

The deadly results of Samson’s self-indulgence after he broke his Nazarite vow, appear in their dark and ominous order:

Self-confidence: “I will go out” (Judg. 16:20: -²⁰ Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him).

Self-ignorance: “He wist not” (Judg. 16:20: – ²⁰ Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him).

Self-weakness: “The Philistines laid hold on him” (Judg. 16:21: - ²¹ Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison).

Self-darkness: “They put out his eyes” (Judg. 16:21: – ²¹ Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison).

Self-degradation: “They brought him down to Gaza”
Judg. 16:1-3: – ¹ One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her.
² The people of Gaza were told, “Samson is here!” So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, “At dawn we’ll kill him.”
³ But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.

Judg. 16:21: – ²¹ Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison.

Self-bondage: “They bound him with fetters” (Judg. 16:21: - ²¹ Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison).

Self-drudgery: “He did grind in the prison-house” (Judg. 16:21: - ²¹ Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison).

Self-humiliation: “Call for Samson, that he may make us sport”
Judg. 16:25: – ²⁵ While they were in high spirits, they shouted, “Bring out Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them. When they stood him among the pillars.

Judg. 16:27: – ²⁷ Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform.

Samson stands out as a man of striking contrasts. He had a kind of Dr. Jekell and Mr. Hyde being.

I. He was separated as a Nazarite (Judg. 13:5: - ⁵ You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines”), yet tampered with evil associations
Judg. 14:1-3: – ¹ Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman.
² When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.”
³ His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife? ”

But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.”

II. He was occasionally Spirit-possessed
Judg. 13:25: – ²⁵ and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Judg. 15:14: – ¹⁴ As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands.

yet yielded to carnal appetites
Judg. 16:1-4: – ¹ Later on, at the time of wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat and went to visit his wife. He said, “I’m going to my wife’s room.” But her father would not let him go in.
² “I was so sure you hated her,” he said, “that I gave her to your companion. Isn’t her younger sister more attractive? Take her instead.”
³ Samson said to them, “This time I have a right to get even with the Philistines; I will really harm them.”
⁴ So he went out and caught three hundred foxes and tied them tail to tail in pairs. He then fastened a torch to every pair of tails.

III. He appeared childish in some of his plans
Judg. 15:4: – ⁴ So he went out and caught three hundred foxes and tied them tail to tail in pairs. He then fastened a torch to every pair of tails.

yet was courageous in battle
Judg. 15:1-4: – ¹ Later on, at the time of wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat and went to visit his wife. He said, “I’m going to my wife’s room.” But her father would not let him go in.
² “I was so sure you hated her,” he said, “that I gave her to your companion. Isn’t her younger sister more attractive? Take her instead.”
³ Samson said to them, “This time I have a right to get even with the Philistines; I will really harm them.”
⁴ So he went out and caught three hundred foxes and tied them tail to tail in pairs. He then fastened a torch to every pair of tails

IV. He was mighty in physical strength
Judg. 16:3: – ³ But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.

Judg, 16:9: – ⁹ With men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the bowstrings as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.

Judg, 16:13: – ¹³ Delilah then said to Samson, “All this time you have been making a fool of me and lying to me. Tell me how you can be tied.” He replied, “If you weave the seven braids of my head into the fabric on the loom and tighten it with the pin, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” So while he was sleeping, Delilah took the seven braids of his head, wove them into the fabric.

Judg, 16:14: – ¹⁴ and tightened it with the pin. Again she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and pulled up the pin and the loom, with the fabric.

yet weak in resisting temptation
Judg. 16:15-17: – ¹⁵ Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength. ”
¹⁶ With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it.
¹⁷ So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”

V. He had a noble beginning but a sad end (Judg. 16:30: – ³⁰ Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived).

The future

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.