The Battle Of The Beetle

by R. Darke, Victoria, B.C. | Category: Fingerpost | May 1972

Insidiously it works away, boring at the hardest of wood, and leaving behind its tell-tale holes and powdered sawdust. Examination of the highest beams, and the oldest of wood, reveals its presence The death watch beetle is most destructive, and it has been detected for years in Britain's House of Commons. Skilled craftsmen carry on a steady programme of cutting out and replacing ravaged sections with new wood. And so the battle of the beetle goes on constantly and continuously, almost like the believer's battle with sin in the flesh.

For it was just as silently and insidiously that sin bore its way into the life of Samson, the man of strength. Was he conscious of its destructive effect? Did he recognize the tell tale marks, or had he become over confident? Whatever the reason, we see him gradually losing the battle, and he had not even realized that the Lord had left him. Rapidly the enemy moved in. They put out his eyes, bound him, threw him into prison, and made him grind corn like oxen (Judges 16). Would any now recognize this pitiful figure as the man who had bodily removed the gates of a city, and had put an enemy army to flight? How devastating and desolating sin can be!

God in His grace and love, however, would not allow Samson to conclude his life in defeat. No doubt humbled in spirit by his broken link with heaven, and the ignominious treatment of his enemies, Samson's strength was restored by a faithful, merciful God, who never forgets a repentant soul. Jehovah Ropheka - the LORD who restores - is one of His titles (Ps. 23:3). It was a new Samson who was brought from the prison to entertain the enemy, but who ended up praying as he had never prayed before, "0 Lord GOD, remember me ...strengthen me... only this once" (16:28). What a prayer! God answered, and Samson brought the heathen temple down with a crash, slaying more in his death than in his life.

The same conflict which wore down Samson, left its mark on David (2 Sam. 12:10,12), and was an anxiety to Paul (Rom. 7:19,20), can be our downfall, too. Our Christian lives can be eaten away so easily by anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking, lies, passion, evil desire, and covetousness (Col. 3:5,8,9). Let these works of the flesh be cut out and replaced by the 'new wood' of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22,23).

R. Darke, Victoria, B.C. | May 1972
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