1. There are times when we feel farther away from God than we used to be. This reminds us that even though we feel exiled, God is with us in our exile.
  2. Look away from me, that I may smile again. Rather than putting on a happy face, it might be better to honestly grieve during seasons of heartbrokenness.
  3. Levites, idols, war, and an "unfaithful” concubine.
  4. Silver, a. cult, and a hireling priest.
  5. Sin is everywhere. Betrayal is everywhere. But the Christ whom Samson foreshadows has the final word.
  6. A donkey jawbone, a prostitute, and the gates of hell.
  7. A wedding, a riddle, a tragedy, and 300 fire-tails.
  8. Don't let people convince you that staying home is heroic. Unless of course you are listening to Ringside while staying home! Than you, my friend, are an Erol Flynn! Luther on the Resurrection.
  9. Seeing God, the birth of Samson and rabbit hole regarding Hagar.
  10. Jephthah wars with the men of Ephraim and we are introduced to Samson's mother and a messenger who is more than an angel.
  11. Jephthah makes an ill-advised vow to God before going into battle and then tragically fulfills it.
  12. Once again Israel ramps up its idolatry and God is not pleased and says He will not save them again and then does. How does law and gospel help us understand texts like this? When is God’s impatience a comfort to us? And we meet a warrior son of a prostitute named Jephthah.