Past Victories and Failures

The Christian Life

“Samson…said, I will go out as at other times before…”~ Judges 16:20

It seems many of us have the same problem Samson had. He made a present decision on his past experiences. We need to be careful, neither past victories or failures should be considered in our going forward for our God. There is no automatic repeat of either of the two as we move ahead.

Most certainly we can learn from both, but we’re not to lean on them. To do so is like leaning on a broken reed. 

Israel of the Old Testament is a good example of this; they were constantly making their present and future judgments on previous victories or defeats. They were convinced in many cases that what had happened to them in the past would be their lot in their new endeavor.

I like the way Andrew A. Bonar puts it in his little devotional Heavenly Springs.“Past experiences were not of great use to the Israelites journeys. They needed always to consult God. If you think you will get through anything because you got through it before, you will certainly fail. You must ask fresh counsel of God and consult with Him continually.”

“Sabbath-days are well-days in our desert journey, days when we fill the water skins,to journey on to another well.” [Andrew A. Bonar]

by an Aged Saint

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