Judges 5 - to be like the sun in full strength

"Thus let all Your enemies perish, O LORD!
But let those who love Him be like the sun
When it comes out in full strength." (Judges 5:31)

So beautiful... to be like the sun when it comes out in full strength.

Today happened to be another hot day. Even the water coming from the tap feels hot! :S At times like this, I often hear of people saying that they cannot stand the weather in Singapore anymore, that they want to emigrate. It is really understandable. Even someone like me who usually sleep without the aircon nor the fan finds the weather these days to be quite unbearable. At times like these, we will look towards the blazing sun (if we can do that without hurting our eyes), and think, "If only it can be milder, or hidden behind a cloud."

Now, we can have a twist. Whenever we see the sun in full strength, shooting its rays towards us mercilessly, let us remember this verse. "Let those who love Him be like the sun when it comes out in full strength."

As I was reading this verse, my first interpretation was that God will bestow strength like that of the sun to those who love Him, such that enemies will not triumph over us but instead perish. This is true because we can ask God for strength to triumph over the evil one and He will definitely give us such power. And indeed, such power from God will shine forth like that of a sun in full strength, and there will be nothing that can hinder us in our walk of faith. Not even the cloud of doubt.

I came out with a second interpretation though. This time round, the active agent is us, rather than God. Let us who love God be fearless for God, and to summon our strength and shine them forth like a fervid sun. Let us learn to give our all up for the Lord, like the sun (in full strength) casting out all its energy without reserve.

The next time we encounter the blazing hot sun, hope that we may remember about this verse and ponder about our own strength in the Lord. May God guide (: