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Judges 14:1 Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw a
woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines. |
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THEN SAMSON: What a
name he had been given "sunlight, sun-like". Samson is a sobering reminder
that great abilities or potential is not the same as great faith. He had a
miraculous birth, godly parents, a life-long Nazarite vow by which he was
set apart conspicuously to God, and blessed with a special ministry by the
Holy Spirit. God had given the Holy Spirit to Samson in an unparalleled way,
so that whenever Samson stood in need of physical strength, it was
unreservedly supplied to him. As Paul pointed out, one can “speak with the
tongues of men and of angels” yet live a life of loveless emptiness
(1Co13:1).
Believers today can live like Samson, failing to exert self discipline and
refusing to wholeheartedly commit to the Lord Jesus Christ. The result? Just
like Samson, even though blessed with every spiritual blessing in the
heavenly places in Christ (Ep1:3) and having been granted by our Lord Jesus
Christ everything necessary for life and godliness (2Pe1:3), they fail to
live up to their potential in Christ, in fact falling far short of what God
had designed (Ep2:10) and desired for them as men and women redeemed out of
bondage by the blood of Christ. And so Samson's story makes for painful
reading to most all saints, as we tend to see various aspects of our
failings brought out by his glaring failures. It is fascinating that God
used 25% of the book of Judges to portray the warning of Samson's life to
all saints of all ages! And so we wince as we read Samson's story. Let us
read & heed though (1Co10:6,11,12) not deluded into thinking that this could
never happen to us! Samson may well have been the strongest man who ever
lived but sadly he proved one of the weakest when it came to self control
(Pr16:32, 25:28, 14:29; 19:11).
These were sad times and needed a godly judge to deliver Israel. The
priesthood was corrupt under Eli's sons Hophni and Phinehas who were
"worthless men" (1Sa2:12 where the literal Hebrew reads "sons of Belial"!!!)
and profaned the offerings ("despised the offering of the LORD" 1Sa2:17).
Scripture sums up these times in [1Sa3:1] -- "word from the LORD was rare in
those days..."
WENT DOWN (physically but also spiritually) TO TIMNAH : about 4 miles westward down the valley of Sorek, about 5 miles west of Beth-shemesh, a little over 20 miles straight
west of Jerusalem, approximately 4 miles southwest of Zorah (Judg13:25).
All of this wonderful heritage the grown Samson despised! Instead of putting
himself in God’s hands to accomplish his God-given task, he chose to live to
please himself. How tragic it is when God gives a young person a wonderful
heritage and a great opportunity, and he or she treats it lightly.
One evidence of spiritual decline can be the way we get along with our loved
ones. “Samson went down...” (14:1) is true both spiritually and
geographically. Instead of staying in the borders of Israel, he went into
enemy territory and fell in love with a heathen woman. He knew the laws of
separation God had given to the Jews, but he chose to ignore them (Ex34:16
Dt7:3 2Co6:14-18; Ge24:1-4). Note that he told his parents; he did not ask
them. And when they reminded him of God’s law, he defied them. “Get her for
me,” he insisted, “for she pleases me well!” It did not bother Samson that
his desires displeased his parents. Note that in this instance God
mercifully was going to overrule his sin and use it to weaken the
Philistines (v4). Christian young people need to stop and consider carefully
when they find themselves defying godly parents who know God’s Word.
AND SAW A WOMAN IN TIMNAH
ONE OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE PHILISTINES:
The saga of Samson begins and ends the same way, with Samson
displaying an unwillingness to control his passions one manifestation of
which was a fatal weakness for Philistine women. It was "lust" at first
sight! In the Israelite society the father was recognized as the head of the
family and as such chose wives for his sons (cp Ge21:21). But Samson made
his own choice. Even though called to live a separated life to God he
directly betrayed his calling as well as directly disobeyed the Word of God
(Ex34:12-15,16; Dt7:1-2,v3; cp 2Co6:14-18). Samson was living by sight and
not by faith. He was controlled by “the lust of the eyes” (1Jn2:16) rather
than by the Law of the Lord & the Spirit of the LORD (cp Ro8:13). The
important thing to Samson was not pleasing the Lord, or even pleasing his
parents, but pleasing himself (Jud14:3, v7, cp 2Co5:14,15, Php2:3,v4).
Samson willfully disregarded
loyalty to Yahweh and sought a pagan wife. The presence of Philistines at Timnah reveals their occupation of Israelite territory. Philistine rule was
more subtle and peaceful than the other periods of oppression, since Samson
and presumably others were free to intermarry with the Philistines. Even the
tribe of Judah was content to let the Philistines control them, a sign that
a fairly normal life was possible (15:11).
Three things were wrong about this relationship:
1) It is evident from
this paragraph that he really cared nothing for this girl as a person. He
simply saw her and wanted her. She was an object to be used, to be
possessed. There was no recognition that she was a person with needs, a
person of worth and value. This is "impulse" buying at its worst!
2) The Old Testament scriptures, which Samson possessed, were very clear
about God's prohibition of intermarriage between the Israelites and
surrounding pagan nations. This provision stemmed from God's love. He knew
that if they married into these idolatrous peoples the nation of Israel
itself would become idolatrous. Heathen wives would pollute the households
with their idols. And God knew that wives chosen out of these nations would
be miserable as well. To be unequally yoked in this way would result in a
relationship which would chafe both parties. So because he loved his people,
and because he loved the world, God had commanded that they were not to
intermarry with unbelievers. But Samson cared nothing for this. He saw the
girl and he wanted her.
3) He disobeyed his parents. Again, the Scriptures which Samson had were
very clear. Children were to obey their parents so that they might live long
in the land which the Lord had given to them. God never stuttered at that
point. That was Standard Operating Procedure. It is clear that these parents
were interposed by God between this girl and their son in order to save
Samson from a disaster. But he would not listen; he disobeyed. He insisted
on having his own way. So he said to his father, "Get her for me, for she
pleases me well." His passions reigned. This was the area of his life which
ultimately brought him to defeat, because he would not deal with it. Verse 4
seems strange: |
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Judges 14:2 So he came back and told his father and
mother, "I saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines;
now therefore, get her for me as a wife." |
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SO HE CAME BACK AND TOLD HIS FATHER AND MOTHER
I SAW A WOMAN IN TIMNAH:
The 1st words out of Samson's mouth!!! Samson was
living by sight and not by faith. He was controlled by “the lust of the
eyes” (1Jn2:16) rather than by the Law of the Lord. The important thing to
Samson was not pleasing the Lord, or even pleasing his parents, but pleasing
himself (Jud14:3, 7, 2Co5:14,15). This is amazing lust...he had NOT EVEN
TALKED to her if one reads the text literally...he simply saw her and he
wanted her...and that was that as far as he was concerned.
ONE OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE PHILISTINES
NOW THEREFORE GET HER FOR ME AS A WIFE:
A godly home is no
guarantee of a godly life if the spiritual influence is rejected by the
children. The parents were not at fault; Samson was. The Lord had given
Samson a godly heritage, and he had been raised to honor the Lord; but when
Samson fell in love, he wouldn’t listen to his parents when they warned him.
Samson had wandered 4 miles into enemy territory where he was captivated by
a Philistine woman and decided to marry her. This, of course, was contrary
to God’s Law (Ex34:12-16; Dt7:1-3; 2Co 6:14-18).
Get her for me:
Negotiations for marriage were customarily carried on by the parents.
Samson’s parents appear to be initially involved in this marriage contract
(vv. 1-5). See
[Ge 34:4]. As the head of the family, the father exercised authority in all
matters, often including the choice of wives for his sons (12:9; Ge24:3-9;
Ne10:30). As we
study Samson's heart and his choices we would do well to pay heed to what
the modern day prophet A W Tozer once said...
In every Christian’s heart there is
a cross and a throne, and the Christian is on the throne till he puts
himself on the cross; if he refuses the cross, he remains on the throne.
Perhaps this is at the bottom of the backsliding and worldliness among
gospel believers today. We want to be saved, but we insist that Christ do
all the dying. No cross for us, no dethronement, no dying. We remain king
within the little kingdom of Mansoul and wear our tinsel crown with all the
pride of a Caesar; but we doom ourselves to shadows and weakness and
spiritual sterility. A
principle that is found throughout Scripture can be expressed this way: If
there is any area in our life where we are resisting the Lordship of Christ,
and if we continue to resist, then we will discover that, in other areas
also, our life will begin to fall under the dominion of the flesh. If God is
speaking to you, for instance, about a resentful spirit, or an unforgiving
heart, or lustful thoughts, or whatever, and if you are unwilling to deal
with that, then you will find yourself falling back into sins that you felt
had long since been vanquished in your life, slipping back into habits from
which you have been delivered for years. Perhaps your old jealous spirit
returns, or your former bad temper comes back, and, whereas once you had
complete control in this area, now you find that you've lost control.
Samson's life is a clear illustration of this principle. Old Testament
people are so fascinating because they show us, in such a realistic way, the
principles laid out in the New Testament.
Dave Roper writes:
In Old Testament symbolism the Philistines represent the flesh in our life.
They were related to Egypt which symbolizes the world. As the flesh they
constitute the enemy of the Spirit of God. The flesh is that principle of
evil which gained entrance into man at the fall of Adam and Eve. It is
responsible for our tendency to go our own way and to try to live our lives
independently of God. It is an alien intruder; it has no right to reside in
our life. And yet it has taken up residence there and is constantly at war
there with the Spirit of God. Paul says in Galatians 5 that the flesh lusts
against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary
to one another, to keep you from doing what you would. So these Philistines,
as we see them in this book, will be portraying the activity of the flesh in
our life.
The story continues with the angel of Jehovah, the pre-incarnate Lord Jesus,
who appears to Samson's mother before Samson is born. He promises that
Samson will deliver Israel, at least partially. Two very interesting things
emerge from their conversation. One is that Samson was to be a Nazirite from
his birth. We need to distinguish between a Nazirite and a Nazarene. A
Nazarene is someone who lives in the vicinity of the town of Nazareth. Jesus
was a Nazarene, but he was not a Nazirite. A Nazirite was a person who took
a vow of separation for service to God. There was a provision under the
Mosaic covenant by which a Jew could vow to set himself apart for a period
of time in order to accomplish some particular purpose. The word comes from
the Hebrew verb "nazar," which means to separate, to cut off.
There were three conditions a Nazirite had to observe: 1) He could not touch
a dead body of any kind. 2) He was not allowed to drink wine or strong
drink, or even to have any contact with the fruit of the vine. 3) He was to
let his hair grow long. That sounds very contemporary.
These Old Testament provisions, again, are symbolic snapshots of things
which are true of our life today. A Nazirite in the Old Testament symbolizes
sanctification. In the New, "sanctified" means "set apart for a particular
purpose." Those of us who know Jesus Christ as Lord are said to be
sanctified, to be set apart to serve him. And the same three conditions
obtained under the Nazirite vow are true for us in the spiritual realm:
1) We are not to touch anything dead, either. We are to have nothing to do
with the old life. Paul says, "You have died, and your life is hid with
Christ in God." We are not to go back and attempt to resurrect the old life,
the flesh which has been crucified with Christ, and try to live out of that
resource. We have a new life, a resurrection life, which Paul says is life
indeed.
2) We are not to attempt to derive our joy in life, and our sense of
well-being, from wine or any other natural source, but rather, from the
Spirit of God.
3) The provision regarding long hair is very interesting. In the Scriptures
long hair is said to be a shameful thing for a man. It is a sign of
weakness. This refers, of course, to excessively long hair--longer than the
accepted length for women at any particular time. It is a relative judgment,
depending upon culture. I'm not against long hair; I just wish mine would
grow at all. But excessively long hair is a sign of weakness. A Nazirite
would put himself under that condition in order to indicate his weakness,
because his strength would grow out of that weakness.
The same is true for us. The Scriptures say that where we are weak that is
where we are strong. If we sense our need for dependence upon another
resource, if we are not counting upon our own credentials, our own strength,
our own abilities--that is proper recognition of our weakness. It is in
weakness that we discover our strength in our indwelling Lord. So, just as a
Nazirite was to fulfill these three conditions of separation, so we as
sanctified individuals set apart for the particular purpose of serving the
Lord, are to operate on the basis of these same three conditions.
It is interesting that Samson was called to be a Nazirite from his birth,
which was unusual. Ordinarily a person would take this vow later on in life,
generally for only a short term. But Samson was to be one from his birth.
We, as well, are Nazirites from our birth, our new birth. From the time we
are born into God's family these conditions become applicable to us.
The second thing of interest is the statement by the angel of the Lord that
Samson "will begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines." "He
will begin to deliver . . . " As we go through the story we will discover
that in reality he never did deliver them, because he never delivered
himself. There was frequent partial victory, but never a complete victory
and final, total domination of the enemy, because he could never deal with
one particular area in his life--at least, he never would deal with it. So
he only began to deliver Israel. |
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DEVOTIONAL
OUR DAILY BREAD
DISCIPLINE
Samson said to his
father, "Get her for me, for she pleases me well" (Judges 14:3).
Failure to exercise self-discipline can ruin a person's health and
happiness. A girl I know will probably die young if she doesn't control her
eating habits. And I'm acquainted with a young man who is destroying himself
because he never learned self-discipline. He grew up in a wealthy family and
inherited a position that pays a high salary, but he is on the brink of
financial disaster because of his drinking and gambling.
Lack of self-discipline caused Samson to make the mistakes that led to his
capture by the Philistines, who put out his eyes and forced him to work like
an animal. His downfall began when he wanted to marry a heathen girl and
wouldn't listen to the objections of his parents. His demand, "Get her for
me, for she pleases me well," set the pattern of self-indulgence that ruined
his life.
Without self-control, we can squander great talents and waste wonderful
opportunities. Our appetites for food, our sexual desires, our enjoyment of
recreation, and our drive to succeed can become all-consuming if we fail to
hold them in check. People who excel in their sport for many years do so
because they eat properly, exercise, and practice regularly. Likewise,
people who consistently walk with God discipline themselves to read the
Bible, pray, and obey Him.—H.V.L.
Self-indulgence
guarantees failure; self-discipline assures victory.
Discipline yourself so others won't have to. |
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Judges 14:3 Then his father and his mother said to him,
"Is there no woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our
people, that you go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?" But
Samson said to his father, "Get her for me, for she looks good to me." |
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THAT YOU GO TO TAKE A WIFE FROM THE UNCIRCUMCISED PHILISTINES:
Being
uncircumcised appears as a cause for disdain or derision several times in
Scripture & is used as a term of reproach in the following verses (15:18;
1Sa14:6; 17:26, 36; 18:25; 31:4; 2Sa1:20; 1Ch10:4, Ac11:3) and the
Philistines appear to be the one pagan tribe that refused circumcision. Note
that the very enemy that Samson had been raised up to deliver Israel from
was now one he was fraternizing with! Samson himself later used
“uncircumcised” as an epithet for the pagan Philistines (15:18; cf.
2Sa1:20).
BUT SAMSON SAID TO HIS FATHER, "GET HER FOR ME FOR SHE LOOKS GOOD TO ME
Literally the Hebrew
reads
''For she is right in my eyes'']: The Greek Septuagint reads "hoti eresen [pleases, satisfies
see Mt14:6 aresko] en ophthalmoi mou" or translated "is pleasing or
satisfies [in] my eyes". It is similar to the Hebrew expression in 17:6 and
21:25 that is translated “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
Samson was conforming to the undisciplined life-style of his age.
Samson's reply to his father's plea speaks volumes about the character of
the man. As nothing else could, that simple sentence epitomizes Samson's
heart. (cp Mt12:34) Furthermore it appears Samson had not even met her but
chose her based on her physical appearance. How ironic it would be -- his
seeing a woman who looked good to him, when those very eyes would be put out
because of the betrayal of another eye-pleasing woman! God is surely not
mocked and when Samson sowed to his flesh he was sowing the seeds of
corruption (Ga6:7,8). His emphatic reply might be paraphrased, “She’s the
one I want and that’s it!”
Samson’s words revealed his self-centered attitude. Instead of seeking to
serve God, he was seeking to please himself. Samson’s comment here
foreshadows the author’s summary of the entire period of the judges in 17:6;
18:1; 19:1; 21:25.
(1) rejected authority: (God's & his parents) intermarriage w. pagans was
directly contray to God's command & against the wishes of his godly father,
Manoah. Samson refused to submit to parental authority, saying if I want to
do it, then I am going to do it.
(2) refused practice of self-discipline. His obedience to God was legalistic
and incomplete. He kept the Nazirite vow in part but missed the intent of
that vow, to be separated unto God for God's holy purposes. Samson focused
on the code of separation, not the concept of holiness.
We are all potentially just like Samson, legalistically careful not to do
certain things, yet having huge rooms of our heart in which we entertain as
guests the enemy of our souls bc we desire to do what is pleasing in our
sight. And to the death of our souls! |
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Judges 14:4 However, his father and mother did not know
that it was of the LORD, for He was seeking an occasion against the
Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel. |
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HOWEVER, HIS FATHER
AND MOTHER DID NOT KNOW THAT IT WAS OF THE LORD:
We clearly see the mystery
of God's sovereign purpose being worked out even in the midst of man's
waywardness. Human freedom, including our poor sinful choices does not
undermine or derail the sovereign workings of God...in this case to deliver
Israel from the hand of their Philistine enemies. This is not implying that
God condoned Samson's rebellion. He is saying that God was going to overrule
in this situation for a good purpose. God never condoned the sins of this
young man.
When God isn’t permitted to rule in our lives, He overrules and works out
His will in spite of our decisions. Of course, we’re the losers for
rebelling against Him; but (Es4:10-14). Samson should have been going to a
war instead of to a wedding, but God used this event to give Samson occasion
to attack the enemy. Because of this event, Samson killed thirty men
(Jdg14:19), burned up the enemy crops (15:1-5), slaughtered a great number
of Philistines (v7,v8), and slew 1,000 men (v15). Samson hadn’t planned
these things, but God worked them out just the same. God is sovereign over
human affairs. What appears to be chance is really part of God's sovereign
design. (Pr16:33) This aspect of God’s sovereignty appeared before in Judges
(cf. 3:1-2)
Other instances of God's sovereignty in action: Jos11:20; 1Ki12:15. The Lord
uses even the sinful weaknesses of men to accomplish his purposes and bring
praise to his name (Ge45:8; 50:20; 2Ch25:20; Ac2:23; 4:28; Ro8:28,29).
FOR HE WAS SEEKING AN OCCASION AGAINST THE PHILISTINES:
The Samson story is
a fascinating study in the relationship between human freedom and divine
sovereignty. It shows the Lord working all things together for the good of
his people, even when they were least aware of it, and despite the
waywardness of the one he had chosen to use. He is still the same gracious,
sovereign God today. He still works all things together for the good of his
people, whether they are aware of it or not. In his perfect servant, Jesus,
however, there is no trace of the waywardness that we see in Samson
(Ro5:6-8; 8:28).
NOW AT THAT TIME THE PHILISTINES WERE RULING OVER ISRAEL:
On previous occasions the Israelites had repented of their sin and cried to
the Lord for help. Now there was no cry; they had become content to live
under pagan domination. In contrast to prior oppressions which severely
afflicted them, this does not appear to be the case with the Philistine rule
which makes it that much more dangerous. God’s purpose for Samson was to
cause a breach between Israel and Philistia, and to reestablish Israel’s
sense of separateness and covenant identity. |
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Judges 14:5 Then Samson went down to Timnah with his
father and mother, and came as far as the vineyards of Timnah; and behold, a
young lion came roaring toward him. |
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THEN SAMSON WENT DOWN
TO TIMNAH WITH HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, AND CAME AS FAR AS THE VINEYARDS OF
TIMNAH: A vineyard was a dangerous place for a man who was not supposed to
have anything to do with grapes (Nu6:1-4). The Sorek Valley (in which Timnah
was located) and its surrounding areas were noted for their luxurious
vineyards.
Though Samson’s
parents objected to his marrying a Philistine, they allowed Samson’s wishes
to prevail.
AND BEHOLD A YOUNG LION (Cp 1Sa17:34,35) CAME ROARING TOWARD HIM:
Lions were once common
in southern Canaan (see 1Sa17:34; 2Sa23:20; 1Ki13:24; 20:36). Did God send
the lion as a warning to Samson that he was walking on the wrong path? The
Holy Spirit gave Samson power to defeat the enemy, but Samson persisted on
his path of disobedience into enemy territory and an unlawful wedding.
The appearance, in this story, of the lion is very significant. God was
trying to teach Samson something about the degree of power that he
possessed. We read that the lion charged him and he tore it apart as one
would a lamb. They must have been a lot stronger back in those days than we
are. I'm not sure we could even accomplish that with a lamb. Now, what was
the Lord trying to teach him? Just this: that he had adequate power to live
in victory over his passions. His desires, his drives, were not beyond his
control. In the Spirit of God there was available to him adequate authority
and power to live in victory over every area of life, whatever it might be.
There is a lion in our life, as well. Peter writes in his first letter that
our adversary, the devil, goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may
devour. (1Pe5:8) He is our lion, seeking to tempt us, to draw us away from
obedience to Jesus Christ. But in John's first letter he says that, in
Christ, we have already overcome that lion. We have already had our
encounter with him and he has already been torn asunder. Twice John says, "I
write to you, young men, because you have [already] overcome the evil one."
When we chose Jesus Christ, we chose a complete victory in him. The cross
has already dealt with the lion in our life. He has been put away; he is no
longer a threat. We have everything we need to stand against his pressures
and the temptations that he throws against us.
In John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" there is an incident recorded in which
Christian is walking down the road toward the Celestial City. As he is going
through a mountain pass he sees a pair of lions crouched beside the path. He
is frightened and intimidated by them, immobilized, unable to continue his
journey. Standing there in fear he hears a man calling to him from farther
down the trail. The man tells him that the lions have been chained. At first
it is hard for him to believe, but as he ventures closer to them he sees for
himself that this is true. The lions are shackled. And although they are
right by the road, ready to spring, they are restrained so that they can't
harm Christian as he makes his way on toward the Celestial City.
God has done that for you in Jesus Christ. Satan has been dealt with. The
lion in your life has already been torn asunder and there is adequate power
to live in victory over any area of your life. I don't care how deep-seated,
how long-term the bad habits may be in your life. It doesn't matter. There
is adequate power to subdue them. Jesus Christ has done that for you. |
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Judges 14:6 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him
mightily, so that he tore him as one tears a kid though he had nothing in
his hand; but he did not tell his father or mother what he had done. |
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AND THE SPIRIT OF THE
LORD CAME UPON (rush upon, cp Am5:6 "fire") HIM MIGHTILY:
In 1 Samuel the Spirit
came powerfully on Saul, enabling him to prophesy (1Sa10:6, 10) or to
prepare for battle (1Sa11:6). David experienced the “rush” of the Spirit
when he was anointed as king (1Sa16:13). For Samson the presence of God’s
Spirit meant tremendous physical strength (cf. Jdg14:19; 15:14).
In the OT as a whole, there are 39 ref to “the Spirit of the Lord” or “the
Spirit of God,” as well as various other references such as “His Spirit” or
“Your Spirit” or “the Spirit.” The Old Testament speaks numerous times of
God’s Spirit coming mightily upon individuals, usually to empower them
physically for great feats of strength. Other judges received this power:
Othniel (3:10), Gideon (6:34), and Jephthah (11:29). Yet the Spirit
empowered others for the important task of speaking God’s word (Ge41:38;
Nu24:2; 1Sa10:6, 10; 19:20, 23; 2Sa23:2). Probably the most important
manifestation of the Spirit in the Old Testament was the Spirit’s ongoing
presence. 1Sa 16:13 states that the Spirit lived with David from that day
forward, and this is confirmed by David’s statement in Ps51:11:
SO THAT HE TORE HIM AS ONE TEARS A KID THOUGH HE HAD NOTHING IN HIS HAND:
Tearing a goat in half by pulling apart its hind legs is still practiced in
Arab countries.
BUT HE DID NOT TELL HIS FATHER OR MOTHER WHAT HE HAD DONE:
why not? It seems certain in context that Samson knew his contact with a
dead body was a violation of his Nazarite vow and he did not want to tell
his parents. Some commentators say "no, this was not a breach of the
Nazarite vow bc that applied to dead people, not dead animals (cp Nu6:6)."
Then why didn't he even boast about his fantastic feat? His silence strongly
supports his sense of guilt. It also suggests that he still had a sense of
conscience and did not want to disappoint his parents who had been so
faithful to help him keep his Nazarite vows in childhood. |
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**************************
Judges 14.6
G Campbell
Morgan
Jdg. 14:6
And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him. Judges 14.6
The story of Samson is one of the strangest in the Old Testament. It is
surely that of a great opportunity and a disastrous failure. Everything
would seem to have been in his favour. The story of beginnings is full of
tragic pathos in the light of the after years. His birth was foretold, and
the method of his training indicated by the Angel of Jehovah, whose name was
given as Wonderful. Of his earlier years it is said that "the Spirit of
Jehovah began to move him." Had he but yielded wholly to the impulses of the
Spirit, how different a story might have been recorded! In this chapter the
boy is seen, having grown to manhood's estate. full of strength and of
passion. Going to Timnah, he saw a woman of the Philistines, and desired to
take her to wife. His parents attempted to dissuade him, but he determined
to follow his own inclination. This action was a direct violation of the
law of God. There is nothing to admire in this man in these transactions. In
the course of the reading, two statements arrest our attention. The first is
in verse 4: "His father and mother knew not that it was of Jehovah"; and the
second in verse 6: "The Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon him." They both
reveal God over-ruling the life of this man, and giving him renewed
opportunities, in spite of his failure. The phrase, "It was of Jehovah," is
used in the same sense as in Joshua r 1.20. God makes the folly of man to
contribute finally to the fulfilment of His own purpose. (Morgan, G. C. Life
Applications from Every Chapter of the Bible). |
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Judges 14:7 So he went down and talked to the woman; and
she looked good to Samson. |
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SO HE WENT DOWN AND
TALKED TO THE WOMAN:
Such conversation was not acceptable in the East, unless a
couple was betrothed.
AND SHE LOOKED GOOD ("right in his eyes" cp 14:3, 17:6, 21:25 same phrase)
TO SAMSON: |
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Judges 14:8 When he returned later to take her, he turned
aside to look at the carcass of the lion; and behold, a swarm of bees and
honey were in the body of the lion. |
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WHEN HE RETURNED LATER
TO TAKE HER, HE TURNED ASIDE TO LOOK AT THE CARCASS OF THE LION:
What is he
doing here again? This doesn't state it but from [v5] this implies he was at
the grape vineyards again. And the Nazarite vow stipulated that he was not
to eat even the skins of grapes (Nu6:4). So it seems he was tempting himself
again...Paul told the Roman believers to make no provision (don't think
about it before you do it) the flesh in regards to its lusts or strong
desires. (Ro13:14) for our hearts are more deceitful than all else (Je17:9).
Samson's willingness
to succumb to his appetites foreshadows the Delilah affair, where Samson's
sexual obsession caused him to compromise his Nazirite status. |
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Judges 14:9 So he scraped the honey into his hands and
went on, eating as he went. When he came to his father and mother, he gave
some to them and they ate it; but he did not tell them that he had scraped
the honey out of the body of the lion. |
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Some scholars suggest
that Samson violated his Nazirite standard by coming in contact with a dead
body (13:5). Others reason that Num. 6 specifies the body of a person, not
an animal. Whether or not he sinned here, the context does show instances of
him sinning. How
many Christians today defile themselves just to enjoy a little honey in the
carcass of a lion—perhaps a popular book, a movie, or a questionable
friendship. Sad to say, Samson passed the sin along to his parents, and then
he made a joke about it to entertain his friends! As a Nazarite and a Jew,
he had no right to be sharing in a worldly Philistine wedding. The marriage
was never completed, but the seeds of sin had already been planted in his
heart. |
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Judges 14:10 Then his father went down to the woman; and
Samson made a feast there, for the young men customarily did this. |
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THEN HIS FATHER WENT
DOWN TO THE WOMAN
AND SAMSON MADE A FEAST THERE:
Hebrew "mishteh" indicates this was a
drinking party, another breaking of the Nazirite vow (13:3). Such a special
feast was common in the ancient Near East (Ge 29:22) and here lasted seven
days (v12; Ge 29:27). Since it would have included drinking wine, Samson may
have violated his Nazirite vow (13:4, 7).
FOR THE YOUNG MEN CUSTOMARILY DID THIS: These festivities normally would
have taken place in the bridegroom’s home, and Samson would have had
Israelite companions and an Israelite best man. Samson’s marriage would be
called a sadiqa marriage in Arab society today, where arrangements are made
directly with the bride’s family. The wife continues to live at home with
her father, and her husband visits her periodically. |
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Judges 14:11 And it came about when they saw him that
they brought thirty companions to be with him. |
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X |
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Judges 14:12 Then Samson said to them, "Let me now
propound a riddle to you; if you will indeed tell it to me within the seven
days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen wraps
and thirty changes of clothes. |
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THEN SAMSON SAID TO
THEM, "LET ME NOW PROPOUND A RIDDLE TO YOU:
Literally reads “let me riddle
you a riddle,” using repetition to grab the reader’s attention. This is
hardly the statement of a Spirit-filled man but in fact seems more like the
type of wager one would hear from the lips of a "spirits" (as in wine or
beer) filled man enjoying his wedding feast. The Hebrew word for riddle
occurs 21 times in the Old Testament, 11 of them in Judges 14. The queen of
Sheba posed riddles to Solomon (1 Kin. 10:1), and Daniel had skill in
“interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas” (Dan. 5:12).
IF YOU WILL INDEED TELL IT TO ME WITHIN THE SEVEN DAYS OF THE FEAST, AND
FIND IT OUT:
As you ponder the record of Samson’s life, you get the
impression that he was a fun-loving fellow with a good sense of humor; and
sometimes he didn’t take his gifts and his work seriously. A sense of humor
is a good thing to have, but it must be balanced with serious devotion to
the things of the Lord. “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with
trembling” (Ps2:11). Samson’s power was a weapon to fight with and a tool to
build with, not a toy to play with.
THEN I WILL GIVE YOU THIRTY LINEN WRAPS:
Large rectangular sheets worn next
to the skin or slept in at night. linen garments is not the usual word for
clothes, but appears only three times in the Bible, here and in two others.
In [Pr31:24; Isa3:23], it refers to fine linens worn or sold by women.
Samson’s offer was extravagant given the value of such finery.
AND THIRTY CHANGES OF CLOTHES:
Mentioned, together
with silver, as gifts of great value in Ge 45:22; 2Ki 5:22 (see also Zec
14:14). These were very expensive items of apparel. A man might expect to
own one in his entire lifetime! Now Samson is obligating himself to give
each companion two such garments, a total of sixty, if he should lose |
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Judges 14:13 "But if you are unable to tell me, then you
shall give me thirty linen wraps and thirty changes of clothes." And they
said to him, "Propound your riddle, that we may hear it." |
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X |
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Judges 14:14 So he said to them, "Out of the eater came
something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet." But they
could not tell the riddle in three days. |
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***************************
Judges 14:14
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
Out of the eater came forth meat.
Young lions roar at the saints. The lion
of hell gives them no little trouble. Though he may not come upon the path
of holiness — for no lion shall be there — yet he comes very near it. “He
goeth about like a roaring lion.” Temptation may well be compared to the
attack on Samson by the young lion of Timnath.
The lion’s carcass, lying where Samson
had rent and cast it, became the home of honey-bees. And as the hero went
back to look at it in after-days, he obtained meat and sweetness.
How apt the parable! Every conquered
temptation yields these two things — strength and sweetness. We are more
than conquerors, not only vanquishing the foe, but dividing the spoils of
victory. It
yields strength. — Each time we overcome sin, the strength of the temptation
passes into our hearts; as the Indian warrior supposes that the might of
each warrior whom he levels to the dust, enters into himself. To resist
impatience, makes us more patient in proportion to the strength of the
temptation we resist. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when
he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath
promised to them that love Him.”
It gives sweetness. — There is a new
gentleness to those who have been tempted; a humility, a modesty, a
consciousness of the presence of God, through whom the victory has been
secured; a new zest for the Word of God. How sweet are thy words to my
taste! sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. The life that is hid with
Christ in God is full of sweetness and gentleness. “The fruit of the Spirit
is gentleness.” |
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Judges 14:15 Then it came about on the fourth day that
they said to Samson's wife, "Entice your husband, that he may tell us the
riddle, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you invited
us to impoverish us? Is this not so?" |
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X |
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Judges 14:16 And Samson's wife wept before him and said,
"You only hate me, and you do not love me; you have propounded a riddle to
the sons of my people, and have not told it to me." And he said to her,
"Behold, I have not told it to my father or mother; so should I tell you?" |
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Delilah used the same
tactics (16:15) |
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Judges 14:17 However she wept before him seven days
while their feast lasted. And it came about on the seventh day that he told
her because she pressed him so hard. She then told the riddle to the sons of
her people. |
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Women were Samson's weakness.
He could overcome lions. He could overcome Philistines. But in the modern
idiom, he couldn't overcome the Philistine women.
First the Philistine woman enticed him (Jdg14:1), then she controlled him
(v17), and then she betrayed him (v17), which is the way the world always
treats the compromising believer. Samson could kill lions and break ropes,
but he couldn’t overcome the power of a woman’s tears. |
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Judges 14:18 So the men of the city said to him on the
seventh day before the sun went down, "What is sweeter than honey? And what
is stronger than a lion?" And he said to them, "If you had not plowed with
my heifer, You would not have found out my riddle." |
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In calling her a “heifer”
he was ridiculing her for her untamed and stubborn spirit (cf. Je50:11;
Ho4:16). One wonders what the result of this whole story would have been had
he not plowed with their heifer. He had no right to her because she was part
of an alien nation. And yet in willful disobedience he had determined to
have her.
We wonder how his wife felt being compared to a heifer? The proverb simply
means, “You couldn’t have done what you did if you hadn’t broken the rules,”
because heifers weren’t used for plowing. Since the guests had played foul,
technically Samson could have refused to pay the prize; but he generously
agreed to keep his promise. Perhaps he found out that his wife’s life had
been threatened and he didn’t want to put her and her family into jeopardy
again.
Those who can’t
control their tongue can’t control their bodies; and in Samson’s
case, the consequences of this lack of discipline were disastrous. |
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Judges 14:19 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him
mightily, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of them and took
their spoil, and gave the changes of clothes to those who told the riddle.
And his anger burned, and he went up to his father's house. |
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Ashkelon was 23
miles SW on the coast
"Killed" Empowered by God's
Spirit, Samson killed 30 Philistines and stole their clothes in order to pay
off his debt to the groomsmen. Unlike Ehud, who was conscious of his role as
a liberator, Samson was unaware of his role as God's deliverer; he was
simply expressing his anger at being cheated. But Samson's quest for
vengeance became a weapon of holy war in God's hand.
ANGER BURNED: Literally "His nose became hot"
HE WENT UP TO HIS FATHER'S HOUSE: this is where Jdg 14 began but disobedience to his parents & to God would soon have its consequences.
|
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Judges 14:20 But Samson's wife was given to his
companion who had been his friend. |
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BUT SAMSON'S WIFE WAS
GIVEN:
Even the Philistines
continued to refer to Samson as “the son-in-law of the Timnite” (15:6).
TO HIS COMPANION WHO HAD BEEN HIS FRIEND:
If Samson had won his
way and married a Philistine woman, that relationship would have crippled
the work God had called him to do. Believers today who enter into unholy
alliances are sinning and hindering the work of the Lord too (2Co6:14-18).
If Samson had sought God’s leading, the Lord would have directed him.
Instead, Samson went his own way, and the Lord had to overrule his selfish
decisions. “I
will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you
with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no
understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will
not come near you” (Ps32:8,v9, NKJV). If we’re looking by faith into the
face of the Lord, He can guide us with His eye, the way parents guide their
children. But if we turn our backs on Him, he has to treat us like animals
and harness us. Samson was either impetuously rushing ahead like the horse
or stubbornly holding back like the mule, and God had to deal with him.where
Judg14 began but disobience to his parents & to God would soon have its
consequences. |
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