July 24, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Judges? Here’s today’s reading:
Judges 14 (NIV)
Samson’s Marriage
1Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. 2When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.”.......Continue Reading
This is another example of God allowing our disobedience to fulfil His purpose. He has a plan to end the Philistines reign over the Israelites so Samson’s immediate desire to marry this Philistine woman, while not the will of his parents or God, gives God an opportunity to bring about His glory in this situation. Like Pastor always says “He will be glorified through us or in spite of us”
God seems to be trying to teach something about who he can trust and who cannot trust. The stage is set for a confrontation with the Philistines.
Judges 14
Judges 13 & 14
God certainly works in mysterious ways sometimes!
One of the greatest challenges that comes with great ability is to remain humble. Although God will use his decision in choosing a Philistine wife, Samson appears impulsive and demanding in making the decision. And when we hang with the wrong crowd, we will invariably find ourselves in situations that get us into hot water. And yet the Philistine deception becomes the reason to execute a measure of judgement on them. But their evil is also found in the harsh consequences they give the bride for not getting the answer to the riddle. This drives her to manipulate Samson to get the answer. It is the beginning of the theme of Samson’s story: great ability corrupted and squandered!
Here is an example of an extraordinary man of God whose mistakes are destroying him in some ways. Fortunately, God is sovereign and He uses these mistakes for his ultimate purpose and plans.
3His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?”
But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.” 4(His parents did not know that this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel.)
I have been thinking of the difference in activity of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament verses the New Testament. It seems like with Samson, and in other OT scriptures, the Spirit enables temporary power. For Samson, it was strength, here, with the lion and the killing of the 30 men. It doesn’t seem as though Samson is a worthy vessel for God’s Spirit…..although neither are we! We need to be made a righteous through the blood of Christ in order for God’s Spirit to dwell within us…and that is not a temporary empowerment, but a permanent indwelling.