Judges 14:1-7
“And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?
And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.” (Judges 14:1-4)
As a Nazarite, Samson was to be dedicated to the Lord for his entire life. While the Philistines were not among the races God had forbidden Israel to marry, they were enemies of Israel, and did not worship God. It is easy to understand his parents concern that he insisted on dating Philistine girls.
Living very close to the Philistines, even though he hated the Philistine culture, Samson was physically attracted to them as being different. Perhaps he found it a little exciting to get back at them by taking one of their girls or perhaps he thought it would give him prestige among them. Far too often such things play a bigger role than any feelings of love in people’s marriages. In any case he told his parents get her for him.
Knowing that Samson had been chosen by God, it seems as though his parents had always given him pretty much what he demanded. His disrespectful demand that his father get the girl for him sounds much like the demand of young man who has never been told no. The first of the ten commandments relating to treatment of other people was, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee,” in Exodus 20:12. It was repeated in Deuteronomy 5:16. Samson did not have a very good attitude.
God was going to use Samson’s desire to prove he is better than the Philistines and his bad attitude to accomplish God’s purpose. Samson does not fight the Philistines out of patriotism or obedience to God, his only reason for what he does is selfish. God is simply arranging things so that Samson’s selfishness will accomplish his will.
“Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. And the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.” (Judges 14:5-7)
On his way down to make the arrangements. God sent a young lion out to attack Samson, as a warning that he was doing wrong. Using the power that God gave him. Samson easily killed the lion, dismembering him as easily as a strong man might a baby lamb. Rather than taking the attack as a warning from God, Samson gloried in being able to get the victory, ignoring the warning. He didn’t even take it seriously enough to tell his parents.
I shudder to think how many churches have started a new building, Christian school, or other ministry, ostensibly for the Lord, but in reality for the prestige of having it. Financial difficulties arise, often threatening the very existence of the church. If they are successful in getting out of debt, they view it as God blessing the new ministry and continue the same way rather than considering that God was warning them to change what they are doing. They fail to understand that God is not blessing what they are doing, but preserving his church in enabling them to pay the bills, just as he was protecting Samson.
Unfortunately, pastors and churches which do this teach their people to do the same things. God does not bless disobedience, although he may use it to accomplish his purposes for a while. Samson epitomizes the modern American church in many ways.
Undeterred by God’s warning, Samson continued on the same path and was convinced that he was about to accomplish the greatest thing of his life. It all seemed wonderful, and the arrangements were made.
“And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?
And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.” (Judges 14:1-4)
As a Nazarite, Samson was to be dedicated to the Lord for his entire life. While the Philistines were not among the races God had forbidden Israel to marry, they were enemies of Israel, and did not worship God. It is easy to understand his parents concern that he insisted on dating Philistine girls.
Living very close to the Philistines, even though he hated the Philistine culture, Samson was physically attracted to them as being different. Perhaps he found it a little exciting to get back at them by taking one of their girls or perhaps he thought it would give him prestige among them. Far too often such things play a bigger role than any feelings of love in people’s marriages. In any case he told his parents get her for him.
Knowing that Samson had been chosen by God, it seems as though his parents had always given him pretty much what he demanded. His disrespectful demand that his father get the girl for him sounds much like the demand of young man who has never been told no. The first of the ten commandments relating to treatment of other people was, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee,” in Exodus 20:12. It was repeated in Deuteronomy 5:16. Samson did not have a very good attitude.
God was going to use Samson’s desire to prove he is better than the Philistines and his bad attitude to accomplish God’s purpose. Samson does not fight the Philistines out of patriotism or obedience to God, his only reason for what he does is selfish. God is simply arranging things so that Samson’s selfishness will accomplish his will.
“Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. And the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.” (Judges 14:5-7)
On his way down to make the arrangements. God sent a young lion out to attack Samson, as a warning that he was doing wrong. Using the power that God gave him. Samson easily killed the lion, dismembering him as easily as a strong man might a baby lamb. Rather than taking the attack as a warning from God, Samson gloried in being able to get the victory, ignoring the warning. He didn’t even take it seriously enough to tell his parents.
I shudder to think how many churches have started a new building, Christian school, or other ministry, ostensibly for the Lord, but in reality for the prestige of having it. Financial difficulties arise, often threatening the very existence of the church. If they are successful in getting out of debt, they view it as God blessing the new ministry and continue the same way rather than considering that God was warning them to change what they are doing. They fail to understand that God is not blessing what they are doing, but preserving his church in enabling them to pay the bills, just as he was protecting Samson.
Unfortunately, pastors and churches which do this teach their people to do the same things. God does not bless disobedience, although he may use it to accomplish his purposes for a while. Samson epitomizes the modern American church in many ways.
Undeterred by God’s warning, Samson continued on the same path and was convinced that he was about to accomplish the greatest thing of his life. It all seemed wonderful, and the arrangements were made.
You have a very sober, dark view of Samson, which I do not find in many commentaries. Don't get me wrong, I agree with you actually, but it was strange to me how so many people tried to make Samson look good because God chose him rather than allow his actions and reasoning to speak for themselves. When I fail or sin I don't want to be made to look good; then I certainly won't learn anything from it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the posts; Samson's life provokes some thought.
When we ignore the things that got him into trouble, we miss the lessons God intended for us to learn, and as the saying goes, those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
ReplyDelete