You’ve heard the phrase, “famous last words.” For Samson, it was his first recorded words in Scripture as seen in Judges 14 that set the pattern for his life and the reason why he would only “begin” to accomplish what God planned for him to do rather than “finish” the job (13:5). As chapter 14 opens up Samson is now a young man who goes to the city of Timnah which is one of five major Philistine cities located on the northern boundary of the land occupied by the tribe of Judah, just four miles from the city of Zorah where Samson lived with his parents. While in Timnah, Samson sees a Philistine girl and is infatuated with her physical beauty revealing his spiritual stumbling block.
Samson returns home and demands that his parents make the necessary arrangements for this Philistine woman to become his wife. We again see Samson’s weakness in the area of lust as his first recorded words in Scripture are, “I saw a woman.” This same weakness would follow him all of his life and would ultimately also include a relationship with a Philistine prostitute as well as another Philistine woman named Delilah. Samson’s parents advise him against this marriage but Samson has a much greater desire to fulfill his lust than he does to obey his parents or God. This request of Samson was a violation of the law which forbid Israel to marry with the heathen nations (Deuteronomy 7:1-3). It is obvious that it is solely the physical appearance of this woman and his desire for her sexully that becomes the main motive of his actions. Samson’s parents were greatly distressed but God had a plan for Samson even through his disobedience. God would use this to begin freeing Israel from Philistines. How amazing that God can even take our rebellion and use it to accomplish His purposes.
Samson and his parents go down separately to Timnah to make the necessary arrangements for this marriage. On the way Samson is attacked by a lion. The Hebrew word would describe it as a lion in its prime. It is interesting to note that this attack takes place in the vineyards suggesting that Samson was eating of the grapes which was a breech of his Nazirite vow. Remember that a Nazirite vow showed one’s commitment to God (Numbers 6:2-6) and involved not drinking wine or eating grapes; not cutting your hair; and not touching a dead body. Samson receives the strength to kill the lion with his bare hands. This strength came because the Spirit of the Lord came upon him.
Samson goes on to Timnah, finishes his preparations, and returns home. Some time later he returns to Timnah to take his bride and on the way sees the lion that he had killed on his last trip. He discovers that bees had made a hive in the skeleton carcass and had produced a honeycomb. Samson ate some of the honey and took some to his parents but made sure to tell no one, not even them, of its source. Once again, Samson shows no faithfulness to his commitment to the Lord as touching a dead body was another breech of his Nazirite vow.
Samson marries this Philistine woman which begins quite a string of events which will result in his honeymoon literally going up in flames. The only part of his commitment that he has kept is not cutting his hair. When this aspect of the vow is broken, his commitment will be shattered and his strength will be no more.
Samson returns home and demands that his parents make the necessary arrangements for this Philistine woman to become his wife. We again see Samson’s weakness in the area of lust as his first recorded words in Scripture are, “I saw a woman.” This same weakness would follow him all of his life and would ultimately also include a relationship with a Philistine prostitute as well as another Philistine woman named Delilah. Samson’s parents advise him against this marriage but Samson has a much greater desire to fulfill his lust than he does to obey his parents or God. This request of Samson was a violation of the law which forbid Israel to marry with the heathen nations (Deuteronomy 7:1-3). It is obvious that it is solely the physical appearance of this woman and his desire for her sexully that becomes the main motive of his actions. Samson’s parents were greatly distressed but God had a plan for Samson even through his disobedience. God would use this to begin freeing Israel from Philistines. How amazing that God can even take our rebellion and use it to accomplish His purposes.
Samson and his parents go down separately to Timnah to make the necessary arrangements for this marriage. On the way Samson is attacked by a lion. The Hebrew word would describe it as a lion in its prime. It is interesting to note that this attack takes place in the vineyards suggesting that Samson was eating of the grapes which was a breech of his Nazirite vow. Remember that a Nazirite vow showed one’s commitment to God (Numbers 6:2-6) and involved not drinking wine or eating grapes; not cutting your hair; and not touching a dead body. Samson receives the strength to kill the lion with his bare hands. This strength came because the Spirit of the Lord came upon him.
Samson goes on to Timnah, finishes his preparations, and returns home. Some time later he returns to Timnah to take his bride and on the way sees the lion that he had killed on his last trip. He discovers that bees had made a hive in the skeleton carcass and had produced a honeycomb. Samson ate some of the honey and took some to his parents but made sure to tell no one, not even them, of its source. Once again, Samson shows no faithfulness to his commitment to the Lord as touching a dead body was another breech of his Nazirite vow.
Samson marries this Philistine woman which begins quite a string of events which will result in his honeymoon literally going up in flames. The only part of his commitment that he has kept is not cutting his hair. When this aspect of the vow is broken, his commitment will be shattered and his strength will be no more.
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