Samson--God's Plan

Background

We continue our study of Samson. He was the last of the 12 Judges of Israel whom God raised up from time to time to lead Israel. This took place in the period of Israel’s history from the time they entered the Promised Land until the reign of the Kings. As the last judge, his actions set the stage for the next period of Israel’s history. God set him apart for a specific plan.

Those who have professed their faith in Jesus Christ, just as Crystal, Holly, Megan, Samantha and Caleb have done, I mean truly professed their faith and trust in Jesus, not simply going through the motions of a church ritual, God sets apart. God has set the five of you apart from the rest of the world. He has shown you who he is, he has demonstrated his presence, his power, his strength to you. He has called you his own, and he has a plan for you.

Set-Apart: to Begin the Deliverance

God set Samson apart even before his birth. An angel appeared to his parents, told them to dedicate their son to the Lord as a Nazirite. As such, no razor would be used on his head, and he could not consume alcohol.

These restrictions served as a reminder of the Lord’s purpose for Samson’s life. He was to begin Israel’s deliverance from the Philistine Occupation. The Holy Spirit would lead him and direct him in how he should live, how he should act, so as to provoke the Philistines, so that Israel could be freed.

In your baptism, God put his claim on you. He set you apart. Your baptism symbolised the washing away of sins, the dying to sin and the coming alive in Christ. Every step of your life has been orchestrated so that you would live for Christ. Your profession of faith before God and his people today is the beginning, not the end. You haven’t arrived. You must daily, die to self and rise in Christ. Take up your cross and follow Jesus. The Holy Spirit will lead you to do great things if you trust in his power and strength, and follow where he leads.

An Unlikely Union

The Holy Spirit led Samson to the town of Timnah where a Philistine woman caught his eye. He desired to marry her, so he went home to his parents so that they could arrange it.

Now, fact one: it was against the Lord’s commandments to marry a foreigner—specifically someone who worshipped other gods. The reason given for this prohibition is that the Lord knew that his people would be easily led astray to follow the gods of their spouses. This was not the case for Samson, he would not be led astray by anyone, he was dedicated to the Lord, and served Him.

Fact two: he first asked permission from his parents. In this he was obeying the fifth commandment to honour his father and mother. Children, don’t marry or move toward marriage without seeking agreement and wisdom from your parents. As children, we belong to our parents until the time we marry. At that moment we leave our parents and cleave to our spouse. His parents tried to talk him out of it, because they understood God’s wisdom in the law prohibiting a marriage outside of Israel.

But as the text teaches us, in this instance, this marriage was at the prompting of the Holy Spirit, so as to create an occasion to confront the Philistines.

It happens, does it not, when those who profess their faith in Christ, find themselves attracted to, and in love with those who do not follow Christ. It is wise for parents to caution their children, reminding them, as Samson’s parents did, to find a spouse who is a believer. But there is wisdom also in Samson’s parents, who, even though they did not know it was the Lord’s will, consented to Samson’s request. They showed wisdom, in having made their point, chose not to provoke or exacerbate their son by holding steadfast to the law, and thus discouraging their son.

We all know that these kinds of situations happen, have happened, and are happening. I know of many couples who were, as the New Testament describes it, “unequally yoked” at the beginning of their marriage, but who became deeply faithful followers of Jesus Christ. I know of others who were unequally yoked and drifted away from following Christ. I know of parents who have terrible relationships with their children because they refused their blessing. I know of parents who have wonderful relationships with their children and are able to speak Christ into their lives because of it.

Ask yourself, is the Holy Spirit directing my steps? Will I remain a strong, faithful Christian if I marry this person (whether they are a follower of Christ or not—not all church goers are faithfully following Christ)? If the answer is no, then stop. Be honest. If the answer is yes, and you believe that your spouse will also become a believer then, proceed prayerfully.

Christ calls you, calls all of us to be in this world, but not to be of it. We are to be of Christ. Thus we will be able to navigate all the stuff of the world, trusting the Holy Spirit to lead us away from temptation: gossip, anger, slander, hatred, discord, envy, jealousy, rage and malice, and turn us toward righteousness. To demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

A Test

Having received his parent’s blessing, they head to Timnah together. Along the way, Samson goes off the path, into a vineyard. Straying from the path will put you in danger. But it can also put you into a place where you can test your strength of faith. Suddenly a lion attacked him, and the Spirit of the Lord empowered him to kill the lion with his bare hands. In this moment, God proved he was with Samson. No matter what he faced, God would be with him. That was Samson’s source of strength.

Consider how the Spirit also tested King David as a shepherd boy, where he also killed lion and bear, preparing him to defeat Goliath—how did David know he could defeat Goliath? God had proven he was with him. In this, God proved he was with Samson. No matter what he faced, God would be with him.

Finally the wedding date arrived. On their way down to Timnah, Samson went off to see what happened to the lion. He was curious as to what became of the lion’s carcass. Perhaps he went also to give thanks to God for saving him from the lion.

Finally the wedding date arrived. On their way down to Timnah, Samson went off to see what happened to the lion. He was curious as to what became of the lion’s carcass. Perhaps he went also to give thanks to God for saving him from the lion.

To his surprise he found a beehive full of honey. He ate, and he shared it with his parents. It is good for children to bless their parents with the fruit of their labour, as an act of gratitude and love. Jesus, who conquered Satan—the roaring lion, finds sweet nourishment in his body, enough for themselves and all their family and friends.

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In Christ you will find true joy, true happiness, true delight. You will fall into temptation to seek these things in the world, but you won’t find them there. Every day, surrender yourself to Christ. He has conquered Satan, that roaring lion, already. By the same Holy Spirit, you can resist the devil and he will flee from you.

sea also sea to sea.

Betrayal

Samson participated in the marriage customs of his wife, which called for a seven-day feast. This passage reveals the Philistine heart. They were deceitful, depraved and wicked. They didn’t trust Samson, and set 30 companions to watch him during the seven day feast. Now, it wasn’t all eating and drinking. They went golfing, hiking, swimming in the Mediterranean at Club Med. They also challenged each other’s wit through friendly banter and telling riddles. Don’t be fooled by the stereotypes, men do talk about more than sports and weather.

Samson tells a riddle that he himself created, based on his own experiences. Which, if they had figured it out, would have let him tell the story of the lion, and they could have shared in it. They should have figured it out. For what is stronger than a lion, what is sweeter than honey?

But they wanted nothing to do with it. They showed their true colours. They forced Samson’s wife to get the answer for them. What was a simple jest, turned into threats of arson and murder. These were not gentlemen.

Forced to choose between her own people and her new husband, she chose to protect her family. Who could blame her? What kind of person threatens other people’s lives over a riddle? But don’t we make much of little things?

Samson calls them out, “if you had not ploughed with my heifer, forced my wife to betray me, you would not have figured out my riddle.” Satan does the same thing, he ploughs with the heifer of our own corrupt nature, seeking to lead us astray through temptation.

So Samson begins the deliverance of Israel by going to Ashkelon, and, full of the Holy Spirit, kills 30 men, takes their clothes, and paid the wager. Full of anger at his new wife and her people, he went home to his parents.

Return

Samson returned to his parents because he was angry. In your anger, do not sin. His wife, rather than admitting her sin, rather than seeking to make things right and humbly asking for forgiveness, marries his best man. Many a person has come under the spell of a winsome person, only to be betrayed by them or their people.

Samson, though following the Holy Spirit, gave into his weaknesses. He desired a woman and wished to marry her even though he knew nothing about her. In his desire to make his wife happy, he compromised his integrity and told her the answer to his riddle.

You have made your profession of faith. You have declared before God and His people that you belong to him, you have accepted Christ and all his benefits, and that you will now live for Christ, and not for yourselves.

Guess how long that will last? Maybe today. Prolly not.

So, how will you handle failure? How will you handle drifting away from Christ? How will you handle sin?

Do what Samson did, return to your father’s house, return to Christ. Satan will try to tell you that you’re not welcome there. But you are. Remember the words of :

The New International Version (1984) More Than Conquerors

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nothing, not even your sin, can or will ever separate you from Christ’s love. Remember that. Treasure that. In moments of darkness, confusion, failure, fear, remember you are always in Christ’s loving arms, always.

The New International Version (1984) More Than Conquerors

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nothing, not even your sin, can or will ever separate you from Christ’s love. Remember that. Treasure that. In moments of darkness, confusion, failure, fear, remember you are always in Christ’s loving arms, always.

:

The parable of the prodigal son is the story of two sinful brothers. One squandered his father’s love and inheritance by spending it and losing it. The other squandered his father’s love and inheritance by having it, but never using it. The one who lost it, returned to the father. The one who believed himself righteous and good, but never actually did anything, who refused to accept the other’s repentance, refused to celebrate.

Continue taking risks for God. Continue trusting in him. Continue professing your faith in him. God is faithful, great is his faithfulness. He who began this good work in you, he will be faithful to complete it in you. Amen.