March 18, 2014 - Tuesday

Start Time: 6:11 A.M.

End Time: 6:54 A.M.

Title: Samson’s Marriage

Scripture: Judges 14:1 – 20  

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. When 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.” His 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.”  (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.)  Samson went down to Timnah together with his father and mother. As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done. Then he went down and talked with the woman, and he liked her. Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion’s carcass, and in it he saw a swarm of bees and some honey.  He scooped out the honey with his hands and ate as he went along. When he rejoined his parents, he gave them some, and they too ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.

NOTES:

Ø God allows everything to happen in our lives for a bigger and deeper purpose than our minds can comprehend!  There are times in our lives that we get involved or entangled with an enemy but God allows this for a bigger and wider purpose.  Let us not quick to judge or assume on what is right and what is wrong for God’s comprehension is far greater than ours.  The philistines and the Israelites at Samson’s time is not in good terms and for an Israelite to marry a Philistine is not something that is approved of both sides; yet God allowed it to happen to stir a conflict between the two sides and get an opportunity for a confrontation.  So everything in our lives are preplanned and set, God knows better!  So it is wise to consult with Him always!

Ø God also recognize the importance of practice especially when enhancing one’s skill!  The Lord is a God of order and mastery.  Before Samson get to face the Philistine, He ensured His strength and skills by giving Samson opportunity to use it (lion).  From this we can learn that we need to practice our skills to develop it or enhance it.

→ Now his father went down to see the woman. And there Samson held a feast, as was customary for young men. When the people saw him, they chose thirty men to be his companions.   “Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can give me the answer within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes. f you can’t tell me the answer, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.” “Tell us your riddle,” they said. “Let’s hear it.”  He replied, “Out of the eater, something to eat; out of the strong, something sweet.” For three days they could not give the answer.  On the fourth^[a] day, they said to Samson’s wife, “Coax your husband into explaining the riddle for us, or we will burn you and your father’s household to death. Did you invite us here to steal our property?”  Then Samson’s wife threw herself on him, sobbing, “You hate me! You don’t really love me. You’ve given my people a riddle, but you haven’t told me the answer.” “I haven’t even explained it to my father or mother,” he replied, “so why should I explain it to you?” She cried the whole seven days of the feast. So on the seventh day he finally told her, because she continued to press him. She in turn explained the riddle to her people. Before sunset on the seventh day the men of the town said to him, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” Samson said to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle.”  Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of everything and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger, he returned to his father’s home.  And Samson’s wife was given to one of his companions who had attended him at the feast.

NOTES:

Ø God’s strength and power is shown in our weaknesses!  Samson was betrayed and tricked by the woman he desires to marry because the Philistines coax his wife to be, yet in his weakness, God showed His greatness thru Samson and killed 30 men (Philistine) in response to the promise Samson made to the Philistines when they are able to answer the riddle he gave them.  The philistines answered the riddle because they cheated, and God made Samson able to fulfill his promise to them even in his anger. 

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, Mighty and wonderful Savior!  Glorious King and everlasting Father!  I am amazed of how Your mind works and Your comprehension exceeds our understanding.  Thank You because of our limitations, You ensure that You have planned everything for us.  Thank You because I can be calm and assured that everything in my life, whether good or bad, You take control of it.  Lord help me not to be quick to judge or make assumptions when things don’t go the way I want it because it will be like this often and I do not want to step on Your plans for me.  Lord thank You because You have a system and You are a God who set things in order.  Show me Your ways Lord and help me to practice the skills You gave me so I may develop and enhance it for Your glory!  Thank You Jesus because Your power and glory are displayed in my weaknesses.  Hallelujah!  In Jesus’ name, Amen!