May 27: GOD’S PLAN FOR SAMSON (part 3)

Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. Judges 14:1

Samson had been excellently brought up by his parents. God had an important work for him, and his parents had faithfully brought him up as a Nazarite from the day he was born; not just for a set period of time, but perpetually. Just as Samson was entering upon manhood, he began to connect himself with the enemies of Israel. Not coincidentally, this was also the time when he was to undertake his divine mission. The tempter knows how to “lay low” and then suddenly bring a powerful temptation into view. It was at this time that Samson first made a conscious decision to shift his focus from honoring God to pleasing himself.

So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now, therefore, get her for me as a wife.” (v.2) They resisted, urging Samson to look among their own people for a wife, but Samson was adamant: Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she pleases me well.” (v.3b)

But his father and mother did not know that it was of the LORD—that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel. (v.4) At the week-long marriage feast, Samson was surrounded by the Philistine community of his betrothed. He was brought into close association with those who openly hated the God of Israel. The ensuing events with their twists and turns (see vv.5-20), resulted in two occasions upon which Samson was given superhuman strength by the LORD (vv.6,19). The marriage was a disastrous non-starter, as his bride from Timnah proved to be treacherous. Samson killed thirty Philistines in Ashkelon, and, disgusted with his bride, he forsook her and returned to his parents’ home. The father of the bride, unbeknownst to Samson, gave her to the Philistine who had been best man (v.20) at their wedding.

As the story of Samson unfolds, we learn of God’s continuing work—even as He allows His people to choose their own paths and make their own decisions. In the end, God’s work will be accomplished, and His victory will become a gift to all those who learn from the personal tragedies that could have been avoided if only they had heeded the voice of God all along…

Thus they were defiled by their own works, And played the harlot by their own deeds. Therefore the wrath of the LORD was kindled against His people, So that He abhorred His own inheritance. And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles, And those who hated them ruled over them. Psalm 106:39-41