Judges 14-15
The right way
Samson grew and it was time for him to get married. He knew a woman that he wanted one of Philistines people. When he and his parents were on the way to see her, Samson saw a lion that was roaring walking to him and "He tore the lion to pieces as one tears a young goat." (Ch. 14 verse 8)
Later when he went by himself to go get his bride he saw that in the carcass of the lion "There was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. He scraped it out into his hands and went on, eating as he went." (Ch.14 verse 8-9) He touched the dead and violated his Nazirite vow.
He threw a seven day feast as a groom and there were 30 groomsmen to whom he put a riddle and if they answered it then he'll give them 30 linen garments and 30 changes of clothes and vise verse they would give him all that if they didn't answer, the feast lasted 7 days. The riddle was --"Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet" (Ch. 14 verse 14)These feast involved alcohol wihch was another violation of his Nazirite vow
Those 30 men asked Samson's wife to get the answer for this riddle out of him and tell them, and if she doesn't do that they threatened to burn their house down. And so she did and on the 7th day those 30 groomsmen answer "What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger that a lion?" (Ch. 14 verse 18)
Samson was full of the Spirit of the Lord and he went to Ashkelon and struck 30 men and took their clothes and gave them to his groomsmen. He was angry because he knew that his wife told them the answer and went back to his father's house, and his wife was given to his best man.
Later he returns and wants to lay with his wife, but her father stops him and says " I really thought that you utterly hated her, so I gave her to your companion." (Ch.15 verse 2)
Samson wanted revenge so caught 300 foxes and took torches and set their tails on fire and let them go running, by this he burnt down all the grain and olive orchards of the Philistines.
Philistines didn't want any more trouble with Samson so they got rid of his wife's family. But Samson "Struck them with hip and thigh with a great blow." ( Ch. 15 verse 8)
Because Philistines were ruling over Israelites they came searching from Samson to take him and punish him. When he was tied with ropes and was about to be given into Philistine's hands, Spirit of the Lord came over him and he ripped the ropes; he picked up a fresh jawbone of the donkey and killed 1,000 men with it.
After the battle we was very thirsty, " And God split open the hollow place that it is at Lehi, and water came out from it." (Ch. 15 verse 19)
Samson was the judge for twenty years
Today...
In this story Samson's wife begs the answer to the riddle in fear of death, and after giving out the answer is then given to his best man. But as Samson was taking his revenge he was also doing what he was born to do-- starting to free Israelites from Philistines.
In our lives it might seem that things are rough and hard, but through these trials we learn things about ourselves, and through these trials God is shaping us to be the right vessel in His hands.
We might not have this huge strength that Samson has but when a temptation or a situation comes we know the right thing to do and we are strong enough to do it.
Samson picked out a wife that was right in his own eyes, and this trend of doing things that seem right in one's own eyes continues through the ages after Samson's death.
Sometimes we do things that might seem right to us without asking God about it, which makes our life even harder for us.
But why do we have to ask God about everything, why can't we just decide for ourselves?
Well what happens when we decide for ourselves?
We should know that when we make any decision, weather we want it or not it affects people around us. When we ask God first before doing something He guides us so that when we do this certain thing or say a certain word it not only is right for us, but also that this action will affect people around us in the right way.
The right way might be tougher and more hilly than the wrong way but in the end it's always worth it.
When we decide for ourselves we don't know how this will affect people around us and we make decisions that maybe then turn out to be a stumbling block for people that saw us as example, or end up breaking up relationships and friendships, etc.
We ask God so we will have a better outcome, everything is for us (people), we can choose the right way that benefits everyone around us or we can make our own decision that in the long run made the situation even worse for you and the people around you.
Samson grew and it was time for him to get married. He knew a woman that he wanted one of Philistines people. When he and his parents were on the way to see her, Samson saw a lion that was roaring walking to him and "He tore the lion to pieces as one tears a young goat." (Ch. 14 verse 8)
Later when he went by himself to go get his bride he saw that in the carcass of the lion "There was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. He scraped it out into his hands and went on, eating as he went." (Ch.14 verse 8-9) He touched the dead and violated his Nazirite vow.
He threw a seven day feast as a groom and there were 30 groomsmen to whom he put a riddle and if they answered it then he'll give them 30 linen garments and 30 changes of clothes and vise verse they would give him all that if they didn't answer, the feast lasted 7 days. The riddle was --"Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet" (Ch. 14 verse 14)These feast involved alcohol wihch was another violation of his Nazirite vow
Those 30 men asked Samson's wife to get the answer for this riddle out of him and tell them, and if she doesn't do that they threatened to burn their house down. And so she did and on the 7th day those 30 groomsmen answer "What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger that a lion?" (Ch. 14 verse 18)
Samson was full of the Spirit of the Lord and he went to Ashkelon and struck 30 men and took their clothes and gave them to his groomsmen. He was angry because he knew that his wife told them the answer and went back to his father's house, and his wife was given to his best man.
Later he returns and wants to lay with his wife, but her father stops him and says " I really thought that you utterly hated her, so I gave her to your companion." (Ch.15 verse 2)
Samson wanted revenge so caught 300 foxes and took torches and set their tails on fire and let them go running, by this he burnt down all the grain and olive orchards of the Philistines.
Philistines didn't want any more trouble with Samson so they got rid of his wife's family. But Samson "Struck them with hip and thigh with a great blow." ( Ch. 15 verse 8)
Because Philistines were ruling over Israelites they came searching from Samson to take him and punish him. When he was tied with ropes and was about to be given into Philistine's hands, Spirit of the Lord came over him and he ripped the ropes; he picked up a fresh jawbone of the donkey and killed 1,000 men with it.
After the battle we was very thirsty, " And God split open the hollow place that it is at Lehi, and water came out from it." (Ch. 15 verse 19)
Samson was the judge for twenty years
Today...
In this story Samson's wife begs the answer to the riddle in fear of death, and after giving out the answer is then given to his best man. But as Samson was taking his revenge he was also doing what he was born to do-- starting to free Israelites from Philistines.
In our lives it might seem that things are rough and hard, but through these trials we learn things about ourselves, and through these trials God is shaping us to be the right vessel in His hands.
We might not have this huge strength that Samson has but when a temptation or a situation comes we know the right thing to do and we are strong enough to do it.
Samson picked out a wife that was right in his own eyes, and this trend of doing things that seem right in one's own eyes continues through the ages after Samson's death.
Sometimes we do things that might seem right to us without asking God about it, which makes our life even harder for us.
But why do we have to ask God about everything, why can't we just decide for ourselves?
Well what happens when we decide for ourselves?
We should know that when we make any decision, weather we want it or not it affects people around us. When we ask God first before doing something He guides us so that when we do this certain thing or say a certain word it not only is right for us, but also that this action will affect people around us in the right way.
The right way might be tougher and more hilly than the wrong way but in the end it's always worth it.
When we decide for ourselves we don't know how this will affect people around us and we make decisions that maybe then turn out to be a stumbling block for people that saw us as example, or end up breaking up relationships and friendships, etc.
We ask God so we will have a better outcome, everything is for us (people), we can choose the right way that benefits everyone around us or we can make our own decision that in the long run made the situation even worse for you and the people around you.
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