However, his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord, for He was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel. - verse 4
Message: Samson Breaks His Vow
Time: Judges covers about 250 years from death of Joshua to birth of Samuel (1360-1110 BC). The people of Israel largely divided with different local triable judges. It was a period of stirring interventions by the Lord and also great disobedience on the part of the Israelites. Without a king, everyone did right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25).
What the Lord is Saying: This chapter starts with Samson traveling to Timnah. Timnah is not far from Zorah, 4 miles SW. He saw a woman there that looked very good to his eyes and he wants her (v.3). She is a Philistine. This would be a great disrespect to Monoah, his father, and those around him. It was the father’s business to arrange a marriage and the amount of the dowry. To marry a Philistine is not advisable. But verse 4 records that this marriage is of the Lord. The author of this book of Judges remarks a larger purpose present in this marriage. That God will do something because of this marriage. He has a divine purpose even though by appearance the marriage does not seem to be of the Lord. In 2 Kings 6:33 are the words, "Behold, this evil is from the LORD." God can use evil for His Glory, to carry out his purposes.
Samson heads to Timnah with his parents. A lion comes upon Samson, but the author states, "The Spirit of the Lord" came upon Samson and he tore the lion in two (v. 6). These words again about the Spirit of the Lord mean that this individual, at this time Samson, will do something that is not possible for a simple man to do. The phrase has been used at other times, with Jephthah and Gideon, to name a few. He spoke to the woman of Timnah. She looks good to him. He later would come for her and coming back saw the lion he had killed and bees were around. He took the honey from the bees, giving some to his parents, but not telling them where it came from (v. 9). Numbers 6:6 says, "All the days that he separates himself to the LORD he shall not go near a dead body." Numbers 6:3 also states, "he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink and shall not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried." Samson and his family had been told to keep a Nazarite vow to be set apart from the Lord for a special purpose (Numbers 13:4-5). And with that came stipulations that he would need to abstain from things. He broke that by going to the carcass of the lion and taking bee from it. And then broke it again, during the ceremony (14:10, 14:12) and feast refers to weeklong drinking party.
Samson gives a riddle and his wife reveals the secret of it. Thus, showing her disloyalty to Samson. Following this, the Spirit of the Lord comes upon Samson once again to kill 30 of the men of Ashkelon given their clothes to the men that had solved the riddle (though the answer was given to them by Samson's wife). And then Samson loses his wife, as his wife's father gives Samson's friend to be her husband.
Ultimately, in these verses we see the power of God and the work of the Spirit of the Lord in a man that had been given a vow but often broke it, but God still used him for his purposes. God works in unlikely people, but He still works out things for his good purpose.
Summary: Samson goes against the way of God multiple times but God consecrated him for a purpose and the Spirit of the Lord continue to come upon him to do His work.
Promise: Our sin does not thwart God’s ability to work out His good plan, but it is better for us if He works out His plan through our obedience, not our misdeeds.
Prayer: O God, we are a people that fail you continually. We act in ways that are not becoming. And yet you continue to provide for us in ways we don't deserve. You bless me so much Lord despite the sin that we commit. Samson broke his vow and I know that I break vows as well. I ask and hope in me that I would be a person that would honor you. I am not sure if I made number one even this past weekend, as I celebrated with my classmates our reunion. I wrote that I want them to be in heaven, but bringing you up was not prominent in my speech. Instead I let someone else parade her views, her idolatry of fitness before me in the name of beauty. Lord, I do not know sometimes what is the best way or what I need to do. I am confused. I suppose I am like Samson. Bring me back to you, to wait on you. I need to trust in you.
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