HS

Hugh Stephenson

Good morning, Jessica! LOVE this, “…often, we are not privy to God's reasoning or the workings of His plan.” That is a really great statement of how I can get closer to full trust and surrender. A wise theologian friend of mine said recently that when we come to certain passages in Scripture that we may have to sit in the reality that our perspective and understanding is finite and His is infinite. And, that I may never know what this or that means. A favorite teacher often reminds me that God is good, in control, and enough. Each of those three words are important but the last one is the biggest hurdle for me. An early verse I came to love and to memorize is 1 John 2:15-17- “15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[a]—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
HS

Hugh Stephenson

That verse comes to mind as I think about this passage. I’m taught it links to the temptation of Jesus in Luke 4:1-13. And to the Fall in Genesis 3:1-13. What’s also edifying is the word “desires”. It can also be translated as “lust”. I like the definition of lust as “I want it now.” That’s an all-encompassing definition as it extends far beyond sexual lust. Early on a mentor pointed out to me that I could be a shining example or a powerful warning. The choice was mine. GULP! So which one is Samson? My hot take is that he’s a horrible warning. But then the Holy Spirit prompts, “Why is He in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11?” How much Scriptural “real estate” someone gets is a tip that God has important truths He wants me to learn. Gideon has 3 chapters. Jephthah has a long piece but Samson has FOUR CHAPTERS! What’s up with that? I REALLY love this article from Desiring God. Very edifying. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-weakness-of-the-worlds-strongest-man
MS

Michael Sisson

For whatever reason, the story of Samson is filled with typologically interesting imagery. Re: Jdg 14:4 Jdg 14:4 (NASB) 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. “The L-rd moves in mysterious ways.” See Ex 34:16. Re: Jdg 14:5 Jdg 14:5 (TLV) While his father and mother went down to Timnah, >>>Samson went to the vineyards<<< of Timnah, and behold, a young lion came roaring at him. Given his Nazirite vow (Num 6:3-4), it seems noteworthy the attack came from a lion charging out of a vineyard. Re: Jdg 14:6 Jdg 14:6 (NASB) The Spirit of the LORD came upon him mightily, so that >>>he tore him as one tears a young goat<<< though he had nothing in his hand; but >>>he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.<<< Samson tears a young lion as one would tear apart young goat. Note the lion (Gen 49:9; Rev 5:5) and the goat (Ex 12:5; 1Cor 5:7) in this odd simile are both types of the Messiah. (See also “torn” in Gen 37:33) It’s also odd that his parents were with Samson (Jdg 14:5), but they did not witness the attack. Re: Jdg 14:8-9 Jdg 14:8-9 (NASB) When he returned later to take her, he turned aside to look at the >>>carcass of the lion<<<; and behold, a swarm of bees and >>>honey<<< were in the body of the lion. So he scraped the honey into his hands and went on, eating as he went. When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them and they ate it; but >>>he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey out of the body of the lion.<<< See also “honey” in Ps 119:103. Re: Jdg 15:1 Jdg 15:1 (NASB) But after a while, in the time of wheat harvest, >>>Samson visited his wife with a young goat<<<, and said, “I will go in to my wife in her room.” >>>But her father did not let him enter.<<< Again, we encounter a verse with with two typological references to the Despised Messiah (Ex 12:5; 1 Cor 5:7; Jn 3:29), and Samson’s father-in-law rejects the bridegroom.
MS

Michael Scaman

The Philistines "wedding guests" threatened the girl that they would burn her house with fire if she didn't get the answer to the riddle (they agreed to the stupid bet “Put your riddle, that we may hear it.”). They burned her house down anyway. Temptation and false gods promise more and more and deliver less and less, this one example Judah and Dan would both be adjacent to Philistine territory. The men of Judah (not Samson's tribe Dan) did not even seem to know God was delivering them though Samson. They thought Samson was making life worse for them. "Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?" The Men of Judah were willing to turn Samson, the savior from God, over to the gentile authorities, pointing to Jesus as does several things in Samson's life.
HS

Hugh Stephenson

Michael and Michael - love your thoughts and contributions. Very edifying and helpful. To everyone - please jump in and share your thoughts or questions.
AL

Amy Lowther

1. Samson chose for Samson that he would marry a daughter of a Philistine though his parents disagreed. An act of the Lord for Samson was the Lord helping Samson tear apart the lion at Timnah. When the Lord supported Samson, Samson seemed stronger and not distressed. 2. Samson showed Israelites they can be less stressed when working with and believing in the Lord. 3. Christ followers can be like Samson if they are themselves and truthful with the Lord. Being different from Samson, Christ followers should trust what the Lord offers all the time and not doubt themselves to believe in the Lord. 4. We can tell we are from ourselves instead of the Lord when we are constantly looking to others or to our environment for value “chaotically “ versus just being ourselves as the Lord intended.
MH

morgan houghton

this passage, which of Samson's actions were from God and which were from Samson? Can we tell the difference in each instance? If so, how? Wow this was such a cool account to read, I’ve grown up hearing stories about Samson but cannot say I’ve studied it much on my own. Like you shared Amy, it seemed that the action of Samson going down and finding a wife from out of their group of people was of him and caused disruption among his family. Whereas with the times that God strengthened Him and provided the water he needed to stay alive and be replenished He was asking of God and God provided, instead of seeking things out in his own wisdom and strength. 2. How does God's work through Samson fit into the larger account of His work with the people of Israel? God works through him with the phillistines and in the end has this whole family situation play a role in their relationship with the Israelites. 3. In what ways do you think Christ-followers should be like Samson? In what ways should we be different? I think that Samson was bold and was not afraid to take God at His word. He prayed and asked God to do big things and He delivered. I want to be more bold in that way, not always doubting myself or the God I serve. After all He is the owner of and maker of this world and all things in it! But Samson also seemed to seek after things without much discernment and not waiting on Gods guidance and that is also something I would love to grow in. My trust in Gods perfect plans and that His wash’s are so much higher than mine, and ultimately will work out for His good, when I am worrying I am not trusting Him! 4. When assessing our own actions and thoughts, how can we tell the difference between those which are from God and those which are from. I think ultimately looking at what our thoughts are, are they thoughts that we are not loved and not good enough, God will not say those things to us. But so many thoughts of ours are negative and ones that tear us down and others. If they are thoughts to do things that seem hard or uncomfortable but they are for Gods glory those are most likely from Him! This is something else I would love to grow in and trust in His strength to help me change.
SB

Sue Bohlin

Thanks Jessica! I loved reading how the Holy Spirit "rushed upon" Samson--what an image! This will shape how I pray for my preaching friends on Sunday mornings from now on--for the Spirit to overtake them with supernatural power and persuasion. But my BIG takeaway is the article on Judges 14 I found on Bible.org with my all time favorite title of "The Lion, the Wench, and the Wardrobe." Is that not hilarious??!!!
JL

Jordan Lewis

What a tough passage for an animal lover, indeed. I think Jessica really hit appropriate note when dealing with the theological issues of the Scripture passage: whatever God's role in the mess of Samson's life, God is who He is, not who we want Him to be. He can use and even favor a broken and sinful man - even pouring out His power in ways that are hard to imagine - to fulfill His plans and pursue His people.