Thursday, April 24, 2008

The Spirit Gives Samson Strength


Samson’s First Marriage

Judges 14

1Samson went down to the city of Timnah where he saw a Philistine woman.
2When he returned home, he said to his father and mother, “I saw a Philistine
woman in Timnah. I want you to get her for me so I can marry her.”

3His father and mother answered, “Surely there is a woman from Israel you
can marry. Do you have to marry a woman from the Philistines, who are not
circumcised?”

But Samson said, “Get that woman for me! She is the one I want!”
4(Samson’s parents did not know that the LORD wanted this to happen because
he was looking for a way to challenge the Philistines, who were ruling over Israel
at this time.) 5Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, as far as
the vineyard near there. Suddenly, a young lion came roaring toward Samson!
6The Spirit of the LORD entered Samson with great power, and he tore the lion
apart with his bare hands. For him it was as easy as tearing apart a young goat.
But Samson did not tell his father or mother what he had done. 7Then he went
down to the city and talked to the Philistine woman, and he liked her.

8Several days later Samson went back to marry her. On his way he went over
to look at the body of the dead lion and found a swarm of bees and honey in it.
9Samson got some of the honey with his hands and walked along eating it. When
he came to his parents, he gave some to them. They ate it, too, but Samson did
not tell them he had taken the honey from the body of the dead lion.

10Samson’s father went down to see the Philistine woman. And Samson gave
a feast, as was the custom for the bridegroom. 11When the people saw him, they
sent thirty friends to be with him.

Samson’s Riddle

12Samson said to them, “Let me tell you a riddle. Try to find the answer
during the seven days of the feast. If you can, I will give you thirty linen shirts
and thirty changes of clothes. 13But if you can’t, you must give me thirty linen
shirts and thirty changes of clothes.”

So they said, “Tell us your riddle so we can hear it.”

14Samson said,

“Out of the eater comes something to eat.

Out of the strong comes something sweet.”

After three days, they had not found the answer.

15On the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Did you invite us here to
make us poor? Trick your husband into telling us the answer to the riddle. If you
don’t, we will burn you and everyone in your father’s house.”

16So Samson’s wife went to him, crying, and said, “You hate me! You don’t
really love me! You told my people a riddle, but you won’t tell me the answer.”

Samson said, “I haven’t even told my father or mother. Why should I tell
you?”

17Samson’s wife cried for the rest of the seven days of the feast. So he finally
gave her the answer on the seventh day, because she kept bothering him. Then
she told her people the answer to the riddle.

18Before sunset on the seventh day of the feast, the Philistine men had the
answer. They came to Samson and said,

“What is sweeter than honey?

What is stronger than a lion?”

Then Samson said to them,

“If you had not plowed with my young cow,

you would not have solved my riddle!”

19Then the Spirit of the LORD entered Samson and gave him great power.
Samson went down to the city of Ashkelon and killed thirty of its men and took
all that they had and gave the clothes to the men who had answered his riddle.
Then he went to his father’s house very angry. 20And Samson’s wife was given to
his best man.

The Holy Bible, New Century Version



SITUATION

The Philistines ruled over Israel. The Israelites cried to God to save them. God provided a leader called Samson.


OBSERVATION

God always provides strength to do his will. In Samson's case, God supplied extraordinary physical power.


INSPIRATION

People who have moved the world have been Spirit-filled. Filled with the Spirit, the first disciples "turned the world upside down:' Filled with the Spirit, the reformers started the spiritual blaze which became the Reformation. Filled with the Spirit, Francis Asbury, George Fox, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finney, and David Brainerd set the mountains and prairies of America aglow with the fires of real Christianity. Filled with the Spirit, D. L. Moody and Ira Sankey shook two continents out of their spiritual lethargy. Corrie ten Boom and Mother Teresa impacted their world greatly.


The tides of civilization have risen, the courses of history have been brightened by people who have, been filled with the Spirit of God....


Have you yielded your life to Christ without reserve, asking Him to fill you and use you for His glory? (From The Secret of Happiness by Billy Graham)


APPLICATION

Pray for strength to do your work. Pray for yourself and others close to you: your family, pastor, and friends. Let the Holy Spirit do extraordinary work in you.


EXPLORATION

Source of Strength-Psalm 28:7; Zechariah 4:6: Acts 1:8.


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