Chapter 14
The story of Samson’s life is a strange one.
He misbehaves over and over, and there is no indication that God is
angry about it. It’s like they have a special
connection through the Nazirite vow, and as long as that is in effect, Samson
can reek havoc however he chooses. His character leaves much to be desired, and
it makes me wonder. Were his parents so wrapped up in the
legalities of raising a Nazirite that they neglected to teach him principles of
character?
Verse 3 “Get
her for me, for she looks good to me. He
seems to have some kind of spoiled child syndrome—maybe because his parents
were without children for so long.
Verse 4 God
used his misguided actions for His own purpose.
This is a reassurance to me, since most of my own are misguided too.
Verse 6 He tore the lion as easily as if he’d been
holding a weapon or tool, and the lion had been a goat. But it wasn’t a goat. It was a ferocious angry lion. And he ripped it in two with his bare
hands. “The Spirit of the Lord came upon
him mightily.” My note says “rushed upon
him.” I wonder what that felt like. Overwhelming, I’m sure.
Verse 8 Sounds like he changed his course to go back
and admire his handiwork. Since a
Nazirite was to avoid dead bodies, this was way out of line. It’s one thing to protect yourself from an
attacking lion. It’s quite another to
seek out its long-dead carcass. And
eating honey from it?! It seems like
this guy can get away with anything. I
think God plans to use this character flaw to His own advantage.
Verse 9 He
shared the honey (and now the guilt) with his parents.
Verse
12 These were sent as companions to him,
and he wants to trick them out of their possessions.
Verse 16
Samson’s wife was threatened, and she felt like she had to betray him to save
her life. She could have told him about
the threat and let him protect her, but instead she manipulates him with her
tears.
Verse
17 Samson’s great weakness. Women.
Verse 19
Samson has a debt to pay, so he goes and kills 30 men so he can take their
clothes and give them to the Philistines.
Verse 20 He
left her behind, and she was given to his best man.
Chapter
15
Verse 1
Samson comes back to his wife. He wants her back, at least for a night.
Verse 2 He father offers her sister instead. What a dad.
Verse 4 How long did it take to tie 300 foxes
together?
Verse 6 This is turning into an ugly feud. Now his wife and her father are dead.
Verse 7 He sure has a way with words, doesn’t he?
Verses
10-11 When the Philistines and Samson
are each pleading their case to the tribe of Judah, they each think their own
position is right.
Verse 14
This time when the Spirit rushes upon Samson, his arms are “made like burning
flax” and the ropes melt away. This is
more than just physical strength. This
is a super-natural phenomenon. Can you
imagine how the Philistines must have felt when they saw that? Uh oh.
Verse 18
Samson goes from being a hothead, out of control, to being very needy and
dependent on God for something as basic as water.
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