Scripture Focus (Judges 13:24-25) – “ And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the LORD blessed him. [25] And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him in Mahanehdan, between Zorah and Eshtaol. [14:1] Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines. [2] Then he came up and told his father and mother, “I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah. Now get her for me as my wife.” [3] But his father and mother said to him, “Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.” [4] His father and mother did not know that it was from the LORD, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel. [5] Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. [6] Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done. [7] Then he went down and talked with the woman, and she was right in Samson’s eyes. [8] After some days he returned to take her. And he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. [9] He scraped it out into his hands and went on, eating as he went. And he came to his father and mother and gave some to them, and they ate. But he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey from the carcass of the lion.”
I. An Encouraging Beginning For Samson’s Life (Judges 13:24-25)
A. Prophetic destiny was attached to Samson (Judges 13:24a) – “And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson.”
B. The touch of God began to characterize Samson (Judges 13:24b) – “And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him.”
C. The power from God began to arise in Samson (Judges 13:25) – “And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.”
II. An Immediate Concern For Samson’s Heart (Judges 14:1-4)
A. We see danger for Samson (Judges 14:1) – “Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines.”
B. We witness rebellion in Samson (Judges 14:2-3) – “Then he came up and told his father and mother, “I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah. Now get her for me as my wife.” 3 But his father and mother said to him, “Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.”
C. We acknowledge sovereignty over Samson (Judges 14:4) – “His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.”
III. A Noteworthy Lesson From Samson’s Life (Judges 14:5-6)
A. Trouble finds Samson (Judges 14:5) – “Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring.”
B. God remains faithful to Samson (Judges 14:6a) – “Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat.” God did not abandon Samson, even while he was living in compromise. God had decreed to use Samson to begin to defeat the Philistines. That plan would not be undone, in spite of Samson’s wavering.
C. Inner conflict enters Samson (Judges 14:6b) – “But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.” Touching the dead carcass may have violated the Nazirite calling upon Samson’s life. In fear, guilt or shame, Samson felt he should hide his deeds. Had Samson honored his parents and not given into his impulse for a woman, he never would have been in the position of encountering the lion and welcoming confusion into his life.
IV. A Disturbing Pattern In Samson’s Life (Judges 14:7-9)
A. Lust & self-will (Judges 14:7-8a) – “Then he went down and talked with the woman, and she was right in Samson’s eyes. 8a After some days he returned to take her.”
B. Pride & self-will (Judges 14:8b-9a) – “And he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. 9 He scraped it out into his hands and went on, eating as he went. And he came to his father and mother and gave some to them, and they ate…”
C. Shame & self-will (Judges 14:9b) – “But he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey from the carcass of the lion.”