Sunday Morning Service

Judges 14-Judges 15

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“Compromising A Call” • 9.7.14 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- There are high expectations at every birth, but certainly never higher than when Samson was born to the formerly barren wife of Manoah.

- They had been visited by the Angel of The Lord, a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ Himself, who instructed them regarding the life their son would lead.

- He would be a Nazarite from birth throughout his life, a commitment marked by abstinence from all vine produce, hair cuts and dead bodies, human or otherwise.

- Godly parents, a Divine, pre-birth appearance and a scriptural mandate make for a tremendous calling from God. You and I are far more privileged as blood bought sons and daughters.

- Yet, there are ways to compromise our call and Samson teaches us exactly how that is done. Let's wrap ourselves in the narrative and we'll collect our lessons at the end.

Text

• Judges 14:1-4 : "Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, 'I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.' Then his father and mother said to him, 'Is there no woman among the daughters of your brethren, or among all my people, that you must go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?' And Samson said to his father, 'Get her for me, for she pleases me well.' But his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord—that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel." : Timnah is just a few miles west of Samson's home town geographically but it's a whole other world spiritually.

- Timnah is the home of his first love interest, a unnamed Philistine woman, in a town belonging to Israel's enemies, whose women were off-limits to God's men.

- God's people are restricted from joining themselves in marriage to those that worship other gods! The second most important decision of your life cannot countermand your first.

- Culturally, marriages were arranged and it may be that this "lust at first sight" was all that was necessary. Incidently, understand that physical lust, "seeing," makes for poor decision making.

- He saw her and wanted her, as Lot lifted his eyes and saw the well watered plain of Sodom! Don't follow your eyes. Don't follow your heart. Follow your Lord!

- Samson's request leaves no room for compromise or wisdom. His parents can hardly believe his decision! "Really? The uncircumcised Philistines!?"

- The counsel of Samson's parents is sage wisdom and appropriate for their son to hear. In the moment, it seems that it is lost on him.

- Samson isn't deterred for a second. He answers, saying to the effect, "She's good enough for me!" Samuel, the author pulls the curtain back and shows us that this was from the Lord.

- I like the way the NLT translates this verse : " His father and mother didn’t realize the Lord was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time."

- Samuel is not telling us that God inspired or made Samson fall for an ungodly wife, nor is he prescribing an act that should be followed. God is working despite Samson's obstinance.

- God is working through Samson's personality, using what is a decidely poor and impetuous personal choice, in order to begin a work against the Philistines.

• Judges 14:5-9 : "So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Now to his surprise, a young lion came roaring against him. And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done. Then he went down and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass of the lion. He took some of it in his hands and went along, eating. When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them, and they also ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion." : Samson's parents went with their son to the Philistine vineyard.

- The parents went along, I'm sure in an effort to remain a part of their son's life, though it's certain that they didn't approve.

- There are times when we must stay and there are times to go and pray! May the Lord give us parents wisdom to know which will be best in our day.

- This is a curious place to be when you are a Nazarite! What would they offer you to drink there? What snacks would be available? Everything here would be off limits!

- Their current location should have been speaking to Samson's sensibilities. "What are we doing here? What good could really come of this given the call in my life!?"

- These are good questions to ask ourselves when we find ourselves in such places. Our question should not be, "Can this harm me?" It should be "How can this help me!?"

- Along the way, Samson was alone and this lion attack took place. It was a complete surprise and without time to respond, the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him to protect him.

- God was not surprised at the attack that would be leveled against him. There was no process and no waiting. God's Spirit mightily rushed upon him and the results were devastating.

- This would not likely have been a full size, mature lion, as the text indicates that it's a whelp, a one or two year old. The Spirit of God through Samson tore it to shreds and killed it.

- The Apostle Peter tells us that we should walk soberly and with vigilance, for the Devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. (I Peter 5:8)

- Samson is in enemy territory, willingly violating every command of God given to him, walking carelessly and foolishly. When you play in the enemies playground, you can expect the same!

- How dull are his senses? He goes about enjoying time with this woman, living solely for the pleasure that she gave him! A little while after this, he found that lion carcass and noted a beehive.

- He pulled the honey out of the carcass. How foul is that! Normal Israelis were unclean for touching a carcass, but for a Nazarite, this was strictly forbidden! This is why he didn't tell his parents!

- Imagine how grieved they would be if they knew and yet, this is often the grief of godly parents, who must share in any sweetness that comes their way, often unaware of it's source.

• Judges 14:10-14 : "So his father went down to the woman. And Samson gave a feast there, for young men used to do so. And it happened, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him. Then Samson said to them, 'Let me pose a riddle to you. If you can correctly solve and explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing. But if you cannot explain it to me, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.' And they said to him, 'Pose your riddle, that we may hear it.' So he said to them: 'Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.' Now for three days they could not explain the riddle." : According to the language, it seems here that Samson gave a drinking party. A feast was standard fare, but Samson took it over the top.

- It's notable that Samson was not attended by any friends from home.

- The Philistines had to assign the bride groom with some friends.

- Samson has shunned the holiness of God's call, the wisdom of his parents and the accountability afforded him by likeminded, godly friends. This is a recipe for disaster!

- In the middle of this ackward social experiment, Samson put a riddle together documenting his recent experience with the lion! The riddle iself is completely nebulous.

- The price of this bet would have been staggering, as the type of clothing that he suggests they wager, would be incredibly expensive. I'm convinced that he only wagers on a sure bet.

- "Out of the eater came something to eat and out of the strong came something sweet!" What? Midway through the feast and Samson's companions were even more perplexed!

• Judges 14:15-18 : "But it came to pass on the seventh day that they said to Samson’s wife, 'Entice your husband, that he may explain the riddle to us, or else we will burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you invited us in order to take what is ours? Is that not so?' Then Samson’s wife wept on him, and said, 'You only hate me! You do not love me! You have posed a riddle to the sons of my people, but you have not explained it to me.' And he said to her, 'Look, I have not explained it to my father or my mother; so should I explain it to you?' Now she had wept on him the seven days while their feast lasted. And it happened on the seventh day that he told her, because she pressed him so much. Then she explained the riddle to the sons of her people. So the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down: 'What is sweeter than honey?
And what is stronger than a lion?' And he said to them: 'If you had not plowed with my heifer, You would not have solved my riddle!'" : The Philistines had asked Samson's bride on the very first day and three days later had no response.

- During that time, from day one to the very end of the feast, she turned on the water works and wore him down systematically. She turned up the pressure when they threatened her life.

- Finally, Samson gave in, she gave up the answer and the men cashed in! It's as if the enemy is watching and see it: "Ah, so that's the best game to play!" You'll want to remember this.

- Samson was not fooled. He saw right through it. If you hadn't worked my young cow, you would never have solved my riddle!

- But they had and they did and now Samson owed each of them a new set of clothes. And while they will not be new, they will be new to them!

• Judges 14:19,20 : "Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave the changes of clothing to those who had explained the riddle. So his anger was aroused, and he went back up to his father’s house. And Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man." : Once again, the Spirit of the Lord came upon, rushed upon, Samson mightily though Samson's motive was revenge.

- God's enemies, the Philistines, had cheated His champion. God wanted to confront them on account of their occupation against God's nation and in spite of Samson's anger, He worked.

- There is no better explanation of this verse than that. It defies explanation, but God's program, His enduring love for His people, and the ultimate arrival of His Savior, take precedence.

- Samson traveled an hour away, took his vengeance out on thirty unsuspecting men and left his bride gilted at the altar!

- At some point along the way, as he stormed out, with the wedding paid for, Samson's Father in law gave his wife away. He won't find out until he has calmed down.

• Judges 15:1,2 : "After a while, in the time of wheat harvest, it happened that Samson visited his wife with a young goat. And he said, 'Let me go in to my wife, into her room.' But her father would not permit him to go in. Her father said, 'I really thought that you thoroughly hated her; therefore I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister better than she? Please, take her instead.'" : - "After a while." Samson never gave things a second thought. He's been gone, but certainly, his parents paid the dowry. Let's finish this thing!

- When he gets to the door, goat in hand, his Father-in-law stood between him and the entrance of the house and explains his justification. He thought truly that Samson hated her.

- I imagine he saw the flash in Samson's eye and he made sure to attempt to appease him. "Really, her sister is available!" Unfortunately for him, the damage was done.

• Judges 15:3-6 : "And Samson said to them, 'This time I shall be blameless regarding the Philistines if I harm them!' Then Samson went and caught three hundred foxes; and he took torches, turned the foxes tail to tail, and put a torch between each pair of tails. When he had set the torches on fire, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burned up both the shocks and the standing grain, as well as the vineyards and olive groves. Then the Philistines said, 'Who has done this?' And they answered, 'Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion.' So the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire." : Samson captured 300 foxes, more likely jackals. The word indicates the use of a snare or a net.

- This would have taken some time, as jackals don't simply allow themselves to be caught. Samson must have known a method.

- He put them tail to tail with a torch at the center. He did not tie their tails together, but used a rope of some kind, which tightened around a lamp.

- From there, he let them loose in the Philistines fields, consuming all of their produce for the harvest time, a devastating act and declaration of war.

- Almost entirely inexplicable however is the Philistine response. Instead of seeking Samson out, they killed Samson's Philistine "family!"

• Judges 15:7,8 : "Samson said to them, 'Since you would do a thing like this, I will surely take revenge on you, and after that I will cease.' So he attacked them hip and thigh with a great slaughter; then he went down and dwelt in the cleft of the rock of Etam." : Those responsible for burning Samson's "in-laws," found themselves facing Samson's wrath. He killed them all and then went down to dwell in this rocky area of Etam.

- Frankly, so much had happened so quickly, I imagine Samson being emotionally worn down so he stops at the "lair of wild beasts."

• Judges 15:9-13 : "Now the Philistines went up, encamped in Judah, and deployed themselves against Lehi. And the men of Judah said, 'Why have you come up against us?' So they answered, 'We have come up to arrest Samson, to do to him as he has done to us.' Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, 'Do you not know that the Philistines rule over us? What is this you have done to us?' And he said to them, 'As they did to me, so I have done to them.' But they said to him, 'We have come down to arrest you, that we may deliver you into the hand of the Philistines.' Then Samson said to them, 'Swear to me that you will not kill me yourselves.' So they spoke to him, saying, 'No, but we will tie you securely and deliver you into their hand; but we will surely not kill you.' And they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock." : Notice a few oddities here. Samson is in Judah's territory, thus they are responsible to keep the peace by delivering Samson over to the Philistines.

- They chide him, asking whether or not he had considered how his actions would effect them! There is no rally behind Samson. They are simply trying to keep things the way that they are.

- Here is a man that they can rally behind. Here's a judge that could lead them, but that's not in their vision. They just want to maintain the status quo! Talk about missing an opportunity!

- For Samson's part, there isn't even a hint that he would rally them, the largest tribe in Israel, against the Philistines. He's simply out for vengeance and is happy with his terrorist ways.

- Finally, the men of Judah promise not to kill him, but will offer him up to the Philistines. They deliver their own to their enemy! They put the new ropes upon him and brought him out.

• Judges 15:14-17 : "When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting against him. Then the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him; and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds broke loose from his hands. He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and killed a thousand men with it. Then Samson said: 'With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps, with the jawbone of a donkey I have slain a thousand men!' And so it was, when he had finished speaking, that he threw the jawbone from his hand, and called that place Ramath Lehi." : Judah's three hundred men held up her side of the bargain and the Philistines were ecstatic.

- Their applause sounded as one man's breath at the sight of their captured enemy. There would likely have been a palatable relief that this was ending peaceably.

- Just then, God's Spirit empowered Samson to tear off the ropes like so much dried and brittle flax and he was loose. The fresh skeletal remains of a donkey lay nearby and it was all he needed.

- He grabbed the jawbone and killed 1,000 men. Where was Judah? Had they simply transferred him? Had Samson gone some way with them and then attacked?

- All we know is that he expertly carried out this attack and he memorialized the place "Jawbone Heights!"

• Judges 15:18-20 : "Then he became very thirsty; so he cried out to the Lord and said, 'You have given this great deliverance by the hand of Your servant; and now shall I die of thirst and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?' So God split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out, and he drank; and his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore he called its name En Hakkore, which is in Lehi to this day. And he judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines." : He's expended all that he has and is in such a place as to be near death.

- For the first time in his record, there is a vocal cry out to the Lord. He has not consulted with him nor has he proclaimed him. Samson needs Him and now calls out to Him.

- Samson cries out and the Lord splits the earth so that he can return to full health. He called it the "Spring of the Caller!"

- Samuel tells us that he judged Israel for 20 years, even though this isn't the end of his story.

Conclusion

- As we close today, I wanted us to answer this question: How can we compromise our calling? A few things really stand out to me in retrospect.

- Samson lived on his own wisdom, ignoring the Word and the wisdom of his parents.

- Samson let each of his desires define Him whether it was for lust or revenge.

- Samson lived a solitary life, devoid of godly friends.

- Samson lost each opportunity for greater service, settling for lesser goals instead.

- Let it be that we aren't found in that same company. May we love the Lord's Word and His Wisdom. May the desire to please Him define us and may our hearts yearn for others to encourage.

- May we look for every opportunity to make the most for His Kingdom!