Being ‘unequally yoked’ in marriage causes real grief, not just for the husband and wife but for the extended family as well. This morning we see how Samson’s marriage to a Philistine woman ends in disaster.
Judges 14: Samson's Marriage
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.
10 His father went down to the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, for so the young men used to do.
11 As soon as the people saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him.
12 And Samson said to them, "Let me now put a riddle to you. If you can tell me what it is, within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes,
13 but if you cannot tell me what it is, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes." And they said to him, "Put your riddle, that we may hear it."
14 And he said to them, "Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet." And in three days they could not solve the riddle.
15 On the fourth day they said to Samson's wife, "Entice your husband to tell us what the riddle is, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you invited us here to impoverish us?"
16 And Samson's wife wept over him and said, "You only hate me; you do not love me. You have put a riddle to my people, and you have not told me what it is." And he said to her, "Behold, I have not told my father nor my mother, and shall I tell you?"
17 She wept before him the seven days that their feast lasted, and on the seventh day he told her, because she pressed him hard. Then she told the riddle to her people.
18 And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, "What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?" And he said to them, "If you had not ploughed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle."
19 And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty men of the town and took their spoil and gave the garments to those who had told the riddle. In hot anger he went back to his father's house.
20 And Samson's wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.
Things to think about…
1. Samson it says ‘saw’ one of the woman of the Philistines twice in Jdgs 14:1&2 and it says she was ‘right in my eyes’, vs 3. This defines the era – people did what was right in their own eyes rather than what was right in the Lord’s eyes. Samson was looking at the outward appearance instead of the heart. Do you know a Christian who is considering marriage? Encourage them to look for a heart after Christ. Outward beauty fades but the inward beauty of the Lord goes from glory to glory.
2. Jdgs 14:4 says this turn of events was ‘from the Lord’. Do you look at your children or perhaps other close friends whom you love and think ‘why are they making those choices they do’? If you have prayed for them, faith says, “all things are working together for the good…” Rom 8:28. We are not at the end of the story. How does God ordain some of these things when He is holy? The Lord delivers His people from sin but often uses personal sin to bring them to their knees.
3. Samson after killing the lion and eating the honey poses a riddle that puts his new wife in immediate danger, Jdgs 14:12. His lack of love for her is immediately evident. His emotional weakness was to plague him his whole life. He does not honour the covenant of marriage and gives his wife to his best man as wife. Lusting after the flesh will never result in any spiritual blessing.
4. Despite his moral failings we see the ‘Spirit of the Lord’ coming upon Samson, Jdgs 14:6&19. Rejoice in the fact that He uses us despite our failures and weaknesses and “His Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are indeed children of the Lord”, Rom 8:16.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Sermon and reading topic for this week – Sermon “Don’t judge me”
Reading – Judges 2:1-19
1. The period of the Judges was cyclical in nature. They would fall into idol worship, they would be oppressed by Canaanite rulers, they would cry out for a Judge, God would raise up a Judge who would deliver them, they would live in prosperity, then fall back into idolatry and the cycle would repeat. This was because the Israelites did not get rid of the Canaanite inhabitants which caused Israel to turn their hearts towards idols. Discuss some of the idols in Australia. Which ones is the Australian Christian church struggling to fight against?
2. We are often told that we shouldn’t judge others. As Doug mentioned on Sunday the verses quoted to justify such a position are found in Mt 7:1-7. What is your understanding of these verses and what right judgement looks like? Are we in a position to Judge anyone? If so, how?
3. Doug mentioned the Apostle Paul’s words in 1Cor 5:9-13 regarding judgement that occurs in the church and those who are outside the church. Essentially we are called to judge those who name the name of Christ in the church, we are not even meant to eat with someone who claims to be a Christian yet continues to live an immoral lifestyle, 1Cor 5:11. How do you understand these verses and how should we apply them as a church that wants to show the love of Christ?
4. Discuss some prayer points of the group. Church prayer points.
Prayer Points
1. Recharge youth and Kids@Church ministries. Pray for Maddison and Melinda as they Coordinate Kids and Youth ministries.
2. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
3. Church finances to meet our new staff and to put a roof over our café.
4. Getting drawings into council.
5. Sunday’s message from Judges 12 - “You’re not saying it right” – Pastor Jay.
Praise Points.
1. More visitors to church on Sunday.
2. Two cell groups starting up this term.
3. Praise and worship – pray for continued growth and blessing.
4. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
Announcements
1. Members meeting 23rd May after the morning service.
2. Recharge on this week all high schoolers – 6:30pm-8:30pm Friday at church. $2 coin donation. Melinda Fourie heading up this ministry.
3. Kids Church for all primary schoolers. Maddison Willey is the ministry contact. Parents please check your rosters. Remember to sign your kids in and out.
4. Working bee – Saturday 5th June, 8:00am start at the church.
5. Outdoor service in the morning 6th June followed by lunch on “the common”
6. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
