The more I read about Samson, the more I am curious as to why he was chosen by God to be a leader. But, a leader he was, and also one of God's chosen to be called a Judge. The Philistine people had great strength in numbers at the time of Samson's judgeship. plus they were great warriors. And whether or not Samson was a good choice of Judge, he did have great strength. His strength, however, was about all he had, as his intentions too often were for his personal benefit rather than for God.
At the time of the wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat and went to visit his wife. When he asked admittance to her room, her father refused to let him go in. "I was so sure you hated her," her father said, "that I gave her to your friend. Isn't her younger sister more attractive? Take her instead." Samson went away really angry.
He went out and caught three hundred foxes and tied them tail to tail in pairs. He then fastened a torch to every pair of tails, lit the torches, and let the foxes loose in the standing grain of the Philistines, burning up the shocks and standing grain, together with the vineyards and olive groves. (To say nothing of the poor foxes!)
When the Philistines asked, "Who did this?" they were told, "Samson, the Timnite's son-in-law, because his wife was given to his friend." So, the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death. Samson, thoroughly in despair, attacked them viciously and slaughtered many. Then he went down and stayed in a cave in the rock of Etam.
The men of Judah were incensed by the actions of Samson, yet they were aware that he was chosen by God. But the Philistines went up and camped near the camp of the Israelites, so the men of God asked, "Why have you come to fight us?" "We aren't here to fight you! We have come to take Samson prisoner," the Philistines answered, "to do to him as he did to us."
Then three thousand men from Judah went down to the cave in the rock of Etam and told Samson, "Don't you realize that the Philistines are rulers over us? What have you done to us?" And he answered, "I only did to them what they did to me." His face was a mask of sadness, wanting understanding and acceptance. But they said, "You must let us tie you up so we can hand you over to the Philistines or we shall all perish." but Samson feared them as well, and he said, "Swear to me that you won't kill me yourselves!" And they agreed.
So they bound him with two new ropes and led him up from the rock. As he approached the Philistines, they were shouting with anger and hate. Suddenly, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson in power, and the ropes on his arms became like burned flax, and the binding dropped from his hands. Finding a jawbone of a donkey nearby, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men. He stopped, and yelled, "With a donkey's jawbone I have made donkeys of them. With a donkey's jawbone I have killed a thousand men."
Then he realized he was really thirsty and he cried out to the Lord, "You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of these Philistines?" Then God opened up the land and water came out. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. The spring was thereafter named for this victory.
God must have wanted a warrior. And that is what he got. The study for this period is interesting: "Although the Lord's strength came upon Samson, he was proud and boastful. Pride can cause us to take credit for work we've done only because of God's strength. But, God had selected Samson because he knew that only strength would be influential in competing with the Philistines. It is believed that Samson was chosen after this battle to be a Judge, and he judged for 20 years."
One more thing the Study added for today's world: "During the times of vulnerability, like after a big win, avoid the temptation to think that God owes us for our efforts. We must remember, it was his
strength that gave us victory. Concentrate on keeping our attitudes, actions, and words focused on God instead of ourselves."
I know from experience that sometimes depression can follow achievement, so we must be aware and focus on God and his strength that gives victory, rather than ourselves.
May God bless you in all you may try to do!
Jo INMN
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