This chapter is a continuation of the previous chapter. Chapter 14 ended with Samson killing 30 men so he could take their robes and give them to the men who solved his riddle. After that incident, Samson went home to live with his mother and father because he was angry his wife had tricked him. I initially thought it was wrong for Samson to kill those thirty men. However, I totally missed that those men were Philistines! Remember, Samson was born to rescue Israel from the Philistines. An angel of the Lord came to his mother, who was unable to get pregnant, and told her she would give birth to a son who “will rescue Israel from the Philistines” (Judges 13:5)
As a result, Samson has, simply, begun to walk in his purpose.
Chapter 15 begins with Samson returning to his wife’s home bearing gifts, not knowing she had remarried. Her father stopped him at the door and wouldn’t let him in. He said, “I really thought you hated her, so I gave her in marriage to your best man. But look, her sister is more beautiful than she is. Marry her instead. Samson said, “This time I cannot be blamed for everything I am going to do to you Philistines.” (Judges 15:2-3)
Samson then caught several foxes, and used their tails to burn all of the Philistines’ grain. “Who did this?” the Philistines demanded. “Samson,” was the reply, “because his father-in-law from Timnah gave Samson’s wife to be married to his best man.” So the Philistines went and got the woman and her father and burned them to death.
“Because you did this,” Samson vowed, “I will take my revenge on you, and I won’t stop until I’m satisfied!” (Judges 15:6-7) He then killed several of them and then went to live in a cave. The Philistines then attacked the Israelites in Judah. As a result, “Three thousand men of Judah went down to get Samson at the cave in the rock of Etam. They said to Samson, “Don’t you realize the Philistines rule over us? What are you doing to us?” But Samson replied, “ I only paid them back for what they did to me.” (Judges 15:11)
Side note: It sounds like Samson has no clue of his purpose. He’s just responding to life as it happens. What great purpose does God have for each of us that we have no clue about?
The text continues, “But the men of Judah told him, “We have come to tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines.” “All right,” Samson said. “But promise that you won’t kill me yourselves.” They agreed, and “as Samson arrived at Lehi, the Philistines came shouting in triumph. But the Spirit of the Lord powerfully took control of Samson, and he snapped the ropes on his arms as if they were burnt strands of flax, and they fell from his wrists. Then he picked up a donkey’s jawbone that was lying on the ground and killed a thousand Philistines with it.” (Judges 15:12-15)
The chapter ends with Samson exclaiming he killed a thousand men with a donkey’s jawbone. He was Israel’s judge for twenty years.
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Help us recognize our purpose that you have set for us, and help us have the courage to walk in it. We love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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