THE LIFE OF SAMSON

Lesson #7

 

The First Conflict with the Philistines

Judges 14:1-20

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

1. Samson’s birth involved the divine intervention of the Almighty God. 

 

2. He was promised be a deliverer, a judge, of Israel.  We have high hopes for this man of God. 

 

3. Samson, however, soon shows that he has struggles in his character that will make him less effective as a leader of God’s people.  The rest of the story of his life will revolve around three women:  1) the woman in Timnath, 2) the harlot in Gaza, and 3) Delilah of the valley of Sorek.

 

4. We have entitled this section:  “The First Conflict with the Philistines.”  We will be looking at three points.

 

i.             THE REQUEST FOR A WIFE (Judg. 14:1-4)

ii.           THE RENDING OF A LION (Judg. 14:5-9)

iii.          THE RIDDLE OF SAMSON (Judg. 14:10-20)

 

I.            THE REQUEST FOR A WIFE (Judg. 14:1-4)

 

A.   Samson Sees a Woman (Judg. 14:1)

 

And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.

 

1.    The Site:  Timnath

a.    Definition

1)    Strong (8553):  a portion assigned

2)    BDB:  a portion, a town in the hill country of the tribe of Dan

b.    The town belonged to the Jews, but it was presently occupied by the Philistines.

c.    It was “about three miles [southwest] of Zorah” (Jamieson as quoted by Butler, p. 43).

d.    Lessons:

1)    Sometimes temptation is not very far from home.

2)    Samson should have fled from Timnath instead of going down to it (See I Tim. 2:22).

 

Flee also youthful lusts…

 

3)    Samson went down geographically, but it was also the beginning of a spiritual decline as well.

2.    The Sight:  and saw a woman in Timnath

a.    Apparently, this woman was very attractive to Samson.  Just the sight of the woman caused him to desire her for a wife.

 

 

b.    Lessons:

1)    There is nothing wrong with beauty, but beauty alone should not be the only factor in choosing a mate (Prov. 31:30)

 

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain:  but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

 

2)    A person should seek inner beauty in a mate.

a)    “Inward beauty is the beauty of the soul, of a holy relationship with God, of virtue, of righteousness, of character” (Butler, 44).

b)    II Peter 3:3-4

 

Whose adorning, let is not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

 

3)    A marriage build on lust and not love has a flimsy foundation (Ex., the marriages of Hollywood and TV stars).