So we continue with our subject on what about Samson? In Part 1, we have stated the reason for his birth. He was born and called as a judge in Israel because of Israel’s greatest enemy the Philistine. And so we are told;

Judges 13 “¹And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.”

So having cried to the Lord, God sent a deliverer in the person of Samson. The angel God sent said to the Mother;

“⁴Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: ⁵For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines… ²⁴And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. ²⁵And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol”

Verse 25; (The Spirit of the Lord began to move him) meaning he was totally angered observing the degrading bondage of his people. This created a very strong desire in him to accomplish something for his people. The very same way Gideon felt threading corn in the vine press hiding because of the Philistines. Let it be observed that these burning desires to do something in relation to the deliverance of his people were motions inspired by the Divine Spirit.

Samson was simply a called vessel of God for a divine vengeance against the Philistines in response to the cry of Israel. His whole life was woven around the call and the outcome.

When you read “…move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol”

You are probably looking at the place where his parents dwelt; because they were Danites. (See Judges 18:13-20). This significant influences between Zorah and Eshtaol, shows where he was staying at home with his parents; as his father lived there in Zorah. (See Judges 13:2).

Thus, God began, from his infancy, to qualify him for the work to which he had called him.

The Mystery of the Women in his Life

Judges 14:1; “And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.”

He told the parents who objected that their son cannot marry uncircumcised Philistines (Judges 14:2) just as Abraham will tell Eleazer to go and get a wife for Isaac from amongst his own people (Genesis 24:3-4).

Then in Verse 7, “And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well”. So now they went to Timnath and had everything put in place for the marriage. But when he returned to take the wife we are told in verse 20 “But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend”

Read Chapter 15. Therefore, this incident of giving his wife to someone else is what made Samson out of anger to set fire to their farms and burn up their crops at the time of wheat harvest.

Now on the natural surface, this portrays Samson to be a stubborn and rebellious person. But there is something that needs to be observed of the three women that he encounter in his life, they were all Philistines ladies. As a matter fact they were only two women, the prostitute was just an encounter on his mission at Gaza. He needed a place to sleep that night am sure as a wayfaring man not just the lust for women.

Samson was a decent young man who approached the parents that he wants to be married and that he has found one. He wasn’t looking for women all over the place to satisfy his sexual lust, No!

They were just two of them to be his wife; the first was that of the Timnath whom he was tricked of, he never even slept with her. So she wasn’t even his wife yet.  The second one was Delilah whom he married, but who betrayed him. The same way Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, a church member_wife. But it was all for a purpose to be accomplished.

Samson from all evidence was a NOT a promiscuous man people. He was a decent and obedient person both to the parents and to God. This is why his name is found amongst the Heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 as I shall explain later.

So why was Samson seeking for a Philistine wife , not just about any woman at all, not someone who is a Jew , not a Danite from his tribe, but a PHILISTINE woman. Here is the answer and mystery; Judges 14:4;

“But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel”. According to Deuteronomy 28:48; God told them if they forsake him for idol, he will cause them to be taken into captivity, and now they were tormented by the Philistines.

Judges 14:4 (MSG); “His father and mother had no idea that God was behind this, that he was arranging an opportunity against the Philistines. At the time the Philistines lorded it over Israel”

Judges 14:4 (GNT) “His parents did not know that it was the Lord who was leading Samson to do this, for the Lord was looking for a chance to fight the Philistines. At this time the Philistines were ruling Israel”

Friends this is the story of brother Samson. He was not a careless man, never a sexual pervert. He had one wife Delilah, he spent a night with a prostitute yes but other than that, Samson was by far neater than most Bishops and Prophets of our days. His desire to get a Philistine woman was a push by God to fulfill his mandate, delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines by destroying them. It is on record that after Samson so killed them, they kept away from Israel for long time.

Next will be; Did Samson fulfill his mission or not?

Why his name among the Heroes of Faith and Solomon is not mentioned?

To be continued…