DEVOTION – DAY 246

Judges 14:1-3 “Ignoring Good Advice”

 

Judges 14:1-3 Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah, now get her for me as my wife.” His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife? But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.”

 

Although Samson was one of the judges of Israel, he had flaws. The above verses from Judges 14:1-3 show some of these flaws. Timnah was an area where vineyards grew and so, wine was abundant. In Judges 13, we learnt that Samson’s parents had been under a Nazirite vow and had dedicated Samson to God. Instructions about the Nazirite vow were recorded in Numbers 6:1-4. Samson was to abstain from wine but v1 recorded that Samson went down to Timnah, an area where he would be open to temptation. Then, Samson saw a Palestinian woman and wanted to marry her. When he told his parents, they asked Samson why he couldn’t choose a Jewish girl instead? They knew that God had prohibited inter-marrying with Canaanites as recorded in Deut.7:1-3, and Ex.34:11;16. However, Samson’s reply in v3 shows that he ignored his parents’ objections and just wanted to do what he thought was best for himself. He thought he knew better than his parents and God by his actions.

 

There are also people today who have the same attitude towards their parents and God. They think they know better and want to make decisions for themselves. Like Samson, their decisions may lead to mistakes and regrets. A man fell in love with a woman from a different faith. In order to marry her, he had to convert to her religion. His parents objected and warned him against making such a decision but he chose to ignore their advice. He went ahead to convert to his girlfriend’s religion and he soon married her. Although his parents were saddened by his actions, they continued to show their love to him. But this man began to distance himself from his parents and siblings as he became more drawn into his wife’s family. Then, his parents passed away and he realized too late that he missed his parents and he wished he did not allow his relationship with his wife and her religion to come between him and his own family. But it was too late because he parents had died.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we worship you because you are wise and good and your instructions are always for our own good. Please help us to obey and submit to you, and to those you have given parental authority over us. We ask this humbly in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. How do you usually submit to the authority of those placed above you whether it is at work, or at home, or in your family, or in church? Share.
  2. Samson allowed his own desires to take first place in his decision making. He also unwisely exposed himself to temptation. What about you? How much do you safeguard yourself against temptation to sin? How often do you allow yourself to do as you please?
  3. Share of a time when you did as you pleased and had reason to regret the foolishness of your actions.
  4. What can you learn about obedience and submission to God’s Word from this devotion?