Judges 14:1–2: “Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, ‘I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.’”

April 28th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

The story of one of Israel’s judges, Samson, begins and ends with Samson displaying a fatal weakness for Philistine women. He traveled 4 miles southwest of Zorah to Timnah, a Philistine city on the border, a place where a child of God should not even be seen. Nevertheless, Samson went and saw a Philistine woman that he desired to have as a wife. He thought he could play with fire and not get burned, and he fell in lust with a woman he shouldn’t have even been around. Sadly, Samson didn’t make this mistake just once, but over and over again. Samson compromised his relationship with God by bringing women who weren’t believers into his life.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “do not be unequally yoked” (2 Cor. 6:14). When a believer and a non-believer marry, these two equal halves of one flesh, disagree on who should be at the center of their lives. In fact, a believer really has no business even dating a non-Christian. Those who do, run a serious risk of falling in love with someone to their own hurt, as Samson did. We need to be careful to protect our relationship with the Lord by protecting our hearts. We can learn a valuable lesson from Samson. Our relationship with Jesus should be so important to us that we are constantly on our guard not to do anything or allow anything into our lives that would compromise or weaken that relationship.

“LORD, keep us from falling this day. We desire to walk with You, and we ask that you would protect us from distractions as we walk where we are supposed to be walking.”

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¹ And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. ² And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. ³ Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well. 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. ⁵ Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. ⁶ And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he hadnothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. ⁷ And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. ⁸ And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. ⁹ And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion. ¹⁰ So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do. ¹¹ And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him. ¹² And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:  ¹³ But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.  ¹⁴ And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle. ¹⁵ And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson’s wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so ?  ¹⁶ And Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told itmy father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee? ¹⁷ And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.  ¹⁸ And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle. ¹⁹ And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.  ²⁰But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.