Samson continues revenge

Judges Chapter 15

After Samson had killed the thirty men, he went back home to his parents, but later during the wheat harvest, took a young goat as a present to his wife. He intended to sleep with her, but her father had given her in marriage to his best man. The father offered his other daughter to Samson to marry, but Samson refused and warned them that he could not be blamed for everything he intended to do to the Philistines. Then Samson went out and caught three hundred foxes, tied their tails together in pairs and fastened a torch to each pair of tails. He lit the torches and let the foxes run through the fields of the Philistines, burning all their grain and destroying their grapevines and olive trees.

When the Philistines asked who was responsible for the damage, they found it was Samson whose wife had been given to his best man. So the Philistines got the woman and her father and burned them to death. This just made Samson more angry and he vowed to take revenge until he was satisfied. He attacked the Philistines with fury and killed many, then he went to live in a cave in the rock of Etam.

The Philistines retaliated by setting up camp in Judah and raiding the town of Lehi. When the men of Judah asked why they were being attacked, the Philistines told them they were going to capture Samson and pay him back. So three thousand men of Judah went to get Samson at his cave. They told Samson they planned to hand him over to the Philistines and they tied him with new ropes and led him away.

When Samson arrived in Lehi, the Philistines shouted in triumph, but again the Spirit of the Lord took control of Samson and he snapped the ropes on his arms, picked up a donkey’s jawbone and killed a thousand Philistines with it and bragged about it. Then thirsty, he cried to the Lord that the Lord accomplished the victory through his servant Samson and now he needed water. So God caused water to gush out of the hollow of the ground at Lehi and it revived Samson. The place in the ground was called “The Spring of the One Who Cried Out.” Samson was Israel’s judge for twenty years, while the Philistines ruled the land.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: The Lord’s strength came upon Samson, but he was proud and boastful only of his own strength and pride caused him to take credit for God’s strength. After his battle, Samson was physically and emotionally exhausted, but dwelt in self-pity, crying to the Lord for water. It was apparent that after his great victory, Samson was appointed judge in Israel.

How does this chapter relate to us today? How often do we have success and fail to give credit to our God? Often there is a temptation to think that God owes us for our efforts. Not true. It is at these times that we should focus on God instead of ourselves and thank him for helping us to achieve success. Praise be to God!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, Arlene’s nephew David, Logan and the newly born Stella who is taking mother’s milk now and Lori (who suffered a terrible accident)and her family. Update on Stella: She has good days, but is far from out of the woods. Pray for her, please and her parents too.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.