Judges 14

The last thought in my journal from chapter 13 is “obedience births blessings.”  The opposite is also very true and chapter 14 brings the disobedience of Samson to the forefront of his story.

Although Samson’s life is a mess, verse four tells us Samson’s drifting is allowed for the glory of God.  Remind yourself of this truth – the drifting of your life can declare the glory of God for all to see.

Samson’s marriage began because a girl was right in his own eyes.  You might have noticed this theme is found throughout the book of Judges.  Israel continued getting punished because they did what was right in their own eyes.  Samson should have known better.  We also should know better.  The rightness of our eyes blinds us to the truth that is often very close.

In verse six, Samson kills a lion.  We can assume he was protecting himself.  We can also assume that God was testing his character.  The next events are disheartening.  In verse 7, he withholds information from his parents.  A slippery slope one ought to avoid in order for trust to remain intact.  In verse 8, he ate honey out of the carcass of a lion.  It was not wrong to eat the honey, but it was wrong to touch a carcass.  He broke his vow to the Lord.

Verse nine records that Samson withholds information from his parents again.  He dishonored his vow to God and dishonored his parents by not offering full disclosure.

Samson’s life continued to deteriorate, as discovered in his dealing with the Philistines.  The end of chapter 14 says Samson left in hot anger.

We don’t know how much time passed in chapter 14, but we do know that Samson was a man blessed by God and became a man that valued rage.  How did he get to that point?

Samson drifted to a place that allowed his judgment to be cloud by that which was right in his own eyes.  When we drift that same place, it is difficult for us to see what is right in God’s eyes.  Mostly, because we aren’t looking for God’s view.  We have already decided what is right and do not need a second opinion.

Protect yourself from drifting to a place that no longer desires God’s view in your eyes.  When you seek to preserve God’s view in your life, you are able to press forward into God’s mission for your life.

The enemy would love to see you and me drift away from God’s mission.  So many people drifted into complacency during 2020.  If you aren’t where you would like to be, send me an email and let’s begin a conversation.