Judges 14 - Samson's Capture and Death | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to Judges 14 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.

In Judges 14 the scene is set in Timnah. Back in Joshua 15, Timnah was a part of the dividing up of the inheritance of the land and part of the boundary of Judah, but now seems to have reverted to the Philistines. One of the big tragedies of not doing what God asks is that you lose ground. There doesn't seem to be a neutral in spiritual matters.

Not rowing is to risk going with the current somewhere you didn’t want to go. Our first impression of Samsoon is a bad one. He is immediately going against everything taught in the Law, and looking at inter-marriage with the nations who worshipped other gods. In modern times we question the wisdom of marriage based on appearance only, but that is not a good enough reason to reject a potential partner, but for Samson simply knowing she was not of Israel was sufficient reason for that time.

This isn’t about inter-racial marriage which isn’t a problem to God, but rather about mixing worldliness with faith. Samson said he saw her, and she pleased him. Since when has pleasure been a good reason to do things? In modern times it is though, and Samson shows us that this is not a new idea. Today people say “if it feels good, do it.” Samson was a proponent of this.

The chapter tells the story of the killing of a lion, Samson’s riddle, his marriage which isn’t consummate and falls apart, and his revenge killing of thirty Philistines at the city of Ashkelon, for the purpose of taking their clothing. Apparently the shallot or shallot is an onion named after Ashkelon. Also it is an indication of the high value of 30 sets of clothing.

THis chapter is an introduction to the strength, and foolishness of Samson, and to the deception and treachery of the Philistines.