She Looks Good

O. T. #540  "She Looks Good"
June 17, 2015
Judges 14
When he returned home, he told his father and mother, "A young Philistine woman in Timnah caught my eye. I want to marry her. Get her for me. ... She looks good to me."Judges 14:2,3c New Living Translation

LET IT GLOW

Does it matter how we look today? Are we women dressing to attract men, exposing our body parts that should only be seen by our husband? Do we thrive on getting that second look from him? So many do this in the world. Too much competition out there. Or are we dressing conservatively, neatly, and not exposing them? Are we trying to get looks, cause a brother to stumble by sinning sinful thoughts concerning us? Or are we living and honoring  God with our clothes and body? Ladies, you can look good while using your looks for good. Let's teach the younger women the right values. Put some good and godly values back into our society. (I'll step down from my soap box now.)

Recall that the Philistines oppressed Israel for 40 years before Samson comes on the scene. His birth was planned by God so he could deliver them. All we know about his childhood is that Samson grew,  the Lord blessed him, and the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times.
Falwell categorizes Samson's life into two categories-events prior to the incident at Gaza and those afterwards.

Samson despised his Hebrew heritage. He was born to godly, praying parents, and undoubtedly was taught the commands of God as a child. However, Samson chose to please himself and not please God to accomplish his God-given task. (Surely his parents told Samson his purpose in life was to deliver Israel from the Philistines.)

He was given 20 years' time to begin to overcome the enemy, yet in the end, he himself was overcome by the enemy. (Wiersbe)

What a tragic and wasted life.
What is the first thing recorder that Samson did?

• He went down to Timnath. Instead of staying in the borders of Israel, Samson went into enemy territory. Spiritually and geographically he went down. (The town was only 4 miles away from Samson's.) (verse 1)
• He knew the laws of separation which God had given to the Jews, but he chose to ignore them.
• Next, he told his parents to get the woman, not asking them. When they reminded their son of God's law, he defied them.
• He wanted to marry this Philistine gal. (verse 2) Marrying the girl was breaking the Mosiac law regarding mixed marriages. (Ex. 34:16; Deut. 7:3)
• She pleases me well refers to she looks good to me.
• Rather than doing what is right and good in the sight of the Lord (Deut. 6:18), Samson did as everyone else that did what was right in his own eyes (17:6).

Well, Samson's parents could not see ahead that their sons' disobedience would be used by God for His glory. God is never responsible for evil acts, but He is so wise that He uses evil acts to accomplish His good purpose. (D. Jeremiah)

Samson sins here, although God is sovereign and was able to turn the situation to please Him (verse 4). He was not at a loss, but used the opportunity to work against the wicked Philistines and provide gracious help to His people. He achieved destruction of these people, not by an army, but by the miraculous power of one man.  (MacArthur)

I wonder what God's plan was. Certainly Samson took life into his own hands and lived for himself. I'm sure he regretted it after meeting God. How faithful the Lord is, even our rebellion He can turn out for good.

Are we following what God's Word says?
Are we faithful to Him or living for ourself?


LET IT GROW

Then the narrative divides itself in relation to the three women in Samson's life:

1. the girl at Tunnath,
2. the prostitute at Gaza, and
3. Delilah of the Valley of Sorek. 

Here the first gal mentioned is the one Samson wants to marry. So Samson and his parents went down the valley with his parents to contract the marriage. (verse 5)

Why did his parents not refuse such a demand when they knew Samson was disobeying God? Hopefully, they were not afraid of the strongest man, yet their son. Who knows? Maybe Samson was extremely spoiled and they gave him anything he wanted. Whatever...

Are we as parents and grandparents directing our children in the ways of the Lord Jesus? Do we take opportunities to teach them?

We will pick up tomorrow with the strong man picking up something.

LET IT GO

Know the Word of God so I can resist temptations to sin.

Turn to Him for strength to do so.

Teach others the right way to live, then live it out.