Israels Judges

Judges 14
Introduction
Last week in chapter 13 we were introduced to Manoah and his wife, the parents of Samson.
Samson would become Israels thirteenth judge. He would be the instrument that God
would use to free His people from the Philistines. The Israelites were under a lengthy and
severe oppression from the Philistines who served as Gods hand of punishment. An angel of
the LORD told Samsons mother that this child would be Israels deliverer and would be a
Nazirite unto God (set aside for His service). At the end of chapter 13 we hear that the
Spirit of the LORD began to move in his life.
In chapter 14 we see an adult Samson whose time has come to be used by God.
***First, we hear of
I. Samsons Bad Decision vv. 1 4
Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. When he returned, he said
to his father and mother, "I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife."
His father and mother replied, "Isn't there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all
our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?" But Samson said to his
father, "Get her for me. She's the right one for me." (His parents did not know that this was from the
LORD, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over
Israel.)
Understanding the Word:
1. Scripture says, Samson _________________... Isnt it attention worthy when we hear that
someone went down? Jonah went downto escape Gods call! Going down appears to
indicate disobedience!
2. When he went down he saw _________________.
3. Is this a problem? _______ Why? __________________________________________________
4. How does this apply to us today? _________________________________________________
5. Samsons statement to his parent seems to be a ____________ rather than a request.
6. Is this honoring your parents (Ex. 20: 12)? ____________ What should he had done?
________________________________________________________________________________
7. How did his parents respond? ____________________________________________________
8. Was this situation of God? _____
9. Why? _________________________________________________________________________
10. What does this teach us? _______________________________________________________

***Second, we hear of
II. Samsons Great Strength vv. 5 7
Samson went down to Timnah together with his father and mother. As they approached the
vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him. The Spirit of the LORD came
upon him in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young
goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done. Then he went down and talked
with the woman, and he liked her.
Understanding the Word:
1. What occurred when Samson and his parents went to Timnah? ________________________
2. What happened? _______________________________________________________________
3. Did Samson tell anyone of the encounter? _________________
***Third, we hear of
III. Samsons Riddle vv. 8 14
Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion's carcass. In it
was a swarm of bees and some honey, which he scooped out with his hands and ate as he went
along. When he rejoined his parents, he gave them some, and they too ate it. But he did not tell them
that he had taken the honey from the lion's carcass. Now his father went down to see the woman.
And Samson made a feast there, as was customary for bridegrooms. When he appeared, he was
given thirty companions. "Let me tell you a riddle," Samson said to them. "If you can give me the
answer within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of
clothes. If you can't tell me the answer, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of
clothes." "Tell us your riddle," they said. "Let's hear it." He replied, "Out of the eater, something to eat;
out of the strong, something sweet." For three days they could not give the answer.
Understanding the Word:
1. After a while Samson and his parents return to Timnah and on the way he discovers
_______ in the lions carcass.
2. He shares the honey with his ____________.
3. On this occasion Samsons parents are accompanying him to the wedding ____________.
4. Samson provides a feast and there challenges the thirty groomsmen to solve a __________.
5. If they solve it he will give them 30 __________ & __________ and if not they will give him
the same.
6. They accept the challenge and hear the riddle, ____________________________________.
7. How long were they given to solve the riddle? ____________

***Fourth, we hear of
IV. Samsons Deceived vv. 15 18
On the fourth day, they said to Samson's wife, "Coax your husband into explaining the riddle for us,
or we will burn you and your father's household to death. Did you invite us here to rob us?" Then
Samson's wife threw herself on him, sobbing, "You hate me! You don't really love me. You've given
my people a riddle, but you haven't told me the answer." "I haven't even explained it to my father or
mother," he replied, "so why should I explain it to you?" She cried the whole seven days of the feast.
So on the seventh day he finally told her, because she continued to press him. She in turn explained
the riddle to her people. Before sunset on the seventh day the men of the town said to him, "What is
sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?" Samson said to them, "If you had not plowed with
my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle."
Understanding the Word:
1. What occurred on the fourth day? ________________________________________________
2. How did she respond? _________________________________________________________
3. What did Samson say? _________________________________________________________
4. What did his fiance do? _______________________________________________________
5. After 7 days & nights of pressing him Samson finally _______________________________.
6. The men came and give Samson the answer and he responded, _____________________
______________________________________________________________________________.
***Fifth, we hear of
V. Samsons angry vv. 19 20
Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty
of their men, stripped them of their belongings and gave their clothes to those who had explained the
riddle. Burning with anger, he went up to his father's house. And Samson's wife was given to the
friend who had attended him at his wedding.
Understanding the Word:
1. The scene is set; Samson is angry and violence is ____________.
2. The Spirit of the LORD comes upon Samson to empower him to _______________________.
3. What did he do next? ___________________________________________________________
4. He then returned ________________________.
4. What happened to his fiance? __________________________________________________

Closing Thoughts:
1. Samson is a story of self will and selflessness! It is a story of a man yielding to God and of
a man resisting God! In yielding he is a Nazirite, one set aside to serve God. In resisting God
he is a natural man, who serves his own desires and pleasures.
2. Samson is similar to Pharaoh in that God knew how he would respond to His
plagues/punishment against him and Egypt. God also knew how Samson would respond
throughout his life just as He knows how we will respond. Therefore, God used the good and
the bad to accomplish His plan!
3. We see an important lesson in choosing a spouse. God had commanded the Israelites to
marry within their own people. As a Christian we are to marry other Christians and not
unsaved people.
4. If Samson had obeyed Gods commands he would have not experienced the trouble and
heartbreak he did. We should learn from him! Obeying God keeps us from trouble and
heartache!
Pray