Past Victories

"When he returned later to take her, he turned aside to look at the carcass of the lion; and behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the body of the lion. So he scraped the honey into his hands and went on, eating as he went. When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them and they ate it; but he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey out of the body of the lion." -Judges 14.8-9

Time has passed since the battle with the lion that Samson has never mentioned. He is returning to Timnah to marry the Philistine woman and on the way there he makes a detour to look at the lion's corpse. Inside the body a swarm of bees has made a home and Samson scraps honey out of it, breaking part of his Nazirite vow, to never touch a dead body. He is focused on the past, which pulls his attention from the present and causes him to fall.

When we are so focused on the glory days we lose sight of the moment. Samson was drawn to the lion's body, and because of it he ended up breaking his vow.

Men, do you live in the past? Are you still focused on the glory days of the past? The high school championship you won. The way your church grew forty years ago. What are you missing out on now? What is God wanting to do in your life that He can't because you aren't living in the moment? What is God trying to protect your from that you'll fall into because you're not looking ahead?

Let us not fall into the same trap Samson did. Let us be strengthened by the past victories, but may we never be led astray by them.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Sharing Victory

"Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came as far as the vineyards of Timnah; and behold, a young lion came roaring toward him. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily, so that he tore him as one tears a young goat though he had nothing in his hand; but he did not tell his father or mother what he had done." -Judges 14.5-6

Samson is going to Timnah and he is attacked by a lion. He has no weapon, not even a walking stick, but it doesn't matter. The Spirit of the Lord comes mightily upon him and he rips the lion apart with his bare hands. This is the first of three Biblical accounts I am aware of where men kill lions. One of them does it to rescue a sheep. One of them does it, apparently, just to see if he can in order to prove himself. Samson does it because he is attacked.

To kill a lion in Biblical times was no small feat. Again, I am only aware of three recorded instances where it happens. With the other two it is something that they share, it became sort of a rite of passage. But Samson keeps it to himself, he never tells anyone, not even his parents. This could be taken as a sign of humility, but I don't think that's the point.

Had Samson shared what had happened with his parents, they could have helped him to understand the reason for his birth. He had been born to deliver Israel, and now God has showed him the strength he has been given to accomplish the task. Had Samson shared his victory with those closest to him, it could have helped guide him towards his calling, but he keeps it to himself, and it becomes a snare to him.

Men, when you have victories what do you do with them? When your strength is unexpectedly challenged and you prevail what do you do? I don't think we should brag about it, flaunting it for the world to see. However, I do believe we need to share it with those closest to us. I believe the battles we fight help us to better understand who we are and what we are destined for.

It was no small feat to kill a lion, and the victories we have over the enemy, a roaring lion (1 Peter 5.8) are no small feat either. Don't brag about it, but don't keep it to yourself. Share your victories with those closes to you, seek their input and guidance. Allow your lion kills to be a rite of passage for you.

Let us be men who share our victories. Let us be men who are guided by them.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Of the Lord

"Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines. So he came back and told his father and mother, 'I saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.' Then his father and his mother said to him, 'Is there no woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?' But Samson said to his father, 'Get her for me, for she looks good to me.' However, his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord, for He was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel." -Judges 14.1-5

Samson was born and grew in the blessing of the Lord. The Spirit of God was moving upon Him and the time had come for Samson to begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. He travels to Timnah and a young woman catches his eye. He is smitten with her and requests that his parents get her for him as a wife.

Initially they are less than thrilled with his choice. After all she is a Philistine. Her people are oppressing Israel, and they are outside of the covenant. But they do not realize that all of this is the work of God. God is working to deliver Israel from the Philistines through Samson, and all of this is part of His plan.

Men, sometimes God's will is going to seem opposite of our desires. Sometimes it is going to seem flat out crazy. Do you dismiss it without a second thought? Or do you take the time and seek God's direction? If your child came to you with something that you thought wasn't the best decision, what would you do? Would you take the time and pray through the decision with them, or immediately shut it down?

I am not saying that there are things you should not immediately put a stop to. There are decisions that are nothing but harmful that we will need to intervene with, but we cannot immediately rule out everything without seeking God's guidance. The example that keeps coming to mind is an example Francis Chan gives in Forgotten God. He shares a story about a teenage girl who works year round and three jobs in the summer to sponsor 14 children. At about $30 each a month that comes out to $420 a month and $5,040 a year. That's a lot for a high school student.

If your child came to you with a suggestion of something like that, what would you do?

Let us be men who seek the will of God in all situations. Let us discern what is of the Lord.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor