Daily Manna 5 August
KEY VERSE: “Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.“ – (Judges 14:3)
TEXT: Judges 14:1-11
Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.”
3 Then his father and mother said to him, “Is there no woman among the daughters of your brethren, or among all my people, that you must go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?”
And Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for [a]she pleases me well.”
4 But his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord—that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
5 So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah.
Now to his surprise, a young lion came roaring against him. 6 And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.
7 Then he went down and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. 8 After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass of the lion. 9 He took some of it in his hands and went along, eating. When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them, and they also ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion.
10 So his father went down to the woman. And Samson gave a feast there, for young men used to do so. 11 And it happened, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
The story of Samson makes interesting reading and study for every heaven-bound Christian. It instructs and lets him know that there is no level one can get to in Christendom that guarantees safety in the walk with God except to walk carefully, watchfully and prayerfully. That Samson, the strongest man in human history, a Nazarite unto God, a Spirit-filled man and a judge in Israel made a shipwreck of his ministry and life is a clear indication that he “that thinketh he standeth” must take heed lest he falls (1 Corinthians 10:12).
From the text, he saw “a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines” whom he desired to marry. He told his parents who objected to it. Later in the chapter, the marriage was contracted and many other things followed. Yes, it was the Lord’s will that Samson would get onto the Philistines one way or the other for it was for that reason he was born.
The angel had told his mother before he was conceived “for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5). Whilst it was the will of God that Samson should get in touch with the Philistines, he was not expected to make a shipwreck of his ministry there.
This shows that the success or otherwise of any calling or ministry more or less depends on the human side. Saul, Solomon, Jeroboam, Judas Iscariot, etc. made a shipwreck of their ministries out of their own failings. However, many saints have passed through what we are passing through today and overcame to wear the crown. As believers, there is a need to put on the whole armour of God if we must also overcome by the same grace that saw them through. That is the will of God for us.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Watchfulness with prayer will bring victory.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Nehemiah 1-4
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Don’t Wreck Your Ministry – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 6 August 2021
