ESOCS Devotional 30 August 2024 – When God Works With You
MEMORY VERSE: “Suddenly the power of the Lord made Samson strong, and he tore the lion with his bare hands, as if it were a young goat…” Judges 14:6 GNV
TEXT: JUDGES 14:1-14
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 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.
12 Then Samson said to them, “Let me pose a riddle to you. If you can correctly solve and explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing. 13 But if you cannot explain it to me, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.”
And they said to him, “Pose your riddle, that we may hear it.”
14 So he said to them:
“Out of the eater came something to eat,
And out of the strong came something sweet.”
Now for three days they could not explain the riddle.
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The way of God is not the way of men. There is no life experience so blessed than the experience of a man who is under the leadership of the Spirit of God. Truly, there is great pleasure when the Holy Spirit leads. Not only are there everlasting pleasures, there is also the joy of ability to do great exploits, such that will amaze people (Psalm 16:11).
In our text, we see a sample of what it is to be led by God. First of all, is the deviation from the traditions of men. If you serve God, then you must be willing to take the will of God first and above the traditions of your people. The parents of Samson knowing that he was led by the Spirit of God respected his decision to marry a Philistine lady, even when they did not know what was behind iit (Judges 14:14). But God has a purpose in everything He leads you to do.
Secondly, Samson tore a lion into two and thereby killed it with his bare hands. He did this when suddenly the power of God made him strong. You can prevail over impossible challenges if God leads you, and is with (Judges 14:5, 6).
Again, in the dead and rotten lion, Samson found honey with which he made himself happy in his journey with his parents. God can make water out of the rock when His people become thirsty and helpless. There is nothing God cannot do to solve the problems and challenges of those that walk under His direction (Judges 14:8-9). In order to be successful to the end, we must be patient and reliable at all times. God does not compromise standards. He rewards faithfulness and steadfastness.
- Have you experienced unimaginable exploits by the power of the Holy Spirit?
- Father, continue to prove yourself strong in my life in Jesus name. Amen.
Further Reading: Luke 9:28-36; Nehemiah 8:1-12; Acts 26:1-23
ESOCS Devotional 30 August 2024
