Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking him to meet you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
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.) Samson went down to Timnah 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 powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done. Then he went down and talked to the woman, and he liked her.
– Judges 14:1-7
Devotion
We don’t know anything about Samson’s childhood, but from these verses we discover that Samson was an immature and selfish young man. He demands that his parents grant his request for a particular Philistine bride. In some ways, this behavior represents Israel’s attitude toward God. In first Samuel chapter eight, Israel will demand that God appoint them an earthly king. Amazingly in both these situations, God grants them what they are requesting. In God’s perfect will, He knew He could use Samson’s rebellious attitude to provoke the Philistines. Despite His rebellious heart, Samson could still be used by God to bring about the deliverance of His people.
The Big Question
Spiritual maturity is a matter of surrendering our will and our ways to God. Even when we fail to surrender, “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him…” Is there an area of your life that you have not yet surrendered to God? If so, ask God to reveal this stumbling block to your spiritual growth and ask Him to help you commit your entire life to Him.
Conclude in prayer and silence reflecting on what you’ve learned.