Topic: Self-Will [Wednesday August 5, 2015]
Text: Judges 14:1-11
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).
History reserves unkind remarks for people who wasted their God-given gifts and privileges on the altar of debauchery and frivolity.
Samson was intended by God to be a Nazarite and live according to God’s highest standard for His people. He grew up in Zorah and wanted to marry a Philistine woman from Timnah. This was a clear contravention of God’s commandment on mixed marriages. Although God had blessed him and given him His Spirit in a full measure (Judges 13:24,25; 14:6,19), he nevertheless, committed fatal errors that led to his spiritual failure and eventual death. God never initiated or approved Samson’s intention to marry an unbeliever. He did so to satisfy his fleshly desire.
Unequal yoke in marriage in Israel – marriages contracted outside God’s definite commandment – had always attracted tragic consequences (Judges 3:5-8). As it was then, so it is today. God’s word and standards are unchanging in every clime and situation.
Samson’s life reveals the tragedy of self-will. His marriage was a violation of God’s laws. That God, in His sovereign wisdom, ignored his character defects and weakness was to fulfill His purpose for Israel. However, no true believer should set aside God’s commandment on the altar of selfwill. Unequal yoke in marriage, business, etc., should be avoided at all costs. It is only when we act and live in consonance with God’s perfect will that we are assured of His abiding presence.
Bible In One Year: John 10-12
Thought For The Day: Gains of self-will are temporal.
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
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