Our sermon text for this Sunday is Judges 14:1-20. Judges 14 tells of Samson’s marriage to a Philistine woman. Initially, Samson’s parents attempted to deter Samson from marrying this Philistine (vs. 3), but verse four of our text tells us that this “was from the Lord.” How do we reconcile this with God’s commandment (Gen 24:3; 28:1; Ex 34:15-16) for the Israelites not to marry the foreign women in Canaan?
According to verse 4, who was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines?
What is the significance of Samson killing the lion? Why do you think he didn’t tell his parents?
When Samson was required to pay 30 garments as a result of the riddle being solved, he went to Ashkelon and killed 30 men in order to take their clothing as payment for his debt. Verse 19 says that this was done when “the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him.” Since Samson did this in the power of the Holy Spirit, should we conclude that it was a righteous act? Does Samson’s statement in 15:3 indicate that his killing of the 30 men was sinful?