Year 7, Day 276: Judges 15

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Samson makes me laugh.  I don’t truly know how young Samson is in this chapter, but he seems like an impetuous young man.  He is rash.  He is doing what is right in his own eyes.

In fact, Samson knows this about himself.  I don’t think the Bible really wants to paint him as being innocent of the prior actions.  Do you hear Samson’s confession?  “This time I will be innocent.”  In other words, he hasn’t been innocent in the past.

I don’t really think that he is all that innocent now, either, for the record.  He thinks that he is, but he isn’t.  Why do the events of this chapter happen?  At the end of the last chapter, Samson didn’t particularly want his wife.  He gives the indication that he’s done with her.  Her father gives her to another man.  Samson comes back, for whatever reason, and is mad that other people moved on after he was impulsive.  He’s rash and not really all that innocent.

Don’t get me wrong.  God still uses him to bring judgment against the Philistines.  But don’t think for a minute that God has to be happy with Samson’s behavior!  Do you think God wants his own people binding up Samson because they know of his recklessness?  Do you think God wants one of his leaders treating women the way that he does?  God punishes the Philistines, but that doesn’t mean that God condones his behavior.

In fact, look at what happens what the fight is over.  Samson whines to God about how thirsty he is.  God splits open a rock to give Samson some water!  What does the Bible say happened?  Samson got a drink and then left.  There is no thanks to God.  There is no recognition of the miraculous.  Samson gets a drink, feel his need satisfied, and moves along.

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