Scripture

Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. He went down to the town of Ashkelon, killed thirty men, took their belongings, and gave their clothing to the men who had solved his riddle. Samson was Furious about what had happened, and he went back home to live with his father and mother.

Observation

Samson decides he wants a particular Philistine woman. He demands his parents get her to be his wife.

As Samson and his parents travelled to Timnah to arrange the marriage, a lion attacks Samson. The Holy Spirit comes up on him and he rips the lion’s jaw apart with his bare hands.

Some time later, he returns to Timnah for the wedding. He sees that a swarm of bees has made honey in the carcass of the lion. He scoops some up and gives some to his parents.

He makes a wager with the Philistine men at the wedding. If they can solve the riddle, he will give them 30 sets of clothing. If they cannot, then they will give him 30 sets of clothing.

The man have no clue, so they try to get Samson’s bride to entice him to tell her the answer. She does this. When the men reveal the answer to his riddle, Samson storms off to Ashkelon where he kills 30 young men, steals their belongings, and gives their clothes to the men in Timnah. Then he goes home to his parents without his bride.

Application

Samson is a tragic case of gifts without character. Samson’s unique gift was physical strength, but he lacked the wisdom and the character to use it for God’s glory.

There are many people who have some gift or anointing from the Holy Spirit, but they have failed to develop in the fruit of the Holy Spirit. They minister with power, but they lack the character of Christ.

It has been said by other people: If you have the fruit of the Spirit without the gifts of the Spirit, you will dry up. If you have the gifts but not the fruit, you will blow up. If you have the gifts and the fruit, you will grow up.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, please develop your gifts and your fruit in my life so that I can be a mature follower of Jesus. Amen.