Judges 14
Leaders Prep Section
Watch this video, read these notes, and send the pre-written email (below) to your group 2-3 days before you meet.
Notes
Simultaneously, Samson is doing exactly what he wants and God is using him to do exactly what he wants.
And no matter what Samson does, he can’t seem to stop this from happening.
Group Guide Starts Here
Context of scripture
There were 7 nations in Canaan that God told Israel they have to fight…the Philistines weren’t one of them. The Philistines are not Canaanites. They landed on the beaches of Canaan and came into power after Israel should have conquered Canaan. They are sea people…sophisticated and known for their warrior culture (think Vikings). They came from islands in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Greece.
Read Judges 14: 1-4
Timnah lay six miles west of Zorah (Samson’s hometown) and was located in the border region between Israelite and Philistine people.
In verse 3, the translation of what Samson says about the woman he wants to marry is, “she looks good to me.”
In retrospect, do you feel like you knew your wife well enough to marry her?
Read Judges 14: 5-14
The feast called mišteh was a seven-day drinking party. Archeologists that dig Philistine cities commonly find jugs that were specifically designed for drinking beer. They were built with small holes to hold back the grain, while letting the beer flow. As a reminder, the Nazarite vow forbade all forms of grapes…not grains.
The Hebrew words used to describe the “thirty companions” is the same language used to describe warriors. In other words, while they did not fight him, they surrounded him with the equivalent of warriors for the entire party.
Did you have a bachelor party? What was it like?
Read Judges 14: 15-20
Note that his wife nags him every one of the seven days during the party.
Has your woman ever called you just before, or during a time you were out with friends, just to get in your head? Did it work?
Ashkelon is 20 miles away and the center of Philistine coastal trade and commerce (making this a 40 mile round trip). He would have passed several other towns while going this far to get something as simple as clothes.
Do you believe it’s possible to be blinded by anger and, if so, what is the stupidest thing you’ve ever done while angry?
So far in the story and due to direct actions taken by God, Samson has been attacked by a lion, surrounded by warriors from an opposing clan, and commits mass murder (over three times the number Charles Manson killed, which was 9).
Does it bother you that God would say he loves Samson, yet appears to be using him as a disposable asset?