“And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.”
Context:The book of Judges is set during a period of Israel’s history when they were ruled by various judges whom God raised up to deliver the Israelites from their oppressors. In Judges 14, we find the story of Samson, one of the most famous judges. Samson was a Nazirite, dedicated to God from birth and endowed with supernatural strength by the Spirit of the Lord.
The Spirit of the Lord came upon him:In Judges 13:25, it is mentioned that “the Spirit of the Lord began to move him.” Here, in Judges 14:19, we see that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson once again. The empowering of the Holy Spirit enabled Samson to perform extraordinary feats of strength and accomplish God’s purposes.
Went down to Ashkelon:Ashkelon was a Philistine city located on the Mediterranean coast. Samson, driven by the Spirit of the Lord, ventured into enemy territory. It is noteworthy that Samson’s actions were not merely impulsive or personal but were divinely orchestrated as part of God’s plan.
Slew thirty men and took their spoil:Samson, in an act of both bravery and judgment, engaged and defeated thirty Philistine men. This act demonstrated his exceptional physical strength, which was a gift from God. Additionally, Samson took their spoils, perhaps as an act of retribution against the Philistines who oppressed Israel.
Gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle:Prior to this event, Samson had posed a riddle to the Philistine wedding guests. Unable to solve the riddle, the guests pressured Samson’s wife to obtain the answer. After she revealed the answer to them, Samson, according to his promise, provided them with thirty sets of garments.
His anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house:Samson’s anger was sparked by the treachery of his wife, who had betrayed him by revealing the riddle to the Philistines. As a result, he left the Philistine region and returned to his father’s house in anger, possibly intending to abandon the marriage.
Lessons we can learn from Judges 14:19:
- The empowerment of the Holy Spirit: Samson’s extraordinary abilities were a direct result of the Spirit of the Lord coming upon him. Similarly, as believers, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, empowering us to accomplish God’s purposes and live a life pleasing to Him.
- The importance of staying true to one’s commitments: Samson made a promise to provide the garments to those who solved the riddle. Despite his anger, he fulfilled his vow. It teaches us the value of integrity and keeping our word, even in challenging circumstances.
- The consequences of unchecked anger: Samson’s anger led him to leave his wife and go to his father’s house. Uncontrolled anger can harm relationships and lead to impulsive actions. It is essential for us to exercise self-control and seek God’s guidance in managing our emotions.
- God’s sovereignty in fulfilling His purposes: Despite Samson’s personal motivations, God used him to bring judgment upon the Philistines. We see that God can work through imperfect individuals to accomplish His plans and bring about justice.
