Judges 13:25 And the Spirit of the LordSpirit of the Lord began to move him at timesat times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

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Samson is born

He wasn't alwayswasn't always moved by the Holy Spirit.

At timesAt times he was, and at times he did things his own wayhis own way.

Judges 14 1 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.

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3a Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?

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Deuteronomy 7 3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

3b And Samson said unto his father, Get Get her for meher for me; for she pleaseth me well.

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"I have seenseen a woman."

They had notnot had a conversation.

He didn't knowknow her at all.

Proverbs 31 30 Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

He that, in the choice of a wife, is only guided by his eye, and governed by his fancy, must after-wards thank himselfhimself if he find a Philistine in his arms.

Matthew Henry Concise Bible Commentary.

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Is she sweet-tempered?Is she patient and kind?Is she gentle and good?

Above all, does she love God with all her heart, mind, soul, and strength?

Girls, ladies, ask the same questions about a potential husband!!!

4 But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the Lord, that He sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

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This does not mean that breaking the Law was desired by God but that Samson’s decisionSamson’s decision was overruled by God for His Own purpose and glory.The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.

God usedused this wicked choice made by Samson to bring good out of evilto bring good out of evil.

5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. 6 And the Spirit of the Lord camecame mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

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7-8 And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion.

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9 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion.

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10 So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do. 11 And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.

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12 And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddleriddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feastwithin the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments: 13 But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.

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14 And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle. 15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson's wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father's house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so?

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16 And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?

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17 And she weptwept before him the seven daysseven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people. 18 And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.

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19 And the Spirit of the Lord camecame 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. 20 But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

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Still angry, Samson went up to his father’s house in Zorah without returning to his wife on the seventh night of the wedding to consummate the marriage. The bride’s father, to avoid the disgrace of what he perceived as an annulment, gave her to the best man.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.

Lessons from the message:

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1 Don't spoil your children.

Teach them to take no for an answer.

Raise them to be godly men and women; not spoiled brats.

Train them to live life God's Way.

A worldly wife, or a worldly friend, is to a godly man as an enemy in the camp, who will watch every opportunity to betray him.

Matthew Henry Concise Bible Commentary.

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2 Choose your friendsfriends carefully, and your matemate so much more carefully.

Samson's 30 ""friendsfriends"" were evil men.

They had beenbeen amiable during the party, but their true naturetrue nature was seen at the end.

When threatenedthreatened, his Philistine wife betrayed himbetrayed him.

God usedused this situation to harass the Philistines, and then He broke upHe broke up the sinful relationship.

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3 God is sovereign.

Samson sinnedsinned -- never a good thing.

God intervenedintervened and workedworked to harass the enemy.

If SamsonSamson had been obedient to God's Commandment, God would stillstill have moved.

Samson would have been blessedblessed.