Pray: "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law."

1. 1

   What do you learn about God (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) from this chapter? His thoughts, ways, or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

2. 2

   In verses 1-4, what led Samson to choose a wife from the Philistines? How did his parents feel about his decision? (Note: In Exodus 4 and Deuteronomy 7, you can read why God had forbidden marrying those outside the nation of Israel).

3. 3

   Ponder: God allowed Samson to do what was right in his own eyes. We will see this statement twice in this chapter, emphasizing that God did not direct this decision. Samson chose the lust of his eyes. However, God allowed it because He was going to use it against the Philistines who had been oppressing the Israelites. God is sovereign, in control of all things. Even in our sinful choices, His plan will not be thwarted. How do you think Samson's parents felt? They had raised him to follow God, and they knew he was set apart by God to be a Nazirite from the beginning. If you have adult children, does it ever break your heart as they make choices that go against how you have raised them? While this is a painful and anxiety-provoking place to be as parents, how can the knowledge that God's plans will not be thwarted help you rest in Him? How can you pray for yourself to trust in your sovereign, loving God who sees and cares for your heart? (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) How does this lead you to pray for your children?

4. 4

   In verses 5-7, what amazing event happens and who enables Samson's power? After this superhuman experience, why does Samson continue his quest to marry the Philistine woman?

5. 5

   Ponder: The Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson to enable him to rip apart the lion. Samson had lived under the Philistine oppression his whole life, and I am sure his parents told him of his special calling to free the Israelites from the Philistines (13:5). Is it possible that by killing the lion, God was showing him how, with God's power, he could conquer the Philistines? In God's grace, was He providing Samson a way out of the sinful choice he was about to make by marrying the Philistine woman? Verse 7 of this paragraph ends with the repeated phrase, "she was right in Samson's eyes." His desires and feelings blinded him to the Lord's pursuit of him and his way of escape. This is a warning for us all. Read Proverbs 3:5-6, James 4:7, and 1 Corinthians 10:13. How does this lead you to pray?

6. 6

   In verses 8-9, what did Samson discover and eat? Who did he not tell? Note: Touching a dead carcass would have made him unclean and possibly defile his Nazirite calling. This is more evidence of Samson doing what was right in his own eyes without thought for the consequences. Not only did he not care about the consequences, but he also did not care about the impact on his parents. They too would have been ceremonially unclean before the Lord. (Lev. 11:24-25, 39).

7. 7

   In verses 10-20, why do the thirty companions threaten Samson's wife? What tactics does Samson's wife use to manipulate him into revealing the riddle? When the thirty companions answer the riddle, what does Samson do to the men and his wife, and through what power?

8. 8

   Ponder: There is a saying in the counseling world: dysfunction breeds dysfunction. Samson's selfish and sinful choices led to selfish and sinful choices made by his wife. Samson's manner of living, doing what was right in his own eyes, would likely have been how he treated his wife as well. This, combined with the threat from the men, may account for her lack of loyalty to Samson and her sinful choice of using emotional manipulation to get the answer to the riddle. Using emotional manipulation can be so tempting when we want what we want or fear the decisions of others. However, God has called us to honesty and not deception. Read Proverbs 11:3, Psalm 19:14, and Hebrews 13:8. How does this lead you to pray?