The Institution That Can't Be Trusted With The Mediation Of Christ

Today's Reading Is Judges 14:

Was it wrong for Samson to go down to Timnah?

Joshua 1:3 (NKJV)

3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.

Was it wrong to seek a wife from Timnah? (v.1)

Numbers 12:1 (NKJV)

1 Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married, for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

2 Corinthians 6:14 (NKJV)

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

Was Samson seeking to totally forsake the "customs" of Israel to have a Philistine woman? (v.2)

What was the failure of Manoah and his wife before this chain of events even began? (v.3)

Proverbs 22:5–7

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards his soul will be far from them. 6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old, he will not depart from it. 7 The rich rule over the poor, And the borrower is slave to the lender.

Exodus 20:5–6 (NKJV)

5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Doesn't it seem like Samson was a spoiled brat? (v.3)

How were Samson's parents looking at the fact that it was their son that was chosen to deliver Israel rather than what God said to them about (how) their son was going to deliver Israel? In other words, how did what God say "about" their son become an idol over the God of all truth who said it? (v.4)

Therefore how much of this sin can we say was "of the LORD" according to this verse? (v.4)

Isn't the proper answer none of it? Nevertheless, God is choosing to use this evil to work for the good of those who love Him and are the called according to the purpose of His eternal grace.

Romans 8:28–30 (NKJV)

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Therefore why was it wrong for Samson's parents to "encourage" the wedding anyway? And did they truly have this knowledge of God's (secret will) as these events unfolded? And with the knowledge that they did have of God's revealed will, why did they go against it? (v.3-4)

Deuteronomy 29:25–29 (NKJV)

25 Then people would say: 'Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt; 26 for they went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods that they did not know and that He had not given to them. 27 Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against this land, to bring on it every curse that is written in this book. 28 And the Lord uprooted them from their land in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.' 29 "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

James 4:16–17 (NKJV)

16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

1 Corinthians 5:1–2 (NKJV)

1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father's wife! 2 And you are puffed up and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.

1 Corinthians 5:6–8 (NKJV)

6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump since you truly are unleavened. For indeed, Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

What is the LORD loudly preaching at Samson by sending a lion to meet him and therefore attack him at the vineyard of the Philistines? (v.5)

Leviticus 26:3 (NKJV)

3 'If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them,

Leviticus 26:6–7 (NKJV)

6 I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil beasts, and the sword will not go through your land. 7 You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you.

Leviticus 26:21–25 (NKJV)

21 'Then, if you walk contrary to Me and are not willing to obey Me, I will bring on you seven times more plagues, according to your sins. 22 I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few in number; and your highways shall be desolate. 23 'And if by these things you are not reformed by Me but walk contrary to Me, 24 then I also will walk contrary to you, and I will punish you yet seven times for your sins. 25 And I will bring a sword against you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant; when you are gathered together within your cities, I will send pestilence among you; and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

Galatians 4:21 (NKJV)

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?

In other words, how is the LORD trying to prevent Samson from sinning against the established covenant of Israel, which was for that generation? And yet what is the Spirit of grace telling him by giving him the victory over the lion? (v.6)

But how much of the victory was his own since it was by grace that God let him live?

Genesis 32:24–30 (NKJV)

24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. 25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26 And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" 27 So He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob." 28 And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed." 29 Then Jacob asked, saying, "Tell me Your name, I pray." And He said, "Why is it that you ask about My name?" And He blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: "For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."

Judges 13:17–18 (NKJV)

17 Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, "What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass we may honor You?" 18 And the Angel of the Lord said to him, "Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?"

Ephesians 6:10–13 (NKJV)

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Why does Samson refuse to tell his parents if it is not because he knew that he had become unclean, violating the Nazirite vow, which meant that the wedding would be cut off? And if he did not know, why would that not matter regarding the Law of the covenant that now declares him unclean? Isn't this why the LORD wanted him to learn the covenant through the Nazirite vow? And if he wasn't permitted to defile himself for the death of his parents, why would he be permitted to defile himself with the death of a beast if the vow was on his head "to the day of his death"? (v.7)

Judges 13:7 (NKJV)

7 And He said to me, 'Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. Now drink no wine or similar drink, nor eat anything unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.'"

Leviticus 5:2 (NKJV)

2 'Or if a person touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and he is unaware of it, he also shall be unclean and guilty.

Leviticus 11:27–28 (NKJV)

27 And whatever goes on its paws, among all kinds of animals that go on all fours, those are unclean to you. Whoever touches any such carcass shall be unclean until evening. 28 Whoever carries any such carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. It is unclean to you.

Leviticus 11:39 (NKJV)

39 'And if any animal which you may eat dies, he who touches its carcass shall be unclean until evening.

Numbers 6:7 (NKJV)

7 He shall not make himself unclean even for his father or his mother, for his brother or his sister, when they die, because his separation to God is on his head.

Numbers 6:9 (NKJV)

9 'And if anyone dies very suddenly beside him, and he defiles his consecrated head, then he shall shave his head on the day of his cleansing; on the seventh day he shall shave it.

Was the LORD using the dead lion to remind Samson of both the blessing and the curse? But more importantly, how is it written here for our sake, after the fact, to remind us to choose the blessing and avoid the curse? Is honey still good while it is in the comb of the swarm? And is there any way of extracting the honey without getting stung by the curse? (v.8)

1 Corinthians 15:53–58 (NKJV)

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Ezekiel 30:15 (NKJV)

15 I will pour My fury on Sin, the strength of Egypt; I will cut off the multitude of No,

Therefore how is God trying to speak to Samson that his heart is like this dead lion, full of the blessing and the curse?

Ecclesiastes 9:3–5 (NKJV)

3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 4 But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten.

Judges 13:3 (NKJV)

3 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, "Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.

Judges 13:23–24 (NKJV)

23 But his wife said to him, "If the Lord had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have told us such things as these at this time." 24 So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him.

Therefore how is the Spirit teaching us through the shadow of the cross that sin, like this dead lion, can be overcome by the Spirit of grace and the gift of faith?

Romans 7:24 (NKJV)

24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

1 John 5:4 (NKJV)

4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Revelation 2:11 (NKJV)

11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."'

But why didn't the LORD discipline Samson right away as he tried to extract (the honey) from the carcass of the lion without getting stung?

Deuteronomy 27:3 (NKJV)

3 You shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have crossed over, that you may enter the land which the Lord your God is giving you, 'a land flowing with milk and honey,' just as the Lord God of your fathers promised you.

Song of Solomon 4:11 (NKJV)

11 Your lips, O my spouse, Drip as the honeycomb; Honey and milk are under your tongue; And the fragrance of your garments Is like the fragrance of Lebanon.

Hebrews 12:3–8 (NKJV)

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.

Why is the LORD waiting, and would Samson even have had the ears to hear the curse if he had been stung? (v.19)

How does sin defile everything it touches? (v.9)

1 Corinthians 5:4–8 (NKJV)

4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump since you truly are unleavened. For indeed, Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Galatians 5:7–9 (NKJV)

7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

Is ignorance really bliss?

Proverbs 1:22–23 (NKJV)

22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. 23 Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

Proverbs 12:23 (NKJV)

23 A prudent man conceals knowledge, But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

1 Corinthians 10:25–30 (NKJV)

25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake; 26 for "the earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness." 27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for "the earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness." 29 "Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience? 30 But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?

Is it really wrong for beauty to be in the "eye of the beholder" in the one man and one woman for life relationship? (v.7)

John 1:14 (NKJV)

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Luke 3:22 (NKJV)

22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You, I am well pleased."

Does it matter how (the world) perceives it? Again, was it wrong to demonstrate Hebrew customs before the Philistines? Was it wrong for Samson to "adopt" Philistine "customs" that were "naturally" acceptable to God's Law? (v.10)

Hebrews 13:4 (NKJV)

4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled, but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Romans 2:11–16 (NKJV)

11 For there is no partiality with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves, their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

Revelation 21:22–27 (NKJV)

22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Yet how is all of this vanity when it is done to "the pride of life," which always makes men a law to themselves, whether in the sons of Israel or in the Gentiles? (v.11-12)

1 John 2:15–17 (NKJV)

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Ecclesiastes 1:1–3 (NKJV)

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." 3 What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun?

The "purpose of life" is not for the pride of man but the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 11:1–3 (NKJV)

1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

1 Corinthians 11:7–11 (NKJV)

7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. 10 For this reason, the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord.

Therefore how could Samson marry a Philistine (for his own glory) and not get torn apart like that lion he killed and stung by the honey bee that tempts his natural but evil inclinations?

1 Corinthians 10:31–33 (NKJV)

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Therefore how is Samson "asking for it" without even knowing it through this prideful competition that he created with the Philistines?

Psalm 2:8–12 (NKJV)

8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'" 10 Now, therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

But how is God, who is full of grace, working it out for Samson's own good and for the glory of Christ (Yahweh)?

Ephesians 1:3–12 (NKJV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

Has Samson thought about how he was going to righteously pay for the welfare of his new bride? (v.12)

Therefore how does the riddle demonstrate his utter inability to provide for her by the sweat of his own brow according to God's image of (the grace of life)?

1 Peter 3:1–7 (NKJV)

1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. 7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Therefore why does he resort to gambling with "riches" that he doesn't have? (v.13, 19)

Luke 16:11 (NKJV)

11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)

19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:16 (NKJV)

16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

Colossians 2:2 (NKJV)

2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,

Colossians 3:16 (NKJV)

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Therefore isn't he just gambling with the young lady's heart and blaspheming the doctrine and image of Yahweh, his LORD?

1 Timothy 6:1 (NKJV)

1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.

Titus 2:4–5 (NKJV)

4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Therefore what is he giving in exchange for his soul? Rags for more rags? (v.12-13)

Matthew 16:26 (NKJV)

26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Romans 1:22–23 (NKJV)

22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—

Romans 1:24–25 (NKJV)

24 Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV)

6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.

And what is he giving "her" but the rags she is already wearing?

1 Corinthians 15:45–49 (NKJV)

45 And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

Therefore Samson is merely preaching to itching ears, telling them exactly what they want to hear! (v.13)

2 Timothy 4:1–5 (NKJV)

1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

But what is God saying in the midst of all of this to both Samson and the Philistines? (v.14)

2 Corinthians 4:6 (NKJV)

6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Luke 11:21–23 (NKJV)

21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. 22 But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. 23 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

Mark 3:24–27 (NKJV)

24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. 27 No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.

And who is the strong man?

2 Thessalonians 2:3–8 (NKJV)

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

And how does God bind the strong man?

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 5:22–26 (NKJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

1 Corinthians 15:36–37 (NKJV)

36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain.

Why does the author care to mention (three days) if it has no significance to the spiritual intent to give us the Word of Life? (v.14)

John 2:19 (NKJV)

19 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days, I will raise it up."

John 6:68 (NKJV)

68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Philippians 2:12–18 (NKJV)

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. 17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason, you also be glad and rejoice with me.

Therefore how does this bind the Philistines in their sin after God's deadline to act against the righteousness of God's nature by answering the riddle according to their own nature? (v.15)

1 Corinthians 2:9–16 (NKJV)

9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

John 8:44 (NKJV)

44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

What manner of love did Samson's wife have for him? Did she love him with the image that God had created for him? (v.16)

1 John 3:1 (NKJV)

1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

1 Corinthians 11:3 (NKJV)

3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

1 Corinthians 11:7 (NKJV)

7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.

Or is she weeping for the life of her own image? (v.15)

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV)

10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but the sorrow of the world produces death.

1 Peter 1:22–25 (NKJV)

22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because "All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, 25 But the word of the Lord endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

Is she the Mediator of Samson's secrets? (v.14, 17)

1 Timothy 2:1–7 (NKJV)

1 Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Was she "pressing him" to preserve his life or her own? (v.15)

1 Corinthians 6:15–20 (NKJV)

15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh." 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

Judges 11:36 (NKJV)

36 So she said to him, "My father, if you have given your word to the Lord, do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth because the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the people of Ammon."

James 4:14 (NKJV)

14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Matthew 6:25 (NKJV)

25 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Therefore what is God aiming at in the heart of Samson before the sun goes down on the grace that is poured out in abundance upon him? (v.18)

Isn't God's target the "pride of life" that began in the heart of this uncircumcised union?

Deuteronomy 10:16 (NKJV)

16 Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart and be stiff-necked no longer.

Deuteronomy 30:6 (NKJV)

6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

Will God bless a union that is joined together by this manner of love?

Matthew 19:3–9 (NKJV)

3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?" 4 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." 7 They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce and to put her away?" 8 He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning, it was not so. 9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."

Therefore by whose grace and by whose glory has your marriage been constituted? (v.18)

By what nature do you plow the hearts of men? Was the consecration of your union blessed with the blessing of the divine or of a mere man?

1 Corinthians 11:10–11 (NKJV)

10 For this reason, the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord.

Luke 9:57–62 (NKJV)

57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go." 58 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." 59 Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." 60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." 61 And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." 62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Therefore why does the "Spirit of the LORD" remain in the heart of Samson's pride of life if it is not because God's promise is according to the likeness of the grace of eternal life? (v.19)

Revelation 2:11 (NKJV)

11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."'

Romans 7:14–25 (NKJV)

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

And therefore, why cling so tightly to rags when you can fight for the riches of God's grace according to His own glory? (v.20)

Psalm 119:25 (NKJV)

25 My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word.

John 20:17 (NKJV)

17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"

Mark 6:11 (NKJV)

11 And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"

Ephesians 1:6 (NKJV)

6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

But why isn't Samson the example of the New Covenant? (v.19)

Romans 12:17–21 (NKJV)

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 9:19–24 (NKJV)

19 You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? 22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

And why was grace given to Samson to fulfill the Old Covenant? (v.4, 19)

Romans 8:28–30 (NKJV)

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Romans 9:21 (NKJV)

21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

Did the Philistine father have the right, according to God's Law, to give Samson's wife away again?

"Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?

9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."

Romans 7:1–3 (NKJV)

1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? 2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.

Therefore what does this say to fathers and to the church that is called to consecrate and witness the vows of marriage? (v.20)