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The story of Samson can be found in Judges chapters 13-16. Samson allowed his lust to control his actions and made poor decisions based on impulsive thoughts driven by that same lust. What are some lessons that we can learn from Samson and his pursuit of a wife?
Be teachable. Always have a heart that’s open to the opinion of those who love you and have spiritual maturity. Samson went against God’s commands and tried to obtain a foreign wife. (Deuteronomy 7:1-4) Samson’s father tried to encourage him to reconsider and choose someone from among his own people. We also need to be open to those who love us and are trying to help us. “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’” (1 Peter 5:5).
Don’t marry just for looks. I know attraction plays a part in who we choose but it is not a good gage of character and compatibility. If we are only looking at a person on the outside we will often miss seeing the ugly person they are on the inside. Samson seems to have never looked more that skin deep. “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised” (Proverbs 31:30).
Don’t be led astray by your desires. When we go after the things of our flesh, we are living to please one person, ourselves! When we give our lives for Christ, we give up our lordship and ask God to be Lord of our life. We no longer live for ourselves, but for Christ. “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (Timothy 2:22).
Samson followed his eyes and lustful nature and in the end the Philistines gouged out his eyes. “And the Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes” (Judges 16:21). When we follow lust and the desires of the flesh in our own lives we will soon find ourselves far from God and in trouble. Many choose lust instead of choosing a “Godly Spouse” to spend the rest of their lives with.
Brad Tolbert
Monticello church of Christ
Monticello, AR