God’s Word of Promise
Introduction
Judges 15:9-20: Judges 15:1-8 describes how Samson had burned the Philistines’ wheat fields. In today’s reading, the Philistines attack the town of Lehi. The men of Judah, seeking to avoid a confrontation with the Philistines, tie up Samson and plan to hand him over to the Philistines. But Samson breaks free and kills a thousand Philistine men with the jawbone of a donkey.
Scripture Reading
Samson Defeats the Philistines
9The Philistines came and camped in Judah, and attacked the town of Lehi. 10The men of Judah asked them, “Why are you attacking us?”
They answered, “We came to take Samson prisoner and to treat him as he treated us.” 11So these three thousand men of Judah went to the cave in the cliff at Etam and said to Samson, “Don’t you know that the Philistines are our rulers? What have you done to us?”
He answered, “I did to them just what they did to me.”
12They told him, “We have come here to tie you up, so we can hand you over to them.”
Samson said, “Give me your word that you won’t kill me yourselves.”
13“All right,” they said, “we are only going to tie you up and hand you over to them. We won’t kill you.” So they tied him up with two new ropes and brought him back from the cliff.
14When he got to Lehi, the Philistines came running toward him, shouting at him. Suddenly the power of the Lord made him strong, and he broke the ropes around his arms and hands as if they were burnt thread. 15Then he found a jawbone of a donkey that had recently died. He reached down and picked it up, and killed a thousand men with it. 16So Samson sang,
“With the jawbone of a donkey I killed a thousand men;
With the jawbone of a donkey I piled them up in piles.”
17After that, he threw the jawbone away. The place where this happened was named Ramath Lehi.
18Then Samson became very thirsty, so he called to the Lord and said, “You gave me this great victory; am I now going to die of thirst and be captured by these heathen Philistines?” 19Then God opened a hollow place in the ground there at Lehi, and water came out of it. Samson drank it and began to feel much better. So the spring was named Hakkore; it is still there at Lehi.
20Samson led Israel for twenty years while the Philistines ruled the land.
Today’s Key Verse: Judges 15:14b
Suddenly the power of the LORD made him strong, and he broke the ropes around his arms and hands as if they were burnt thread.
Reflect
Yesterday’s reading informed us that Samson was chosen to rescue Israel from the Philistines (13:5) and that the LORD’s power began to strengthen him (13:25). How did Samson defeat the Philistines? How did God provide for Samson after his victory over the Philistines? In what ways does God provide for you?
Pray
Lord God, empower me with your Holy Spirit and strengthen me to serve you. In your holy name, I pray. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Numbers 6:1-27: Instructions are given for those who vow to become nazirites.