Judges 14

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As we begin our journey with Samson, the 12th and last judge, we continue to be confused and second guessed by the God of the unexpected. Just as we draw parallels between Samson and the other judges, as well as comparisons to other biblical characters whose births were proclaimed, we yet again find something completely new. This “judge” that emerges as Samson, hardly looks like a judge at all...
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Earlier in Judges, we’ve seen Jephthah’s mouth get him into trouble. What parallels can we draw Jephthah’s and Samson’s stories?

What does verse 4 tell us about God?

From the get go, we see Samson with his eyes on a lady. But 3 times in as many verses, the woman’s “Philistineness” is mentioned (she was a Philistine / “she’s a Philistine”, says Samson / “She’s a Philistine?” asks his parents). What does this tell us?

Samson says, “I’ve seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife”. What does this tell us about Samson and his parents?

Next we see Samson and his mom and dad going down to Timnah and a crazy episode with a lion! Why didn’t his mom and dad see this going on? Why was Samson so far in front or behind that they didn’t see? And what was Samson (a Nazarite) doing in a vineyard?

What’s the deal with the lion carcass and the honey?

[Activity] > Samson is a man of action. This can have good and bad connotations... (split into groups and discuss what these good and bad things are)
Why does Samson “riddle-me-this” with the Philistines at the party?

Again we see that “the Spirit of the Lord came upon him” and Samson murders 30 innocent men at Ashkelon. This is paired with the killing of the lion, which incidentally there’s no mention of the lion attacking/threatening Samson. What do we think about the killing of these “innocents” in the power of the Spirit?