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It was not a good idea for Samson to get a wife from the Philistines, but God made the best of his poor judgment, turning it into an opportunity to approach these enemies.

BibleGateway: Judges 14:1-11

ESV Text: Judges 14:1-11


KJV Text:

The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 1:56

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     1 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. 3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well. 4 But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel. 5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. 6 And the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. 7 And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. 8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. 9 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.

     10 So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do. 11 And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.(KJV)


Hymn: TLH 530 :
Thy Ways, O Lord, with Wise Design

Hymnary.org — Organ Audio

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1. Thy ways, O Lord, with wise design 
Are framed upon Thy throne above, 
And every dark and bending line 
Meets in the center of Thy love. 

2. With feeble light and half obscure 
Poor mortals Thine arrangements view, 
Not knowing that the least are sure 
And the mysterious just and true. 

3. Thy flock, Thine own peculiar care, 
Though now they seem to roam uneyed, 
Are led or driven only where 
They best and safest may abide. 

4. They neither know nor trace the way; 
But whilst they trust Thy guardian eye, 
Their feet shall ne’er to ruin stray, 
Nor shall the weakest fail or die. 

5. My favored soul shall meekly learn 
To lay her reason at Thy throne; 
Too weak Thy secrets to discern, 
I’ll trust Thee for my Guide alone.