Judges 15 -- Samson Fights Alone

Samson preferred fighting alone and he never mustered an army to fight the Philistines.

Not knowing that his prospective father-in-law had given his wife to his best man, Samson went to visit her and take her a gift.  Finding out the truth, he captured foxes or jackals and used them to burn up the Philistines' grain fields and olive groves.  They in turn killed the woman Samson loved and her father, causing him to avenge her death by killing a large number of Philistines.  "God was using Samson's exploits to harass the Philistines and prepare them for the sure defeat that was coming in a few years," my commentary said.  He retreated to a cave and the Philistines still ruling over the Israelites demanded that his own people give him up to them.  Samson agreed to surrender to prevent injury to his own people and "the Spirit of the Lord entered Samson and gave him great power ... Samson found the jawbone of a dead donkey, took it, and killed a thousand men with it."

After the battle, he cried out to God for water and God "opened a hole in the ground and water came out."

Father, I know You can make use of anyone and anything for Your purposes, because You are sovereign.  Please use me today as I begin to teach.  Shape the minds of the students I interact with and help them to see that You are in this.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford