https://esv.literalword.com/?q=Judges+15
Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Friday, 4 July 2025:
Judges 15:1–6 — “I will go in to my wife in the chamber.” But her father would not allow him to go in.
When Samson returns to claim his Philistine wife (who had been given to another man in Judges 14:20), he is refused. His father-in-law offers her sister instead. Samson responds not with sorrow or prayer but with fury and vengeance: he captures 300 foxes, ties them in pairs, sets torches between their tails, and releases them to burn the Philistine grain fields. Samson’s gift and calling are meant for Israel’s deliverance from oppression, but he constantly acts from personal anger. Even his moments of justice are clouded by selfish motives, which is common among those who claim to be social justice warriors.
- James 1:20 — For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
- Romans 12:19 — Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God….
This episode shows the danger of letting personal offense drive spiritual action. Even justified anger can become destructive when not surrendered to God.
Judges 15:6 — Then the Philistines said, “Who has done this?” And they said, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion.” And the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire.
Samson’s revenge resulted in the death of his wife. Had he handled it differently, she would have lived. God’s word is very clear, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” (Romans 12:19) The consequences of Samson’s vengeance were obvious, but the consequences of our vengeful acts may not be so obvious but sinfully destructive, nonetheless. Mom would say, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.” The Bible says the following:
- Romans 12:14-21 — Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
- Luke 6:27-36 — “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
- Matthew 5:43-48 — “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Judges 15:7–10 — If this is what you do, I swear I will be avenged on you, and after that I will quit.
The Philistines retaliate by killing Samson’s wife and her family. In response, Samson attacks them “hip and thigh”—a Hebrew idiom for a brutal, disproportionate slaughter. The conflict spirals. This is how personal vengeance spreads—it never ends where it begins. Sin, pride, and unhealed wounds create cycles of destruction.
Meanwhile, the men of Judah—Samson’s fellow Israelites—go to the Philistines to make peace and agree to hand Samson over. Instead of joining their God-appointed judge, they side with the enemy to protect their comfort.
- John 12:43 — They loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
- Galatians 1:10 — For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?
Judges 15:11–13 — Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?
The response of Judah reveals how deeply oppression had been normalized. They had accepted the Philistine rule instead of remembering God’s call to freedom. They rebuke Samson for disrupting the status quo rather than for his recklessness. This moment mirrors many in Scripture when God’s people settle for bondage over boldness:
- John 8:34–36 — Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin… if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Judges 15:14–17 — Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him… and his bonds melted off his hands.
As Samson is handed over to the Philistines, the Spirit of the Lord empowers him. He grabs a fresh donkey’s jawbone and slays a thousand men. This miraculous strength is from God alone. However, Samson immediately boasts: “With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps, with the jawbone of a donkey have I struck down a thousand men.” (v. 16) Instead of giving glory to God, Samson celebrates himself. This pride will echo throughout his life. He is a picture of how spiritual gifts without spiritual fruit leads to death and destruction. Gifting isn’t a sign a maturity; fruitfulness is.
- Galatians 5:16-25 — But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
- 1 Corinthians 13:1–3-11 — If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels… but have not love, I am nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
Judges 15:18–20 — You have granted this great salvation by the hand of your servant, and shall I now die of thirst…?
At last, Samson acknowledges God as the source of his strength and cries out in desperation. God graciously opens a spring for him. Despite all Samson’s pride, lust, anger, and vengeance, the Lord responds with mercy. This is one of the few moments where Samson prays. And it shows us something important: God hears flawed people who humbly turn to Him.
- Hebrews 4:16 — Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace….
- Psalm 145:18 — The Lord is near to all who call on him….
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 4 July 2025: Samson lived his life between moments of divine empowerment and personal failure. He relied on his strength, pursued his desires, and only occasionally remembered the God who called him. Yet in mercy, God still used him.
Today’s challenge: Identify one area where you have been acting in your own strength—perhaps reacting emotionally, seeking control, or acting without prayer. Surrender that area to God. Pray before you act. Lean on grace, not grit. Seek His glory, not your own.
Pray: “Lord, I thank You that Your mercy is greater than my mistakes. Like Samson, I often act before I pray, and I boast before I give You glory. Forgive me. Teach me to yield my strength, my emotions, and my plans to You. Fill me with Your Spirit—not just for outward success, but for inward transformation. Use me for Your purposes. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 