I saw a woman

“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.” - Judges 14v2

Minoah and his wife were desperate for a child. The Angel of the Lord appeared and promised them that they would have a child who would grow up to be a deliverer for Israel. Their son, who would be called Samson, would be a Nazarite with vows and external obligations to keep. Apparently he did everything right on the outside, but that was not nearly enough.

The first words we hear from Samson are; “I saw a woman of the Philistines…get her for my wife…because she pleases me.” Samson had everything right on the outside, but on the inside his priorities were all messed up. Though the Philistines were not on the list of those forbidden in marriage she was not a Jew. Why did he like her? She was pleasing to his eyes; he liked the way she looked. This would be a life-long problem for him. Women were going to cause him difficulty after difficulty and would one day bring about his downfall.

Somewhere along the way Samson’s parents had messed up. Perhaps it was because he was a special child, but he hard learned to demand things from them. In this case, God was going to use the whole situation for his glory, but that does not excuse Samson’s attitude or spirit.

It is vital that we not only have an outward conformity in our lives, but we must make sure our hearts are right as well.