JUDGES 14


1 And Samson [Shimshon] went down to [Timnah], and saw a woman [isha] in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines [banot Pelishtim].

2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother [av and his em], and said, I have seen a woman [isha] in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife [isha].

3 Then his father and his mother [av and his em] said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren [banot of thy achim], or among all my people [ kol Ami], that thou goest to take a wife [isha] of the uncircumcised Philistines? [Pelishtim haArelim?] And Samson [Shimshon] said unto his father [av], Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well [ is yashrah (right) in my eyes].

4 But his father [av] and his mother [em] knew not that it was of Yahweh, that He sought an occasion against the Philistines [Pelishtim]: for at that time the [Pelishtim] had dominion over Israel [Yisroel].

It was of Yahweh


When Samson was born, Israel were subject to the Philistines, who held them in a galling bondage. Samson's birth was for Israel's deliverance, as was explained by the angel to Samson's mother (Judges 13). When Samson grew up, he fell in love with a Philistine woman whom he met at Timnath. He declared his love to his father and mother, and asked them to get the woman for him. This displeased them, contrary as it was to the law...

...It was a reasonable demur, but Samson was a special man, and this incident of his love was a link in a plan of providence for the overthrow of the Philistine dominion over Israel. This Samson's father and mother did not know...

...The point in the case lies in the statement, "It was of the Lord." We look at Samson subject to the fascination of this woman, and we see a picture entirely according to nature, and learn that a perfectly natural influence may be "of the Lord." It all depends upon whether the Lord has anything to do with the matter that may be in question, and whether He has any purpose to serve. With some matters he has to do: with a thousand matters he has nothing to do.

"The Lord looked down from heaven, to see if any did seek after God."

He hath "set apart him that is godly for Himself," and the affairs of such are subject to His manipulation by the hands of the angels. Such are not perplexed by the apparent impossibility of knowing when the Lord is at work, and when He is not. They concern themselves not to know this in detail.

Their concern begins and ends with the desire and the aim to do the Lord's will in all things, committing their way to Him, in the determination to accept all things as from His hand, with the knowledge that the naturalness of a matter is no evidence it is not divine, but may be the mere outward form in which His providence is brought to bear in preparation for the unspeakable destiny that awaits the children of His education and choice at the coming of Christ.

The Ways of Providence Ch 13.