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358
The Beginning of the End
as a Nazirite, which was symbolized by his uncut hair. If Samson
had obeyed God’s commands, his destiny would have been nobler
and happier, but friendship with idolaters corrupted him.
Since his hometown of Zorah was near the country of the
Philistines, Samson started to mingle with them on friendly terms.
A young woman living in the Philistine town of Timnath caught
Samson’s interest, and he determined to make her his wife. His
God-fearing parents tried to persuade him not to do this, but his only
answer was, “She pleases me well,” so finally the marriage took
place.
Just as he was entering manhood, the time more than any other
when he should have been true to God, Samson connected himself
with the enemies of Israel. He did not ask whether he could better
honor God when united with his chosen one. God has promised
wisdom to all who seek to honor Him first, but there is no promise
to those determined to please themselves.
How often emotions rule in the selection of husband or wife! The
two people do not ask counsel of God nor have His honor in mind.
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Satan is constantly seeking to strengthen his power over the people
of God by leading them to unite with his followers. To accomplish
this, he tries to arouse unholy passions.
But the Lord has instructed His people not to join their lives
with those who do not have His love living in them: “What accord
has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbe-
liever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?” (
2
Corinthians 6:15, 16
).
At his wedding feast, Samson was brought into close social
contact with those who hated the God of Israel. The wife betrayed
her husband before the close of the feast. Furious at her treachery,
Samson abandoned her for a time, and went alone to his home
at Zorah. Later, when he changed his mind, he returned for his
bride, only to find that she had married another. To take revenge,
he destroyed all the fields and vineyards of the Philistines. This
provoked them to murder her, although their threats had driven her
to the deceit that started the trouble.
Samson had already demonstrated his marvelous strength by
killing a young lion by himself and by killing thirty men from
Ashkelon. Now, moved to anger by the barbaric murder of his wife,