Leslie M. John
And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase
of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of
the lion. And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his
father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that
he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion. (Judges 14:8-9)
God set few standards for Nazarite. (Nazarite is one who is dedicated to God’s
service). Numbers 6:3-7 assert that a Nazarite was not supposed to eat grapes or
drink grape products and shall not touch dead body. We see Samson failing in
these standards. He slew a lion and ate some wild honey.
While returning to his father’s house, he found a swarm of bees around honey, in
the dead carcass of a lion. Samson extended his arm into the dead carcass, and
while extending his hand into the dead carcass, obviously he touched the dead
body, and took out honey from inside the dead body, and ate it. Knowing that
Samson was dedicated to God with a lifelong vow of the Nazarite, we are nervous
when we see that he came to the vineyards of Timnah; a Nazirite was to have
nothing to do with grape products in any form. (Numbers 6:3-4)
We are also impressed that Samson is able to kill a lion with his bare hands -
obviously, because the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him. (Judges
14:5-6)
Honey is sweet but to get it Samson overstepped the standards and guidelines set
by God, and came at the dead body. Sin is sweet no doubt; nevertheless, when we
commit sin, we break the standards set forth by God and fall short of the glory
of God.
All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead
body. (Numbers 6:6)
Samson failed in few other standards set by God,
Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give
unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. (Deuteronomy 7:3)
He married a philistine woman against the will of his father. Finally that woman
brought doom on him.
But, when Samson realized that he sinned he prayed to God and God heard his
prayer and number of Philistines he slew on his last day was more than the
number of Philistines he slew in his life time. (Judges 16:30)
We all have come short of the glory of God. We all have sinned. Jesus had to
offer His hands to be nailed for our sake. Except that of blasphemy of Holy
Spirit, there is no sin, which God cannot forgive. It all makes great difference
when we confess our sins to God. He is able to present us faultless, sinless,
before God the Father, during judgment. Believe in Jesus Christ. He is the
redeemer. He is the Savior; He is the Lord of lords."