On
the day that Samson tore the lion, he did expect to see a swarm of bees that
would build a hive and produce honey within the carcass of that dead animal.
So, on his third trip to Timnah to claim his bride, he came across the carcass
of the lion that he had earlier tore with his bare hands. And he found honey in
its carcass. Impulsively, he scooped up the honey with those bare hands that he
had killed the lion with and ate the honey and he walked on. When he caught up
with his parents, he also gave some to them and they ate it as well.
Unfortunately, Samson did not tell his parents about it. He kept the secret of
where he had obtained the honey from them.
Why
go through these details? Well, it’s because in so doing Samson had just broken
a Nazirite vow required of him to keep. One of the three Nazirite vows said
that he should not touch or eat anything unclean. In touching the carcass of
the lion and eating the honey he had just violated the Nazirite vow. It states
that he should not eat anything unclean. We supposed his parents must have told
him of the circumstances surrounding his birth and about the Nazirite vows he
was to keep. Unfortunately, Samson did not take the pain to observe them.
Verse
10 tells us that Manoah was the one who went to that Philistine beauty whom
Samson was so besotted with to arrange the marriage. Meanwhile, this verse also
suggests that Samson would soon break another of the Nazirite vows. He threw a
bachelors’ party as it was customary for young people to do so. The bride’s family
brought together thirty companions to be with him for this weeklong
celebration. It was a last bash to celebrate the coming end of his singlehood.
And in this celebration, a drinking binge where wine would flow excessively. In
indulging in this party, Samson would have broken another Nazirite vow for he
must have consumed wine excessively.
The
fact that he did not take care to observe the vows required of him just goes to
show that he had either taken the things of God lightly or that he just couldn't
care about what the Lord has stipulated. Whatever his attitude might be, they just
revealed his nonchalance. People who want to be used of the Lord cannot afford
to be nonchalant about things required of them that will affect their
effectiveness in the ministry. Let’s be sure to do whatever requires of us to
keep the cutting edge in the ministry intact. Unlike Samson, we must do
whatever is required of us to never take the anointing of God for granted. We
must be sure to take care of little details that can hinder our effectiveness. Do
be attentive to the little detail of life and be sure to keep our connection to
God unhindered. This will do us well!
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