Today’s Bible Reading: JUDGES 11:29-15:20
Judges 14:8-9 After some time, he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass of the lion. He took some of it in his hands and went along, eating. When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them, and they also ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass
Appetites must be addressed. They crave fulfillment. They don’t typically dissipate, but seek to be satisfied at any and all cost. Whether it’s a candy bar or companionship, appetites cry for attention.
Samson was special. His mother was barren. Yet she was selected by God to bring forth a deliverer for Israel to stop the 40 years of oppression caused by the Philistines. An angel announced the good news. She would have a son who would save God’s people. His birth was not without conditions. His mother was to abstain from alcohol and avoid eating anything unclean. He was to be a Nazirite to God from birth.
A Nazirite was someone who took a special lifelong vow to separate themselves to the Lord (Num 6:2). It could be entered into by a woman or a man. The vow entailed three restrictions. First, the person had to “separate himself from wine and strong drink” (Num 6:3). Further, he could “not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried” or nor eat anything “that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins” (Num 6:4).
Second, he was to visibly express his vow of separation by not allowing a razor to touch his head. He was to “let the locks of hair of his head grow long” (Num 6:5). As long as he adhered to the vow, he was to let his hair grow to show his separation unto the Lord and His work. His hair showed his commitment.
Third, the one who made the vow was not to go near a dead body. A dead body was considered defiled and if someone had contact with them, they would became defiled. To maintain their vow of purity and separation unto God they were to avoid being within proximity to dead things.
Samson was to adhere to all of these requirements, but he didn’t. He was separated at birth to serve God. For nine months his mother adhered to the guidelines she was given so he could faithfully follow the Lord from birth. But even with all that his mother did to prepare him to fulfill his vow, he violated it.
Samson let his appetites abolish his adherence to his vow. The dead lion did what the living lion couldn’t. Samson’s physical strength could kill the lion, but his spiritual strength couldn’t keep him from its honey filled carcass. His vow was violated by his hand full of honey. He satisfied himself rather than sustain his separation unto the Lord. It was destroyed by a dead lion. He chose personal pleasure over spiritual purity. He chose his craving over his commitment.
We are a lot like Samson. We too are vow breakers. We make sincere vows that we shortly violate. We too let our appetites lead us to abandon our commitments. We make promises then pursue pleasure instead. We need a deliverer.
Fortunately, the scriptures tell of another one who had a supernatural birth and was set apart to be our deliverer. He too was separated unto the Lord. He was the Holy one (Luke 1:35). He would save his people not from an oppressing army, but from their sins (Matt 1:21). Jesus is our deliverer who declared, “I have come down from heaven, not to do my will but the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38). He said, “my food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” (John 4:34). Unlike Samson, when tempted He didn’t seek to satisfy his appetite by turning a stone to bread (Matt 4:3), but remained faithful to His “vow”. He was a vow keeper. He didn’t let His craving cancel His commitment. Jesus can help us to not to get our “hands full of honey”. He has been tested in all things yet without sin (Heb 4:15). By His Spirit we can arrest our appetites and keep our commitment to Him.
Today consider those appetites that create uncontrollable cravings. Ask the Lord to empower you and enable you by His Spirit to control these cravings and help you follow Him faithfully. Ask Him to help you keep your “hand out of the honey”.
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