Judges 15

We would like to live at peace with all men at all times, but sometimes peace must be won through warfare. Samson was at war with the Philistines because God had appointed Him to fight against them. In that war, the Lord used the occasion of Samson's marriage to one of the Philistine women in order to bring about His vengeance against them. Many people died in that fight, including Samson's bride and her father. Their own people burned them to death as an expression of their hatred for Samson.

Samson was virtually alone in His determination to fight the war that the Lord had for him in his day. The people of Israel accepted the supremacy of the Philistines over them as an established fact. They saw Samson as the problem and not as their deliverer.

Though he was betrayed by all those who should have been his allies in the fight, Samson had the Spirit of the Lord on his side. With the power of God he was able to win astounding victories.

God miraculously supplied this savior of Israel with water that refreshed him in his solo warfare. He called upon the Name of the Lord for help in his distress and the Lord gave him what he needed so that he might continue in the battle that God had chosen for him.

We were desperate for a very strong Savior, one who would be mightier than Samson. If you are looking for a more amazing victory than killing 100 Philistine warriors with the jawbone of a donkey, how about this one: defeating all the powers of sin and death through one man's death on a cross. Our King fought that fight for us and won!

Abuse against His bride stirs up His wrath even today. He is not safe, but He is the one who alone can bring us to safety. His own people handed Him over to defeat. But with His glorious resurrection He has burst the cords of death that held us. Because of His amazing power, we now have a river of life flowing out of us.

Anyone less than this mighty Warrior could never have won the battle that we needed our righteous King to win. All praise to God who reigns above! Jesus is the Strongman of our salvation!