Samson Part II: The Lionslayer

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: Your barren womb shall from now on be called blessed, for this day you shall conceive and bear a soun. 00:00:11 Speaker 1: Priya could not speak, nor could she look away. The angel smiled her glimmer of divine warmth in the fading light and helped her to her feet. 00:00:22 Speaker 2: Your son shall be a mighty warrior. He shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines. He is to be set apart for the Lord's purposes. Therefore, be careful and drink no wine, a strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. No razor shall come upon his head. For the child shall be a Nazarite god from the womb. 00:00:45 Speaker 3: He will be called Samson Sunlight. I met a woman in Timna, Timna, a Philistine woman. I want her as my wife. Have you not thought for your people? 00:01:01 Speaker 4: The Philistines have oppressed us for decades. Is there no woman among your own kin you could take as your wife? 00:01:08 Speaker 5: Ah Lepidia pleases my eyes, and that is enough. I care not for these other things. Fetch your for me, Father. 00:01:18 Speaker 1: None of them could see the hand of God at work, moving in ways mysterious and strange. Sampson's weakness, his reckless heart would be the instrument of deliverance for Israel. For all his flaws, God was weaving a plan through the chaos. 00:01:48 Speaker 6: Chosen, yes, but will he yield to God or to himself? Shell, Oh, my friends, from here in the holy land of Israel, i'm l extein with international fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome to the Chosen people in the Kingless Kingdom. Strength alone isn't enough, and that's where we find our hero, a man chosen from birth and gifted with divine strength, but a man led by desire instead of devotion. In Judges fourteen, we watch as he follows his cravings wherever they lead, no matter the cost. He will tear a line apart with his bare hands, but he cannot control the beast within himself. It's the story of a man consumed by his own wants, wielding God given strength to serve not God but himself. 00:02:45 Speaker 1: Samson strolled through the vineyards of Timna, his steps slow and measured. The Nazarit valve forbade him from such places. But rules had always been to Samson what spiderwebs were to a bull, Thin and inconsequential. His thoughts, too strayed from his sacred calling Lapida. He thought of her lips, full and red as the wine he never drank, her body soft and yielding, and her hair fragrant as the wild flowers. Yet her soul, her heart, her mind, these were of no concern to Samson. His passions ruled him. As he walked, A shiver ran down his spine. He paused, his senses sharpening. The vineyard was still unnaturally so, and he felt the weight of eyes upon him. He turned sharply, scanning the vines, but he saw nothing. A gust of wind rustled the leaves, but Samson knew the difference between the whisper of the wind and the hush of a predator. A low growl broke the silence, and a lion burst from the underbrush. The beast was lean and golden, its muscles rippling beneath its fur as it leaped upon him. Samson was thrown to the ground, the lion's claws digging into his shoulders. The creature's breath filled his nostrils as it lunged for his throat. Though Samson's body moved with a force more powerful than any man's, his foot connected with the beast's chest, sending it sprawling into the dirt. The lion rose, shaking itself, and its amber eyes locked onto Samson's. They circled one another, two predators, neither willing to yield. 00:04:40 Speaker 5: Ah, come, beast, Let's see who is stronger. 00:04:46 Speaker 1: The lion roared and lunged. This time Samson met at mid air, his hands closing around its throat. Samson slammed the creature to the ground. The lion thrashed beneath him, its claws raking him arms that Samson did not falter. The spirit of the Lord surged through him, a wildfire coursing through his veins. His laughter turned to a fierce shout as he tightened his grip. The lion's growls grew weaker, but it broke free, staggering back to its feet. With a final desperate roar, it charged again. Samson caught its jaws his hands, forcing them apart. The lion writhed and clawed that Samson's strength was more than mortal. With a cry of rage and triumph, he tore the beast in two, its body splitting with a sickening crack. Glood and sinew stained his hands and Samson stood over the lifeless creature, his chest heaving. For a moment, he felt something unfamiliar, a flicker of awe at the power that had surged through him. Yet as quickly as it came, it was gone. He looked down at the carcass and smirked. 00:06:05 Speaker 5: A may all my enemies have the same fate. 00:06:12 Speaker 1: After this, he departed back to Timna to speak with his bride to Bee. Days had passed since Samson's encounter with the lion, but the memory still lingered in his mind. The power he felt in that moment, the raw strength coursing through him, filled him with pride and a peculiar kind of joy. The stench of decay soon reached him, sharp and rank, pulling him from his reverie. He came upon the carcass of the lion he had slain. The body had bloated and blackened in the sun, its flesh now a haven for filth and rot. Yet amid the carnage, Samson saw something curious. A swarm of bees buzzed around the remains. A hive was built within the lion's chest cavity. Ignoring the stinging of the bees, Samson reached into the carcass and pulled out a dripping honeycomb. Without hesitation, he took a bite, savoring the honey as it melted on his tongue. Once again, Samson dismissed the Nazarite vow and the lore of Moses with the careless ease. He was a man ruled by appetite. He returned home, carrying the honey in his hands. Entering his father's house, he placed it on the table with a flourish. 00:07:39 Speaker 3: Father, Mother, come and eats. I have found wild honey in the fields. 00:07:45 Speaker 1: Manoah and Priya joined him. Unaware of the honey's origins, they ate in silence, the sweetness masking the bitterness that lay at the heart of their family. Samson licked his fingers clean, reclining with so satisfaction. 00:08:01 Speaker 3: Father is all prepared for me to take my bride. It is my son. I have paid the bride price and retrieve her tomorrow morning. 00:08:12 Speaker 5: Excellent, I shall prepare a wedding feast fit for Knes. 00:08:17 Speaker 1: True to his word, Samson arranged a feast that was the talk of Timna. The halls were heavy with the scent of roasted meats and aged cheeses. The tables laden with food and drink. Though Samson drank no wine, he was drunk on the revelry, Basking in the attention of the Philistine youths. He danced and laughed, making a spectacle of himself for their amusement. When his bride arrived, he greeted her with open arms. The two were wed before the assembled guests. That night, they consummated their marriage, her union of fire and passion. The feast continued for days. Thirty Philistine men joined the revelry, challenging Samson to games of strength and skill. He bested them, all his victories, feeding his pride. Yet when the conversation turned to riddles, Samson's confidence faltered. The men's spun clever puzzles, their wit, cutting into Samson's fragile egot. Samson, unaccustomed to being outdone, grew indignant. 00:09:28 Speaker 3: Not me, who's a riddle to you? 00:09:31 Speaker 1: He stood his arms wide, commanding the room like an actor on a stage. 00:09:37 Speaker 5: If you tell me the answer within seven days of the feast, I will give you all thirty garments and thirty changes of clothes. 00:09:47 Speaker 3: But if you cannot tell me the answer, I shall receive. 00:09:50 Speaker 5: From you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes. 00:09:55 Speaker 3: Do we have a deal? 00:09:58 Speaker 5: Give us your riddle very well. Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet. 00:10:09 Speaker 1: The men frowned, their confidence faltering. They had expected a simple puzzle, but this riddle eluded them. For three days they pondered, growing increasingly frustrated. On the fourth day, their patients snapped. They cornered Samson's wife against the stone hall, away from Samson's sight. 00:10:31 Speaker 3: Your husband has made a fool of us. 00:10:34 Speaker 1: Lapida tried walking away, but was quickly thrown against the wall. 00:10:38 Speaker 4: You will entice your husband to tell us the answer to that riddle. This Hebrew dog will not make us fools. 00:10:46 Speaker 7: My husband will tear you from limb to limb if you harm me. 00:10:50 Speaker 3: Of course, that's why. 00:10:52 Speaker 4: Who will do nothing to you when your father's house will be burned to the ground if you do not tell us. 00:10:57 Speaker 1: Samson's wife held back tears and stood up straight. 00:11:01 Speaker 7: Very well. I will convince him to tell me the answer. 00:11:06 Speaker 1: That night, she approached Samson with false smiles and soft words. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she whispered in his ear. 00:11:15 Speaker 7: Come to bed with me, my love. 00:11:17 Speaker 1: Samson agreed without protest. She took his hand and led him into the chambers. She ran her fingers through his long hair and brought him in close for a kiss. 00:11:28 Speaker 7: How is it that you've managed to outwit every man in the city with your riddle? Tell me the answer to your riddle? 00:11:36 Speaker 5: Hm, my sweet the answer to the riddle is mine and mine. 00:11:42 Speaker 1: Alt Samson's wife pushed back and furrowed her brow. 00:11:48 Speaker 7: Do you hate me so much that you wouldn't even share it with your wife? 00:11:51 Speaker 5: I I love neither my father nor mother. No, why should I tell you? 00:11:59 Speaker 7: Why should you tell me? 00:12:01 Speaker 5: Ah? 00:12:01 Speaker 7: I'm your wife. We share a bit. You are flaunting this riddle up before everyone and leaving me out of it on purpose? Do you want me to feel stupid? 00:12:13 Speaker 3: This is absurd. 00:12:14 Speaker 5: If you want to know the answer so badly, I suppose you will have to think harder. 00:12:18 Speaker 1: Lapida stormed from the room, her anger feigned but convincing. For days, she wore him down, her persistence as relentless as the Philistine's threats. 00:12:30 Speaker 7: In my whole life, I would never have imagined having a husband so callous and withholding. This just proves how childish you are not even willing to share a stupid riddle with me. I doubt you even have an answer. You're just stalling. If you actually had an answer, you'd tell me. Child, You're a child, tell me, tell me. 00:12:54 Speaker 5: Tell me enough. 00:12:56 Speaker 3: Oho. 00:12:59 Speaker 5: Ah, you've done it. You've done what I thought was impossible. You've worn me down. Woman, you have successfully chiseled at my sanity, and I will endure it no longer. 00:13:12 Speaker 3: I will give you your answer. 00:13:15 Speaker 7: Finally. Oh, thank you, my love. 00:13:19 Speaker 1: She threw her arms around him. Samson, confused, angry and worn down, told her the answer. 00:13:28 Speaker 3: Ah, the eater is the lion. My slaved new vineyard. 00:13:34 Speaker 5: Days later, bees made their hive in the lion's carcass, and there was sweet honey. Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the straw came something sweet. 00:13:48 Speaker 1: She kissed him, but offered no thanks. As soon as he turned away, she hurried to the Philistines and revealed the answer. On the final day of the feast, the men approached Samson with smug grins. 00:14:06 Speaker 3: It's the seventh day. Are you prepared to give me my garments? Shall I give you my size? 00:14:15 Speaker 1: One of the men leaned forward and folded his hands. 00:14:18 Speaker 4: Certainly, Samson, you have truly outwitted us, But surely you will allow us one final guess. 00:14:25 Speaker 5: Of course, it makes no difference. You'll never guess. 00:14:30 Speaker 1: The young man paused for effect and tilted his head to the side. 00:14:35 Speaker 5: It truly is a puzzling I would assume some of the greatest seers. 00:14:39 Speaker 3: Of our time may never be able to answer it. However, perhaps I let me answer with two questions. What is sweeter than hon what is stronger than alone? 00:14:51 Speaker 1: The whole erupted with laughter, but Samson's smile faded. His gaze turned to Lapida, who his eyes. Rage burned in his chest, but he masked it with a chilling calm. 00:15:07 Speaker 5: If you hadn't plowed my have for you would not have found out my riddle. 00:15:14 Speaker 3: Tell me, do you think that is fair? 00:15:17 Speaker 1: The hall fell silent as Samson stood, his massive frame, casting a long shadow. 00:15:24 Speaker 3: I shall return with your garments. Gentlemen, don't go anywhere. 00:15:28 Speaker 1: He slammed the door behind him, the frame splintering under his strength. The men exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of their mistake dawning upon them. Samson burned with rage, his humiliation stoking a fire in his chest that would not be quenched. His pride, bruised by betrayal and mockery, now demanded retribution. The spirit of the Lord, fierce and unrelenting, flowed through his head. He marched from Timna toward the philistine city of ashgalon his steps thunderous as a storm, rolling in from the sea and the city's gates, A cluster of guards spotted his approach. 00:16:15 Speaker 2: Hebrew, stop right there. 00:16:18 Speaker 1: The guards threw their spears. Samson didn't stop. 00:16:23 Speaker 2: This is your last warning, dog, run back to your den. 00:16:28 Speaker 1: But Samson's pace quickened, a job that became a charge, his massive frame hurtling toward them like a war horse in battle. The guards braced themselves, lowering their spears, but they were as sadlings before an inevitable sor. Samson seized the nearest spear, snapping it in two as if it were dry kindling. With a single hand, he gripped the armored guard and hurled him into his companions. Two more rushed at him. Samson and leapt between them, his movements impossibly swift. He seized them by their necks and smashed their heads together. The sickening crack of bone echoing off the city walls. The remaining guards retreated, their faces pale with terror. 00:17:16 Speaker 7: He is no man. 00:17:18 Speaker 1: The gates of Ashcalon were no barrier to him. Samson stormed into the city, his fists and feet as deadly as any blade. One by one, he kicked down the doors of thirty houses, each time dragging their occupants into the streets. He killed them with the ease of a butcher, Felling livestock. Blood painted his hands and arms, His breath ragged as he stripped the dead of their garments. When his work was done, Samson hefted the sack of stolen clothing over his shoulder and began his march out of the city. A lone guard, trembling with a torch and sword charged. Samson caught the blade mid swing, twisted it from the man's grip, and struck him unconscious with a single head button Taking the torch, Samson set the dry brush at the city's edge aflame. The fire spread quickly, climbing the walls and licking at the fields beyond. He walked away as the city burned behind him, his path lit by the inferno, his shadow cast long against the smoke, darkened sky. The wedding feast had ended with silence and dread. Guests stood outside the hall, their eyes fixed on the horizon, now alight with flames. Smoke rose in thick columns, carrying with it the faint screams of the people of Ascalon. Samson returned to Timna, his face colder stone. He dropped the sack of garments at the feet of the men who had bested his riddle. Reaching into the sack, he pulled out a fine linen robe and used it to wipe the grime from his face. 00:19:14 Speaker 3: Here you are, my friends. I promised you all new garments. I'm a man of my word. What have you done? Those were our kin mm hmm. 00:19:29 Speaker 5: I simply went and fetched what I promised. You, philistine, consider yourself blessed. I hosted you for a week, fed you, and now you leave with new garments. 00:19:45 Speaker 1: The crowd stood frozen without another glance. Samson turned and strode away, his steps heavy with purpose. He left his bride behind. Samson's path was not one of heroism, but of destruction, a road paved with his unchecked passions and untempered pride. Yet, even in his ignorance and folly, the hand of God moved through him. He was not a savior, not a man of noble character or steadfast courage, but a tool sharp and brutal, used to tear down the oppressors of Israel. But this was only the beginning of his story. The fire that burned within Samson would consume all in its path, and yet through that ruin, redemption would come, as only the Lord could will it. 00:20:49 Speaker 6: What a haunting story here we have a man with strength that could shake the earth, strength given by God no less. But instead of fighting as people, he chases his desires, using power to satisfy his very own cravings. A philistine woman catches his eye, and he wants her, not for love, not for God's purpose, but simply because he sees and he desires. And then a lion ripped apart by his hands like it's nothing. This isn't a tale of quiet devotion. It's a raw, unsettling glimpse into what happens when God's gifts are given to unyielding hands. What we're wrestling with here isn't just the story of one man or one desire. It's a question that cuts deep. What happens when a gift from God is used for human desires. To be chosen by God is a weighty thing, isn't it. It's a calling, a demand for a life of sacrifice, holiness, and self control. And yet here we see the opposite, a man driven by impulse, by the urge to consume and conquer. Samson is chosen, yes, but he hasn't yielded. He hasn't yielded to God's will, but to his own. Our desires aren't simply emotions to be followed or denied, They are forces to be directed. The Jewish sages teach that are yeatser hurrah, our evil inclination isn't evil by nature. It's the part of us that craves, that wants, that seek satisfaction, And when it's left unchecked, our yeatsir haurrah, our evil inclination, becomes the very thing that leads us astray. Take Samson. His strength, passion, and power were never meant to be denied, but rather directed and channeled to holiness. His role was supposed to be to protect Israel and carry God's strength, but instead he became a slave to his own impulses, bending his gift towards soul gratification. Our scriptures are filled with stories of flawed heroes, and they're there to remind each one of us that a life without restraint is a life headed for destruction. Samson's strength is divine, yes, but his motives they are very human. As we've seen so far, and as we'll see in the following episodes, Samson's life was a difficult and a violent one. But before we continue looking at Samson's life, I want to take a closer look at the moment from this chapter when Samson poses a riddle to his wedding guests. The riddle refers to Samson's encounter with the lion, in whose body he found honey. Part of the riddle in Hebrew was met as yetsa matouk, which is usually translated as from the strong came forth the sweet. Now this relates to the sweet honey that Samson found inside the strong the lion. This part of the riddle has become a kind of folk saying for the Jewish people. When it's translated as from the bitter comes forth the sweet, it's a message we say often think about it. From the bitter comes forth the sweet. It's a kind of statement of faith. For the Jewish people, whose lot has very often been a bitter one. Bitter attacks by those who wish to destroy us, bitter attacks of anti Semitism, bitter attacks by Islamic extremists and all different enemies throughout the ages. But what this saying reminds us from the bitter comes forth the sweet, is that in spite of the bitterness, or even from the bitterness, we've always believed that God would send the sweetness, He'll send the redemption, He'll send a return to our ancestral land. And we've seen how from the darkness comes the light, How from the bitter comes the sweet. It's on the heels of the Holocaust, where six million Jews were murdered that I'm speaking to you right now today from Israel. It's on this backdrop of Christians persecuting the Jewish people for so many generations that I'm speaking to you today from Israel, where I lead a ministry, that it's Christians who are fighting the hatred towards Israel. It's Christians who are feeding the hungry of Israel, clothing the naked of Israel, and being the watchman on the walls of Jerusalem. Indeed, sometimes From bitterness comes sweet This parable came true for Samson all those years ago, and for us today it has come true as well. All of our bitterness, and even among our present bitterness here in Israel, believe will be turned to sweetness. The dark side of Samson's story reveals a troubling truth. Strength without submission is just another form of slavery. Here's a man fills with divine power, marked by God, set apart from birth. But what does he do with this gift? He chases after the fleeting, the temporary lust, vengeance, his own satisfaction. He may be chosen by God, but Samson serves his desires as if they were gods in themselves, a gift, no matter how divine, can be corrupted. My friends, how often do we take what God has placed in our hands, our skills, our talents, our influence, and bend them towards our own desires. It's so easy to let strength become selfishness, to let our own needs eclipse the very purpose for which we were called. But here's the truth. Ill, strength isn't in satisfying our every craving. It's in mastering them, in channeling them towards the service of something greater. Our gifts from God are mental lift others, not to indulge our own whims. If Samson's story shows us anything, it's the danger of letting our hearts be ruled by desire. When we do, even gifts from God can become chains, binding us to ourselves. May we take what we've been given and give it to God's purposes. May we live not as slaves to our own cravings, but as servants of the one who gives us strength. And may we remember strength without surrender is no strength at all. 00:27:47 Speaker 1: You can listen to The Chosen People with the Isle ex Stein add free by downloading and subscribing to the pray dot Com app today. This prey dot Com production is only made possible by our dedicated team creative talents. Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People with Yiele Eckstein, edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Gotten, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc Thomas Copeland Junior Rosanna Pilcher, and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin, Kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review,