Lions, Bees, and Philistines

Verse of the day: Judges 14:8-9, After some time, when 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. 9 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 of the lion.

When Samson came face to face with the young lion, the Holy Spirit came upon him and gave him the victory. We said previously that this was a great picture of the victory we can have in our walk with Christ, in the Spirit, when we are facing the challenges that come as a result of the devils’ trickery. The fact is that there will be times that we face challenges and circumstances that make us feel like we are fighting against a ferocious young lion. Now, Samson has returned to the carcass of this lion and finds a swarm of bees that had built a hive and made honey. I cannot imagine that any of us would be too quick to put our hand in that hive to get the honey. Yet, Samson went right in. Once again we see a great example of what happens when the Lord allows us to experience lion-like trials that help us deal with the bee stings in life. In comparison to the battle Samson faced with the young lion, a few bee stings were nothing. Not only did the fight with the lion prepare him to deal easily with this challenge, but combined with this encounter it prepared him for the much greater battle against the Philistines who would attack like a lion and swarm around him like bees. God proved to Samson that in Him, he could face any battle and have victory over whatever enemy confronted him. The psalmist wrote this in Psalm 118:12-14, “They surrounded me like bees; they were quenched like a fire of thorns; for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them. 13 You pushed me violently, that I might fall, but the LORD helped me. 14 The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.” Samson would experience this later when he goes up against the Philistines and kills a thousand of them with the jawbone of a donkey. So it is with us that God will allow us to experience trials and circumstances that prepare us both to deal with situations that will seem like nothing in comparison, and other circumstances that will stretch our faith beyond what we could ever imagine. However, we must never forget that regardless of whether we are facing the lion, the bees, or the Philistines, our God is mightier. He is our strength and our help. I will leave you with this final thought from the same Psalm, where the psalmist wrote in verses 5-6, “I called on the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place. 6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).