ODJ: samson’s dating advice
March 13, 2011
One of the Philistine women caught [Samson’s] eye (v.1).
READ: Judges 14
Before I met and eventually married my husband, I tried online dating. The matchmaking service promised to weed through zillions of searching singles to find the most compatible matches. So I hunched over the keyboard and filled out the compatibility questionnaire. It took hours, but I was ready for some help on deciding who to date.
Samson is infamous for his messed-up love life. Taking a look at his romantic mistakes can help us head off some personal heartache. The trouble began for the man with the flowing mane when he noticed a young lady who didn’t share his faith. “One of the Philistine women caught his eye” (Judges 14:1). The Philistines were pagans, and Samson was an Israelite who had been dedicated to God from birth (13:5). Mistake #1: We’re inviting heartbreak when we pursue people who don’t believe in Jesus.
Even though the Philistine woman wasn’t a spiritual match, Samson said, “She looks good to me” (v.3), and decided to marry her. Appearances can be deceiving—whether it’s a sparkling smile, beautiful hair, or even chivalrous conduct. Mistake #2: We’re headed for trouble when we sprint into relationships based on a person’s outward show alone.
Samson’s parents asked him to take another look at the local single girls (v.3), but he refused. He didn’t listen to the advice of the people who knew him best. Mistake #3: We’re in trouble when we refuse to listen to close friends and family who can be more objective than us when starry-eyed excitement clouds our thinking.
Samson went on to marry his Philistine sweetheart, but then had to endure a forced separation from her. If he could give us dating advice, it might go something like this: Date people who share your faith. Don’t dwell solely on outward appearances and actions. And listen to godly input from people who know you well. —Jennifer Benson Schuldt
Why is it sometimes difficult to apply biblical wisdom to our romantic lives? How is Samson’s advice on dating different from the world’s?
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