Finding Honey in the Lion

Now to his surprise, a young lion came roaring against him. ⁶ And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.

⁷ Then he went down and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. ⁸ 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.-Judges 14:5b-9

Samson, a Nazarite dedicated to the Lord, found many compromises in his desire to seek after physical pleasures. The example above could tell us something more about the Christian attitude of today than we might at first consider. The parallel concepts are these:

1. An unexpected attack came against Samson, as an unexpected attack comes against the body of Christ(either individually or corporately), but the Lord gave easy victory over a seemingly impossible situation.

2. After such a miraculous victory, Samson continues to pursue a sinful pursuit of fleshly desire and finds a delicious treat within the remains of the danger that was destroyed, albeit sinful to touch, it gave great refreshment and he even gave some unknowingly to his godly family, causing them to sin. The Church continues to pursue ungodly desires after the great delivery from danger, and then even finds something sweet in the remains of the danger that was destroyed by miraculous victory, even giving this same to the pure Godly believers, deceiving the very elect with these pleasurable philosophies or actions.

What we must take from this example is the understanding that everything that seems good to our own eyes, may not be the righteous pursuits of our Holy God. Compromise with the world may yield sweet temporal rewards, but we are called to a different pursuit, one of humility, patience, long-suffering and endurance until the end. A stand for righteous purity is not popular nor is it convenient in today's societies. Each program, every new movement, every pursuit must be sought with much prayer and thought. We must find a way to be separate from the world's system, yet witnessing the love of Christ to the lost.