Right in whose eyes?

But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.” (Judges 14:3, ESV)

Then he went down and talked with the woman, and she was right in Samson’s eyes. (7, ESV)

In those two verses, we see the problem not only with Samson, but with all the Israelites in that time.

Many times, they did what was evil in the eyes of God. (Judges 2:11, 3:7, 4:1, 6:1, 10:6, 13:1)

But in their own eyes, they were simply doing what seemed right to them. (Judges 17:6, 21:25)

Samson took God’s words concerning Nazirites far too lightly, touching the dead lion (Numbers 6:6-7) and joining in what was essentially a weekｰlong drinking party. (Numbers 6:3-4)

As we’ll see later, those wouldn’t be the only Nazirite rules he would break either.

More, he sought to marry an idol-worshiper, something God strictly forbade the Israelites to do (Deuteronomy 7:3-4).

Why did he do all this?

Perhaps he thought God’s commands were stupid and meaningless.

Perhaps he thought he was the exception.

Perhaps he simply thought he knew better than God.

The thing was, God did use Samson’s bad choices for His purposes. (4)

But despite this, Samson reaped pain, being betrayed by the woman he married, and eventually losing her.

And eventually he would find more pain and hardship because he turned away from God’s way and did what seemed right to him.

How often do we think we know better than God?

In our choice of boyfriend or girlfriend, husband or wife?

In our career?

In dealing with our problems?

In our moral choices?

Sometimes, our choices will seem to work out. Sometimes, we’ll even see God using us.

But ultimately, like Samson, we will reap pain for those choices.

But if we’ll do things God’s way, we’ll learn his way is truly best.

And we will find joy.