one lion dead, many bees living

Judges 14:5-6 and 8-9, NLT
As Samson and his parents were going down to Timnah, a young lion suddenly attacked Samson near the vineyards of Timnah. At that moment the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he ripped the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands. Later, when he returned to Timnah for the wedding, he turned off the path to look at the carcass of the lion. And he found that a swarm of bees had made some honey in the carcass. He scooped some of the honey into his hands and ate it along the way. He also gave some to his father and mother, and they ate it.

I think it is significant the attack on Samson is carried out by a young lion. In the Psalms (e.g. 34:10) and prophets (Jeremiah, Nahum) young lions represent self-love and self-sufficiency - attitudes which can only be destroyed by the power of the Spirit of the Lord. In the same way Samson is proud and reckless and the Lord has to come in power to rescue him not just from the lion, but from himself.

We must cooperate with God in the way he wants to mould and shape us if we want to walk in his power. This usually mean putting to death any confidence in our own ability. One lion dead, many bees living speaks to me of God striking at the heart of those attitudes that limit us and of using their death to establish Kingdom ministry and community. The Father is has not limited himself to just to one person or one ministry, but many people and many ministries able to reach and feed thousands. We can be part of that if we let the Father kill the young lions we struggle with.

Let's pray
Father, in the stillness of this moment I surrender anything I am holding onto that does not align with your purposes or your best plans for me. I receive your supernatural strength and peace and bless you for your faithfulness to and love for me. God you are good all the time and I worship you. Amen.