Judges 14

Samson's Riddle

114 One day when Samson was in Timnah, one of the Philistine women caught his eye. 2When he returned home, he told his father and mother, “A young Philistine woman 14:2 .. ” Gen 21:21 in Timnah caught my eye. I want to marry her. Get her for me. 3His father and mother objected. “Isn’t there even one woman in our tribe or among all 14:3 the Israelites you could marry?” they asked. “Why must you go to the pagan Philistines to Deut 7S find a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me! She looks good to me.” 4His father and 3%! |. mother didn’t realize the LORD was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time. 5As Samson and his parents were going down to Timnah, a young lion suddenly attacked Samson near the vineyards of Timnah. 6At that moment the Spirit of the LORD came power- Juda 13:95 fully upon him, and he ripped the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands. He did it as easily 7Sam 17:34-36 as if it were a young goat. But he didn’t tell his father or mother about it. 7 When Samson arrived in Timnah, he talked with the woman and was very pleased with her. 8Later, 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. 9He 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. But he didn’t tell them he had taken the honey from the carcass of the lion. 10As his father was making final arrangements for the marriage, Samson threw a party at Timnah, as was the custom for elite young men. 11When the bride’s parents* saw him, they selected thirty young men from the town to be his companions. 12Samson said to them, “Let me tell youa riddle. If you solve my riddle during these seven days of the celebration, I will give you thirty fine linen robes and thirty sets of festive clothing. 13But if you can’t solve it, then you must give me thirty fine linen robes and thirty sets of festive clothing.” “All right,” they agreed, “let's hear your riddle.” 1480 he said: “Out of the one who eats came something to eat; out of the strong came something sweet.” It is sad to be remembered for what one might have been. Samson had tremendous potential. Not many people have started life with credentials like his. Born as a result of God’s plan in the lives of Manoah and his wife, Samson was to do a great work for God—to rescue Israel from the Philistines. To help him accomplish God's plan, he was given enormous physical strength. Because Samson wasted his strength on practical jokes and getting out of scrapes, and because he eventually gave it up altogether to satisfy the woman he loved, we tend to see him as a failure. We remember him as the judge in fsrael who spent his last days grinding grain in an enemy prison, and we say, “What wasted potential!” Yes, Samson wasted his life. He could have strengthened his nation. He could have returned his people to the worship of God. He could have wiped out the Philistines. But even though he did none of those things, Samson still accomplished the purpose announced by the angel who visited his parents before his birth. In his final act, Samson began to rescue Israel from the Philistines. Interestingly, the New Testament does not mention Samson’s failures or his heroic feats of strength. In Hebrews 11:33, he is simply listed with others who “overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them,” and in other ways were given superhuman aid. In the end, Samson recognized his dependence on God. When he died, God turned his failures and defeats into victory. Samson’s story teaches us that it is never too late to start over. However badly we may have failed in the past, today is not too late for us to put our complete trust in God. Strengths and accomplishments Key verse His story is told in Judges 13—16. He is also mentioned in Hebrews 11:32. Three days later they were still trying to figure it out. 15On the fourth* day they said to 14:15 5 16: samson’s wife, “Entice your husband to explain the riddle for us, or we will burn down your dudg 18:6; 18:8 father’s house with you in it. Did you invite us to this party just to make us poor?” 16So Samson’s wife came to him in tears and said, “You don’t love me; you hate me! You have given my people a riddle, but you haven't told me the answer.” “{ haven't even given the answer to my father or mother,” he replied. “Why should I tell you?” 17So she cried whenever she was with him and kept it up for the rest of the celebration. At last, on the seventh day he told her the answer because she was tormenting him with her nagging. Then she explained the riddle to the young men. 18So before sunset of the seventh day, the men of the town came to Samson with their “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” Samson replied, “If you hadn't plowed with my heifer, you wouldn't have solved my riddle!” 19Then the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him. He went down to the town of Ashkelon, killed thirty men, took their belongings, and gave their clothing to the men who had solved his riddle. But Samson was furious about what had happened, and he went back home to live with his father and mother. 20So his wife was given in marriage to the man who had been Samson’s best man at the wedding.