January 14, 2025

Judges 14  (HCSB)
Samson’s Riddle
14 Samson went down to Timnah and saw a young Philistine woman there. 2 He went back and told his father and his mother: “I have seen a young Philistine woman in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.” 3 But his father and mother said to him, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines for a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me, because I want her.” 4 Now his father and mother did not know this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. At that time, the Philistines were ruling over Israel. 5 Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion came roaring at him, 6 the Spirit of the Lord took control of him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done. 7 Then he went and spoke to the woman, because Samson wanted her. 8 After some time, when he returned to get her, he left the road to see the lion’s carcass, and there was a swarm of bees with honey in the carcass. 9 He scooped some honey into his hands and ate it as he went along. When he returned to his father and mother, he gave some to them and they ate it. But he did not tell them that he had scooped the honey from the lion’s carcass. 10 His father went to visit the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, as young men were accustomed to do. 11 When the Philistines saw him, they brought 30 men to accompany him. 12 “Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can explain it to me during the seven days of the feast and figure it out, I will give you 30 linen garments and 30 changes of clothes. 13 But if you can’t explain it to me, you must give me 30 linen garments and 30 changes of clothes.” “Tell us your riddle,” they replied. “Let’s hear it.”
14 So he said to them: Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet. After three days, they were unable to explain the riddle. 15 On the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Persuade your husband to explain the riddle to us, or we will burn you and your father’s household to death. Did you invite us here to rob us?” 16 So Samson’s wife came to him, weeping, and said, “You hate me and don’t love me! You told my people the riddle, but haven’t explained it to me.” “Look,” he said, “I haven’t even explained it to my father or mother, so why should I explain it to you?” 17 She wept the whole seven days of the feast, and at last, on the seventh day, he explained it to her, because she had nagged him so much. Then she explained it to her people. 18 On the seventh day, before sunset, the men of the city said to him: What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion? So he said to them: If you hadn’t plowed with my young cow, you wouldn’t know my riddle now! 19 The Spirit of the Lord took control of him, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed 30 of their men. He stripped them and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. In a rage, Samson returned to his father’s house, 20 and his wife was given to one of the men who had accompanied him.

Wes Wynne
Yesterday’s verses ended with the birth of Samson, noting he grew up and “... the Spirit of the Lord began to direct him”. God works in us and through us, even when we are tempted and start to stray. He takes our mess and uses it to His glory. We see in v1 of chapter 14 that Samson was tempted with Satan’s ole go to for men –lust. Samson sees a beautiful woman and desires to have her. His parents gently attempt to steer him back on the right course, but Samson’s desires aren’t allowing him to hear what is being said. Samson was a living under the Nazarite vow on the outside, but on the inside he was starting to stray. Focusing on self leads to impulse and often that impulse leads to compromise. Samson was an Israelite, who weren’t supposed to marry outsiders. God set this guard rail as a form of protection to prevent alternative morale standards from creeping in.
At  this time the Israelites were under Philistine rule and assimilation was used by conquering nations to dissolve an enemy from within. Samson acting on his desires would start the process of assimilation within his family. But GOD.. God used the weakness of Samson’s desires to start a course of conflict and disrupt the assimilation of His people. We see that Samson started out strong with his new bride, but it didn’t take long for her influence/ manipulation to cause him to compromise and put himself in a difficult spot. We are all naturally selfish to some degree and will face temptation. We will all sin and make bad choices, but that doesn’t mean we should or be used to justify our actions. Even though Samson fell to his desires and did not recognize his folly, God continued to work through him. When you mess up, don’t worry God’s not done with you. Get up, dust yourself off and start seeking His voice and His path.