Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Judges 14:10

Judges 14:10 says, So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.  Samson's father arranged the marriage, and Samson threw a feast as was the custom of young men who were getting married.  He was still not acting much like a man of God.  Verse eleven adds, And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.  The Philistines, when they saw Samson, brought thirty young men to be his companions, or Matthew Henry says possibly to stand guard over him, since he was an impressive man in looks of strength.  We may have those people today who are supposed to be our friends, but who are secretly trying to destroy our faith in God.  Verse twelve continues, And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:  Verse thirteen concludes, But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.  Samson proposed a wager with these thirty companions, based on solving a riddle.  Samson said if they could solve the riddle within seven days, he would give them thirty sheets and thirty changes of clothes, and if they couldn't, they would give him the same.  Samson was actually risking more, since he would have to give up all thirty himself, and they would only have to give up one apiece.  Of course, I believe that if Samson had been listening to God that he would not have made the offer to begin with.  They accepted his wager.  We need to be careful that we do not allow the way that the world acts to become the way that we do.  Verse fourteen states, And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.  Samson presented the riddle, based on his killing the lion and then getting honey from it later on.  Though they had a week to solve the riddle, after not being able to do so in three days, they evidently became concerned that they wouldn't be able to solve it without help.  When people today are unable to defeat Christians fairly,  even though they outnumber us, they may look for an even greater advantage over us, which is what these thirty men did.  Verse fifteen adds, And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson’s wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so?  The men went to Samson’s wife, telling her to get the answer to the riddle and threatening to her father’s house and her if she didn't.  They then blamed her for their predicament, even though she had nothing to do with it.  When the people of the world today find themselves in a predicament, they often blame others and may even threaten them if they don't help them get out of their predicament.   Verse sixteen continues, And Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?  Instead of telling Samson what the young men had threatened, she went to Samson crying and accusing him of hating her for proposing this riddle without telling her the answer.  Samson said he had told no one the answer, even his father and mother, and asked why he should tell her.  Of course, the relationship between a husband and wife should be closer than the relationship with anyone else, even parents.  Verse seventeen says, And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.  Matthew Henry points out that it was the four day of the feast which fell on the seventh day of the week that Samson’s wife began to implore him for the answer, and she kept it up for the rest of the seven days of the feast. Samson gave her the answer on the seventh day,and she told the young men.  This may have been the first time Samson was betrayed by a woman, but it wouldn't be the last.  Verse eighteen adds, And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.  Before the sun went down on the seventh day of the feast, the young men answered Samson’s riddle.  He knew that they had gotten the answer from his wife, or by cheating.  We should not be surprised if people of the world attempt to defeat us by cheating today, but hopefully our family will not help them do so.  Verse nineteen continues, And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.  We are told the Spirit of the LORD came up Samson and he went to Askelon, a Philistine city, killed thirty men there, took their garments and gave them to the thirty who had won the wager.  God was going to use Samson to deliver the people of Israel from the Philistines, and this was his first step in doing so.  We may not immediately claim victory over all our enemies as followers of Christ, but if we put our faith in Him and rely on the Holy Spirit to guide and empower us, we will daily claim small victories.  Verse twenty concludes, But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.  Samson’s wife was given to one of his companions, who Samson had thought was his friend.  It is always bad to be betrayed, but it is even worse when those we thought to be closest to us do so. 

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