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JUDGES

CHAPTER 14

1 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. 3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well. 4 But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

Samson is full-grown now, and sees a woman which "pleases" him. However, the woman is of the Philistines.
At least credit Samson for going to his parents and telling them, and asking them to arrange the wedding. Young people should not enter into marriage without good counsel. And parents have a lot invested in a child. Therefore, they should be consulted.
Samson, though, insists upon this woman even though his parents tell him that he shouldn't marry her. God had forbidden such marriages (Deuteronomy 7:3), and those who are believers in God shouldn't be "unequally yoked" with unbelievers (2Corinthians 6:14).
Note though in verse 4 that this is of God. God knew Samson's bent toward pleasures, and He allowed this to happen in order that Samson would have a reason to be at odds with the Philistines.

5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. 6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. 7 And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. 8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. 9 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.

Samson killed a lion on a trip to see the woman. Notice that the Scripture says, "..he had nothing in his hand." NO WEAPONS. He killed the lion with his "bare hands."
Jesus destroyed Satan without weaponry except Divine LOVE!
When Samson returned to see the woman again, he noticed that bees had formed a nest in the carcass of the lion. He ate some of the honey. This was a memorable occasion. Samson shared the honey with his parents.
Jesus' dead body provides us with that which is sweeter than honey - eternal forgiveness. Let us be sure to SHARE with all whom we meet!

10 So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do. 11 And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him. 12 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: 13 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. 14 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. 15 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? 16 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? 17 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. 18 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. 19 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. 20 But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

God is careful to tell us that Samson acted upon the customs of the day in which he lived. He participated in their wedding feast, which lasted some 7 days. He also kept company with the young "groomsmen."
Innocently, I think, he offered a riddle to test their mental strength. Samson was not only physically strong, but also mentally strong. The riddle was based on the event of the lion (verse 14).
What we say to the world about Jesus often seems like a "riddle" to the unconverted.
In three days, they were unable to solve the riddle, and they became nervous about being able to do so. Finally, on the last day of the feast, they threatened Samson's betrothed. What an awful people this must be! They threatened to burn her father's house!
She was very concerned for the safety of her family, and she used all her womanly wiles on Samson to obtain the secret (verses 16-17). She wept. She even declared that if he didn't tell her, he didn't really love her.
Samson, unknowingly, was betrayed by his groomsmen who were supposed to be his "companions." Would we not say that Jesus was betrayed by people who were created to be his companions?
Samson was also betrayed by his wife. Do we, the "bride of Christ" not betray Him when we sin because of our greed, selfishness, etc.?
On the seventh day of the feast, the groomsemen came and declared they had solved the riddle, and they told the answer to Samson.
Samson IMMEDIATELY knew what had happened! They did not declare the riddle - His wife did! Satan could not gain any victories if we didn't allow him to "plough" with our bent to sin!!
But Samson held up to his end of the bargain. This is where God had allowed the situation to go. Samson probably knew of a place which was having a feast similar to the one at the home of his bride-to-be. He went and killed 30 Philistines and took their garments, then gave them to the "companions."
Verse 19 tells us that Samson was angry because of this event and went home. Evidently, he did not stay to claim his wife at the end of the feast. And since he did not, Vrese 20 tells us that the bride's father gave her to one of the "groomsmen" or "companions."
Jesus left without claiming His "bride," the church. And Satan, the father of lies, has tempted us to sin.
But be assured, Jesus WILL return for His "bride" and there will be a reckoning day for ole Satan!!

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