SCRIPTURE: JUDGES 14
SAMSON MARRIAGE (vs. 1-19)
Samson married a young Philistine woman in Timnah. While Samson and his parents were on their way down to Timnah, they saw a young lion came roaming toward him. The Spirit of the lord came upon him in power and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands. After he married the Philistine woman, the lion’s carcass had swarm of bees and some honey. He scooped out and ate and brought some to his parents.
As a bridegroom, Samson made a feast and appeared with 30 companies. He told them a riddle and anyone who could answer will be given 30 linen garments and 30 sets of clothes. But if they could not answer, they must give him 30 linen garments and 30 sets of cloths. His riddle was: Out of the eater, something to eat, out of the strong, something sweet” (v. 14). On the fourth day, they told Samson’s wife to coax her husband the explanation of the riddle otherwise they all will burn her and her father’s household. Then Samson’s wife pressed Samson to give her the answer of the riddle. She cried for 7 days and he finally told her and she explained the riddle to the people.
Before the sunset on the 7th day, the men of the town said to him: “What is sweeter than honey? What is strange than a lion” (v. 18) Samson replied: “If you have not not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle” (v. 18). Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of their belongings and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger, he went up to his father’s house. And Samson’s wife was given to the friend who had attended him at his wedding. (vs. 19-20)
THOUGHTS:
Samson did not listen to his parents going into the enemy’s territory and fell in love with a heathen woman. When his parents objected to his union with a Philistine woman, he insisted saying: “Get her for me. She is the right one for me” (v3). Samson wanted to please his desire without into consideration of the displeasure of his parents. Christian young people need to consider carefully the advice of their parents.
As a Nazarite, Samson was forbidden to eat the honey defiled by the carcass of the lion but he ate it and share it with his parents at the wedding. His disobedience let to his total ruin. Many Christians also defile themselves into enjoying a little honey in the carcass of a lion – a movie, questionable friendship, sexual immorality, drunkenness.