Calendar

SAMSON (VIII)
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16
Judges 14:12-20

Proverbs 27:11-16

 

“The waters wear the stones…”

 

SAMSON (VIII)
 
Judges 14:12-20 highlights the carnality and wilfulness of Samson. At this point, Samson had had his way in having his parents get him the wife who pleased him well. Moreover, at the wedding feast which was held at the bride’s home, the Philistines “brought thirty companions to be with him,” and he was in their company feasting and probably drinking and indulging with them in the entertainments that accompanied the festive mood. He set himself up against them with great odds in the course of these festivities by the riddle he gave them. These odds may also reveal his desire for the “change of garments” (Judg 14:12). He promised to give each one of the thirty companions a change of garments if they were to be successful in solving the riddle. However, he expected to receive from each one of them one change of garments if they were to fail to solve the riddle.
 
“…Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle,…have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so?” (Judg 14:15). His riddle turned out to be his source of vexation during the seven-day period. The companions that had been chosen to be with him during the period could not answer the riddle. They went behind his back and threatened his wife. She in turn persistently pestered Samson concerning the answer to the riddle and though he withheld the answer from her at the first, it gradually became a burden unbearable, and on the final day, he told her the answer. The Philistines came back to Samson with the answer. He lost the bet and had to give thirty changes of garments.
 
“…And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house” (Judg 14:19). What had been a week of feasting and looking forward to getting the woman that had pleased him well turned out otherwise. Samson fulfilled his pledge by finding and killing thirty Philistines, after which he returned to his father’s house. Not only were his expectations disappointed, he received no changes of garments, and now also no wife, as his wife was given to one of his companions. How true it is that “we can do nothing against the truth” (2 Cor 13:8). His lust was not satisfied and his wilfulness unrewarded.
 
THOUGHT: “Shun evil companions bad language disdain.”

PRAYER: Father, keep me on Thy strait and narrow path.

Search