The child Samson grew into a man.
His parents were very careful to observe all that God had told them concerning his fate, which was known from birth. He grew up as a devout Nazarite, never cutting his hair and never drinking wine.
THE PHILISTINE WOMAN
One day Samson went down to Timnah and fell in love with a young Philistine woman.
He quickly returned home and requested that his parents prepare for her to be his wife.
Samson’s parents asked him bluntly why he needed to go looking for a Philistine woman when there were plenty of acceptable young women among their own people.
Actually their exact question was “Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?”
GOD WAS WORKING IN THE BACKGROUND
Samson replied that he KNEW this was the right woman for him.
Of course, totally unknown to everyone; God was at work in the background. It was actually from the LORD that Samson had this desire, because God was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines who were presently ruling over Israel.
So Samson goes down to Timnah with his mother and father.
MEETING THE LION ON THE WAY
They approached the vineyards of Timnah just as a young lion came running toward Samson.
By the power of The Spirit of the Lord Samson tore the lion apart with his bare hands. However; he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done.
Samson went down to talk with the young Philistine woman.
He liked her very much.
HONEY FROM THE CARCASS OF A LION
In a few days Samson went back to marry the woman. On his way to the wedding he passed the lion’s carcass. Inside the carcass he saw a swarm of bees and some honey. Samson scooped out the honey and ate it as he walked along.
When Samson arrived at his parents place, he gave them some of the honey and they ate it too. He did not mention to them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.
THE WEDDING PREPARATIONS
So Samson’s father went down to see the woman that Samson wished to marry.
Samson gave the customary feast of a man who was about to marry his bride.
30 men from the Philistines were chosen by the people of the town to be Samson’s wedding companions. I suppose they served like groomsmen or attendants to the groom during the week of the wedding.
Ancient weddings usually lasted for at least seven days.
LET ME TELL YOU A RIDDLE
As the people gathered to celebrate, Samson said, “Let me tell you a riddle. If you can give me its answer during the seven days of preparing for the feast I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes. If you can’t tell me the answer; you must give me 30 linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.”
Of course, someone had to provide the clothes for these 30 groomsmen to wear at this wedding.
They asked him to tell them the riddle.
THE RIDDLE
Samson said; “Out of the eater, something to eat, out of the strong, something sweet.”
They pondered the question for three days and could not give the answer.
On the fourth day the conniving companions asked Samson’s new wife to get her husband to explain the riddle to her, so they would know the answer. They threatened her with the burning of herself along with her father’s house if she did not cooperate with them.
Their logic to her indignation at this request was “Did you invite us here to steal our property?”
THE BETRAYAL OF THE WIFE
So Samson’s new wife threw herself on him sobbing.
She said “You hate me! You don’t really love me. You have given my people a riddle but you have not told me the answer.”
“I haven’t even explained it to my own father and mother” Samson said. “So why would I explain it to you?”
SAMSON GIVES IN
Then she proceeded to cry the whole seven days of the feast.
On the seventh day, he finally told her the answer because he tired of her pressing him.
As soon as he told her she explained the riddle to her people.
Before the sun set on the seventh day the men of the town told Samson his answers. They said:
What is sweeter than honey?
What is stronger than a lion?
Using some rather crude language, Samson replied to the men; “if you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle.”
SAMSON PROVIDES THE GARMENTS
And The Spirit of the Lord fell powerfully on Samson. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of everything and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle.
Burning with anger, Samson returned to his father’s home.
Samson’s wife was given to one of his companions who had attended him at the feast.
THE WHOLE STORY IS A MYSTERIOUS RIDDLE
Is this not the strangest story you have ever heard?
What are we to make of Samson and his strange ways?
Should any of this mean anything to Christians of today?
Next Thursday we will delve deeper into the mysteries behind the story of Samson’s marriage, or should I say “almost marriage.” If you want to ponder it further please go back and read Judges Chapter 14 from your bible.
This is just the beginning of many mysterious stories that represent the life of a man named Samson.
We are going to study all of them here at The IN SEASON Lifestyle’s COME AS A CHILD on-going bible study.