Scripture Text: Judges 14:10-20
And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty men of the town and took their spoil and gave the garments to those who had told the riddle. In hot anger he went back to his father’s house.
Judges 14:19
Samson and his parents went down to the Philistine woman to arrange their marriage, and Samson made there a feast, as the young men used to do. When the Philistines saw him, they sent thirty young men (bridegrooms) to stay with him.
Such a special feast was common in the ancient Near East (Genesis 29:22) and lasted seven days. Since there would have been drinking of wine, Samson may have again violated his Nazirite vow (Judges 13:4, 7).
The use of riddles at feasts and special occasions was also popular in the ancient world. That's why Samson challenged the thirty young bridegrooms through a riddle. If they answered correctly within seven days, Samson would give them thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes. However, if they could not tell the right answer, they would give Samson the same rewards. Finally, they accepted Samson's challenge.
For almost four days, the thirty bridegrooms could not find any answer to the riddle. That's why they went to Samson's wife, threatened her to kill all her family just to get the answer to Samson's riddle. She wept for seven days and begged Samson to tell her the answer to his riddle. Because Samson loved his wife, he gave the true answer. And his wife immediately told the answer to the bridegrooms (vv. 17-18). Then, Samson became angry because of that unfair situation.
And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty men of the town and took their spoil, giving the garments to those who had told the riddle. In hot anger, he went back to his father’s house (Judges 14:19).
God's purposes for Samson included humbling the Philistines. Sometimes, God used different scenarios so that Samson would penetrate the territory of the Philistines. One of the five principal cities of the Philistines was Ashkelon (please see OT map). The thirty Philistine men mentioned in our passage were killed by Samson, and that was part of his mission.
God's ways are unpredictable and unquestionable. He strengthened Samson to fulfill His divine purpose, to save His people from the hands of the Philistines.
Therefore, we, as His people, believers-followers of our Lord Jesus, are obliged also to do the mission entrusted to us, to save lost souls through His gospel and through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Reflect
Do you rely your strength in Jesus?
Do you use the strength given to you to save more souls?
Remember
God is the only source of our strength; we need to use it for God's glory, or else He can take it back.
Read
Mark 12:30; Romans 16:25; 1 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 2:1, 4:17; Philippians 4:13
Pray
Father, we adore You and give You glory. You work in mysterious ways; Your ways are unpredictable and unquestionable. We are proud that You are our God and thankful that You chose us to be Your children and to accomplish Your plans for Your purposes despite all our flaws and weaknesses. Enable us to receive the strength that is divine, and continuously give joy in our hearts to do Your plan. Let Your purposes be done in our lives according to Your will on earth as it is in heaven.
Lord, let the life of Samson be an example that we may live a life worthy of Your favor, in Jesus' name. Amen!
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