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Judges 14:15-18 – The Riddle Solved

As we saw yesterday, the Philistine companions have seven days in which to answer Samson’s riddle. If they cannot, they will each have to provide him with a linen garment and change of clothes. After three days, they have been unable to solve the riddle. So, on the fourth day, they threaten Samson’s bride, saying they will burn down her father’s house and will burn her alive as well if she does not find out the answer to the riddle.

She then weeps and accuses Samson of not loving her, since he has not told her the answer to his riddle. Samson’s answer again demonstrates that he does not have a Bible-based worldview. He says he has not told his father or mother the answer, so why should he tell his wife? This is backwards thinking. According to Genesis 2:24, a man’s wife is to be more important to him than even his father and mother. Therefore, Samson’s excuse is weak. Eventually, Samson gives in to her pleading and tells her the answer to the riddle. When the thirty Philistines give him the answer, he realizes they have gotten it from his wife and accuses them of interfering in his marriage, saying, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle.”

Marriage is a sacred institution created by God in which a man and woman leave their own families and hold fast to one another. Of all human relationships, the marriage between a man and a woman is to be the most important. Samson should have valued his wife above his parents, and his wife should have been loyal enough to him to tell him the truth, rather than entice the answer out of him in order to help those who threatened to murder her and her family.

Questions

  1. Why might we say Samson’s thinking about his parents and his wife was backwards?
  2. What might his wife have done to show her loyalty to her husband?
  3. If you are married, what should be the most important earthly relationship you have?

Prayer Points

  1. Ask God to help us honor marriage.
  2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
  3. Pray for family matters.