Judges 14:19-20 – A Mighty Deed
Thursday, we noted the feast Samson held at his wedding time and the riddle he put to his thirty Philistine companions. Yesterday, we took note of the underhanded way in which the companions threatened Samson’s wife, the way in which she wheedled the answer out of him, and the way in which this demonstrated how everyone involved did not have a proper view of the institution of marriage.
God used these troubling human actions and attitudes to bring about His good plan for His people. Now that the thirty companions have solved the riddle, according to their wager, Samson must provide each with a linen garment and change of clothes. The Spirit of the LORD comes upon Samson and he travels about twenty or thirty miles south to the Philistine city of Ashkelon. There, strengthened by the Spirit, he strikes down thirty Philistine men, takes their garments and gives them to the thirty men who had solved his riddle. In his fury, he does not return home to be with his wife, but goes back to his father’s house. Perhaps thinking Samson is not going to return, his father-in-law gives Samson’s wife in marriage to Samson’s best man. This, again, shows a lack of proper respect for the marriage covenant.
No human being in this scenario has acted righteously. Samson has violated his Nazarite vow. His wife has betrayed his secret. His companions have threatened murder and coerced his wife to betray him. His father-in-law has unjustly taken back Samson’s wife and illegally given her in marriage to another man. Yet in all this, God has been faithful to bring about His plan to deliver His people from the Philistine oppression, using even the folly and sins of men to bring about a good outcome. Samson is now aroused to anger against the Philistines, and the LORD will use that to defeat this great enemy of Israel.
Questions
- How does Samson pay the debt from his wager?
- What does his father-in-law do that violates Samson’s marriage?
- Who was using this for His good purposes?
Prayer Points
- Pray for the preaching and hearing of God’s Word tomorrow.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.