Samson’s Riddle

Judges 14:1-20

1. SAMSON DEMANDS A WIFE FROM TIMNATH (14:1-4)
   1. Samson Goes Down to Timnath (v.1)
      1. Timnath is down in direction (cp. Genesis 12:10; Isaiah 31:1)
      2. Timnath is a border town originally given to Judah (Joshua 15:10); Application: Samson was certainly a man who liked to dwell on the border or edge of right and wrong.
      3. Timnath was at this time a city of the Philistines
      4. NOTE: the Philistines were a people of the coastal region of southern Palestine. For a long time, they were the enemy of Israel that could not be entirely disposed of. Samson only begins to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines (Judges 13:5). They were characterized by:
         1. Their pride (Zechariah 9:6)
         2. Their vengeful heart (Ezekiel 25:15)
         3. Their occultism (Isaiah 2:6)

   2. Samson Chooses a Wife (v.2-3)
      1. He chooses according to outward appearance (v.2); "I have seen"
      2. He chooses against wise counsel (v.2-3)
      3. He chooses according to personal lust and desire (v.3); "she pleaseth me well"

   3. God Prepares a Conflict (v.4)
      1. It was of the Lord (cp. Genesis 50:20)
      2. It was to create a conflict between Samson and the Philistines

2. SAMSON KILLS A LION IN HIS TRAVELS (14:5-9)
   1. Samson Takes his Parents to Timnath (v.5-7)
      1. A young lion comes against him (v.5)
         1. In the vineyards of Timnath
         2. Out of sight of his parents
      2. He kills the young lion (v.6)
         1. By the Spirit of the Lord
         2. With his own hands
         3. Without telling his parents
      3. He talks with the woman (v.7); she pleases him well

   2. Samson Returns to Timnath (v.8-9)
      1. He finds honey in the carcass of the lion (v.8)
      2. He eats the honey and gives to his parents (v.9)

3. SAMSON TELLS A RIDDLE AT THE WEDDING FEAST (14:10-14)
   1. Samson makes a feast for the wedding (v.10-11)
      1. When his father came down to settle the marriage (v.10)
      2. With thirty companions to be with him (v.11)

   2. Samson tells a riddle at the feast (v.12-14)
      1. The prize for answering the riddle (v.12)
      2. The forfeit for not answering the riddle (v.13)
      3. The content of the riddle (v.14)
      4. NOTE: This is a good example of gambling and the danger of gambling. Samson thought he had a sure bet and therefore risked thirty changes of clothing—clothing he did not have. When he lost, he was so angry that he killed thirty men and stole their garments. Although God had His purpose for letting this happen, nothing humanly good came from it.

4. SAMSON’S WIFE DISCOVERS AND REVEALS THE RIDDLE (14:15-18)
   1. The Men Threaten Samson’s Wife (v.15)
      1. Declare unto us the riddle
      2. Or we will burn you and your father’s house
      3. "have ye called us to take that we have?"; evidently, they were not willing to lose the bet either and were willing to cheat to win. Gambling brings many other things with it. It does not stop with gambling.

   2. Samson’s Wife Discovers the Riddle (v.16-17)
      1. She accuses Samson of hating her (v.16)
      2. She cries for several days (v.17)
      3. He finally tells her on the seventh day (v.17)
      4. She tells the riddle to her people (v.17)

   3. The Men Give the Answer to the Riddle (v.18)

5. SAMSON KILLS THIRTY MEN FOR THEIR GARMENTS (14:19-20)
   1. The Spirit of the Lord Comes on Samson (v.19)
   2. Samson Kills Thirty Men of Ashkelon and Takes their Raiment (v.19)
   3. Samson Goes Up to His Father’s House (v.19)
   4. Samson’s Wife is Given to his Companion (v.20); his best friend at the wedding

NOTES ON GAMBLING:

Definition: A transaction between two or more parties, whereby something of value is made dependent upon chance or luck to the extent that the whole gain of one party equals the whole loss of another party or parties.

What is wrong with gambling? Simply put, gambling operates on greed—the desire to gain something of value for little or nothing. This kind of greed is spoken against in the Bible (Proverbs 1:19; 15:27; 23:4; 28:20; 1Timothy 6:8-10)

What about the lottery? What follows are some facts about gambling and the lottery taken from a 2002 publication.

• One study has shown that one out of ten high school kids are compulsive gamblers with the lottery being the most popular form of gambling.
• 43% of the callers into a gamblers hotline indicate a problem with lottery gambling.
• Low-income families spend about three times as much on lottery tickets as families with incomes above $50,000.
• In California, lotteries have decreased the money spent on food by seven percent. Someone must be doing without food to but lottery tickets.
• States only get about a third of all lottery revenues.
• Since 1990, per capita taxes in lottery states have risen more than three times as fast as in non-lottery states.
• Winning the lottery is no guarantee of financial success. Because of mismanagement, one-third of all lottery jackpot winners go bankrupt.
• Georgia is touted for its HOPE scholarships. In 1997-1998, only 36% of HOPE recipients remained in the program for the second year.
• No state lottery works unless it is marketed to the poor. Sales campaigns are scheduled to the arrival of welfare and social security checks.

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Copyright © 2002 Antioch Baptist Church Knoxville, Tennessee