The Marriage Feast...Samson pt 5

https://billrandles.wordpress.com/2021/11/10/the-marriage-feast-samson-pt-5/ ^ | 11-08-21 | Bill Randles

[pastorbillrandles]

And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion. So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do. And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him. ( Judges 14:8-11)

Samson has made a proposal of a Philistine woman, and the time had come for the wedding. Normally it would be wrong for an Israelite to intermarry with a Philistine, but Samson had made that proposal in his capacity as the Judge (Messiah) of Israel. He was acting as a type of Christ, the ultimate bridegroom, who would make his proposal (marriage/salvation) to Jew and Gentile.

The Judge of Israel had previously fought a decisive battle, and had prevailed, in the Vineyard/garden where He had slain the Lion.

As he passed on the way to the marriage feast, He saw that the carcass of the slain lion had become a cavity containing a bee hive, full of honey. Honey is a symbol for the Promised land, and also a symbol of the Word of God. Now that the Messiah has slain the Lion, the blessing is restored to the Land, and the people can have the sweet and life sustaining Word.

For whatever reason, all of the guests were Philistines. There were thirty young men in attendance at Samson’s groom feast. Perhaps Samson had no friends of his own, or it could be that He was too poor to furnish the feast in the customary manner, but it was the Philistines who made up the customary feast.

As an entertainment, Samson proposed a riddle to his guests.

And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments: But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it. And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.( Judges 14:12-14)

Why a Riddle?

As a type of Christ, Samson is going to win, one way or another. Eventually He will bring down judgment on the Philistine world, but first He would attempt to win them with Words. He is going to speak unto them in dark , cryptic sayings, if possible to bring some to repentance and to saving faith. It is said of the true and final Messiah,

Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: ( Psalm 78:1-2)

But even more than appealing to the thirty guests, Samson is also seeking to know if His bride will believe in Him. She would have to trust Him, in order to be his wife, and she would have to make the decisive break from her people and their degenerate culture.

Samson knew the Philistines, and realized that they would put pressure on her to reveal the secret. Would she keep faith with her husband, and prove to be a loyal wife? Or would she succumb to the pressure of the World, not believing that her husband could actually and truly save her?

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson’s wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so? And Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee? And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.( Judges 14:15-17)

The Philistines resorted to Satanic and savage methods in order to ‘win’. True to form they used intimidation, coercion, threats and violence to persecute Samson’s wife. Samson had revealed the secret to His wife. ( Was He forced to by her tears? Or did He know what He was doing all along?) She now could either trust him completely, or she could go with the World, succumbing to the threats made by the Philistines.

And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion? and he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.

But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.( Judges 14:18-20)

In those ancient days, there were arrangements in marriage concerning the dowry, the Bride price, and other expenses. If someone is poor, it was not unheard of to marry a woman, but to not be able to take her from her father;’s house until the complete payment was made.

After being cheated by his Philistine “guests”, Samson had to go home, leaving his new bride with her Father… who promptly gave her away to one of his other ‘guests”.

Remember that Samson’s role as a Judge and a Prophet was twofold; He would serve as a Type of Christ, and make the offer of salvation(Marriage) to the Gentiles).

But He was also raised up to show Israel, that they could not coexist with the World, by revealing what the Philistines were really like; Treacherous, cheating, vicious and even murderous!

[The MAGA-Deplorian]

You have to be hardcore to want to eat honey from a rotting animal carcass. And we worry about eating something that hit the floor.!

[sauropod]

Bkmk