Who Benefits

 DEVOTION

JUDGES

WHO BENEFITS

Judges 14:8-20

8 Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion's carcass. In it was a swarm of bees and some honey, 9 which he scooped out with his hands and ate as he went along. When he rejoined his parents, he gave them some, and they too ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion's carcass. 10 Now his father went down to see the woman. And Samson made a feast there, as was customary for bridegrooms. 11 When he appeared, he was given thirty companions. 12 "Let me tell you a riddle," Samson said to them. "If you can give me the answer within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes. 13 If you can't tell me the answer, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes." "Tell us your riddle," they said. "Let's hear it."

14 He replied, "Out of the eater, something to eat; out of the strong, something sweet."

For three days they could not give the answer. 15 On the fourth day, they said to Samson's wife, "Coax your husband into explaining the riddle for us, or we will burn you and your father's household to death. Did you invite us here to rob us?" 16 Then Samson's wife threw herself on him, sobbing, "You hate me! You don't really love me. You've given my people a riddle, but you haven't told me the answer." "I haven't even explained it to my father or mother," he replied, "so why should I explain it to you?" 17 She cried the whole seven days of the feast. So on the seventh day he finally told her, because she continued to press him. She in turn explained the riddle to her people. 18 Before sunset on the seventh day the men of the town said to him,

"What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?"

Samson said to them, "If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle."

19 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of their belongings and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger, he went up to his father's house. 20 And Samson's wife was given to the friend who had attended him at his wedding.

NIV

First, we should note that this woman was not Delilah; however, she still used her feminine persuasion on Samson to reveal the answer to his riddle. He may have been a physically strong man, but his weakness toward women would bring only harm to him. Yet, because the people and his wife deceived him, the LORD was not pleased either, so His power came upon Samson to strike down thirty men and gave that plunder to those who solved his riddle, and then, burning with anger, he left his bride behind and went home. We do not understand why the woman’s father, after playing a part to deceive Samson, gave his wife to another man. But what can we glean from this narrative? What truth is there that we can apply to our lives? First, we would think that making a wager for personal gain is not the best life course. Samson was trying to deceive them with an unsolvable riddle to gain thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes. They deceived him by using his wife to get the answer to the riddle. Deception, especially for personal gain, should never be part of our lives, but truth should reign within us, as the Spirit who dwells within us is truth. This personal gain may not be for some physical thing, such as thirty linen, however, it could be for self-edification, self-gratification, an upper hand in a relationship, or a variety of personal self-oriented reasons. Anything that resembles that kind of thinking or action is the opposite of living in humility, being humble before God and men. Instead of breaking others down, we are to build each other up, looking for ways to encourage and exhort others to be better, to strengthen their faith, and walk with the Lord. This kind of living would look more selfless than the other way of life would be selfish. Let us always look for ways to benefit others, rather than how Samson looked for ways to benefit himself. Whatever we are faced with, we should always ask ourselves, who will benefit?