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 1414. Lord, today I realize that my similarities create my comfort, but it is my difference that creates my reward. So I will not be afraid to be different, think different, and execute my life's plans differently from others, as long as I remain tethered to you and to your word, God. I declare that nothing toxic will enter my mind, my speech or my heart. When the lions of this world try to attack me, I will conquer them, as Samson did. As I live my life as an uncommon achiever, Holy Spirit give me the discernment to know and point out manipulative people who are working against my purpose. I will not allow my fondness to become the foolishness that sets me up for failure. When I do make a mistake, Lord, cover me and protect my anointing so that I still may be able to accomplish my task here on earth. Your hand on my life is undeniable. The source of my strength to some is a riddle. However, the truth remains that I am set apart, anointed and appointed in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you for praying with us today. Continue your time with God by listening to today's Bible Story, brought to you by Bibleinnear.com. This is an I Heart podcast. Guaranteed human. I never knew you could treat depression symptoms from your phone, but with this prescription app called Rejoing, it's possible. It's for adults aged 22 and up with major depressive disorder who want to add to their antidepressant medication. And get this, it's the first and only prescription app authorized by the FDA to treat depression symptoms. Rejoing does not replace your current medication. Be sure to use as directed by your healthcare provider. And if your depression symptoms worsen, seek help immediately. Get started today by talking to your healthcare provider or visiting rejoin.com slash get started. That's R-E-J-O-Y-N dot com slash get dash started. The Riddle. In our last story, we learned about the birth of Samson and how God was grooming him to be a mighty judge over Israel against the Philistines. Samson was raised to drink no wine or strong drinks, eat only clean foods and abstain from cutting his hair. In this story, we learn about how Samson's strength is no more than a little bit of a little bit of a little bit is no match for the power of a beautiful Philistine woman. Samson's lust and hubris is put on display as inspired by the book of Judges. Hello, I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible in a Year podcast. But before we begin, I want to let you know about a unique e-book that's yours to download absolutely free today. It's called Breaking Free from Stress. And my prayer is that it will help you conquer the daily tasks and pressures and burdens that bring stress in your life. Download your free copy of Breaking Free from Stress today by visiting jackgraham.org slash stress. That's jackgraham.org slash stress. In yesterday's episode, we heard the story of Samson's parents receiving unexpected news. They were going to have a baby and Samson would not be just an ordinary baby. So God sent an angel to deliver the news and special instructions for how this young boy was to be raised. It is a story of wise parents seeking wisdom in parenting and because of their faithfulness, Samson would grow up as one set apart. In today's reading, we'll learn how Samson grew stronger than any other man, but how his physical strength was overcome by the weakness of his will. And he gives in to lust over a pagan Philistine woman. His desires and pride will be his undoing. So listen now to today's episode. Samson walked around Timna, a Philistine city. He had grown into a strong young man filled with might and favor from God. Samson feared nothing. Therefore, he felt completely comfortable strolling through the land of the Philistines. The city was loud and bustling. Smells of cooking meat filled the air. Inventors could be heard haggling and yelling at their customers. As Samson was walking through the chaos, a beautiful woman caught his gaze. Everything seemed to stand still for Samson. She was truly breathtaking and he could not take his eyes off her. It was truly love at first sight. He got her name and immediately ran back to his father and mother. I have found the woman I am meant to marry, Samson said. The fact that the woman was Philistine concerned Samson's parents. The Philistines were an oppressive force over Israel and they knew they would harm Samson if he got too close. Isn't there any other woman in our tribe? They said, why would you choose a woman among our enemies? Yet Samson would not listen. He burned with lust and wanted what was pleasing to him. She is pleasing to the eyes. It shall be her and no one else Samson demanded. So Samson's parents did not protest any further and the three of them headed to Timna. They were unaware that God was working in and through Samson's imperfections. Samson's brutish behavior and childlike self-control would be a tool in the hands of God to infiltrate the Philistines. Samson traveled behind his parents. He was walking through a vineyard, daydreaming of his wife to be. The birds chirped and picked up fallen grapes and the warm spring breeze whistled through the valley. It was peaceful and quiet. Then in an instant, a lion sprang out from the bushes and latched on to Samson's back, tackling him to the floor. The beast clawed at Samson, but he held its arms back and thrusted off of him. The lion paced around him and Samson looked it in the eyes, beckoning it to pounce again. The lion leapt towards him and Samson grabbed it by the throat mid-air and slammed it onto the ground. The lion squirmed under the hands of Samson in the dirt. The spirit of the Lord filled his veins with strength and Samson crushed the lion's throat with his grip and tore it to shreds like paper. Samson did not tell anyone of what had happened between him and the lion. Instead, he went down to Timnir to speak with the woman of his dreams. He spoke with her and made arrangements to be married. She was truly intoxicating to Samson and the man who had killed a lion with his bare hands was weak in the knees by a beautiful woman. Days had passed and Samson returned to Timnir to take his bride. He passed through the vineyard again and stumbled upon the dead carcass of the lion he killed. The body reeked and was decaying, but a swarm of bees had made their hive in the dead body. Bees swarmed around it and Samson could see honeycomb oozing from the lion's body. Samson approached the carcass, paying no attention to the bees around him and scooped up the honey from the dead body. He hummed and ate the honey on the rest of his way. He feasted on the honey happily eating, yet he was a Nazarite and had taken a vow to not eat anything unclean. This would be one of many compromises Samson would make in his life. Samson prepared a feast for him and his new wife. Over 30 people were in attendance, drinking and feasting in celebration. Samson, having vowed to never touch wine or strong drink, found himself surrounded by drunken revelry. The music played and the drinks flowed and Samson was enthralled with the positive attention. Samson said to the men in attendance, let me give you a riddle. If you can guess it within the seven days of the feast, then I will give you 30 of my garments and another 30 change of clothes. But if you cannot guess it, then you shall give them to me. They agreed to his riddle immediately, for 30 linen garments was worth a great amount of silver. Samson composed himself and spoke clearly. He gave them the riddle saying, out of the eatery came something to eat, out of the strong came something sweet. For three days they pondered the riddle. The feast was still in full force and their minds had been consumed with alcohol. On the fourth day they came to Samson's wife and said, seduce your husband to tell you the answer to the riddle. If you don't, we will burn your father's house to the ground. Your husband seeks to impoverish us with his bets and we will not be humiliated. So Samson's wife wept over him. She folded him with her cries, you hate me, she yelled. You have put up this riddle to my people but have refused to give me the answer. Samson held his composure and refused to tell her. I have not told even my parents, why should I tell you? So she wept for the remainder of the feast, wearing Samson down with her constant tears. Her annoyance was constant and her manipulation knew no end. Finally, on the seventh day, Samson caved. She had worn him down. He told her the story about the lion and the honey and she immediately told her people the answer. That night Samson was around the feasting table with his companions, sure of himself that he would win the riddle. The men of the city smirked and told him, what is sweeter than honey and what is stronger than a lion? Samson knew immediately that his wife had told them. His anger boiled against them and her. If you would not plowed with my heifer, you would have not found out my riddle, Samson said. The beautiful bride he once craved, now reduced to being called a cow. God who was seeking an opportunity for Samson to war against the oppressive Philistines, came upon Samson. He traveled to the city of Ashkelon and slew 30 Philistine men. He took their garments and fine linens and gave them to those who had solved the riddle. Samson paid his debt, but he did so with blood of the Philistine enemies. Samson had won the battle, but he had lost the war. His wife left him for his best man. Samson alone and frustrated, sat in his anger. He hurt, but God was at work in his life. Although he was a foolish brute, Samson would be used as a tool of liberation for the Israelite people. Today's reading begins with Samson, now a young man venturing into the Philistine town of Timna. He has grown strong and bright, and he has the Lord's favor. But this trip into enemy territory is a dangerous game, and while he's there, Samson sees a young woman. She is beautiful, exotic, and forbidden. God's people were not to marry foreigners and risk becoming corrupted by worshiping other gods, but this girl was not just a foreigner, she was a Philistine. Her people mercilessly oppressed Israel, but lust overcame Samson and he told his parents he wanted her. His concerned parents suggested he find a good Hebrew girl to marry, but Samson was resolved. This girl was for him. But God would use this relationship, and judges 14 verse four says this. His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. You have to ask yourself, was Samson's choice of a Philistine woman God's plan and desire all along? Was it okay to bend the rules to serve a greater good? Well, not at all. This isn't a story about God compromising his principles. He never does that. This is about God making good out of bad decisions. Even in Samson's eras, God would find a way to use him to accomplish his purposes for his people. Samson's parents went down to Timna with him to arrange the marriage. And while he was walking through the vineyards, Samson was attacked by a lion. He overcame the lion and killed it with his bare hands. What incredible strength. But Samson told no one. A few days later, he passed by the lion on the side of the road and he saw a honeycomb inside the dead animal. Samson took some of the comb, ate it, and gave some to his parents, who knew nothing about its origin. As a Nazarite, you see, he was to keep away from unclean things and a dead rotting lion carcass was definitely unclean. Samson further compromised himself in this. Samson threw a feast and many of his brides' countrymen attended. He wanted to show how smart he was so he foolishly wagered a bet with them. He tells a riddle which they must solve in seven days. And if they succeed, they'll receive a hefty payout from Samson. If they fail, they must pay. He cleverly devises a riddle based on his encounter with the lion and the honeycomb that was unsolvable to anyone but him. The Philistines pressured his wife to entice Samson to reveal the answer, threatening to burn her and her family otherwise. So she pleaded with Samson, but he held his ground. She continued badgering him until he revealed the answer which she passed on to the men Samson had challenged. Samson was defeated and humiliated. The woman he so desired had betrayed his trust. Incensed, Samson lashed out, even comparing his wife to a heifer. These were not kind words. Then he went to a nearby village in a rage and killed 30 Philistines to extract the payment for the bet. But he's left with nothing but loss. He's lost his moral compass. He's lost his temper. He's lost his way. He's lost his girl. His wife was given to his best man and Samson returned angry and alone to his father's home. God was still with Samson. He still had a purpose for him, but Samson's troubles were far from over and we'll hear more about his struggles, successes and shortcomings and sins in the next episode. Dear God, thank you for this story that we have learned today. How it shows us the slippery slope of moral compromise. Help us not to allow selfish desires and pride and unbelief to cloud our judgment. We want you always to be number one in our lives. In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. Before we go, I want to let you know about a unique e-book that's yours to download absolutely free today. It's called Breaking Free from Stress. And my prayer is that it will help you conquer the daily task and pressures and burdens that bring stress into your life. Download your free copy of Breaking Free from Stress today by visiting jackgraham.org slash stress. That's jackgraham.org slash stress. This is an I Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.
