WRONG WAY TO MARRY

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)

DATE: THURSDAY, 20TH APRIL, 2023 

TOPIC: WRONG WAY TO MARRY

 TEXT: JUDGES 14: 1-20

1. Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.

2. So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, "I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife."

3. Then his father and mother said to him, "[Is there] no woman among the daughters of your brethren, or among all my people, that you must go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?" And Samson said to his father, "Get her for me, for she pleases me well."

4. But his father and mother did not know that it was of the LORD -- that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

5.  So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Now [to his] surprise, a young lion [came] roaring against him.

6.  And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though [he had] nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.

7.  Then he went down and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.

8.  After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And behold, a swarm of bees and honey [were] in the carcass of the lion.

9.  He took some of it in his hands and went along, eating. When he came to his father and mother, he gave [some] to them, and they also ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion.

10.  So his father went down to the woman. And Samson gave a feast there, for young men used to do so.

11.  And it happened, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.

12.  Then Samson said to them, "Let me pose a riddle to you. If you can correctly solve and explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.

13.  "But if you cannot explain [it] to me, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing." And they said to him, "Pose your riddle, that we may hear it."

14.  So he said to them: "Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet." Now for three days they could not explain the riddle.

15.  But it came to pass on the seventh day that they said to Samson's wife, "Entice your husband, that he may explain the riddle to us, or else we will burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you invited us in order to take what is ours? [Is that] not [so?"]

16.  Then Samson's wife wept on him, and said, "You only hate me! You do not love me! You have posed a riddle to the sons of my people, but you have not explained [it] to me." And he said to her, "Look, I have not explained [it] to my father or my mother; so should I explain [it] to you?"

17.  Now she had wept on him the seven days while their feast lasted. And it happened on the seventh day that he told her, because she pressed him so much. Then she explained the riddle to the sons of her people.

18.  So the men of the city said to 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 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 mightily, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave the changes [of clothing] to those who had explained the riddle. So his anger was aroused, and he went back up to his father's house.

20.  And Samson's wife was [given] to his companion, who had been his best man.

MESSAGE : 

There is a right and a wrong way to marry. Samson chose a wrong way to marry without parental consent. However, his parents went with him to ask for the girl’s hand in marriage and for the traditional marriage feast. Samson did not go with his Israelite brethren so his in-laws organized thirty Philistine companions for him. Samson posed a riddle with a reward of “thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.” As the Philistines could not solve the riddle, they threatened Samson’s spouse to entice him for the explanation of the riddle or risk destruction of her father’s house. She got the answer from Samson and revealed to her people. Samson angrily provided the reward, and abandoned the woman who was then given as wife to another.

 

Young people should seek for and obey the counsel of God and their godly parents when they want to marry. Any marriage built on a wrong foundation will not stand. Christians should marry fellow Christians for successful marriages since the Bible warns about unequal yoking with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6: 14-16). Are you already married? Love your wife and submit to your husband to enjoy your marriage. Avoid secrecy and pretense like Samson’s wife, which cause marital problems.  Are you looking for a spouse? Follow God’s will in marriage and you will be blessed.

PRAYER:

My Father, cause me to obey You in my marriage in Jesus name. Amen.