The Gambler
The Gambler
Judges 14:12-14a
And Samson said to them, “Let me now put a riddle to you. If you can tell me what it is, within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes, but if you cannot tell me what it is, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes.” And they said to him, “Put your riddle, that we may hear it.” And he said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet.”
Samson isn’t off to a great start in either his public ministry or his marriage. In fact, we’ve only witnessed him do four things thus far and each has proven reckless in its own right. First, he desired a Philistine woman and demanding that his parents retrieve her despite their reasonable objections. Second, he ripped a lion to shreds and kept it secret, advertently or inadvertently breaking the Nazirite code. Third, he went back to that very lion and scooped out honey from the carcass, giving some to his parents without telling them where he’d gotten it. And fourth, he now mocks his new Philistine in-laws while attempting to get richer at their expense. A reasonable man would put his best foot forward during this seven-day ceremony, keeping a low profile, doing his best to avoid drama and keep the peace with his new relatives, not pave the way for a Shakespearian-level showdown. But Samson isn’t a reasonable man. He doesn’t think before he acts; he just acts. He just wants a bit of fun and won’t let anyone get in the way of it. In fact, considering his disregard for his parents’ godly counsel, and his disregard for these new in-laws, and his disregard for his poor bride who will becomes a hapless pawn in the game, Samson looks more like a megalomaniac than a mega man.
Life’s just a riddle to Samson at this point—just a game. His calling, his family, his bride—it’s all on the table. He’s gambling everything. And, up to this point, the gamble’s been paying off, right? After killing that lion, he must think he’s invincible, that he can’t possibly lose. Oh, but that’s the trouble with gambling, isn’t it? You win big, but you lose even bigger.