Judges 14:12-20: a reflection

12Samson said to them, “Let me tell you a riddle now. If you can tell me the answer within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing; 13but if you can’t tell me the answer, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.” They said to him, “Tell us your riddle, that we may hear it.” 14He said to them, “Out of the eater came out food. Out of the strong came out sweetness.” They couldn’t in three days declare the riddle. 15On the seventh day, they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband, that he may declare to us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you called us to impoverish us? Isn’t that so?” 16Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, “You just hate me, and don’t love me. You’ve told a riddle to the children of my people, and haven’t told it to me.” He said to her, “Behold, I haven’t told my father or my mother, so why should I tell you?” 17She wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted; and on the seventh day, he told her, because she pressed him severely; and she told the riddle to the children of her people. 18The men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” He said to them, “If you hadn’t plowed with my heifer, you wouldn’t have found out my riddle.” 19The LORD’s Spirit came mightily on him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck thirty men of them. He took their plunder, then gave the changes of clothing to those who declared the riddle. His anger burned, and he went up to his father’s house. 20But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his friend.

Samson poses a riddle at his wedding feast, wagering thirty garments on whether the guests can solve it. Unable to, they threaten his wife, who then turns to weeping and pressing him for the answer. Day after day of the feast she wept before him and pressed him, until at last, worn down by her persistent pressure, he told her; and she promptly betrayed the answer to her people. Relentless pressure wore down Samson's resolve until he gave in.

Notice how Samson was worn down: not by a single request, but by relentless, persistent pressure, day after day, with tears and accusations, until he could hold out no longer. He had resolved not to tell; but the constant pressure and emotional manipulation gradually wore away his resolve, until he gave in and told what he should have kept, and it was used against him. The steady pressure accomplished what a single request could not.

That is a danger we face: being worn down by persistent pressure into what we should not do. We may resolve to stand firm, to keep a confidence, to hold to what is right; but relentless pressure, repeated appeals, emotional manipulation, the wearing down of our resolve over time, can gradually erode our stand, until we give in to what we were determined to resist. Be aware of this danger, and stand firm against it. Do not let persistent pressure or emotional manipulation wear down your resolve until you give in to what you should not do or reveal. What you would not do at a single request, do not let yourself be worn into by relentless pressure. Hold firm to what is right, even when the pressure is constant; a resolve worth keeping is worth keeping against the steady pressure that would wear it away.

Lord, Samson resolved not to tell his riddle, but his wife wore him down with relentless pressure, day after day, with tears and accusations, until he gave in and told what he should have kept, and it was used against him. Show me the danger in that: of being worn down by persistent pressure into what I should not do. I may resolve to stand firm, to keep a confidence, to hold to what is right; but relentless pressure, repeated appeals, emotional manipulation, the wearing down of my resolve over time, can gradually erode my stand, until I give in to what I was determined to resist. Make me aware of this danger, and help me stand firm against it. Keep me from letting persistent pressure or emotional manipulation wear down my resolve until I give in to what I should not do or reveal. What I would not do at a single request, do not let me be worn into by relentless pressure. Help me hold firm to what is right, even when the pressure is constant; a resolve worth keeping is worth keeping against the steady pressure that would wear it away. Strengthen my resolve, Lord.