READING: Judges 13-16: The Story of Samson
I will admit, sometimes reading the Bible frustrates me. The great communicator, God himself is the author of all the ways man writes and that includes irony. I understand the importance of dramatic irony, after all, I am a teacher of literature. Deep down as we read sections of Scripture, there are huge consequences for disobeying God, and if only we could break into the narrative, give the main character a swift kick in the patoot, and tell him that he needs to comply with God Almighty. Then certain events would go well with him. For example, when I read the account of Samson in Judges 13-16, I want to smack him and say, “Get it together, man! How many foolish choices does it take for you to actually see.” It’s a good thing I am not God. God is just and we can see that within the lines of this account, and yet we also see God’s patience, faithfulness and grace. Let’s dive into this and reacquaint ourselves with this exasperating tale of one who had so much given to him, but who thought so little of his gifts and his purpose. It is the story of a man with such great strength but who was a weak slave to this world and how it destroyed him. But God….
Take a minute and reacquaint yourself with the text in Judges 13-16. What a privilege for Samson’s parents who were barren, to have the opportunity to raise their son in the lifetime of the Nazarite vow, “dedicated from the womb”. Samson was to have no fermented drink, never cut his hair and not to eat anything unclean or contaminated by the dead. He was given a clear purpose from the beginning as it states in Judges 13:5, “He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”
What a beginning! Even in his youth, the “spirit of the Lord began to stir in him. Such promise—it seems all was done as instructed with parents dedicated to the Lord and his plan for Samson. But sometimes no amount of godly parenting and training in righteousness can guarantee that one’s child will stay on that road. It certainly did not happen for Samson.
Samson was then tempted by the pagan world and even chose to go to Timnah. Even the meaning of Timnah meant “forbidden” as it was close to the land of the Philistines. It’s Samson’s first step at seeing just how far he could step within God’s boundaries but still dangerously tangle with the world of the enemy. Instead of wanting to keep close to God and what was right, Samson played the game of compromise and eventually his eyes noticed the object that would totally pull him off course and onto the road of destruction. It unfolds exactly like James 14-15 warns, “Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Moreover, Samson, urges his parents to get him this particular Philistine woman he is attracted to for his wife. What a meshugganuh! But it says that the Lord was planning on using Samson’s evil decision for good to eventually confront the Philistines as they were ruling over Israel at this time. I don’t think that a wrongful marriage was part of the plan, as he disobeyed both God and his parents. But God, always ahead of the story, was creating something good from the bad as it says in Romans 8:28. You gotta love that about our God.
As someone who has a lot of hair and little strength, I have always been amazed at the account of Samson’s power. As seen here on Samson’s way to Timnah, the Spirit of the Lord came over him and he tore an attacking lion apart with his bare hands. Still deceitful and not letting his parents know what happened, he ended up with the woman he desired and talked with her.
Later when Sampson goes to marry her, he continues down this road of rebellion, breaking the vow of not only not touching the dead animal but scooping some honey out of the carcass where bees had made a hive, and eats it. It’s like he has no consideration, no fear, no respect for the calling on his life. There is a great deal of misery that comes out of this marriage. Samson, through pride in his strength, is able to win over thirty men but in the long run loses her to another man. There are many displays of his great strength and outwitting the Philistines, and one would think he would somehow return to the Lord and choose a virtuous woman, but not at all.
Now even more deeply entrenched in this world of the Philistines, Samson is overcome with arrogance, and his regard for The Lord slowly dissolves into nothingness. God in His grace allows Samson, the gift of strength in his locks. But the greatest irony of all is that though Samson had such extreme physical strength, he had nothing to fight against world’s lures: power, pride and lust. This plays out in his relationship with Delilah whose name means “languishing” or “to be made weak” which is exactly what happens. If you are not irritated by now, you surely will be. Delilah is being persuaded by the Philistines to find the secret source of Samson’s strength. And she is relentless and manipulative.
But after Samson was fooled three times, I want to say,” Bible Dude, what is your problem? You have the Spirit of the Living God giving you a purpose and a way to fulfill it. Do you know how many people would love to have just that? You had parents who loved you and spend their years teaching you the Truth. You do not even have the excuse of social media to lie and distort it. You know Truth. Deep down you do, Samson! But your fear giving up the world is greater than your apologetic strength. You are addicted to your idols. You who have been given so much, and you’re gonna trade it for lustful nights with a betraying barbarian—who is beautiful on the outside, but a serpent on the inside.”
You may say I am naïve, and that is a possibility, but it is not much different for Christians living in the world today. They sell out for so much less, just to have such a small piece of satisfaction that doesn’t last. Then they are depressed or have anxiety or wonder if God even exists because some how they want him to come to their aid after so many times of giving Him the finger. How many times does the world or those in it have to trick you up before you surrender to the God who loves you like no one else, and who can give you so much more not just for a moment, but for eternity! As my students would say, “Bruh!”
Well as you probably now know, Samson’s secret is found out. While asleep on the very lap of his traitor, he is subdued by the Philistines who have shaved off his seven braids in the middle of the night and gouge out his eyes. Then he is bound and put in prison where he grinds the grain. Over time his hair starts to grown back and at about a half an inch a month, he probably had to endure mocking for a while from the Philistines who now praise their own god whom they believe delivered them from Samson. They even ask for this blind buffoon to be brought out from prison to perform for them. So, he gets what he deserves. Not quite.
Now for the “But God…” part. I am so unlike my God here, because I would be thinking, suffer in your stupidity and rebellion against your God. You deserved to be blind, weak, ruined and in a way dead as the Samson you once were. You have ignored the kindness and grace of God. But finally, he sees, not physically but like Oedipus Rex spiritually. Finally, he bows his heart to the one who made him and fulfills God’s purpose. He finally has the wisdom to ask God in verse 16:28, “Please, God strengthen me just one more and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistine for my two eyes.” He is placed between two pillars and implores God to die with the Philistines who are destroyed by what is now God’s man re-created for this very purpose. God’s grace is exceedingly rich here, for Samson’s prayer to His Lord shows his repentant and surrendered heart.
It is said that Samson killed many more when he died than when he lived, and his name is recorded in the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith. It is sad that he didn’t recognize this sooner and make godly choices, but like him, we serve a God who is just and full of Grace. Today, Samson’s reputation may be reduced to a durable line of Samsonite luggage, but the real hero in this story is God himself. Our God is strong in patience, faithfulness, and mercy. He is the one to whom one should surrender, my friend. If the world has sucked you in with its lies, deception, and destruction, seek the Lord and cling to him. He can rewrite your story in such a way that it will be for God’s glory and your ultimate good. Open your eyes!
Photo Credit: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/474392-samson/images/posters
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