Samson: Saint or Sinner?
Judges 13-16
6-1-03
Richard Tow
Grace Chapel Foursquare Church
Springfield, MO
www.gracechapelchurch.org
Intro:
Judg 13:1-5
13:1Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, so the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.
2A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was sterile and remained childless. 3The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, "You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son. 4Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean, 5because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines " NIV
Judg 13:24-25
24The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the LORD blessed him, 25and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol. NIV
Those verses introduce us to a complicated character in the Bible. Samson is a strange mix of success and failure. He is strong as an ox and weak as water. He is the sole source of Israel’s hope and deliverance at this time. Yet he is also the subject of shame and embarrassment for the whole nation.
Is he a saint or a sinner? He doesn’t fit very neatly into our religious categories. We love to be able to classify people, put them in a little box and call them either bad or good. But Samson defies our categories and challenges our understanding of how God works. In some ways he leaves us with more questions than answers.
This morning we will look at some of those questions. We will pry under the surface of his story and try to understand some things about God and His dealings with us.
1st The Mystery of his Calling?
Why did God raise up a deliverer for these people in the first place? Israel was in a backslidden condition. They were just doing what was right in their own eyes,[1] following their own desires. Judges 13:1 tells us they had “…done evil in the eyes of the Lord.” That was God’s evaluation of their spiritual condition. As a result they were living under the bondage and oppression of the Philistines.
In 2 Chron 7:15 God says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” NIV
These people were doing none of those things. They were not seeking God. There was no prayer movement for revival. They were just existing in their pathetic bondage.
Yet God initiates this deliverance for His people.
The story of Samson brings us face to face with the sovereignty of God. Israel did not deserve this help, yet God sent it. And He sent the deliverance through a person whose life was full of inconsistencies and contradictions.
I personally don’t like Samson as a hero. He’s not a good example for the kids. He’s gifted; his anointing is undeniable. But why in the world would God call a person like Samson to this ministry. Couldn’t God foresee the weakness in his moral fiber? I can understand God’s choice of Joseph or Daniel. These are men I like to preach about.
They do not disappoint us. They refuse to bow to temptation and will not compromise their principles. “God, You made a good choice when You called Joseph and when You called Daniel.” But I don’t find it easy to agree with God’s choice of Samson. This guy is a gross embarrassment. None of us would want this kind of leader in our movement. We wouldn’t know what to do with him. He’s anointed but he’s a mess.
Here is a lesson on sovereignty. The gifts and callings of God are according to His purposes and will seldom fall in line with what we think God ought to do.
Samson’s calling is not based upon his performance. His call was there before he was ever born—before he had ever done one good thing or one bad thing. In Romans 9-11 Paul discusses this issue of sovereignty extensively. He talks about God’s calling of Jacob rather than Esau before there were ever born—before either had ever performed good or bad.[2]
Does God have the right to make such choices? The way I respond to the sovereignty of God will significantly affect my relationship with Him. In my youth I was convinced that the race goes to the swift and the battle to the strong. So if you want to win you just run harder than everybody else. But I have discovered that life is not nearly that simple. There is a God who ultimately rules over the affairs of men and is working all things together according to His purposes.
Perhaps the biggest lesson of life is this one: God not only has the right to rule but it is by far best that He does. The best thing I can do for now and for all eternity is to simply cooperate with what He is doing. Sin entered the heart of Lucifer on this issue. He decided, “I will ascend…”[3] to the throne. I have a better idea. I’ll run this right.
Everything God does is teaching us not to follow that error. God confounds the wisdom of man[4] over and over. Even the way of salvation forces this issue—will you accept God’s provision or will you devise your own way?
Have you settled this issue of sovereignty in your heart? Are you content with God’s choices? Are you content with God’s plan for your life or do you have a better idea?
The mystery of Samson’s calling
2nd The Mystery of his Sinning?
Why would a person with all the privilege and godly training throw it all away for a few fun parties? There is no doubt in my mind than Samson’s parents taught him the ways of the Lord. He understood what his Nazarite vow called for and its connection with God’s call on his life. Yet as soon as he reaches adulthood he begins to compromise those things.
He goes down to Timnah, a place he should have stayed away from. It was a border town[5] between Judah and the Philistines that was full of temptation. In Judges 14:5 there is a reference to the “vineyards” of Timnah. Should a man with a Nazarite vow hang around vineyards? One of the conditions of his vow was that he not partake of the fruit of the vine. Maybe at that point he hadn’t. But the first step toward sin is going to the wrong place and being around the wrong things. Young people, be careful where you go on Friday and Saturday nights. Don’t hang around the vineyards of Timnah.
He was hanging out with the wrong crowd as well. There he saw a pretty Philistine girl. There he got into a relationship with the wrong person. When you hang out in the wrong places, it is very likely you will hook up with the wrong people.
The Israelites were supposed to stay separate from the pagan nations. That separation was designed to protect their fidelity to God. There is still a Biblical mandate for you and me to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. 1 Corinthians strictly forbids Christians marrying non-Christians.
Samson’s parents tried to talk him out of this mistake but he wouldn’t listen to their counsel. It would have never been a problem in the first place if he had not been going to the wrong place with the wrong people for the wrong reason.
From that point on Samson began violating the conditions of his vow. The wedding party in Judges 14 was a pagan bachelor party. There was probably a lot of drinking going on there. The festivities ultimately led to conflict and violence. When Samson slew the thirty Philistines to pay his debt concerning the riddle, he had to touch those dead bodies to get their clothes. That was another violation of his vow. The Nazarite vow forbade touching a dead body.
A progressive cycle of violence ensued. In spite of Samson’s compromises, God is still working His purposes for the nation of Israel. I chuckle every time I envision Samson corralling those 300 foxes or jackals. Can’t you just see one person trying to manage those 300 foxes and tying their tails together in pairs? Then how are they going to react when he lights the torches tied to their tails. This would make an outstanding Ripley’s Believe it or Not program. The foxes ran through the Philistine fields destroying not only their grain but their vineyards and their olive groves as well.
That is followed by the incident in which Samson killed 1,000 armed Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. After that the Philistines had had enough. They did not mess with Samson for a very long time.
At the end of Judges 15 we find this comment, “Samson led Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.” Take a moment to consider that because we tend to run this story all together right up to Delilah. For twenty years Samson seems to keep his nose clean and have an effective ministry.
Judges 16 opens with these words, “One day Samson went to Gaza...” There he goes back to the wrong place. After twenty years he falls into the same sin that got him into trouble two decades ago. Had he forgotten all the trouble it had brought into his life?
Every person here has areas of weakness and vulnerability. What may be an area of vulnerability for me may not be much of a temptation to you and vice versa. Each of us needs to know where we’re weak. I guarantee your enemy knows. And we must carefully guard that area of our lives.
Samson’s Achilles heel was lust. He got down there in Gaza (enemy territory where he should not have been) and Judges 16:1 says, “…he saw a prostitute.” The next thing you know he is spending the night with her. That act of disobedience set off a course of events that eventually led to his defeat. Some time later he feel in love with Delilah.
There he is with Delilah toying with sin and foolishly feeling invincible. She asks him the secret of his strength and each answer he gives moves him closer to disaster. When he tells her that he will lose his strength if she weaves his seven braids of hair into fabric he is getting awfully close to the answer. You know the story; she discovers the secret and has his head shaven. That hair was the final symbol of his vow—of his consecration to God. Once his consecration to God was cut off he was weak as other men.
Samson’s strength was found in the anointing of God in his life. We have all these pictures of Samson with bulging muscles. But muscles were not the secret of his strength. If it were muscles why would Delilah be asking for the secret; it would have been obvious. It was the anointing that gave him strength. And the anointing was tied to his consecration to God.
Why did Samson trade such privilege for such bondage—the deceitfulness of sin. It did not happen over night. It began with small compromises that led to bigger compromises that ultimately led to his defeat.
III. The Mystery of his Prolonged Anointing?
On his way to take a pagan wife a lion comes out to meet him. Why was that lion there? Was it an obstacle to help him reconsider his mission? Whether it was or not, here is Samson on his way to do the wrong thing. A lion comes out against him and what happens? The Spirit of the Lord comes on him in power and he tears the lion apart with his bare hands. Does that fit into your theology?
Later he is supernaturally empowered to slay the thirty Philistines to pay off his gambling debt. Does that fit nicely into your dogma?
Even more amazing, he is forty years old; he has been successfully leading Israel for twenty years. He is sleeping with a prostitute in Gaza. The Philistines find out he is there and plan to kill him at dawn. Surely God will back off and let Samson reap the terrible consequences of his sin. No, at midnight (perfect timing) Samson got up from his adulterous bed, by the anointing of God tears off the gates of the city and carries them forty miles[6] up to Hebron—something that could only be done by the anointing of the Spirit.
We know that eventually Samson did pay dearly for his transgression. After Delilah deceived him we are told in Judges 16:21 that he suffered terrible consequences for his sin:
1. They gouged out his eyes. And sin will ultimately rob a person of spiritual insight
even if it doesn’t lead to physical blindness.
2. They took him down to Gaza and bound him. Sin leads to bondage for Jesus said,
“… everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” John 8:34 NIV
3. They set him to grinding in the prison. Instead of living he is existing. He is grinding
out a living—doing hard time. The way of the transgressor is hard.[7]
4. We later learn that he is the subject of ridicule and humiliation. How many know, that
is the world’s response to fallen Christians?
Here’s the mystery: Why didn’t the anointing stop immediately when Samson sinned? Why would God empower a man to kill a lion when that man is on his way to do the wrong thing? Why would God anoint a man who is committing adultery to carry off the gates of the city and escape harm? Because God is sovereign and doesn’t always do things the way we think He ought. Because God is longsuffering and was giving Samson time to reconsider/ space for repentance.[8]
We must never think that just because judgment does not immediately fall on transgression that God is unconcerned about the sin.
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” Gal 6:7 NIV
But sometimes He gives opportunity for repentance before the reaping occurs.
4th The Mystery of his Restoration?
There in the prison at Gaza he sorrowfully grinds the grain of his enemies. Round and round he pushes the heavy wheel that grinds the wheat. It is a mindless job. He is blind so there is nothing to see. Only this dirty cell and lots of time to think—time to think about the good days at home as a child when they would pray at the dinner table—time to think about the foolishness of playing with sin and the consequence it had brought into his life.
In Judges 16:23 a ray of hope breaks in, “But the hair on his head began to grow again…” That was symbolic of his repentance. That was indicative of his growing consecration to God. What amazing grace Samson discovered in that prison. He does not deserve a 2nd chance. He has had many chances and still blew it. But in spite of his sin and failure, God goes with him into that prison—not initially to empower him as before, but to lead him to repentance. The chastening is painful but is also effectual.[9]
Samson gets right with God!
As the Philistines lead him into their pagan temple they do not realize the work of God that has gone on in this man’s life. They do not know a God of such grace. There with a broken and contrite spirit, Samson calls out unto the Lord for one final burst of anointing before he dies. Empowered by the Spirit he brings down the temple walls—and against all odds he completes his mission. He begins[10] the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines, which is later completed by Samuel and David.
Look, he is listed in Hebrews 11:32 as a hero of faith. Was he a saint or a sinner? He was both. But by the grace of God he finished his course. I’m sure he could have avoided a lot of pain and humiliation had he walked in obedience and never taken that trip down to Gaza in Judges 16:1. For twenty years God had blessed him. He could have enjoyed his latter days as ruler of Israel and fulfilled his destiny without that prison experience. But oh the riches of the mercy and goodness of God—that even there in the prison of Gaza God did not abandon him, He continued to work in his heart, and fulfilled His purposes in his life.
What about God’s call on your life? Is it being fulfilled? Is it sidetracked by some sin or distraction? God’s chastening does not mean God’s rejection. Regardless of what your circumstances are, will you right now give Him all your heart?
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[1] Judges 17:6 & 21:25
[2] Romans 9:10-14
[3] Isaiah 14:12-14
[4] I Cor. 1:25-29
[5] TIMNAH (from Fausset’s Bible Dictionary, Electronic Database Copyright (c)1998 by Biblesoft)
[6] Judg 16:1-3 (from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press)
[7] Prov. 13:15 KJV
[8] 2 Peter 3:9
[9] Hebrews 12:11
[10] Judges 13:5
