Samson
We’re skipping ahead to Israel’s final formal judge; his story is one that you might be familiar with. In fact, his story is one of the best examples of a “flawed hero” because even though he messes up over and over again, God still empowers and uses him.
Of course, Israel is in trouble again—
Judges 13:1 | Again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines, who oppressed them for forty years.
God needs to raise a judge and to do this, the Angel of the Lord (Jesus) is back. He visits the wife of Manoah and tells her—
Judges 13:3 & 5 | The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and said, “Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son… You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazarite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.”
As a Nazarite, this judge would be set apart from birth to be used by God. He couldn’t eat or drink anything made from grapes, cut his hair, or be around someone who died.
Just as God promised, Manoah’s wife has a baby—
Judges 13:24 | When her son was born, she named him Samson. And the Lord blessed him as he grew up
Samson was blessed with great strength from God. One time—
Judges 14:5-6a | As Samson and his parents were going down to Timnah, a young lion suddenly attacked Samson near the vineyards of Timnah. At that moment the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he ripped the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands.
Another time, God gave Samson the power to defeat 1,000 philistines with just the jawbone of a donkey as his weapon!
Over and over again, the philistines tried to defeat Israel, but Samson would have the victory.
Now even though God used Samson in big ways, Samson was flawed. He was imperfect and struggled with sin just like you and me. You see, Samson was supposed to be set apart to God — remember his Nazarite vow? He wasn’t supposed to mix up with the things of the world, but Samson doesn’t seem to take this commitment seriously.
First, Samson wants to marry a philistine woman who worships idols. When he comes to marry her, he finds out that she’s actually married to his best man! Then, Samson keeps hanging out in places he shouldn’t with people he shouldn’t be with. He finds himself in love with a woman who can’t be trusted. Her name was Delilah.
Judges 16:5 | The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “Entice Samson to tell you what makes him so strong and how he can be overpowered and tied up securely. Then each of us will give you 1,100 pieces of silver.”
Delilah tries to find the secret of Samson’s strength. She ties him up with seven new bowstrings, then brand new ropes, and finally even weaves Samson’s hair into a loom. But each time, the Philistines attack the restrained Samson and he effortlessly breaks free. But Delilah wouldn’t give up.
Judges 16:15-16 | Then Delilah pouted, “How can you tell me, ‘I love you,’ when you don’t share your secrets with me? You’ve made fun of me three times now, and you still haven’t told me what makes you so strong!” She tormented him with her nagging day after day until he was sick to death of it.
Samson never should have married a Philistine woman. Delilah is not a follower of God and she’ll do anything to trap him.
Judges 16:17 | Finally, Samson shared his secret with her. “My hair has never been cut,” he confessed, “for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.”
This time, Delilah cuts Samson’s hair and when the philistines attack, Samson is captured. His eyes are gouged out and Samson is put in prison to grind grain like an ox. The Philistines throw a party and celebrate Samson’s defeat.
Poor Samson! How did this strong man who was blessed by God get into so much trouble?
Samson craved the things of this world, rather than the things of God (1st John 2:15-16). Then, he allowed those cravings — the things that tempted him, to drag him away into sin and death (James 1:14-15). Throughout his entire life, Samson struggled to say no to temptation.
Samson threw away God’s blessing because he desired to go his way instead of God’s way. And because of it, he was captured, tortured, and humiliated.
But praise God — we can never out-sin his mercy and grace.
Judges 16:28-30 | Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.” Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands, he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime.
Despite Samson’s struggle with sin and the fact that he abandoned God’s ways over and over again, God still uses this flawed hero.
Like Samson, we all struggle with temptation. Samson’s story reminds us that saying “no” to temptation is always worth it.
Samson was lazy in the fight against temptation. Instead, we should guard against temptation, rather than putting ourselves back in its path over and over again.
1st Peter 2:11 | Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
How did God show His power in Samson’s life?
How did Samson struggle?
Does it surprise you that Samson struggled to do right even though he personally experienced God’s power? Why or why not?
Why does giving into temptation get in the way of us following God? How can this be seen in Samson’s life?