The Life And Legacy Of Samson
Judges 16:28
Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?
Samson - he brought the house down!
The Bible According to Kids
The following statements about the Bible were written by children and have not been retouched or corrected (i.e., bad spelling has been left in.)
- In the first book of the Bible, Guinesses, God got tired of creating the world, so he took the Sabbath off.
- Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree.
- Noah's wife was called Joan of Ark because Noah built the ark, which the animals came to in pears.
- Moses led the Hebrews to the Red Sea, where they made unleavened bread, which is bread without any ingredients.
- The Egyptians were all drowned in the dessert.
- Afterwards, Moses went up to Mount Cyanide to find the ten commendments.
- The first commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple.
- Moses died before he ever reached Canada.
- Samson was a strong man who let himself be led astray by a Jezebel like Delilah.
- Samson slew the Philistines with the axe of the Apostles.
A young boy had just got his driver's permit and inquired of his father, an evangelist, if they could discuss the use of the car. His father took him to the study and said to the boy, "I'll make a deal with you, son. You bring your grades up from a C to a B-average, study your Bible a little, and get your hair cut and we'll talk about the car."
Well, the boy thought about that for a moment and decided that he'd best settle for the offer, and they agreed. After about six weeks the boy came back and again asked his father about the car.
Again, they went to the study where his father said, "Son, I've been real proud of you. You've brought your grades up, and I've observed that you've been studying your Bible and participating a lot more in the Bible study class on Sunday morning. But I'm real disappointed since you haven't got your hair cut."
The young man paused a moment and then said, "You know dad, I've been thinking about that and I've noticed in my studies of the Bible that Samson had long hair, Moses had long hair, John the Baptist had long hair, and there's even strong argument that Jesus himself had long hair."
To which his father replied, "You're right, son. Did you also notice that they all WALKED everywhere they went?"
Samson was the last of the thirteen judges included in this book, and the account of his life is given in Judges chapter 13 thru chapter 16. The record of Samson is unique in the book of Judges in that we have a fairly inclusive account of his life from birth to death.
There is perhaps no more dramatic individual and account in the Bible than that of Samson. In fact, Alexander Whyte who dealt so well with Biblical character studies wrote, “Some commentators on the book of Judges have treated the story of Samson as an excellent piece of Hebrew folklore. They have produced remarkable parallels to Samson’s exploits out of ...many... mythological characters.” Now the account of Samson is not a fictional account. It is definitely a factual account. But, all the fight scenes, and the love scenes, and the fascinating superhuman elements certainly make the account of Samson a story for guys who like stories.
C.I. Scofield wrote, “The character and work of Samson are alike enigmatical,” which means that he’s a hard fellow to figure out. Samson seemed to walk on the borderline his entire life. Instead of seeing how closely he could walk to God and stand it, he tried to see how far he could walk away from God and get by with it. He exemplifies that which is within each of us as God’s children: the regenerated part and the rebellious part – the divine nature and the depraved nature.
When we think about Samson, we cannot help but think of his superhuman strength. It’s true that there was not a stronger man, nor a mightier warrior in all of Israel – yea, in the entire world, than Samson. And Samson seemed to revel in his strength, and he exhibited great confidence in his physical ability.
Franklin Allen tells the story of Josiah Perkins who was celebrating his one-hundredth birthday when a reporter called and interviewed him. The reporter asked Mr. Perkins, “Do you think you’ll live another hundred years?” And Josiah Perkins said, “I don’t see why I shouldn’t. I’m a heap stronger now than I was a hundred years ago.” (From Paul Lee Tan’s book)
Well, it is possible to have too much confidence in the strength of the flesh, isn’t it? Samson seemed to be able to handle anything that came his way, and even in this chapter we see great exhibitions of ability and feats of strength. Had Samson been a boxer we could have called him the Danite Demolisher. But Samson came face to face with an opponent in this chapter that he could not defeat on his own.
As we come to the Old Testament book of Judges we are reminded of the four-fold pattern of apostasy which kept repeating itself among the people of Israel. J. Sidlow Baxter wrote, “The six apostasies, servitudes, and deliverances are each set out in this quadruple order: (1) Sinning (2) Suffering (3) Supplication (4) Salvation.” The character of this 300 year period in Israel’s history is summarized in Judges 2:11-19.
Samson, who in several respects was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, was the last of the thirteen judges included in this book. John Butler entitled his book on Samson, The Weak Strong Man, saying, “Samson was physically the strongest man who ever lived. Yet, he was also a very weak man, and his weakness overcame his strength.”
When I think of Samson I’m reminded of something that I did as a small child – “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so, little ones to Him belong, they are weak, but He is strong” - And I’m strong too!
Let’s take a panoramic view of the life of Samson, and as we do so, let us first note:
1. His Dramatic Record(His Life)Ch. 13-16
There is perhaps no more dramatic character and story in the Bible than that of Samson. In fact, Alexander Whyte who dealt so well with Biblical character studies wrote, “Some commentators on the book of Judges have treated the story of Samson as an excellent piece of Hebrew folklore. They have produced remarkable parallels to Samson’s exploits out of ...many... mythological characters. His is certainly a story for guys who like stories. It has all the fight scenes, all the love scenes, and all the elements of intrigue; yet this is a real life person. As we think about his dramatic record we must consider...
A. The Record Of His BirthCh. 13
1. This Section Deals With The Parents Of Samsonvs. 2
2. This Section Deals With The Prophecy Of Samsonvs. 3-
The name Samson means “sunshine” or “sunny,” and at first he did bring a little sunshine into the home of his parents.
B. The Record Of His BehaviorCh. 14, 15, 16
1. We See The Exploits Of His Power
(Each of which are tagged by this statement, “The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him.”)
a. He Killed A Beast(A Lion)14:5-6
b. He Killed A Band Of Men(Thirty Men)14:19
c. He Killed A Great Battalion Of Men (1,000)15:14
2. We See The Examples Of His Passion
a. He Loved A Foreigner (A Woman In Timnath)14:1-2
b. He Had A Fling With A Harlot In Gaza16:1
c. He Loved A Flirt Named Delilah16:4
C.I. Scofield wrote, “The character and work of Samson are alike enigmatical (meaning incomprehensible).
Samson seemed to walk on the borderline his entire life. Instead of seeing how closely he could walk to God and stand it, he tried to see how far he could walk away from God and get by with it. He exemplifies that which is within each of God’s children: the regenerated part and the rebellious part – the divine nature and the depraved nature.
2. His Desperate Request16:28
In Nehemiah 6:9, Nehemiah prayed “strengthen my hands.” Here, Samson, who had always been such a strong individual, cries out to God for strength.
called - [Greek kaw-raw'] a primitive root with the idea of accosting a person met, to call out to someone or properly, to address someone by name.
A. Consider The Prompting Of His Prayer(What prompted him to pray this way?)
1. His Bondage
Samson didn’t start out in bondage, but he did end up in bondage; and it didn’t happen overnight. There was an enslaving process.
Samson goes down unto Gaza for the gratification of his own appetites; little caring what blot there might be left upon the name of God, and upon the name of his people, in so doing. He goes down there a victim to the flesh, and, beloved brethren, if one is a victim to the flesh within, it is only a matter of time (until) he will be a victim externally, visibly, too.
(Samuel Ridout)
[Let’s consider for a few moments, in a parenthetical way, what led to his bondage.]
* A Dangerous Association16:4, 19
What kind of companions are these for a man who is to be the bitter enemy of these people?
The lessons are so plain that we cannot fail, I am sure, to see them. You are only going to compromise on one point. You are only going to adopt one principle that is not quite scriptural. You adopt that one principle, you take it into your bosom, for you know the woman stands for the principles of conduct. You take a single Philistine principle into your bosom and say, “This pleases me well.” It is some piece of religious machinery, some short cut to spiritual success that is going to work wonders, and you say, Ah, this is a good thing, I will make use of it. To be sure it is a Philistine thing, but then it will draw the crowd. (Samuel Ridout)
* A Dangerous Admission16:16-17
Poor Samson is always telling his secrets. He is always anxious to talk about things that nobody ought to know but himself. Things that surely Philistines ought not to know about, he wants to tell them. (Samuel Ridout)
He is casting his pearls before swine. He is investing his truth, and energy, and life into that which could not truly satisfy and which ultimately enslaved him.
* A Dangerous Assumption16:20
Are you in a place of bondage? If so, ask God for strength!
2. His Blindness16:28
Verse 21 describes the blinding, binding, and grinding effects of sin upon a life.
B. Consider The Particulars Of His Prayer
1. He Asked The Lord To Remember Him
to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention
2. He Asked The Lord To Restore Him To His State Of Former Strength
(Psalm 51:12) Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
3. Some Distinct Reflections About Samson (His Legacy)
Even with all the mixed signals that we get from Samson, we cannot deny...
A. His Faith
1. His Trust
(Hebrews 11:32-34) And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: {33} Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, {34} Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
2. His Triumph
(2 Corinthians 12:9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
B. Let’s Reflect Upon His Fate
1. Considering What Happened To Samson - What Is The Verdict Of His Life?
“Samson may have died in victory, but he lived in moral and spiritual defeat. He destroyed God’s enemies, but he did not live like God’s friend. What a tragedy!” - Warren Wiersbe
2. What Would Samson Consider The Value Of His Life?
(Judges 16:30) And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
Maybe he could say with Paul, “My life means nothing unless it can glorify God.”
(Acts 20:22-24) And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: {23} Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. {24} But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Conclusion: It has been often said that it is important to start right, and it’s more important to stay right, but it’s most important to finish right. As I have studied the life and legacy of Samson, I’ve concluded that while it is important to start right, and it is important to finish right, it is most important to stay right, because if we stay right we will finish right.
I’ve thought today about Muhammad Ali. There were two images in my mind of that man who has been heralded as one of the great athletes of modern times. There was the image of the young, vibrant, self-assured man dancing around athletically and confidently claiming, “I am the greatest!” We can vividly remember the famous phrases of the Louisville Lip as he said things like, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,” and “I’m young, I’m beautiful and can’t possibly be beat.”
But even with his impressive boxing record, the truth is that he could be beat. For you see there is a second image of Muhammad Ali. There is the image of an older man who can no longer speak clearly, who can hardly walk because of the ravages of Parkinson’s disease and age.
Now we and he can play back those old film clips of the young, vibrant, confident man, but the present reality is that older, weaker, stricken man.
Similarly, we can have this image of ourselves as being strong and capable and self-sufficient, and unbeatable, but that is not the real picture. The reality is that we need God.
As Vance Havner said, “Without His unction, we cannot function.”
Samson. [Heb. Shimshon, meaning uncertain. Some have interpreted the name to be derived from shemesh, "sun," with a diminutive ending, thus meaning "little sun"; others have connected it with shamam, "to destroy," explaining the name Samson as meaning "destroyer." Josephus (Ant. v. 8. 4) explains the name to mean "the strong one," deriving it from shamem, "fat," "robust"; Gr. Sampsoµn.] A hero of the late period of the judges, who performed feats of superhuman strength during the Philistine oppression of Judah and Dan shortly before Saul became king of Israel. Although Samson is called "judge," he is so different in character and action from the other judges that he can hardly be compared either with the major judges—Othniel, Ehud, Barak, Gideon, and Jephthah—or with the minor ones—Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon.
Samson’s birth was predicted to the barren wife of Manoah, by an angel of God who at the same time instructed her as to the nature of his upbringing and work. He was to be a Nazirite and as such had to live under certain restrictions (Jgs 13). The family of Samson belonged to the tribe of Dan and lived at Zorah (v 2) in the Shephelah (Palestine Under Joshua and the Judges), not far from the territory of the Philistines, hence probably felt the brunt of Philistine oppressive rule. Samson possessed unusual strength with which he was able to perform heroic deeds of extraordinary valour. If his moral character had been commensurate with his strength, God would have used him mightily for the deliverance of His people. As it was, he failed to complete the work of God had given him to do, and finally died in captivity and ignominy.
Samson’s recorded acts may be divided into 5 episodes, but it should be remembered that neither his whole life nor all his performances of heroism are recorded in the Bible (see Jgs 13:25).
(1). After Samson, under the influence of the Spirit of the Lord, had performed certain unspecified acts of heroism (Jgs 13:25), he fell in love with and married a Philistine girl of Timnah (KJV "Timnath"; Palestine Under Joshua and the Judges). At the wedding feast he asked his Philistine guests a riddle based on his experience with a lion he had killed. Their inability to solve the riddle led to a number of complications, the result of which was that Samson thoroughly antagonised the Philistines. Later, his wife was given to another man and he took revenge by burning some Philistine fields and olive orchards. When they retaliated and burned his wife and her father, he slew many of them (chs 14:1 to 15:8).