JUDGE SAMSON (3)

0. Introduction

a) The Israelites began a series of cycles of sinning, worshiping idols, being punished, crying out for help, being rescued by a judge sent from God, obeying God for a while, then falling back into idolatry. They were conquered by Syria, Moab, Canaan, Midian, Ammon, and Philistia. They even faced the threat of civil war. Just as God sent help to the people when they cried out to him, he will deliver us when we call on him.

b) Judge Samson
(Text: Judges 16:1-22; Years of judging: 20)

1. What is the text all about?

a) Samson's relationship with God had deteriorated so much that he didn't even realize God had left him. He took his strength as well as God's presence for granted. God offered Samson all he would ever need, yet Samson chose instead to put himself into Delilah's deceitful hands. As a result  he lost his strength. We must be careful not to put our lives into the wrong hands. Our only true security is found in God.

b) Samson, the mighty warrior, became a slave. Rather than kill him, the Philistines preferred to humiliate him by gouging out his eyes  and making him grind grain. Samson now had plenty of time to wonder if Delilah's charms were worth spending the rest of his life in humiliation.

c) Although God did not completely abandon Samson (see Judges 16:28-30), he allowed Samson's decision to stand, and the consequences of his decision followed naturally.

@1. ²⁸ Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” ²⁹ Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, ³⁰ Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived. (Judges 16:28-30 NIV)

d) We may choose to be close to God or go our own way, but there are consequences resulting from our choice. Samson didn't choose to be captured, but he chose to be with Delilah, and he could not escape the consequences of his decision.

e) Blinded and without strength, Samson was taken to Gaza where he would spend the rest of his short life. Gaza was one of the five capital cities of the Philistines. Known for its many wells, Gaza was a vital stop along a great caravan route that connected Egypt to the south with Syria to the north. The Philistines probably showed off their prize captive, Samson, to many dignitaries passing through.

f) Ironically, it was in Gaza that Samson had earlier demonstrated his great strength by uprooting the city gates (see Judges 16:1-3). Now he was an example of weakness.

@1. ¹One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her. ² The people of Gaza were told, “Samson is here!” So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, “At dawn we’ll kill him.” ³ But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron. (Judges 16:1-3 NIV)

2. Memorable act (s)

a) Judge Samson was a Nazirite, killed a lion with his bare hands, burned the Philistine fields, killed 1,000 Philistines with a donkey's jawbone, tore off an iron gate, was betrayed by Delilah, and destroyed thousands of Philistines in one last mighty act.