Sermon Devotional: Fallen Hero – Samson
Sermon Title: Fallen Hero – Samson
Scripture: Judges 13-16 (NIV)
In today’s text, we consider the colorful life of Samson, another of Israel’s judges. Samson was born to Manoah, a man from the tribe of the Danites, during a period of Philistine rule resulting from the Israelites doing “evil in the eyes of the Lord” (13:1).
Like many Biblical heroes, Samson’s birth was heralded by divine pronouncement. Unlike some of the more calculating encounters we have learned about recently, Manoah and his wife engaged with the divine with humble and even anxious consideration. How, they asked, were they to raise this special boy?
The boy, the envoy specified, was to be raised as a Nazirite. Thus, he was not to be allowed to eat anything pertaining to the grape plant, from wine to raisins; he could not go near a corpse; and no razor could be used on his head. In addition to avoiding unclean foods, Manoah’s wife herself was forbidden to drink wine or other strong beverages during her pregnancy. This is often cited in medical literature as evidence that ancient people recognized the harm that could come to a child when an expectant mother drank alcohol. Such a healthy pregnancy surely would have given Samson something of a relative edge in terms of intelligence, vigor, and strength.
Samson’s mother named her boy “little sun.” Rather than being endearing, this is most commonly understood as an example of the Israelites doing “evil in the eyes of the Lord,” as sun worship has been strongly associated with a town (Beth Shemesh) just a few miles away. The book of Judges records that Samson “grew and the Lord blessed him, and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him…” (13:25).
Despite this promising beginning, Samson grew into a riotous, demanding, arrogant, and rebellious young man. He was tremendously strong, and yet his character was weak. His parents, despite their likely religiously syncretistic ways, knew enough about Israelite practices to teach Samson to adhere to the Nazirite lifestyle. Yet as his story progresses, we can see how Samson went out of his way repeatedly to violate his Nazirite vow with regards to both the spirit and letter of the law.
For example, his first recorded independent action was to ignore God’s prohibition against intermarriage (Deut. 7:3–4). He set his sights upon a certain young Philistine lady who took his fancy and demanded that his parents procure her for his wife despite their weak objections. Then, on his way to visit the Philistine family in question, he killed an Asiatic lion with his bare hands. While this would have cemented his prowess as a “Master of the Beasts,” something heavy with cultural symbolism in the Fertile Crescent, it also put him in contact with the corpse.
Later, Samson held a wedding feast at the home of his future father-in-law. The text does not say that Samson indulged in wine, but it can certainly be assumed that the rest of the Philistine party did and that it was a riotous occasion in which many types of grape products were consumed. He went on to make such mischief at the wedding party, deliberately angering and insulting the local people, that the bride and her father were eventually burned to death and fields were ravaged by fire. In fact, such a fuss arose that a small war was incited.
The battle ultimately provided a backdrop for Samson to rise to local prominence among the Israelites. It is recorded that after all the mayhem had settled down that he “led Israel for twenty years” (15:20). Despite his “rule,” however, Samson was constantly in danger of being trapped by the Philistines. His interest in disreputable women, including the famous Delilah, made this job easy for them, and ultimately proved to be his downfall. His final recorded violation of his Nazirite vow came when he was tricked into allowing his hair to be cut. Immediately, the Lord and Samson’s own strength “left him” (16:20). Samson was captured, his eyes gouged out, and he was forced into slave labor. His story ends with a Philistine religious celebration. Samson prayed to God and received God’s strength. He pulled a stone temple down upon himself and the triumphant Philistines who were reveling inside.
Consider –
╬ At the end of his life, Samson cried out to God. The book of Hebrews names him as one who “through faith . . . were made strong out of weakness” (Heb. 11:33–34). Can you name a time when your strength failed you? Did you cry out to God in your weakness? Remember and tell someone the story of God’s strength being made perfect in your weakness (Read 2Cor 12:7-10).
╬ We are often told to be strong and independent. God, however, created us to be dependent upon Him like a branch is dependent upon the Vine (John 15). How would your life be different if you more fully acknowledged your utter dependence upon Jesus? In what area of your life can you put your hope in God rather than in your own strength and ingenuity?
╬ Lord, thank you for Paul’s witness that “when I am weak, then I am strong.” God the Spirit, show us how to grow in our dependence upon the triune God. May Your strength be made perfect in our weakness. In Jesus Christ we pray. Amen
Scripture: Judges 13-16 (NIV)
“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.” Judges 16:28
In today’s text, we consider the colorful life of Samson, another of Israel’s judges. Samson was born to Manoah, a man from the tribe of the Danites, during a period of Philistine rule resulting from the Israelites doing “evil in the eyes of the Lord” (13:1).
Like many Biblical heroes, Samson’s birth was heralded by divine pronouncement. Unlike some of the more calculating encounters we have learned about recently, Manoah and his wife engaged with the divine with humble and even anxious consideration. How, they asked, were they to raise this special boy?
The boy, the envoy specified, was to be raised as a Nazirite. Thus, he was not to be allowed to eat anything pertaining to the grape plant, from wine to raisins; he could not go near a corpse; and no razor could be used on his head. In addition to avoiding unclean foods, Manoah’s wife herself was forbidden to drink wine or other strong beverages during her pregnancy. This is often cited in medical literature as evidence that ancient people recognized the harm that could come to a child when an expectant mother drank alcohol. Such a healthy pregnancy surely would have given Samson something of a relative edge in terms of intelligence, vigor, and strength.
Samson’s mother named her boy “little sun.” Rather than being endearing, this is most commonly understood as an example of the Israelites doing “evil in the eyes of the Lord,” as sun worship has been strongly associated with a town (Beth Shemesh) just a few miles away. The book of Judges records that Samson “grew and the Lord blessed him, and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him…” (13:25).
Despite this promising beginning, Samson grew into a riotous, demanding, arrogant, and rebellious young man. He was tremendously strong, and yet his character was weak. His parents, despite their likely religiously syncretistic ways, knew enough about Israelite practices to teach Samson to adhere to the Nazirite lifestyle. Yet as his story progresses, we can see how Samson went out of his way repeatedly to violate his Nazirite vow with regards to both the spirit and letter of the law.
For example, his first recorded independent action was to ignore God’s prohibition against intermarriage (Deut. 7:3–4). He set his sights upon a certain young Philistine lady who took his fancy and demanded that his parents procure her for his wife despite their weak objections. Then, on his way to visit the Philistine family in question, he killed an Asiatic lion with his bare hands. While this would have cemented his prowess as a “Master of the Beasts,” something heavy with cultural symbolism in the Fertile Crescent, it also put him in contact with the corpse.
Later, Samson held a wedding feast at the home of his future father-in-law. The text does not say that Samson indulged in wine, but it can certainly be assumed that the rest of the Philistine party did and that it was a riotous occasion in which many types of grape products were consumed. He went on to make such mischief at the wedding party, deliberately angering and insulting the local people, that the bride and her father were eventually burned to death and fields were ravaged by fire. In fact, such a fuss arose that a small war was incited.
The battle ultimately provided a backdrop for Samson to rise to local prominence among the Israelites. It is recorded that after all the mayhem had settled down that he “led Israel for twenty years” (15:20). Despite his “rule,” however, Samson was constantly in danger of being trapped by the Philistines. His interest in disreputable women, including the famous Delilah, made this job easy for them, and ultimately proved to be his downfall. His final recorded violation of his Nazirite vow came when he was tricked into allowing his hair to be cut. Immediately, the Lord and Samson’s own strength “left him” (16:20). Samson was captured, his eyes gouged out, and he was forced into slave labor. His story ends with a Philistine religious celebration. Samson prayed to God and received God’s strength. He pulled a stone temple down upon himself and the triumphant Philistines who were reveling inside.
Consider –
╬ At the end of his life, Samson cried out to God. The book of Hebrews names him as one who “through faith . . . were made strong out of weakness” (Heb. 11:33–34). Can you name a time when your strength failed you? Did you cry out to God in your weakness? Remember and tell someone the story of God’s strength being made perfect in your weakness (Read 2Cor 12:7-10).
╬ We are often told to be strong and independent. God, however, created us to be dependent upon Him like a branch is dependent upon the Vine (John 15). How would your life be different if you more fully acknowledged your utter dependence upon Jesus? In what area of your life can you put your hope in God rather than in your own strength and ingenuity?
╬ Lord, thank you for Paul’s witness that “when I am weak, then I am strong.” God the Spirit, show us how to grow in our dependence upon the triune God. May Your strength be made perfect in our weakness. In Jesus Christ we pray. Amen