How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets.
Hebrews 11:32
We move on to the next example of faith the writer of Hebrews has chosen for us – Samson. Again we have a curious couplet between Samson and Jephthah where the author of the letter as switched the order, placing Samson before Jephthah. The latter’s story is found in Judges Chapters 11 and 12, while the former’s is found in Judges 13 to 16. I am sure you have noticed the writer of Hebrews as chosen the longer stories from the Book of Judges and omitted the minor players. Perhaps he organised the stories in order of size, much like the Old Testament ordering of books of the Prophets in terms of size. After all the account of Samson is longer than that of Jephthah. But perhaps there is another reason for the ordering; keep alert.
Samson was the thirteenth judge and effectively the last before the beginning of the time of the Kings. What is interesting about this judge is the fact the writer of Hebrews has placed him before Jephthah, who was actually the ninth judge over Israel. Why the switch in order? I will address that matter after I have completed this list the author of Hebrews has given us. Just as he told us in his letter I will not take on the task of exegeting the story of Samson. “It would take too long to recount the story of Samson.” Samson and Gideon’s stories are the longest in the book of Judges, Gideon’s took three chapters to recount (6-8) and Samson’s took four (13-16). My approach in this Gem is to examine Samson’s story purely from the point of view of Samson as a judge who acted by faith. There are portions of this story which mirror some of the people of faith we have looked at already.
Take note of the two boundary markers:-
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.
Judges 13:1
Samson judged Israel for twenty years during the period when the Philistines dominated the land.
Judges 15:20
The Pattern of the Book of Judges
Then the LORD raised up judges to rescue the Israelites from their attackers. Yet Israel did not listen to the judges but prostituted themselves by worshiping other gods. How quickly they turned away from the path of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to the LORD’s commands. Whenever the LORD raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge’s lifetime. For the LORD took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering. But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.
Judges 2:16-19
Interestingly the refrain of the book of Judges closes the time of Samson as judge and concludes the book of Judges.
In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.
Judges 17:6, 21:25
The LORD was with Samson
The writer of Judges makes it clear that the LORD was with Samson (14:4, 6, 19; 15:14, 18-19).
There is a birth narrative announcing Samson’s birth and a prophetic word given as to what this child had to do to maintain the strength of God within him (13:3-5). There are numerous appearances of an angel (13:3, 9, 15-21). The parents believe the words spoken (13:12). The offering made was consumed via angelic activity much like Gideon (13:19-20). There are other parallels in the Samson story to David and the encounter with the lion.
Samson’s name means ‘strong, daring one who acts powerfully to devastate’. It is little wonder that God used Samson to provoke and devastate the Philistines on Israel’s behalf. Remember each judge was raised up to help the Israelites to throw off the oppression of the neighbouring nations.
The Curious ‘Making Sport’ Theme
Samson’s story is full of playful elements. All through the story the Philistines play Samson, who then plays them in return and ultimately it is God who toys with the Philistines. After all God’s purpose for raising up Samson was to use him to free the Israelites from Philistine clutches. Take note of the number of times both sides are being played – i.e. made sport of:-
- Samson plays with the Timnahites (14:12-13)
- Samson’s wife plays Samson seven times (14:16-17).
- The men of Timnah played Samson’s wife (14:18).
- Samson gained the garments from the Ashkelon, the Philistines’ kin (14:19).
- Samson’s father-in-law plays him. (15:2) – with parallels to Jacob.
- The Judahites intended to play Samson – the outcome was that together the Judahites and Samson played the Philistines resulting in 1,000 more deaths (15:15).
- Leading to the naming of the Jawbone Hill. (15:17)
And don’t miss the irony hidden in the threat from the Timnahites to burn the wife’s family home if the wife didn’t tell the answer to the riddle. So Samson burned their livelihood via the foxes tails and the flaming torches and so the Philistines burned the house with the wife and parents inside. All of which then led to Samson killing many more Philistines (15:8).
Oh there are many more curious parts to the Samson story. Not once is ‘faith” mentioned in the stories found in Judges but their lives demonstrate faith and on each occasion the key role players step out in what can only be called faith. However Samson is almost like the example who sits on the edge living by the strength God gave him and doing what was right in his own eyes. The Samson story is a curious mixture of these two elements. The Israelites had been told not to marry women from the surrounding groups, specifically the Canaanites (Ex 34:16, Deut 7:3-4, Josh 13:3). I am left wondering if it was deliberate both on the part of the writer of Judges and of God Himself. It is almost as though God uses the Philistines to provoke Samson and vice versa. God appears to ignore the prohibition of intermarriage in Samson’s case.
The Last Chapter of Samson’s Story
It appears to be written with one thought in mind, namely Samson killed more Philistines through his death than during the days of his life. Remember the closure of his time as judge appears at the end of chapter 15. The last chapter is all about the final ways he played sport with the Philistines as they were attempting to play him. With his final act of strength he took out all the Philistine leaders along with the 3,000 men and women on the roof while they were gathered to make a sporting spectacle of him. Four times in the chapter the term ‘making fun’, ‘making sport’, ‘playing with me’ is used of Delilah to Samson, Samson to the Philistines and the vice versa. This chapter marks the ultimate coup against the Philistines. Remember, that is what the judges were appointed by God to do, remove the oppression of these foreign powers.
It is made very clear to us why this happened. It was not because Samson had a weakness for foreign women. Neither was it because he had an anger problem as some have suggested to me. No, the reason is made plain to us with the words “Samson did not realise the LORD had left him” (16:20). The same words that were spoken of Saul. (1 Samuel 16:14). Normally the judges went into action when the Spirit of the Lord came upon them. Why did the Spirit of the Lord leave Samson? Because he told Delilah the secret of his strength was found in his hair. The fact that he had taken a Nazarite vow. Allowing his hair to be cut and abandoning his vow was his undoing. Isn’t it interesting that the angel made it very clear to Samson’s mother that his hair was never to be cut (13:5). But she didn’t tell that to Manoah neither did the words get passed on to Samson. However the angel told Manoah “Be sure your wife follows the instructions I gave her.” But he didn’t specify the terms of the Nazarite vow that the hair must never be cut.
It leaves me wondering whether the LORD orchestrated the scenario to bring about the end of the Philistine oppression. Whatever lay behind all of this, the writer of Hebrews makes it clear to us that Samson’s actions constituted a story of faith.
By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Hebrews 11:33-34
That pretty much sums up what Samson did by faith.
Faith is not believing God CAN, it’s knowing that He WILL! He will not fail you!
Rick Godwin
If your faith doesn’t include risk it’s just religion!
Rick Godwin
It is never the strength of our faith but the object of our faith that actually saves us.
Sidney Mohede
Difficulties not only place a demand on your faith, but also reveal the depth of it!
Ian