A Man Named Samson

Judges 16

Judges 16:23–31 ESV

Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.” And when the people saw him, they praised their god. For they said, “Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.” And when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained. Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life. Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years.

The time of the Judges was a time where there was no king. The last verse of the book says it all Judges 21.25 “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Samson was one of those judges that was set apart from birth but he did not walk in the way that he should have. He had great strength but because of his disobedience he had lost it all. This part of his life recounts his final act in death. Because of his sin he fell into the hands of the enemy and God granted him strength one last time to kill the enemy and in this act he himself died.

Samson through his life failed a lot, yet God kept showing him mercy. Time after time he would go against what God had for him yet all the way to the end God showed him mercy. The time that Samson lived in is not to different than the time that we live in, everyone does what is right in their own eyes. We are also not to different from Samson, we fail time after time. Just remember that there is nothing wrong with going against the world because the world is totally sinful. Also remember that God is a merciful God. We should strive to live better but when we fail he will show mercy. This mercy only comes to those who have put their faith in him though. Without accepting the salvation that he offers we cannot expect the mercy that he gives.

Next week we will look at the story of Ruth and see Gods providence through everything.