SBC: Judging the Judges - 2 | Samson

WEEK 2 – JUDGING THE JUDGES CASE FILE #2: THE PEOPLE vs. SAMSON Text: Judges 13–16 Theme on Trial: Can gifting cover for character? Big Truth: Charisma can win battles, but only character leaves a legacy.

⚖️ FORMAL CASE FILE PRESENTATION 🗂️ CASE FILE: SAMSON (Judges 13–16)

CONTEXT SESSION HISTORICAL CONTEXT Timeline: Approx. 1100 BC Setting: Israel is under Philistine oppression for 40 years (Judges 13:1). No king, and the people have grown used to being ruled. Structure: Samson is raised up by God as a lone deliverer—not a military general, but a one-man wrecking ball. Spiritual Climate: Israel isn’t even crying out for help anymore. They’ve accepted the enemy’s rule.

Key Insight: God doesn’t wait for Israel to repent—He sends a judge anyway. But the judge He raises is just as reckless as the people.

COVENANT CONTEXT

Samson is a Nazirite from birth.

He’s set apart by a vow: no wine, no dead bodies, no cutting hair.

But from the start, he’s more interested in personal revenge and women than in holy war.

Angel announces Samson’s birth 📖 Judges 13:1–5

➤ God calls Samson before conception, promising he will “begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” This sets the tone: Samson is chosen, not for perfection, but for a divine purpose.

Samson is born and set apart as a Nazirite 📖 Judges 13:24–25

➤ Dedicated to God from birth under the Nazirite vow—no wine, no razor, no contact with the dead. This vow becomes the symbol of his calling and the measure of his faithfulness.

Desires a Philistine wife from Timnah 📖 Judges 14:1–3

➤ Samson sees a Philistine woman and demands her for marriage. It’s the first major red flag: personal desire over divine direction.

Kills a lion with his bare hands 📖 Judges 14:5–6

➤ A demonstration of supernatural strength—his first recorded act of power. He tells no one, showing a pattern of secrecy and self-reliance.

Eats honey from the lion’s carcass 📖 Judges 14:8–9

➤ Violates his Nazirite vow by touching a corpse. He also shares the honey without revealing its source—hiding his compromise.

Proposes a riddle at his wedding feast 📖 Judges 14:10–14

➤ Uses the lion incident for a bet. The riddle becomes a game that sparks hostility and reveals his impulsiveness.

Philistines solve the riddle by threatening his wife 📖 Judges 14:15–18

➤ His wife betrays him to save herself. This becomes the first of several betrayals by women in Samson’s life.

Kills 30 Philistines in revenge 📖 Judges 14:19

➤ To settle the bet, he kills 30 men and takes their clothes. Violence becomes his default response to humiliation.

Burns Philistine fields with 300 foxes 📖 Judges 15:4–5

➤ After his wife is given to another man, he retaliates with calculated destruction. This act leads to a deeper cycle of revenge.

Kills 1,000 men with a donkey’s jawbone 📖 Judges 15:14–16

➤ An iconic moment of power. He acts alone again, defeating a massive army—but still not leading Israel.

Spends the night with a prostitute in Gaza 📖 Judges 16:1–3

➤ Despite God’s calling, Samson continues reckless, sinful patterns. He escapes Gaza by carrying off the city gates.

Falls in love with Delilah 📖 Judges 16:4

➤ This relationship isn’t just romantic—it’s strategic. Delilah is clearly working for the Philistines, but Samson is blinded by attachment.

Is repeatedly tricked by Delilah 📖 Judges 16:6–15

➤ Delilah presses him for the secret of his strength. He toys with her multiple times, revealing how careless he’s become.

Reveals his vow—his hair has never been cut 📖 Judges 16:17

➤ He finally reveals the truth. In doing so, he gives up the final sign of his consecration to God.

Is betrayed, shaved, captured, and blinded 📖 Judges 16:18–21

➤ The Lord departs from him. He loses his strength, his sight, and his freedom—all due to his compromise.

Hair begins to grow back in prison 📖 Judges 16:22

➤ A subtle signal of restoration. Even in judgment, God’s purpose is not revoked.

Calls on God one last time and dies with his enemies 📖 Judges 16:28–30

➤ In his final act, Samson destroys the Philistine temple—killing more in his death than in his life. His story ends in tragedy and partial redemption.

Key Insight: Samson doesn’t lead Israel—he represents them. Strong on the outside, undisciplined on the inside.

STRATEGIC CONTEXT Samson never gathers an army. He doesn’t unite the tribes. His victories are solo acts of strength and revenge. Even in his final act, he dies with the enemy. There’s no long-term peace.

Key Insight: Samson fights enemies without ever fighting his flesh. He defeats Philistines, but never rules himself.

📍CHARGES Moral Compromise – He pursued Philistine women, broke Nazirite vows, and acted impulsively. Prideful Isolation – Refused accountability, acted alone, and lived without wise counsel. Wasted Potential – Used strength for revenge, not leadership or legacy.

🟥 THE PROSECUTION Exhibit A1 – Moral Compromise Judges 14:1–3 – He demands a Philistine wife "because she is right in my eyes." Judges 16:1 – Sleeps with a prostitute in Gaza. Judges 16:4 – Falls for Delilah, who was clearly exploiting him. Prosecutor Argument: “He was a Nazirite—a man marked for holiness. But every decision he made was sensual, not spiritual. He wasn’t tempted once—he lived in temptation.”

Exhibit A2 – Broken Vows Judges 14:8–9 – Touches a dead lion (breaking Nazirite vow) and hides it. Judges 16:17 – Finally tells Delilah about his hair, the last symbol of his vow. Prosecutor Argument: “He played games with sacred things. His power wasn’t magic—it was covenant. And he threw it away like a toy.”

Exhibit A3 – Prideful Isolation Judges 15:14–16 – Kills 1,000 men with a donkey’s jawbone. Judges 16 – No accountability, no community, no support. Prosecutor Argument: “He never led people—he entertained them. He never judged Israel—he avenged himself.”

Prosecution Closing: “He was strong enough to kill lions—but not his own lust. He could carry city gates—but not the weight of obedience. He could conquer armies—but not his ego.

And in the end, the man who was supposed to deliver Israel… died in chains.”

🟩 THE DEFENSE

Exhibit B1 – Chosen from the Womb Judges 13:3–5 – The angel of the LORD declares his birth, calling, and mission. Defense Argument: “God initiated this. Samson didn’t campaign for it—he was anointed before he had a name.”

Exhibit B2 – Faith in Crisis Judges 15:18 – Samson prays, sincerely and humbly. Judges 16:28 – In his final moment, he calls on the Lord for strength. Defense Argument: “When the mask dropped, the real Samson showed up—not the showman, but the servant.”

Exhibit B3 – Remembered in Hebrews 11 Hebrews 11:32 – Listed among the heroes of faith. Defense Argument: “The final word on Samson is not failure—it’s faith.

God used him to begin the deliverance of Israel (Judges 13:5). He may not have lived like a legend—but he died in surrender.”

Defense Closing Statement: “Samson was broken. But God writes redemption into broken people. He failed often. But in the end—he fell forward into the arms of the only One who could lift him.”

🧠 JURY REFLECTION

Where have you relied more on gifting than surrender?

How does your strength hide your need for God?

Are you living in isolation—or accountability?

⚖️ VERDICT TIME Step 1 — Legacy Verdict (Vote) “What is Samson’s legacy in Judges 13–16?” □ Faithful □ Flawed □ Fallen 🗣️ Invite 1–2 people to explain their vote.

Step 2 — Leadership Grade (Vote) “Grade Samson’s leadership as a judge.” □ A – Courageous, sacrificial, faithful □ B – Strong with moral struggles □ C – Inconsistent and self-focused □ D – Reckless, impulsive, unaccountable □ F – Failed calling, no leadership legacy 🗣️ Ask: “Who gave him an F—and why?”

✝️ ECHO OF CHRIST “Samson died with his enemies. Jesus died for His enemies.

Samson’s arms were stretched in judgment. Jesus’ arms were stretched in mercy.

Samson crushed a temple of idols. Jesus crushed the power of sin.

One died chained by failure. The other rose to offer freedom.”