Behind the Story of Samson: God's Weapon

Introduction

We’re now on to our last judge, although not quite the last of the book of Judges—the last section of the book details the complete collapse of faithfulness to God, and the terrible consequences of that failure.

The last judge is the famous Samson.

In our imaginations, Samson is almost like a superhero—his immense strength is his defining feature. But Samson was not supposed to be just a strongman. God called him from the womb to be a Nazirite. A Nazirite is a person who has dedicated themselves to special service to God. They show this by not touching grapes or alcohol, not cutting their hair, and not touching dead people (even their own family members). All this on top of strict obedience of the law of Moses.

The other famous man who seems to follow this path is, of course, John the Baptist. It’s hard to imagine two more different men than the sensual, self-indulgent Samson, whose only faithfulness was in his long hair, and the ascetic, spiritual John who was faithful in every way.

Today we’re going to look at one incident from Samson’s life. I think this incident illustrates the way Samson lived his whole life, and the way that God dealt with that. It’s the story of Samson’s wedding.

Just a tiny bit of context: the oppressors of Israel at this time were the Philistines. Samson’s job as a judge or deliverer was to defeat these people. Keep that in mind as we read this passage.

Bible

Judges 14:1–20 CEV

1 One day, Samson went to Timnah, where he saw a Philistine woman. 2 When he got back home, he told his parents, “I saw a Philistine woman in Timnah, and I want to marry her. Get her for me!” 3 His parents answered, “There are a lot of women in our clan and even more in the rest of Israel. Those Philistines are pagans. Why would you want to marry one of their women?” “She looks good to me,” Samson answered. “Get her for me!” 4 At that time, the Philistines were in control of Israel, and the Lord wanted to stir up trouble for them. That’s why he made Samson desire that woman. 5 As Samson and his parents reached the vineyards near Timnah, a fierce young lion suddenly roared and attacked Samson. 6 But the Lord’s Spirit took control of Samson, and with his bare hands he tore the lion apart, as though it had been a young goat. His parents didn’t know what he had done, and he didn’t tell them. 7 When they got to Timnah, Samson talked to the woman, and he was sure that she was the one for him. 8 Later, Samson returned to Timnah for the wedding. And when he came near the place where the lion had attacked, he left the road to see what was left of the lion. He was surprised to see that bees were living in the lion’s skeleton, and that they had made some honey. 9 He scooped up the honey in his hands and ate some of it as he walked along. When he got back to his parents, he gave them some of the honey, and they ate it too. But he didn’t tell them he had found the honey in the skeleton of a lion. 10 While Samson’s father went to make the final arrangements with the bride and her family, Samson threw a big party, as grooms usually did. 11 When the Philistines saw what Samson was like, they told thirty of their young men to stay with him at the party. 12 Samson told the thirty young men, “This party will last for seven days. Let’s make a bet: I’ll tell you a riddle, and if you can tell me the right answer before the party is over, I’ll give each one of you a shirt and a full change of clothing. 13 But if you can’t tell me the answer, then each of you will have to give me a shirt and a full change of clothing.” “It’s a bet!” the Philistines said. “Tell us the riddle.” 14 Samson said: Once so strong and mighty— now so sweet and tasty! Three days went by, and the Philistine young men had not come up with the right answer. 15 Finally, on the seventh day of the party they went to Samson’s bride and said, “You had better trick your husband into telling you the answer to his riddle. Have you invited us here just to rob us? If you don’t find out the answer, we will burn you and your family to death.” 16 Samson’s bride went to him and started crying in his arms. “You must really hate me,” she sobbed. “If you loved me at all, you would have told me the answer to your riddle.” “But I haven’t even told my parents the answer!” Samson replied. “Why should I tell you?” 17 For the entire seven days of the party, she had been whining and trying to get the answer from him. But that seventh day she put so much pressure on Samson that he finally gave in and told her the answer. She went straight to the young men and told them. 18 Before sunset that day, the men of the town went to Samson with this answer: A lion is the strongest— honey is the sweetest! Samson replied, This answer you have given me doubtless came from my bride-to-be. 19 Then the Lord’s Spirit took control of Samson. He went to Ashkelon, where he killed thirty men and took their clothing. Samson then gave it to the thirty young men at Timnah and stormed back home to his own family. 20 The father of the bride had Samson’s wife marry one of the thirty young men that had been at Samson’s party.

Samson’s marriage: three perspectives

The passage we just read from the Bible tells of Samson’s marriage to a Philistine. The Bible presents three perspectives on this, so let’s work through these one by one.

Perspective 1: Samson

The first perspective is Samson’s.

It’s a simple perspective:

Judges 14:1–2 CEV

1 One day, Samson went to Timnah, where he saw a Philistine woman. 2 When he got back home, he told his parents, “I saw a Philistine woman in Timnah, and I want to marry her. Get her for me!”

Samson sees a pretty woman. Samson wants the pretty woman. Samson demands the pretty woman.

The author of Judges presents the direct connection from Samson’s eyes to his desires to his actions in this demand Samson gives his parents. It’s almost as if Samson is the prototypical brainless strongman. There is no thought here, just desire.

To show just how thoughtless Samson is, we turn now to the second perspective.

Perspective 2: Samson’s parents (and God)

The second perspective belongs to Samson’s parents. But it also represents God’s perspective, although in a rather weak way, as we’ll see.

Judges 14:3 CEV

3 His parents answered, “There are a lot of women in our clan and even more in the rest of Israel. Those Philistines are pagans. Why would you want to marry one of their women?” “She looks good to me,” Samson answered. “Get her for me!”

Samson’s parents know that God’s people are supposed to keep to themselves. They know God’s command not to mix with the people of the land, because that mixing leads to spiritual corruption. And so they weakly protest against Samson’s demand.

But there’s more going on behind the scenes here, as the author of Judges reveals.

Judges 14:4 CEV

4 At that time, the Philistines were in control of Israel, and the Lord wanted to stir up trouble for them. That’s why he made Samson desire that woman.

God has a plan. God knows Samson’s weakness. He knows Samson’s desires. And he knows that Samson will go wherever his desires point him. And so God fits that into his plan for Israel.

This is a theme of Samson’s life. God purposes are fulfilled through him despite Samson’s refusal to even seek God, let alone listen to him.

Let’s list the ways Samson serves God’s purposes, despite himself:

To pay off his lost bet, Samson kills 30 Philistines

To take revenge for his wife being given to someone else, Samson burns down the wheat fields and orchards of the Philistines.

To pay back the Philistines for burning his wife and her family (in revenge for Samson’s burning their crops), Samson, eventually, kills 1000 Philistines

Finally, Samson kills himself and the rules of Philistia by destroying the temple they are feasting in

In all of these actions, Samson was simply letting his lusts or desires rule him, and yet each time God was working through him.

Fulfilling God’s purposes, version 1

You know, we often pray that God might work through us. Well, I do. And I look forward to God using me. It is a wonderful and rewarding experience to be used by God. After all, God always has good purposes in mind, and it’s great to be able to do something that has an eternal, good purpose, right?

But for Samson, it is not so much fun to be the person through whom God works, was it? He is betrayed by women, enslaved by his enemies, and only defeats them by killing himself. That’s not a fun life!

If we reject God’s purposes in our life, if we step outside the community of faith, the body of Christ, we will likely experience this disappointment, too.

After all, God works through everything to bring about good for those who love him, but not for the good of those who reject him.

If we reject God, he won’t stop working through us, but he won’t be able to reward us.

Fulfilling God’s purposes, version 2

In contrast, when we listen to Jesus, when we follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit, when we read God’s word and obey him, we find ourselves both being used by God, and being rewarded by him.

Jesus tells Peter, who is worried that God’s path might be a fruitless one,

Matthew 19:29 CEV

29 All who have given up home or brothers and sisters or father and mother or children or land for me will be given a hundred times as much. They will also have eternal life.

When we cooperate with God we find joy, peace and abundance. But God is the one who gets to define what those things are, not us.

Perspective 3: The Philistines

Which brings us to the third perspective, that of Samson’s wife and the Philistines.

It is fascinating to see how unconvinced the Philistines and his wife are of Samson’s motives.

Judges 14:11 CEV

11 When the Philistines saw what Samson was like, they told thirty of their young men to stay with him at the party.

The Philistines wisely did not trust Samson. He was a threat.

Judges 14:17 CEV

17 For the entire seven days of the party, she had been whining and trying to get the answer from him. But that seventh day she put so much pressure on Samson that he finally gave in and told her the answer. She went straight to the young men and told them.

And Samson’s wife sided with her people over him.

You see, Samson may have thought that his desires aligned him with the Philistines, but they never thought that way—they just saw Samson as a threat and an enemy.

When we try to ally ourselves to the world—to the parts of our culture and society that are in rebellion against God—we too will be disappointed. Like Samson we are a threat. Like Samson we can never really be a part of the world. Jesus told his disciples this:

John 15:18–19 CEV

18 If the people of this world hate you, just remember that they hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, its people would love you. But you don’t belong to the world. I have chosen you to leave the world behind, and that is why its people hate you.

It’s tempting to be a part of what looks like the fun crowd.

But God calls us to follow his path.

Just as King David supplanted Samson and the other judges because he listened to God, so our way is a better way as we listen to God.

To work together with God

I want to leave us with this contrast. There are two ways to be part of God great work of rescuing the world.

We can be an unwilling part of God’s project, like Samson.

Or we can work under God as a willing and joyful participant, taking the amazing opportunity to serve him and be part of his glorious rescue mission.

Like the apostle Peter healing the lame man at the temple.

As we go out today, let’s listen to God to hear what he has for us each day. We can be true heroes. Maybe not “supes” like Samson, but people who truly make the world a better place.

Let’s pray,

Lord, we thank you that you have sent your son, Jesus, to die in our place so that we can be part of your family and your work. We are grateful that you use us, as weak and fallible as we are. Please help us to hear your call, and give us the power of your Holy Spirit to obey you and serve you and change the world.

Amen.