Samson was strong man with a weak character. He went from being a hero to zero in this passage. However, God takes those in the trough and makes them useful. God had more work for Samson. It doesn’t make you a failure if you are not firing on all cylinders for God. Joseph had everything going his way but then in a short space of time he finds that he is in slavery! He has lost everything but God! God continues to give him success. There are other instance in the Bible that tells us clearly that God does not let you go. You can fight back!

It is hard to believe that Samson was a judge given the way he behaved. A judge in the Old Testament was a deliverer. The Holy Spirit was not given to people so there was a need for judges to rise up against Israel’s enemies and bring deliverance. They had special gifts/talents that God used to His glory.

Manoah was the father of Samson. In Judges 13:12 he asks a very good question to the Angel of the Lord. Manoah said, “Now when your words come to pass, what shall be the boy’s mode of life and his vocation?”. We are all here for a specific purpose! Samson had incredible physical strength that was supernaturally given to him.

The Lord is fed up with the Philistines being the head and Israel being the tail. Samson with be judge of Israel for twenty years and harass the Philistines. Samson has plenty of personal problems! God has a reason for you being born. Don’t miss it! There are a number of women who were barren but there is always a purpose. Samson is born. See Judges 13:24-25. There is a special purpose. God blesses Samson to succeed. There was an area he was given between Zorah and Eshtaol.

In Judges 14:3-6 we read that Samson wanted his parents to get him a wife from the Philistines. The rightly baulk at the idea. Yet God had a reason. He wants to break the power of the Philistines. Samson gets to Timnah (The place of assigned portion) but a lion appears to attack him. See 1 Peter 5:8. It is not surprising if Satan attacks when you do God’s work. Are you ready? Samson tears the lion apart and tells no one! Samson faces six battles against the Philistines.

1. Samson’s wedding (Judges 14:12-20)

He challenges them to a bet that they can’t work out his riddle. The Philistines threaten his wife and family to find out by nagging him. Samson realises they have cheated and pays off his debt by killing enough Philistines to get their clothing.

2. Samson visits his wife (Judges 15:1-8)

Samson had gone back to his parents but then decides to go back to get his wife only to find that she has been given away to his best man! Samson torches their crops and the Philistines retaliate by killing his wife and family. The power of God comes upon Samson and he kills many of them. He had the time of God’s approval. You need the Holy Spirit to do God’s work. Samson was not a saint but he was empowered by God for judgment against the Philistines.

3. Samson is handed over to the Philistines (Judges 15:11-19)

His own people hand him over to the Philistines. They don’t want a fight on their hands. Samson agrees provided they promise not hurt him themselves. They tie him with new ropes. The Philistines come shouting in triumph. No doubt to their gods. The power of the Holy Spirit comes upon him and he picks up the jaw bone of an ass and kills a thousand men! The power is shifting!

4. Samson visits Gaza (Judges 16:1-3)

Samson is there to spend the night with a prostitute. Samson had a weakness for women. It doesn’t happen as planned because the people of the city find out and close the city gates and wait for him to come out in the morning. When you are at your weakest is the time you will have to fight the enemy. It was midnight when Samson gets up, lifts off the gates of the city and takes them to a top of a hill!

5. Samson outwitted by Delilah (Judges 16:4-21)

Samson falls in love with a woman called Delilah and the Philistines find out and offer Delilah a fortune in silver if she can find out the source of his great strength. Samson was still flirting with the women outside Israel. If you don’t deal with your past issues then they will come back to haunt you! Samson’s weakest for women means his secret is out. Once his hair is cut he finds that the Lord has left him and he is captures and his eyes gouged out by the Philistines.

6. Samson brings down the house (Judges 16:22-31)

The Philistines were taking so long in their victory that they had failed to notice that Samson’s hair was growing back! They were throwing a great party at the temple of Dagon and worshipping their gods. They were mocking Samson and his God. There was thousands on the roof so many more inside. Samson was chained and blind but he was ready to fight back! He gets his hands on the support pillars and prays to God for his strength to return.

Samson won in the end. He judged for 20 years. God knows we are not perfect. God can work around our imperfections; He knows we are human. Philippians 4:19 says, “Our God can supply all your needs, according to His riches and glory by Christ Jesus.”

Categories: Judges