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He Stood Alone Samson And the LORD God
said, It is not good that the man should be alone. Richard E. Evans As the age of
the Judges came to a . close, God found it
necessary to again ..chasten his people
Israel. However, even as he chastened them, he set in motion a plan that would
moderate the experience and ultimately bring about redemption. The Birth “And the
children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD
delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years. And there was a
certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and
his wife was barren, and bare not. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said
unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt
conceive, and bear a son. Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine
nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: For, lo, thou shalt conceive,
and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a
Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of
the hand of the Philistines. … And the woman bare a son, and called his name
Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD
blessed him” (Judges 13:1-5,24). The
angel of the LORD
declared to the
mother of Samson that her child would begin the deliverance of Israel from the
tyranny of the Philistines. This
declaration probably occurred at about the same time Hannah’s petition for a
child was granted by Eli (1 Samuel 1:17). These two acts of grace revealed
God’s love for his elect people and his tender care of them. Even as he
chastened, he prepared deliverance by bringing forth two men of faith in
different parts of the nation. Both would be a “judge” for his people, a
“deliverer.” “And when the LORD
raised them up judges, then the LORD
was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the
days of the judge” (Judges 2:18). The
work Samson would begin, Hannah’s child Samuel would afterward bring to
completion. Samson’s Judgeship Samson was
active as a judge for twenty years. “And he [Samson] judged Israel in the days
of the Philistines twenty years” (Judges 15:20). Two great battles between
Israel and the Philistines acted as bookends to that judgeship. The first was
the devastating defeat of Israel at Ebenezer in which the Ark of the Covenant
was lost: “And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled
every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell
of Israel thirty thousand footmen. And the ark of God was taken” (1 Samuel
4:10,11). Upon hearing of the unprecedented loss, Eli fell, broke his
neck, and died (1 Samuel 4:18). At that time Samson would have been a teenager. The
second battle of note came shortly after Samson’s death. As the forty years of
oppression were to come to an end, God gave Israel a liberating victory at Mizpeh
under the leadership of Samuel: “And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and
pursued the Philistines, and smote them … So the Philistines were subdued, and
they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the
days of Samuel” (1 Samuel 7:11,13). This
Israelite victory was preceded by a twenty-year period during which the Ark of
the Covenant, after its return by the Philistines, rested in the home of
Abinadab (1 Samuel 7:1,2). Hence, Samson’s judgeship followed Eli’s death and
took place during the latter half of the forty years of Philistine domination.
It coincided with the time the Ark was in the house of Abinadab. The Good Report As God’s
chosen, Samson stood alone, not for a few hours, not for a few weeks, but for
much of his adult life. He lived a life of rejection by the very people for
whom he was judge and savior. Then, this man of faith died alone in the midst
of his enemies. “And
what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of
Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the
prophets … And these all [including Samson], having obtained a good report
through faith, received not the promise” (Hebrews 11:32,39). Because
of his faith Samson was given a “good report.” This report was not gratuitous.
Samson believed God and lived his life accordingly. For example, following the
tremendous exertion involved in the slaying of a thousand men he had a
life-threatening thirst. With complete certainty he called upon the God of
Israel and water came forth: “And he [Samson] was sore athirst, and called on
the LORD, and said, Thou hast
given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die
for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised? But God clave an
hollow place that was in the jaw [Lehi, meaning “jaw,” was the name of the
place—verses 9,14,19], and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk,
his spirit came again, and he revived” (Judges 15:18,19). God
had promised Samson’s mother her son was to do a work. Samson’s faith in that
promise gave him the boldness to ask for water—no, to claim his right for
water. Believing God, he had the confidence to stand alone against that army of
Philistines with only a jaw bone; and before that to stand alone against a
lion with only his bare hands (Hebrews 11:33). Samson’s faith was great. He
“obtained a good report”! The Life The Old Testament account of this faithful man is brief. In addition to the angelic announcement of his birth only three episodes are recounted from a life that spanned some forty years:
A Nazarite? Most English
versions render the angel’s birth announcement in a way to suggest Samson was
subject to the conditions of the Nazarite vow. This vow, however, was not
something to be imposed, but was to be a voluntary act, a free-will offering to
God (Numbers 6:21). The
Hebrew word translated “Nazarite” means “separated,” “set aside,”
“consecrated.” Rotherham’s translation of the angel’s words to the mother makes
clear the relationship Samson enjoyed: “Now therefore, beware, I pray thee, and
do not drink wine or strong drink, nor eat anything unclean; for lo! thou art
about to conceive and bare a son, and no razor shall come on his head, for one
separate unto God shall the boy be from his birth, and he shall begin to save
Israel out of the hand of the Philistines” (Judges 13:4,5, Rotherham). The
only condition placed on Samson’s separation concerned his hair. The
prohibition regarding drinking and eating was addressed to the mother, not to
the son, and it was a prohibition modern science has shown to be wise for
pregnant women. A
Nazarite vow was something to be freely taken for a short term, not something
to be providentially demanded for a lifetime. There is no indication that
Samson took such a vow or was obligated to live within its requirements. In
fact, while under the direction of the spirit of the Lord he killed over a
thousand men (Judges 14:19; 15:8,14,16). If he was under a God-imposed vow,
this would present a serious dilemma: “When either man or woman shall separate
themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD … All the days that he separateth
himself unto the LORD he shall
come at no dead body” (Numbers 6:2,6). The Marriage When Samson was
in his late teens, he was led by the Lord to marry a daughter of the Philistines.
This was shortly after Eli’s death and the return of the Ark, about the
midpoint of the Philistine oppression. “Then his father and his mother said
unto him [Samson], Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren,
or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised
Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth
me well. But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against
the Philistines” (Judges 14:3,4). Unlike
Samson’s later involvement with Delilah, there is nothing said about him loving
this daughter of a Philistine. Here again the translation may be misleading.
The use of the word “pleaseth” may result in the conclusion that Samson’s
motivation was selfish and lustful, the act of a willful teenager. The marginal
reading presents the literal and more correct rendering: “Get her for me; for
she is right in mine eyes” (Judges 14:3, margin; also LXX, YLT). She was right for Samson not because of love, or
lust, but because it was the Lord’s will for him. It would provide “an occasion
against the Philistines.” The
events that grew out of the wedding feast proved that contention. Samson did
much damage to the Philistines; and it was done in such a way as not to bring
down Philistine wrath on his countrymen. At
that time, following their defeat and temporary loss of the Ark, the people of
Israel were demoralized and unable to challenge their oppressors. The marriage
provided a means of limiting the suffering while restricting the conflict to
Samson personally. He alone would incur the wrath of the enemy. He alone would
be pursued. This
is exactly what occurred following Samson’s destruction of Philistine farmland
with fire: “Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread
themselves in Lehi [meaning “Jaw”]. And the men of Judah said, Why are ye come
up against us? And they answered, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him
as he hath done to us. [Philistine wrath was directed solely against Samson.]
Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to
Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what is this
that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so
have I done unto them. And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee,
that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto
them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves. And they spake
unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their
hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords,
and brought him up from the rock” (Judges 15:9-13). The
fear that overwhelmed these three thousand men of Judah, and their desperate
willingness to give Samson to the enemy, was no doubt the consequence of the
ruinous defeat at Ebenezer and the loss of the Ark. Though it is not stated,
these men may have outnumbered the Philistines as much as three to one,
however, their fear made them weak. A Unique Ministry Though brief,
the account of the marriage and its aftermath reveals significant differences
between Samson and other faithful ones used by God. Others came forth as a
result of national repentance and a turning to God for help so their task was
one of leadership. They did not fight alone, but led the men of Israel. No such
turning, however, preceded Samson’s “separation.” The people did not receive
him nor rally to his support. Unlike the others, Samson did not lead Israel
into battle. He fought alone! Unlike the others, national repentance came after
his judgeship, after his victory in death. His
burning of Philistine farmland and the single-handed defeat of a thousand men
had to have had a moderating effect on Philistine conduct. The economic
impact must have weakened them. Following on the heels of their experience with
the Ark (1 Samuel 5:1 to 6:21), the Philistines, no doubt, exercised a bit more
caution in their dealings with the people of Israel. Gaza During his
judgeship Samson went down to Gaza. The reason for the visit is not recorded.
An unfortunate assumption often made is that it was lust since Samson chose the
house of a harlot for his rest (Judges 16:1). Nothing in the account, however,
supports such a conclusion. Apparently it was not uncommon in that day for the
houses of harlots to function as inns, as they did in the days of Joshua when
the spies stayed with Rahab in Jericho (Joshua 2:1). There
was probably a practical, but less sensational, reason for the visit: “There
was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines
said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: but all the Israelites went
down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his [plough]share, and his coulter,
and his axe, and his mattock” (1 Samuel 13:19,20). The Philistines had a
technological advantage and they jealously guarded it. Whatever
the reason for Samson going to Gaza, the removal of the city gate demonstrated
once more to the Philistines the great power of the God of Israel. Though God
was using them to chasten his people, they did not have complete freedom to do
as they willed. The
Bible does not indicate the time of this visit to Gaza, but it was probably
near the end of Samson’s twenty-year judgeship. His great defeats against the
Philistines would have faded in their memories. The removal of the gate jarred
them and renewed in them a desire to get rid of this thorn in their flesh. So
the subsequent bribery of Delilah to betray Samson was probably a direct
outcome of the removal of Gaza’s gate. Her betrayal, however, would result in
Samson’s victory in death and begin the deliverance God had promised. Delilah As Samson’s
time came to a close, his love for a woman did come between him and his
relationship with God. In spite of the unfounded assertions made by many
commentators, the silence of the Bible indicates they both were unmarried.
Also, there is nothing said about Delilah’s race or religion. She could have
been a Hebrew. Both peoples lived in that area, and the name Delilah is Semitic
in form. When
a broad view is taken of Samson’s life, his failure because of love is
understandable. Though married at an early age, before he could enjoy the
fruits of that relationship it was lost. Shortly thereafter his countrymen
rejected him. They took him captive and turned him over to the enemy.
Apparently he lived alone for the subsequent years, carrying the burden of his
rejection. He probably had few friends as most would be in awe of his great
accomplishments through faith. Also,
much of Israel probably would be unable to face him because of the shameful way
they had treated him. This would have been especially true for the three
thousand that not only turned him over to the enemy but, no doubt, stood by and
watched as he fought that enemy alone. By not going to his aid their sense of
guilt may well have been great and would have hindered any future relationship
with Samson. There
is little wonder, then, that Samson would be blinded by this love for a woman, and
he did love Delilah. His conduct was not motivated by lust as so often
declared, but by love: “And it came to pass afterward, that he [Samson] loved a
woman” (Judges 16:4). Here
is a great lesson for all who have responded to the call to be of God’s heavenly
priesthood. God is a jealous god and all who serve him must love him more than
anything, any person, of this physical world: “For thou shalt worship no other
god: for the LORD, whose name is
Jealous, is a jealous God” (Exodus 34:14). Because
of his great need for human companionship, Samson was not able to see Delilah’s
weakness. His love led him to share a confidence she could not keep. For a
brief time in his life his love for the physical was greater than his love for
the spiritual. The desire to love and be loved is a strong human need. Those
who are to be of the church, however, must always mind the words of Jesus: “He
that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that
loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37). All
who have had a secret, and a loved one who is aware there is a secret, know it
can introduce a seriously divisive element into the relationship. It is very
difficult not to share a secret with those with whom one shares life—especially
if it is known there is a secret. In
any event Samson revealed his secret. His hair was cut and his strength
departed from him. He was taken captive and blinded. The Death In spite of his
lapse, however, Samson accomplished God’s purpose. In his chains he called upon
God with the faith he exhibited throughout his life, and he was heard. “O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and
strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God” (Judges 16:28). After
being lead to the pagan temple and placed between its two great pillars, he
again called out to his God: “And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines.
And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and
upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death
were more than they which he slew in his life” (Judges 16:30). The
destruction of that pagan temple, and the death of a great number of prominent
Philistines, set in motion the events that led to the Israelite victory at
Mizpeh under Samuel’s leadership (1 Samuel 7:5-13). Undesigned Coincidence1 Samson’s
victory in death explains an otherwise inexplicable text. Samuel had gathered
Israel at Mizpeh not to do battle, but to pray. As indicated by the text, this
was a consequence of a great change that had come over the people: “All the
house of Israel lamented after the LORD”
(1 Samuel 7:2). This
text appears without explanation. There is no indication for the cause of
Israel’s lament, for its sudden change of heart. If
Samson’s victory in death happened just before this change, as seems to be the
case, then it provides the probable explanation. That great act of
self-sacrifice combined with the people’s sense of guilt could have been the
catalyst that brought on Israel’s lament; and it was that lament that led to
the subsequent removal of Philistine domination. “Israel
lamented after the LORD. And
Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away
the strange gods [male gods] and Ashtaroth [female god] from among you, and
prepare your hearts unto the LORD,
and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the
Philistines. Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim [Baals, male gods]
and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD
only. And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you
unto the LORD” (1 Samuel 7:2-5). It
was at Mizpeh that God gave Israel its release from Philistine rule. So, as the
angel of the LORD declared,
Samson did begin the deliverance of Israel (Judges 13:5). The Lesson Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, and all the faithful of old, believed God,
believed in his promise. So did Samson! His life reflected that belief. Jehovah
God is not ashamed to be called the God of Samson (Hebrews 11:16). Rejected
by his people and destined to a life alone, Samson was a man who lived a life
in faith. God has given his example that all with a similar faith might learn
and stand firm in like circumstance. His faith in such extraordinary
experiences should strengthen the faith of all who come after so they are
undaunted when they encounter their “lion,” or the army of their enemy. When
they experience rejection of family and of friends, they can recall how
Samson’s faith remained strong though he stood alone. Even in his blindness he
knew he could call upon his God and he would be heard. In
the common trials of daily lives Samson’s faith sets forth a challenge, an
inspiration, particularly if one must stand alone. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1), just as Samson ran the race before him. 1. For other undesigned coincidences that substantiate the Bible as the Word of God see Undesigned Coincidences in the Writings of the Old and New Testament,“ J. J. Blunt, 9th edn., 1869. |