091217: The Story of Samson

Judges 13: The Birth of Samson

1Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, so the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.

* 40 = number of trials

2A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was sterile and remained childless. 3The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, “You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son. 4Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean,5because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

* The Nazirite is defined in Numbers 6:1-21.

* “set apart to God,” “separated unto God’s will” = to pull oneself away from the world to dedicate a certain amount of time to the Lord; people of this group (Elijah, John the Baptist, Moses, Samson, Jesus) are often 1) prophesized; 2) special from everyone else, e.g. with special powers; 3) doers of God’s will

* The angel warned the woman not to drink the moment she is conceived, hinting that once conceived, it is considered life (hence, abortion at any stage is killing off a life).

17Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the LORD, “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?” 18He replied, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding.^a”

* The people wanted to know the angel’s name so they know how to present their thanks to him. The angel didn’t think his name was important—all thanks should be given to God.

* The people thought that since they saw God, they would surely die; this idea is reiterated throughout the Torah; e.g. Exodus 33:18-20, where God told Moses “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

Judges 14: Samson’s Marriage

6The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat.

8Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion’s carcass. In it was a swarm of bees and some honey, 9which he scooped out with his hands and ate as he went along. When he rejoined his parents, he gave them some, and they too ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.

* The Lion is the symbol of Judah.

* Samson ate the honey without telling his parents because as a Nazarite, he wasn’t suppose to go near a dead carcass.

19Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of their belongings and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger, he went up to his father’s house.20And Samson’s wife was given to the friend who had attended him at his wedding.

Judges 15: Samson’s Vengeance on the Philistines

14As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. 15Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.

* Proof that the Holy Spirit is found in the Old Testament (Many believe that the Holy Spirit didn’t descent onto the humans until after Christ’s death, during a Pentecost.)

Judges 16: Samson and Delilah

17So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite set apart to God since birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”

19Having put him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him.^d And his strength left him.

20Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”

He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him.

21Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding in the prison. 22But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

* Of all Samson’s weaknesses, he was able to keep the one vow of a Nazarite: to never shave his head—and this was his source of favor from God; the moment his hair was cut off, he lost that favor.

The Death of Samson

28Then Samson prayed to the LORD, “O Sovereign LORD, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, 30Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.

* His hair grew back AND he prayed to get back in favor of God—hence his success in defeating the Philistines.

Jeremiah 35: The Recabites

6But they replied, “We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jonadab son of Recab gave us this command: ‘Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. 7Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.’

15Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, “Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your fathers.” But you have not paid attention or listened to me. 16The descendants of Jonadab son of Recab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.’

* Recabites are descendents of Israelites; their “vow” is as highlighted above, which has been followed for at least 3 generations (~100 years); the Recabites obey these special instructions without falter—very much like Samson with his vow with God; as long as these special instructions are followed, they would remain in favor of the Lord—They will always be a man of God; they will always be blessed.

Lessons Learned:

- God-fearing people are not perfect and make mistakes.

- Mistakes can be made (e.g. breaking the law, etc.), but instructions from the Lord should never be broken. With obedience, comes blessing/favor; without obedience, that blessing/favor is lost. Follow the Lord, for the Lord will take care of you.