Introduction
– There are many literary parallels between Chapters 14-15 and
Chapter 16. In both, a woman is ‘seen’
by Samson, she obtains and betrays a secret, Samson is bound, and there is a
great slaughter of Philistines. But
there is a great contrast. Three times
in 14-15 the Spirit of the Lord comes upon Samson. In Chapter 16, amidst Samson’s sin, the
Spirit is not mentioned, and then is mentioned as having departed.
Samson (As Israel) Goes A Whoring
(vv1-3) – Before, representing Israel, Samson went down with pure motives to
get a woman to be his bride (14:1); it was of the Lord. This time he ‘sees’ a woman with eyes of
lust. And Samson is representing Israel again. Chapter 15 had concluded as each story of
deliverance in the book of Judges concludes – so-and-so judged Israel
for so many years. 16:1 really begins
with the same pattern established back in 2:16-17. Samson is being led by his lusts just as
Israel has been led by hers.
A Safe Escape
– Samson goes deep into Philistine territory.
He sleeps with a harlot. When he
finds out that he is going to be attacked, he thwarts their plans with a
pre-emptive strike. He sets the gates of
the city on a hill where Hebron could see that Gaza was ripe for the
picking. And then he leaves, and sleepy
Israel does nothing. While Samson
remains super-strong, there is no mention of the Spirit. While Samson may think he got out of that
one, he is clearly on the wrong trajectory.
Delilah The Betrayer (vv4-5) – Samson
continues to forsake his calling and his vows.
Delilah will be the one who betrays him this time. She is enticed to turn him over for a great
number of pieces of silver. Samson is
probably not big and muscular, because Delilah and Samson begin to play
guessing games with what kind of magic has brought this amazing power upon
him. But the Philistines are not playing
a game.
Playing Games
With Sin (vv6-14) – Samson has fun ridiculing the
Philistine’s belief in magic. But we
also see Samson playing around with his vow.
He mentions ‘seven’ and later even mentions his hair. Samson does not need to fear magic. But he does need to fear compromise, and
Delilah playfully pouts and seduces her way to the truth.
Blinded With
Lust (vv15-21) – Samson’s focus was primarily upon
his lusts, and he had lulled himself into thinking he was invincible. Giving in to her vexing, Samson tells her
that if his hair is shaved, his strength will leave him. Delilah lulls him to sleep upon her knees (a
veiled allusion to his sexual immorality) and like the harlot in proverbs, her
“feet go down to death” (Prov 5:5). Like Israel, Samson had been raised up out of
a barren womb, set apart to be holy, received grace after grace, and
deliverance after deliverance. Like
Israel, Samson went whoring after other lovers, took God’s grace as license for
any sin that pleased him. And like
Israel, Samson is sent into exile.
Sign of Repentance (v22) – Not only is
the mentioning of Samson’s hair growing back a sign of the stupidity of the
Philistines, it is a sign of Samson’s humiliation, repentance, and restoration
to his vow (when Nazirites had their head shaved for uncleanness, they would
then let their hair grow back, returning to their vow). Samson’s strength is returning.
Provoking the Lord (vv23-27) – The Philistines
call for a great party and their song is their theme. But Dagon had nothing to do with their
victory. It was not Dagon’s power, but
the Lord’s absence. They bring out
Israel’s great deliverer and publicly mock him (v25), and we should see
the shadows of Another Deliverer, betrayed for silver, blinded and
mocked by the Roman guards (Luke 22:64).
Vengeance is
Mine (vv28-31) - But the servant of the Lord will be
avenged, for the Lord’s name will be avenged.
The Lord answers the prayer of His suffering servant, and so Samson’s
death does not picture a suicide, but a victorious self-sacrifice. Once again we are told of the burial of a
judge, a memorial of sorts until the day that the Greater Samson would come,
die, and leave His grave empty in complete victory over His and our enemies.
Applications –
As we consider Samson as a man, representing Israel, or representing Christ,
there are many applications.
Flee Temptation
– Chapter 16 begins in Gaza in a harlot’s bed and ends in Gaza in a prison’s
mill. Lust is a blindfold from the true
perils of sin. The power of lust can
destroy the strongest of men (Prov 7:21-27). But Samson represents a people as well, and
physical adultery is a picture of spiritual idolatry. We are to see clearly that the strongest of
nations and cultures will fall if they go a whoring after pagan cultures.
The Weakness of
Pride – Self-flattery is rampant in our culture and
in our church. First, even though we say
that we believe in the depravity of man, we continue to act like we
deserve it all because we accomplished it all. Second, we think we can toy with the
temptress and not be entrapped. Men and
nations that live like this are only setting themselves up for a big fall.
Do Not Fear the
Philistines (or the Secular Humanists) – Why is the church
so oppressed and suppressed in America and in the world today? We learn here that it is not because of the
strength of any other god, including our nations god, demos, or secular
humanism. It is the Lord with whom we
must wrestle. If we are oppressed, it is
because of our faithlessness. We are Ichabod. The glory
has departed. When we please our Lord in
worship and obedience, the tyrants will be destroyed.
Repentance and
the Mercy of God – Being humbled and humiliated is often
God’s way of bringing us to repentance.
His hand of discipline may seem harsh at times, but we must remember
that it is better to lose your eyes and save the soul, than keep them, and lose
body and soul in hell (Matt 9:47). While
delivered into exile, God still calls upon Israel to return, for He is merciful
(Jer 3:12).
drh – 04/27/03