Title: STORIES OF FAITH: SAMSON’S TERROR

Focus: Samson’s rule of terror toward the Philistines signifies God’s deliverance of his people; Samson foreshadows the reign of Christ, our perfect Redeemer.

Function: To encourage the people to focus on Jesus’ redemptive work, so that we overcome our fear with trust in Jesus’ accomplished work.

Texts: Judges 15:1-20; Hebr. 11:3

Several years ago, I talked with a retired pastor in the Netherlands; he was my pastor when I was a 15 yr. old teenager. He was intrigued about my journey of life and in particular about my work as a pastor in North America. You can well imagine that we “talked shop” for a while.

In my conversation with him, I made reference a few times about the state of the Christian church in North America and in Europa. I talked in particular about the onslaught of secularism in the western world. At one point, he stopped me and said, “Jack, do not be afraid. In your work as a pastor, do not fear.” Somehow, my fear about the state of the Christian church triggered within him a response and he admonished me not to be afraid. “Always remember that our victory is already accomplished in Christ Jesus,” he said. “Christ will accomplish his purposes in history, and also in our days. Do not fear. Christ will not abandon his church.”

I thought about that conversation as I studied Samson’s rise as Judge and ruler of Israel. The Scripture calls him a man of faith. Many think of Samson as an out-of-control “terminator”—a Rambo on steroids. But tonight I want to emphasize that Samson’s reign of terror toward the Philistines signifies God’s deliverance of his people; Samson foreshadows the reign of Christ, our perfect Redeemer. And in light of the story, I want to emphasize also that we must focus on Jesus’ redemptive work, so that we overcome our fears with trust in Jesus’ accomplished work.

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Last week we noticed that Samson, moved by the Spirit of God, sought to test his Philistine bride and countrymen. His bride was given the choice to choose for Samson (and thus for Samson’s God and the people Israel) or for her Philistine gods and countrymen. She chose to stay with her native people and native gods. Samson’s bride was threatened by 30 best men to weasel out of Samson the answer to Samson’s riddle. If she failed to do so, they would lose 30 garments as a reward to Samson and she would lose her life, together with her father. For the Philistines told her that they would burn her and her father alive. So, she betrayed Samson.

Samson, in response, took revenge and killed 30 Philistine men, whose garments he gave to the 30 best men. Burning with anger, Samson went back to his father’s house. “And Samson’s wife was given to the friend who had attended him at his wedding,” so says the text. This episode of Samson’s wedding fiasco becomes the stage for Samson’s reign of terror toward the Philistines.

The entire story in chapter 15 is about conflict and fire. And in the midst of this conflict we see God’s hand raising up a redeemer/judge for Israel, giving the Israelites relief from Philistine bondage and dominion.

We note that Samson goes back to his Philistine father-in-law to claim his conjugal rights. Samson is thinking about offspring, about children. He is thinking about harvesting a family and thus securing his family name with a child. That’s why he is taking with him a young goat as a dowry for his father-in-law, so that everything is done in conformity with the marriage practices of those days.

But Samson discovers that his wife was given in marriage to Samson’s best man—another Philistine. Samson is angry. Now he is robbed again. He can’t have a child with his Philistine wife. He can’t harvest his seed and secure his future with offspring. So what does he do? An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth! Samson follows the law of revenge.

He turns toward the Philistines’ harvest, and sets their fields on fire; the Philistines robbed Samson from his harvest; Samson will devastate theirs. He uses fire and a team of 150 crazed foxes to make his point and to teach the oppressive Philistines a lesson. Samson’s fire and wrath (and Samson’s God who stirs Samson to provoke the Philistines) are fierce and terrifying.

In response, the Philistines turn toward Samson’s Philistine wife and her father. Guess what they do? They burn them to death. The Philistines’ ire (and the anger of their gods) unleashes fire on what is Samson’s by marital right—his wife and his father-in-law.

Samson’s anger increases. Burning with revenge, Samson attacked the Philistines and he “slaughtered many of them. Then he went down and stayed in a cave in the rock of Etam,” so says the text. The message to the Philistines is clear: it’s no longer business as usual with the Israelites. The weak Israelites now have a fierce fighter, who is a threat to the Philistines. Samson must die, lest he does more damage to the Philistines.

So, the Philistines gather a 1000 men and march toward Israelite territory; they demand that the weak Israelites hand over this Samson; the Israelites—filled with fear, and a deep desire to avoid trouble with the Philistines—said, “Why have you come to fight us?” They answered, “We have come to take Samson prisoner, to do to him as he did to us.”

Note what happens. The Israelites fear the Philistines so much and they wish to conform and get along with their pagan neighbors so much that they are willing to give up Samson like a sacrificial lamb. They gather 3000 men and send them to Samson (note how much they fear Samson’s strength; yet also note how much faith they lack for they refuse or fail to rally behind this redeemer/judge raised up by God).

Listen to their plea bargain with Samson: “Don’t you realize that the Philistines are rulers over us? What have you done to us?...We have come to tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines.” Moved by the Spirit of God, Samson agreed to be tied up with two new ropes, provided that the Israelites would not hurt him while being tied up.

Now listen to the story: The Philistines go bananas; their enemy is in sight and soon he will be in their hands. And that will show the Israelites that the Philistines and their gods are more powerful than Samson or Israel’s God. But as they approach Samson, the Spirit of the Lord comes upon Samson.

Note the image of fire. The text says: “The ropes on Samson’s arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hand.” In other words, the burning anger or fire of God severed the ropes on Samson’s arms and freed Samson to take up the jawbone of a donkey. Samson grabs it, and by the awesome power of God’s Spirit, Samson strikes down all 1000 Philistine strong men.

It’s a terrible defeat for the Philistines. And the message is clear: the dominance of the Philistines and their gods cannot prevail against the dominance of Samson and the God of Israel. So awesome is Samson’s strength that for 20 years the Philistines leave Samson and the Israelites alone. They have enough of Samson’s reign of terror towards them. They cower away and the Israelites have rest in their territory. They are free from Philistine oppression because they have a judge, a redeemer living in their midst.

Samson, and the Israelites too, learned a lesson. At the height of his power and at the end of the battle when he had slain 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey, Samson feared for his life, because he was terribly thirsty from his battle with the Philistines. Why did God move Samson to overpower the Philistines, and then, at the height of his strength, why did God make Samson fear for his life, saying, “Lord, you have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?”

The answer is simple: It was to keep Samson from thinking that he fought the battle in his own strength. It was to keep Samson in his place—Samson must never forget that he depends completely upon God’s grace and provision in his life.

It was also to show Samson and the Israelites what is really going on here: God is announcing to Israel that a new era, a new exodus has begun. God was showing the Israelites that a new “Moses”—a redeemer/judge has come to them.

How did God show them? Listen to the text: “Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. So the spring was called En Hakkore, and it is still there in Lehi.”Near the rock of Etam, near Samson’s cave—God brought forth water. God called forth water from a rock once before—when Moses and the Israelites trekked through the desert toward the Promised Land. God refreshed and saved the lives of his people in the days of Moses; he does it again in the days of Samson.

And the message is unmistakable: This Samson lives by the refreshing Spirit or waters of God; and this Samson is Israel’s new “Moses,” its redeemer, its judge. And, says the text: “Samson led Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.” Clearly, Samson’s reign of terror toward the Philistines signifies God’s deliverance of his people. As such, Samson foreshadows the reign of Christ, our perfect Redeemer.

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As you and I read and hear the story of Samson through the lens of the story of the Lord Jesus Christ, you begin to recognize that Samson prefigures the coming of Christ, the eternal Son of God. Samson’s victory over the Philistines and their bondage and oppression of God’s people, correspond with Jesus’ victory over our bondage to sin, Satan, and death. And just as Samson’s story is instructive for God’s people in O.T. times, so Samson’s story—through the lens of Jesus’ death and resurrection and ascension—is instructive for Christians today.

I want to apply two insights from Samson’s story of faith and victory over the Philistines:

(1) Keep your eyes focused on the Redeemer: The Israelites did not know what to make of Samson; they wanted peace and quiet; but Samson was causing trouble for them. They wanted to conform and get along with the Philistines’ culture and customs; they were willing to tolerate the gods of the Philistines; in fact, since the Ark of the covenant was already in the hands of the Philistines, the Israelites—by their inaction and apathy—acknowledged that the gods of the Philistines were more powerful than the Lord, their God.

The Israelites failed to recognize God’s Spirit at work in Samson; they failed to focus on the deliverance and victories Samson gave them over the Philistines. They did not see Samson as their “Moses,” as their judge and redeemer.

The same has happened with the Jews in Jesus’ days; and it is still happening with people today: they don’t focus on the redemptive work of Jesus. They reject Jesus out of hand. Are you one of them?

Are you one of those people who gets sidetracked and falls away from Jesus because you fail to understand what’s happening in your life? Because you stumble over a rational argument or you can’t accept a Jesus who does not fit your “mold” of Love, or Tolerance, or Fairness? Don’t get sidetracked. Focus on the Redeemer; consider his work; embrace his power and victory and trust him as you journey along through life!

One more insight: (2) Overcome your fear with trust in Jesus’ work and power. I must learn to overcome my fear of rejection by my coworkers and neighbors, by standing firmly on the atoning work of Jesus. I must overcome my tendency to be liked by people at the expense of Christ and the Christian faith. Away with fear! Away with moral compromises! Away with waffling about what is right or wrong in God’s eye! Away with cultural conformity for the sake of being liked or accepted by the crowd!

Away with fear! For Jesus’ is our Redeemer. He is victorious—has been and will be in the end, when he makes all things new. Overcome your fear by drinking the “waters of the Spirit,” by being Spirit-filled. Overcome your fear and strengthen your faith by embracing God’s Word, by participating in public worship, and by seeking the fellowship of all God’s people.

Cling to Christ and stick together with the church, the bride of Christ. Away with fear! For Jesus is at work today to usher in his perfect “rest,” his new creation.

Thank God for our Redeemer and Lord—Christ the King. Now and always! Amen.