Lesson 195 - Senior
Memory Verse
"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasures in him" (Hebrews 10:38).
Cross References
I The Judge, Samson
1. Israel was again in oppression because of their sin, [JUG:13:1]; [JUG:2:3], [JUG:2:11-15].
2. True to the promise, God raised up someone to lead the Israelites out of their pitiable state, [JUG:13:2-25]; [JUG:2:16-19].
3. Samson became a deliverer and judge in Israel, [JUG:15:14-20]; [EXO:3:9-10].
II The Man, Samson
1. Carelessness regarding his vows to God, and a trifling with sin, brought great temptation to Samson, [JUG:16:4-6]; [JAM:1:13-15]; [GEN:3:6]; [PRO:1:10]; [PRO:4:14]; [MAT:26:41].
2. The temptation became too great for him and he broke his vows, [JUG:16:15-17]; [NUM:30:2]; [DEU:23:21-22]; [ECC:5:4-6]; [MAT:24:12]; [2PE:3:17].
3. Without God's support and strength Samson became an easy prey, [JUG:16:18-21].
4. Samson's repentance and retention of basic faith and confidence in God, despite his sin and the consequent adverse circumstances, brought about his restoration to God's favour, [JUG:16:22-28]; [HAB:2:4]; [JHN:3:36]; [ROM:1:17]; [HEB:11:32-34].
5. The restored Samson was able to accomplish more at his death, in God's plan for him, than in his entire life, [JUG:16:29-31].
Notes
Faith in God
The Holy Spirit has seen fit to record, in the Old Testament, the story of Samson, as well as a New Testament reference to one of his godly virtues; but it cannot be said that his whole life is one that should be accepted as a model in consistent godliness and righteousness. We find that Samson was impetuous at times, often moved by nothing more than vanity and anger; that he was possessed with incredible strength, yet often as gullible and as easily deceived by his enemies as a little child.
What then do we find of good in Samson's life? We find that he had faith in God, and the faith that he did have was that which God finds of great value, regardless of the one in whom it is found, or how minute the quantity may be. (See [MAT:8:10]; [MAT:17:20].) It is true that Samson's heart was stirred much too often by earthly motives; but still there were times when he listened for the voice of God, and often in those times he was truly inspired of God to deeds of heroic proportions. Some of the incidents of the Scriptural text are good examples of Samson's faith and courage, in that he was never discouraged or dismayed at the seemingly impossible odds with which he was forced to cope. God also commended his courage and faith in those trying circumstances, showing its quality by including Samson's name in the list of the heroes of faith given as examples for all the world to examine and profit by ([HEB:11:32-34]).
Nowhere else in the Bible are recorded such ordinarily impossible feats as those of Samson's life. Samson's reasons for fighting the Philistines were not altogether perfect, it is true; nevertheless, it was the will of God that the Philistines be destroyed because of their rejection of Him and His worship, for which they had substituted the base and licentious practice of idolatry. God's word of judgement was fulfilled, one way or another, and the Bible bears witness to the devastation Samson wrought in the ranks of the Philistines.
To the everlasting shame of his own countrymen, the Israelites, we read that they had no desire to help him; but, on the contrary, they bound him with new cords and turned him over to the Philistines that they might torture and kill him. It is of small credit to the people of the world that God has oftentimes had to use men and women of very limited ability and talent to accomplish His desires in the world. Men of high position, great wealth, and rare talent are seldom seen in the ranks of God's warriors, because their hearts are full of pride and vanity and they deem it beneath their position in life to stoop to the work of God ([1CO:1:20-29]). But the Psalmist says, "His work is honourable and glorious" (Psalm 111:3).
Inconsistencies
Samson's faults were all too many. The continually recurring inconsistencies in his life were a stumbling block to himself and to those around him. Still, he had a heart and spirit that was willing. God can use a willing heart. Such willingness of heart, a sincere faith that will trust God no matter how impossible the odds against one, and a holy boldness that knows no fear of numbers and is not afraid of the face of clay, are weapons that God can and will, use for His glory and for the advancement of His Kingdom.
To the natural observation, the circumstances with which Samson was faced as the Philistines came to capture him were impossible for victory. His own countrymen were against him. The Philistines numbered in the thousands, and it seemed it would take a full army to extract Samson from their clutches.
If Samson had been a man of rare talent or superior intellectual powers he might have devised some ingenious method of escaping capture by the Philistines. He had no wealth, or he might have hired an army to help him in his battle against the enemies of Israel. He was not a man of authority in civil government, since they had no king or ruler, or he could have commanded his people to stand and fight against the Philistines. But Samson had something that was greater than all these. He had faith in God; and with that faith in God and the jawbone of an ass Samson killed a thousand Philistines. Let all who attempt to excuse themselves from serving God by decrying their lack of talent or ability consider Samson's weapon. He used the weapon at hand, and with God's help he wrought a tremendous victory.
Moses sought to be excused on one occasion from going to do the work that God had given him to do, and was afraid that the people to whom he was sent would not recognise his authority as being from God. God asked him what he had in his hand. Moses told God he had a rod in his hand. God worked a marvellous miracle with that rod, to prove to Moses, and to the Israelites and Egyptians, that he had sufficient power and authority from God to carry out what God had commanded him ([EXO:4:1-5]). If we will but trust God, and let Him have His way with us, we can work some great victories for the advancement of the Kingdom of God, to the glory of God, with what we have at hand.
Samson's Need of Help
Samson's inability to help himself made him look to God for help, and this was what God desired. There is no limit to what God will do for the soul that will lean heavily upon the arm of God for help in the time of need. God desires to reveal Himself to the sons of men, and needs but a willing and fully surrendered heart as an instrument for that revelation to abundantly prove Himself and the reality of His salvation. One of the most serious charges God brought against the nation of Israel, His own chosen people, was that they limited Him. "Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel" (Psalm 78:41). Not so with Samson. There seemed to be nothing so impossible of achievement that it would cause Samson to doubt God's ability to give him victory.
Samson is listed with the other heroes of faith, because he exhibited that faith. Samson no doubt had some of the same spirit that David had when, as only a shepherd boy, he dared to rebuke the armies of Israel for their cowardice and went out to face the giant Goliath with nothing but a slingshot and five stones. David believed God, had faith to trust God in perilous times, and proved it by slaying Goliath with but one stone hurled from his slingshot. In later years, Peter and John, also, were persecuted and threatened for their testimony for Christ, but went back to their brethren and prayed to God to "grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word" (Acts 4:29).
Godly Separation
We are not to misconstrue the facts of Samson's life and believe that God was glorified in Samson regardless of any of his failures or sins. So long as Samson kept his vows to God, and kept his salvation, God was glorified; but when he neglected his soul's welfare, and failed to pay his vows to God, Samson became a reproach to God, and God had no pleasure in him.
Samson's foolish associations with the Philistines brought his life of freedom to an inglorious end. He was taken captive; his eyes were put out; and he was made to grind in the prison house of Gaza. He became the recipient of all the ridicule the Philistines could heap upon him. Samson's associations with the Philistines were contradictory to the Word of God. The Bible gives us very plain and specific instructions, both in the Old and New Testaments, that there is to be no fellowship, marriages, or any unnecessary association with those who do not honour God, or His Son Jesus Christ.
The business of everyday commerce pertinent to our livelihood often necessitates much association with the world. However, such associations are to remain on a business basis, and our personal lives are to remain free from all contacts that will discourage our service to God. We are to shun all those associations and habits of custom and style that the world deems important if they dim our appreciation of God, take our time or attention from God, or bring reproach upon the standard of God's Word and His people; and we are to have nothing to do with them. (Read [1CO:5:9-10]; [JAM:4:4]; [2CO:6:14-18]). Israel brought much trouble upon themselves by disobeying God's command against marriage to unbelievers.
Redeeming Grace
Samson's long hair was typical of his vows to God. His strength left him when he broke his vow to God, and he became powerless in the hands of his enemies. Great remorse must have filled Samson's heart because of the disgrace he brought upon himself, upon his people, and worst of all, upon the God he served. However, the prison house of the enemy was a good place for him to begin to think of lost opportunities for serving God. Samson eventually did repent of the reproach he had brought upon God's name, and God gave him his marvellous strength back again for one more chance to destroy the enemies of Israel.
Samson killed more Philistines at his death than he did in all his life. As the Philistines were making merry at a great feast in honour of their god, the only true God gave Samson his strength back, and he used it to pull down the temple upon the Philistines, killing them all. Thereby God avenged Samson for the loss of his two eyes, for his captivity, and for the shame the Philistines had caused him.
The fact that Samson could humble himself enough to repent of the foolishness which had brought him to such humiliation is to be commended. The man who waits until his deathbed to repent of a lifetime of sin is surely trusting in a very slim hope, at best. If while he is enduring the pain and struggles of death he is able to consider intelligently the terribleness of meeting God with a lifetime of sin, unrepented of and for which he can make no restitution or amends, it will take some real faith in God to believe that God will forgive him and will save his soul before death takes place.
Samson manifested in his death as clear an example of true faith in God as the Bible affords. Samson was inexcusable for getting into a sad predicament. He had sinned, and he was paying the penalty of that sin. Nevertheless, he prayed again to God for mercy. Mercy was received, and Samson again, for the last time, proved God's power: "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Perhaps Samson looked to God in faith according to the promise of God: "The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.... The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy" (Psalm 147:6, 11).
Questions
1. What was the source of Samson's great strength?
2. What lesson is to be learned from the fact that Samson slew a thousand Philistines with but the jawbone of an ass?
3. What was the greatest virtue Samson had?
4. Why is Samson's name listed in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews?
5. Is it a good thing to wait until the time of death to repent of sin, and hope that God will forgive us all our iniquities?
6. Why was Samson greater in his death than he was in his life?