Samson - Part 2

This is a continuation of a post I started on Samson’s life.  If you have not yet read it, here it is:

Samson- A Faithful Example

I am coming from the perspective that Samson is who God says he is: a Nazirite moved by the Spirit to “deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines.” (Judges 13:5)  The reason Samson’s life is important to us is because I believe he is one of those characters who is a true example of what it means to live by the Spirit - yes, even in the Old Testament - and motivated by God’s purpose.

When we left Samson in Judges chapter 14, he was eating honey from the carcass of a lion; something forbidden by his Jewish vows.  I see great prophetic significance in this act, suggesting that he was again moved by the Spirit to do such a thing.  First of all, the interpretation of honey carries much spiritual weight, and would have been personally meaningful to Samson.  Honey was a reminder of God’s fulfilled promise.  The Promised Land was called the land of milk and honey.  It meant abundance and blessing.  I think God was saying, “Trust me.  I always keep my promises.”  Perhaps Samson needed this encouragement as he was about to go against the Law by marrying a Philistine!  In the act of eating the honey, I see Samson and his family participating in the first fruits.  The spiritual significance of first fruit dates back to the festival of First Fruits in Jewish Law, and can also relate to Christ when he rose from the grave, thus becoming the first fruit of the righteous.  Because of Christ, we too participate in the first fruits of heaven when we experience the presence of the Lord through the Holy Spirit; this can also be called the abundant life.

Ok, moving right along.  Samson used his riddle at his wedding.  His wife betrayed him by giving the answer away, and Samson ended up killing 30 Philistines to fulfill his bet.  He then went home to his parent’s house, leaving his wife behind.  In the flesh we might assume he went away in anger to stew over the events of the wedding.  However, it could have been that Samson removed himself in order to spend time alone with God, reviewing the events with the lion and processing the seemingly failed marriage.  Perhaps this is a time where God reminded Samson who he is, and his purpose on earth.

This is really important to note.  Samson, like Jesus, took time out to be with God.  Let’s put ourselves in Samson’s shoes.  He felt moved by God to marry this girl, and the wedding turned into a blood bath.  How disappointing!  Can you imagine the parent’s reaction?  “We told you so. . .”  What a humiliating time for Samson.  Please hear me, the only way to truly heal our pain and disappointment in life is to bring it to God.  We have to be able to share our feelings with Him, listen to His perspective, and believe Him.  We have the right as adopted children to ask God in faith, why?  This is what I believe Samson did, and I think God reminded him that He “sought an occasion for assailing the Philistines.”  (Judges 14:4)

When Samson emerged, I believe he was filled with a clear understanding of his mission and purpose.  Interestingly enough, Chapter 15 starts with Samson returning to his wife “in the time of wheat harvest.”  There are so many details in the Old Testament filled with rich, spiritual significance.  Sometimes you catch one and realize the writing of these seemingly boring books was deliberate and breathed by God.  The Festival of Weeks was during the wheat harvest.  It was held 50 days after the Festival of Unleavened bread so it is also called Pentecost.  As many of us know, the day of Pentecost is also associated with the coming of the Holy Spirit.  I believe Samson’s return to the Philistines was prompted by the Spirit of the Lord.

When Samson returned to be with his wife, her father wouldn’t allow him to go into the inner chamber.  Her father announced that he had given her to Samson’s best man!  Like a man filled with purpose, Samson says, “This time shall I be blameless as regards the Philistines, though I do them evil.” (Judges 15:3) 

Samson’s next move might seem totally irrational to those who are unfamiliar with his mission and purpose.  He amazingly caught 300 foxes, put them in pairs, and tied torches between their tails.  Seriously, how did he do that?  Only by the power of the Holy Spirit!  He let the foxes go into the fields with standing grain.  He completely burned up the harvest and the olive orchards.  Again, in the flesh this doesn’t make any sense.  Why would Samson lash out on the Philistines when he was mad at his father-in-law?  In the Spirit, according to God’s purpose, it makes perfect sense.  Samson’s purpose was to begin to deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines.

Let us take a break to note that traditionally people view Samson’s life as a string of sin.  Even the Israelites questioned Samson’s actions in Judges 15:11, “Have you not known that the Philistines are rulers over us?  What is this that you have done to us?”  

Do you see the importance of viewing ourselves and others from God’s perspective?  Once we believe Christ, and accept the Spirit into our own life, Samson’s story becomes ours!  We have the same opportunity to listen to God, get our instructions from Him, and be filled with His purpose and direction for our life!  We are no different than this great man of faith when we are acting according to the Spirit of God.

So how is this done?  We can start by getting to know God.  Truly humbling ourselves to  go into His Presence and learn from Him.  Read the Bible expecting Him to reveal more of Himself in a very personal way; those moments when God connects His truth to our very own life and circumstance.  Allow Him to reveal the condition of your heart, giving Him entrance into all areas, including those areas of great pain.  Unfortunately, many of us carry wounds from the mistreatment of this broken world that actually harden our heart when we don’t allow the Spirit to council and heal them.  This causes God’s voice and prompting to be distorted or even blocked.  Let’s start by honestly asking God, “Lord, is there any sin in my life?  Please reveal the condition of my heart and heal me.”  Watch as God begins to transform your life!  Over time, with this humble attitude, we too can live extraordinary lives worthy of recognition in the book of Life!

If you would like to continue reading about Samson, please go here.