‍Judges // From Samson to Jesus [part 2]

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Judges 16:1-3

[1] Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her. [2] The Gazites were told, “Samson has come here.” And they surrounded the place and set an ambush for him all night at the gate of the city. They kept quiet all night, saying, “Let us wait till the light of the morning; then we will kill him.” [3] But Samson lay till midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that is in front of Hebron.

Judges 16:4-6

[4] After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. [5] And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.” [6] So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.”

Judges 16:17-21

[17] And he told her all his heart, and said to her, “A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.”

[18] When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. [19] She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. [20] And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. [21] And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison.

Judges 16:22-28

[22] But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved. [23] Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.” [24] And when the people saw him, they praised their god. For they said, “Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.” [25] And when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. [26] And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” [27] Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.

[28] Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.”

Judges 16:29-31

[29] And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. [30] And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life. [31] Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years.

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1. You are what you worship.

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Before we continue, it’s good to pause and remind ourselves of what an “idol” really is. How would you define it?

Idols are empty and have no life in them. If you make something into an idol and worship it instead of God, you will become just like the idol: empty with no real life inside of you. What are some specific examples from the story today that showed how Samson became like his idols?

In Ephesians 2, the Apostle Paul tells us that all humans (before knowing Christ) are dead men walking. We are driven by our sinful inclinations and appetites. How was this true in your life before you became a Christian? How do you see this play out in the world today?

Even as a Christian, why is there still a temptation to return to old habits of sin and idolatry?

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2. Jesus gives life (so worship him!)

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The story of Samson is full of clues pointing us to the need for a better, stronger, permanent Savior for God’s people.

Samson was betrayed and sold for pieces of silver to the authorities… so also Jesus was betrayed and sold for pieces of silver to the authorities … but Jesus voluntarily laid aside his strength to be bound
Samson had completely abandoned his responsibility to be Israel’s savior when they needed him most — but Jesus willingly and joyfully continued forward with his mission when we needed him most and when it was most difficult for him
in the temple of Dagon, it appeared the enemy had won, but God wasn’t done — and then as Jesus hung on the cross, it appeared the enemy had won, but God wasn’t done
Samson’s arms were outstretched when he died to save his people — Jesus’ arms were outstretched on the cross to save the world
in both stories, the enemy is defeated by the sacrifice of one man — but only one of those men rose from his own tomb, defeating sin and death forever

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Ephesians 2:4-9

[4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— [6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

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What do these verses tell you about Jesus’ commitment to you? Especially the fact that he made you alive when you were dead in your sins?

Samson wanted to be a Philistine because he thought they had “the good life.” Why is it tempting to look at others with more material wealth than us or better relationships or more fame than us and want what they have?

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John 10:10

[10] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Isaiah 61:1

[1] The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

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Based on these Scriptures, what is the true “good life”?

What is one thing you can do this week to better live in the abundant life that Jesus provides you?