Scripture: Judges 13:1-5; 14:1-4; 15:14-20
Back in the ’80s and ’90s, some of you will remember the Star Trek spin-off series, The Next Generation. If so, you’ll remember that the number one enemy of the Federation was this part-human-part-machine race of people known as the Borg. You’ll remember that they assimilated their enemies—meaning, if they captured you, they turned you into a Borg; they controlled your mind; they robbed you of your free will; and they made you act and think just like every other Borg. Before this transformation happened, they would say to their vanquished foe, “You will be assimilated.”
And it’s almost as if, in today’s scripture, Israel faces a similar danger with the Philistines: the danger of assimilation.
Because in today’s scripture, Israel’s number one enemy is the Philistines, a race of seafaring Europeans who crossed the Mediterranean to lay claim to the same land that Israel laid claim to. For 40 years, scripture tells us, God gave Israel into the hand of the Philistines as punishment for their unfaithfulness.
Except this time, Israel didn’t seem to mind so much being ruled by a foreign power. In fact, as we read in Judges chapter 15, an army from the tribe of Judah went to arrest Samson—their own leader, their own “judge”—and hand him over to the Philistines… because Samson’s violent actions against the Philistines posed a threat to Judah’s peaceful political coexistence with this occupying enemy. “Yes,” Israel thought, “they’re ruling over us, but they’re not so bad. We can’t have Samson’s actions threatening the peace!”
And even Samson, our hero, doesn’t object, in principle, to the Philistines living there. True, he ends up slaying a thousand of them with the jawbone of a donkey, but his anger and violence directed against the Philistines is all about settling personal scores, taking revenge. Otherwise, Samson seems just fine with the Philistines. He parties with them, marries them, sleeps with their prostitutes, and falls in love with one of them—a woman named Delilah, who ultimately causes Samson’s downfall.
All that to say, if Israel behaves just like any other nation, how can they fulfill God’s purposes for them?
They can’t… That’s why God sends an angel to Samson’s mother to announce that she and her husband—who like so many other couples in scripture were unable to get pregnant—were now going to have a miracle baby. And he would be no ordinary child. He was set apart from birth, the angel tells Samson’s mother in chapter 13, verse 5, to “begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”
The angel also tells his parents that Samson is to be a Nazirite for his entire life. Someone who takes the Nazirite vow—which is usually not for life, but for a limited period of time—must not cut his hair; must not come into contact with dead animals or people; must not drink alcohol; must keep oneself ritually pure.
Samson will, of course, break all of these rules… with flying colors.
Worst of all, I suppose, with the exception of two recorded prayers,he just never seems to give a thought to God—to the meaning of his being chosen by God, being set apart by God. Samson is incredibly selfish… self-absorbed… self-centered… conceited.
So Samson, as far as Bible heroes goes, is a walking, talking disaster.
And yet… Samson is something else too…
Samson is also filled with the Holy Spirit. So it’s very appropriate, I think, that on this Pentecost Sunday, when we commemorate and celebrate God’s gift of the Holy Spirit—who was poured out on the church fifty days after the resurrection—we look at Samson’s story. He was—at least until the very end of his life, when he was betrayed by Delilah and taken captive by the Philistines—a Spirit-filled man! So many examples:
Judges chapter 13, verse 25: When he was just a boy, we’re told that “the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him.” The Spirit was preparing him, in other words, to win future victories over the Philistines. Chapter 14, verse 6: “Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat.” Judges 14:19: “And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty men of the town and took their spoil…” Judges 15:14: “Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire… and his bonds melted off his hands.”
Samson accomplished powerful things through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit made Samson strong.
Did you hear that? The Holy Spirit made Samson strong.
I remember in the ’80s and ’90s some Christians used to wear T-shirts that parodied popular brands and logos… except these shirts would have Bible-related messages instead. I remember, for example, the Corona beer logo was changed to “Corinthians,” with a quotation from one of Paul’s letters. And another of these shirts was a parody of popular Gold’s Gym… except the name was changed to “God’s Gym.” And sure enough, in place of the icon of a weightlifter, it depicted Samson, his arms toppling the pillars in the pagan temple from chapter 16.
My point its, on this T-shirt Samson is depicted as a muscle-bound Arnold Schwarzenegger-type body builder!
But not so fast… I don’t think Samson was like Arnold Schwarzenegger! If he were, none of his enemies would wonder how he got so strong! “Just look at him!” they’d say. That’s why they enlist Delilah as a spy to uncover the secret to his strength. Because the secret of his strength isn’t obvious! The Philistines thought his strength was magic. And why not? Samson is supernaturally strong! His strength comes from God… from the Holy Spirit! Samson may look, by all outward appearances, no more muscle-bound than me or you!
Now hear this good news: We have that same Holy Spirit within us that Samson had!
The Holy Spirit continues to come into the lives of all believers the moment we’re born again through faith in Christ. Contrary to what you might have heard from our brothers and sisters who are Pentecostals, Jesus promises that he’ll give the Holy Spirit to all of us Christians, not just the spiritual “elites” who demonstrate certain spiritual gifts.
Of course the Bible doesn’t promise that the Spirit will endow us with physical strength as he did Samson… But here’s what God’s Word does promise:
The Spirit gives us power for mission: Acts 1:8. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The Spirit gives us power for living, in general—the power, for instance, to take away fear. Remember our memory verse? 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God gave us a Spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.”
The Spirit reassures us that we belong to Christ, that we are part of God’s family, so we don’t have to worry about whether or not we’re saved and have eternal life: Romans 8:16. “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
The Spirit comforts and helps us: John 14:16: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.”
The Spirit sanctifies us and helps us bear fruit: Galatians 5:22 and 23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control.” Bearing the “fruit of the Spirit” is nothing other than sanctification… the process by which the Spirit makes us holy. And remember, holiness means, among other things, joy—lasting happiness that doesn’t depend on mere circumstances.
The Spirit gives us gifts for ministry: 1 Corinthians 12:4-7: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit… To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
The Spirit leads and guides us: Romans 8:14: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” We’ve talked about this in reference to the Book of Acts, for instance, and the way in which the Spirit often “speaks” to us disciples.
The Spirit helps us pray: Romans 8:26: “The Spirit helps us in our weakness… the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Even when we don’t know what to pray for, the Spirit prays through our own often feeble and inadequate prayers, letting our Father know exactly what we need.
So the same powerful Spirit that worked within Samson works within us…
And there’s comfort and encouragement in this fact! After all, as the Bible portrays Samson’s life and ministry, it’s almost as if the Holy Spirit works in spite of Samson. Over and over, Samson intends one thing; the Spirit intends something else. So God’s will gets accomplished in spite of the one through whom the Spirit is working!
Isn’t that a relief?
Did you ever listen to an old Christian radio program—it used to come on a Christian radio station on the FM dial in Atlanta late at night, but it was syndicated nationally—it was called Nightsounds. The host was the late Bill Pearce. He’s been dead for years—the show’s been off the air for years—but thanks to the magic of the internet and smartphones, I can listen to a new—old—episodes of Nightsounds like it’s 1983 all over again! I love it.
A few years ago, I heard the host, Bill Pearce, say the following… He said:
Some years ago… I was ushered into the beautiful, spacious home of a local, wealthy, Christian businessman. As we sat in his spacious living room, beautifully appointed, awaiting dinner, I was sort of ‘ooh-ing’ and ‘ahh-ing’ over the appointments, and the house, and the luxury. He sat down in an overstuffed chair across from me, looked me right in the eye, and said, “You know, this whole scene is God’s second best for me. He called me to be a missionary when I was in college many years ago. And I turned him down… because I went after the big bucks.” 1
But that phrase, “God’s second best,” stuck out to me!
Is it true that God was giving this man his “second best”?
I was reminded of growing up in a Baptist youth group in metro Atlanta and being warned not to “miss out on God’s will” for one’s life… As if God’s will were one thing. He had one Plan A that he wanted us to follow, and if we got it wrong… “Sorry, Mister… I’m afraid you’re going to be stuck with “Plan B”… or “Plan Z”… You’re going to be stuck with “God’s second best”… Or worse. If you keep messing up, maybe God’s “Three-thousand-two-hundred-and-thirty-second best.”
Samson, when measured against many other heroes of faith, seems to be living far less than even God’s “second best” for him! Yet God kept redeeming Samson’s poor choices, redeeming his mistakes, redeeming his grievous sins. So much so that Samson gets mentioned in the “great cloud of witnesses” chapter of Hebrews chapter 11! That’s a pretty select group of heroes of faith!
My point is, what God does for Samson, God does for us, too! He redeems our poor choices… redeems our mistakes… redeems our sins.
So listen… I preach this often… God does have a plan and purpose for our lives. By all means! It’s just that God’s “plan and purpose” for our lives already factors in all of our free choices, all of our mistakes, all of our sins! God knows in advance all about each one of them… and he plans around them, or transforms them… Regardless, God incorporates them into his plan for each of our lives!
God has the power, by the Holy Spirit, to do that!
In my own case, I couldn’t possibly have planned or chosen the circuitous path my life has taken to get me to this place in my life… I’ve said this before and it’s true: I’m happier—genuinely happier—than I’ve ever been… Gone are the days when I chased after the vain idols of career ambition, of professional success, of public recognition and applause. Even as a pastor I chased after these idols.Unfortunately, I didn’t instantly get sanctified when I went into full-time pastoral ministry. And some of you are like Amen, brother! And in pursuit of these idols I sinned—spectacularly at times. I made terrible mistakes. And I was mostly resentful. Remember: people in AA have often said, “An expectation is a planned resentment.” I’ve never been in AA but I know that to be true!
Nevertheless… If it took all of that sinful striving to get to this place where I know more joy than ever before… I would say it was worth it! I would say that I’m hardly living God’s “second best.” I’m slowly but surely learning to live God’s “very best” for me. Because his “very best” for me wasn’t something in the past: like “two roads diverged in a yellow wood,” and unlike the poet, I failed to take the “road less traveled by.” And if only I had taken that “road less traveled by” I would be living God’s “very best.” No!
On the contrary, I failed time and again to take the “right road”… And yet here I am. Here is God’s best… It’s right in front of me!
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own… But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” 2
So my encouragement to you is, “Press on… press on… keep on pressing on.”
God is so gracious. Our particular sins need not prevent God from giving us his best. Amen?
But let’s not get the wrong idea! Like… let’s not tell ourselves, “It doesn’t matter what we do; the Holy Spirit will merely override our mistakes and accomplish his purposes anyway!” No! Not at all! Instead, I want us to be encouraged by Samson’s terrible example!
I want us to tell ourselves something like this: If the Holy Spirit can work so powerfully through someone who, time and again, ignores God, flaunts God’s Word, resists God’s will, works for his own selfish ambitions rather than for God’s glory, what do you suppose God could do through a people who surrender their lives to God… who say,
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.
I’d sure like to find out! Wouldn’t you?
So… the following three facts are true about Samson… and they do not, in my opinion, contradict one another: First, Samson was a remarkably flawed hero. Second, he was also remarkably Spirit-filled.And last but not least… In his own way, he also managed to be a lot like Jesus!
In fact, of all the judges described during this period of Israel’s history, Samson might be my favorite, not because of who he is, but because of the way his life and sacrificial death foreshadow Christ’s life and sacrificial death. Listen to the way one Bible scholar puts it:
Christian readers can hardly fail to notice a number of points of correspondence between the broad structure of Samson’s career and that of Christ: his annunciation by a divine messenger, his marvelous conception, his holiness as a Nazirite, his endowment with the Spirit, his rejection by his own people, his being handed over by their leaders, the mocking and scorn he suffered at their hands, and the way his calling was consummated in his death, by which he defeated the god Dagon and laid the foundation for a deliverance to be fully realized in a day to come.
The correspondences are too numerous, and too germane to who Samson was, for what he achieved to be simply brushed aside as fanciful. 3
Samson’s life, in other words, points forward to Christ’s life.
Samson may not have done many things right, but to his great credit, Samson willingly chose to sacrifice his life. Remember: At the end of his story in chapter 16, the Spirit of God finally leaves him—and consequently, his supernatural strength also leaves him. He’s captured by the Philistines, his eyes are gouged out, and he’s made to be a slave, pulling a millstone to grind grain. Yet when he’s brought into the Philistines’ pagan temple—for “entertainment purposes” before a large crowd of worshipers—he asks—“innocently,” it seems—to stand between two pillars supporting the ceiling of the sanctuary. He prays a prayer in chapter 16, verse 28: “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.”
Still self-centered as always, but a bad prayer is better than no prayer at all!
So Samson stretches out his arms between pillars of this pagan sanctuary, in order to defeat his enemies and—by God’s grace—to rescue his people… Just as Christ willingly chose to sacrifice his life, stretching out his arms on the hard wood of the cross, in order to defeat his enemy, Satan, and to rescue us from sin and death!
Through his death Samson suffered the just penalty for sin that was due all of Israel. Through Christ’s death, Christ suffered the just penalty for sin that was due all of humanity.
But here’s one startling difference: Through his death Samson killed all of the people who were responsible for arresting him, binding him, mocking him, and beating him. By contrast, when Jesus was on the cross, he prayed, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” He prayed that his Father would forgive the very people who arrested him, bound him, mocked him, and beat him. Then by dying on the cross, he did something that made forgiveness of sin possible—taking his enemies’ sins upon himself and dying the death that they deserved to die.
Samson intended his death to kill all of his enemies. Christ intended his death to forgive and save all of his—including Judas Iscariot, and Caiaphas the high priest, and Herod, and the Temple Police, and Pontius Pilate, and the Roman soldiers… if only these enemies would turn to him in faith.
If Christ’s death on the cross had the power to forgive and save all of these bad people who were directly responsible for putting him there, you better believe the cross has the power to forgive and save you and me!
Paul writes, “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” 4
Our sins separated us from God. Our sins made us enemies of God. Left to our own devices, we will face judgment, death, and hell because of our sins. And maybe even this morning, you’re still an enemy of God because of your sins. If so, hear the good news: Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, came into this world to make peace with you. Because he loved you that much.
Will you accept his terms? Will you surrender your life?