Samson Who Was A judge Known For His Strength

Did you know Samson was not only famous for strength but also for making riddles?

Samson was very fond of making puzzles and he used to make riddles on many occasions. Once he killed a tiger without a weapon. When he killed the tiger, instead of blood, honey was coming out of his body. When this scene came before Samson’s eyes, he made a riddle at this point. And on the occasion of his marriage, he started asking people to tell me the answer to this riddle.

“Out of the eater, something to eat; out of the strong, something sweet.” (Judges 14:14)

People were very surprised at what could be the answer to this riddle. He narrated that incident and said that at that time I had made this riddle.

Introduction

Samson is mentioned in the Bible. He was a very powerful and courageous person. God chose him to rule over Israel and he fought against the Palestinians because of his courage. Samson was given a lot of strength by God but being human he also had some weaknesses. Samson’s strength was hidden in his hair and people did not know it. He fell in love with a woman and she betrayed him. She took away Samson’s power after finding out his secret. This shows that Samson was too powerful, so the Palestinians had to send a woman to control him. Samson fell in love with the woman. This suggests that there were human weaknesses in Samson. When Samson was born, his hair was not cut because God created Samson for the purpose of standing against the Palestinians and saving Israel from slavery.

Verse

You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” (Judges 13:5)

Verse

So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.” (Judges 16:17)

Birth of Samson

Samson’s mother was infertile and could never give birth to children. But God performed this miracle and gave good news to Samson’s mother that she would give birth to a son. The name of this son will be Samson and the purpose of his birth is to free Israel from the slavery of the Palestinians. He will be given great power to fight the Palestinians and save the Israelites. God sent his angel with the good news and a promise that Samson would be given unlimited power, but this power would only last as long as he did not drink alcohol, did not engage in wrongdoing and never cut his hair. If Samson did not do these three things, his power would remain strong, and if he adopted one of these things, his power would be withdrawn.

Verse

The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” (Judges 13:3-5)

Verse

Reference: (Numbers 6:1-5)

Strength of Samson

God gave Samson great strength and he fought so bravely in many battles that it was clear that this strength was not common. He once fought with a tiger and he didn’t have any weapon yet he defeated the tiger. Also, in another battle, he had no sword or arrows. He only had the jaw bone of a donkey, and he killed a large number of Palestinians with this bone. It was a very amazing event. This shows that Samson’s power was great and that power remained until Samson broke his promise.

Verse

Samson went down to Timnah together with his father and mother. As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done. (Judges 14:5-6)

Verse

Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men. Then Samson said, “With a donkey’s jawbone. I have made donkeys of them. With a donkey’s jawbone, I have killed a thousand men.” (Judges 15:15-16)

Blind Love of Samson

There was a time when Samson was captured by the Palestinians. It was impossible to imprison him with the power of Samson. Therefore, the Palestinians resorted to a woman whose name was Delilah. Delilah comes into Samson’s life and seduces him into her love trap. Samson also fell in love with Delilah. Delilah asked him things in love and said that you are so brave, what is the secret of your bravery? Samson, who was falling in love with Delilah, got emotional and told the truth that her strength was in her hair. After finding out the truth, Delilah cut Samson’s hair when she got the chance. Then, she handed him over to the Palestinians and he went to prison.

Verse

So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.” When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him. (Judges 16:17-19)

Verse

Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison. (Judges 16:21)

Redemption of Samson

Samson regretted his mistake very much. He wanted to destroy the Palestinians somehow. He wanted power again for the last time but he had no hair and the power was in his hair. As time passed, his hair grew. He prayed that he would be given one last chance to defeat the Palestinians before he died. The Palestinians had a celebration and Samson was brought so that he could see the joy of the Palestinians and feel his defeat. At that time, God gave strength to Samson. He shook the pillars of the temple violently and all the people there died.

Verse

Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived. (Judges 16:28-30)

Verse

When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” (Matthew 27:24)

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Samson’s life teaches us about strength, courage, repentance and human weakness. If God gives power to someone, he can also take it away. If we remain His righteous servants, then we will remain powerful. As soon as we rebel against Him, sin or disobey Him, our power will be taken away from us. This is what happened to Samson. God had given him a lot of power, but when he disobeyed God because of his human weaknesses, God took his power away from him. But when he repented, God forgave him and gave him a second chance.

Verse

Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” (Judges 16:28)

Verse

Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived. (Judges 16:30)