Samson: A Picture of Christ

“And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them……..And Samson said, ‘Let me die with the Philistines.'”  –Judges 16:29-30

We all know the story of Samson – the strong man who was pledged to be a Nazirite (no alcohol, no cutting of his hair, etc.)  He was given by his parents to be a servant of the Lord and that pledge, Samson was given superhuman strength.  He had become famous for his feats of physical prowess and his many military conquests, primarily of the Philistines.

Unfortunately however, the story of Samson doesn’t end on a cheerful note.  His womanizing and sexual sins led him to a place of destruction.  Delilah, of the Philistines, seduces him and badgers him into volunteering the secret to his strength – the Nazirite vow before God.  If his hair is cut, he will be “like any other man.”  Delilah has a man sneak in while Samson slept, cut his hair, and render him powerless.  The Philistines come in, arrest him, gouge out his eyes, and haul him off to be a prisoner.

One day, the Philistines decided to have a party for their god Dagon and in the celebration they call for Samson to come out and entertain them, since they attribute Samson’s failure to Dagon’s work.

Its here where Samson prays for the strength of the Lord one last time to bring judgment on the Philistines.  3,000 Philistines, along with Samson, died that day.

Jesus said that “all the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms speak of Me” (Luke 24:44), so the question is, how does the story of Samson, and this literal, historical strong man point us to Christ?

Samson acted as judge over the Israelites, but although he was dedicated to the Lord and blessed by Him, he was still a sinful man.  Samson had many faults.  In the story of Samson, what we do see is a leader and judge on behalf of God’s people being willing to give of himself on behalf of his people to destroy their common enemy.  We see a self-sacrifice take place.  However, in Samson’s situation, he was blinded, unwillingly bound, and powerless.  He was paraded around to be humiliated, mocked, and scorned by his enemies.  But ultimately, after a crying out to God, there was victory.

Jesus is the Great and Ultimate Judge of all.  He was dedicated to and anointed by the Lord before the beginning to be the Messiah, King and Judge – and He was sinless.  Jesus was willing to give Himself up on behalf of all who would believe, for the sins of the world, to destroy our common enemies of sin, Satan, and death.  However, in Jesus’ situation, He brought sight to the blind and He willingly allowed the soldiers to arrest Him and He willingly went through the mock trials, the beatings and to the cross; all the while, He was in control and He had the power to stop it at any time.  He was paraded around to be humiliated, mocked and scorned by His enemies.  But ultimately, after crying out to God, “It is finished!  Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!”, there was eternal victory.