Week 6 (The Judges) – Day 4: Sampson Defeats the Philistines

Day 29 – Samson Defeats the Philistines - Judges 13:1-16:31

The story of the last judge is full of odd adventures and continuous failings as a leader.  Samson is never really a leader of the people as much as a one man wrecking crew.  Even as you read of his sinful acts and placing his trust in the wrong people (seriously wouldn’t you be suspicious of Delilah after her fourth request regarding the source of your power?), ultimately God who has chosen him, stands by him, and grants his final request.  In some manner, Samson’s story is the story of Israel, and our own as well.  No matter where we may go, God never leaves us.  Of what comfort is this to you?

Samson is the final judge.  We will not read the final chapters of Judges but they contain raw depictions of a society completely out of control.  As I mentioned earlier, the final line of this book is:  “In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes.”  The writer is referring not as much to a human ruler, as God as king.  Possibly a line for us to ponder for our own time

In Christ,

Randy