Judges 16 brings us to the third and final section of the Samson cycle. It consists of two main parts – Samson’s downfall (verses 1-22) and his death (verses 23-31). While the story of Samson is a familiar story to Christians who grew up listening to bible stories, Samson was not really the hero for God that the stories have portrayed. Why so?

Samson is an arrogant rebel. Verses 1 to 3 tell us that Samson again went to see a prostitute, showing an outright lack of regard for God’s law. He intentionally travelled through the length of Philistia to get to Gaza to find the prostitute, suggesting his intent in returning to sin. This was a deliberate rebellious act on Samson’s part. Not only so, he taunted the Gazites by carrying the city gate to the hill opposite Hebron to show off his strength, not to save the Israelites, but as a self-serving act to save himself.

Samson has issues with lust. Samson was able to uproot the gates of the city, but not able to withstand the lure of a woman. Delilah pressured Samson with words, her verbal attack “binding”, which she repeats three times. “Love” was least important to her, yet it was the thing that made Samson weak. He was so absorbed with her, that he made known to her his weakness. Instead of being the judge to overthrow the oppressor, he was overthrown by the oppressors’ hired hand.

Samson puts his self before God. Despite asking God to remember him in verse 28, it was quickly revealed that it was not prayed in humility and proper faith. Instead, this prayer was all about himself, and the first-person reference was used 4 times in this short prayer. Samson was asking God to strengthen him for personal revenge for his eyes that were gouged out by the Philistines.

Samson is foolish and shows self-gratifying actions. The truth is, the entire chapter 16 is full of Samson’s foolish, self-gratifying actions. His actions were self-motivated, right till his death. As a leader, a judge for the Israelites, it is ironic that it was only in his death that the process of deliverance begun. As a man gifted with physical power, it was unfortunate that he squandered his life not using his God-given gifts for the works of God. Samson was certainly not the hero who was portrayed, and even less so the judge that God had appointed to lead His people. However, despite the flaw and sinfulness of Samson, God amazingly worked and vindicated His own name.

Are we like Samson, rebellious, arrogant, tempted by the lures of the world, putting ourselves before God, and only having self-serving thoughts and actions? May our senses not be dulled to these sins. What is the God-serving identity that God has given to us? Are we using the gifts that God has given us to serve him, and to bring forth His name? Let us turn away from the sins that draw us away from God. May our thoughts, actions, and words be Christ-centered, rather than self-centered.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to be Christ-centered and not self-centered. Help me to live my life in a way that brings glory to you, and not to myself. Help me to point people to you, and not to myself. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.