Meaning of the History of Samson - His Annunciation and early History - The Spirit of Jehovah "impels

him" - His Deeds of Faith

(JUDGES 13-15)

THERE is yet another name recorded in the Epistle to the Hebrews among the Old Testament "worthies,"

whose title to that position must to many have seemed at least doubtful. Can Samson claim a place among

the spiritual heroes, who "through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises?"

The question cannot be dismissed with a summary answer, for if, as we believe, the Holy Spirit pronounced

such judgment on his activity as a judge, then careful and truthful study of his history must bear it out. But

then also must that history have been commonly misread and misunderstood. Let it be remembered, that it is

of Samson's activity as a Judge, and under the impulse of the Spirit of God, we are writing, and not of every

act of his life. In fact, we shall presently distinguish two periods in his history; the first, when he acted

under the influence of that Spirit; the second, when, yielding to his passions, he fell successively into sin,

unfaithfulness to his calling, and betrayal of it, followed by the desertion of Jehovah and by His judgment.

And, assuredly, the language of the Epistle to the Hebrews could not apply to the period of Samson's God-

desertion and of his punishment, but only to that of his first activity or of his later repentance.

It was in the days of Eli the high priest. Strange and tangled times these, when once again principles rather

than men were to come to the front, if Israel was to be revived and saved. The period of the Judges had run

its course to the end. The result had been general disorganization, an almost complete disintegration of the

tribes, and decay of the sanctuary. But now, just at the close of the old, the new was beginning; or rather,

old principles were once more asserted. In Eli the Divine purpose concerning the priesthood, in Samson that

concerning the destiny and mission of Israel, were to reappear. In both cases, alike in their strength and in

their weakness -in the faithfulness and in the unfaithfulness of its repres entatives. The whole meaning of

Samson's history is, that he was a Nazarite. His strength lay in being a Nazarite; his weakness in yielding to

his carnal lusts, and thereby becoming unfaithful to his calling. In both respects he was not only a type of

Israel, but, so to speak, a mirror in which Israel could see itself and its history. Israel, the Nazarite people - no

achievement, however marvelous, that it could not and did not accomplish! Israel, unfaithful to its vows and

yielding to spiritual adultery - no depth of degradation so low, that it would not descend to it! The history of

Israel was the history of Samson; his victories were like theirs, till, like him, yielding to the seductions of a

Delilah, Israel betrayed and lost its Nazarite strength. And so also with Samson's and with Israel's final

repentance and recovery of strength. Viewed in this light, we can not only understand this history, but even

its seeming difficulties become so many points of fresh meaning. We can see why his life should have b een

chronicled with a circumstantiality seemingly out of proportion to the deliverance he wrought; and why

there was so little and so transient result of his deeds. When the Spirit of God comes upon him, he does

supernatural deeds; not in his own strength, but as a Nazarite, in the strength of God, by Whom and for

Whom he had been set apart before his birth. All this showed the meaning and power of the Nazarite; what

deliverance God could work for His people even by a single Nazarite, so that, in the language of prophecy,

one man could chase a thousand! Thus also we understand the peculiar and almost spasmodic character of

Samson's deeds, as also the reason why he always appears on the scene, not at the head of the tribes, but

alone to battle.

If the secret of Samson's strength lay in the faithful observance of his Nazarite vow, his weakness sprung

from his natural character. The parallel, so far as Israel is concerned, cannot fail to be seen. And as Samson's

sin finally assumed the form of adulterous love for Delilah, so that of his people was spiritual unfaithfulness.

Thus, if the period of the Judges reached its highest point in Samson the Nazarite, it also sunk to its lowest

in Samson the man of carnal lusts, who yielded his secret to a Delilah. As one has put it: "The strength of

the Spirit of God bestowed on the Judges for the deliverance of their people was overcome by the power of

the flesh lusting against the Spirit." Yet may we, with all reverence, point from Samson, the Nazarite for