The book of Judges devotes more space to Samson than to any other judge. Four chapters deal with his life (Judges 13–16).
It is a sad story. For forty years, the Philistines have oppressed God’s people. But not once do they call upon the Lord for deliverance, even though God has raised up Samson to deliver them. Samson has been given supernatural power to lead the way. But not once do the people call upon Samson to lead them in engaging their enemy on the battlefield. Samson slayed some Philistines, but he did so only in his capacity as an individual settling personal grievances, rather than on behalf of the nation.
The author indirectly told us why the Israelites of Samson’s day act as they do. They have heard of Samson’s power. It should be evident that God has sent him to help them. But on one occasion, the Philistines come to arrest Samson, and his own people are more than willing to hand him over. They tie him up and give him to their enemy, who plans to kill him (Judg 15:9-13).
His countrymen rebuked Samson for causing trouble with his personal warfare against the Philistines. They said, “Do you not know that the Philistines rule over us? What is this you have done to us” (v 11)?
It is clear what is happening. The citizens of Israel don’t want any trouble with the Philistines. They have accepted that they are a defeated people and that the Philistines are in control. In their eyes, the Philistines are too mighty. There is nothing they can do about it. Samson is upsetting the apple cart. They’re content with things as they are and have no confidence that God can deliver them from their predicament. They do not realize or accept that God is using Samson to stir up Israel against the Philistines (Judg 14:4). God did not want His people to be happy with their current situation.
The same can be true for believers today. We can live a defeated Christian life. We can see the world and their flesh as being too strong. We may feel that many temptations to sin are overwhelming and that nothing can be done to overcome them.
But we can overcome them. The power of the Lord is in us and is greater than the forces that oppress us (1 John 4:4). The Lord told the disciples that He would not leave them alone, but would come to dwell in them through His Spirit (John 14:15-18). Paul stated that the Spirit who raised Christ from the dead dwells within the believer (Rom 8:9).
I have never seen a person as strong as Samson. While the accounts are true, his feats in Judges 13–16 are beyond anything we’ve ever seen. We don’t have anyone like Samson with us. But we have a much greater power. Just as the Jews in Samson’s day could have used him to defeat their enemies, believers today can use the power God has given us to experience victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil. We need to go to Christ and ask Him to exercise the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us (Heb 4:14-16).
It is sad that the Jews in Samson’s day just gave up when they had the power of God working through someone who lived in their midst. If you want to get depressed, read Judges 17–21 to see the consequences of such spiritual defeat.
It is even worse, however, to see a defeated believer today. He has given up although the power of God dwells in him. A believer who accepts defeat—one who is accustomed to it—will experience a life as depressing as that of the Jews in Samson’s day.
