Sermons from the Book of Judges

Samson the Deliverer
Judges 14-15
May 23, 2004

Maybe the title is stronger than reality. Samson was in a position to serve as a deliverer. But Israel seemed to ignore any need of deliverance. And it was just as well, as far as Samson was concerned, because he was not too big on taking on such a task! We cannot overlook that in spite of reluctance and resistance on the parts of the deliverer and those needing deliverance, the Lord was at work. We find the narrator weaving the thread of God's sovereign work through the whole story. Israel might have been disinterested and Samson non-committed, but the Lord God still worked to accomplish His purposes in Israel. Israel's glory days were still a couple of generations away. Yet one look at the scene in Israel could convince us that they were through, that everything was over. Israel lacked the backbone to stand as God's people. All the efforts of Joshua in bringing Israel into Canaan seemed to evaporate in the effects of lethargy and complacency.

Though the story weaves the exploits of Samson, it is really more concerned to show us the extravagant patience and grace of God toward those in covenant with Him. Though we aim to probe Samson and Israel's attitudes, we do not want to overlook the most important truth of these chapters: God is always faithful to accomplish His purposes in spite of how little cooperation He finds. On the surface, the situation might look hopeless, but there is a faithful Sovereign, unruffled by men's opposition, who is preparing a people for Himself to enjoy Him forever.

Having made that clear, I believe we need to analyze Samson and Israel. There are ample parallels in the book of Judges with our own day, but perhaps none more readily apparent than what is before us. Samson typifies so much of today's adolescence, especially young men. He was part of what Al Mohler has dubbed, "the Boy Culture." Though a man among men in body, nonetheless Samson never weaned himself from the Boy Culture unless we consider his last act to be his own deliverance. Some of Samson's characteristics pose stunning parallels with the type attitude and worldview this young generation presently faces.

But this didn't happen in a vacuum with Samson. Israel, who was to be living faithfully as the people of God, did more to foster Samson's worldview than most anything. Glaring problems with God's covenant people find far too many parallels with today's church. Seeing these things can serve to awaken us to the price that will be paid if we fail to accept the responsibilities entrusted to us by our wise, Sovereign Lord.

I. Samson and the Boy Culture

I'm sure that some would object to this phrase in light of the "he-man" exploits of Samson. But Boy Culture has little to do with brawn but more to do with attitude, worldview, and purpose in life. Though likely a man of notable physical shape, Samson had not matured to accept the responsibilities of manhood, choosing to pursue his own pleasures instead. How do we characterize the Boy Culture of Samson and our own day?

1. The Boy Culture makes decisions based on gratifying the senses, 14:1-3

(1) All of us have senses that affect daily decisions; e.g. hearing - music; eyes - choice of clothes; taste - particular foods

(2) Senses must be restrained by God's revelation; e.g. temptation in the Garden shows how the senses took over while denying God's revelation

(3) Senses must engage the mind and conscience if they are to be restrained; e.g. note how Samson ignores his parents' plea, "Get her for me, for she looks good to me." Appearance weighed heavier than principle or character.

(4) Senses can ignore the fact that an enemy is being embraced; e.g. the Philistines were enemies; they lorded their position over Israel; they infected Israel with sin, yet Samson welcomed her by ignoring the enmity.

(5) Senses affect desires, which affect decisions, which direct the life. Samson had a noble vocation that he neglected in order to follow his senses. The grace of God is displayed in v. 4 where God is at work in spite of Samson even accomplishing His purposes apart from Samson's intentions.

2. The Boy Culture reasons around principles, commitments, vows, and responsibilities, 14:5-9

(1) Samson was to follow the Nazirite vow of Numbers 6:1-8 as foretold and commanded by the angel of God.

(2) Samson was unusually blessed to be set apart by the Lord before birth. Chosen by the Creator and Lord for noble purposes, Samson reasoned around all of this to take the "low road." E.g. Michael Wilcock (BST, 137), "Maybe he dealt with his consciences summarily as he had dealt with the lion, telling himself (a) that the vow had been re-worded since the days of Numbers 6 - 'Eat nothing unclean' (13:7) instead of 'Touch nothing unclean' - and though he touched the lion's carcass, what he ate was the bee's honey; and (b) that the vow had been shared out between himself and his mother, and the 'dead body' bit was hers, not his." He further points out that, "shame and a bad conscience were reasons for keeping the lion/honey incident a secret.

(3) New rules, new laws, and new principle for a new generation seen to be apparent; e.g. apparent in the lax morals even among Christians. This is why former president Clinton could deny his actions with an intern to be adultery. He was a vivid example of where the Boy Culture takes a person.

(4) Reasoning around vows, commitments, and responsibilities becomes perfectly natural.

(a) You're doing what you want to do

(b) That makes you happy

(c) If you're happy, then that makes it right. Ultimately, hedonism becomes the driving force that knocks down any restraint in the way.

3. The Boy Culture is self-consuming with ultimately no interest in contributing to the greater good of others or living and serving to the glory of God, 14:10-20.

(1) Samson immerses himself in Philistine culture, lifestyle, and friendships but gives no thought to God's glory and purpose in his life; e.g. Romans 14:7-8; I Corinthians 1031; The glory of God should underlie what we do.

(2) One cannot but help seeing that Samson's self-interest might have been the reason his fianc�e could not level with him about what was happening (v. 16). Instead, she used manipulation to trick him. There was no genuine selfless love between them.

(3) Self-interest inevitably falls prey to the world's manipulation. It lacks the internal discipline and restraint to resist the playing upon emotions and sympathies; e.g. embracing a pro-abortion mind ("A woman has a right to choose") or a neutral view of homosexuality ("It's not fair to deny them equal right"). Judgment and discernment are blended when godly convictions and principles are laid aside.

Psalm 119:9,66

4. The Boy Culture prevents a young man from utilizing his gifts and abilities to his fullest potential, even if his neglect is costly to others.

(1) Note that Samson received an indication from the Lord of unusual ability (14:6), but he squandered it.

(2) Samson did accomplish some things, no doubt. But Israel needed a leader not a selfish reactionary. 15:7 shows that he had no intention of going further in reducing the enemy's power until squeezed by circumstances.

(3) Boy Culture robs the church and society of much good by sidelining young men who pursue pleasure rather than become men; e.g. The C/A (Tuesday, May 18, 2004, Section C, pg. 1,3).

Louis Little, 32, quit his job, sold his vehicle, took the $9000 cash, left his wife, and launched out on a 131-day bike trip to Mexico and Central America. After listening to a song, he decided, "Man, I gotta live. I gotta live this dream. I've always dreamed about it. Do it."

His wife was informed by his phone call. She divorced him during his escapade. "I was pretty upset," she commented.

His response is telling, "I felt guilty for leaving her. We still hang out every night, but she's just afraid of me leaving again."

"...I took the chance. I may pay for it later, but I'm glad I did it."

That is Boy Culture personified!

(4) Boy Culture produces a pseudo-spirituality or pseudo-morality so that he is convinced he is right even though he might blatantly defy God's revelation, commands, and purpose for his life. His is na�ve about the ways of the world; e.g. we're always left to wonder what might have been...

How does Boy Culture spread and infect a society?

II. Israel and its contribution to the Boy Culture

We must be careful placing blame for anyone's failures and sins. Ultimately, we bear responsibility before God for our own disobedience and rebellion. Some would blame Samson's parents. Though dulled by 40 years of Philistine dominance, they still appeared to be serious about their responsibility with Samson. Manoah probably repeated his prayer (13:8) many times. When Samson sought to marry the Philistine woman, they were earnest in trying to persuade otherwise (14:3). But he would not change his mind. Gravely disappointed, Manoah and his wife went along with the plan. The one consolation is found in 14:4. Ralph Davis helps us make sense of this:

"Many Christian parents have stood in the sandals of Manoah and his wife. They have, though realizing their own sinful inadequacies, faithfully taught, prayed for, disciplined, and loved a son or a daughter only to see that child willfully turn from the way of the Lord. No one can deny it is anything but devastating. Yet no one should forget verse 4: "But his father and mother did not realize it was from Yahweh." What we don't know may yet prove to be our deepest comfort" (176).

Though Samson must bear responsibility for his own sin, he was a product of his culture. The "world" had invaded the ranks of the covenant people like locusts in a wheat field. Every spiritual mooring seemed to be eroded so that the people of God were adrift in a torrent of paganism. Samson did little to resist the impulses and he found no aid among his fellow Israelites. He wasn't alone in the Boy Culture.The more the church community mirrors this ancient Israelite community, the closer we will move to the abyss. This passage stands as a trumpet blast, warning of approaching danger.

1. The Church contributes to the Boy Culture when it fails to see the truth about spiritual conflict and warfare, 15:9-10.

(1) Israel was in a way and didn't realize it. The Philistines battled for their souls with their subtle ways, unrecognized by dulled Israel; e.g. texts such as Ephesians 6:10ff, II Corinthians 5, I John 2:15-17, and Revelation remind us that we're involved in a war. The stakes are high. The weaponry might be shrewd and deceptive, or all-out assault, but it is a war.

(2) The Israelites were surprised that the Philistines would have any conflict with them. It was a sad day when the Philistines had to tell Israel, "We're not concerned about you; it's Samson we want!"

Al Mohler has stated the problem and solution well in an essay, "Transforming Culture: Christian Truth Confronts Post-Christian America":

A remarkable culture-shift has taken place around us. The most basic contours of American culture have been radically altered. The so-called Judeo-Christian consensus of the last millennium has given way to a post-modern, post-Christian, post-Western cultural crisis which threatens the very heart of our culture.

Reflecting on the changes experienced by America over just the last half-century, John Howard of the Rockford Institute described the end of World War II as "a half century and a whole civilization ago." We know how he feels. Looking back on the America of 1945, it does look like a whole civilization has passed.

The evidence is overwhelming. Moral relativism has so shaped the culture that the vast majority of Americans now see themselves as their own moral arbiter. Truth has been internalized, privatized, and subjectivized. Absolute or objective truth is denied outright. Research indicates that most Americans believe that truth is internal and relative. No one, the culture shouts, has a right to impose truth, morality, or cultural standards.

In the courts, revisionist legal theories and psycho-therapeutic issues have replaced concern for right and wrong. Justice has become a political argument, not a societal standard. Righteousness is rejected as a concept, a relic of an older age of a common morality, nuclear families, and Victorian dreams. The discourse of a revealed morality commanding right and forbidding wrong is as out of place in contemporary America as a log cabin on Wall Street.

The most influential sectors of society are allied in furthering the process of social disintegration. Television and mass culture have so shaped the American consciousness that many citizens are now intellectually unable to sustain a serious moral conversation. Those who attempt to engage the American people in a serious moral conversation are met with immediate dismissal or - more worrisome still - blank stares.

In candor, we must admit that the Church has been displaced. Once an authoritative voice in the culture, the Church is often dismissed, and even more often ignored. At one time, the influence of the Church was sufficient to restrain cultural rebellion against God's moral commandments, but no longer. The dynamic of the culture-shift marches onward. On the protestant left, leaders have simply capitulated to the revisionist ideologies and surrendered revealed morality. On the evangelical wing, however, the greater temptation is to affirm biblical morality in principle, and wink at infractions as matters of merely individual interest.

The displacement of the Church is characteristic of the process of secularization, which has now so thoroughly altered the landscape of American culture. Though sociologists point to continuing high levels of religious activity and statements of belief - both of these in sharp contrast to other western nations - the truth is that very little of this activity translates into authentic discipleship, active church membership, and bold Christian witness.

The worldview of most Americans is now thoroughly secularized, revolving around the self and its concerns, and based on relativism as an axiom. We Americans have become our own best friend, our own therapist, our own priest, and our own lawgiver. The old order is shattered, the new order is upon us.

What, then, is the Church to do? At the onset, we must disallow both optimism and despair...though the direction of the culture may be dramatically downward, we have no right to assume that this slide cannot be corrected.

We must understand that, in the Christian worldview, culture is important, but never ultimate. Beyond this, we acknowledge that God is sovereign, and His providence rules over all.

To contend for Christian truth in the face of this culture is to discover what it means to be a member of a cognitive minority; that is, a minority which quite evidently thinks and lives differently than the larger culture. To confess the truths of God's Word in the late twentieth-century America is to take on a counter-cultural posture; to stand against the stream and to press against the grain.

The mission of the Church in the midst of this cultural crisis is to proclaim the truth and reach out to the casualties. In the face of rampant relativisms, the believing Church must proclaim the truth of God's Word, the permanence of His commands, and the reality of His judgment. Given the cultural context, this task is one of the most important tests of Christian faithfulness. To proclaim biblical truth to this culture is to risk social isolation, outright rejection, and, in some cases, potent attacks.

The Church which proclaims that adultery, premarital sex, and homosexuality are inherently and unquestionably sinful will quickly discover what it means to be cut off from the cultural mainstream. The preacher who takes on the divorce culture and takes his stand for the enduring covenant of marriage will run into direct confrontation with society's attraction to "open marriage" and what some now describe as "serial monogamy." The Christian who stands in defense of the unborn will be told that her voice is unwanted, unheeded, and unwelcome - and in no uncertain terms.

(http://www.sbts.edu/mohler/fidelitasPrint.php?article=fidel016)

2. The Church contributes to the Boy Culture when it becomes satisfied with the world's influence, permeation, and dominance over the church.

15:11 is telling - "Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us?"

(1) Wilcock (142) comments, "this question to Samson admits that there is in truth no such thing as harmonious co-existence between the church and world, for where there is no conflict it is because the world has taken over."

(2) Think of how often the church cozies up with the world:

(a) Rushes to put on the platform superstars who give the least inkling of Christian profession.

(b) Admires the popular.

(d) Shocked when the world assaults the church!

(e) Gives more attention to entertainment than teaching discipline and obedience,

(f) Substitutes entertainment for worship.

3. The Church contributes to the Boy Culture when it rejects the God-given means to overcome the world, bondage to sin, and spiritual enslavement.

(1) 15:11 they ask with disdain, "What then is this that you have done to us?"

(a) Samson had afflicted the enemy's strength

(b) His actions threatened them with fear

(d) They failed to encourage and challenge Samson to follow after God's calling.

(2) So they are not willing to kill Samson, but they'll bind him and give him over to the Philistines to kill (Davis, 182). "Here is a people who have acquiesced to bondage, who can no longer imagine anything beyond the status quo, who see deliverance as a threat to peace, who look upon Yahweh's enemies as their rightful lords. Israel is a people who can forsake Yahweh instantly but who would not think of being faithless to the Philistines" (Davis 181-182).

(3) God had given them a deliverer and they had grown so accustomed to bondage that they weren't even interested. Even when Samson engaged the Philistines in a one-man war, Judah's 3000 watched from the sidelines. They feared getting involved. They were more concerned with pleasing the Philistines than following the Lord. That kind of atmosphere does little to foster leadership and the pursuit of noble God-honoring purposes.

(4) Consider how even in the evangelical world we have neatly laid aside the centrality of the cross and the necessity of cross-centered lives for the comfortable and clever gimmicks of the world. That doesn't challenge young men to "deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Christ." In spite of it all, God still worked; Samson even acknowledged his own weakness and inadequacy for the deliverance, and for the first time, cried out to the Lord (15:18-19).

(a) What if that had been the consistent pattern in his life?

(b) What if the covenant community had nurtured young men to be serious about following the Lord regardless of the cost?

Conclusion

Here's the challenge:

1. Young men and young women among us, and those moving that direction, realize that being enamored with the world will clip your wings of great usefulness. Rise to the noble purpose of living for the glory of God. Temporary applause and attraction by the world fades quickly when you start nearing the end of life. Listen to Christ as revealed in God's Word rather than to the competing voices of the world.

2. The Church must ever seek to encourage true discipleship. We do this not just from the pulpit, but by setting the example in daily lives. We must guard our own motives and practices, ever holding them before the lens of Holy Scripture as our test. We must be courageous in standing for Christ, the gospel, and the truth of Scripture regardless of what it costs us.

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