OVERVIEW OF JUDGES
“In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)
The Book of Judges gives an account of the nation of Israel’s actions between Joshua’s death and the selection of their first king. God appointed Moses and then Joshua with undisputable signs; for Moses, He parted the Red Sea, and for Joshua, He parted the Jordan. But after Joshua’s death, God didn’t choose a successor.
During this period in Israel’s history, there was a constant cycle of sin and deliverance (Judges 2:10-15). First, the Israelites would forget God and begin worshiping other gods. Then, because of their unfaithfulness, the Lord would revoke His protection and allow the enemies of Israel to defeat them in battle. The Israelites would then plead with the Lord and say, “We have sinned. Punish us as you see fit, only rescue us today from our enemies” (Judges 10:15). So God, in His great mercy, would send a judge to deliver them. But that wasn’t the end of it; after God’s act of deliverance through the judge, the Israelites would fall into even greater evil, and the cycle would begin again. (Judges, 10:15).
The Judges of early Israel were not judges in the way we think of judges, that is, law deciders. Instead, they were deliverers, chosen by the LORD to protect and deliver the Israelites. There were thirteen Judges, including Deborah, Gideon, and Samson. We see pictures of the coming Christ through the story of one of the Judges, Samson. The similarities between Samson and Jesus are apparent. Still, as with any picture of Christ, Samson is an imperfect representation of the perfect that is to come reminding us of why we need a Savior in the first place.
SAMSON
Samson was a miracle child, consecrated to God, who took a vow of holiness. He was a Nazarite, a person set apart from the people of Israel by meeting special requirements before God (e.g., no haircuts, no alcohol, no eating unclean things). God gifted Samson with incredible strength. When he turned from God, he lost his strength, and Israel’s enemy, the Philistines, blinded and enslaved him. When he turned back to God, God restored his strength, and Samson was able to defeat the Philistines. Samson judged Israel for 20 years (Judges 15:20).
Similarities Between Samson and Christ
There are many similarities between Samson and Jesus. They both experienced divinely announced miraculous births. Samson’s mother was barren until one day, an angel appeared to her and told her that she would have a child. (Judges 13:3-5) Similarly, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, a virgin, to announce that she would conceive and give birth to Jesus. (Luke 1:26-38). Both Samson’s mother and Mary believed these divine pronouncements. However, Samson’s father needed an encounter with the angel to understand the revelation announced to his wife (Judges 6:13-19). Similarly, Joseph needed an angelic intervention to understand God’s work in Mary. (Matthew 1:18-25)
Both Samson and Jesus were consecrated to God. To consecrate means to make or declare sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose. Samson was a Nazarite from the womb. From before time began, Jesus was the Son of God and when He was conceived in Mary’s womb, He was consecrated to God in his humanity.
Additionally, both were prophesied before birth. The angel prophesied that Samson would free Israel from the Philistines, Israel’s enemy (Judges 13:5), and Samson did just that. Gabriel named Mary’s child “Jesus,” which means “God saves,” and Jesus fulfilled this prophecy by saving not only Israel but the whole world. (Luke 1:31)
Samson and Jesus both led Holy-Spirit-powered lives. The Spirit of the LORD came upon Samson before he performed mighty feats (Judges 14:6) like ripping a lion’s jaw apart with his bare hands (Judges 14:19), killing 30 men (Judges 15:14), and killing Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. Also, the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jesus at his baptism and remained with Him until His death (Matthew 3:13-17). Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus performed many miracles, signs, and wonders.
Furthermore, Samson and Jesus both gave away their strength. Samson gave away his strength for a woman (Judges 16:17-22). Jesus set aside his strength for the world (Philippians 2:7).
Both were betrayed. Samson was betrayed by a woman (Judges 6:17-22), and so was Jesus in the figurative sense. Throughout Scripture, Israel is portrayed as a woman, a woman who betrayed Jesus by rejecting Him.
Samson and Jesus both shook up a Temple. Samson destroyed a Philistine temple (Judges 16:28-30), and Jesus cleansed the Temple in Jerusalem. (John 2:13-22)
Both offered themselves as living sacrifices to save others. Samson sacrificed himself to defeat the Philistines and destroy their temple dedicated to a false god (Judges 16:23-31). Jesus sacrificed himself to defeat Satan and destroy his earthly kingdom.
Finally, they were both deliverers. God chose Samson to be a deliver of Israel. He saved the Israelites from the Philistines. God chose Jesus to be a deliverer of not just Israel but the entire world. He saves us from sin, death, and the devil.
Conclusion
The Book of Judges shows us several things. First, it shows us God’s long-suffering endless patience with Israel. Second, it shows us that God answers prayers upon repentance – even when sin and rebellion are habitual. And third, it points out our need for God’s grace. When we turn away from God, He will allow our enemies (sin) to enslave us. When we have a repentant heart and love, trust, and obey God, He will give us victory.
Samson was far from perfect. He needed God’s grace, just as we need God’s grace. God’s grace was shown to us by sending His Son Jesus. Jesus was the perfect man and succeeded where Samson failed. Jesus is the better Samson. He set aside his strength and sacrificed himself not just to save Israel but to save the world.
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