Articles
Person Of The Week: Samson
After the death of Joshua, Israel went through hundreds of years of cyclical disobedience. During this protracted period, God raised up military liberators (“judges”) to beat back the oppressors and restore peace and prosperity. Samson is one of those judges, and he is one of the most puzzling figures in the Bible.
The historical portrait (Judges 13-16) shows a selfish, impetuous, lustful man with little regard for God or anyone else. A chief difficulty arises when the author of Hebrews includes him in a list of Old Testament heroes of faith who accomplished great things for God (Heb. 11:32).
Perhaps the key to a proper assessment of Samson’s faith is the time in which he lived. This was a period where “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Samson’s parents had respect for God, but his culture was largely rebellious and unbelieving. From this “low bar” standpoint, Samson had enough regard for God to be useful in His purposes.
By no means is Samson a “role model” for comprehensive faith, for we have so much more insight than he did. But he is someone who rose above his peers, and God acknowledged him even in weakness. Samson’s life demonstrates the grace of God, and he shows us that we do not have to blindly follow the masses.
