The Bible: It's All About Jesus

Samson

Introduction: Samson - Jesus' Relationships with Us

Most of us have heard the fanciful story of Samson the judge who killed a thousand of Philistines with a jawbone and how he died by pushing apart two pillars after being tempted by women. We Christians don't talk much about his relationships with women. In fact, those who do talk about such things refer to him as a womanizer who was married once, visited a prostitute, and loved another who betrayed him.

However, if we look at him strictly as God describes him to us, all we know is the facts about his birth, relationships with three women, and his death. And one more thing: He is listed in the Hebrews chapter 11 "Hall of Faith" as being a man who lived by faith!

This study is intended to show how Samson's story is a set of four allegories depicting Jesus' birth, His relationship with the three groups of mankind, and His death. Each section is presented in a format which summarizes a sequential little piece of Samson's story followed by a short description of how the allegory tells about Jesus; this is then followed by a few of many possible Scripture passages that relate Jesus' life. Enjoy and let the Spirit lead you into all truth as you find that the entire Bible is about only one thing: It's all about Jesus!

Names and Their Meanings

The meanings of Hebrew names can almost tell the whole story by themselves. They show how the allegory is assembled. For example: Samson means "the light" and Jesus is "the Light of men." His father's name is Manoah which means "peace or rest" and God provided peace between Him and us through the death of His Son. Delilah means "one who is heavily burdened" and Jesus said "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened."

Samson's Birth

Samson was born in similar circumstances to John the Baptist: His parents were childless and his birth was announced by an angel. Yet, when viewing this story as an allegory about Jesus, the mother more closely resembles John the Baptist who introduced Jesus' as the Lamb of God into the world --like Samson's mother introduced him into the world.

Samson's Wife

This relationship of Samson and his wife can provide insight about the motivating love of God demonstrated through Jesus coming into the world to save all of mankind. And the story doesn't stop at Jesus' death. It even contains the battle with Satan; how the free gift of righteousness is obtained; the overcoming of sin and death; and much of the end times as described in Revelation.

The Prostitute

The next relationship shows Samson visiting a prostitute. It is found in just three short verses, but captures what happened when Jesus came to His own --the people of Israel-- and they received Him not. It touches on the Passover and the fulfillment of the law.

His True Love: Delilah

The final relationship is about Samson's true love Delilah. And it is also a rich picture of Christ's love for His Bride. There are the three temptations by Satan in the desert; a presentation of the gospel; His crucifixion, death and resurrection; and the fulfillment of the law and new priesthood.

Name Meanings Are the Key to Understanding Samson

The meanings of Hebrew names can almost tell the whole story by themselves. They show how the allegory is assembled. For example: Samson means "the light" and Jesus is "the Light of men." His father's name is Manoah which means "peace or rest" and God provided peace between Him and us through the death of His Son. Delilah means "one who is heavily burdened" and Jesus said "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened."

As you read through the various sections on Samson, you might want to use this list of meanings to help put the story together.

Samson's Birth

The Israelites (the power or might of God) spent forty years in the hands of the Philistines (ones who crawl in the dust) because they did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

God committed His creation into the hands of Satan and demons as part of His plan for its later redemption. And Satan --the one who was condemned to crawl in the dust because of his participation in the fall-- tempted Jesus for 40 days in the desert.

Although the number forty is the same, years are used rather than days. This is common in Bible prophecy such as in Daniel's "week of weeks" which describes forty-nine years.

Samson's (the sunlight's) father, Manoah (peace and rest), was from the tribe of Dan (the judge) and the town of Zorah (painful sting).

Jesus is the light and His Father gives both peace and rest to all who accept His Son as Savior.

His Father provided peace and rest by reconciling man to Himself. Yet, He is also the almighty judge who can give eternal life or let the wages of sin (painful sting of death) remain.

His mother couldn’t give birth naturally.

Jesus did not enter the world in the natural way. His mother --Mary-- conceived supernaturally while she was still a virgin. About the same time Elizabeth --His aunt-- also gave birth supernaturally to John the Baptist. (ref. Luke 1:5-25)

Samson was to become a Nazirite (holy or separate) who was never to have a razor (remove or destroy) touch his head (authority or rank).

Jesus is truly the Holy One who was later called a Nazarene. And His authority includes the Head of the church as well as Lord and King of the entire world.

He was going to begin the delivery (separation) of Israel (the power of God) from the Philistines (those who crawl in the dust).

While on earth, Jesus began establishing the Kingdom of God by separating a people of His own from the rest of the world, which is controlled by Satan.

Samson's mother, the one who introduced him into the world, was not to defile herself.

John the Baptist parallels this role of introducing Jesus to the world in a spiritual sense. He was never to defile himself with idols or wine. Because of this, his skeptics would have no grounds to doubt his testimony.

John introduced Jesus into the world calling Him "the Lamb of God"

Although Samson's mother introduced him into the world, her name wasn't important enough to be recorded in the account. Similarly, John said that his name was not important; He was merely "the voice of one calling in the wilderness." John also said:

Samson’s birth was announced by an angel (messenger of God).

The births of Isaac, John and others were announced by angels, but the most glorious announcement was the birth of Jesus.

The angel who appeared to Manoah spoke with authority when he said "I AM" and described his name as "Wonderful."

Here's another picture here of Jesus, in His spirit, talking to His Father about His human body on earth:

And the names and titles given to Jesus are the same as those of the angel.

Samson’s mother had faith that God was pleased with her and her husband.

John announced to the world that Jesus’ purpose in life was to be the suffering Messiah, the Lamb of God.

God was pleased with John.

Samson’s ministry began at Ashkelon (the place where value is measured) between Eshtaol (requirements) and Zorah (the painful sting).

Jesus' ministry began here on earth; it is here where men's hearts are tested. He was tested using the law to measure Him while in the nature or body of a man.

He kept all of the requirements of the law and remained without sin. Then He took the sting --the wages of sin which is death-- for each one of us.

Samson's Wife

Samson (the sunlight) went to down to Timnah (the allotted place) where he saw a woman that he wanted to marry; She was a Philistine (one who crawls in the dust).

Jesus (the light of the world) came to world where sin had to be dealt with and He found a portion of mankind that was zealous for God. Even though they were an enemy of God because of their sin, He loved them and desired to be joined with them for eternity.

God used Samson to confront Israel’s enemy which was ruling over her.

God sent His Son (the light of the world) to confront mankind with the truth that sin and death (darkness) have ruled over him since the fall.

Samson (the light) went to a woman who was not one of his own race.

The Son of God left everything behind in heaven so that He could come down to be with man.

As he, and his mother and father, approached the vineyards a lion attacked.

Wine is typically used as a symbol of blood as in the Lord's supper. As He approached the cross to pour out His blood as a drink offering, Jesus went up against Satan (the roaring lion).

Samson killed the lion while his parents were not present.

While He was all alone (abandoned by His Father and having given up His Spirit), Jesus overcame Satan --the one who had been given the power over sin and death.

He met and liked the Philistine woman.

By living among us and dying for us, Jesus demonstrated the magnitude of His love for us.

Samson returned later to marry the woman.

Jesus has promised that He will return at the proper time. He will gather together all who put their faith in Him.

He will also gather those who did not put their trust in Him.

He had taken sweet honey away from stinging bees and out of the roaring lion. And he gave some to his parents.

The good news (the gospel) is that by His death, Jesus has overcome Satan and redeemed man from the power of sin (the law) and the sting of death. He did this in order to make eternal life available to all who put their faith in Him.

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" (Matthew 17:5)

Samson held a seven day wedding feast with his father to honor his marriage. Guests were invited and clothing was offered as a reward for answering his riddle.

The riddle of Samson is an allegory of the gospel of Christ Jesus. There will be a seven year period: a wedding celebration for some and tribulation for others. (Days and years are frequently interchanged in Bible prophecy.) Jesus described the wedding in one of the parables.

Being clothed in righteousness is the reward for answering Christ's call to salvation through the gospel.

Half way through the seven day feast, the guests began to pressure his wife to get the answer to the riddle.

At the mid point of the seven year tribulation, those who are religious will be pressured to join the rest of the world.

At the end of the feast’s seventh day, Samson revealed the meaning of the riddle to his wife.

At the end of the tribulation’s seventh year, Jesus will reveal the destiny of those who have not received His gospel. Their destiny will be participating as losers in the great battle of Armageddon.

At Ashkelon (the place where value is determined) Samson offered free clothing for correctly responding to his riddle.

Jesus will test men's hearts to see they have received His gospel. Those who received it will be freely clothed in His righteousness.

Samson gave the guests other men’s clothes rather than his because they were deceitful

An earthly "reward" --praise from men, not from God-- is all that is available for doing evil.

Samson’s wife was left at her father’s house; and her father gave her to a "friend."

During the tribulation, the religious --the Prostitute described in Revelation chapters 17 and 19-- will be left with leadership (the kings of the earth). Those kings will give her to what will appear to be a friend of God, but he will actually be the anti-Christ (the Beast).

Samson avenged his wife’s persecution by destroying the Philistines’ crops.

Jesus will destroy the world's main source of income.

The Philistines were angry and burned the woman and her father so Samson retaliated viciously.

The anti-Christ (the beast) will persecute religious mankind (the prostitute.).

Samson then stayed in a cave at Etam (where the birds prey).

Jesus will stand back and have all of the the anti-Christ’s work destroyed.

The Philistines convinced the men of Judah to help in their plot against Samson, but the plot failed.

The Anti-Christ will deceive lost mankind through miraculous signs to cause them to fight against Jesus. But the anti-Christ will lose that war.

He took a fresh jawbone of a donkey and killed 1,000 of them and he called the name of the place "Worship place of the Jawbone."

The simple word of the gospel (spoken with the jaw of one who recently died --Jesus) will be the downfall of many.

Samson was thirsty after the battle and God gave him water from a spring (the voice of one calling) at Lehi (the hollow of the jaw) to bring back his strength.

When the fighting is over, Jesus and all who have trusted in Him will drink living water.

Samson led Israel for 20 years.

There will be a millennial (1,000 year) reign of Jesus upon the earth after the battle of Armageddon.

Samson and the Prostitute

Samson (the Light) left his parents and went to Gaza (the fierce enemy) where he saw a prostitute.

Jesus left heaven and came to be with his people Israel.

Often Israel is referred to as adulterous or a prostitute because she substituted relationships with other countries and idols for her relationship with God.

Jesus' fierce enemy was the leadership men instituted --primarily the religious leadership-- which would not come into the light where they could see their condition.

Samson went in to spend the night with her.

Jesus --the light of men-- came into the darkness to be with men.

The enemy was told that Samson was there.

John the Baptist announced His coming

The shepherds were told about His coming by angels

It was even proclaimed by heavenly signs

They surrounded him and prepared to kill him at dawn.

The political leaders plotted to kill Jesus as a child

The religious leaders also plotted to kill Him --as described by prophecy.

He left at midnight when his enemies weren't expecting it.

The leaders were expecting the Messiah to appear and reign as king in view of the whole world. But He left before they really knew who He was.

When He left the prostitute, Samson took the city's security (the gate's doors, two posts and bar) with him.

When He died, Jesus took away the false security that the religious body had been hiding behind (the law).

They considered their access to God to have been through keeping the law --like the priests access to God in the Holy of Holies was through the veil. The access was moved; it is now through Jesus who is up in heaven.

He carried the doors, posts and bar on his shoulder up the hill in front of Hebron (the place of meeting).

The doors, posts, bar --much like the door and and its frame of a house at Passover-- were a shadow of the cross and what it represented. It was the full payment for the sins of the entire world.

The new city (new Jerusalem) that will come down from heaven will not require any doors.

Samson's True Love: Delilah

Later Samson fell in love with Delilah (one who is oppressed or heavy burdened) from the Valley of Sorek (valley of shame). She was bribed with silver by the rulers of the Philistines (ones who crawl in the dust) to find the source of his strength.

Jesus demonstrated His love for us with contrite and burdened hearts when He said:

He was betrayed by one of those closest to him. Again, it was Satan --the one who was condemned to crawl in the dust-- who was behind the plot.

Three times he was tempted, but by the fourth he had grown weary so he told her his secret.

Three times Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert: with food for His hungry body; with security for His spirit; and with power and respect for His soul.

Jesus handed Himself over to be taken prisoner and killed. No one could take His life from Him; He had to give it willingly.

With his head (authority) shaved (removed), his strength left him so he was blinded, shackled and taken to Gaza (the fierce enemy) to prison.

Jesus submitted Himself to be public shame and punishment for our sins.

The Philistines gathered together to worship their god Dagon (a fish) at the temple and asked for Samson to be brought out to entertain them.

The crowd --under the influence of Satan-- was pleased to have Jesus displayed for execution.

His hair began to grow back and he asked God for revenge for his eyes.

With His death --and power returning-- Jesus led those who had been taken captive by death up into heaven.

He asked to be placed between the two supporting pillars of the temple.

Jesus was crucified between two other crosses which might look like the pillars. But the supporting pillars He broke down were the priesthood and the court --the two that convicted Him.

He began a new priesthood and He is the High Priest.

The court system was also replaced.

Then Samson demolished the temple with 3,000 Philistines --more than when he was living.

Little did they realize that His body was the temple that He was going to destroy by giving up His own life.

Like Samson who took the entire weight of the temple upon himself, Jesus was crushed under the punishment for all of our transgressions.

And with His death, He overcame Satan and sin and death.

Samson’s (the sunlight's) brothers and family took his body back where his ministry began, between Zorah (painful sting) and Eshtoal (requirements) in the tomb of Manoah (peace and rest), his father.

One of the believers --from His new family-- took His body to the grave.

Jesus returned to where He started.