For additional notes and resources check out Douglas' website.
Hebrew words:
- Shimshon (Samson). May be related to the Hebrew word for sun, shemesh; if so, here is a polytheistic overtone.
- Appears 39x in the Bible
Further study:
- Passages covered in this podcast
- Judges 13-16
- Scripture referred to in passing: Numbers 6:1-21; Romans 8:28; Judges 17:6, 18:1, 19:1; 21:25.
- More advanced
- Hebrews 11:32 -- compare the lives of the various persons of faith listed here along with Samson.
- Study the effects of sexual temptation and sin in the lives of Samson, David, Absalom, Amnon...
- Read the material on the Nazirites and parenting in Principle-Centered Parenting (formerly The Quiver), esp. focusing on Manoah's parenting of Samson. (Note: this book is also available in Spanish. The title is La Aljaba. Visit www.ipibooks.com.)
- Extrabiblical
- See 4QSama, from the Dead Sea Scrolls: "A Nazirite forever all the days of his life."
- Search the web for (superficial) parallels with Hercules and Gilgamesh. What would you say to critics claiming the Samson cycle has merely been copied from earlier pagan accounts?
- Take a peek at a Philistine temple, similar to the one Samson brought down. Here is a link. Archaeologists have in fact uncovered two Philistine temples, at Tel Qasile (northern Tel Aviv) and at Tel Miqne (ancient Ekron, 21 miles S of Tel Aviv). Both temples share a unique design: two central pillars supported the roof. The pillars were made of wood and rested on stone support bases. With the pillars being about six feet apart, a strong man – especially a large one – could dislodge them from their stone bases and bring the entire structure down. (For reference, my "wingspan" is 6’7” [2m], so I could pretty easily reach both pillars with my hands if I were standing between them.)
Some things we learn about God:
- God works even through our mistakes to accomplish his purposes (Judges 14:4).
- In times of spiritual chaos, God may just work through a "radical," even someone who is emotionally immature!
- There are serious consequences when we renege on our spiritual commitments.
For kids:
- Introduce Samson, reading selections to illustrate a few of the following points:
- A man who did not listen to his parents.
- A man who liked to move things and break things.
- A man who could not say no to a pretty girl.
- A man who got even when people treated him wrongly.
- Mentioning – or, for older children, reading selections from – Numbers 6, explain that there were three rules for Samson’s life (not to cut his hair, not to drink alcohol, and not to touch a dead body.
- Read excerpts from Judges where we see him violating all three rules.
- Talk about the consequences.
- Were there any consequences?
- What were they?
- What do you think we are supposed to learn from the story?
- For young children:
- God gave Samson great strength to use for his purposes. Talk about the things Samson did with his strength.
- What different “strengths” has God has given you – things you are good at doing? How God might like you to use your strengths?
- The Bible (James 1 and 1 Corinthians 4) says that all our strengths are a gift from God, so we don’t have room to brag.
- Have a time of prayer thanking God for strengths and praying for opportunities to use them.
- For older children and teens):
- Samson’s life is an example of the trouble we can bring on ourselves when we aren’t wise in the friends (and dating relationships) we choose, when we stay in relationships or situations where we are under constant peer pressure to cave in and compromise.
- Read the section about Samson and Delilah. Questions:
- When we are selecting friends, what are the qualities of a good friend? One quality discussed might be that a good friend brings out the best in you, or wants the best for you
- What did Delilah want? How did she go about getting it? Have you ever encountered pressure like that? In what areas? How did you respond? Why do you think Samson played a game with her and wasn’t direct in telling her that he wasn’t going to tell her his secret?
- Have you ever had to be direct with a friend? Are you ever afraid of losing a friend? In what situations do you think we need to let a friendship end?
- Why did Samson give in? What did he lose by giving into the pressure? What do you lose when you compromise your values in a relationship?
- Think about your best (good) friends and the qualities they have and the good influences they have on your life. Take some time to thank God for them. Are there some friends that you need to be direct with? Is their negative influence on you stronger than your influence on them for good? Pray and get advice on how to handle friends who aren’t a good influence.
Key verses:
- Judges 13:3 -- God appears to Manoah and wife, promising birth of their child, who is to be a Nazirite.
- Judges 14:1 – Samson wants to marry outside the people of God. All the same, the Lord uses this violation of the covenant to promote his will.
- Judges 15:11 – Childish retaliation.
- Judges 15:20 – Despite his immaturity and underdeveloped spiritual character, God used him to lead/judge.
- Judges 16:21 – His lack of spirituality catches up with him. (The Philistines seize him.)
- Judges 16:30 – Even in dying, Samson has an impact, making something of a come-back.
Next lesson: Ruth.
