Sermons

August 2^nd 2026 - Judges 16

Pray

When hearing this morning’s reading the first thought that pops into my head is… “Deeeliilaaaahhh.” A radio program my mom would listen to in the car on trips home from visiting my grandparents in Rochester. Delilah would let you dedicate a song to a loved one and she wasn’t afraid to give relationship advice. My, my, my, Delilah, how I think Samson could have used some of her advice.

The story of Samson takes place in the book of Judges. The Israelites exit Egypt in Exodus, they wander the wilderness in Numbers, and with the leadership of Joshua they conquer the promised land in… the book of Joshua. Now living in the promised land, the Israelites are led by Judges. Think less robe and gavel and more tribal chiefs. The Judges are imperfect leaders in charge of imperfect people.

One of the final judges is named Samson. Like all Israelites he would be expected to uphold the covenant with God and follow the Ten commandments but he is also a Nazirite, an Israelite who has taken an extra vow to dedicate their life to God. Upholding his vow to God meant following additional strict rules; like no drinking, no touching the dead, and absolutely never shaving his head. So, one might expect Samson to be an upstanding highly moral character, right?

In Judges 14 the first thing we read about Samson as an adult. He demands his parents find him a Philistine wife. In the context of the story marrying the enemy whom worships a different God is an act of unfaithfulness. Then we read he is jumped by a lion. Samson depicted as having strength like Hercules rips the lion in two. Later on, he scoops out honey from the lion’s carcass and feeds it to his parents without telling them where he found it. Next in the same chapter he throws a big party, gambles and losses. He gets mad, so like any rational leader he kills 30 people to cover his bets. Finally, he gives his wife away to his best friend.

In case you needed more evidence of his flaws…Samson sets fire to the crops of the Philistines and so in retaliation they burn the wife he gave away but then wanted back. He then kills a thousand soldiers with the jaw of a donkey and is friendly with a sex worker. Which brings us to a third “love” interest he falls head over heels for “Deeeliilaaaahhh.”. The Philistines bribe Delilah to find out Samsons weakness. After several misdirection’s and Delilah’s insistence that if he loves her, he will tell her his secret, Samson says my strength comes from my hair. This is not magic but a symbol that he has completely abandoned his vows. He has broken the commandments, he has touched the dead, he now even let his hair get cut. He has done everything but be faithful to God. However, this is bigger than just Samson. For if we were to read the final chapters of the book of Judges, we would see that Samsons descent into unfaithfulness is a reflection of the nation as a whole. In fact, some of the most horrific and painful parts of scripture come next as chaos reigns. Yet, a new refrain appears. In those days there was no King in Israel.

The stories that follow show the Israelites, Worshipping other God’s. In those days there was no King in Israel

Murder, assault, appalling violence. In those days there was no King in Israel

Civil War. In those days there was no King in Israel. The final verse of the whole book adds, all the people did what was right in their own eyes. They weren’t checking in with a radio host for advice; they certainly were not following their faith or covenant with God. Samson and all the people just did what was right in their own eyes and it resulted in their own ruin. What’s right in our eyes is usually selfish, self-destructive, and certainly does not take into consideration God or neighbor.

I remember growing up learning this story in Sunday School. I remember Samson being lifted up as a flawed but heroic figure. In an era with the manosphere where online influencers are telling young men, that success is physical strength, money and control over women. In an era where the United States Secretary of Defense tests soldiers testosterone levels and shares a video of a Pastor saying women should not have the right to vote, I worry we are going to take all the wrong lessons from this story. I worry that if Samson were around today, we would elect him into political office. We would look at his long hair and say oh he must be looksmaxing, he is a man’s man. Fear makes power and safety seductive even when it is an illusion.

People of God we are not that different than Samson. We can’t rip a lion in two but we are also quick to compromise values. We put our needs and desires before God and Neighbor. We with the world, share a flawed perspective of what it means to be a winner. What it means to be faithful.

Samsons last great act comes not from rugged individualistic masculinity. No, his pushing of the pillars only happens when he turns to God. Blind and weak he seemingly for the first time in his life shows true strength from vulnerability and does not what is right or best in his own eyes but turns towards God.

Now we need not gloss over that the story ends in death. We need not celebrate this in a region that still has far too many killing in the name of God. What we can recognize is the incredible brokenness in an era in which there was no king. The biblical authors are laying the ground work for what comes next. Israel enters a new era with King Saul and then a high point with King David. Yet, we know the next part of the story that even with Kings the people could not be faithful. Sin, brokenness, and evil was pervasive… are still pervasive.

The story of Samson and the entire book, reminds us that God does not abandon. God uses even our brokenness to keep and proclaim the Creators promises. We gather in worship to name our brokenness and imperfections; confession a turning towards God. Not a tuning into a radio show but a tuning of our hearts. Here we don’t just dedicate our songs but seek to give our lives to Christ our King who gave his life. Victory from sacrifice. Justice freely given. True strength as Love.