amson's escape from Gaza. (1-3) Samson enticed to declare his
strength lay. (4-17) The Philistines take Samson, and put out
his eyes. (18-21) Samson's strength is renewed. (22-24) He
destroys many of the Philistines. (25-31)
Verses 1-3: Hitherto Samson's character has appeared glorious, though
uncommon. In this chapter we find him behaving in so wicked a
manner, that many question whether or not he were a godly man.
But the apostle has determined this, (Heb 11:32). By adverting
to the doctrines and examples of Scripture, the artifices of
Satan, the deceitfulness of the human heart, and the methods in
which the Lord frequently deals with his people, we may learn
useful lessons from this history, at which some needlessly
stumble, while others cavil and object. The peculiar time in
which Samson lived may account for many things, which, if done
in our time, and without the special appointment of Heaven,
would be highly criminal. And there might have been in him many
exercises of piety, which, if recorded, would have reflected a
different light upon his character. Observe Samson's danger. Oh
that all who indulge their sensual appetites in drunkenness, or
any fleshly lusts, would see themselves thus surrounded,
way-laid, and marked for ruin by their spiritual enemies! The
faster they sleep, the more secure they feel, the greater their
danger. We hope it was with a pious resolution not to return to
his sin, that he rose under a fear of the danger he was in. Can
I be safe under this guilt? It was bad that he lay down without
such checks; but it would have been worse, if he had laid still
under them.
Verses 4-17: Samson had been more than once brought into mischief and
danger by the love of women, yet he would not take warning, but
is again taken in the same snare, and this third time is fatal.
Licentiousness is one of the things that take away the heart.
This is a deep pit into which many have fallen; but from which
few have escaped, and those by a miracle of mercy, with the loss
of reputation and usefulness, of almost all, except their souls.
The anguish of the suffering is ten thousand times greater than
all the pleasures of the sin.
Verses 18-21: See the fatal effects of false security. Satan ruins men
by flattering them into a good opinion of their own safety, and
so bringing them to mind nothing, and fear nothing; and then he
robs them of their strength and honour, and leads them captive
at his will. When we sleep our spiritual enemies do not.
Samson's eyes were the inlets of his sin, (ver. (1),) and now
his punishment began there. Now the Philistines blinded him, he
had time to remember how his own lust had before blinded him.
The best way to preserve the eyes, is, to turn them away from
beholding vanity. Take warning by his fall, carefully to watch
against all fleshly lusts; for all our glory is gone, and our
defence departed from us, when our separation to God, as
spiritual Nazarites, is profaned.
Verses 22-24: Samson's afflictions were the means of bringing him to
deep repentance. By the loss of his bodily sight the eyes of his
understanding were opened; and by depriving him of bodily
strength, the Lord was pleased to renew his spiritual strength.
The Lord permits some few to wander wide and sink deep, yet he
recovers them at last, and marking his displeasure at sin in
their severe temporal sufferings, preserves them from sinking
into the pit of destruction. Hypocrites may abuse these
examples, and infidels mock at them, but true Christians will
thereby be rendered more humble, watchful, and circumspect; more
simple in their dependence on the Lord, more fervent in prayer
to be kept from falling, and in praise for being preserved; and,
if they fall, they will be kept from sinking into despair.
Verses 25-31: Nothing fills up the sins of any person or people faster
than mocking and misusing the servants of God, even thought it
is by their own folly that they are brought low. God put it into
Samson's heart, as a public person, thus to avenge on them God's
quarrel, Israel's, and his own. That strength which he had lost
by sin, he recovers by prayer. That it was not from passion or
personal revenge, but from holy zeal for the glory of God and
Israel, appears from God's accepting and answering the prayer.
The house was pulled down, not by the natural strength of
Samson, but by the almighty power of God. In his case it was
right he should avenge the cause of God and Israel. Nor is he to
be accused of self-murder. He sought not his own death, but
Israel's deliverance, and the destruction of their enemies. Thus
Samson died in bonds, and among the Philistines, as an awful
rebuke for his sins; but he died repentant. The effects of his
death typified those of the death of Christ, who, of his own
will, laid down his life among transgressors, and thus
overturned the foundation of Satan's kingdom, and provided for
the deliverance of his people. Great as was the sin of Samson,
and justly as he deserved the judgments he brought upon himself,
he found mercy of the Lord at last; and every penitent shall
obtain mercy, who flees for refuge to that Saviour whose blood
cleanses from all sin. But here is nothing to encourage any to
indulge sin, from a hope they shall at last repent and be saved.
amson's escape from Gaza. (1-3) Samson enticed to declare his
strength lay. (4-17) The Philistines take Samson, and put out
his eyes. (18-21) Samson's strength is renewed. (22-24) He
destroys many of the Philistines. (25-31)