Judges 13-14: We Must Fight For Our Identities

How important is your identity? Most people would say that having an identity that sets them apart from others is very important. Likewise, the identity of the Israelites was very important – to the point in which God had to seek an occasion against the Philistines to set the Israelites apart.

Summary of Judges 13-14

Because the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD again, the LORD gave the Israelites into the hands of the Philistines. The angel of God visited Samson’s parents for a promise of a son, who was to grow up as a Nazarite for his entire life and would deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines. Samson was born and was blessed by God. As he grew up, the spirit of the LORD began to stir him. 

Samson went down to Timnah, one of the cities of Philistines and selected a bride who looked good in his eye. On his way down to Timnah, he tore a young lion and scooped some honey out of its carcass. Based on this event, he made a riddle with the thirty men of the feast. However, they figured out the answer by threatening the girl who was to be Samson’s wife. In his anger, Samson went down to Ashkelon to kill thirty men and took their spoils and gave them to the thirty men of the feast at Timnah.

False Peace

There are some key differences between the period when Samson lived and all the previous periods of Judges. Similarities included the repeated evil doings of the sons of Israel in the sight of the LORD (Judges 13:1). More notable were the differences although they were subtle.

First, the absence of the oppression and outright invasions from an external enemy, Philistines in this case, was one of the main differences from the previous periods of Judges. During Samson’s time, Philistines did not seem to be oppressing as other nations did to Israel in the past. For example, the Midianites oppressed them brutally (Judges 6:6). Eglon King of Moab did (Judges 3:14-15), as well as external invasions of Cushan king of Mesopotamia (Judges 3:8-9), and many others. Perhaps, because of the lack of severe oppression, we do not see any reference that indicated that the Israelites cried out to the LORD. 

Second, related to the first difference, Israel seemed to be in a “peaceful” state with the external enemy. Although ruled by the Philistines, Israel seemed to be “content” with the situation.

National Identity Crisis

When the mother of Samson received a message from the angel of the LORD, she conveyed all the message to her husband, Manoah, except that their son would deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines (Judges 13:6-7). I believe Samson’s mother deliberately omitted this portion of the message because she did not want her son to cause an occasion against the Philistines. In addition, when 3,000 men of Judah came to capture Samson to hand him over to the Philistines, they acknowledged that the Philistines were their ruler (Judges 15:11). Instead of fighting against the Philistines, men of Judah were willing to hand over one of their fellow Israelites, Samson, to the Philistines, to maintain the status-quo of a rule-subordinate condition.

The cost of this diplomatic peace with Philistines had a slow, but colossal devastating effect on Israel – that was losing its distinct identity as the people of God. In other words, this trend indicated losing holiness and the entire purpose of its existence to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. Note that when Joshua was leading the Israelites into the land of Canaan (Joshua 1-5), he had the Israelites undergo multiple identity confirmations through consecration, circumcision, and Passover, again and again in the LORD before engaging in war against external enemies. 

This was the background where the collective state of the condition of the heart of Israel was slowly disintegrating during the time of Samson. Left alone, the nation of Israel was likely to be absorbed into Philistines with no distinction of the people of God.

For this reason, God intervened to bring Samson. The LORD blessed Samson. As he grew up, the LORD began to stir him (Judges 13:25) and sought an occasion against the Philistines to break the Israelite apart from them. 

Special Birth of Samson

The birth of Samson was very special. The angel of God appeared to Samson’s mother twice to foretell his birth and special calling as a Nazarite. This event was very extraordinary –  to the point that only a few people in the Bible had the comparable detailed records of birth. Only Jesus, John the Baptist, and Moses had comparable levels of details of birth described in the Bible. 

Samson to Represent What Israel was Supposed to Be

Samson’s special birth was to set him apart. Incredible gift and calling were given for Samson to deliver Israel, and he was to live out a life of holiness that sets him apart from the Philistines. He was called to be a Nazarite for his entire life (most of the Nazarite vow was to last for a limited period). He was given a special physical strength to be the leader of Israel against eternal enemies and to defend the nation and set Israel apart from other nations. The LORD began to stir Samson. It was good until chapter 13.

Likewise, Israel was called by God and a special gift was given to the nation – the Word of the LORD that gives life and the covenant with the LORD. Israel had unlimited potential to be the nation that could be the light and salt among the nations. Under Joshua’s leadership, they successfully conquered most of the Canaan region. Then, each tribe was to follow the LORD with all their heart and complete the conquest of the rest of the Canaan region. Yet, Israel squandered this opportunity, starting from the periods of Judges. 

Samson Representing Israel as was

Despite his special birth and calling, Samson did what was right in his eyes. He picked the Philistine girl because she was right for him. He went near the vineyard, possibly to drink, and ran into a young lion, which he tore in half. Then, he swooped up honey from the carcass of the lion (which he was forbidden to touch as a Nazarite). He had his anger problem and went out to kill 30 people in Ashkelon. Samson violated many things that were forbidden for a Nazarite. His life could not be farther from that of a holy man of God. 

Just like Samson, so was Israel especially after the death of Joshua. They began to follow other gods. They did what was right in their eyes and practically did not consider the LORD as their king. They played harlot with the false gods of the surrounding nations, and continued to depart from God.

Samson was like Israel, and Israel was like Samson. 

Holiness

For this reason, the story of Samson reminded me of the meaning and the importance of identity – and as followers of Christ, our identity is rooted in the holiness of God. These chapters provided me with a new opportunity to examine my heart and values. In what way, have I set myself in a comfortable position to maintain “peace” with this world’s values? What can I do to make the most of my gifts and talents that God have given?