25 While they were in high spirits, they shouted, “Bring out Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them. When they stood him among the pillars, 26 Samson said to the servant who held his hand, “Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them.” 27 Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform.”
Notice the pleasure the Philistines get from Samson ‘s fall. They mock. The mighty man of Judah is now treated like an animal. During their orgies and drunken parties, they said to bring out Sampson that they might be entertained and make sport of him. They thought it was funny to see Samson blind and weak. They wanted him to put on a show for them.
How the Philistines howled! How they enjoyed themselves when they heard he had the Spirit of God in him. They shouted “now where is your God?” The only God they knew was the god Dagon. They believed their god had delivered Samson into their hands. Of course, this was not true. The Philistines were only able to capture Samson because the one true God left Samson when he treated the gifts God had given him so carelessly.
You are well aware of ministers who have had successful ministries fall into some kind of sin and oh how the Philistines howl. It seems that there are a number of giants of the faith who slip from their pedestal of pride and power and are involved in public sin and shame. The news media loves to build up stories like that.
The best way to prevent something like that is for any Christian to be honest. Admit that you are not perfect. Realize that you are weak and need the prayers and support and accountability with others. Satan will hit at the weakest point. He’ll attack our anger, our impatience, our frustration, our discouragement, and our pride. As we confess our sins and seek to support one another, and do not carry on the pretense of having all the answers, or living in a super-saint existence, then we can become stronger to prevent failures and falls. God does provide help. He is there and willing to forgive you. For it is the weak man who refuses to look at his weakness. It is the strong man who admits his weaknesses honestly and cries out to the Lord for help.
Samson’s story ends with his death. The Bible tells it this way, “The wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 6:23) “The soul that sins shall die.” (Ezek. 18:20) “..but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Gen. 2:17). Death is the punishment for sin; it was and is and will be. Of course, physical and spiritual death resulted from Adam’s sin. Spiritual death is separation from God’s presence, ultimately apart for all eternity.
God had another plan in sending Jesus who said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) Look into the eyes of people living lives for themselves filled with the pleasures and kicks of this world. There is death. There is no evidence of the real joy and peace of God.
How long do people keep running from God before they reach out to Him and ask forgiveness? Samson’s story has more to teach us about God’s mercy and Israel’s restoration.
