Samson, the Type of Christ
God is not hindered in foreshadowing his story to rescue all humankind, even when using one of the strangest antiheroes in the entire Bible.
What to do with Samson has been a great concern for many Bible readers since the name was first penned. The Samson saga can make for some very entertaining stories for young minds in church classrooms but it is hardly something that should be considered worthy of emulation by those same young hearers, or by anyone.
There is little good to be said about this character. He is known from the beginning to be a selfish young man who runs roughshod over his parents’ wishes in his choice of a bride (Jud. 14:1-3).
Samson seems to have little or no concern for strictly maintaining the stipulations of being a Nazarite. The breaking of his Nazarite vow by touching a carcass is a violation (see Num. 6:6; cp. Jud. 14:9). That this happens in a vineyard of all places would raise many questions for a Hebrew reader, since any contact with grapes or wine or beer is completely off limits (Num. 6:3-4; the implied breaking of the vow is clear in Jud. 14:5, for why else would a Nazarite go near a vineyard?). The third and final part of the vow that must not be broken is the cutting of Samson’s hair, which he causes by giving the secret of his strength to his traitorous lover (Num. 6:5; cp. Jud. 16:19; something that would almost certainly happen while he was drunk).
All of this and more forms the story of this great hero of faith (?) found in our Old Testament. This and other stories have become too much for some Christians who would rather ignore them, altogether (if not ignore the entire book, completely, as many choose to do). God forbid, some even reject the inspiration of Scripture, outright, on the basis of the inclusion of such morally-bankrupt stories that are so often found to take up space in God’s Word.
But before such drastic evaluations are made, it would perhaps do us good to consider the story from another angle. Samson is just a man. A flawed, ego-driven, self-serving man. He is a microcosm of Israel, itself, in fact (and the rest of mankind). Just as Israel goes its own way even though chosen by God from its very inception as a people, so does Samson. Israel’s refusal to obey God’s Law and its determination to chase worldly pleasure rather than stay close to God is seen fully in Samson’s own life of selfish indulgence. The fact that God continues to gracefully and miraculously empower both Israel and Samson to overcome enemies every time things seem their worst and destruction is immanent and certain also ties the two together.
Yes, Samson is a picture of Israel. But more than that, he is a flawed picture of the true Israel, caught up in Jesus. Consider the typological connections:
Samson is miraculously born as predicted through angelic announcement to his mother (Jud. 13:3, 7, 9, 24).
Samson is set apart for God’s mission his entire life. (Jud. 13:4-5. This is not normal for Nazarites, but Samson is unique. See Num. 6:1-21; esp. vv. 2, 4, 8.)
Samson is the most powerful judge of Israel, who will allow his countrymen to bind him and hand him over to Gentiles who intend to kill him (Jud. 15:11-13).
Ultimately, Samson is betrayed for silver by one close to him (16:5, 18).
He is mocked and ridiculed by his enemies who make sport of him on the day of his death (Jud. 16:23-25).
His arms are outstretched to the right and left as he receives the jeering taunts of his enemies (Jud. 16:26, 29).
Samson defeats more enemies of Israel in death than he ever defeated in his life (Jud. 16:31).
Samson was never intended to be the final savior and judge of Israel. He was a picture, a type. Only by looking through him as a veiled shadow of the One to come would Israel have an idea of the One for whom their hearts truly yearned. One whose miraculous birth would be predicted to his mother by angelic messenger. One who would be set apart for God’s mission from birth, but who would never step out of bounds. One whom his countrymen would hand over to Gentile enemies for death, himself allowing their betrayal the entire time. One who would be sold for silver by a close friend. One who would be mocked and ridiculed by enemies on the day of his death, arms outstretched, on full display as a condemned prisoner. And One who would finally defeat not just more enemies of Israel in his death than ever before, but all the spiritual forces arrayed against God’s people for all time.
Why is this story included in Scripture? The answer is the same as for all other stories. It is a pointer to the true and better Judge who finally makes sense of what is only limited, obscure, and confusing before his explanatory entrance into the world.