< Judges 16 >

On a certain day Samson went into the heart of Philistine territory, demonstrated God’s great power against them, and in so doing foreshadowed the work of Christ in the future.

Samson went into Gaza and, like Joshua’s spies in Jericho, took refuge in a harlot’s house.

At midnight Samson went out of the city taking the whole gate, with its posts and bars, carrying it thirty miles uphill to Hebron. He could only do this feat by the power of God, and we have in this event a representation of Jesus’ future action against the enemies of God and of Israel. The enemy to face Jesus after his return is symbolized by a harlot who has slain the saints through the ages Revelation 17:5-6Waiting for response for Revelation 17:5-6 and he will overthrow her city Revelation 18:2-7.Waiting for response for Revelation 18:2-7 Samson’s taking the gate of the city is also significant, for God has promised that Jesus “shall possess the gate of his enemies” Genesis 22:17.Waiting for response for Genesis 22:17

Samson was betrayed by a woman he loved and, no doubt, this is written to represent the betrayal of Jesus by those whom he loved, especially Judas Iscariot. We can appreciate the devastating effect this had on Samson and also later on Jesus whose mind is expressed in the Psalms: “For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it... but it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance” Psalm 55:12.Waiting for response for Psalm 55:12

As we read of the machinations of the Philistines are reminded of the scheming of the Jews to entrap Jesus with his words Matthew 22:15Waiting for response for Matthew 22:15 and to destroy him Matthew 12:14Waiting for response for Matthew 12:14

The secret of Samson’s strength lay in his hair which could not be cut because he was under the vow of a Nazarite. When this secret became known and his hair cut he became weak as other men. There was, however, no power in the hair itself, but its being cut broke the vow and God withdrew his power. So Samson was involuntarily placed in the position of a sinner, as was also Jesus for our sakes.

Like Jesus Samson was then led to prison and to death. But, also like Jesus, he accomplished more in his death against the enemy than in his life. Samson killed more Philistines by demolishing their temple than in his battles against them: Jesus fought against sin in all its manifestations during his life, but he destroyed it completely by his death.