“Kingslayer: The Story of Samson”
As we have studied the book of Judges over the past few weeks, we have encountered a number of characters with complex identities- marked by the varied stories of their lives. I must admit that up until this sermon series I had not read the book of Judges in its entirety. I had only read a few accounts. I became really excited when Pastor Monica told me that she was calling the series “The Game of Judges”; using Game of Thrones along with the scriptures. I gotta put this out there: I love Game of Thrones. I LOOOOVE Game of Thrones. I have read three of the books; I have watched the entire series- I have full on wept during episodes. I am emotionally invested in Game of Thrones. It’s one of my favorite things. What gets me so hooked is probably the same thing that has possibly gotten you hooked on a show or a book series- It’s the characters. The web that is spun through the stories of their lives.
The characters of the Ice and Fire Series are super complicated- You find yourself feeling empathy and compassion for the most flawed, unsympathetic characters. There are characters who did questionable things for what they thought were the right reasons. Your heroes can even drive you crazy, because there’s one character flaw that threatens to taint everything they do. The reason we are drawn to characters like this is because they remind us of ourselves. Or at least people we know. They point out traits and truths of the human experience.
The same can be said for characters that we meet in scripture. People have discussed and studied the accounts of characters we meet in the bible for generations. When we read their stories, we are met with complex situations and individuals.
This week, we wrap up this series on Judges with the account of Samson. Samson was born to parents from the Israelite tribe of Dan. His mother was unable to bear children, when an angel of the Lord came to her and revealed to her that she would bear a son. She was instructed that her son would be a Nazirite; consecrated and set apart for God.
Samson grew up with the spirit of God upon him. He served God as a Judge of Israel, often leading battles fought against the Philistines. Samson was a skilled fighter who possessed unnatural physical strength. There’s the account of his run in with a lion; defeating 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey; He could snap ropes like rubber bands. He was clever and quick thinking. But Samson was also impatient. He had a weakness for women. He often sought revenge.
The character of Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones is with us from beginning to end in the show’s lifetime. He is a skilled swordsman and fighter; He was a member of the Kingsguard, taking the vow when he was a teenager. He was given the nickname “Kingslayer” after being found to have killed the king he served under. He was often called by this nickname, rather than being called by his given name.
Through the series we see Jaime’s redemption arc. We see him shift from being a cold, arrogant, seemingly hateful man to someone who is softened. We see that deep down he is a man that cared about his oath, cared about his family- he was especially close to his brother who was a little person, and despised by other members of family and society.
Halfway through the series we find ourselves cheering for him. His downfall ends up being his relationship with his sister. In this clip, Jaime talks about all that he has done for this relationship.
First video Clip
Jaime’s choices seal his fate. Choices those choices had lasting consequences for the world he lived in, and for those who had known him. Jaime’s life comes to an end under a pile of rubble, with his sister by his side.
As we read about Samson’s life, we find out he fell in love with a woman named Delilah, not knowing that she was an informant for Philistine officials. Night after night Delilah pleaded with Samson to tell her what the source of his great strength was, until finally he revealed that his strength came from his uncut hair. Samson’s love for Delilah, and his lack of patience with her, is what led to his imprisonment by the Philistines.
We later read how his desire for revenge and his desire to win, led to his death. There is no happy ending for Jaime or Samson. We can’t tie the ends in a satisfying bow. These two men were men of strength and prowess. We cheer for them and want them to be victorious.
They were men who didn’t always make the best choices; They let their weaknesses get the better of them. We may want to overlook those parts of the stories. These characters are complicated; They aren’t fully good or fully bad in any clear cut ways.
If we examine this with our hearts, we can find hope. The hope is that their lives are not less meaningful because they are complicated. Our lives and identities are complex. We all wrestle with the best and worst parts of ourselves. I’m sure there have been times that any number of us have felt that our lives were less impactful because of our shortcomings;
That we aren’t worthy of God’s grace, or that we are not worthy to be a part of the Kingdom that God is building. But we know that God has always called people to be a part of building the kingdom in spite of their shortcomings.
We have one final clip to watch- a clip that shows the legacy Jaime Lannister left behind.
Second Video Clip
Jaime’s choices seal his fate. Choices those choices had lasting consequences for the world he lived in, and for those who had known him. Jaime’s life comes to an end under a pile of rubble, with his sister by his side.
As we read about Samson’s life, we find out he fell in love with a woman named Delilah, not knowing that she was an informant for Philistine officials. Night after night Delilah pleaded with Samson to tell her what the source of his great strength was, until finally he revealed that his strength came from his uncut hair. Samson’s love for Delilah, and his lack of patience with her, is what led to his imprisonment by the Philistines.
We later read how his desire for revenge and his desire to win, led to his death. There is no happy ending for Jaime or Samson. We can’t tie the ends in a satisfying bow. These two men were men of strength and prowess. We cheer for them and want them to be victorious.
They were men who didn’t always make the best choices; They let their weaknesses get the better of them. We may want to overlook those parts of the stories. These characters are complicated; They aren’t fully good or fully bad in any clear cut ways.
If we examine this with our hearts, we can find hope. The hope is that their lives are not less meaningful because they are complicated. Our lives and identities are complex. We all wrestle with the best and worst parts of ourselves. I’m sure there have been times that any number of us have felt that our lives were less impactful because of our shortcomings;
That we aren’t worthy of God’s grace, or that we are not worthy to be a part of the Kingdom that God is building. But we know that God has always called people to be a part of building the kingdom in spite of their shortcomings.
We have one final clip to watch- a clip that shows the legacy Jaime Lannister left behind.
Second Video Clip
Jaime’s legacy could have left him as the “Kingslayer” and nothing more. But his story doesn’t stop there. Samson’s legacy could have left him as a disgraced leader. Samson’s life and calling as a judge of Israel is a part of the larger story of God’s world. The spirit of God was upon Samson and God led Samson in defending the Israelites. Samson will forever be a part of the legacy of the Israelite people; a leader who was touched by the Holy God. God’s mercy and love is greater and wider than our hearts and minds can fully grasp. God does not hold our humanness against us. God sees our lives as a vital part of kingdom he wants to build.
Our identity is not founded just on our negative qualities; it is not founded solely on what we can accomplish. Our identity is rooted in the love of God, that embraces our humanity and holds all of us in the great story of God’s creation. And we can honor and serve God by his grace that is in us.
Old Testament Lesson: Judges 13:2-5, 24-25 (NSRV)
There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren, having borne no children. And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Although you are barren, having borne no children, you shall conceive and bear a son. Now be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, or to eat anything unclean, for you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor is to come on his head, for the boy shall be a nazirite to God from birth. It is he who shall begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”
The woman bore a son, and named him Samson. The boy grew, and the Lord blessed him. The spirit of the Lord began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
New Testament Lesson: 2 Corinthians 5:16-19 (NLT)
So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.
Meditations For Your Week
Sunday, September 29~ Saturday, October 6
Sunday: “You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.” Judges 13:5. Praise God that the call of each follower is unique. Pray for how God calls you in this season to follow God.
Monday: “When her son was born, she named him Samson. And the LORD blessed him as he grew up.” Judges 13: 24. Pray for children growing up that they might know the blessing of God.
Tuesday: “And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him while he lived in Mahaneh-dan, which is located between the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol.” Judges 13: 25 Consider that the Spirit of the Lord moved in Samson, and he was a part of God’s story, even though his story is not always good. God is always good. Praise God!
Wednesday: “So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!” 2 Corinthians 5: 16. Where is God calling you to see someone differently today? Someone that you had already written off, God is calling you to remember that they are still a child of God.
Thursday: “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17. We are not limited by a mis-step or mistake. God redeems us. We are part of God’s story.
Friday: “And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:18. Where is God calling you to reconciliation with someone who needs to know God’s redemptive love?
Saturday: “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:19. As you ask God’s forgiveness, forgive yourself. Really. Pray for those who are still struggling to forgive themselves.