Samson's death pointing to Christ's death?

[Jonaitis]

Amonsgt other differences not mentioned here , Jesus was humble and against violence Samson was arrogant and violent, they are too different.

Blessings

David was violent, committed adultery, and did many other sinful acts, yet we tend to see his life and words in reflection to Jesus. I could say the same for Abraham, Joseph, Adam, et al. I believe we can safely say that Jesus's atonement was foreshadowed in the death of Samson. He conquered his enemies through his sacrifice, even though Samson was the imperfect reflection in it of the true and perfect.

 

[grasping the after wind]

David was violent, committed adultery, and did many other sinful acts, yet we tend to see his life and words in reflection to Jesus. I could say the same for Abraham, Joseph, Adam, et al.

Maybe what we tend to do is not what we ought to be doing?

 

[Aaron112]

Is Samson's death a typology of Christ's death? He defeated his enemies at the cost of his life, thus saving the people of Israel.

Not only in death, but in birth, and life also.
Note these things noted in the blue letter bible site>

1. An angel foretold his birth.
2. He was separated unto God.
3. He acted in the power of the Holy Spirit.
4. He was mighty to overcome his enemies.
5. He was treated unkindly by his own people.
6. He was misused and mocked.
7. He destroyed more enemies by his death than he ever did in his life.

 

[Jonaitis]

Maybe what we tend to do is not what we ought to be doing?

I do not understand. Please explain.

 

[Jonaitis]

Not only in death, but in birth, and life also.
Note these things noted in the blue letter bible site>

1. An angel foretold his birth.
2. He was separated unto God.
3. He acted in the power of the Holy Spirit.
4. He was mighty to overcome his enemies.
5. He was treated unkindly by his own people.
6. He was misused and mocked.
7. He destroyed more enemies by his death than he ever did in his life.

Wow, now that you think more about it.

 

[Aaron112]

Maybe what we tend to do is not what we ought to be doing?

Ought we to be healing others ? How many are known to be healing others ?
I asked a lot of people, and they don't know even one person healing others.
Well, out of a hundred or more, there were possibly one to three who know someone healing others.
How about just laying down our lives for others as Jesus Says? Or helping others when they need help ?

 

[grasping the after wind]

I do not understand. Please explain.

Rather than saying we tend to do X so that is a reason we o might want to do Y, let us examine if there is a good reason to do X. Instead of assuming that because we tend to do something it is the correct thing to do and a good example to follow.

 

[grasping the after wind]

Ought we to be healing others ? How many are known to be healing others ?
I asked a lot of people, and they don't know even one person healing others.
Well, out of a hundred or more, there were possibly one to three who know someone healing others.
How about just laying down our lives for others as Jesus Says? Or helping others when they need help ?

Good questions.

 

[Jonaitis]

Rather than saying we tend to do X so that is a reason we o might want to do Y, let us examine if there is a good reason to do X. Instead of assuming that because we tend to do something it is the correct thing to do and a good example to follow.

I'm referring to men like Paul. He references Adam, David, and Abraham as foreshadowing Christ, even though these men were imperfect and flawed. The point of typology isn't about a perfection reflection, but the illustration conveyed in their lives and actions.

Do you read Psalm 2 as referring to Christ, based on Acts? The Psalm was written, not only to point to Jesus, but also from David's own heart. What about Psalm 21? We must remember that New Testament theology is deeply based on typology of the OT.

 

[grasping the after wind]

Not only in death, but in birth, and life also.
Note these things noted in the blue letter bible site>

1. An angel foretold his birth.
2. He was separated unto God.
3. He acted in the power of the Holy Spirit.
4. He was mighty to overcome his enemies.
5. He was treated unkindly by his own people.
6. He was misused and mocked.
7. He destroyed more enemies by his death than he ever did in his life.

1) He killed a number of people out of revenge
2) He was a slave to his lascivious desires.
3) He was violent, arrogant and vain.
4) He gave into temptations and was easily manipulated.
5) He hated his enemies.

 

[Jonaitis]

1) He killed a number of people out of revenge
2) He was a slave to his lascivious desires.
3) He was violent, arrogant and vain.
4) He gave into temptations and was easily manipulated.
5) He hated his enemies.

You're missing the point.

Were the Old Covenant sacrifices alluding to Christ's ultimate sacrifice? An imperfect illustration alluding to the perfect.

 

[grasping the after wind]

I'm referring to men like Paul. He references Adam, David, and Abraham as foreshadowing Christ, even though these men were imperfect and flawed. The point of typology isn't about a perfection reflection, but the illustration conveyed in their lives and actions.

Do you read Psalm 2 as referring to Christ, based on Acts? The Psalm was written, not only to point to Jesus, but also from David's own heart. What about Psalm 21? We must remember that New Testament theology is deeply based on typology.

The question is does "Samson's death point to Christ's death?" As they are so very different, one is an active suicide as a means of revenge the other a sacrificial gift of life for the world. As the two, Samson and Christ are also as totally opposite in their character as two beings could possibly be, I must say that the answer is no. If anything, Samson's death is the wages of sin kind which one might say was at least partially caused by his tendency to engage in impious behavior and poor judgement which stands in stark contrast to Christ's innocence and wisdom. Samson's life and death are the bad example we don't want to follow not a foreshadow of Christ's who is the perfect example. Isaiah and the 22nd Psalm gives us an actual foreshadow pointing to Christ's death not Samson.

 

[grasping the after wind]

You're missing the point.

Were the Old Covenant sacrifices alluding to Christ's ultimate sacrifice? An imperfect illustration alluding to the perfect.

From my perspective, Samson's death was not a sacrifice it was a revenge suicide. Even if open were to consider it a sacrifice it was more like Cain's sacrifice and unlike Able's it was unworthy.

 

[Aaron112]

He killed a number of people out of revenge

God is storing up wrath for His enemies. He utterly destroys not only killing the body, but destroying the souls also.. "Vengeance is Mine Sayeth the Lord".

He was a slave to his lascivious desires.

No evidence so far given of this.

He was violent, arrogant and vain.

That seems to be your opinion, yes. Yet is he called faithful by God ?
Are you called faithful by God Himself ?

He gave into temptations and was easily manipulated.

Look around today. Try to find someone not giving into temptations and not easily minipulated ..... how many are willing today to go along with the beast ? Almost or at least two thirds on earth....

He hated his enemies.

It is written and remains written and unchanged that God hates those who are perverse in heart, and others.... /see in His Word who God hates/ ....

 

[Aaron112]

From my perspective, Samson's death was not a sacrifice it was a revenge suicide. Even if open were to consider it a sacrifice it was more like Cain's sacrifice and unlike Able's it was unworthy.

Not fully searched out, but just a quick response:

"Why Is Samson Among The Faithful? – Grace thru faithgracethrufaith.com › home › ask a bible teacher › why is samson among the faithful?
May 19, 2017 - Samson led Israel for 20 years, and at the end of his life began the liberation of Israel from the Philistines, just as God had promised his parents. Perhaps most of all, God used Samson’s life to demonstrate His forgiveness to those who ask in faith, no matter how far they’ve fallen."

 

[Jonaitis]

The question is does "Samson's death point to Christ's death?" As they are so very different, one is an active suicide as a means of revenge the other a sacrificial gift of life for the world. As the two, Samson and Christ are also as totally opposite in their character as two beings could possibly be, I must say that the answer is no. If anything, Samson's death is the wages of sin kind which one might say was at least partially caused by his tendency to engage in impious behavior and poor judgement which stands in stark contrast to Christ's innocence and wisdom. Samson's life and death are the bad example we don't want to follow not a foreshadow of Christ's who is the perfect example. Isaiah and the 22nd Psalm gives us an actual foreshadow pointing to Christ's death not Samson.

Hebrews 11:32 seems to place him among the faithful.

Besides this point, cannot God use a sinful man to illustrate His gospel truth to the people living under the Old Covenant? Of course. Are we to overlook all of examples of Christ's life and death alluded in the men throughout the bible? I think not.

 

[Fervent]

Not only in death, but in birth, and life also.
Note these things noted in the blue letter bible site>

1. An angel foretold his birth.
2. He was separated unto God.
3. He acted in the power of the Holy Spirit.
4. He was mighty to overcome his enemies.
5. He was treated unkindly by his own people.
6. He was misused and mocked.
7. He destroyed more enemies by his death than he ever did in his life.

Once we have the image of Christ, these parallels are certainly persuasive as typological. Though something about Samson's narrative I think is often overlooked is there's a note of irony to it all. Samson is essentially Israel, full of squandered promise. Given to deliver Israel from the Philistins, yet at no point during his "reign" was Israel free from the Philistine oppression and despite being presened as a leader never seems to have any sort of following. So it does seem fair to interpret the story typologically, but Samson's story still seems to be a story of defeat snatched out of the jaws of victory rather than victory from the jaws of defeat. A bit of a typological reversal.

 

[Jonaitis]

Once we have the image of Christ, these parallels are certainly persuasive as typological. Though something about Samson's narrative I think is often overlooked is there's a note of irony to it all. Samson is essentially Israel, full of squandered promise. Given to deliver Israel from the Philistins, yet at no point during his "reign" was Israel free from the Philistine oppression and despite being presened as a leader never seems to have any sort of following. So it does seem fair to interpret the story typologically, but Samson's story still seems to be a story of defeat snatched out of the jaws of victory rather than victory from the jaws of defeat. A bit of a typological reversal.

You're taking the illustration too far imo. The scope of Scripture is Christ, is it not? There are certainly things we can see that allude to Christ in Samson's life, otherwise, his life would have been briefly mentioned no more than Shamgar's. God is telling us something about Samson that relates to Christ, and I believe the typology in it is an important facet.

 

[Aaron112]

but Samson's story still seems to be a story of defeat

Probably not a good perspective.
===================
Going instead with only what God's Word shows,

"Without doubt Samson made mistakes when it came to choosing women and revealing information to them that he shouldn't have. However, he did" eventually yield to God's great purpose for his life and finished his life praying for God's help to accomplish it. We can learn from both his mistakes and from what he did right."

Samson: Accomplishing God's Purpose the Hard Way

Some find it perplexing that this man with all his faults is among the faithful of Hebrews 11 who are awaiting God's Kingdom. What did he do to deserve this distinction? What can we learn from his life?

www.ucg.org

"As we consider Samson's life, it is important for us to understand from the outset that God is not calling men today to imitate Samson's conduct. As a physical, carnal nation, ancient Israel waged war with other nations. New Testament Christians, however, look to future citizenship in God's Kingdom, which is not of this world, and do not fight in physical warfare, being ministers of life, not death (see Matthew 5:38-39, 43-44; John 18:36; 2 Corinthians 3:6).

"God gave Samson the unique job of weakening the Philistine nation during the time of Israel's judges—a job He is not giving to people today. Furthermore, like everyone, Samson did some things right and he also made mistakes.

"Today, God has a purpose for each of our lives as well. He wants us to become children in His family (John 1:12). Will you accept the purpose for your life and live accordingly

 

[Fervent]

You're taking the illustration too far imo. The scope of Scripture is Christ, is it not? There are certainly things we can see that allude to Christ in Samson's life, otherwise, his life would have been briefly mentioned no more than Shamgar's. God is telling us something about Samson that relates to Christ, and I believe the typology in it is an important facet.

Certainly, and I am persuaded that there is a typology to it. But there's more than just the typology, as the particulars of the story are also essential to a complete understanding. Judges, as a whole, functions as an apology for Israel's failure to conquer the land God gave it explaining that it is not a failure of God but their own. So while we can see parallels in Christ's story from Samson's story his function as a type is as a failure to live up to the promise that he held, but good news is where even the best of us fail Christ succeeds. Samson didn't live up to the promises about him because he was all too human and no ordinary human could shoulder that weight.