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 | Blogs > PhxHiker > POTPOURRI > Did Samson commit suicide? |
Did Samson commit suicide?
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A friend who has been talking about suicide asked me what I thought about Samson, his suicide and how he is in the Hebrew's Hall of Faith (Heb. 11). She is very concerned about her salvation and has been thinking that Samson taking his own life and being referenced in Hebrews 11 makes suicide an "OK" option for her. Her question inspired me to go back and revisit the text. I post this in the hopes that it may be used to benefit people who are contemplating ending their life. Here is what I think: Samson was a man whom “The spirit of the LORD came on him in power” (Judges 14:6) to confront the Philistines because they were ruling over Israel (14:4). Therefore, Samson was a man on a mission, as God representative/agent, and a judge of Israel. Samson led Israel for 20 years and was used by God to deliver Israel from their Philistine oppressors. When Samson was finally captured by the Philistines they put out his eyes and he prayed to the LORD, “O Sovereign LORD, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” I think Samson, as God’s judge, knew God had chosen him to help his people to get out of the oppression from the ruler ship of the Philistines. His prayer is one where he is asking for power to get revenge on the people who put out his eyes and who have oppressed Israel. His last request is to, "Let me die with the Philistines!" It is not a request to just let Samson die, but it is a request for strength to push apart the pillars so the Philistines will die. Samson’s desire is to avenge his eyes and kill Israel’s enemy and oppressor, the Philistines. In a sense, it is a request to continue to do God’s will or fulfill the calling in his life to the point where he accepts the fact that he will die in the process of killing the Philistines. Samson never asks to die or for the LORD to take him. He asks the LORD for strength to avenge himself and Israel’s oppressor. The Israelites remembered Samson’s act as one in which “he killed many more when he died than while he lived” (17:30). Samson’s act corresponds more with a person who is acting out in a means that fulfills God’s calling in contrast to a person who just want to die. Yes, he dies in the process of avenging himself against the Philistines, but his intent and prayer was not just to die. His prayer was for strength to serve two purposes and Samson recognized in the process of killing the Philistines, as Israel’s Judge and God’s deliverer of those days, that he would die at the same time his strength was used to kill the Philistines. In my opinion, Samson’s death is not a suicide. His death is one in which a man recognizes that he will die while in the process of doing the function for which God had originally called him. I find Samson death very different than a suicide, because in the case of suicide a person just want to die to escape life and not fulfill any objective that God may desire them to accomplish in their lives. I think the vast majority of people who commit suicide are focused on themselves and their own problems and do not do this to help other people. Samson did not pray to die or just make an effort to kill himself. His effort was to kill the Philistines and in doing this the LORD allows him to die. But his actions were never based in the concept that he would no longer have to live. Therefore, Samson dies fulfilling his duty as a judge over Israel by defeating their enemies. And it is for this reason that he is remembered in the Hebrews Hall of Fame chapter along with David, Gideon and others as someone “who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.” I think if the Jewish people and the author of Hebrews viewed Samson's death as a suicide, he would never have been referenced in the Hall of Faith Chapter. |
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4/23/2007 9:30 am |
My friend brings up all kind of issues and there are women who are ministering to her in different areas. So this post was just a very small issue in the Big picture of what is going on. I apprecate your prayers for her.
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4/23/2007 10:23 am |
Thanks for posting this...was wondering about it but 'concluded no' too when it was mentioned by your friend in your request for prayers for her...she cited it as a possible support and 'justification' for her thinking of suicide then?!...thanks Man can make many plans...BUT it is the Lord who will direct his paths....
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4/23/2007 10:26 am |
That was very informative thank you for sharing it. I am sorry that your friend feels that her life is not worth living. I will keep her in my prayers. God is Good
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4/23/2007 10:28 am |
I agree it was not suicide but a final calling. Just as a final calling might have been for each of those firefighters that gave their lives in the deliverance of others on 9/11. I will gladly keep your friend in prayer.
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4/23/2007 4:57 pm |
Last year, I had a discussion on my blog on suicide because I was shocked at people thinking that they can commit suicide and still be saved. The issue of Samson came up and I came to the same conclusion - nowhere did I see that Samson had given up on God, and thus deciding to end his life. And that is a distinction that people don't quite grasp or decide not to recognize! When someone commits suicide, they're actively saying they don't believe God has the ability to help them rise above their troubles and pain. This, of course, does not apply to those with known long-term mental incapacity - they are not able to make a rational decision and are thus not responsible for their actions. I asked my priest on why the church did not pray on those that commit suicide and he told me that to actively give up on God and not believe in His power to heal is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit - an unforgivable sin. The reason the church does not apply that to those with known mental issues is based on Job - when God allowed the devil to tempt Job, He specifically instructed him not to touch Job's mind. I hope your friend is doing better - it takes time to get over any long-term relationship. I read somewhere that it takes about 3 years after a divorce before a person is back to normal. It takes time, and I hope she'll just wait and let God work on her. God bless, G “Faith makes a Christian. Life proves a Christian. Trial confirms a Christian. Death crowns a Christian.” Annonymous
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4/23/2007 5:45 pm |
We are studying the book of Judge's in my sunday school class. I taught the last two weeks on the subject of Samson. We had quite a discussion on his final act. In fact I brought up what you said in your post about your friend thinking that Samson had committed suicide. I personally think he had lost the will to live, but if all he had wanted was to die, he could have accomplished that in a different way. I agree with you on the point that he would not have been in the Hall of Faith chapter if they considered it suicide. He died a hero's death. Save the earth. It's the only planet with Chocolate!
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