1. Judges 16:30 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What is the tragic irony in the end for the Philistines?

Judges 16:30 (ESV)

30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life.

Samson stretches out with all his strength, and down comes the temple upon all the lords and all the people in it. A massive celebration with words of praise for Dagon is suddenly silenced, with death and destruction all around. Samson has made them all fools one last time. They had brought him out to humiliate and mock him. But the very god to whom the Philistines ascribed their victory is the god who is now mocked as his temple is brought down and his worshippers obliterated. The true God will not be mocked. He will vindicate his own name, even through the actions of servants who are only motivated by revenge.