LEARNING DAILY

 

Hebrews 11:32-34, Well how much more do I need to say?  It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets.  By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God has promised them.  They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword.  Their weakness was turned to strength.  They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.  (NLT)

 

I have enjoyed watching the Hall of Fame inductions for various sports.  It is fun to see and hear the stories of those players I grew up watching.  You know back when the players played for the love of the game, did not make political statements, and played the game the way it was supposed to be played.  I have wondered why some have not been inducted and why others were; but once you hear their stories it becomes clear.

 

Samson could have fit into the “big time” player’s lifestyle I used to watch; they played the game hard and their lifestyle outside of the game was often crude and shady.  Samson’s life can be found in Judges 13-16.  Take the time to read about him. God intended for Samson to be a Nazarite and to live according to His highest standards for His people.  Being a Nazarite meant to abstain from all alcohol, not touching a dead body, and not cutting one’s hair; Samson violated each of these during his lifetime.

 

Samson is known for his great strength which came from the Lord.  With that great strength he accomplished great feats against the Philistines who were causing Israel much trouble.  But Samson lived his life in a way that caused both physical and spiritual failure.  “He did not anchor his life in the Word of God causing lack of concern and respect for God’s commandments and specifically ignoring God’s law about mixed marriages.” (LSSB).  In Judges 14:4, Samson saw a Philistine girl who pleased him and demanded his parents to get her for him (read the account).  In doing so he chose to indulge his human desires over the desires God had for him.  Yet, God used this disobedience to accomplish His good purposes.  I want to be clear – God is never responsible for the evil acts and our disobedience! 

 

All of us know the story of Samson’s love for Delilah and how she betrayed him to the Philistines.  She continued to ask about his strength until he told her about his hair.  “His hair itself had no magical strength; because Samson was a Nazarite to God his hair was an outward symbol of dedication to the Lord.  It was this dedication that enabled him to do his mighty deeds.” (DJSB) Delilah cut his hair and Judges 16:19 states, “and his strength left him.”

 

The story moves from Samson being the champion of the Israelites to him being imprisoned in a Philistine camp, a slave doing work for the Philistines.  We no doubt are sadden by Samson’s fall from God’s grace.  But read Judges 16:22, “However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.” (NKJV).  This verse gives us an important detail that suggests God was not finished with Samson.  Samson cries out to the Lord with a repentant heart and what can only be explained as a renewed faith in God to use him one more time to take vengeance out on the Philistines.  It is this final calling out to the Lord, in faith, that allows Samson to be included in the Hall of Fame of Faith.

 

There are several thoughts for you and me to take away from Samson’s life.  God has given each of us talents that He wants us to use to bring honor and glory to Him.  Be careful that you do not abuse them.  Samson would show off his incredible strength to get others to be impressed with him.  He learned that God can take away those talents in a moment.  Secondly, there are consequences for sin; our sin can come out in unexpected ways, at unexpected times.  The last takeaway, is God can still use us after we mess up; when we repent and place our faith in Him and it is for His glory.

 

Samson did not anchor himself in God’s Word.  You and I must learn from this and allow God’s Word to be at the center of our walk on the narrow way.  Today would be a good day to do so!

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.  I have added Jimmy Swaggart’s Expositor’s Study Bible to be referred to from now on as JSESB