There are 3 parts of Samson’s character I think we can all resonate with.
FIRST, although Samson was blessed with incredible physical strength, mentally he was immature, acted like an uncontrolled child and in many ways abused the supernatural strength the Lord had given him.
But are we not the same whenever we abuse our God-given gifts and talents?
A perfect example is a master burglar.
Here we have a person who spends all his time and energy devising sneaky ways to infiltrate and rob other people and organizations.
Obviously, he’s not stupid but couldn’t his talents be applied in ways that help instead of hurt others?
Or to take a more extreme example, consider Nazi Germany for instance.
They were the most culturally and technologically sophisticated nation in the world at the time, yet they used their intellect and talents to commit mass genocide on God’s Chosen People.
SECOND, Samson was double-minded as all heck.
One minute he was willing to risk his own life for God and country.
But the very next minute he was bedding down with Philistine whores and partying with the pagans like there was no tomorrow.
Honestly, I think this is a part of Samson’s character believers can relate to the most.
Because although we’re not of the world, we still live in the world with all its temptations that constantly bombard us left and right.
THIRD, Samson was a Nazarite from birth…
Which means there were certain restrictions placed on his lifestyle.
He was not allowed to get his hair cut, drink alcohol, touch anything dead or eat certain foods.
Yet out of all these restrictions, how many of them do you think he kept?
The answer is none EXCEPT the requirement to not get his hair cut.
It makes one wonder if James had Samson in mind when he said…“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it”.
Only in this case, Samson stumbled on ALL points except one.
But again, who of us has not been conveniently selective in deciding which commandments of God to obey or disobey?
In the New Testament, I believe the Apostle Paul described Samson well (and all believers for that matter) when he talked about his struggles and how he did what he did NOT want to do and what he DID want to do, he didn’t.
I can almost hear Paul crying out in frustration when I read his words.
However, there’s a HUGE difference between Paul and Samson.
Paul chose to walk in the Spirit while Samson succumbed to the temptations of the flesh.
And Paul had found the ultimate solution to his sin problem which was Yeshua.
But Samson didn’t in his time.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“So I find this law at work:
Although I want to do good,
evil is right there with me.
For in my inner being I
delight in God’s law;
but I see another law at work in me,
waging war against the law of my mind
and making me a prisoner
of the law of sin at work within me.
What a wretched man I am!
Who will rescue me from this body
that is subject to death?
Thanks be to God,
who delivers me through
Messiah Yeshua our Lord!”
-Romans 7:21-25
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