A man’s stature has nothing to do with anything but size and sometimes strength. It doesn’t add one ounce of good sense or a good soul.”
–Lou Bradshaw (True Blue)
“He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.”
“He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.”
–Isaiah 40:29 (NKJV)
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“And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of . . . Samson . . . who by faith conquered kingdoms….”
–Hebrews 11:32-33 (NASB)
Samson, who was he? A conqueror or deviant? A valiant warrior or lustful failure. He was a man moved by the Spirit of God, and a man moved by his unbridled lusts. He was a judge in the time when the nation needed one. He was a deliverer when the nation needed one. Yet, could he have done more? For sure, he was a man of passion for everything, the good and the bad, and was pursued with zeal. Warren W. Wiersbe said of Samson that he was “bold before men, weak before women.” Wiersbe also wrote, using Winston Churchill’s words to describe Samson, “Samson was a riddle wrapped up in a mystery inside an enigma.”
We cannot make excuses for his choices. Choices belong to the person whether right or wrong; the same must be said about the consequences of those choices. However, in saying that it must be noted that Samson was a man of faith and is specifically mentioned in the Book of Hebrews “chapter of faith.”
First, we must look at the times in which Samson lived.
“Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, so that the LORD gave them into the hands of the Philistines forty years.”
–Judges 13:1 (NASB)
What strikes me first is the word “again.” Over and over, God’s chosen people did evil in His sight. Even with His great longsuffering the evil must have been great for Him to give them over to their enemies. This should gain our attention! How long before the Lord turns us over to our enemies? By enemies, I don’t necessarily mean a foreign nation, but ideas foreign to those of God. Men and women who have openly declared themselves hostile to the Bible and the things of God. Israel was a chosen people–chosen by God to be a witness and light to the world. They failed. As Christians, we should heed their example and not follow it, but be the light which God has called us to be.
The second thing that caught my attention is what is not said. The people did not cry out for deliverance. In times past they did so when oppressed, but now they had become complacent–satisfied with their life under the Philistines. Israel, especially the Tribe of Dan, was becoming assimilated into Philistine culture. They no longer were separated unto God, a holy people, but now intermarried and practiced the worship of false gods. They didn’t forget Yahweh, but they didn’t know Him either. They practiced using pagan methods in their worship of Yahweh. “It’s frightening how quickly we can get accustomed to bondage and learn to accept the status quo.” (Wiersbe) Satisfaction can be dangerous especially when the culture becomes lax in their morals and recognizing the Most Holy God. Similar to what is being pushed in our faces now–progressive democracy, cross culture, change of culture and add to that all of the genderizing that is going on in our midst.
Along comes Samson, a man who will be used by God to “rock the boat.” He will begin to deliver the people from the hand of the Philistines. He will start to the deliverance of a people who didn’t want to be delivered (a far cry from Egypt and other Judges). Samson did not have the favor of the people, but he had the favor of God who chose him to be a deliverer and judge for twenty years. He worked alone to deliver–remember that. One final thought: Dan is not mentioned in David’s census nor among the tribes listed in Revelation, hmmm.
—————————————
“And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of . . . Samson . . . who by faith conquered kingdoms….”
–Hebrews 11:32-33 (NASB)
Samson, who was he? A conqueror or deviant? A valiant warrior or lustful failure. He was a man moved by the Spirit of God, and a man moved by his unbridled lusts. He was a judge in the time when the nation needed one. He was a deliverer when the nation needed one. Yet, could he have done more? For sure, he was a man of passion for everything, the good and the bad, and was pursued with zeal. Warren W. Wiersbe said of Samson that he was “bold before men, weak before women.” Wiersbe also wrote, using Winston Churchill’s words to describe Samson, “Samson was a riddle wrapped up in a mystery inside an enigma.”
We cannot make excuses for his choices. Choices belong to the person whether right or wrong; the same must be said about the consequences of those choices. However, in saying that it must be noted that Samson was a man of faith and is specifically mentioned in the Book of Hebrews “chapter of faith.”
First, we must look at the times in which Samson lived.
“Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, so that the LORD gave them into the hands of the Philistines forty years.”
–Judges 13:1 (NASB)
What strikes me first is the word “again.” Over and over, God’s chosen people did evil in His sight. Even with His great longsuffering the evil must have been great for Him to give them over to their enemies. This should gain our attention! How long before the Lord turns us over to our enemies? By enemies, I don’t necessarily mean a foreign nation, but ideas foreign to those of God. Men and women who have openly declared themselves hostile to the Bible and the things of God. Israel was a chosen people–chosen by God to be a witness and light to the world. They failed. As Christians, we should heed their example and not follow it, but be the light which God has called us to be.
The second thing that caught my attention is what is not said. The people did not cry out for deliverance. In times past they did so when oppressed, but now they had become complacent–satisfied with their life under the Philistines. Israel, especially the Tribe of Dan, was becoming assimilated into Philistine culture. They no longer were separated unto God, a holy people, but now intermarried and practiced the worship of false gods. They didn’t forget Yahweh, but they didn’t know Him either. They practiced using pagan methods in their worship of Yahweh. “It’s frightening how quickly we can get accustomed to bondage and learn to accept the status quo.” (Wiersbe) Satisfaction can be dangerous especially when the culture becomes lax in their morals and recognizing the Most Holy God. Similar to what is being pushed in our faces now–progressive democracy, cross culture, change of culture and add to that all of the genderizing that is going on in our midst.
Along comes Samson, a man who will be used by God to “rock the boat.” He will begin to deliver the people from the hand of the Philistines. He will start to the deliverance of a people who didn’t want to be delivered (a far cry from Egypt and other Judges). Samson did not have the favor of the people, but he had the favor of God who chose him to be a deliverer and judge for twenty years. He worked alone to deliver–remember that. One final thought: Dan is not mentioned in David’s census nor among the tribes listed in Revelation, hmmm.