- The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the LORD blessed him, and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him… (Judges 13.24-25)
As I read the story of Samson in Judges, chapters 13-16, I am amazed, encouraged, and warned concerning the importance of getting the truth and not letting go of it. Samson was sent by God to be a deliverer that would point us to Jesus as our eternal deliverer. The angel of the Lord came and told them they would have a son and the son was to be dedicated to the Lord from birth. Unlike Jesus, however, he did not live his life in perfect obedience to God. But that did not prevent God from still accomplishing what He planned. God is a sovereign redeeming God.
Right off the bat we see Samson long for a girl that his parents do not want him to have and that goes against his Nazirite calling in the first place. Still he insisted and, as we see, God was able to use his misdirected lust to accomplish the first step of Israel’s deliverance. Scripture says the Lord was at work. God did not need Samson to go against his parents and his heritage in order to deliver Israel, but it is nice to know that God can and will accomplish what He plans and at times it is in spite of our actions. So, while I see Samson’s mistakes, I am encouraged that God is able even when we are wrong, and warned of the dangers of compromising the truth.
We would think that Samson would learn after the trouble that his rebellion caused, but as we read on we see that obviously he did not. He moves on to prostitutes and falling for Delilah whom he allows to betray him not once but four times, and finally the last time he actually gives her the information that resulted ultimately in his death.
I have to wonder why in the world he did not run away the first time she betrayed him. But then I think, why do we stumble into sin and then justify it. Why do we become weak and lose sight of the truth time and time again until we are spiritually blind before we will finally cry out from the prison we are locked in and ask God to rescue us.
Every word in the Bible is what we need. Sometimes, as in the story of Samson, we are met by our savior God as well as a stern warning. We are invited to read and hear God’s Word so that we live by grace and faith in God’s power. The Word of God is good and it is the Truth!
May God’s Spirit stir in us today.
Pastor Nick
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