Samson was born of a sterile and childless mother. Judges 13:3 The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, "You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son. It's not the first time God brought about a miraculous birth to a previously childless couple. God had a specific purpose for Samson and gifted him with everything he would need to carry it out--godly parents, unusual physical strength, and the blessings and authority of the Lord. Samson was a Nazirite--a person who took a vow to be set aside for God's service for his entire lifetime. His purpose was to be a great leader for Israel against the Philistines. I used to think this was one of the craziest stories in the Bible as a child. His hair was his strength?? Well, his strength came from the Lord. His hair was a symbol of the power God gave him, and he was not to cut his hair out of obedience to God's command. Judges 13:5 No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines. Mom and Dad Samson definitely had a whoa moment when this happened. I can't even begin to imagine what I would think if I was visited by an angel of the Lord for any reason.
Funny thing about Samson. As strong as he was physically, he was weak in his character. He had poor taste in women and he wasn't very wise with the strength God gave him. His choices and his pride would lead him to sin. When he chose to follow God, he would succeed. Funny thing about people, we are also like Samson. Even with the very presence of God, it didn't change the fact that Samson was still going to mess up.
"Samson and Delilah" is recognizable in pop culture, as is Romeo and Juliet, due to the similar destructive themes of betrayal in love and passion. When people are deceived by lust, physical appearances, monetary promises, or any other fleshly desire, sin will be sure to follow. Delilah was deceived by rich and powerful men who wanted the truth about Samson's strength–enough that she would deceive Samson in order to get the information from him. Judges 16:5 The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, "See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver." He was entranced by her to the point that he could not see the "red flags" as we call them today, and set himself up for his eventual binding and blinding, which soon led to his death. We ask, how can anyone be that foolish? But if we're honest, all of us have been blinded by someone at least once in our lives, haven't we?
What are people doing in relationships that could lead to where Samson and Delilah ended up? They were both deceived, spiritually blind, and terribly impatient, among other things. It's important to decide ahead of time what kind of person we want to have beside us before becoming swept away by the alluring traits of those who may lead us into destruction. It's important to decide ahead of time what kind of person WE want to be, before we head into a relationship. If not, we could get blinded by others very easily, just like Samson did. He lost touch with the difference between truth and reality at some point. His lover was asking him to tell her the secret of his strength so she could give it to his enemy, and he was so blind to her at that point, that he just said, "Sure, whatever!" and his goose was cooked. Judges 16:16-17 With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death. So he told her everything. "No razor has ever been used on my head," he said, "because I have been a Nazirite, set apart to God since birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man." She nagged and prodded and wore him down until he gave in. He had already become vulnerable to sin just from his own lack of good decisions.
When we let things go or brush them off, it won't be long before we become blind to the manipulations of others. Samson was not going to be able to fulfill his purpose because he kept making shady and prideful choices. He was also with a person who held him back from living the life that God set apart for him. When you or your partner is not able to fulfill their godly purpose or become the best of who they are meant to be, that is not the person for you. It is a choice to make good moral decisions and grow into a person of high character and integrity. When we watch and observe the actions of others before we jump in headfirst, we can avoid a whole lot of bindings and blindings and spiritual death. Judges 16:21 Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding in the prison.
Samson was so prideful, he kept taking credit for all the strength he had and using it for revenge and to show off instead of for what God purposed it for. Isn't this what can happen when we lose our focus on God and instead focus on ourselves?
When I remember that Samson was born to parents of good godly character, it reminds me that although it was probably taught in his home, it is still a personal choice to follow or not follow the Lord for your own life. I can't imagine how his parents felt, realizing that an actual angel of the Lord delivered the news of his birth, expecting such a great leader, and then having him mistreat the gift the Lord gave him. Oh wait... this happens all the time. It happens to godly parents, too, when they take their eyes off God's plan for their children and try to take it into their own hands. We are all Samsons, in that respect.
Samson not only had the physical presence of God at his conception, but he had the anointing on him to do great things. So do we. Samson messed up. So do we. Samson eventually humbled himself and realized he couldn't do things in his own strength and needed God. God heard his prayer, redeemed him and gave him forgiveness. This is us as well. No matter how much we mess up, God is still listening to us and waiting for us to turn back and call out to Him. He will always be there.
