Samson:
Called, Equipped, and Uncommitted

Clearly the most famous name among the judges of Israel is Samson. Samson was perhaps the strongest man ever, one who killed one thousand Philistines single-handedly using the jawbone of a donkey. He ripped apart a lion with his bare hands. What we don't often hear about his life is what he did NOT accomplish. Samson was a man called by God to deliver Israel from the oppression of the Philistines. While he personally killed a number of Philistines, Samson failed to rally Israel into battle to overcome their bondage to the enemies of God.

Perhaps you can think of some people in modern times that had tremendous potential but wasted it by living in the flesh, making choices that were irresponsible (at best) or wicked (at worst). Perhaps it would also be wise to consider if you are living up to your potential in Christ? God calls and equips every believer to accomplish His purpose in the world. Are you committed to Him or are you committed to yourself?

Scripture Passage: Judges 13-16

Main point:
Samson demonstrates the tragedy of a life wasted through selfish choices. Samson had a clear calling by God, even before his birth. He had a godly upbringing. But his life had almost no impact on the enemies God had raised him up to confront. Only at the end of his life did he finally exercise self-sacrificing faith that God can use. In the end, he killed more enemies in his death than in his life. Yet his overall impact on Israel's plight was negligible. Samson did it all himself and, up until the end, for himself. You and I need to remember that to live the life of faith that will have an impact on the world, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20, NIV).

1. Samson was called to deliver Israel from the enemies of God before he was even conceived.

Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. Now there was a certain man from Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had no children. And the Angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." (Judges 13:1-5, NKJV)

God promised Manoah's wife a son (Samson) who would be a Judge of Israel with a special calling. Samson would be a Nazirite from birth. "Nazirite" comes from a special vow, the Nazirite vow, found in the Law of Moses in Numbers 6:2-21. This vow had the following conditions:

A voluntary vow to separate yourself from certain things in order to consecrate yourself to the LORD.
Was for a specific period of time.
Prohibited one from consuming anything grape (grapes, skins, seeds, wine, wine vinegar, raisins)
Prohibited hair cuts
Prohibited contact with dead body.

If any of these conditions were violated, one had to shave one's head, go to the priest with a sin offering and burnt offering to the LORD, and then start the time over.

God declared a lifelong Nazirite vow for only two people in the Bible: Samson and John the Baptist. For Samson, the Nazirite vow differed from what was prescribed in the Law:

The time period was not a set period -- it was for life.
God imposed it on Samson rather than being voluntary.
God imposed the Nazirite conditions on Samson's mother also.
God also reminded Samson's mother about the requirements of the Law of Moses regarding eating only "clean" food (kosher).

Purpose of this vow is to give one a specific spiritual focus in life for serving God in a particular way.

The point is not the things you do without (separation from worldly things).
The point is who you devote yourself to (separation unto God).

How does the Nazirite vow compare to the call on your life to follow Christ?

The meaning of "Christian" is a follower of Christ, even an imitator of Christ.
Romans 12:1-2 explains as a Christian you are to offer yourself as a living sacrifice to God.
2 Cor. 6:16 insists that the Christian is a temple of the Holy Spirit.
1 Pet. 1:13-15 reveals that a Christian is called by a holy God to holy living.

There is no need for a Christian to take a Nazirite vow today. First of all, the Nazirite vow was part of the Law given to Israel. Second, as these verses reveal, a Christian has an even higher calling than the Nazirite vow demands. The most important part of what it means to put your trust in our LORD Jesus Christ is the commitment of your entire life and future to Him.

2. Samson's parents did everything they knew to raise Samson as a man of God.

Then Manoah prayed to the LORD, and said, "O my Lord, please let the Man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born." And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the Angel of God came to the woman again as she was sitting in the field; but Manoah her husband was not with her. Then the woman ran in haste and told her husband, and said to him, "Look, the Man who came to me the other day has just now appeared to me!" So Manoah arose and followed his wife. When he came to the Man, he said to Him, "Are You the Man who spoke to this woman?" And He said, "I am." Manoah said, "Now let Your words come to pass! What will be the boy's rule of life, and his work?" (Judges 13:8-12, NKJV)

Manoah and his wife were determined to follow the LORD's will and raise Samson accordingly.

How do you think Samson felt growing up with this special call of God on his life? While he might have been proud of this calling, the details of his later life reveal he may have experienced resentment. Samson had no choice in this calling. But then again, none of us has a choice in the calling we receive from God. The wondrous thing is that He does call you to a meaningful life to be lived with purpose.

Samson certainly had many advantages in his childhood:

Supportive, godly parents to encourage him.
A worthy goal in life of extreme importance to his family and his nation.
Uniquely equipped by God with physical strength.

Of course, there were also special temptations for Samson being bigger and stronger than every other child his age:

bully,
selfish,
demanding his own way

Such was the early childhood of Samson. The Bible reveals the fulfillment of God's promise and His work on Samson early on:

So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. And the Spirit of the LORD began to move upon him at Mahaneh Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol. (Judges 13:24-25, NKJV)

God was indeed at work in Samson's life at the beginning. Samson had a solid foundation for life: two parents, man and woman, married, together, both committed to the LORD, both committed to following the LORD's commands for their son.

If you do everything you know God wants you to do, then your children will have a great life, right? They will be as committed to the LORD as you, right? Samson's story reminds us that each person must come to that place where they willingly give their life to the LORD for His glory and purposes.

A child can grow up in a perfect environment and still struggle with this self-sacrifice. Parents can make it very hard on their children by religious expression that has no root in real faith (occasionally going to church, sounding pious around Christians, highly visible charitable deeds). Yet even when the rhetoric of faith is matched by the demonstrated character of one who truly loves the LORD, a child may still choose to go his/her own way. Remember, Adam and Eve grew up in a literally perfect environment and they still strayed from God. It should be no wonder and no stigma on parents that their child makes a poor choice(s) in life.

3. Samson failed to deliver Israel from bondage because he pursued selfish desires that put his own life in bondage.

Though Samson had a lifelong call to be the next deliverer of Israel, he did not live up to his potential. Though the Spirit of the LORD was poured out upon him on more than one occasion, Samson seemed to live in his own selfish, little world.

The narrative over the next few chapters (Judges 14-16) reveal a number of serious problems for Samson. Let's look at each one to understand why Samson failed and how we may avoid the same problem.

Problem with self-determination

Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, "I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife." Then his father and mother said to him, "Is there no woman among the daughters of your brethren, or among all my people, that you must go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?" And Samson said to his father, "Get her for me, for she pleases me well." But his father and mother did not know that it was of the LORD; that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel. (Judges 14:1-4, NKJV)

Samson decided two things related to his self-determination: he would take a foreign wife (strictly forbidden in the Law), and he would demand it of his father (such rebellion against parents was a capital offense to God).

What would you do as Samson's father, seeing that Samson could pick you up like a feather, spin your around, and do a full body slam on you? Entrust yourself to God and be his father not his puppet.

Some helpful advice to consider regarding this problem of self-determination:

Isaiah 53:6 left to our own devices, we will go down not up.
Col. 3:20 children are to please the LORD by obeying their parents.
Eph. 5:17-18 need to know the LORD's will and be filled with the Spirit of the LORD.
Eph. 5:21 submission of yourself to others is a determination to do the LORD's will.

Problem with pretense:

After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass of the lion. He took some of it in his hands and went along, eating. When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them, and they also ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion. (Judges 14:8-9, NKJV)

The Nazirite was to avoid contact with a dead body. Numbers 6 appears to mean dead human bodies. Nevertheless, verse 9 reveals the vow, at least to Samson, meant contact with any dead corpse.

Samson gave his parents some of the honey from the lion's carcass but specifically did not tell them its origin. Was this just Samson's way of subtly getting back at his parents? Possibly it relates to this issue of resentment at his calling. Pretense can be related to resentment. If you are unable to acknowledge your resentment before certain people, in this case Samson's parents, then pretense is an obvious way of coping.

Ephesians 4:25 tells us clearly to speak the truth with our neighbors. This includes children speaking with parents. There is no room for pretense in family relationships.

However, understand that speaking the truth applies to parents also. Your children will see through your "pretend" faith quicker than anyone. But if they know your faith is genuine, they will respect your even though they may not follow your lead.

Problem with lust for foreign women:

Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her. When the Gazites were told, "Samson has come here!" they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the gate of the city. They were quiet all night, saying, "In the morning, when it is daylight, we will kill him." And Samson lay low till midnight; then he arose at midnight, took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two gateposts, pulled them up, bar and all, put them on his shoulders, and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron. Afterward it happened that he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. (Judges 16:1-4, NKJV)

Samson's troubles with the Philistines did not originate with a planned, purposeful battle plan. They sprung up from immoral relationships with women:

first there was the woman from Timnah, a Philistine woman (14:1-4) which led to the killing of 30 men from Ashkelon, torching of the Philistine fields (15:4-5), and the slaughter of one-thousand men using the jawbone of a donkey (15:14-15).
then there was a harlot or prostitute (16:1) which led to the loss of the city doors (16:3).
Then came Delilah, a double agent of the Philistines (16:5) who led to Samson's enslavement and eventual death.

Proverbs is replete with warnings about the dangers and consequences of following after an immoral woman. The end result of pursuing an immoral woman is death (Prov. 2:18, 5:5, 7:27. This was true for Samson and it is true of your today. No one is exempt. So be advised to take advice from the Proverbs and stay away! And teach your children to do the same. In a sex-infatuated world, this advice is more important than ever to pass on to the children.

Problem with denying God's power at work in you:

15 Then she said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies." 16 And it came to pass, when she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was vexed to death, 17 that he told her all his heart, and said to her, "No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man." (Judges 16:15-17, NKJV)

Samson was married to a deceitful woman, to be sure. Delilah was a well-paid double agent, or a glorified prostitute. She pestered Samson until he explained in part the calling on his life.

Notice that Samson insists he has been devoted to God from before birth. Notice also that Samson attributes HIS great strength not to the LORD who Spirit comes upon Samson. Samson, rather, attributes HIS strength to what Samson does: growing his hair long. After three previous attempts to be coy with his wife, Samson finally makes known his status as a Nazirite. It seems that it is this final admission by Samson without any hint of faith in God that the Spirit of the LORD left him.

God has been at work in Samson's life but nowhere do you find Samson giving God credit:

not for the killing of a lion bare-handed (14:6)
not for the 30 men of Ashkelon (14:19)
not for the thousand Philistine soldiers (15:14-15)
not for supernaturally provided water in the desert (15:19)

God is extremely patient, literally "suffering long," with His children. But there is a limit. Samson reached the limit and God's Spirit left him. Samson wound up enslaved to the enemy God had raised him up to defeat.

Sin is powerful enemy in your life. The only power greater than sin is the Holy Spirit. He will empower you to rise above the temptations and lure of sinful actions if you yield yourself to Him daily. However, if you don't have time for God nor give Him the honor and glory that is due Him, the power of the Holy Spirit will not be lost. The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian until the resurrection -- He will never leave. His work in your life will, however, be hampered by sinful choices you make. You may find yourself a slave to sin rather than a servant of righteousness. The power to overcome sin rests in your submission to the work and Lordship of God in your life.

Samson -- what a shame! All that strength and he was powerless:

Denying the Holy Spirit His rightful place to lead,
not listening to His promptings within,
not concerned with the word of God.
Repeated moral lapses.
Failing to consult the LORD (hair).
Converted from judge to slave.

4. Samson ended his life by faith, killing thousands of Philistines, but leaving Israel in bondage.

So it happened, when their hearts were merry, that they said, "Call for Samson, that he may perform for us." So they called for Samson from the prison, and he performed for them. And they stationed him between the pillars. Then Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, "Let me feel the pillars which support the temple, so that I can lean on them." Now the temple was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there; about three thousand men and women on the roof watching while Samson performed. Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, "O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!" And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. Then Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life. (Judges 16:25-30, NKJV)

Samson had time to reflect on his life during his enslavement to the Philistines. It appears to me that he finally found peace with God after a lifetime of self-will and selfish choices. He finally committed his life and his will to the LORD.

He was willing to sacrifice his own life to defeat the enemies of God. God granted his humble prayer (16:28) and enabled Samson to push the supporting columns in this temple apart. The whole structure collapsed and thousands were killed, along with Samson.

Do you think Samson made the right choice at the end? It was probably the only thing a blind, bound prisoner could do to strike back at the enemies of God.

Does this mean God approves of suicide? No, suicide is the murder of your own life. Only our Creator God has authority over your life. That is why suicide is a sin. But keep in mind that Samson was in a war situation and he was a captured soldier. Samson did not set out to commit suicide but willingly forfeited his life in order to defeat the enemies of God.

Hebrews 11 contains the "faith hall of fame" as it were. Samson is included in the list (11:32) of heroes of the faith. While most of his life was spent on idle pursuits, Samson got his life right with God in the end by committing it to the LORD.

Samson killed thousands at this final event in his life -- more than he killed during his entire life -- but Israel was really no better off than before. Samson had been unable to commit his life to what God had called him to do. Only in the end did he do so. And so most of his life was wasted on idle, selfish pursuits.

Consider today your own life and ask the LORD if you are on his track or on your own track? Are you wasting your life on selfish choices or are you committing your life each day to the LORD -- the One who created all things, who gives you each breath, and who has called you to follow Him?

Do not wait until the very end to make a difference in this world. You really do not even know when that end will be -- only God knows. So start today! Commit your life (and all those selfish choices) to the LORD Jesus Christ. As the Scripture says:

Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. (Ephesians 5:15-17, NIV)

Then you can live with earnest expectation of one day hearing the LORD Jesus Christ say to you, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:21, NKJV).

Samson:Called, Equipped, and Uncommitted