Creator, Father, King #105

Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT a job interview with Samson, the famous Israelite judge, might have sounded like?

• Hiring manager: So Mr. Samson, what do you currently do for a living?
• Samson: I harass and destroy my archenemies, the Philistines, at every opportunity.
• Hiring manager: I see. Hmmm. Well, what are your most impressive accomplishments?
• Samson: I don’t want to brag, but I have quite a few. I’ve destroyed a lion with my bare hands, killed one thousand Philistines with a donkey’s jawbone, uprooted massive city gates and carried them dozens of miles to escape my enemies, and flexed my biceps to snap virtually anything people try to bind me with.
• Hiring manager: So you’re probably not cut out for a desk job. . . . Is there anything else you’d like to share about yourself?
• Samson: Yes, actually. I was dedicated to the Lord by a Nazirite vow since birth for a special purpose. But I’ve broken the vow many times.
• Hiring manager: Well, uh, thanks for coming in today. Don’t call us. We’ll call you!

Samson certainly led a fascinating life. For twenty years, he fought against the Philistines on Israel’s behalf, performing extraordinary deeds by God’s empowering Spirit.

But too often, Samson followed his own sinful passions and worldly pleasures. He got involved with ungodly Philistine women. He impulsively tried to seek vengeance on his enemies. And he often forsook his vows and forgot God’s calling on his life.

At the end, he was a blinded, shackled Philistine captive. His final prayer was, “Let me die with the Philistines” (Judges 16:30). Then he brought an entire temple down on thousands of people, including himself.

What’s It Mean?

Samson’s life reads like an epic Greek tragedy. The Lord gave Samson a unique gift, but he continually squandered his opportunity through bad choices. Perhaps Samson’s biggest downfall was his penchant for following his sinful desires.

This is a powerful warning for us. Left to our own flesh, we will continually make bad choices, too. Only when we allow God’s mighty, life-changing Spirit to lead us can we make godly choices that are pleasing to the Lord. Galatians 5:16-26 talks about this vital difference.

Samson performed some remarkable deeds. But more than anything his life serves as a tragic warning for those who choose sinful passions over the Spirit’s power. The choice is clear!

Now What?

Read about Samson’s life in Judges 13–16. Then read Galatians 5:16-26.

Did You Know?

Samson’s unique Nazirite vow included never drinking alcohol, eating anything ceremonially unclean, or shaving his head.