“What is to be the child’s [Samson’s] manner of life, and what is his mission?” Judges 13:12
Here are two more things you need to know about Samson before we come to his story.
Samson was a courageous hero. He is the Arnold Schwarzenegger of the Old Testament. He is a larger-than-life hero who inspires hope when everything else seems lost. In a country that was defeated, overrun, and demoralized, here is one man who is prepared to put up a fight for the liberation of his people, and with awesome results!
When we read about Samson taking out 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey, we are meant to cheer. Samson is a hero. He is a one-man army in a nation of people who have no means of defending themselves. If he were alive today, he would surely be nominated for a medal of honor because of his extraordinary courage in the field of battle.
Samson was also an irresponsible fool. This is the great irony of Samson’s life. He was blessed with godly parents, remarkable spiritual gifts, great faith, and extraordinary courage, but sometimes he did the most stupid things.
As you follow Samson’s story, you don’t know whether to cheer for him or cry over him. So, the question this story raises for us is very simple: How can a man who is a gifted believer and a courageous hero also be such an irresponsible fool? How is it possible for a man who was given such strength by God to make such a mess of his life?
Samson reminds us that it is possible to have the Holy Spirit at work in you, to be called by God to ministry, to be used in the work of God’s kingdom, and still take a plunge to disaster.
Do you know any courageous, irresponsible Christians? Take some time right now to pray for the ones that you know.
