Hero?

Like many Bible passages that contain elements that are good for kid stories, the story of Samson is one that is grossly misunderstood if you fail to look at it deeply. While we would love to celebrate Samson as a strong man who God used to do amazing things, most of the things that he accomplished were done in defiance of God. Samson was less heroic Hercules and more of an evil Incredible Hulk. Many of his great accomplishments were done out of pride and rage. It was not his intention to honor his God, he was usually just vengeful. Not to mention his weakness for women.

Samson was a child born of blessing and made a life-long Nazirite vow. He could not cut his hair, drink wine, or touch dead things. So eating honey from a dead lion and picking up a jaw bone were not only unsanitary, these were in violation of a vow made to God. Samson even complained to God about his thirst right after violating his vow. Samson would also attend feasts where he presumably drank wine. And yet God continued to forgive Samson for these things as evidenced by Samson retaining his strength until the end. Samson also offended God's commands by marrying women who were not Israelites. With both wives he would be convinced to tell an important secret.

Samson was not so much a hero as a cautionary tale. He no doubt revered God, but he simply could not stay on the right path for his life. He had substantial promise, and he was gifted beyond belief not only in strength, but poetry as well. Samson was given a great responsibility, but he could not handle it. While God was patient with him, God would eventually cause Samson to lose his strength after Samson had broken every single promise made to God. Once his hair was cut, Samson had proven that he believed his own desires to be more important than God.

Samson was a flawed man, just as each of us is flawed. We all have times in our lives where we seek our own pleasure rather than doing what God has called us to do. We have also been given gifts that God wants us to use for His glory. So we are given the choice, use what we have or lose what we have. I hope that we use it.