I recently asked my daughter her favorite Bible story. Her response caught me off guard and completely surprised me because it’s not one we talked of often. It was the story of Samson. As we were about to have our devotion together, I decided to find the passage that speaks of this Judge of Israel.
The story begins in Judges 13. The birth of Samson. Verse 13:1 says ‘again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years’.
Have you ever heard the saying: ‘if yuh caan hear yuh a go feel?’ Translated.. If you can’t hear – you’ll feel.
This passage begins with God delivering the Israelites into the hands of the philistines. Friends, there are consequences to our actions. But… this is not where I’m parking today.
I actually want to talk specifically about Samson.
Samson was a gift from God to his parents. The Bible says his mother was sterile and remained childless. An angel appeared to her and gave her a promise of a son – with very specific instructions on how to raise him.
No wine or fermented drink
Don’t eat anything unclean
No razor to be used on his because he is to be a nazarite.. set apart to God from birth.
And an even more distinct promise: He will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the philistines.
Very fascinating story to read in Judges 13 with the interaction with Manoah, who was Samson’s father, his mother and the angel.
Skipping forward to when Samson grows up. He had a thing for the Philistine women. His parents were against it and tried to encourage him to find someone from his own relatives or peoples. Samson was adamant he wanted the Philistine woman he saw.
Learning the hard way.
Samson’s first wife was convinced by her kinsmen to betray her husband to solve the riddle – by the way.. this was within the first seven days of their marriage.
Learning the hard way.
Fast forward to Samson’s second wife, the well known Delilah.
Let me ask you this? Somebody comes to you the first time begging you for your secrets of your strength, you make up a story and then men present themselves when you are awakened to try to kill you and you do this a few more times?
Hmmm.. after one time.. I’m a no.. but this goes on a few more times..
Learning the hard way.
Eventually Samson shares his secret with Delilah, and we know what happened. But… don’t forget the statements at the beginning of the story.. Samson will begin delivering the Israelites from the philistines.
Talk about learning the hard way.
The story ends with Samson killing more Philistines in the temple than he did in his lifetime as they were congregated and celebrating.
What lessons have you had to learn the hard way, but God still saw fit to come through for you?
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that you are a God of redemption. Even when we mess up and do things we aren’t supposed to do, while we still have to deal with the consequences, you do not hold us bound by our past mistakes. Father, help us to learn our lessons without having to go the hard way.