Can Samson Change?

Dei Break

Judges 16:1-31

Samson continued what we might call today his "self destructive" behavior. Finding a prostitute in Gaza that caught his fancy, he spent the night with her. The enemy tried to trap him and only his great strength saved his life.

Then he met the famous (infamous?) Delilah. Not being the smartest of God's people, he seems to not catch on to the fact that Delilah is in league with the Philistines. Her job was to find out why this Israelite had such supernatural strength, enabling him to subdue all his enemies.

Far from catching on to her repeated efforts to find his secret, Samson allows Delilah to shame him into telling her that his strength is a gift from God, and related to his Nazarite vow of never cutting his hair. At this final act of self-centeredness and arrogance, Samson finds that "the Lord had departed from him" (vs.20)

This began what was perhaps Samson's final confrontation with himself. Who was he without God, the God whom he had failed time after time?

His eyes gouged out by his enemies; bound in chains; and forced to push the threshing press; Samson had a lot of time to think. He suffered long enough for his hair to begin to grow back. While he served as their entertainment, the Philistines bragged about how their god, Dagon, had defeated the God of Israel and Samson.

When brought to a large gathering for a good laugh, Samson did something we have not seen him do before. Rather than begin with his anger and his ego and his self-righteousness, we see Samson begin his final task by asking God for help.

In Hebrews 11, Samson is listed as one of the heroes of faith. Imperfect, of poor judgment, often in trouble, often ignoring his Lord, God was able to still reach into Samson's heart and work true faith. What message is this for us? We cannot be too far gone for God to love; we cannot run so fast that He cannot still be at our side.

Next Time: Micah and His Priest