DAILY BYTESo the story of Samson wasn’t just this darn, good action yarn (which it is by the way), but also had these undercurrents that prompt us to learn from the paradox of the strongest man in the world who actually wasn’t.
Samson was a miracle baby born to a sterile woman. When announcing his birth, an angel declared that Samson must be raised a Nazirite. This meant he should be set apart to God from birth and must keep 3 vows his whole life long. Vow no 1 was that he should never touch a dead body; vow no 2 was that he should drink no wine (and just in case he should eat no grapes or anything else off a vine); and vow no 3 was that he would never cut his hair.
There is nothing especially moral about these promises, but they are important symbols; concrete reminders that someone has devoted themselves to doing something for God.
But for Samson there was a particular reason for these vows. It was as if God was saying, ‘This is to be a way of life for Samson. He is going to need a very strong internal sense of his devotion to me to match his outer strength.’
Perhaps it was exactly because of his incredible giftedness, that Samson more than most, needed the discipline of those vows. They would be part and parcel of building his character, and character of course is what sustains and holds together giftedness.
However, we read that one by one Samson broke these vows. Firstly, by eating honey out of a dead lion (vow 1), secondly by participating fully in a Philistine wedding ceremony (which involved drinking and breaking vow 2), and finally by revealing to Delilah the secret of his hair (vow 3).
Little by little Samson broke his life vows, and almost always in the search for instant gratification. In fact, instant gratification is another big part of this story. Samson had this weakness for good looking women who were inwardly compromised and brought great trouble into his life as a result.
His story has 3 examples of these ‘fatal attractions’ and each time a certain phrase is repeated as if to make a point. Samson is mentioned as having seen a certain woman and then wanting her. For example, he ‘saw’ the Philistine woman and then demanded his parents arrange a marriage. Later he ‘saw’ a prostitute and went to spend the night with her.
Interestingly enough, Samson’s final fall lay in a woman named Delilah whose very name means ‘weakness’! Also, she lived in a valley called ‘Sorek’ which means ‘Grapes’ (remember his second vow).
What kind of a role does instant gratification play in your life? Do you have a problem with ‘seeing and wanting’ things that may not be entirely healthy for you? What kind of role do spiritual disciplines play in your life? Are there any ‘vows’ that you have made to God? Why are these types of vows necessary for you?
PRAY AS YOU GO
Loving God, we want to commit ourselves to following you wholeheartedly. We ask that you would help us to see the importance of spiritual discipline, and the vital role that such discipline plays in the formation of our characters. Help us to see if there are any ‘vows’ that we particularly need to make. Amen.
FOCUS READING
Judges 13. 2-5 MSG
At that time there was a man named Manoah from Zorah from the tribe of Dan. His wife was barren and childless. The angel of God appeared to her and told her, "I know that you are barren and childless, but you're going to become pregnant and bear a son. But take much care: Drink no wine or beer; eat nothing ritually unclean. You are, in fact, pregnant right now, carrying a son. No razor will touch his head—the boy will be God's Nazirite from the moment of his birth. He will launch the deliverance from Philistine oppression."
