Strong But Weak
Devotions for Growing Christians
Strong But Weak
People these days are fascinated with superheroes. Take a quick glance at the top grossing films in the past 20 years and it’s clear: moviegoers can’t get enough of superhuman powers and abilities.
With that in mind, it’s no wonder that Samson is one of the most popular characters in the Old Testament. You can just see his extraordinary feats playing out on the big screen: squaring off against a hungry lion with just his bare hands… battling 1,000 enemy troops using only a jawbone as a weapon…. uprooting the colossal gate structure of an enemy city and shouldering it right up the side of a mountain…
But even the most amazing superheroes have a weakness. Samson’s Superman-like power and agility are unparalleled, but a lustful lack of self-control was his Kryptonite. His story is a study in contrasts. He was strong - but weak.
Background
Samson lived in Israel near the end of the dark era of the Judges. A sinful, "do your own thing" attitude characterized Israel during this time. (See Judges 17:6 and 21:25).
Because of their ongoing waywardness, God permitted enemies to invade and oppress the Israelites. In turn, they would cry out to the Lord for help, and God would graciously raise up a judge to deliver them. The “judges” in ancient Israel were not like the courtroom judges of today. They were charismatic military leaders in times of crises.
Samson’s strength – a solid foundation
Samson came from a solid spiritual family (Judges 13), and right from a young age it seemed he had everything going for him. He would have been the captain of the football team and labeled "most likely to succeed" in the yearbook. But more importantly, God blessed young Samson, and the Spirit of the Lord was at work in his life (13:24-25). Samson was designated by God Himself to deliver Israel from the oppression of the Philistines (13:5). Guaranteed victory!
Weakness: lack of self-control
When we read about Samson’s life in Judges 13-16, it’s very easy to see his weakness: he had no control over his passions. He impulsively did what he wanted, and never thought twice.
Look at Samson's behavior in chapter 14:1-4. A Philistine woman caught his eye, and he wanted her. His response to the cautious words from his parents was simply, "Get her for me, for she looks good to me." Quick decisions based on looks and pleasure often demonstrate a lack of self-control.
In chapter 16, Samson displayed almost unbelievable vulnerability in his interactions with Delilah. Despite his extraordinary God-given strength, Samson’s infatuation with an ungodly woman ultimately led him to surrender all his “superhero” powers. Even after numerous warning signs of her treachery--including repeated inquiries about the source of his strength and how he could be subdued--Samson failed to acknowledge the danger. What a sad picture of how lustful desire can cloud judgment and cause a person to act against simple common sense.
Breaking vows
Samson had taken the Nazirite vow as a youth. The term “Nazirite” should not be confused with the term “Nazarene.” A “Nazarene” (like Jesus) was someone from the town of Nazareth. A “Nazirite” (like Samson) was someone who took a special vow before God and was dedicated for His service. In Numbers 6, we see some of the lifestyle rules you’d have to follow if you were to become a Nazirite:
No wine or strong drink
No haircuts
No contact with dead bodies
No mixing with anything that would affect your separation unto the Lord.
Sadly, we see Samson breaking those vows, one by one, because of his undisciplined and selfish lifestyle.
The Philistine vineyards of Timnah were the last place Samson should have been (14:5).
Marrying a Philistine was against God's command for any Hebrew (Deut 7:1-6).
Samson touched the carcass of the dead lion (14:8-9), and then made light of his violation by making it part of a riddle (14:14).
Samson spent the night with a Philistine prostitute (16:1).
He told Delilah his secret and his hair was cut.
Selfish desire and uncontrolled passion took priority over his Nazirite vows.
Using God’s gifts for selfish purposes
Samson's physical accomplishments were amazing, but they revealed a destructive pattern of using his God-given abilities for self-centered purposes. Many of his feats weren’t really done for the glory of God or for the deliverance of Israel. Even at the end of his life, Samson’s final prayer was just a selfish and vengeful request: “That I may be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes." Then Samson died with his enemies.
What a powerful lesson for Christians. Every one of us has God-given gifts and potential, but we can literally lose everything if we lack discipline and self-control. We may come from a solid Christian background; we may have been immersed in the principles of the Word of God for years; the Lord may have blessed us with obvious talent; we may have made promises to serve God. But like Samson, we can quickly “sell out” to sinful desires and self-centered pursuits.
2 Peter 1:5-7 tells us to use all diligence to add self-control to our faith. Galatians 5:16-23 assures us that more self-control is available for us, and it will be given to believers who make following Jesus their top priority. Yielding control of our lives to the Holy Spirit is the key.
In spite of Samson's shortcomings, God still worked through him (14:4, 19; 15:14). And Hebrews 11:32 assures us that Samson did have faith. It’s encouraging for us that God still accomplished His purposes through Samson. But how much better the story could have been had Samson yielded to the Lord’s control and realized his full potential!
- Dave Reid
(Updated 2024, Ron Reid)