Samson_by_julioferreira

A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, "You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines."  Judges 13:2-5

 

i have to confess that i find the account of Samson, the last judge of Israel, baffling.

yet even though Samson sinned, God still loved him, and used him to accomplish a task.

Samson is a flawed human.  he has issues with women, even visiting a prostitute.  he is vengeful and deceitful and doesn’t seem to regard his calling as something to be obeyed or to live a life worthy of it.

YET God uses him to bring deliverance from the philistines.

 

Samson’s life begins as miraculous child, longed for by his barren parents, with angelic visitations and signs of proof.

He was a man of destiny.

He was born to be a Nazirite, with restrictions and boundaries for how he lived his life.  this wasn’t a kill joy thing by God but because Samson was to be consecrated and set apart for a special task.   i also always see it as a character forming thing – you stick by the vow and CHOOSE obedience to it because you honour God above all else and CHOOSE to follow His life guidelines, and that there is reward in obedience.   Samson was to be set apart for God.

 

but time and and time again we see Samson choosing his own ways over God’s ways.  He went to parties where people probably drunk wine.  He touched a dead body.  He married foreign women.  He didn’t live a life worthy of his calling.  Samson made choices to indulge in what made him feel good instead of surrendering to God in obedience.

 

Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

 

i often wonder if Samson had lived obediently to God, if he had been more “righteous” it he would have accomplished more?

Yet at the same time i know that our own righteousness is not our own, but we are righteous based on the death of Jesus, the sacrifice of Christ, who covers me and redeems me and makes me innocent and righteous. 

in the same way then, i am like Samson.  a woman of destiny.  a flawed human.  living for my own ways.  called to serve God.  called to accomplish great things for His fame and glory and purposes.  i am so glad for the forgiveness of Christ, the one who has set me free and who has made me acceptable.   my walk is only worthy because of Him – because He gives me His righteousness as a free gift – and i then attempt to live worthy in response to Him.  I choose Him.  and when i fall, His grace covers me.

 

i must say after doing this devo i am profoundly moved by the account of samson, the flawed hero, and God’s grace poured out upon me.

 

 

But Samson’s hair began to grow again. Then Samson prayed to the Lord, "Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes."  Judges 16:22, 28

 

i love the BUT SAMSONS HAIR BEGAN TO GROW AGAIN…  its not just about hair, but about grace.  the “secret of his strength” (apart from the supernatural part!) was his long hair.  the philistines cut it and captured him, but it begins to grow again.  God is the God of second chances.

 

at the end of his life, Samson prays.  He turns to God.

 

The Bible calls Samson a hero of faith;  faith,  not pain.   In his mighty death it sees the promise of an even greater salvation. Reading the Bible website

 

 

Samson has hit his bottom. He is at his lowest. He literally flirted with his downfall and fell hard. But even before his last prayer, it says in verse 22: "But his hair, though cut off, began to grow again." God is NEVER done with us. EVER. Our anointing, calling, ministry, that which makes us different from those who do not know God- that is inside of us. It is more powerful than any sin, hurt, mistake and backslide. His spirit is greater than any deed or word uttered by us or toward us. That’s why when he stood there between those two pillars, alone probably ashamed, broken, full if regret sorrow— his hair had already started to grow back. God’s hand on Him still. So he prays… Look down on me once more! Hid look down on me once more. Thank you for mercy, grace. Thank you fir hair growing back. Thank you for being the type of God that NEVER LEAVES our side! youversion note

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