The account of Samson’s life was recorded in the book of Judges. His father called Manoah was from the land of Zorah. His mother had been barren before the angel of the Lord appeared to her and said: “Now therefore be careful not to drink strong wine or eat anything unclean....CONTINUE READING
For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines.’’
Samson’s birth was a miracle given that at the time, the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord; consequently, the Lord had delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for 40 years. Samson was God’s sent; a saviour to the Israelite who were also his people. And so upon his birth, his parent’s joy knew no bounds, for through him, Israel will be delivered.
Samson grew quickly into a fine, strong young man. The spirit of the Lord was always with him. But his lifespan was short and his premature end was caused by his following show of pride and ingratitude to God:
1) It was recorded in the book of Judges 14:5, that Samson (now an adult) went down to a place called Timnah with his parents. And when he departed from his parent’s side, a young lion came roaring against him. The spirit of the Lord came mightily upon Samson, and with his bare hands he tore the lion apart like one would tear apart a young goat.
He was not thankful or grateful to the Lord, the source of his strength. He just heaved and went back to his parents. He didn’t even tell his old folks how the Lord had mercifully delivered him from the beast, so they might thank the Lord on his behalf.
2) It was recorded in the book of Judges 14:8, that Samson returned to the carcass of the young lion and behold, he found a swarm of bees hovering over the freshly killed beast. Samson jumped on the honey produced by the bees and began to feed on them. He even gave some to his parents. He did not thank or acknowledge God; the source of the food.
3) In Judges 14:10, Samson held a feast. At the feast, he boasted to his companions about the lion and the honey using riddles. He neither acknowledged nor mentioned the name of the Lord.
4) In Judge 14:19, the scriptures recorded that the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon Samson, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men. He took their apparel and gave them out. Mission accomplished, he went to his father’s house proudly. He never appreciated God’s influence in his victory.
5) In Judges 15:9, Samson attacked the Philistines hip and thigh, and slaughtered many of them. Afterwards, he went down and dwelt in the cleft of the rock of Etam. He never said a word of thanks to the Lord, the source of his strength.
6) In Judges 15:11, Samson attacked the Philistines in a place called Lehi. And with the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps, he slew a thousand men. He never uttered a word of gratitude to God.
7) In Judges 15: 18, the scriptures recorded that Samson became very thirsty after his brutal fight with the Philistines in Lehi.
Instead thanking the Lord first for his victory, he cried out to the Lord filled with ingratitude saying, ‘You have given this great deliverance by the hand of your servant; and now shall I die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?’
And so the Lord split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out, and he drank and was revived. Still, Samson felt entitled and never glorified the name of God.
8) And so in Judges chapter 16, Samson met Delilah, the prostitute that brought about his premature death..<<CONTINUE READING>>
