Samson’s Warning

Read Judges 13-16
 
SAMSON’S violent life illustrated Israel’s decline in many ways. One way is his blindness to the warning signs of destruction.
    Samson’s life is a pattern of his arrogance and strength leading not to peace in Israel but to conflict. Yes, the Spirit of God occasionally came upon Samson to use his strength to defeat the Philistines, Israel’s enemies. But these events occurred in very limited occasions. Remember, God’s purpose for Samson was to begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines. (Judges 13:5b). Samson’s supernatural strength was a sure sign God’s power was at work in him to complete that purpose. But Samson misused the gift. Instead of his strength bringing God’s peace in Israel, it caused more conflict. Samson was for his own vengeful purposes, not God’s glory. Be alert. Are you using God’s empowering gifts such as teaching, prayer, love, joy and peace to his glory or to yours?  
    The most dramatic way Samson ignored God’s judgment signs is his defeat at Delilah’s hand. One commentator says the Philistines were so eager to capture Samson, Delilah’s reward was the equivalent of nearly $100 thousand today.
    Like the devil, Delilah prowled and schemed to betray and destroy Samson. She pretended love when her motive was death. How was Samson so deaf to repeatedly listen to Delilah’s plotting lies, “Tell me your secrets.” How was Samson so blind he could see Delilah’s lies leading to the Philistines’ repeated attacks?
    Here’s why: Samson’s arrogance deafened and blinded him. He even seemed to believe he was above God as he told the means of his strength. Apparently, Samson considered he didn’t need God’s power and protection in that evil room that night. It’s true: Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Jesus, too, warns of sleeping amid the danger: Luke 22:46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
     This was Israel’s weakness, too. Judges is just one record of Israel’s repeated sleeping arrogance to ignore God’s judgment signs. Could it be they believed, “God is always on our side regardless of what we do?”
    This is our challenge. It is the corruption of the sin nature that leads to be deaf and blind to sin’s pervasive temptations. Too often false teachers have told the world – and the church, “God loves you regardless of who you are. Heaven awaits.” The first part is true to an extent. God does love all in the world. But God’s love does not cancel God’s justice. Heaven does not await any who reject Jesus is the Son of God. One cannot be saved by sleeping through life, expecting salvation, arrogant of his own sin, rejecting the truth: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 4:17)
     We must acknowledge the Spirit of God has come upon us. In humility we are to faithfully seek God in all we do. Knowing his Word opens ears to hear and our eyes to see the truth.
    Learn from Samson’s and Israel’s arrogance. See how God’s power is your life. Be humble. Use God’s gifts to the full extent to do his will on earth.
 
Mark 16:20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.