Samson Didn’t Loose His Strength, He Misplaced His Faith
Samson’s hair was never the source of his strength, but he lost sight of what was his strength. Let’s look at the story and discover how it can help us today, keep our faith in the right place.
Samson was from Nazareth. A city despised and ridiculed by all Judea. They were extremely devout, to the point that the men never cut their hair as an outward sign of their devotion to God. So, Samson was a devout Nazarene, but he was also of the Flesh.
The first thing that separates him from his faith in God’s Word is his wanting to marry a Philistine. He realizes this is not permitted, but does not relent. On the way so see her, he encounters a lion, which, after invoking help from God, he slays. When he returns later, he finds the carcass ripped open with a bee hive full of honey inside.
Lev 11:20-24
All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;22 Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.24 And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even.
KJV
Lev 11:26-2726 The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.27 And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even.
KJV
Knowing that the Food Laws do not allow touching a carcass or eating of honey he is tempted to eat of the sweet honey. He knows this is wrong, as he gives of the honey to his mother and father, but doesn’t tell them of its source. Later he offers the riddle to the Philistines for the offer of thirty (30 =a man’s calling) new outfits of clothing. (To remove his being unclean). But he tells his new wife of the origin of the riddle, and she tells her brothern. So, not olny does he have to supply the Philistines with the clean garments, he must do without clean garments for himself. But, when he goes to retrieve the garments, he asks God for his help. His faith is still alive.
Reprisals can be Nasty.
Being incensed by his wife’s betrayal, he sets fire to the Philistines crops and vineyards. And Samson avenged the burning of his wife and father-in-law by slaying three thousand Philistines(3 the Triune nature of God; 1000= a completeness of a time). He was done. The reprisals were over. Except, the Philistines ruled over Judea at this time, and his own brothern captured him and gave him to the Philistines.
Then after being bound by his own brothern and given to the Philistines, he slays one thousand(1=God’s completeness, 1000=completeness of a time) with the jaw of an ass. God rewards him with water to drink. His faith in God remains. Samson leaves Judea for twenty years(20=a time of waiting) and goes to Gaza where he meets a harlot, but escapes at midnight taking the front gate posts and bar with him to the top of a hill before Hebron. Hebron is the site of the oldest Jewish community in the world, which dates back to Biblical times. The Book of Genesis relates that Abraham purchased the field where the Tomb of the Patriarchs is located as a burial place for his wife Sarah. … King David was anointed in Hebron, where he reigned for seven years.
And Then There’s Delilah
Judg 16:4-5
And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.5 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.
KJV (11= Chaos;Judgement. 100= your inner wisdom, your spiritually. a new way of thinking)
OT:8321 qr@c)
soreq (so-rake’); or sowreq (so-rake’); and (feminine) soreqah (soray-kaw’); from OT:8319 in the sense of redness (compare OT:8320); a vine stock (properly, one yielding purple grapes, the richest variety):
OT:1809 ll^D*
dalal (daw-lal’); a primitive root (compare OT:1802); to slacken or be feeble; figuratively, to be oppressed:
She is pressed by her brothern to discover the secret to his strength. Finally, he relents and tells her the strength is from his Hair. It’s never been cut. It’s his outward sign of his faith in God. And he believes that this religious tradition is from where his strength arises. This is Sampson’s terrible mistake. For his strength did not come from the religious traditions, but from his faith in God. His hair was but an outward sign of his faith, but he allowed it to become his faith. When he returns to his faith in God he is able to destroy the house of the Philistines and all who were in it.
Lesson For Us Today
Never allow your Religion to replace your Faith in God. Religion is the trappings of the Traditions of Man draped over the Word of God. Religion is tradition. The Word Of God is reality! Your religion, no matter what it is, will never get you everlasting life. Only the belief that God himself came to Earth in a flesh body as Christ, and allowed his flesh to be destroyed by Death to show us He is the God of the Living, not the God of the Dead. Whoever shall believe on him shall have everlasting life.
Participate and enjoy the traditions and rituals of the many Christian Religions, but never forget the only thing that will save your soul is your belief God, Christ and The Holy Spirit. God forgave Samson forsaking his commandments for he remained faithful to God. But when Samson allowed his religion to replace his faith, he was lost. But God in his mercy will always take us back if our repentance is real. This is a very fine line to walk, but do not allow the traditions and rituals of religion to rob you of the freedom given under the Grace of God.