Hebrews 11 - Samson
Readings for this week October 2 - 8
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Day 1 – Surprising Samson
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Hebrews 11:32-33
In many ways Samson seems unqualified for a place in the roll call of the faithful in Hebrews 11. So much of his life appears to be a case of someone blessed with so much potential, and so much promise, wasting it because of an inability to control his desires and an unwillingness to let God be sovereign in his life. How could – why would – God use him? Perhaps there are people around us we ask the same question about: how can God possibly use someone so arrogant, so wasteful, so sinful? Of course, there may be people wondering the same thing about us….
However, one positive thing Samson’s seeming inappropriateness forces us to do, and this applies to everyone, not just Samson, is to move our eyes away from this deeply flawed and supposedly undeserving figure and look to God. Not only because God is the only one who truly knows what is in each human heart; not only because God is the only one who can love each human being, as wayward as they are, truly and deeply; but because God knows what he is doing, he knows exactly how sinful, imperfect people can still be part of bringing his creation back to him and into its fullness. God is the always faithful one. Despite Samson’s faults, God still had his hand upon him and still used him as his instrument. Yes, a more disciplined, obedient, humble Samson might have been an even greater conduit for God to use, accomplishing even greater things for God’s glory. But despite his shortcomings, he was still important to God. God can use anyone and everyone, no matter who they are or what they’ve done.
Question to Consider
What stands out to you when you think of the life of Samson? Why?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we are sinful, imperfect creatures and yet you still love us and choose to use us. Thank you for not giving up on us and for bringing us back to you again and again despite our failings. Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
Day 2 – Making God Work for It
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Judges 14
The world of mainstream, studio-run, blockbuster cinema seems tailor-made for (most of) the story of Samson, a biblical ‘superhero’ of immense strength and fearlessness whose amazing feats in battle are lauded for their extraordinary, miraculous results. Samson is well known as a warrior of Herculean bravery and strength. He kills a lion; he kills 30 men at once; using only the jawbone of an ass, he destroys an entire thousand strong army of Philistines. At a time when the Israelites were in need of a great warrior, assailed from many sides by their enemies, Samson was there to take the battle to the enemy. His physical strength is the main characteristic that people remember about Samson.
But it is interesting to note that so many times when Samson goes into action the text says, as it does here, “The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him” – thus proving that the source of his strength is God, but also highlighting that it seems God has to take over and direct Samson himself, because Samson is too busy pursuing his own interests and desires and what is “pleasing to my eyes” (a Philistine wife, for example). As Samson chases his own wants and desires (the “pleasing to my eyes refrain” mirrors Judges 17:6 where “everyone did what was right in his own eyes”) he is just like the rest of his sinful countrymen. God still uses Samson though it seems to be in spite of Samson’s selfish disobedience, rather than in tandem with submissive service. It all comes from God in fulfilment of his purposes – but better to be with our obedience than in spite of it.
Question to Consider
How was Samson being selfish and contradicting the laws of Israel? When have you been tempted to do the same? What happened?
Prayer
Sovereign Lord, help me curb my selfish desires. Help me live so that my faithfulness mirrors yours and my life is a conduit for your grace. Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
Day 3 – The Consequences of a Bad Haircut
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Judges 16:1-21
What is the moral of the story of Samson? Never let your girlfriend cut your hair? Possibly. But one thing his life shows us is the ubiquity of sin and the way in which it can derail even a life that begins as auspiciously as his – an angelic messenger, a miraculous birth; echoes of both Abraham and Mary, and divinely ordained to “take the lead in delivering the Israelites from the hands of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5). Having been used by God, but also having burned through a Philistine wife and a prostitute after chasing after what was pleasing to his eye, Samson hooks up with Delilah and this begins the end of Samson’s story.
His hair has been cut. His eyes have been gouged out. Having lived a life dominated by both his strength and what he found pleasing to his eyes, Samson has now lost both. Living for his own glory and for the praise and love of others, Samson’s failure to offer his strength and the ‘eyes’ of his heart in service to God has resulted in his capture, torture and imprisonment, and the loss for the Israelites of a bulwark against the Philistines. Slave to his passions, Samson is now a slave to his enemies. Though physically strong in life, he was also spiritually weak: impetuous, lustful, and prideful. The very mission that Samson was born for is now in tatters because of Samson’s arrogance before God and the lack of humility, spiritual discipline and submission. His lack of faith in God’s sovereign direction for his life has put him and Israel in great danger.
Question to Consider
Why did Samson tell his secret to Delilah? Was it a mistake or indicative of some deeper character flaw? How could this have been avoided?
Prayer
Gracious Lord, forgive my transgressions, my sins, my unfaithfulness. Guide me in your ways; show me the routines and disciplines that will allow me to grow in you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
Day 4 – The Way Back
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Judges 16:22-31
What do we learn from the life of Samson, one who, even before he was born, was destined for great things, but who for so much of his life went his own way, did what was right in his own eyes, and squandered so much of what he had been given? How, if at all, does the way his life ended help us reassess what came before? (I’m going to pass over the fact that Samson’s last act of faithfulness involved the death and destruction of numerous people; this is an important question, but not one for right now.) What does the shape of this one human life tell us about the shape of all human lives?
Redemption is always possible, for ourselves and for others. However far we may have fallen, however distant from God our actions have taken us, however impossible we might feel returning to be, God waits for us, God welcomes us, God redeems us. When Samson, so far from God, cried out to him one last time, God was there to hear and answer. God remained faithful even when Samson didn’t. Maybe, as for Samson, there will still be consequences that accompany our redemption, effects that we must live (or die) with. But God’s eternal faithfulness outlasts our own imperfect attempts to be faithful; he even gives us the gift of the Spirit to teach and empower us into greater areas of faith and service. Samson fell far. But by the grace of the God he had served so faithfully before, he was able to return to God and offer himself in one last act of service.
Question to Consider
In what ways can we see the mercy of God in the final act of Samson's story? How has God been merciful and forgiving towards you lately?
Prayer
Lord God, thank you providing a way back, not only from the human mire of sin and damnation, but from the smaller missteps of unfaithfulness and disobedience. You are merciful and full of grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
Day 5 – Our Weakness, His Strength
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Hebrews 11:32-34
Finally and, I hope, obviously, but also somewhat ironically, we learn from the life of Samson the strongman an important lesson about weakness. We learn that though we are weak, God is strong. If we rely only on our own human strength and put our faith in ourselves or in other people, no matter how strong we are, we will end up weak and enslaved to our desires, ruled by our lusts and wants. The life of Samson, that promised so much but delivered so little for so long, is a reminder that our true strength and our lasting hope is only found in God. He is the source of all things, including ourselves, our desires, our strengths.
Through the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, our weakness is made strong because our sin has been forgiven. We are no longer bound under sin’s weight; we are no longer forced to be shackled by its power, if we will trust in God’s strength and retain hope in his faithfulness to be with us and strengthen us in all we do. At the end, Samson acknowledged the source of his strength: “Please God strengthen me.” He returned to the source of his self, his life, and God gave him power one last time. And thus we come back to what the book of Hebrews says about that list of people who include Samson: through faith he (and they) were made strong out of weakness. Through Jesus, the embodied sign of God’s faithfulness, we can be made strong in our weakness for the sake of God’s kingdom and the world.
Question to Consider
Like Samson, we all have our strengths and weaknesses. How can we ensure our strengths don't lead to pride and our downfall?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, teach me to seek strength only from you. May you be the source of all that I do. Help me offer you my weaknesses each day so that you may use them for your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)