Samson the Fearless

“O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time.”  Judges 16:28

God gave Samson a unique gift to help him judge the nation of Israel. He was not humble like Gideon. He was not devout like Deborah. He was not wise like Samuel. But...he was strong. As I suggested in my last blog, God made Samson an Avenger and...above all...that required fearless strength. As God’s tool to bring justice against the Philistines, Samson would need both these qualities in Divine measure. The task before him certainly demanded superhuman strength to accomplish superhuman deeds. Even more, the ability to overcome fear was seminal in enabling him to march confidently into battle against overwhelming odds.

Alone...

We all understand giftedness in one area does not equate to giftedness in all areas of life. Logic tells us the amount of energy required to perfectly hone our gift leaves little to invest in other areas of our lives. A.W. Tower comes to mind as a modern day example. His biography reveals a profound gift for understanding...and explaining scripture to the less adept. His books are evidence. Yet, other areas of his life were less memorable. A gifted scientist like Einstein was socially awkward. A gifted musician like Arthur Rubinstein couldn’t change the oil in his car. 

Herein is the danger of giftedness...and we are all gifted; It often induces atrophy in other important things.

By my count, the Bible offers only two accounts where Samson prayed. He prayed after slaying a thousand Philistines. He was overcome with thirst and called to the Lord 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?” The other occasion was before he destroyed the Temple of Dagon and Killed 3,000 people. He said “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.”

I get it. If I could fearlessly defeat a thousand men with a club, I probably would be brimming with self-confidence. Still, Samson could not will Himself to be “unthirsty” he could no will Himself to be “unblind” and “unweak”. He was driven to prayer by his own inabilities.

Sound familiar?

Unless, of course, I was working to cultivate strength and health in other areas...like my ego. Prayer is the door that allows Divine activity to enter our lives and accomplish Divine things. But prayer is preceded by humility and obedience. Samson had sparing amounts of both. And even the content of his prayers reveal unhealthy levels of self-importance.

Again, I am far from critical of Samson. He had a gift that made humility and dependence on God humanly impossible. Samson’s life serves as a metaphor for our own lives. He maximized his gift at the expense of other areas in his life. It made life less comfortable for those around him and seasoned his legacy with a confusing savor. Yet...God used him to accomplish justice for Israel. 

Ask yourself...”What particular gift has God given me?” Then, as you work to cultivate your skills, remember. Prayer is the first discipline...not the last. Prayer bathes us in God’s power and presence. It will assure others and ensure outcomes.

Live boldly out there today...