Samson: Physical Strength and Moral Weakness

The famous Hebrew Leader, Samson, is a tragic example of contrasts. “And he judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines” (Judges 15:20). Although famous for his supernatural physical strength, he was morally weak as seen in his sexual immorality. Samson was dedicated to God with a Nazirite vow and heroically defeated the enemy Philistines, yet he broke his vows and lost his testimony, power and ultimately, his life.

• “Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. So he went up and told his father and mother, saying…“Get her for me, for she pleases me well…”
• Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there…
• Afterward it happened that he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah… (Judges 14:1-3; 16:1,4).

Herbert Lockyer observed,

Samson stands out as a man of striking contrasts. He had a kind of Dr. Jekell and Mr. Hyde being.

I. He was separated as a Nazarite (Judg. 13:5), yet tampered with evil associations (Judg. 14:1-3).

II. He was occasionally Spirit-possessed (Judg. 13:25; 15:14), yet yielded to carnal appetites (Judg. 16:1-4).

III. He appeared childish in some of his plans (Judg. 15:4), yet was courageous in battle (Judg. 15:1-4).

IV. He was mighty in physical strength (Judg. 16:3, 9, 13, 14), yet weak in resisting temptation (Judg. 16:15-17).

V. He had a noble beginning but a sad end (Judg. 16:30).
– All The Men of the Bible.

Let us pray for the Spirit-filled life, free from habitual sin (Ephesians. 5:18). But our prayers need to be more than half-hearted and doubtful: “People who ‘worry their prayers’ are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open” (James 1:8, The Message).

But the Same Spirit who have Samson physical power when he was in step with God will give us moral power to be sexually temperate. “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh… Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness…But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” Gal. 5:1-24)

JBW