“Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines.” Judges 14:1
Today’s Verse begins the sad and sorry tale of Samson, a man God chose to rule His People, but one of questionable character and virtue. He grew up during a time one could call the “Dark Ages” of the Old Testament. Apart from the stories in Judges we don’t have a lot of information, except that the People of God drifted from worshiping Jehovah to worshiping Idols. And we don’t know much about his parents other than they were willing to raise him in the Nazarite tradition, but then let him marry a Philistine.
He continued to remain faithful to his Vows, prayed at times, but then was willing to marry a Gentile, visit a Prostitute, and give himself to pleasure and temptation with Delilah. He seemed to enjoy his role as “one man wrecking crew” when it came time to judging the Philistines, and sought out opportunities to let that role govern his life. In the end, though he brought God’s Judgement upon the Philistines and was willing to take his life in doing so, he seemed more concerned for retribution in losing his eyesight.
What can we learn from his life? God can use “Anyone”! Just because God chose him doesn’t mean he was a Large man with a Body Building Physique. Samson may have been the wimpiest looking guy imaginable, but when the Spirit of God came upon him, he had Hulk-like strength. God using him does not mean He approves of his lifestyle and behavior. We need to beware of using “characters” in the Bible as Moral Examples! Sometimes they are not. In time, another Samson would come, destroy the Enemy, and be the Perfect Model for us. His name is Jesus!