Michael Bishop
Samson's Flaw --- 9/25/2007

When we think of Samson, most of us probably think of a man of great strength. We think of a man who killed a lion with his bare hands, a man who slew a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey, and a man who brought an entire temple down on the heads of the most prominent Philistine leaders. Also, most of us probably think about Delilah, the woman who betrayed Samson. Samson indeed was a man of great strength, but Samson also had a flaw. Samson desired the things of the world more than the things of God.

When Samson came of age to marry, he went to a Philistine city named Timnath to find a wife. His father and mother pleaded with him to take a wife from his own people, but Samson wouldn’t have it. Though the Lord used this to bring about punishment on the Philistines, Samson’s desire was in the wrong place.

On the way with his father and mother to speak with the woman, Samson was attacked by a young lion. Scripture says that Samson “rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand.” Samson did not tell his mother and father what he had done. Later, when they returned for Samson, Samson took honey from the carcass of the lion. He not only ate it, but he gave it to his mother and father, not telling them where he found it. He broke the Nazarite vow by eating an unclean thing, and he caused his parents to break their vows by giving them something unclean to eat. Samson’s desired the wrong things.

Later in Samson’s life, after the slaying of the thousand, he visits a harlot in Gaza. Once again, his desire was for the wrong things. After this, he loved Delilah, another Philistine woman. When she asked after the secret of his strength, Samson told her lies and flirted with disaster. Each time she asked, Samson gave her an answer closer and closer to the truth, until he finally told her the secret. Scripture says Delilah pressed him daily so that his soul was vexed unto death. If Samson’s desire would have been for the things of the Lord, he would not have been in this situation.

Samson told Delilah that his hair was never cut because of his Nazarite vow and that this was the source of his strength. However, Samson did not realize that the uncut hair was not the source of his great strength; Samson’s strength came from God. His vow was a symbol of his worship and obedience to God. When Samson told Delilah his secret, she had his hair cut after she lulled him to sleep. Samson allowed his worship to be cut off. You see, he had never really desired spiritual things. He had never truly cared about his worship or obedience. He merely thought of his uncut hair as a means of strength by which he could take revenge on his enemies.

Samson did not even realize when he awoke that the Spirit of the Lord had left him. He did not have a true relationship and had become accustomed to God just giving him strength when he needed it. Samson had never truly desired spiritual things.

In his last moments, Samson realized where his strength came from and called upon God to give it to him one last time, so that he might be avenged for the Philistines gouging out his eyes. Samson also asked to die along with the Philistines. The Lord heard him, and in his death Samson slew more of his enemies than he did in his life. Samson had great strength but also a flaw. He did not desire spiritual things.