A He-man with a She-problem

By Doug Pierce

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and  enticed. Then when lust hath  conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and  sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth  death. Do not err, my beloved  brethren.” James 1:14-17

One of the most famous Old Testament characters is the Israelite strong man named Samson. In children’s picture Bibles, Samson is often pictured like a WWE Wrestler with bulging biceps and an imposing physical presence. However, I don’t think he looked like that at all. In fact, I think he may have looked more like Steve Urkel than Arnold Schwarzenegger. Why do I think that? I believe that’s what baffled those Philistines. It could be why  they were constantly trying to find the source of his great strength. It sure wasn’t in his biceps if he looked like Steve Urkel!

The real story with Samson was not in his great strength, but his great weakness. Truly, Samson was one bad dude when it came to a fight, but he was weak as a kitten when it came to controlling his own lusts. Samson loved the ladies. The first words from his mouth recorded in Scripture are these, “ I have seen a woman….” (Judges 14:2). He was a he-man with a she-weakness. That she-weakness ended up destroying his life as his Philistine fling, Delilah, sold him out for some silver coins. And like a dumb ox, Samson was easily deceived by a conniving floozie! 

WHEN YOU PLAY WITH FIRE…

Samson played with fire, and got burned badly. After hounding him continually, he finally revealed to Delilah the secret of his strength. Then while in a deep sleep, she cut his hair. Moments later, she cried out, “The Philistines be upon thee,  Samson. And he awoke out of his  sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him” (Judges 16:20). The Lord’s hand of power had left him, and Samson the strong man became Samson the weakling. That’s when the Philistines took him, gouged out his lustful eyes, bound him in bronze chains, and forced him to grind grain in the prison.

They brought the deliverer of Israel down to a lowly slave. The tragic story of Samson should serve as a warning to each of us. Harmless flirtation is never harmless. Allowing the mind and eyes to wander down lustful paths will take their toll. Those trips can lead you off a cliff. 

“If the consequences of sin occurred immediately, sin would have few takers!”  E.C. McKenzie 

Think about that. That is so true!

LEARN FROM SAMSON.

Are you playing with fire? Destruction may not come today, but it will come eventually—unless you change course! Galatians 6:7-8 clearly warns us, “ Be not deceived; God is not  mocked: for whatsoever a man  soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the  flesh reap corruption; but he that  soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit  reap life everlasting. .” Jesus warned. “The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak” (Mat 26:41). May we be diligent to put to death, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the deeds of the flesh. May we make “no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Romans 8:13-14). 

May we heed the BAD testimony of Samson and determine by God’s grace to not play with fire … because when you play with fire, you eventually get burned.

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

God is no respecter of persons, but He is a forgiver of sins and a redeemer of souls. In prison, blind Samson repented, and God responded in mercy and used him one last time. Samson died on a positive note, but he missed out on the tremendous impact God had planned for him. 

 As John Whittier once wrote, “Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, ‘It might have been.’” 

That is how Samson is remembered. That is the epitaph over the grave of Samson. 

Don’t let it be yours! 

Think it over…

Doug Pierce is a Church planter and a pastor. In 2003 he started, and continues to pastor First Independent Methodist Church in Madison, Mississippi. His #1 priority is to glorify God in all aspects of ministry. He does this through teaching his congregation to Love God, Love One Another, and Love Others to God. Prayer, outreach, and church growth through evangelism are vital parts of his ministry. He and his wife Suzanne live in Madison, Mississippi where they also enjoy their children and grandchildren.

Feature Image by Open Life Church Network