By Olubunmi Adebayo
*The foundational statement on Samson was as follows :*
*Judges 13:[5] “For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines”.*
*Samson is one of the most tragic characters in the Bible. He started as a deliverer and ended as an entertainer. He was born by prophecy, raised as a Nazarite, anointed from the womb – but he failed to manage his choices within the framework of God’s expectations.*
*His life teaches us that your gift can take you up, but only your character will keep you there.*
*3 critical words played very powerful roles in the life of Samson : CHOICES, CHANCES, CONSEQUENCES.*
*A) THE POWER OF CHOICES.*
*Samson had anointing, but lacked the necessary discipline.*
*He chose lust over the law of God :*
*Judges 14:[1] “And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.*
*[2]And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife…for she pleases me well.”*
*His parents told him, “Is there no woman among our people?” He said “No.”*
*Samson was governed by what he saw. Verse 1 says “Samson went down to Timnah and SAW a woman.” Every major fall of Samson started with “HE SAW.” He saw the woman, he saw the honey in the dead lion, he saw Delilah.*
*Many young people today are like Samson – they are not led by the Spirit, they are led by their eyes.*
*Please know that being anointing does not cancel lust. If you don’t control your eyes, your eyes will control your destiny.*
*Samson chose to play with sin – he was a Nazarite whose life was governed by : no wine, no cutting of hair, no touching a dead body. But Samson touched a dead lion to eat honey. He went into a harlot in Gaza. He kept going back to Delilah even after she tried to kill him 3 times.*
*We can place his attitude as follows : “I can handle sin. I can touch it and still be strong.”*
*Many of us are like Samson : we know that relationship is wrong, but we say “We are just friends.” We know that site is wrong, but we say “I will just look, I will not do.” Samson thought grace would always cover his games. He forgot that grace does not give you permission to sin, grace gives you power to stop sinning.*
*Another wrong choice of Samson was that he chose to reveal what should have been concealed – Samson’s strength was not in his hair. His strength was in his covenant. His hair was just a symbol of the covenant.*
*Delilah asked him about this 4 times. 3 times he lied. The 4th time, the Bible says she pressed him daily until his soul was vexed unto death. And he told her all his heart.*
*Some secrets should not be revealed. Some destinies are too heavy to be shared with a Delilah who has not shared your conviction. Learn to keep your covenant private.*
*B) THE ADVANTAGE OF CHANCES.*
*Our God is the God of Second Chances. He is a merciful, and He gave Samson many chances.*
*He had the benefit of parental warning. Every time he went wrong, his parents warned him. That was a chance. Who is warning you now? Your pastor, your mother, your wife/husband? Don’t despise it.*
*The Chance of escape : this came up 3 times when he lied. When Delilah tied him with bowstrings, with new ropes, with weaving his hair – he had the chance of escape. That was God saying “Samson, run! This woman will kill you!” But he stayed. Many of us have had narrow escapes – that accident you survived, that disease you overcame, that police case that disappeared. That was God giving you another chance.*
*To be concluded tomorrow, God willing.*
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©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
