Samson and the Spirit

I had planned to teach on the life of Samson this sunday, but I’m redirecting my thoughts on the lives of Saul and David.  It’s quite a switch, I know.  I’m hoping to look at both of these men’s interaction with Spirit of God and how they interacted with the 3rd person of the trinity throughout their lives.  But, as I sit down to blog this morning I still have Samson on my mind.  We could argue all day long, but in my opinion, Samson’s life is one of the more tragic stories in Scripture.

Samson was the son of a couple who were in turmoil.  When he was born he was set aside to be a special person – someone with a destiny.  I know a lot of people who grew up with that kind of mantle placed on them – it can be a pretty heavy burden.  Samson was set apart to be a Nazarite – one who had vowed to remain pure (no alcohol, never touch dead things and never get a hair cut).  Jews were already called to be different from the world around them, but Samson was even called to be different from the holiest of Jews. Samson couldn’t maintain the demands of his call – truthfully, he didn’t just NOT keep them, but he fled from the call.

Samson was a frequent visitor to prostitution houses, touched all kinds of dead animals and people, drank like a fish, and ultimately threw away the blessing of God by telling his lover about his hair.  Now it wasn’t actually his hair that gave him strength.  What gave him the strength was following the call of God.  I think God showed remarkable restraint and grace in not popping Samson early on, but instead he let Samson stretch his boundaries until there was NO coming back.
It appears that at the end of his life Samson had a change in heart.  He had been captured, eyes gouged out and forced to work as a slave for the Philistines.  Samson called out to God and God heard his cry.  God used Samson for one final encounter that would cause the enemies of God to pause before they brought more desolation on the Jewish people.  Samson brought the house down and he did it willingly and obediently.  It was really the first time in his life that he had fully thrown himself into the call that God had given him.

Samson is a great life lesson in Call.  I’m talking with a ton of recent High School Grads, current College Students, and College Grads about their call.  It’s easy to use Samson to drive that point, but I think there is another lesson that maybe even more pertinent to our day and age.  In some Christian circles, there is a common practice of “naming” attitudes and spirits that we see throughout scripture.  For Samson, we could easily see and name this as a Rebellious spirit living in him – a “I’m going to do it my-way” kind of attitude that just took over.  Now whether you want to name it or not, this rebellious attitude is a big deal and it’s something that is pretty rampant in and out of the church.

Sadly, we who make up the body of Christ often let this rebellious attitude slip in to all areas of our ministry and life.  From worship preference, to discipleship, to tithing, to even keeping it safe in our walk, I meet christians each week who struggle with Sinatra’s theme song – I did it my way and you can’t tell me otherwise.  I find it really sad.  We know this isn’t the way to go!  We know what Jesus left us with as the example of how to live – to be the chief servant – to let others come first – to have a humble and peace-filled spirit that loves till it hurts.

It’s not a fun to talk about humility and yet this is the call.  We were not called out and given freedom to demand our own way.  We were not freed form the power of sin to glorify ourselves.  We were not blessed with the indwelling power of the Triune God to allow rebellion to have any place in our lives.  Scripture calls this sin of rebellion as evil and insidious as witchcraft!  That’s pretty intense.

How is it with your soul?  Do those closest to you see you as having a rebellious nature or one that is willing to submit your “right-ness” for sake of unity and the Kingdom of Jesus?  Do you have to have it your own way?  When you’re convicted by the Holy Spirit, do you stuff it down, knowing that its really for someone else, or do you walk away from your preference and allow the Holy Spirit to use you to do even greater things?

I guess this story of Samson is so real to me right now because I find that it’s easy for me to rebel and run away from what I know God is calling me to be and do.  This life of Samson, this tragic and epic failed life, is one that I don’t want to repeat.  Instead, I want to live that non-anxious, life-giving kind of daily walk.  I want to willingly repent – to seek out the opportunity to forgive and to search for ways to grow.  I want these things and I believe that God wants it for you too.  I pray for us all that we would have eyes to see and hearts to be willing to rebel against our own rebellion.