I'm just gonna preface this by saying that if you have another perspective on this, I would LOVE to hear it.
I'm just gonna say it.
I think Samson was an idiot.
I was reading in Judges & looking for the part about Deborah because she's awesome! And Jael! Dang! I'm thinking on naming my imaginary/future daughter Jael or Deborah. We'll see. So back on topic- Samson. So if you haven't been in Judges, I'll sum it up for you.
Basically, Samson's mom hadn't been able to have kids, but one day an angel/man came to her & told her she was going to have a son. She went to tell her husband what had happened & he's all, "well, it'd be cool if I could see this for myself. Can you work that out God?" So the next day or so, the angel appears to Samson's mom, so she runs and gets the hubby. The angel repeats what he'd told her.
So Samson's born and grows and his hair grows. And he grows strong. But then he keeps falling for these Philistine women who can't keep their mouths shut and they can't be trusted. But Samson keeps telling them his secrets (about riddles and his strength). When he tells the wrong thing (multiple times!) and they blab his secrets, he still goes back and tells them the truth. I'm sorry, but that's kind of stupid. They've proven they can't be trusted, but they keep whining about him making them look like fools. And about how HE'S not trusting THEM with the truth. Pullease. So the whole getting-his-head-shaved and eyes-gouged-thing is totally his fault.
I've read this story a few times over the years and it always makes me so angry at Samson. He keeps making these stupid decisions and falling for the wrong (and very annoying) women. So last night and today, I was seriously asking God what could be learned from this? Don't make stupid decisions? Don't trust people? Listen to your parents (definitely a good thing to do!)?
And then I started to wonder about what could cause a man to make stupid decisions. I started to think through some of the stupid decisions I've made (whether intentional and unintentional). Why would such a strong man that was dedicated to the Lord do these things? Was he so insecure despite his strength? Was he just lacking in the wisdom department? Or was he not living in his identity? God gave him this amazing strength. Did he just forget who he was and who he was to God? How many times have I lived outside my true identity? How many times have I been afraid of the great things I was and have been called to? How many times have I been distracted by the good looking things/people? How many times have I let that be my focus and not God?
Too many.
So I'm coming to terms with Samson, his decisions, and just how many times I've acted like him. Thankfully, in the end, Samson gives his heart back to the Lord. I mean, he dies, but he uses the last of his strength to bring down some evil dudes. And the verse says that he killed more men when he died than when he lived. He accomplished more with his death than in his life.
Now, I hope I get to do and see some awesome things with/in my life,
but I hope my death is just as glorifying to God as my life.
So, thoughts? Perspectives?
