Bio – Samson

c. 11^th century BC

Samson was the son of Manoah. Manoah and his wife had long hoped for a child, but Manoah’s wife was barren. Then an angel appeared and told them that they would have a child who would deliver the Israelites from their enemies, the Philistines. The angel told them that they should bring the child up as a Nazarite—he must not drink alcohol or eat unclean foods, and no razor should ever touch his head.

Samson grew up to be unbelievably strong and courageous. No razor touched his head and his strength grew and grew. He was filled with the spirit of the Lord repeatedly during his lifetime. But Samson fell prey to many human weaknesses, including anger and vengefulness. His weakness for Philistine women would ultimately be his undoing. God had warned the Israelites not to mix with those who worshipped false gods and idols, yet over and over again Samson was drawn towards these exotic women. Finally, he fell in love with a Philistine woman named Delilah. She was very beautiful, but treacherous, and she agreed to help her countrymen find out the secret of his great strength.

To begin with, Samson told her lies, hoping that she would give up, but she cajoled and upbraided him incessantly, and at last he told her the truth—that his strength lay in his hair. That night he was captured by the Philistines, who cut his hair and put out his eyes, and kept him a prisoner, not noticing that his hair had begun to grow back.

One day, he was brought to a temple to be displayed as a trophy at a great gathering of Philistines. Samson prayed to God to give him strength one last time, and then, with a mighty effort, he toppled the huge pillars which supported the temple, dying himself, but also killing more of his enemies in this last act of rebellion than he had in his entire lifetime. No doubt, with this act Samson weakened the power of the Philistines over Israel for some time to come.

Time and time again, God has shown us that he can choose the most unlikely individuals to be champions for his people. Samson was far from perfect—he was foolish and disobedient, and allowed his lust to lead him astray. But he experienced clear consequences for his sinfulness, and his faith in God, and his willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice and to lay down his own life to save his people, made him a true hero.

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