Daily Reading: Judges chapters 13 thru 16

Excerpted from The Renovare' Spiritual Formation Bible:

Undermining God's Gifts

Samson is lauded for his extraordinary physical strength.  Like no one else in the Bible, Samson received the strength from God to tear a lion apart bare-handed, catch and tie together three hundred foxes, kill a thousand  Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey, break new ropes bound around him, remove a city gate and carry it up a hill, and bring down the pillars of a great house.  His feats resembled those of a mythical hero, yet with these acts his heroism ended.  Considered a judge in Israel because of his God-given strength, Samson had the opportunity to lead the Israelites out of bondage to the Philistines.  He could have led them spiritually as well.  He did neither.

As strong as Samson was physically, he was weak morally and spiritually.  Despite his upbringing by godly parents and his knowledge that God had specially chosen and gifted him, Samson allowed his sensual appetites to control his actions again and again.  Against Mosaic law, Samson demanded a pagan woman for a wife, visited a prostitute, and allowed his passion for Delilah to put him into the hands of the Philistines.  His appetites moved him to violate each of the three conditions of his Nazirite vow: he touched the dead carcass of a lion to get honey, joined in a feast with much wine before his wedding, and let his hair be cut.  Samson did not possess the inner strength to accompany his outer strength, and this void became his downfall.

Samson's life story offers a sobering reminder of the limitations of God-given talents and gifts.  The temptation to rely on these gifts and ignore a commitment to personal growth in holiness can make us fall short of all God intends us to be.  One commentary states: "Though Samson had received great gifts from the Spirit of God, he fell far short of holiness ...Often the very area in which a person is most gifted proves to be his or her weakness".

For Samson, it was strength.  Great strength masked great weakness.   Without personal discipline his bodily power was not enough to equip him to serve well.  We face similar challenges.  For some of us, a gift of teaching might mask hypocrisy.  A gift of speaking might mask an inability to relate intimately to others.  A gift of the ability to create or build might mask a hollow family life.  A gift of the ability to bring beauty might mask inattention to the beautifying of the spirit.  A gift of compassion might mask cynicism.

The list could go on.  Yet as we recognize our own forms of strength and weakness, let us not grow discouraged.  The God who has created us stands with is, ready to keep forming us in response to our obedience.  In pondering Samson's story, let's ask God for insight and help as we seek the discipline needed to live out in fullness all God has created us to be.