Struggle Against Opposition

MEMORY SELECTION: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” —Psalm 27:1

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Judges 13:1; 16:23-30

ONE of the most colorful figures to preside over the affairs of Israel during the very turbulent period of their history known as “the period of the Judges” was Samson. He served as Israel’s judge for a period of twenty years. (Judg. 15:20; 16:31) Those who served in that capacity were not elected to office by the people but were appointed to that position by God. Further, the office was not passed on to descendants, as was common with the kings, and they drew no salary. They acted merely as the servants of God on behalf of their people.

Samson is best known for the great strength which he possessed. On one occasion he killed a lion with his bare hands, and another time he slew a thousand demon worshipers while armed with only the jawbone of an ass. He also carried off the ponderous gates of Gaza. And as a prisoner of the Philistines he killed more heathen enemies than he did during any period of his life, by pulling down the temple of Dagon, ending his own life along with that of the assembled multitude of his captors. His undaunted bravery was no doubt linked with the devotion he professed in connection with the Nazarite vow—his strength being manifested in his unrazored hair.

During Samson’s time the children of Israel were under the oppressive hand of the Philistines, who in turn had completely disarmed them. Samson revived the spirit of Israel and stimulated patriotism in the hearts of his people by the many displays of strength and valor which he manifested. His brethren no doubt looked upon him as their “deliverer.”

Samson was dedicated to the Nazarite vow from before his birth. The vow is recorded in Numbers 6:2-6, and includes the consecration of one’s life to God, complete avoidance of strong drink, and that the hair should remain uncut. The angel of God appeared to Samson’s mother twice to inform her of her child’s separation for that purpose. And at the time of birth “the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The boy grew up in Mahaneh-Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol, and the Lord blessed him, and the spirit of the Lord began to drive him hard.” (Judg. 13:24,25, NEB) Later, in his confession to Delilah, he acknowledged that he had been faithful in keeping the vow. He said (Judg. 16:17), “There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”

The scriptural account reveals Samson’s complete undoing by a woman—Delilah—who had collaborated with his enemies to entrap him. Overpowered, no doubt, by her charms, he confided in her and told her not only that his Nazarite vow included abstinence from strong drink, but that his unusual gift of strength was a blessing in connection with his unshorn hair, and that if the vow were broken in any way, his strength would likewise be broken. While he slept on her lap Delilah deceitfully had his hair cut off and then awoke him by saying (vss. 20,21), “The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wilt not that the Lord was departed from him. But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.”

One of the lessons associated with Samson’s life is dedication to God. He was a profitable servant of God throughout his life and devoted his talents to his brethren, the children of Israel. It is noted that the Apostle Paul, while enumerating those who were of the “faith class” in ancient times, includes the name of Samson as one of the those who will receive a “better resurrection” under the terms of the kingdom arrangement.—Heb. 11:32

The lesson for the child of God during the present age of acceptable sacrifice is complete consecration of one’s life to the present call. Any violation of that dedication would indicate a weakness of character and a turning aside of the intentions of the heart that should be tuned to greater faithfulness.

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