Can You Have God's Gifts Without God's Blessing Series

When we look in the book of Hebrews Chapter 11 which is called "The Heroes of the Faith" we see where the Bible lists Samson as a hero of the faith the unknown writer of Hebrews say’s in (Heb. 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: ), It is interesting to find Samson’s name listed amongst Giedeon,Barak,and Jepthah, David, Samuel and the Prophets yet when you do a detailed study of the lives of these mentioned it shows the outstanding place that faith had in the experience and service of each. Many of which had personal shortcomings were victoriously overcome as they looked away from themselves to the greatness of God.

Yet such an honor that seems to conflict with the image of Samson in Judges. For example, he was notorious for his involvement with Delilah who was believed to be a prostitute that led to his downfall. Likewise, as a Nazirite he was obligated to refrain from touching a dead body, to abstain from alcohol and other products of the vine, and to avoid the use of a razor.In Judges 14:8 - 9 He clearly violated the first commitment for it reads "And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. 9 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion." Yet verse 19 in the same chapter say’s that the Spirit of the Lord still came upon Samson and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house. In spite of Samson’s foolishness, the Lord empowered him with His Spirit for the purpose of humbling the Philistines and disrupting their domination of the Israelites. In Judges 15:8 we read that after the Philistines had threatened to kill Samson’s wife if she would not get the riddle from him by burning down her house and her father’s house with fire because she had brought this evil upon herself by trying to betray her husband it was Samson who became upset and said in verse 7," Though ye have done this, yet will I be avenged of you, and after that I will cease. Samson was litterally saying this that though you have done this to them, and thereby shown what you would do to me if you could, yet that shall not deter me from being further vexatious to you.’’ Or, "Though you think, by doing this, you have made me satisfaction for the affront I received among you, yet I have Israel’s cause to plead as a public person, and for the wrongs done to them I will be avenged on you, and, if you will then forbear your insults, I will cease, aiming at no more than the deliverance of Israel.The Bible say’s in verse 8 ," he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter, and he went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam." We suppose the wounds he gave them to have been mortal, as wounds in the hip or thigh often prove, and therefore translate it, with a great slaughter. Some think he only lamed them, disabled them for service, as horses were houghed or ham-strung. It seems to be a phrase used to express a desperate attack; he killed them pell-mell, or routed them horse and foot. He smote them with his hip upon thigh, that is, with the strength he had, not in his arms and hands, but in his hips and thighs, for he kicked and spurned at them, and so mortified them, trod them in his anger, and trampled them in his fury sa. 63:3. And, when he had done, he retired to a natural fortress in the top of the rock Etam, where he waited to see whether the Philistines would be tamed by the correction he had given them. In Verses 9-15 of the same chapter it say’s " Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi. 10 And the men of Judah said, Why are ye come up against us? And they answered, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath done to us. 11 Then three thousand men of Judah wentb to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them. 12 And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves. 13 And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock. 14 And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosedc from off his hands. 15 And he found a newd jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith. 16 And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men. 17 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramathlehi." Samson violates his Nazirite vow again by touching part of a dead animal. In all likelihood he violated the second which I won’t focus on but the third one he violated by telling her where his strength was which was in his hair and ended up betraying the third in Judges 16:13–17 we read,"And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web. 14 And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web. 15 And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth. 16 And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexedg unto death; 17 That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, 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."