A Painted Old Testament | With Ray Comfort, Ron Dicianni & Dave YaukSample

Samson’s Fall from Dave Yauk

The story of Samson has been shortchanged through the centuries. In today’s devotion we’d like to “paint” his story in a different light. 

First, the Scriptures record that Samson’s call began with the “Lord stirring in him.” Second, yes, Samson’s life was a tragedy, but upon seeking out a prostitute in Timnah, the Scriptures say “it was from the Lord, for he (the LORD) was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines” (Judges 14:4). Third, when Samson killed the lion, something ill-befitting of a Nazerite, it says it was because the “Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him” (Judges 14:6). Out of the incident with the lion came a riddle posed by Samson to God’s enemies: “Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet.” The riddle of course perplexed the men, until they bribed Samson’s bride to get the answer from him. Upon their request, Scripture tells us that Samson slayed the men in another “rush of the Spirit” (Judges 14:19).

Not only is there numerous mention of Samson being empowered by God’s Spirit, but one evening, as Samson went to sleep with a prostitute in Gaza—during the night being ambushed by the Gazites—the Scripture text says that he “took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that is in front of Hebron” (Judges 16:3). Samson’s act of taking the enemies’ gates to Hebron was a direct response to his faith in God’s promise made to Abraham in Genesis 22:17: “I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies …” 

As you read the story of Samson today, consider this tragic story of a fallen man attempting to live by faith. It’s a reminder to all of us that God can empower faith and good work through all our mistakes, no matter how broken.