Saturday, May 8, 2010

The Lord had left him

“Then she called, ‘Samson, the Philistines are upon you!’ He awoke from his sleep and thought, ‘I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.’ But he did not know that the Lord had left him.” Judges 16:20
Samson had so much potential, to be a real hero for the nation Israel against their enemies, the Philistines. Instead, he got caught up in infatuation for Philistine women and became blind to the warning signs, as we saw yesterday with Delilah. Finally he succumbed to her persistent questioning and told her how he could be subdued. Despite this, when he awoke this time, he thought he would be able to loose himself as before. He took his gift and calling for granted; in fact it might be suggested that perhaps Samson did not really believe that the key to his strength lay in the Nazirite vow, symbolised by his long hair.
This is perhaps the most tragic moment in Samson’s life: he did not know the Lord had left him. He had made one compromise too many. The Nazirite vow involved three components (Num. 6:2-6): (1) he must not eat or drink anything made from grapes, (2) he must not go near a dead body or carcass, (3) he must not cut his hair. Samson had already broken the first two (see Judg. 14:8-10). God was patient with him though, waiting until he broke the third part of the vow before He departed.
Are we aware of God being with us every moment of every day? Would we notice if He withdrew Himself from us?

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