Podcast Introduction

Our reading today is Judges 12-16, and I’m calling the episode “ The Costly Haircut.”

Comments on Judges 13-16

Samson is a tragic figure. He had great physical strength, but was spiritually undisciplined and weak.

There were such high expectations for him at his birth. He was dedicated to God as a Nazirite, and God was going to use him to begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines. 

The Hebrew word "nazir" means "to be separated or consecrated". Generally, the Nazirite vow was taken by those who voluntarily decided to yield to God completely, and for a specified period of time. However, there are two people in the Old Testament who were presented to God by their parents...Samuel and Samson. In the New Testament, there was one person...John the Baptist. 

As we saw in Judges 13-16, though Samson was outwardly a Nazirite, spiritually he was not wholly committed to God. He let his flesh rule his actions. His attraction to beautiful women control him. He should never have allowed himself to be attracted to Philistine women, but he let his passion dictate his decisions.

However, God had a purpose for Samson that went beyond Samson himself. He was to be used to begin the rescue of Israel from the Philistines. Despite Samson's weakness for women, God accomplished that work through him, but at great cost to Samson. 

One has to believe that if Samson lived a life of true dedication to God, he would be remembered as a man of great strength both physically and spiritually.

God has a purpose for each of us, beloved. Do we limit our effectiveness for God by allowing sin in our lives? 

Listen to what Charles Spurgeon said of Samson: “As long as he is consecrated he is strong; break that, he is weak as water. Now there are a thousand razors with which the devil can shave off the locks of a consecrated man without his knowing it. Samson is sound asleep; so clever is the barber that he even lulls him to sleep as his fingers move across the pate, the fool’s pate, which he is making bare. The devil is cleverer far than even the skillful-barber; he can shave the believer’s locks while he scarcely knows it.”

Beloved, let us remain alert to the wiles of the enemy. Samson took for granted the physical strength given to him by God. But because of his spiritual weakness, God withdrew himself from Samson. It was not until Samson lost his physical sight that he regained his spiritual sight and rededicated himself to God. 

Let's pray that we don't allow ourselves to take our eyes off of God.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 12-14 CEB, Ch. 15-16 HCSB

Steve's Interview on the "Podcast Insider" Podcast

The interview is here, and begins at about thirty-five and a half minutes in.

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