The Three Temptations - Part 3
Samson was the most gifted minister on the face of the Earth in his day. He was consecrated to the Lord as a Nazirite from the womb. His miraculous birth was announced by the Angel of the Lord who gave strict instructions to his mother:
“But he said to me, Behold, you shall become pregnant and bear a son, and now drink no wine or strong drink and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from birth to the day of his death.”—Judges 13:7 (AMPC)
The Angel of the Lord repeated these solemn cautions to Samson’s father.
“The angel of the Lord said to Manoah, ‘Your wife must do everything I told her. She must not eat anything that grows on a grapevine. She must not drink any wine or strong drink. She must not eat any food that is unclean. She must do everything that I have commanded her to do.”—Judges 13:13-14 (ERV)
This is very similar to the charge that God delivered to William Branham when he was only a seven-year-old boy:
“Don’t ever drink, or smoke, or defile your body in any way. There will be a work for you to do when you get older.” (Jorgensen, p.19)
But unlike Branham, who stayed faithful to the call of God throughout his life, Samson showed signs of personal weakness in his character, and it looked like his weakness would be in the area of the lust of the flesh. The extra restrictions of a Nazirite were given to Samson because he would need the self-discipline those boundaries required in order to fulfill the high call of God on his life.
It is the same for us. God’s restrictions and warnings that are given to us in Scripture are not to be taken lightly. If we will be careful to discipline ourselves to observe and follow what He commands us to do, these same restrictions and warnings will save us from dangerous pitfalls along our journeys.
“My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments;
For length of days and years of life [worth living] And tranquility and prosperity [the wholeness of life’s blessings] they will add to you.
Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you]; Bind them [securely] around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].
Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil.
It will be health to your body [your marrow, your nerves, your sinews, your muscles—all your inner parts] And refreshment (physical well-being) to your bones.”—Proverbs 3:1-8 (AMP)
In the end, Samson was overthrown because he put his own needs and desires ahead of his commitment to God’s high calling. He did not overcome the first temptation, and so he was overcome.
The remarkable thing about Samson’s downfall is that he knew that the object of his desire, Delilah, was actively trying to betray and destroy him, and yet he still returned to her again and again.
“So Delilah asked Samson, ‘Please tell me the secret to your great strength and how you may be tied up and tortured.’”—Judges 16:6 (ISV)
Samson must have known that he was playing with fire, but he had seemingly gotten away with it so many times that he may have convinced himself that he would never face any real consequences for his actions. After all, he was the most gifted minister in the world! The Angel of the Lord Himself had prophesied his birth!
We are warned in Proverbs that “He who hardens his neck and refuses instruction after being often reproved (corrected, criticized), Will suddenly be broken beyond repair.” (Proverbs 29:1 AMP)
This is exactly what happened to Samson, and it is a solemn warning to us.
As a Nazirite who was dedicated to the Lord from birth, Samson was not allowed to have his hair cut. It was a condition of the Nazirite vow of dedication to the Lord.
“During the entire time of his dedication, he is not to allow a razor to pass over his head until the days of his holy consecration to the Lord have been fulfilled. He is to let the locks on his head grow long.”—Numbers 6:5 (ISV)
But when Samson faced the first temptation, as Jesus did, Samson chose his own needs and desires over God’s high calling.
“Delilah said to him, ‘How can you say, “I love you,” when you won’t trust me? Three times now you’ve made a fool out of me and not told me what gives you such great strength!’ She nagged him with her words day after day and begged him until he became worn out to the point of death.
“So he told her his whole secret. He said to her, ‘No razor has ever touched my head, because I’ve been a nazirite for God from the time I was born. If my head is shaved, my strength will leave me, and I’ll become weak. I’ll be like every other person.’”—Judges 16:15-17 (CEB)
Samson was not deceived. He went into this temptation with his eyes wide open. He understood the conditions of the Nazirite vow, and he understood that there were consequences for violating that sacred vow to God. He knew the high calling of God on his life, and yet he put his own needs and desires ahead of God’s will for his life.
He was given chance after chance to overcome this temptation, but he chose to satisfy his own needs and desires instead. Because he did not overcome this temptation, he was overcome.
In the end, he lost everything. He lost his ministry. He lost his freedom as he was taken captive and made a slave to his enemies. He lost his vision as they gouged out his eyes. He lost communication with his loved ones. He lost his purpose in life.
And he even lost Delilah, the object of his desire and the reason he had put his life’s purpose at risk.
The most gifted leader of his generation died prematurely. His destiny was cut short, and he never fulfilled the promise of his potential. He could have been the greatest leader Israel ever had, but he lost it all because he put his own needs and desires ahead of God’s will and purposes.
Samson’s failure did not just affect himself alone. All of God’s people were affected. Israel never fully experienced the liberation that Samson was destined to bring to them as God’s deliverer.
Samson’s story is included in Scripture as a solemn warning to us. We must overcome the first temptation, as Jesus did, or we will be overcome, as Samson was.
Reference:
Jorgensen, O. (2018). Supernatural - the Life of William Branham: Volume I (1909 - 1937). Adfo Books.
