The story of Samson is spectacular and grabs your attention like a great movie trailer. His adventures can fill the pages of a New York Times bestseller. The Philistine nation hated him because time and time again they could not defeat him. In one episode, Samson took the closest thing he could grab, the jawbone of a donkey, and used it to kill a thousand Philistine warriors. Samson’s public life was a success by any standard. He looked like a success; he talked like a success, and he judged Israel for 20 years with success.
As we read through our chapters today, it quickly becomes obvious that Samson had his weaknesses also. He filled his mind and heart with ridiculous riddles. His arrogance was astounding. His constant pursuit of women and pleasure took a considerable amount of his thinking. While he did have great success as a warrior and judge, his weaknesses eventually led him to blindness and slavery. While Samson’s last act was one of victory in killing many enemies of God, it is a tragic ending because he died alone. There was never someone to walk beside him and hold him accountable to God’s ways. He did not seem to have a relationship with anyone who could speak to his heart.
We were never meant to live this life alone. One of the hardest things in this world is to trust someone. To be completely vulnerable with others is scary. However, God has created a beautiful thing for his people. Community. The more we are able to help one another, encourage one another and build one another up the more we can avoid isolation and the more we avoid isolation the more we can avoid failure. That is a very long sentence to say this. You were not meant to do this alone. If you haven’t already, begin praying for someone you can be vulnerable with. This person can be someone who will pray for you, listen to you and not waste time judging because they recognize their own weaknesses also.
Lord, help me not to withdraw from others but move towards them in love. Amen.
Rev. Christopher Hall
