Student Devotional Week 24: Judge Samson: A Powerful Death

Key Verse: 2 Timothy 2:4, "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs-he wants to please his commanding officer."

Once again, God chose to deliver his people from their enemies. This time the action took place south of where Gideon lived, and the enemies were known as the Philistines.

One day an angel appeared to a couple from the tribe of Dan. He told them they would a long-awaited child-a son-and they should dedicate the child as a Nazarite. The angel also said their son would rescue Israel from the Philistines. This son the angel referred to was Samson.

Samson was an awesome physical specimen. He had the potential to be a great leader, but ego and self-centeredness would eventually bring down this mighty man of God. Early in his life, Samson insisted his father get him a Philistine woman to be his wife, even though her people worshiped the false god Dagon. Later, Samson's lust for Delilah blinded him to her efforts to discover and ultimately remove the secret to his strength-his long hair.

Samson, the powerful man of God, lived his final days blind and in captivity, like an animal. The Philistines mocked his former strength by chaining him to a device used to grind wheat in a mill. But with his hair growing back and his strength slowly returning, Samson prayed to God to allow him to take revenge on those who had blinded him. God granted his request, and Samson pulled down the pillars of the temple, killing more Philistines that day than he had in the course of his lifetime.

Samson's physical power was great, but he wasn't a great person. He went out with a bang, but a consecrated lifetime spent following God would have made a greater impact on history. Samson's life was unrealized potential that produced a whole lot of fizzle.

As a follower of God, are you realizing the potential God has given you?