Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Today, we have come to the twisted story of Samson, one of the most memorable heroes of the Bible. The story has started out good before this. In Judges 13, God appears to Samson's parents and gives them the immense honour of bearing a child chosen by God (who else does this remind you of in the Bible?) What's more, God miraculously opens the womb of Samson's mom. It seems like Samson will be one of the greats of the Bible.

Yet, in Chapter 14, our gut wrenches. Here, the hero of the story, a Nazirite sworn to be ritually pure, leads himself into profoundly unwise temptations and situations multiple times. Firstly, he seeks an unbeliever for his wife, whom we can infer caught his eye based on looks alone. His lust for her is so great he forces his parents to let him marry someone not ritually pure, against their wishes. Secondly, this man, sworn off alcohol, leads himself alone into the vineyards of Timnah. Later on, he throws a feast 'as was customary for young men', by which we infer that there were almost definitely large amounts of alcohol being consumed. Thirdly, he eats honey from inside a carcass, considered one of the most ritually impure things for a Jew to do. What's more, he gives this honey to his parents, dishonouring them and bringing sin upon them as well. Fourthly, he takes on a silly gamble he has no chances of repaying, amongst young men who are strangers to him, leading to needless bloodshed and danger for him, his wife, and his family. How do we square up these transgressions (not to mention his upcoming affairs with prostitutes and Delilah) with the expectations that Chapter 13 had laid out for us? Even in Chapter 14, verse 4 suggests that this absurd situation is part of God's plan. Why does God allow so much sin to play a part in how he eventually overthrows the Philistines?

Some would use Samson's example as an excuse, a justification. They say: 'because God can use my sinful actions for His plans, why should I bother living a good life?' This reasoning sounds convincing. Samson is still a Judge of the bible, and God was with him at times, bestowing him strength with the Holy Spirit to do wondrous feats.

However, I think God wants to use Samson's example as a more subtle warning instead. In Samson, we see a great leader doing great acts for God, but with an uncoverted heart, a heart straining towards sin. Likewise, could it be that some of us, living outwardly faithful lives, may also be flirting with temptation and using our faithfulness as an excuse to sin? Do we also think of ourselves as 'Nazirites', taking pride in our years serving in Sunday School, as small group leaders, as ushers, song leaders, musicians, etcetera, and using those 'pure works' to justify unpure hearts?

Let me be the first to say that I face this challenge daily. I daily need to die to my self and my pride, to remind myself that taking pride in all that I have done and all I could ever do for God (including writing this devotion!) is but a meaningless, Pharisaic boast without a genuine heart of love for God and for man.

This is the constant, resounding call throughout the entire Bible - that God does not delight in empty sacrifices, but broken and contrite hearts (Psalms 51: 16-17). Following God is not merely a matter of vows and great acts of zeal, but a wholehearted devotion and love for the Lord our God. While it is true that God can use our brokenness for His good, there is so much more good that God can use out of a believer's life marked by a true transformation of the heart - a heart filled with love, joy and peace, ready to do works of genuine kindness and compassion!

Prayer : Father Lord, may you search our hearts and give us true hearts of repentance. We give thanks that even in our failures, our pride and our insincerity, you use us for your purposes, to bring glory to your name. Yet we ask that you give us new hearts to live lives truly turned towards you, that we might be wise to flee from temptation and sin and live a life pleasing to you all the days of our life. Amen!