God Uses Weak, Flawed People

Judges 16:22-31 - Episode 142

Everything we know about Samson says that he is sort of a bad guy. We know he had a weakness for women, and he did not follow God’s laws concerning them. But we all have weaknesses, and no one follows God’s laws perfectly. Maybe God used a man whose flaws were so visible, so that we would see God’s power instead of Samson’s, and so we can see that the Lord can use us even though we fail to live up to His standards.

The Death of Samson - Judges 16:22-31

Samson lost his physical strength and was imprisoned by the Philistines because he lacked the emotional and spiritual strength to stand up to Delilah and remain dedicated to the Lord. He demonstrated his dedication by abstaining from alcohol, keeping away from dead bodies, and not cutting his hair. Then, because of this dedication and for God’s purpose, the Holy Spirit gave him great strength. But when Samson revealed all this to Delilah and she cut his hair, the power of the Lord left him, and he was not strong enough to fight off the Philistines.

Over time, the Lord allowed his hair to start growing back, and while he was in prison, the Philistine rulers met to offer sacrifices to their god, Dagon. Traditionally, this god was known as a sea god with the head of a man and the body of a fish. But, because this is also a word used for grain, they could have been gathering to praise him for a good harvest. Regardless of their original purpose, they also praised Dagon for giving Samson into their hands. Then, at the mention of him, they decided to bring him out so they could see what a spectacle he had become.

So, Samson was made to stand between two pillars while about 3,000 people jeered at him from the roof. Since his eyes had been gouged out and he could not see, he asked the man who had brought him there if he would help him lean against the pillars. Then, Samson uttered his first recorded prayer, asking God for power one last time, saying he was willing to die too if the Lord would just give him the power to knock down the building. After he finished praying, Samson pushed down the two pillars. This caused the roof to collapse and kill the five Philistine rulers, along with everyone else there. More Philistines died in this one incident than Samson was able to kill in all their conflicts before. So, Samson died, along with his enemies, after judging over Israel for 20 years. Then, his family recovered his body, and gave him an honorable burial in his father’s tomb.

Personal Relationship with God

God had given Samson power to kill the Philistines before, but he had not asked for it. It was given because he was dedicated to the Lord for that purpose. Though he did have to maintain the outward demonstration of his dedication once he was old enough, it was first demonstrated by his parents. There is no real indication that he willingly dedicated himself to the Lord, relied on Him for strength, asked Him for power to carry out His purpose, or had any personal relationship with God whatsoever. Beyond the three outward signs he was required to keep, he did not really seem to follow God’s laws or ways. His dedication seemed superficial, and he received power just by continuing to live as he always had in abstaining from the three things required of a Nazarite. So, why did God use Samson throughout his life, and why did the Lord give him power again after he allowed his hair to be cut?

Why Did God Use Samson?

One reason that God used him is because He said He would. Samson was created with that purpose from the beginning. But we do not know everything about Samson’s life. He had a weakness for women, and he did not follow God’s laws concerning them, but we all have weaknesses, and no one follows God’s laws perfectly. Maybe God used a man whose flaws were so visible, so that we would see God’s power instead of Samson’s, and so we can see that the Lord can use us even though we fail to live up to His standards.

If Samson would have been emotionally and spiritually strong, always thinking and acting logically and morally, being fully dedicated to God, then we would have seen a good man with power. But because he looks weak in every other way, when his strength is exhibited, we see God’s power, not Samson’s. Maybe He uses weak and flawed people so when we see their strength and goodness, they know it is from the Lord. When it is obvious to everyone that a person has no ability within themselves to be strong or good, they begin looking for an outside source. So, when you tell them that God is the source and it is really His power and goodness being revealed in that person, their faith in God will grow. Isaiah 40:28-31; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; 4:6-11; Matthew 5:16