"The Samson Syndrome"

Here are some key points from Judges 16, the story of Samson and Delilah and the death of Samson.

1. While our heavenly Father is patient, He is not permissive.

2. Samson failed to appreciate his personal calling by God and the fact that his strength lay solely in God's power working through him as a holy instrument.

3. Samson's life is one of the greatest tragedies in history and literature, and it should be a warning to every believer.

Samson had many advantages. God chose him even before his birth (13:7; cf. Eph. 1:14).

He received excellent training from godly parents who encouraged him to maintain his dedication to Yahweh (13:8, 12; 14:3). He enjoyed God's blessings (13:24).

Moreover the Holy Spirit empowered him with supernatural might (13:25; 14:6, 19). Nevertheless Samson chose to yield to his physical passions rather than maintain his dedication to the Lord.

"The essence of the Samson syndrome lies right here: the presumption that
one can indulge the flesh and at the same time know the Spirit's fulness."* Ted S. Rendall

(inspired by soniclight.com, Dr. Tom Constable)