Man of the Bible · Conquest and Judges
Samson
A Nazirite judge with great strength and weak discipline
Samson was set apart as a Nazirite before birth, and the Spirit of the Lord gave him great strength against the Philistines. He judged Israel twenty years, but he followed his desires and finally revealed the secret of his strength to Delilah. Blinded and imprisoned, he prayed once more, and God gave him strength to bring down the Philistine temple.
Key verse: Judges 16:28
Strengths
- Empowered by the Spirit
- Fought Israel's oppressors
- Turned back to God at the end
Struggles
- Ruled by his appetites
- Treated his calling lightly
What Samson teaches you
Faith. Even after you have failed badly, you can still cry out to God, and He can restore strength you thought was gone.
Family. Choose relationships that honor your calling, because the people you let closest have power to protect or weaken you.
Business and calling. Gifts without discipline will not sustain you, so guard your boundaries as carefully as you develop your talents.