That Idiot, Samson.

Okay, so I'm reading the historical record of Samson and am marveling at the idiocy of this judge of Israel.  (Judges 14-16)

First, he decides he wants a woman.  He found one that pleased him.  He and his dad went to make the arrangements.  Congratulations, Samson, you're engaged.  He waits a bit and then goes to claim his bride.  They get married and have a traditional seven day wedding feast.  During this time, she conspires with her family to trick her new husband.  (What!?)  She uses tears to get her way.  He gets mad (rightly so) and goes home without her.  Her dad then marries her off to another guy.  When  the wheat harvest comes in, Samson's anger has subsided and he takes a peace offering to his wife.  But her daddy said NO, want her cuter sister instead?  Uh, that sure didn't help Samson contain his anger.  He then lights the tails of some foxes and burns the harvest.  When the oppressing government finds out who did it and why, they burn up the wife and her dad.  Then, Samson whups the tar out of them.

Next, Samson decides he wants a quickie.  So, he goes to visit a sweetie he saw on the street.  The oppressors figure this is a great opportunity to kill him.  So they lock down the city and wait for morning in order to kill him.  He gets up at midnight and takes out the main city gate and two posts carrying them to the top of a hill and dumping them.  He escaped.

Again, he decides he wants a woman.  So he loves Delilah.  She's in cahoots with the gov't.  They've promised to give her money if she finds out the secret to Samson's strength and power.  Lots of money.  She asks, "Hey, honey, how can I tie you up and keep you tied up?"  (Seriously?!  I think I'd be concerned.)  So, he lies to her. She arranges a test.  Samson is still strong.  She whines, probably sheds a tear or two, "You  are making fun of me."  She asks again the secret to his strength.  He lies again.  She arranges another test.  He is still strong.  She cries.  Now, we are at round three.  She asks.  He lies.  She arranges.  He is still strong.  She cries.  But, this time she adds, "You don't love me!"  Her constant boo-hooing vexes his soul.  He crumbles.  He spills his guts and the secret to this strength and power.  (Dummy!)  She arranges.  His strength is gone.  She afflicts him and turns him over to the oppressing gov't.  They blinded him and put him to work on the grindstone.

Yet, in all his idiocy, the Spirit of God dwelt with and moved in Samson.  Samson was called to be a thorn in the side of the Philistine nation that was oppressing the Israeli people.  He did that well.  He must have been a confident guy.  He was strong and powerful.  He might have even been a cute guy.  In the end, he was a blind, humbled guy.  And, God still used him.

When the oppressors had him in chains, they threw themselves a party.  The referred to him as the "destroyer".  Samson became the entertainment.  (Can anyone say, professional wrestling?)  Samson was smart, even at death's door.  He brought the house down, literally.  Whoot!  Even in death he fulfilled his calling.

(Father God, what an awesome record of your mercy and grace.  Amen.)