Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Samson's Secret
Samson had a secret. A secret to be kept only between himself and those closest to him. A secret which should've remained between himself, his family and his God. His secret concerned from whence came the source of his great strength. It came not from his hair, as some would suppose, but from his God.
Samson, as any wanna-be Bible scholar knows, was a Nazarite from birth. He was to avoid dead people, wine and hair cuts. All these were signs of him being especially consecrated to the Lord God. Only one of these marks was apparent even to strangers; only one was readily evident to the eye of the beholder. Although, the stranger could see the evidence of Samson's obligation, he couldn't understand it.
Now, Samson had some experience with secrets. He made a bet on a riddle that he only lost because someone "plowed with his heifer." You'd think that would have taught him a lesson about discretion. (Or at least a lesson about foreign women.)
He later became infatuated with yet another Philistine woman who pestered, pleaded and plagued him into revealing an even greater secret...the secret of his considerable strength. At first, Samson stayed far away from the truth, but as she troubled him more and more, his lies became half truths and then, finally, he told the full truth. Samson told her "all his heart" as he rested his head "upon her knees" and was ultimately and pathetically conquered. Sadly, he played with fire till he finally got burned.
The mark of his dedication and obligation to God was gone. His power was gone with it. It was not the mark that made him strong, nor the loss of it that made him weak. In spite of all his faults, and Samson had many, he had never betrayed that confidence he shared with his Maker. When he did, he lost not just his physical strength, but also his moral and spiritual strength. God could no longer trust him.
Only a fool shares his innermost desires and dreams with strangers. Have you ever met people who seem to want to tell you their life story within minutes of meeting them? Didn't the thought cross your mind that they were giving you way too much information? Be afraid, be very afraid of entering the realm of such people. There are dangers there that can cause even the most devout Christian to stumble.
People seem to take it personally when Masons won't share their innermost, private confidences with them. It's a silly, worn-out argument, but many errantly equate secret with sin. As the saying goes, "Masons aren't a secret society; they are a society with secrets."
Every person has secrets. Every husband, hopefully, has secrets between himself and his wife. Every brother has secrets between himself and his sibling. Friends have secrets that are only shared between friends. If you share too much with too many people, you'll never be able to truly, sincerely claim any as "friend."
Many sinners have questions about God that they expect Him to answer before they begin a relationship with Him. They expect Him to share His most intimate thoughts with someone He's never even met. Would you open your heart to a stranger?
Even the Lord Himself had only twelve close friends, of which, he was closest to three. One of those twelve even went so far as to betray His secret place of prayer to strangers who roughly disturbed the peace of that sanctuary. (Though, truly, his sanctuary should've been in the hearts and minds of his dear friends.)
Alas, the tables were turned on Samson. Instead of only other men plowing with his heifer, I guess you could say his heifer plowed with him. Woefully, although the Lord kept His own charge, He was nevertheless betrayed by one who was originally chosen to "plow" His field of souls. Sadly, that one desired this world and the acceptance of the profane over inclusion in the fellowship of the blessed.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Proverbs 5:2
That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
Samson, as any wanna-be Bible scholar knows, was a Nazarite from birth. He was to avoid dead people, wine and hair cuts. All these were signs of him being especially consecrated to the Lord God. Only one of these marks was apparent even to strangers; only one was readily evident to the eye of the beholder. Although, the stranger could see the evidence of Samson's obligation, he couldn't understand it.
Now, Samson had some experience with secrets. He made a bet on a riddle that he only lost because someone "plowed with his heifer." You'd think that would have taught him a lesson about discretion. (Or at least a lesson about foreign women.)
He later became infatuated with yet another Philistine woman who pestered, pleaded and plagued him into revealing an even greater secret...the secret of his considerable strength. At first, Samson stayed far away from the truth, but as she troubled him more and more, his lies became half truths and then, finally, he told the full truth. Samson told her "all his heart" as he rested his head "upon her knees" and was ultimately and pathetically conquered. Sadly, he played with fire till he finally got burned.
The mark of his dedication and obligation to God was gone. His power was gone with it. It was not the mark that made him strong, nor the loss of it that made him weak. In spite of all his faults, and Samson had many, he had never betrayed that confidence he shared with his Maker. When he did, he lost not just his physical strength, but also his moral and spiritual strength. God could no longer trust him.
Only a fool shares his innermost desires and dreams with strangers. Have you ever met people who seem to want to tell you their life story within minutes of meeting them? Didn't the thought cross your mind that they were giving you way too much information? Be afraid, be very afraid of entering the realm of such people. There are dangers there that can cause even the most devout Christian to stumble.
People seem to take it personally when Masons won't share their innermost, private confidences with them. It's a silly, worn-out argument, but many errantly equate secret with sin. As the saying goes, "Masons aren't a secret society; they are a society with secrets."
Every person has secrets. Every husband, hopefully, has secrets between himself and his wife. Every brother has secrets between himself and his sibling. Friends have secrets that are only shared between friends. If you share too much with too many people, you'll never be able to truly, sincerely claim any as "friend."
Many sinners have questions about God that they expect Him to answer before they begin a relationship with Him. They expect Him to share His most intimate thoughts with someone He's never even met. Would you open your heart to a stranger?
Even the Lord Himself had only twelve close friends, of which, he was closest to three. One of those twelve even went so far as to betray His secret place of prayer to strangers who roughly disturbed the peace of that sanctuary. (Though, truly, his sanctuary should've been in the hearts and minds of his dear friends.)
Alas, the tables were turned on Samson. Instead of only other men plowing with his heifer, I guess you could say his heifer plowed with him. Woefully, although the Lord kept His own charge, He was nevertheless betrayed by one who was originally chosen to "plow" His field of souls. Sadly, that one desired this world and the acceptance of the profane over inclusion in the fellowship of the blessed.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Proverbs 5:2
That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
Labels: Delilah, discretion, Samson, secrets
