Samson’s Destiny

“For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head; for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines”.  Judges 13:5

What is one’s destiny?  It is obvious that the term “destiny” is derived from the term “destine”, to predetermine a person’s future.  The world believes that it is “fate” that destines a person to whatever achievements he or she makes in life.  Fate is how folks who do not desire to give God any part of determining a person’s future describe the inevitability of an event.  Some use the term “karma” which is a belief held in Buddhism and Hinduism that determines one’s destiny.  Those who are deists believe that God created the world but assumes no control over mankind.  For the believer in Jesus Christ, though, God is the ultimate One who determines a person’s future.  Of course, people play a role in how their future manifests itself by their actions, beliefs, and attitudes.  I think that God has laid out each person’s destiny according to His plan, and that many people miss their opportunity to fulfill their potential for the Lord because of their pride.

Israel had been disobedient and had been under the dominion of the Philistines for 40 years.  There was an Israelite named Manoah whose wife had not been able to have children.  One day an angel of the LORD came to her and told her that she would have a son.  He told her to not drink wine or other strong drinks nor eat any unclean thing, and that the son was never to cut his hair.  He would be a Nazarite from birth and would be instrumental in rescuing Israel from the Philistines.  A Nazarite was set apart from others to serve God.  The Law of the Nazarite required that no alcoholic beverages be consumed, and the hair could not be cut.  The long hair represented an ornament or crown of God upon the head and was a symbol of strength and an identification that the young man belonged to the Lord.  The Nazarite must abstain from worldly pleasures and be completely devoted to the LORD.  It is interesting to note that Paul wrote in I Corinthians 11:14 that it was shameful for a man to have long hair.  Perhaps this was Paul’s preference for there are passages where something he wrote was his own words and not of the Lord (I Corinthians 7:12).  Sometimes God allows certain things for specific purposes that are not general principles.  Samson’s long hair played a significant role in his destiny.

We know that Samson strayed from his Nazarite vow and then met Delilah, a Philistine woman who was bribed by the Philistines to find out Samson’s secret for his strength so that they might defeat him.  Samson’s lust led him to reveal his secret, but even in his death, he destroyed more Philistines than he did during his life, thus fulfilling the angel’s promise.  It was his destiny to die in order to save his people, Israel, from their enemy.  It was also Jesus’ destiny to die to save from the wages of sin whosoever will repent and believe in Christ (John 3:16).

We all have dreams for our children and grandchildren that they would grow strong and healthy, be intelligent and successful, and find a devoted mate for life.  The most important thing is for them to come to know Christ as Lord and Savior.  Had Samson stayed true to his vow, he would have still been the deliverer of Israel, but perhaps he wouldn’t have had to die in the process.  That is just speculation, but it is also a reminder of how important it is to remain faithful and obedient to the Lord.  In the final moments of Samson’s life, he likely wished that he had made a different choice.