Judges 16  One last story about Samson is given to us in this chapter of Judges.  The first few verses describe a conquest in Gaza. Samson went there and found a harlot.  The Philistines planned to attack him in the morning, but Samson slipped away at midnight, taking the gates of this city to the top of the mountain. 

Then, Samson met Delilah.. and he fell in love. Delilah was approached by the Philistine lords and offered a large sum of money to betray Samson by finding out the source of his strength.  Three times Delilah asked Samson how he could be bound.. three times he told her a false story.. three times she fell for it and tried it!  Samson did not learn his lesson.. so when Delilah asked again.. nagging him to tell the truth.. he foolishly told her the whole story.  He was a Nazarite. to God..  His hair had never been cut. If his head was shaved he would lose his strength. 

Delilah betrayed Samson.  His hair was cut. The Philistines came.. and he was weak. ".. he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.."  They seized him. They blinded him. Then they took him to Gaza and imprisoned  him.  "However, the hair of his head began to grow again...."

  Taken to entertain the Philistines at a feast for their god, Dagon, Samson was allowed to rest his hands on the two main pillars in their temple. With one last prayer Samson pulled down the pillars causing the whole building to collapse.  Samson died..  killing thousands of the drunken Philistine nobles.  

" O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes." Samson prayed... and God answered. 

This man had every opportunity to do great things for the Lord God.. but he wasted the gifts that God had given him.   He was a Nazarite.. set apart for the Lord.  His purpose had been proclaimed by the angel of the Lord.. ".. and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines."  Despite Samson's foolish choices with women.. he did "begin" to conquer the Philistines.  We will never know, this side of heaven, whether Samson could have accomplished much more had he been faithful to God in all his decisions.  I guess in the same way, we could all think the same thing about our own lives.. If we had been more faithful.. more devoted.. more trusting.. and more obedient to the Lord.. what more could our God do in us and through us? 

Father in heaven, pour out Your Spirit upon us so that we might not waste one more minute of our lives, but serve You and love You with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength.  All we have comes from You. You have a plan for our lives and have set us aside to be Your servants.. Your children.. and to accomplish Your purposes in each of us.  Have Your way O Lord!  Remember us! Strengthen us to do Your good and perfect will. We ask this in the Name of our Risen Lord. Amen.