“Samson Syndrome”

They danced the night away with no care in the world. Both men and women alike; getting drunk and getting high at a party. The slogan imprinted on the DJ’s shirt described the evening perfectly: Y.O.L.O (You only live once).

Then, all of a sudden the DJ stopped spinning his records when he heard someone screaming. It sounded like a man praying for his dear life. Then, the whole building collapsed killing thousands of partygoers. Earthquake? A terrorist attack? Niether. How about the acts of a Bible hero- Samson.

Now, I’ve been reading the Bible since I was like 6 years old and I have no questions about people like David and Moses going to heaven. But, all my life I’ve always doubted about the salvation of this holy Hercules. That is until recently. It was what he said and did at the end of his life made me wonder. “Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me…get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” ¹

You see, that doesn’t sound like a future tenant of heaven does it? Sounds more like a gangster, hell bent on revenge. So, before doing research on Samson, I thought he was nothing but a common “playa playa” who committed suicide. And, maybe you thought the same. Let me see if I can persuade you to think otherwise.

Samson was young strong, good looking, cocky, courageous; a real ladie’s man.
(I know, I know…I just described myself. Some of you are like, ‘You wish!’ Ha!) I can imagine him always surrounded by groupies and paparazzi; on the cover of Sports Illustrated; his life was that of an action movie star like the Rock;
who always got into trouble but managed to escape until his enemies finally captured him. a He-Man who did what he pleased until he became a slave to the very tyrants he was supposed to have conquered.

So, anyways, finally tired of living la vida loca, he decided to live and infact, die, for God, instead. Even though it was at the end of his life.

I think evey single one of us have a little bit of the “Samson Syndrome.”
We need 2 learn from his errors, be big enough to admit our mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.

So, was it suicide? Nope. I see it as the final act of a war hero, who would risk his life to get rid of the evil in this world. Hmmm….sounds a lot like what Jesus did.

^{1. Judges 1:28}