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Judges 13:1-7: Strength

Covenants are important to the Lord. I am reminded of Samson. Samson was bound by a covenant without an expiry date (Jdgs 13:7) that he did not even willingly enter into (Jdgs 13, Cf. 1 Sam 1, Lk 1, Lev 27.28-29) and he struggled to keep. Samson was not to drink nor was he to defile himself. Samson was however a liar at times (Jdgs 16:7ff) and a killer (Jdgs 14:19). He visited prostitutes (Judges 16:1). He put himself and others ahead of God at times (Jdgs 14:17). Samson disobeyed his vows. Samson transgressed his covenant with God. The Lord did not forsake him though (Jdgs 16:22, Rom 3:3,4).

At times Samson did follow the Lord’s direction. At times he experienced the blessings that accompanied his covenant. At times Samson drew on the strength of the Lord and was used greatly by God to accomplish His purposes. At other times Samson sinned.

Every time Samson turned to and drew on the strength of the Lord, the Lord delivered him. No matter what Samson did, the Lord did not leave him. He still reaped the benefits of his covenant with the Lord until one very significant day.

I am sure it was a surprise to Samson who had repeatedly lied, visited prostitutes, sinned, and transgressed his covenant, that one day after his covenant had been violated; the Lord’s strength was not available to him (Judges 16:20). Samson disobeyed his covenant and finally – after being given many chances – the Lord allowed him to experience the natural consequences of this. Samson was blinded, bound, and imprisoned (Judges 16:21).

The story, as we know, does not end here though. This is significant. Samson did not fulfil his vow. Samson sinned. Samson disregarded his covenant. Because he did this, he suffered natural consequences but the Lord did not release him from his covenant (cf. Jdgs 16:22).

God is faithful even when we are faithless. God did not forsake Samson. When Samson repented, when Samson turned to the Lord and drew on the strength of the Lord that was provided through his covenant, the Lord used Samson to save his people and Samson is now forever remembered as a hero of the faith (Heb 11).

This is important for any of us who have made a covenant without an expiry date - be it for work or marriage or some other purpose. We, like Samson, are bound to God through a covenant until death (Rom 7:2,3). As such if we do not live up to our covenant, like Samson, we will find that we are not as effective as we could be and we will find that we will suffer the natural and logical consequences.

However, no matter what we have done, no matter how far we have strayed, no matter how may times we have fallen short of our covenantal promises, while we are still alive there is the opportunity to turn (repent) to the Lord, draw on our covenant and His strength.

This is one of the many benefits of covenant. We are bound to God until we die. As this is the case, rather than suffering the natural consequences of struggling against our vows, let us defend them with zeal and continue to draw on the strength of the Lord because as we do, I am sure that we, like Samson, will see many people saved.

Those of us who have entered into covenants with the Lord be they for work, church, or family; how has God proven His faithfulness even when we were faithless and how, when you were faithful, have you drawn on His covenantal strength in your time of need?

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A devotional thought composed originally for Swift Current TSA Devotional Book, June 2015. Presented to the Meighan Retirement Residence by Sarah-Grace Ramsay, 20 January 2016. Based on the article by Captain Michael Ramsay, Covenant: The Example of Samson.  THE OFFICER (March/April 2009) On-line: http://sheepspeak.com/RamsayonCovenantSamson.pdf 
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