Samson: Strength Gone to Waste

I traveled today with students from Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary of Lansdale, PA. Our first stop was Beth Shemesh in the Sorek Valley. Beth Shemesh means "house of the sun," and the Sorek Valley is the first of five valleys that crisscross the lowlands which lead to the Judean highlands.

Tel Beth Shemesh is a neglected archaeological site, but the site is a place to remember the story of Samson. While we read only a small portion of Judges 13-16, the meditation on his life and tragic end was sobering.

Samson's story begins with promise: a special birth to a barren wife, dedicated parents, God's clothing of him with His spirit, a playful nature, quick wit, and amazing physical strength.

Yet with Samson, there is a downside. He is spoiled, violent, and foolish. Samson is an example of great strength gone to waste.

So here on a lonely tel, I remember Samson and call to mind those like him who show so much promise but fail in the end. I could name them from the distant past or today's headlines. But I will not; rather I will examine my own heart. I pray, "Lord, may my strength not go to waste."