Samson - covenant faithfulness

Failure need not be final. Samson was God's man from the start - one of the 'judges' who rescued post-Exodus Israel from their oppressors. Indeed, he was marked out for God by being a Nazarite, with the signs of uncut hair, abstention from wine, and avoidance of dead bodies. It is a reminder of the Christian's position as being dedicated to God, by baptism, God's choice, and personal faith and obedience, Like Samson, we are highly privileged and have a role to play in God's kingdom. Samson's failure was the result of breaking God's covenant - getting involved with God's enemies and losing self-control. These are two of the things that can weaken any Christian. For him, and for many Christians, it looks as if failure is final. But 'the hair of his head began to grow again' (Judges 16:22). That was symbolic of his recovering renewed devotion to God. To follow the symbolism further, it was God, not Samson, who caused it to grow. God keeps covenant; he does not retract his gifts or his calling. 'If we are faithless he remains faithful; he cannot deny himself' (2 Timothy 2:13). There lies the hope of all backsliding Christians. If he acknowledged Samson and give him the final victory , will he not also acknowledge you? Return to him, and he will return to you.