And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.
Samson had grown to manhood to carry out his divine mission as judge and deliverer of Israel in the days of the Philistines. After his victory the Israelites made him judge, and he ruled Israel for twenty years. His calling was to a position of great responsibility, honor, and usefulness in Israel. For that work he was given extraordinary physical strength, which lay not in well-knit sinews but in his condition as a Nazarite from birth, symbolized by his unshorn hair.
Entering manhood was above all the time to remain true to God and faithful to the divine commands as his parents had been, which would have secured a nobler and happier destiny. Instead he corrupted himself by friendly mingling with the idolatrous Philistines near Zorah and by joining Israel's enemies in marriage to a Philistine woman from Timnath because she pleased him. He did so against his God-fearing parents' dissuasion and without considering whether the union would better glorify God or fit his life's purpose.
Physical strength did not guarantee faithfulness, for because he failed to govern his passions and obey God, the path he chose led to shame, disaster, and death.
Samson had grown to manhood to carry out his divine mission as judge and deliverer of Israel in the days of the Philistines. After his victory the Israelites made him judge, and he ruled Israel for twenty years. His calling was to a position of great responsibility, honor, and usefulness in Israel. For that work he was given extraordinary physical strength, which lay not in well-knit sinews but in his condition as a Nazarite from birth, symbolized by his unshorn hair.
Entering manhood was above all the time to remain true to God and faithful to the divine commands as his parents had been, which would have secured a nobler and happier destiny. Instead he corrupted himself by friendly mingling with the idolatrous Philistines near Zorah and by joining Israel's enemies in marriage to a Philistine woman from Timnath because she pleased him. He did so against his God-fearing parents' dissuasion and without considering whether the union would better glorify God or fit his life's purpose.
Physical strength did not guarantee faithfulness, for because he failed to govern his passions and obey God, the path he chose led to shame, disaster, and death.