Character Probe

Sampson the Sophist

"Sophist" is derived from the Greek word, "Sophia" meaning, wisdom. Indeed, Sampson was wise. He was Spirit-led (14:2-4). He judged Israel for twenty years.

Israel faced 3 main paradigms after they were saved from Egypt. They faced rulership from Prophets and Priests like Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Samuel and Elijah. Then, judges like Deborah and finally, Kings, starting with Saul.


The 2 other edifices of governorship still had a great role to play during the third paradigm. Sampson was a judge.

He devised means to save the Israelites, one of which was the famous riddle he gave in 14:12-14. He encountered a strange thing on his way to getting his wife and decided to apply it. His constant involvement in the affairs of the Philistines were all strategies to redeeming his people. God's people.

Sampson's Humility 

It is not recorded that Sampson ever boasted of his strength or used his power for selfish gain. He knew it was all about consecration. All the times he showed great power, he was led by the Spirit of God.

After killing the lion with his bare hands, he told no one about it, not even his parents (14:6) and they must have been the closest people to him. When his father-in-law unlawfully took his wife and gave her to another man, he started off with a humble approach (14:20 to 15:1-2). He had forgiven his wife for betraying him (14:15-19) but her father refused to let her go back with him. If Sampson was proud and arrogant, he would have pushed his father-in-law aside and taken his wife home. But he wasn't. He was kind-hearted and respectful of elders. So, instead, he vented his anger on crops.


   When Sampson had defiled his consecration, he went to God one last time and asked for strength. He didn't just observe his grown hair and push the pillars of the building. He asked God to remember him. In other words, he asked God for forgiveness.


If nothing else, that in itself is wisdom.

Comments

  1. Anonymous16 June 2024 at 04:32

    It's pretty God to see an article that actually takes time to talk about the good qualities of Sampson. Many times, people talk about his fall. It good to actually see that Sampson was a humble man in spite of all the strength he possessed.

    ReplyDelete

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