The Tale of Two Strong Men: A Reflection on Power

If you grew up going to Sunday school, you’re familiar with the original biblical superhero: Samson. Before Samson was born, an angel told his mother that, if Samson never cut his hair, God would use him to deliver Israel from their enemies, the Philistines.  As soon as he became an adult, he used his strength to liberate his people from their oppressors. He battled the Philistines in Ashkelon and in Lehi, where he single handedly defeated 1000 enemy combatants. He led Israel for twenty years.

But for as blessed as Samson was physically, he was spiritually sloppy. Rather than continue to use his strength in service to God and his people, Samson leverages it for his own ego and lust.

Judges 16 says Samson went to Gaza, a Philistine stronghold, saw a prostitute and decided to spend the night with her. When the locals discovered he was there they decided to ambush him at the city gates at dawn.

“But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron” (Judges 16:3).

Samson lived in a world where he could do what he wanted, when he wanted, however he wanted. If he got in a jam, he could use brute force to steamroll any threat and evade any consequences. In fact, Samson didn’t just bust through the massive gates of Gaza to escape. He carried them up a hill, simply to show his would be assassins that he can. Now he’s just showboating.

Contrast Samson’s arrogance with Jesus’s humility. After Christ’s trial in Jerusalem, “Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull …” (John 19:16b-17). 

Samson carries the gates out of Gaza for his own freedom, even though he was guilty.

Jesus carries the cross out of Jerusalem, for our freedom, even though he was innocent.

Samson skirts his call as a declaration of his independence.

Jesus submits to his call as a declaration of obedience.

Samson picks power up for his own benefit.

Jesus lays his power down for the good of others.

Samson embraces strength as a show of status.

Jesus embraces weakness as a model of love.

Both men displayed incredible strength, in dramatically ways with drastically different results. You have unique gifts, talents, abilities and resources, all given for you to fulfill a unique calling. How will you leverage them today?