Purpose and Vision – Samson

Purpose and vision as expressed by the life of Samson.

“And the Philistines seize him, and pick out his eyes, and bring him down to Gaza, and bind him with two bronze chains; and he is grinding in the prison-house.”
Judges 16:21 (LSV)

Samson was a man who treated his calling in God with carelessness and indifference. His strength was God given and preordained before his birth. His call, his strength and his walk before God were founded upon the Nazarite vow. As is ours (Romans 12:1-3).

“For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb…”
Judges 13:5 (ESV)

Early in Samson’s life, we see him on his way to Timnath*. Timnath is a city of tremendous historical significance. Timna(th), in the original language, means an allotted portion, i.e. an inheritance.

On Samson’s journey to Timnath (his inheritance), he meets a young lion in the way and slays it by the Spirit of God.

“And Samson and his father and his mother went down to Timnath. And they came to the vineyards of Timnath. And, behold, a young lion roaring to meet him.”
Judges 14:5 (LITV)

There was a purpose for Samson in Timnath ordained by God. In the vitality of the vision that moved within him, he met the lion and overcame it. When the vision of God is clear and the heart is filled with purpose, the roaring attacks of the enemy are met with the power of God.

“And the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily on him. And he tore it as the cleaving of a kid. And there was nothing in his hand; and he did not tell his father and his mother what he had done.”
Judges 14:6 (LITV)

Our Inheritance and Our Walk

The power and truth of the New Covenant blessing in Christ holds within its wonder an inheritance preserved for us in heavenly places.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…”
Ephesians 1:3-4 (ESV)

Just as Samson had a purpose, so too the children of Israel were preordained by God to enter the promised land (1 Corinthians 10:1-11). We also have a call and a purpose to fulfill (Philippians 3:12-14). In Samson’s case, his indifference and carelessness resulted in the loss of his strength and, even more crucial, a complete loss of vision. The enemy with whom he had flirted and shared the secret of his strength bound him with chains and reduced his life to a circuitous walk of vanity and scorn.

When men and women lose their vision through unfaithfulness and infidelity, they become “barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of God” (2 Peter 1:8). The words remain, but the vision fades, leaving them bereft of the unction and infusion of HIS LIFE.

Love the Evidence of His Life

When we love other things, when we develop affinities with the things of this world, God’s power recedes. The fruit of a life is the revelation of its relationship with Jesus Christ.

“Every branch in Me
that beareth not fruit HE taketh away…”
John 15:2

Let us read this verse by the power and the unction of the Holy Spirit. Take notice of HIS Word!

“Every branch…”

God is no respecter of persons.

Jesus goes on to say:

“Every branch IN Me…”

He is not talking here about those who do not know or those who pretend to be Christians. He is speaking of those who at some point have been “in Him”! May God breathe upon us afresh that we may turn again unto Him and be regrafted into the life and the vibrancy of the Vine.

“Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit
HE taketh away…”

Fruitfulness in God is not optional when the life of the Son dwells in the human heart. Jesus declared emphatically:

“Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit;
so shall ye be My disciples.”
John 15:8

“So shall ye be My disciples”; Jesus equates fruitfulness with discipleship. In the Book of Revelation, God reproves the church at Ephesus, declaring:

“But I have against you that you left your first* love. Then remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works. And if not, I am coming to you quickly, and will remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”
Revelation 2:4-5

*The Greek word translated “first” means pre-eminent. How many have allowed the disappointments of life and the temptations of the world to rob them of that pre-eminent love?

Only “first love” can do the “first works.”

Jesus prophesied of this day:

“And because iniquity shall abound,
the love of many shall wax cold.”
Matthew 24:12

His Love is expressed through His people. If I don’t love my brother, if I have no interest in relationship and fellowship, I do not know God! Love is the touchstone of God; it is HIS witness of an individual’s relationship with Himself. When we become aloof, isolated, and only concerned with ourselves or our group, our church, or fellowship, we have left the preeminent love of Jesus Christ.

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God;
and every one that loveth is born of God…”
1 John 4:7

The Love of God cares. It is aware of His purposes for His Church, and feels the weight of His sacrifice pulling, pressing and moving His people to see her arise for HIS GLORY.

“And the eye cannot say unto the hand,
I have no need of thee…”
1 Corinthians 12:21

If you and I are part of HIS Body, we cannot declare such things either in word or in deed. But if we live outside of this love, we are unable to feel and be governed by the truth of these words. Let the words of this scripture pierce our hearts with this reality:

“cannot say”

If we can declare such things, we are not only lacking in vision but in understanding of His purposes for His Church here on earth. There is a growing pain within those who live in “the firstfruits of the Spirit” (Romans 8:22-23). The pains of travail must precede the arising of a unified people of God filled, governed, and maintained by the power of His love flowing within. I have one unwavering conviction: God the Father will absolutely answer the prayer of His Son.

“That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent me.”
John 17:21

If we have allowed iniquity and other interests to draw us away from our “first love”, let us return to Him. Return to that place of abiding in the life and glory of the vine through which flows the power to overcome all things.

“In returning and rest shall ye be saved;
in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength…”
Isaiah 30:15

Related Post: The Song of the Victorious

“Come back then, O, thou prodigal, to thy Father. Quit thy sad folly and emptiness, thy reproaches of soul, thy diseased longings, and thy restless sighs. Return again to thy God, and give thyself to Him in a final and last sacrifice. Conquer again, as Christ will help you, the original love, in that to abide and rest.”
— Horace Bushnell

“And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:59-62

Faith is the power to join my will to God’s Will

Brian Troxel