Disgraced, But Not Out Of Grace

Disgraced, but Not out of Grace

Samson’s Mother

Read: Judges 13:2-5; 16:21

We don’t know if Samson’s mother was alive when her son ended up grinding grain in a Philistine prison. If so, she must have been grief-stricken. Her mind undoubtedly strayed back to earlier, more joyful days. After not being able to have children, she had been elated when an angel announced that she would have a son. Even more thrilling, this son was to be set apart for special service to God as a Nazirite. God had appointed him to begin Israel’s deliverance from their Philistine oppressors.

As Samson grew up, his mother must have impressed on him the privileges and responsibilities of his special calling. Despite his supernatural strength, however, Samson operated out of his weaknesses. Samson allowed his physical desires and his feelings to control him. He violated his Nazirite vows, broke God’s laws repeatedly, and used his special gifts to play practical jokes and exact personal revenge. Samson’s behavior must often have disgraced his mother and made her heart ache as she pondered his wasted potential.

Sometimes we feel disgraced by the behavior of someone we love. We may consider that person’s sinful actions to be a result of failure on our part. Maybe we feel disgraced because of our own ungodly choices and wasted opportunities. We may wonder if we will ever get back what we have lost.

Any disappointment that Samson’s mother felt would have turned to praise if she had known that his name would be included in the Hebrews 11 list of faith heroes. Despite Samson’s grievous mistakes, God allowed him to fulfill his life’s purpose through one last heroic act before his death (see Judges 16:30). God can bring victory out of failure in our lives too. Even when we feel disgraced, he still offers us his grace.

[The Lord said,] “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:9