Judges 13-16: Samson's Weakness

His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.” (His parents did not know that this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel.) - Judges 14:3-4 NIV

Just like most of the stories about the chosen ones that God uses to lead his people, Samson was mighty, but he had a fatal weakness...the temptation to lust after the forbidden overwhelmed the desire to to be what God created him to be.  He took the gift of strength for granted and used it for his own means rather than the intended purpose.  Perhaps, because his parents waited so long for a child, he was spoiled and always got whatever he wanted.  Appeasing his personal appetite figures more in the story than the redemption he was promised by God to bring to the beleaguered Israelites.

Israel may have had peace for twenty years while they were being judged by Samson, but Samson was testing the boundaries all of the time.  It was only fitting that all of his dalliances with the women of the enemy would one day lead to his demise.  Samson's life was characterized by his one weakness rather than by the promise which God had placed in him.  Samson' story is the story of the Children of Israel and our story as well.  God's promise of redemption, his power in our lives, often goes to our heads.  We begin to think that we own the power and we can do with it what we please.  We succumb to the desires of the flesh and all of the promise is lost as the illusion, that we were the one with power, comes crashing down at our feet.