“What Makes a Hero?” – Wednesday – Judges 16:25-30

Judges 16:25-30

“And when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.

Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life.”

As a kid, I remember thinking that Sampson was about as close as you could get in the Bible to a traditional superhero. But as I got older and re-read the biblical account, I realized I had gotten the condensed and sanitized version of his story in children’s church. Sampson was a hero but only in regards to his strength. In every other area of his life, he was a complete mess. He strayed from the path of his calling, used his talents out of anger and arrogance, and squandered his opportunities with poor choices.