DAY 13

Samuel or Samson?

The start of a new year at school! Are you excited or are you a bit unsure of what the year will bring? You have just participated in the consecration call, but does that apply to SCHOOL TOO?

Let’s have a look at some people in the Bible called the Nazarites. These were people who had made a special vow, or promise before God. They were role models for their generation. Nazarites always seemed to show up at a time in their nation when sin was in your face and everyone wanted to “do their own thing.” Some examples were, Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist. Some were life-long Nazarites, and some took up this special vow for a specific time, as God led them.

There were three commitments that made up the Nazarite Vow?

1.       to stay away from all grape products,

2.      to leave one’s hair uncut,

3.      and avoid all contact with anything that was dead. 

This may seem kind of strange but these are the thoughts behind it:

By abstaining from grapes and all their products, Nazarites were saying to God “We don’t need wine to make us happy.” They willingly gave up drinking for the greater joy of focusing on things that brought joy to God’s heart.  They were also saying, “I want to be totally controlled by God and not by anything else!”

The second, “keeping their hair long,” reminded the Nazarite that both people and God were watching them. It encouraged them to be careful in all they did.

The third, “keeping away from anything dead,” was to be a picture of keeping away from anything that would pollute their hearts.

Nazarites served the Lord NOT because they HAD to but because they wanted to. They Loved Him First.

When you look at it, it is very similar to how God calls us to walk as Christians!

God started speaking to Samuel from the time he was a very little boy. Samuel chose to listen and to obey God and as a result God was able to use him to help break off the power of the Philistines over Israel. He was the one that said.  ”To obey is better than sacrifice”.  For example, you know your parents didn’t want you to hang out with a certain person, but you did anyways and came home with a smile and gave your mom a beautiful bouquet of flowers that cost you five bucks. Uh Uh it doesn’t work that way.

Samuel was willing to go against what was popular and refused to bow down to the current idols. He refused to compromise, and was upset when God’s name was made fun of. Samuel was a prophet who spoke with the authority of the Lord. 

“The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of His words fall to the

ground” (I Samuel 3:19).  

These are some hard things to think about. It is easy to put someone like Samuel on a pedestal, but we need to remember that he was a person just like you and I, but He chose to obey and be disciplined in His walk with God.

REFLECT: What are some idols today?  In what ways are you tempted to compromise, or only obey partly as it is convenient? Being a Christian is not a summer time hobby but it is a lifestyle we choose to walk.

Let us have a look at someone else that took a Nazarite vow from the time that he was born. However his life turned out much differently. He lived in a time that was very similar to Samuel’s time. The bible says that the people in his society did what was right in their own eyes. They didn’t listen to advice. The Philistines were bugging the Israelites again and God called someone from before he was even born to deal with the situation.  Whenever our society goes against what is right,  God acts and brings people on the scene to deal with the problem.

Who was this guy? Samson. You have probably heard about him. He was the guy that was so strong that he carried the gates of the city…BIG GATES…up a hill to prove a point. You can read all about him in Judges 13-16.

You see the difference with Samson was that while he took the Nazarite vow; he only kept some of the promises, sort of… only when he felt like it. He was his own boss and no one was going to tell him what to do. He was undisciplined and wanted what he wanted NOW. For example he wanted a certain woman and even though his parents advised against it he basically said GO GET HER FOR ME NOW. They did and what a disaster. (Judges 14:3)

He refused to practice self-control. Like the time he was hungry, he took honey from the insides of a lion that had died. I suppose bees had nested there and built a honeycomb. Now for his Nazarite vow was he supposed to touch anything that was dead? No! “But who cares I’m hungry now and can’t be bothered to wait till I get home, don’t be so (ST) PICKY” he would have said.

You see Samson had the same calling as Samuel but what a difference. Samson’s rebellion and stubbornness and pride resulted in him never achieving what he could have in his life. He missed his destiny. He ended up being totally clued out. When his current girlfriend set him up to be deceived, he lost his strength and his eyesight in one blow.  The bible said. “He shook himself as at the other times BUT HE DIDN”T REALISE that the Lord had left him” (Judges 16: 20)

We live in a culture that is very much the same. Everyone is doing it…whatever it is. If it feels good …do it…  BUT God wants to act. He is calling people of all ages to hear his voice and to obey. Samuel was a child when God first spoke to him and he obeyed.  He didn’t wait till he was older. Samson wanted his own way and refused to listen to authority even if it was God who was talking to him.

REFLECT: So how about you? Are you more like Samson or Samuel? Are you able to discipline yourself to wait or do you have to have it NOW. Are you willing to listen to God’s voice and obey or are you too busy doing your own thing? Are you willing to apply yourself towards a goal…like practicing the piano today so you can give a concert tomorrow?

You know Samson, at the end of his life did realize his mistake and asked God to remember him and his strength was returned. But what a waste! He could have had an AWESOME destiny, but traded it for instant pleasure: a Mc Donald’s life.

At the start of School, God is looking for boys and girls that are willing to stand up for what is right, and be His voice, and hands and eyes and feet, as we mentioned in the last post. What would this mean for you?

As a family look at these questions:

Would you be willing:

1. to give up what is good and acceptable for something that is better? What would it be for you?

2. to walk in such a way that both God and the people around you know that there is something different about you and hold you accountable?

3. to keep away from anything that can pollute your soul. What is it for you?

4. to spend time with God UNTIL your heart becomes a “Flame of Fire” that will not go out in its love for God, yielding to and obeying what He shows you, even if it is hard?

What about if you started school by saying, “God, you have placed me in this school for a reason. Open my eyes to see what you see. Give me your words to speak. Help me walk in such a way that I bring joy to your heart and to others. Protect me from evil. Let your kingdom come to this school this year, and my life be a witness for you!”

ACTION:

IDEAS

1. With your parents and other Christians you know of, that go to the school, set aside some time to walk around the school and pray.

2. Go to the office and ask for the names of the teachers at the school and divide them among yourselves and pray for them each day.

3. Take the names of the kids in your class and write them on a piece of paper. Put the names in your Bible and ask pray for them each week. Ask God to put on your heart when one of the kids is sad, and for ideas to encourage them.

4. What are some ideas you thought about? It would be great to hear your ideas. Send them to carolin@watchmen.org

Kids consecration team