A Role Model? Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: A Role Model?------------------------------ Date: 07/12/2000 Keywords: "role model" "Samson" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Judges 16:23-31* 23. Now the lords of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice, for they said, "Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hands.'' 24. When the people saw him, they praised their god, for they said, "Our god has given our enemy into our hands, Even the destroyer of our country, Who has slain many of us.'' 25. It so happened when they were in high spirits, that they said, "Call for Samson, that he may amuse us.'' So they called for Samson from the prison, and he entertained them. And they made him stand between the pillars. 26. Then Samson said to the boy who was holding his hand, "Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.'' 27. Now the house was full of men and women, and all the lords of the Philistines were there. And about 3,000 men and women were on the roof looking on while Samson was amusing them. 28. Then Samson called to the LORD and said, "O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.'' 29. Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and braced himself against them, the one with his right hand and the other with his left. 30. And Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!'' And he bent with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life. 31. Then his brothers and all his father's household came down, took him, brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. Thus he had judged Israel twenty years. Questions 1. Does Samson's final act indicate God's willingness to use him?   2. Does Samson's final act indicate that he came to be passionate about serving God?   3. If you have been following the eXXit studies from July 7 until today, you know that we have spent the last week in the life of Samson. From what you have seen today or in previous days' studies, what character traits does Samson have that you would like to imitate?   Practical help The study of Samson makes for an interesting journey. From childhood, many people learn to associate Samson with heroism. As children today learn to "want to be like Mike" (Michael Jordan), so children in Sunday Schools often learn a sanitized version of Samson's story and "want to be like Samson" when they grow up. God forbid!! Samson was an immoral man who didn't live for God and didn't give God the glory for his many victories. Samson is not a role model, but a warning. And he is a warning, not only to children, but also to adults — even adults who play with porn. Here is the warning: A life devoted to the selfish pursuit of fleshly indulgence compromises judgment, and dishonors God. One of the reason's Samson's story is recorded in Scripture is to show where such a life leads. It leads to self-destruction. We who read Samson's story today, though, can jump off the train that leads to self-destruction. We can cease involvement with porn, get involved in an accountability relationship with another Christian, pray regularly for God to "lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil," and take practical steps to rid our lives of Internet porn. Samson is no role model, but by the grace of God you can become one to the people around you! eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2000 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."