The Old Testament character, Samson, is a lesson in two overriding biblical principles. (His story is recorded in Judges 14-16)

1) We can waste our life if we want to.

However,…

2) With God, it’s never too late to ‘come home’.  (Samson is among those listed in the ‘Hall of Faith’ in Hebrews 11.)

Threaded throughout those principles is a sobering lesson about something poisonous: revenge.  Judges 15:7 pretty much summarizes Samson’s tragic story.

“Because you did this,” Samson vowed, “I won’t rest until I take my revenge on you!”

Anger and arrogance drove most of what we know of Samson’s life. And it ended up being deadly.

Samson was entrusted with a remarkable gift by God – supernatural strength.

But, driven by anger and pride, Samson wasted God’s gift.

He created mess after mess, inciting retribution from the Philistines. When asked by his own people why he was bringing so much hardship on them and their families, a childish Samson spouted off,

“I only did to them what they did to me.”

Revenge had become part of his DNA.

Do you find yourself battling anger? Often half-cocked and a ‘trigger’s touch’ away from getting back at someone?

Revenge is an uncontrollable monster. Each act of retaliation brings yet another.

Paul made it clear in Romans 12: vengeance is not ours to use.  God says,

“Repay no one evil for evil,…never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (emphasis mine)  One translation puts it simply:  “Don’t hit back.”

Take a deep breath. Quote and apply scripture. And don’t hit back.

Nick