Samson was a man with a passion for freedom in the middle of a society committed to compromise. Fellow Israelites were committed to appeasement, but Samson recognised that there could be no compromise with the enemy. Yet the way he conducted that battle missed the point. It was supposed to be a God-given mission, not a personal vendetta. One of the terrible things about violence as a method is that when we get on the treadmill of personal revenge and retaliation, it becomes very hard to get off (Judges 15:3-5, 7-8).

Indeed, Samson's battles were always about himself, about revenge for perceived mistreatment. Although his calling was to begin Israel's deliverance (see Judges 13:5), he never put the cause of his nation or God first. He was a deliverer who never led his people out in battle, a leader who never fought for God's honour, and an agent of God who never publicly gave praise to the Lord (Judges 15:14-16).

There is also something striking about the spiritual condition of the Judeans. When the Philistines invade Judah to capture Samson, they meet no resistance (v. 9). Three things stand out:

First, the Israelites have become thoroughly accommodated to the spiritual status quo (v. 11). We see this in Judah giving up a great opportunity to be free from the Philistines. They have a leader of amazing strength, an army of 3,000 men (v. 11), and a God who promises victory. They could have rallied around Samson's leadership, but they have become so degraded by compromise that they accuse him of being a troublemaker. They have made peace in their hearts with defeat. It is possible for believers to get to a point where they prefer slavery to freedom, where compromise is more comfortable than commitment to God's calling. We do not believe things will change, so we accept our situation and give up the fight. Or we are hindered in our growth by other Christians accustomed to an anaemic, wishy-washy spiritual life.

Second, those who compromised are ignored by the enemy (v. 10). The Philistines have no quarrel with the Judeans because they present no threat. Only when a Christ-follower commits to serving God wholeheartedly and battling on the front lines does Satan work hard to side-track him. If you are encountering opposition in your life, thank God-it shows that you are making Satan take notice.

Third, compromised people do the enemy's work for them (v. 12). The men of Judah are so defeatist in their mind-set that they offer to capture Samson themselves. There are no non-combatants or neutral parties in spiritual warfare. If we are not actively involved in a positive way for the Lord, we can become positive hindrances to the cause of Christ.