Samson is remembered as a strong man.

He could kill a lion with his bare hands and could take down 30 Philistines in a single day (Judges 14).

Yet his motives may have been stronger than his physical strength. His life is filled with selfish pursuits rather than pursuing the will of God for his life.

In Judges 15 revenge is his primary motive. The woman he was planning to marry was given to another man.

How does Samson respond?

He sets fire to their grain fields and olive orchards. In other words, he destroys their economy.

Later, when the Philistines come to attack him, Samson's vengeance reaches a new level of violence. He takes the large jawbone from a donkey and attacks the Philistine army.

He is a one-man army who slaughters 1,000 soldiers with a single weapon in his hand.

Samson is driven by personal motives and selfish desires.

The man called to lead God's people becomes a mirror of God's people. He reflects their selfishness, immaturity, and lack of devotion to God.

Only with the coming of Jesus Christ, God incarnate, do God's people receive a leader who will show humility, devotion to God, and live a sacrificial life. Moreover, Christ's life culminates in his death - a perfect sacrifice for God's people which takes away their sin and grants them forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life.

Christ did what Samson should have done - lived his life for the glory of God and for salvation of God's people from the enemy.

During the season of Advent, let's remember that the baby born in Bethlehem came in order to give his life for his people.