A Samuel or a Samson

In our Wednesday night class, we are going though the Old Testament. We just completed a study of the judges, concluding with Samson, and this week, started 1 Samuel.
I was struck with the way Samuel started life much like Samson. Samson's mother was visited by an angel who told her that she was going to have a son, who would be dedicated to the Lord, and she should not cut his hair, a sign of a special dedication.
Samuels mother prayed for a baby, and promised that she would dedicate him to the Lord and never cut his hair. Both babies were special, set apart, devoted to God before birth.

Samson's parents did not seem to follow up the dedication with teaching and training. Based on Judges 13-16, it seems that Samuel had no regard for God or the laws of God. Samson saw a Philistine woman he liked and wanted to marry. His parents had a problem with this, since God had said specifically to not marry the women of the surroundding nations, and, the Philistines were the enemy nation who ruled over Israel at the time. Samson's answer to this? "Get that woman for me! She is the one I want!” (Judges 13:24) that was the beginning of the record of a life controlled by lust, anger, and selfishness.

Samuel's mother dedicated her son to the Lord, but she understood that just dedicating her baby to God would not make him godly. When Samuel was weaned, Hannah took him to the temple and gave him to God to serve Eli, the priest. Samuel ministered in the temple, where he learned the Law and the ways of God. He was needed at the temple because Eli's own sons were wicked. They cheated the peoplw who came to offer sacrifices, they were immoral and greedy. Samuel cared about the things of God. He listened to God and obeyed Him. Samuel served Israel as a prophet, a judge, and a priest his whole life.

For several days, I have contemplated the stories of these two men. Samson had everything, a special calling to deliver his people, divine strength and ability. He threw it all away and lived his life controlled by passion and lust. In the end, his enemies captured him, gouged his eyes out, and forced him to do the work of a beast (there are so many spiritual applications there, I won't even start with them). Samuel served God and his people well, was respected and honored, and lived a long and meaningful life.