Samson's Strengthening Witness

15Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.” 16With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it.

17So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”

18When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. 19After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him.^c And his strength left him.

20Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”

He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.

21Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison.  (Judges 16:15-21)

Thoughts: Samson was strong.  His strength was a gift of God- but Samson gave up that gift by disobeying God.  He allowed himself to be infatuated with women who did not believe because they were beautiful- valuing physical strength and beauty over the soul.  He told the secret of his strength and that knowledge cost him his freedom.  When Samson disobeyed, the Lord left him (vs. 20).  Samson is a very sad story.  He ended up with his eyes put out.  He killed many Philistines.  But he could have really rescued his people if he had used his gifts wisely.  Samson is a warning to listen to God and not value our own beauty or strength above pleasing God.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to calue you and your way.  Keep me strong in every way- but especially strong in faith.  

Samson- Peter Paul Rubens