Samson's Downfall

4Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah.5The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels^a of silver.”

6So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”

7Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”

8Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him with them. 9With men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the bowstrings as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.

10Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have made a fool of me; you lied to me. Come now, tell me how you can be tied.”

11He said, “If anyone ties me securely with new ropes that have never been used, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” (Judges 16)

Thoughts: Samson had a weakness for women who looked good.  His first wife (and her father) betrayed him to the Philistines. The prostitute in Gaza almost caused him to get trapped.  Now Delilah betrayed him at least three times.  The amazing thing is he did not seem to learn a lesson.  He was blinded- not by love but by lust.  The Philistine rulers offered her a lifetime of riches (the equivalent of 275 slaves).  She valued money more than Samson.  Each time when he told her a tale of how he would become weak she would bind him accordingly then pretend she was warning him against the Philistines.  In the end, Samson broke his vow to God and lost not only his hair, but his faith and his strength. 
    The lesson does not remain with Samson alone.  We all need to be careful that we do not value our lusts over our love for God.  Samson was clearly fascinated with what he could see- like strength and beauty; and what he could feel physically and emotionally.  But he became blind to God.  In the end they arrested Samson and put out his eyes making fun of him.  

Prayer: Lord, let me value you more than life- for without you I would not have life nor a reason to live.