A Precious Reminder

Today in chapel, Pastor Rick Anderson spoke to us from the sixteenth chapter of Judges. For those of you bible students...Samson and Delilah come to the forefront of your mind. A powerful story and reminder are to be found in the depths of the response, behavior, and character of Samson.

Judges 16:4-19 Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. 5 The 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."

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

7 Samson answered her, "If anyone ties me with seven fresh thongs [b] that have not been dried, I'll become as weak as any other man."

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

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

11 He said, "If anyone ties me securely with new ropes that have never been used, I'll become as weak as any other man."

12 So Delilah took new ropes and tied him with them. Then, with men hidden in the room, she called to him, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!" But he snapped the ropes off his arms as if they were threads.

13 Delilah then said to Samson, "Until now, you have been making a fool of me and lying to me. Tell me how you can be tied."
He replied, "If you weave the seven braids of my head into the fabric on the loom and tighten it with the pin, I'll become as weak as any other man." So while he was sleeping, Delilah took the seven braids of his head, wove them into the fabric 14 and [c] tightened it with the pin.
Again she called to him, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!" He awoke from his sleep and pulled up the pin and the loom, with the fabric.

15 Then 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." 16 With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death.

17 So he told her everything. "No razor has ever been used on my head," he said, "because I have been a Nazirite set apart to God since birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man."

18 When 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. 19 Having put him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. [d] And his strength left him.

As a child we learn about Samson, this strong incredible character of the Bible who had quite "powerful" hair so to speak. However there is much more to the story. We first must realize that the strength and power that Samson had was not from his hair, that was rather a symbol of the strength that came from the Lord alone. (Philippians 4:13)

Samson was an able leader and a strong and courageous fighter, however although he could control armies and the sort he could rule his own body. He lacked self control and had difficulty controlling his own sinful lustful desires.

Samson was weakened in four areas:

1. Weakened by a WRONG Love
-Delilah may have liked Samson but she liked money and riches much more and the bribe from the Philistines was much more appealing than her relationship with him
-His love blinded him to open treachery
-He had an unholy love for her
Practically For Us:
a. Our hearts are TOO small to hold but one love, Jesus Christ
b. If we have a divided heart, we will loose our spiritual strength
c. Don't be surprised if the zeal you and strength you once had in Christ has faded if you love anything more than Him. He must be number 1.

2. Weakened by Worldly Play
-Delilah had asked him multiple times to participate in her scheme, he foolishly agreed
-This was not a harmless diversion
Practically For Us:
a. Familiarity with the world brings a lack of discernment along with contentment in the Lord
b. The more we play with the world, the more we stray from Him

3. Weakened by Ill Regard
-Samson takes that which was a privileged relationship with God and in essence trades it
Practically For Us:
a. What God has given to you is not to be played with
b. Do not play around with the world
c. Do not take your relationship with Him lightly

4. Weakened by Wicked Sympathy with Delilah
-She tricks and deceives him
-He follows along and gives away his heart
Practically For Us:
a. Don't let your relationship with anyone affect yours with God
b. Don't be weakened by the wearying pressures of the world that will last until you go home to heaven
c. Although we wrestle with fleshly temptations, do not ever give up the fight of faith...never say I can't take it anymore

Samson's story, his weakness, is a reminder, an example, encouragement, and warning to us to go on in the consecration of the strength of the Lord and don't let that be zapped as we deceive ourselves in this world. You will then be a sport for the enemies of God because you have fallen and failed. Be like David and pray for the Lord to search you and to know you to see if there are any wicked ways in you and to lead you in the path of righteousness!