2011-02-07 - What Would Samson Say?

What Would They Say Series #7

Judges 16:4-6, 15-21

Then 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.(Judges 16:20)

It wouldn't do me any good to wish I never fell in love with Delilah. I trusted her, and she betrayed me. My mind wonders if she ever loved me, or did she hang around just to collect the money the Philistines offered her. I want to give her the benefit of the doubt that she was afraid what the Philistines would do to her if she didn't comply with their wishes. They wanted to know the source of my strength. In the past, I had killed a lion with my bare hands, faced a swarm of bees, caught 300 wild foxes, killed thousands of men with a donkey jawbone, and took gates off a foundation. To find the answer, they used a door to my heart, Delilah. When she first asked, I thought it was innocent curiosity, but I had my guard up so I didn't give her the correct reason. She would later test me and find out I lied. This happened several times.

Daily she would ask me what was behind my strength. Her constant questioning annoyed me. I wanted  Delilah to trust me and not focus solely on my strength; I had other qualities. The frustration got to me, so I finally told her the real reason behind my might, my hair. If I get my hair cut, my strength leaves. I hoped we could get the question behind us and move on. She lured me to sleep, and then cut my hair. Her relentlessness and my vulnerability cost me my life.

The Philistines used my weaknesses to their advantage. They cruelly gouged my eyes out and put me in prison. That was the last I heard of Delilah. We never got to resolve anything.

Throughout my life, I had the assurance of extreme strength and God's presence. Now that power was gone, but I sought the Lord for strength once more, which He granted. While imprisoned, my hair started to grow back. The Philistines had a festival celebrating my capture, while people paid homage to their god Dagon. When the people ridiculed me, I pushed against the temple pillars and the idol's temple was destroyed, and all those in attendance died, including myself.

Lord, I speak the truth. I want my mind on positive things, not things that want to destroy or keep me downtrodden. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

What would you do if you had strength like Samson's?

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